Hi there! I've been reading quite a bit here and other places about revising from band to sleeve. Here's my backstory:

I got the realize band in 2009 - self pay unfortunately, due to a stupid anti obesity clause with my insurance policy at the time. I was relatively successful - my starting weight was 335 and I got down exactly 100 pounds over the next 2 years. I experienced regain of 45 pounds after a car accident in late 2013 and another injury a few months later. I've worked hard since then and am about 5 pounds away from my original low weight (and plan on surpassing that).

The thing is, the whole time I've had the band, I've been a chronic vomiter, I get stuck ALL THE TIME (especially when I eat things I'm SUPPOSED to eat) no matter what and I never really feel full or satisfied, just uncomfortable and stuck. I always blamed myself and thought it just must be normal. But the more I read now, the more I realize that life doesn't have to be like this! I've been asked if I'd ever consider getting it removed and even the thought starts to hurl me into a panic. "I could NEVER get it removed!! I'll gain all the weight back and more and get diabetes again and a fatty liver and increase my depression and anxiety... NEVER!!" Plus I spent $25,000 on this dang thing!! But I hadn't thought much about a revision until the past couple months.

The insurance I have now covers WLS. One question I have though is do you think they'd cover a revision? Especially if the band was self pay? Also, my BMI is now under 40 (as of today it's 37.6)... my comorbidities have pretty much gone away, aside from slightly high cholesterol and I just found out I have 2 herniated discs (definitely related to obesity. I'm only 35, for crying out loud!) would they even ok it based on that stuff. I know no one here can say for sure. Just looking to see if any of you have had any experience with a similar situation. Thanks in advance!

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Hi there! I've been reading quite a bit here and other places about revising from band to sleeve. Here's my backstory:
I got the realize band in 2009 - self pay unfortunately, due to a stupid anti obesity clause with my insurance policy at the time. I was relatively successful - my starting weight was 335 and I got down exactly 100 pounds over the next 2 years. I experienced regain of 45 pounds after a car accident in late 2013 and another injury a few months later. I've worked hard since then and am about 5 pounds away from my original low weight (and plan on surpassing that).
The thing is, the whole time I've had the band, I've been a chronic vomiter, I get stuck ALL THE TIME (especially when I eat things I'm SUPPOSED to eat) no matter what and I never really feel full or satisfied, just uncomfortable and stuck. I always blamed myself and thought it just must be normal. But the more I read now, the more I realize that life doesn't have to be like this! I've been asked if I'd ever consider getting it removed and even the thought starts to hurl me into a panic. "I could NEVER get it removed!! I'll gain all the weight back and more and get diabetes again and a fatty liver and increase my depression and anxiety... NEVER!!" Plus I spent $25,000 on this dang thing!! But I hadn't thought much about a revision until the past couple months.
The insurance I have now covers WLS. One question I have though is do you think they'd cover a revision? Especially if the band was self pay? Also, my BMI is now under 40 (as of today it's 37.6)... my comorbidities have pretty much gone away, aside from slightly high cholesterol and I just found out I have 2 herniated discs (definitely related to obesity. I'm only 35, for crying out loud!) would they even ok it based on that stuff. I know no one here can say for sure. Just looking to see if any of you have had any experience with a similar situation. Thanks in advance! [emoji4]
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Hi there! I too have been through this. I had mine taken out and will be getting the VSG! Yes they should cover the revision. I would think. There are different ways they could look at this but yes I believe they will:)

I think your chances of getting a revision are not that bad (however, you never know with insurance companies). You might want to contact a WLS surgeon about what your options are. Depending on how much scar tissue you have or what your esophagus looks like, it might be better or safer to opt for a bypass.

Edited August 5, 20178 yr by summerset

Every insurance company is different so the only way to know if revision surgery is covered is for you to contact your insurance company directly. Unfortunately there is no set policy that we can provide confidence about. Good luck!

1 hour ago, lillian.b.white said:

Also, my BMI is now under 40 (as of today it's 37.6)... my comorbidities have pretty much gone away, aside from slightly high cholesterol

FOREWORD...I am not a revision patient. The sleeve is my first and (hopefully) only weight loss surgical procedure.

Three years ago I qualified for the sleeve through my insurance company with a BMI of 37 and one single comorbid condition (elevated cholesterol, a.k.a. dyslipidemia).

Like you, I was in my mid-30s and sick and tired of feeling sick and tired. I'd telephone a local bariatric surgery practice in your area and schedule a consultation if I were you.

The patient advocate or office coordinator at the bariatric surgery practice will call your insurance company to verify if the procedure will be covered in addition to any additional hoops required by the insurance policy such as supervised diet visits, psych eval, nutritionist appointments, sleep study, cardiac clearance, etc.

Edited August 5, 20178 yr by Introversion

"Chronic vomiter" is what stands out for me. I would do as Introversion says and take the first steps with a consult, and go from there.

Edited August 5, 20178 yr by Ldyvenus

I'm following. I'm seriously considering the sleeve. Had band since 2008, never very successful. Probably my fault. Lost 60 gained 30. Never feel full only pain/restricted. With the sleeve, do you actually feel normally full/satisfied after the small meals?

Thanks for everyone's insight!! It's comforting to know that others have had similar experiences!
As amlpn asked, what exactly ISt the full feeling like with a sleeve? Is it more like the way you felt pre surgery? I've read from a lot of people that it's completely different from the stuck feeling the band seems to give a lot of people, but what does it feel like?


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18 hours ago, lillian.b.white said:

Hi there! I've been reading quite a bit here and other places about revising from band to sleeve. Here's my backstory:

I got the realize band in 2009 - self pay unfortunately, due to a stupid anti obesity clause with my insurance policy at the time. I was relatively successful - my starting weight was 335 and I got down exactly 100 pounds over the next 2 years. I experienced regain of 45 pounds after a car accident in late 2013 and another injury a few months later. I've worked hard since then and am about 5 pounds away from my original low weight (and plan on surpassing that).

The thing is, the whole time I've had the band, I've been a chronic vomiter, I get stuck ALL THE TIME (especially when I eat things I'm SUPPOSED to eat) no matter what and I never really feel full or satisfied, just uncomfortable and stuck. I always blamed myself and thought it just must be normal. But the more I read now, the more I realize that life doesn't have to be like this! I've been asked if I'd ever consider getting it removed and even the thought starts to hurl me into a panic. "I could NEVER get it removed!! I'll gain all the weight back and more and get diabetes again and a fatty liver and increase my depression and anxiety... NEVER!!" Plus I spent $25,000 on this dang thing!! But I hadn't thought much about a revision until the past couple months.

The insurance I have now covers WLS. One question I have though is do you think they'd cover a revision? Especially if the band was self pay? Also, my BMI is now under 40 (as of today it's 37.6)... my comorbidities have pretty much gone away, aside from slightly high cholesterol and I just found out I have 2 herniated discs (definitely related to obesity. I'm only 35, for crying out loud!) would they even ok it based on that stuff. I know no one here can say for sure. Just looking to see if any of you have had any experience with a similar situation. Thanks in advance!

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Hi Lilian, I can't give you any feedback regarding the financial side of things as I'm not in the US, but as a revision from Band to Gastric Sleeve patient, I can tell you that it is just so completely different eating with the sleeve compared to the band. I had my revision just over two months ago and even though I measure out all my food and know I am eating the required amount for my sleeve - I feel like I can eat so much more than I did with my band because I don't get that stuck feeling and have to go and relieve it after eating.

I realise everybody has a different experience as all our bodies are different, but if I had known more about the sleeve procedure I would have chosen it hands down over the band. I hope that your health fund helps you find a way to get the revision because it sounds like you are tired of that stuck feeling all the time as I was? I used to say to people that I could never get my band removed also - as I would just put the weight back on - but two months later I am almost back to my goal weight. My revision was due to band slippage and damage caused, not because it wasn't keeping the weight off.

I'm in the midst of scheduling my band to sleeve revision. My band was paid by the insurance company but they will only pay for one weight loss surgery in a lifetime (BCBS of AL). My surgeon is going to remove my band at no cost since he was the one that put it in, but I have to self pay for the sleeve and the hospital/anesthesia since the hospital considers it two surgeries - (not sure how being under for one surgery is charging for two surgeries - unless the length of time I am under is what is considered).

Anyway - I am a little nervous about 'failing' the sleeve like I did the band. I lost about 90 lbs with the band and gained 60 back.

I'm in the midst of scheduling my band to sleeve revision. My band was paid by the insurance company but they will only pay for one weight loss surgery in a lifetime (BCBS of AL). My surgeon is going to remove my band at no cost since he was the one that put it in, but I have to self pay for the sleeve and the hospital/anesthesia since the hospital considers it two surgeries - (not sure how being under for one surgery is charging for two surgeries - unless the length of time I am under is what is considered).

Anyway - I am a little nervous about 'failing' the sleeve like I did the band. I lost about 90 lbs with the band and gained 60 back.

That stinks that you have to self pay. Do you know how much it will cost? I don't know you, but I'm sure you'll do well with the sleeve. I feel like having kinda gone through this already, you can learn from any mistakes you may have previously made and that will help your success. Plus, it seems like in a LOT of cases, it's the band that's failed, not the patient. Best of luck to you and please keep us posted! You'll be in my thoughts.


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