I have Cigna and am looking to switch from the ban to the sleeve. Anyone else with Cigna have this done? I had Tufts when I originally got the band and I'm worried that Cigna will not approve. I'm going to meet with the surgeon today. I was banded in 2008 and lost 70 pounds but have gained most of it back. I've been experiencing on & off pain for the past year. I did the barium swallow test a year ago but it looked like the band was in place. I don't like it - don't like that 'stuck" feeling - I just want to feel full. I was doing great until the band was too tight and waited a year before having some saline removed. By then, I was back into oldbad habits.

I'm sorry things didn't work out with the band. I was actually contemplating getting the band but I'm leaning towards getting the sleeve. What lead you to hate the band? What other problems or complications did you have?

The best way to describe the difference is when the band is "full" it's more an uncomfortable feeling. At restaurants , I could only eat 1/2 my meal because it wouldn't go through the band but once it passed, I was hungry again so I would finish it when I got home. From what I hear, with the sleeve , once you are full, you are full.

There are people that had great success with the band and were never hungry. I was not one of those

Oh, wow! I definitely don't want to have the band and still be hungry. I've decided to get the sleeve if my insurance approves it. It's been a week since my surgeons office submitted my to insurance.

Oh, wow! I definitely don't want to have the band and still be hungry. I've decided to get the sleeve if my insurance approves it. It's been a week since my surgeons office submitted my to insurance.

Good luck!!

I received my approval letter today!!! I have an appt with my surgeon this friday, in which I have to do a weigh-in and schedule a surgery date.

Wow...interesting...I have cigna and my doctors just sent in the band to sleeve paperwork on Monday. I was banded in July 2009 and have lost a total of 95 lbs! Long story short, port started protruding, doctor scheduled me for a port replacement, woke up to be told that the band was removed due to erosion!!! ALL of my tests showed nothing but when they went in there, there it was. It has only been 2 weeks, I've gained 12 lbs, feeling sluggish but I am beginning to accept that my doctor literally saved me from a really bad problem that was festering. I am hoping that cigna approves me, however, my BMI is under 30, I do have high BP and RA so maybe they will approve me for the sleeve? I loved my band up until the last year. Food does get stuck and going out to eat is something that I found most difficult....I always ordered soup. I'm also hearing connections of RA and the band? I'm waiting to hear what they want from me and I'm hoping before the end of the year because I have met all my deductibles......how long did your cigna approval take?

Wow...interesting...I have cigna and my doctors just sent in the band to sleeve paperwork on Monday. I was banded in July 2009 and have lost a total of 95 lbs! Long story short, port started protruding, doctor scheduled me for a port replacement, woke up to be told that the band was removed due to erosion!!! ALL of my tests showed nothing but when they went in there, there it was. It has only been 2 weeks, I've gained 12 lbs, feeling sluggish but I am beginning to accept that my doctor literally saved me from a really bad problem that was festering. I am hoping that cigna approves me, however, my BMI is under 30, I do have high BP and RA so maybe they will approve me for the sleeve? I loved my band up until the last year. Food does get stuck and going out to eat is something that I found most difficult....I always ordered soup. I'm also hearing connections of RA and the band? I'm waiting to hear what they want from me and I'm hoping before the end of the year because I have met all my deductibles......how long did your cigna approval take?

Any update on if your insurance approved it?

Nothing as of yet:( I see my surgeon Thursday and am looking forward too seeing him, but I have gained 18 lbs since my band was removed on 9/19!!! My BMI is most likely at 40 now and I have HBP, rheumatoid arthritis and degenerative disk disease so hopefully, fingers crossed! Doctors did submit for sleeve, they did not deny, they requested more info which we are getting together. Apparently, I have a "surgery date" of 12/5...who knew???!!! Cigna said after all paperwork comes in, they will have up to 5 days to approve...if not, my doc said he would do a "peer to peer" conversation! I'm praying

When i first went to the surgeon I went for a consult on the band. She informed me that she was actually taking out more bands tthan she is putting in, but this is for her patients around the 5 year mark. They are experincing problems with continued weight loss, band issues and health complications believed to have been created from the band. She said that if the patient had increased weight gain after removal or at time of removal, was closer to an unhealthy BMI than a healthy one, most insurances were approving the sleeve.

Hopefully yours will do the same and it will be smooth so that you can continue on your way.

Jwow...this is interesting....I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis about a year after I was banded...could be ironic, could be family history, could be the band but I am reading more and more about problems. My doctor just submitted to CIGNA on Thursday for my revision from band to sleeve...and they have 2 business to approve...should hear something by Monday. I'm a little concerned because they did not ask for any further information from the doctor...could me 1 of 2 things, I'm approved or my request is comical with a flat out denial!! I really am hoping for the best....I have gained about 20 lbs even watching what I eat and being somewhat strict....I had a lot of restriction and without even trying lost 10 lbs in 3 months. I thank you for this information and your post and keep you r fingers crossed!!!

Hi! Still nothing as of yet! I am hoping tomorrow since my paperwork was received at CIGNA on 10/23 and is now in the hands of the medical director (without needing any further information). Please keep fingers and toes crossed!!

I'm shooting for a December date for revision band to sleeve. I lost around 50 lbs and most of the weight is back even with compliance and fills. I have been having follow- ups every month since banding I'm in debt. My new physician says that he does not do bands anymore because the success rate is poor. Then there is chance for slippage and erosion the longer the band remains inside. My qualifications for sleeve are only EGD and nutrition consult then submit, and I have an appointment for both this week wed and Fri. Good luck with whatever surgery everyone chooses.

Surgeon did the peer to peer...still denied!! I'm appealing it myself and doing all the leg work as we speak. I even am getting my old before lap band records so that they can see what my weight was.....a letter from my rheumatologist saying after time my autoimmune disease (RA) could start attacking the band...again.....my pain management doctor about extra weight being bad for my degenerative disk disease and a letter From my primary with, hopefully, her approval for the sleeve! I was a little upset that my doc when doing the peer to peer did not use the most recent weigh in from 2 days prior....he had a BMI of 31 and it should have been 33.3. It's a bunch of hoops to jump through but I'm jumping because I want this!!