revise from Band to sleeve with a low BMI... Cash pay?

[BayougirlMrsS 3,933]

Good afternoon all..... how many of you had sleeve revision after complete success with the band. Banded in 2009.

2009

SW: 232lbs, LW: 135lbs... but my best most consistent weight 143 for 7+ years. Zero trouble till 2017, got the flu and slipped my band. I managed to keep my weight down pretty good and gained 30lbs in the 2.5 years.

But no matter what i ate and no matter what i did (crossfit 3-4 x per week) i couldn't lose.

Any people revise from Band to sleeve with a low BMI... Cash pay?

[kah1213 311]

I think yes cash pay. That’s what my situation is as I’m still considered low BMI despite significant weight gain after my band was removed.

[Cin1989 3]

I was just approved through insurance to revise from band to sleeve and have a low BMI of 32, I weigh 182 and I’m 5’1. My doctor wrote a letter to insurance so I could get approved without having to go through all the nutrition classes. I do have type 2 diabetes but my doctor didn’t include this in the letter. I was approved last year to have the band removed but decided to wait. I have had a lot of issues with the band, like food is always getting stuck and throwing up about 3 times a week and that is with all the Fluid being released last December. I also get pain at the port site and a burning sensation. My surgery date is on 12/31 and my pre-op is in 10 days. With the band it was great the first year but these last two years have been horrible. Wishing you the best of luck on your journey.

Edited December 10, 2019 by Cin1989

[MysteryJess 0]

I was banded in 2009 also and was at my goal weight for about 9 years. Then I started having issues where I couldn't keep any food down and I lost down to 129 pounds and I am 5'8. My surgeon removed all of the Fluid from the band and I gained 40 pounds in 4 months. My insurance paid for the band to sleeve revision and my BMI was 26 and I have no co-morbidity factors like high blood pressure or diabetes. I guess it is all on how your dr. writes it up. If you are having "issues" with the band, which slippage is a major issue, then you should be able to get it paid for by your insurance.

[kah1213 311]

My doc wouldn’t revise to sleeve after emergency band removal unless I gained back to 30 BMI which is so disheartening. Fortunately I was able to go to Mexico for the revision last month.

[revyinut 2]

I got my lap band in 2006 and had great success losing over 100 lbs. I stayed around 140 lbs. for many years until I began having problems aspirating at night in 2016. I had my fill removed and I believe that caused the band to slip because I started having even more problems such as gastroparesis. I decided to have the band removed in 2017 - I had already gained about 30 lbs. when I quit smoking earlier that year and believed my weight had stabilized. Long story short, over the next 2 years I gained another 50 lbs for a total of 70 lbs. (BMI 32)

I had lap band to sleeve revision surgery in Nov 2019 and self-paid by going to Tijuana for surgery.

[kah1213 311]

On 01/10/2020 at 12:25, revyinut said:

I got my lap band in 2006 and had great success losing over 100 lbs. I stayed around 140 lbs. for many years until I began having problems aspirating at night in 2016. I had my fill removed and I believe that caused the band to slip because I started having even more problems such as gastroparesis. I decided to have the band removed in 2017 - I had already gained about 30 lbs. when I quit smoking earlier that year and believed my weight had stabilized. Long story short, over the next 2 years I gained another 50 lbs for a total of 70 lbs. (BMI 32)

I had lap band to sleeve revision surgery in Nov 2019 and self-paid by going to Tijuana for surgery.

How’ve you been feeling? I’m 6 weeks post op revision as well.

[revyinut 2]

It's a much rougher journey than with the lap band. I'm finally getting my energy back but still struggling with acid reflux. I have to be very careful not to eat too much - I don't really get any "full" signals until I've overdone it and then I have 20 to 30 minutes of agony 😩. You sure are doing well with your weight loss!