gingersnap

Where can we read about it, I'm looking for the information to review. Thanks!

For those Band to VSG patients out there what did your surgeon's say about the increased risk of a leak due to scar tissue? Did they recommend RNY over VSG? I met with the surgeon at MUSC yesterday that removed my band and he recommended that I have the RNY over the VSG because of the thickness of scar tissue in the area he would need to cut. With the RNY he can cut around the scar tissue but with the VSG he has to cut right through it posing a higher risk of a leak. He has done 3,500+ WLS's so I trust that he has the expertise. But I think he also doesn't want to see me gain any more weight while waiting around for Tricare to start covering the procedure. Right now I'm looking into having VSG surgery at Fort Gordon which is 150 miles away. Leaks really scare me as I won't have health coverage right around the corner. I will have to travel to a Military Treatment Facility for any VSG care. With RNY my surgeon is just down the road!!!

The surgeon at Fort Gordon is requiring a Gallbladder Ultrasound and an Endoscopy but I've never heard of a Esophageal Motility Study. I'm not a big fan of reflux I had enough of it when I had the LapBand...aspirating vomit in the middle night is not my idea of fun! It's great that your surgeon is taking the extra step. Keep me posted on how it goes, I would love to follow your progress!

@Char: Your message is the next best thing to an instruction manual! Thanks so much for taking the time to post this information. Very, Very, Very, helpful information!

I had the LapBand removed in September and after my experience I could never in full confidence recommend it to anyone again. They seem to have a lot of problems with slipping and they always leave a lot of scar tissue around the stomach making other WLS surgeries more complicated. I'm currently going through the process of getting the VSG through a military treatment facility. But if I couldn't do the VSG I would have the RNY done. Good Luck and God Bless!

Good Luck...I have no idea about how it works with NG and if your insurance changes or not? Also, take a look at Obesity Help Forum I've found a few military people on their as well!

I called JAX and they would not consider me as a patient...they don't want revisions and 4 hours is too far away for them. Disappointing but I think I'm heading in the right direction going to Fort Gordon.

kbbenett I started out looking for the biggest programs and didn't start local. What I found was that the further away you are the less likely they will be to take you on as a patient. They are concerned about having access to pre and post op care. I also found that each program wants you to play by their rules and go through their program just like you were a WLS virgin....very frustrating I know. But if you want the surgery it's a game you have to play. The only way you can get through the program quicker is if you have a LapBand that needs removed ASAP then they seem a little more willing to work with you. But most people have theirs removed through a civilian clinic. I'm starting over fresh at Fort Gordon. I'll need psy, nut, endoscopy, bloodwork, info session, support group etc. all at Fort Gordon and it's a 3hour drive. I think it will take anywhere from 3-6months to get a surgery date. But the good news is that your local Tricare Rep may be able to reimburse for travel if you go over 99miles away.

Loosing the LapBand is no small thing, it has been apart of your body for over the past 5 years. It has been there to lean on and it was just taken away so yes it is normal to miss it. I had my band removed last September and I just wasn't ready to loose my tool but was very ready to get rid of the problems it caused. I couldn't imagine the struggle you had dealing with actually being able to see the port...sounds so painful! I think first you need decide if you want another LapBand, switch to VSG, have the RNY, or do it on your own. Personally, through my experience the LapBand is a poor option, way to many complications. And I can't seem to do it on my own so I'm on a Quest to get the VSG. LapBand and RNY are both covered under Tricare Prime. However, VSG is ONLY covered at a Military Treatment Facility. So once you make your decision consult with your PCM and get a referral. If you decide to get the VSG then you will need to locate an MTF that does the surgery and have your PCM refer you to the clinic. On the Tricare Website there is a list of MTF's and the main phone numbers. Call and ask for general surgery at each MTF local to you until you find one that does it and that you are happy with. This forum is a really great resource to find where others have had their surgery. So where are you currently stationed? Are you indeed wanting the VSG or still deciding? Please keep us posted.

Really encouraging to hear that your Sleeve is much better than the LapBand. I had a love hate relationship with my band that turned to hate the last year. What I regret is that my insurance does not cover the VSG only RNY. I have to go to a Military Treatment Facility to have it done. I've been waiting around for insurance to start covering it and I'm done waiting. I'm done waiting on getting my life back, and done living without my tool. What did your surgeon tell you about the risks due to scar tissue? Did he do anything differently?

Medicare needs to get it's act together and start covering this procedure and Tricare needs to start making better decisions for their patients. I do not want to be told by my health insurance company what procedure I can have, I would rather my doctor handle that thank you. You bet I'll be putting in my opinion. We need to let our opinions be known and known ASAP!!!!

CamarilloCA Thanks for those encouraging words. I believe the band failed me I didn't fail the band. There is a huge increase in the number of band problems out there. I guess it's just not meant to last forever. I predict that (my opinion) at least 90% of people that have the band will at some point in their lifetime need to have it replaced or removed due to a complications. I think the VSG is a great surgery and so is the RNY. I feel fortunate to have both of them available to me. As I go into the vetting process I want to gather as much information as possible form all sources and make the right decision for me.

Wheetsin....how many revisions has your surgeon done? I'm about 9 months out from band removal so my stomach should be healed well by now. I'm going to keep plugging away and get another opinion and also work on getting into the program at Fort Gordon...they have the fist info session in June. Thanks for your input!

My MUSC surgeon would do the VSG he just thinks the RNY is less of a risk for leaks due to the scar tissue. The real problem is that Tricare will not cover the VSG but a Military Treatment facility will. So I need to make the decision if the VSG is worth the risk of going to an MTF (Fort Gordon, 150 miles away) or suck it up and get the RNY at an established program with an expert surgeon. I've asked my PCM for a referral for a 2nd opinion. But would love to hear from other Post VSG patients about what their doctor's told them and how their surgeries went.

Oh my word....I'm so sorry to hear this. Well at least you have this valuable information so you can start making informed decisions about your care. Thank you for sharing and making us aware of this. God Bless you as you face this new challenge. Please keep us posted!

Great board! I find everyone's perspective so interesting. I had my band removed this past September and I can so relate to one of the posts above that it seemed to be "medically induced bulimia". I was constantly struggling to keep food down. Then the band started to tilt and a tilt led to a slip and the slip led to an emergency surgery to have it removed. Now I'm without my tool and trying to calculate the risks of having another surgery. I'm wanting to go to VSG but my band removal surgeon cautioned me because of the scar tissue. To do the VSG you have to cut right through the thick scar tissue and it causes a greater risk of a leak. With RNY he can cut around it. I have a lot of faith in him, he has done 3,500+ WLS and did a band to VSG surgery yesterday. For those Band to VSG patients out there what did you surgeon's say about the increased risk of a leak due to scar tissue? Did they recommend RNY over VSG?

Regarding Tricare Travel Reimbursement for 100 miles plus. Will they cover travel for VSG? Any tips on what I should or should not say to my on base benefits guy before I say too much? I'm going to be traveling 150 miles to Forth Gordon and any reimbursement would be helpful! I've printed the policy and it looks like they should cover it, but in my mind if they don't cover the VSG they won't cover the travel to get it. Please tell me your experience!

Regarding Tricare Travel Reimbursement for 100 miles plus. Will they cover travel for VSG? Any tips on what I should or should not say to my on base benefits guy before I say to much? I'm going to be traveling 150 miles and any reimbursement would be helpful! I've printed the policy and it looks like they should cover it, but in my mind if they don't cover the VSG they won't cover the travel to get it. Please tell me your experience!

Congratulations!!! Wow May 1st just a few days away. How long did it take you from the informational meeting to getting your surgery date? I'm ready yesterday, so the longer I wait the more agonizing. I'm hoping I can get in on the next information session so I can get my journey started. Who is doing your surgery, Dr. Choi?

Did you have your surgery yet? Would love to hear about your experience and what you thought of the program!!!

I love reading all these conversations because it inspires me and gives me hope again. Right before my LapBand slipped and was removed my BMI hit NORMAL! The feeling of being considered normal and not obese gave me an overwhelming feeling of pride. But what it didn't do is make me like myself. Just because I lost the weight didn't mean that I had dealt with all the issues that caused me to gain weight in the fist place. When I lost my tool I immediately started to put the weight back on. So this time around I'm working on getting my head straight so I'm ready not only to have a normal BMI but to truly feel valuable inside and out. Even after the VSG if we don't deal with our head our body may not follow us in the long term.

Any information would be fantastic! I'm finding it so hard to get information and it makes the journey to VSG so frustrating. You're the best!

How was your experience at Fort Gordon? Did you have the VSG at Fort Gordon? It maybe an option for me and I'm trying to gather all the information possible. No detail to small!

I get so excited when I find a Fort Gordon Sleever....I'm searching for an MTF and Fort Gordon maybe an option for me. Please share with me your experience and your opinions of the program there. Who were your surgeons, is the facility state of the art, do they have a dedicated WLS department? Did you have any complications? Anything you would do differently?

Congratulations Ladies!!! Praying that all goes well and that we will see "less of you later". God Bless!