austinglobe

Dr. Ganta does my lapband maintenance, and I like him as a physician. Has anyone had the sleeve surgery with him?

Just trying to see how long on average in the procedure to go from the band to the sleeve? Also, how long was the hospital stay?

I've lost 26.4 lbs since beginning this journey. The doctor told me that I should lose about 22 lbs every six weeks, so I'll take it. He's put me on 100 grams a protein/day to speed the loss 50% supplements/ 50% real. Since I started that, the weight has definitely dropped faster.

I didn't get an unfill, to my knowledge, but my surgeon does all of the fills/unfills himself, so he could have done it while I was out.

You look amazing!!! Glad to hear you are doing well.

Lady Dada> I've found a couple of folks at OH that had their sleeve with Dr. Ganta. Will try to send you a private message.

Good point. I just checked the email, and my quote was from Endobariatrics - Dr. Alvarez. These were the prices, and they had to be 2 surgeries, 5 months apart. Lap-band removal only $5,000 Revision after healing to VSG $10,500

If you are looking closer to home, I got a quote of $16660 for both band removal and sleeve in TX. I was quoted from Mexico that it would be $5000 for band removal, and another $10,000 for the sleeve. With that in mind, I don't mind paying $1660 more to have a doctor 15 minutes from my house for my long term care and sanity.

I am a lapband patient who got their band in 2004 (self-pay). The band has given me nothing but complications - mostly of the gastric reflux variety and being unable to lie flat in bed at night. My doctor finally told me it's time to consider the sleeve or another band (gag). He believes I might have a heital hernia that may need to be repaired. So here I am, looking for a better answer than the Band. I look forward to reading your insight on this procedure.

My BMI is 35 now - but if only I had thought of it then:) They want to know the highest BMI I was in the last 10 years.

Totally understood - now the dr's office has told me that insurance probably won't cover anything, because at my highest weight, I had a BMI of 39 and no comobidities. If I had a BMI of 40, it would have been fine. How crazy is that?

I met with my doctor today and basically discussed another lapband versus VGS. He said insurance will likely not pay even for the band because my highest BMI was 39, and I'm not sure if that was even tracked at any doctor's office. He's sending me for an endoscopy and barium swallow to see where we are at, and we'll go from there.

I stand corrected. I was just told that my insurance will cover lapband, duodenal switch or gastric bypass after all of these years. So now I'm more confused than ever...

Thanks everyone - I am going to be talking to my doctor about a possible revision tomorrow...so we'll see. Just reading this board has given me tons of questions to ask.

Personally, my insurance does not cover any WLS. They don't really explain why.

I have had the band since 2004, and it's been 5 years of rough road for me. I am only 5 lbs less then when I started with the Band, and I was self-pay. My band has no restriction in it now - they unfilled it multiple times due to extreme reflux. I have had acid shoot out of my nose while I slept too many times to count. I've gotten it in my lungs and coughed until I threw up. Even with no restriction, I have pain when eating veggies and salad. I can't even eat a tomato or an apple. The band keeps me from eating healthy food. I'm now looking into a revision to the sleeve at my doctor's recommendation.