In another thread someone was talking about band problems. It got me to thinking that this might be a good place to discuss the problems of banding we had.

When I was banded I'd get stuck on Water some days. Thankfully I live in the desert as walking/heat helped me when I was stuck. I'd have to go outside in 110F temps and walk around the block a few times to get unstuck. I did it so often that I had a routine. I'd go out walking and call a friend of mine and we would chat while I walked.

I was thinking recently about those days. Walking, hot temps, IV supplies in my house and calling my RN friend to come and start an IV on me, the drugs I tried to stop stoma spasms, inflammation, stashing plastic bags everywhere so I always had something to barf in, in a pinch... I'm shocked at how it all became so normal. It became a way of life. I just got used to it. I had such a hard time deciding between revision (and the fear I was making my problems permanent) or getting fat again. I knew I couldn't do the band forever.

I didn't realize how severely the band impacted my life until I was sleeved and my life returned to normal. It was gradual and in my mind if I wanted thin I could either figure out a way to work the band or become MO again. Being MO was not an option and I didn't want Bypass.

Now that I have my life back in looking back some of it is kinda funny but a lot of it was not funny at all. It just makes me realize... the things we do for weight loss. (Slowly shaking head.)

A band gone bad affects every single aspect of your life as I wrote previously. It affects your employment, personal relationships, private life, health, everything. Absolutely every part of your life.

Probably more out of fear that the same thing may happen to them and if they aren't presently experiencing any problems, the thought that they may, and that they may have to go through another surgery, scares them. Fear is a powerful thing.

I think it's a bit ridiculous that they all bury their heads in the sand. There are people who come in and have had erosion or slips, and tell their horror stories. It's like those teenagers who have unprotected sex. "That won't happen to me" kind of thinking.

I think it is the doctors, telling them all of the reasons that things can go wrong are mostly the patients fault.

Then they think, "well I'm going to do exactly what I'm supposed to do, and I won't have a problem". Well that is simply not true, but it is what they want you to believe.

What is the most profitable sugery per hour? Especially, if you add up all of the mainenance costs down the road? The doctors love the band, because it is the most profitable, and more people are willing to do it.

Heck, here in Iowa, if you aren't using Insurance to pay for lapband, they aren't all that interested in you. Why? Because they can't get people to pay 30,000 for a lapband, but they can get the insurance company to pay that much.

They all push GB with insurance, becuase they have plenty of business with just these people. They don't need anyone else. Some are now getting into lapband, only because it is so popular now, and there is so much demand, but they still really want the insurance paid people. Most if not all of them, don't even have a cash pay price.

I keep reading that Fed BCBS is covering VSG. I've found over 10 patients who said it was covered. But for me they denied it saying it was investigational. I'm fighting them but it's making me crazy.

Hello all. Just wanted to follow up. I was approved this week by BCBS Fed for VSG. Looks like they came through after all.

I had a BMI of 40.3 with no co-morbs. It was enough and I'll take it!!

Now I am onto researching post-op diet, Vitamins and Protein powders.

I should be able to have surgery by the end of June (09).

Hello all. Just wanted to follow up. I was approved this week by BCBS Fed for VSG. Looks like they came through after all.

I had a BMI of 40.3 with no co-morbs. It was enough and I'll take it!!

Now I am onto researching post-op diet, Vitamins and Protein powders.

I should be able to have surgery by the end of June (09).

Congratulations! I'm sure you'll be very happy.

Oh man, you have no idea! I don't go over there to down the band but if someone asks I'm not going to lie.

People believe less invasive means safer and that's just not true. It's a safer surgery by LESS than 1% but it's damn sure not safer long term.

I am sad when I see a bandster so excited because they have a date. I have a pretty good idea how their future will pan out.

Has ANYONE here EVER met anyone that had a successful band with successful weight loss for longer than 10 years?

I haven't. ( I've been posting on band boards for almost three years and I've never met anyone banded over 10 years. The longest was 9 years and she was contacting me for information on the sleeve, she needed a revision.

I got chewed out on another thread for saying the band has complications. I guess I should have also titled it band to sleeve people.

I got chewed out on another thread for saying the band has complications. I guess I should have also titled it band to sleeve people.

I think they were objecting to you insinuating they were dumb for choosing the band. I know you did not use those words in your post.

You asked and we listened!

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