I've had a lapband since 08 and having pain at port site, occasional dry heaves, belching. I'm seeing a surgeon Aug. 5 about a revision to GBP and am wondering about the requirements for revision to be approved by Anthem BCBS. I know all insurances are different, but I don't have to get another psch eval, nutrition class, etc., do I?

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I have Anthem BCBS and was approved for a band to GBP revision last month. They did make me get another psych eval but that was all.

Did they require a certaun BMI or comorbidities?

I had my band to bypass revision about a week and a half ago. My insurance required all the stuff a non-revision would have to do (six month diet, psych evaluation, etc) but had the extra requirement that I had to prove I was "compliant" with the lapband rules while I had the band, and I also had to have a malfunction of the band currently causing it to need to be removed (Luckily I did, it had slipped and turned). But I have terrible insurance so maybe yours won't be as complicated as mine.

My doc requires his revision patients to go thru the same program as first timers. Psych Eval, Nutrition classes etc.

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I'm worried about the lapband compliance issue. After I only lost 25 lbs my 1st year, my surgeon started yelling at me about messing up his metrics so I left and never went back. No one else would adjust the band because they didn't want the liability. I then had to move to TX for my job and again, no one will adjust it. I've managed to lose 80 lbs total since then, but just maintained in the last year. I'm having a lot of pain around my port site and get the dry heaves, once so bad that I went to ER. I'm starting to think my insurance will pay for band but not GBP, which makes me worry about regaining the weight. But I'm seeing a therapist who specializes in ED and went to OA meetings for 2 yrs. I'm now attending SMART Recovery support group, which really helps. If nothing else, the lapband convinced me I have an ED, so it did me some good. Sorry to ramble, but it's nice to have people who understand how sad I'll be if I can't get a GBP. I've gone from a size 26/28 to a 20/22, but don't know if I can get any thinner without help.

I also had to do all of the same requirements again. I had Harvard Pilgrim then and now Tufts same requirments.

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I was a lap band to sleeve revision and had to do all the same requirements as an initial patient would do, but that was my insurance requesting it...

VSG 7/26/16, Newby to the Losers Bench

I had band to RNY revision 4/1/16. I just had to have 3 month preop appointments with the nutritionist. My insurance required that. Then I had to see pulmonologist, and that was my surgeon requesting that. My insurance denied me at first. I filed an appeal and typed up a 3 pg letter explaining why I needed this done. Best decision ever!

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I had a lap band and then the sleeve. I did not have to do anything over. I went to the doctor May 11 and had surgery June 14th. I have tri care. My problem with the lap band was I couldn't get a fill acid reflux was so bad. The last month my burps smelled so bad. My food was not going in my stomach. I threw up every thing I ate or drunk. I do not mess it at all.

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Anthem bcbs approved I have surgery scheduled 8/24 as long as you have some complication you should only need psych evaluation and egd

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I also had my band in 08. Revision to sleeve July 12. I had to go thru the same requirements for insurance approval for the revision as I would have if it were an initial surgery. 6 months dr/nutritionist appts & psych eval. I also have bcbs (Michigan)

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Edited August 1, 20169 yr by nicksmommy

I'm glad you had fast turnaround. It sounds like more of an emergency than mine. I have pain at the port site and belching, but I can eat. Let me know how you do!

That was all I had as well port site pain and getting stuck - the important thing is to stress to your surgeon you are miserable

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