Lauren87

Hello! Glad to connect with another local person! I think you really hit the nail on the head about making things off-limits. I tend to fail when I do that (long term, short term I can do it). I would like to live a life of moderation and I'm hoping that the bypass can help with that. It's overwhelming at times, but hearing from folks like you is really helpful! I am really, really looking forward to getting a more effective tool. Fingers-crossed! Thanks for sharing your experience!

Long story short, I'm a Lap-band patient (2009) that is going to seek revision to gastric bypass in 2020. I'm really excited and hopeful, but also have a good real of anxiety about making this surgery a success and sticking with it longterm. For a whole host of reasons, the Band isn't a good tool for me and that is why I'm seeking a more drastic surgery. While I still have some time before my new insurance policy kicks in, I want to make sure I'm taking the steps now to make post-surgery life more successful. Because this is not my first rodeo, I know to focus on protein intake and water. I know to limit carbs and sugars, etc. However, I'm curious as to how many of you make it stick. I'm someone that craves a lot of sugar, unfortunately, so even if I keep my meals in check, I am easily derailed by crap food. I know what needs to be done... I just can't seem to stick to it... and I feel like I need to have that figured out before surgery. I don't want to go into surgery with these feelings because I know I won't be a good WLS candidate and I certainly won't have the success that I desperately want. Any thoughts or advice are much appreciated!

Thank you! Sugar is absolutely my vice and in the past, when I've gone cold turkey, I am successful short term and then all goes awry. As some other folks alluded to, once something is completely off limits, I tend to honor that for a while, but struggle with it long term. Thank you for your support and best of luck to you as well!

Thank you for sharing your experience! I anticipate head hunger being a challenge as well!

So glad to hear of your success! Thank you for the advice!

Thank you for this! I know getting off the sugar is going to be essential pre-surgery and you're right, it's better to do it now than to deal with it while also recovering.

This is a really great approach. I tend to be an all or nothing personality type, but I think there's something beneficial in taking things one step at a time. I also like that you don't ban these things... once they're off limits, there's a switch that flips, at least in my mind, that makes me want XYZ way more. By allowing myself these things at a later time, I still have the option and that's important--even if we don't choose to have them in the end.

This is very informative, thank you! I am hoping to get the ball rolling before I even meet with the bariatric team so that I'm really in a good space when I begin the process. I have begun incorporating more movement into my days and prioritizing protein, but I know I have a ways to go before I'm at a point where I'll see weight loss. It sounds like you're in a great place and I'm sure you're going to do great post-op!

Thank you for your input! I'm working on starting now so that I am successful--I definitely need to work on eating slowly again because I have forgotten what that's like at this point. Thanks for the reminder!

Thanks, mzchyll924! At this point, self-pay is off the table, but now that I've seen the certificate of coverage for my plan next year, I'm really hoping it's a pretty easy process given the requirements. I'm so glad to hear all of your revision will be covered!

Hi, All: I was banded in 2009 and never had much success with it. Any time I got restriction, it came with a lot of heartburn (which manifested itself as nausea). I also struggled with a lot of food intolerance. Eventually, because my insurance switched and I have a written exclusion regarding bariatric surgery, I had the band mostly unfilled due to too much restriction and cost. At any rate, in January, my health insurance plan will now include bariatric surgery, although it’s unclear as to what language looks like regarding revisions. One concern I have is how to make a case to the insurance company deeming the revision medically necessary. I have had many EGDs, which showed mild irritation in my esophagus, but nothing extreme. Grandest, it’s been almost 10 years since anyone’s looked at the band and who knows what the current state of affairs is—I will have an evaluation once my insurance kicks in. Does anyone have any suggestions or tips in dealing with insurance companies covering revision when severe symptoms, slippage, erosion, etc isn’t present?

I can understand why--surgery is very expensive! I have done a lot of research on health insurance plans and I have seen a few that have the strict "one surgery per lifetime" clause, which as your surgeon says, is ridiculous. I can sort of understand the rationale if the plan was the same, but because they're not, they have no reason to complain. Insurance can be so frustrating! Having to go through the supervised diet again is such a pain, but I'm glad to hear it's 3 months and not 6. I really wish there was more acceptance and understanding from the insurance companies (I know, I know, never going to happen)... you're in a hard place and it's absurd to think you're supposed to pay for it on your own. After I had my Lap-band surgery, I had several health insurance plans with written exclusions on baratric surgery and that is a large reason that I haven't had follow-up done in years--I can't pay for it out of pocket. It was a per-existing condition I came to the plan with! I'm sure your program manager knows this, but I'd be anxious to get a pre-authorization letter for the surgery, then you know they're on the hook for covering it!

I totally get not wanting to fuss with selling and moving... and recovering! I'm sure you'll be thankful when you can cross all three things off of your list. I haven't met with the folks from UW yet because my insurance (ETF supplied) presently has a written exclusion on bariatric surgery, so anything would be self-pay and I work in local government, so I'm waiting until January 1 when the new policy kicks in. However, given how lax the requirements are, I'm hoping to have surgery within the calendar year before the change their minds and make surgery nearly impossible (again). I'm not sure exactly what the road to revision will look like, the nurse I spoke to just said that it's a little bit of a different path, but I imagine I will need to do the pre-op diet simply because the Band wasn't a great tool and I'm back to where I started. So, in that respect, I'm thankful that I'll have to go through the classes again--it might not be new info, but it will be good for me to treat it like a new experience (and I suppose it is!). Best of luck on the revision, I'll be anxious to hear how everything goes for you once it's all said and done!

Thanks, JohnnyMadison and SorryNameTaken! This is going to be an interesting journey--since my last post, the certificate of medical coverage came out for our plans (local government employee, uniform benefits... a blessing and curse!) and they are covering bariatric surgery and the only requirement is to have a BMI over 35 and to be considered medically necessary. So, this is either going to be really easy or really hard, but I won't know what kind of approach we're taking until I can start the program. There is no language in there regarding revisions, which does give me a pause, but if I meet the requirements and they prior-authorize the work, then I assume we're good to go. That's what I'm hoping, anyway. P.S. JohnnyMadison, nice to see another Wisconsinite present--I presume you're also in Madison? Small world? Did you go through UW for your revision? I have only heard positive things!

Thank you both, Orchids&Dragons and MsBosse! I appreciate your insight. I really have no clue what the policy will look like until open enrollment since it was previously a written exclusion and this is the first time they've covered it. I'm a state employee with group health insurance/uniform benefits, so I'll be curious to see if each plan will have the same language regarding revision, or if they'll be different. I spoke to a nurse with the bariatric program last week and felt a little defeated because I felt like she was pushing towards the idea that if there's nothing wrong with the band, I'm SOL. Now, whether or not that is true, I don't know. That may just be me being hyper-sensitive. Again, I appreciate the feedback from you both! Once the plans are out, I'll start digging, calling, and consulting. Thank you!

Wheetsin (and others): Thanks for reminding me that this thread is out there--I had completely forgotten about ti! You make a lot of valid points in your post and I'd like to add to my original post now that I have another year under my belt. Most of the above-mentioned stands true for my initial surgery, I was disappointed that he didn't speak to my parents after the surgery and I do wish that he was a little...hmm...what's the word? Um, I guess we'll go with personable. I had surgery when I was 21 and it was my first major surgery, I was nervous, I didn't know what to expect, and it would have been nice to have a little more hand-holding, but you're right, the most important part of a surgeon is their ability to operate and he does a mighty fine job at it. As my two year anniversary is quickly approaching, I can say that I have had an extremely pleasant experience with Dr. Hoehn and his staff. A year after my surgery, Dr. Hoehn was the one who took out my gall bladder and he was nothing but caring. He performed my surgery on New Year's Ever and gave my mom the full report after my he finished my procedure. More recently, he performed an EGD on me and it seems like each time I see him more and more of his personality comes out and he really is a wonderful and caring person. So, I suppose my intent in posting this is to reflect on my experiences with Dr. Hoehn and give a fair representation of the surgeon that he is. I would recommend him to anyone in a heart beat. Yes, he is busy and you see him only a few times, but if you are having a problem and Tim can't address it, Dr. Hoehn is more than happy to sit down with you and explore every possible option. Not only do I completely trust Dr. Hoehn, but I also have had a very positive experience with Tim and cannot say enough good things about him. Best of luck to all of those out there who are following this thread.

Yeah, I've noticed that I NEVER see Dr. Hoehn, but maybe it's better that way. The few times that I have seen him, he's been really cold, and I don't think it's anything he can control--that's just how he is (in my experience, surgeons are not people-persons). Anyway, I like seeing Tim because he's a lot easier to talk to, he is usually the one to answer pages (unless it's an emergency), and is always willing to answer my questions. I know it's a bit startling at first, because they tell you how this will be a lifelong thing, but you get used to it. :biggrin:

After months and months of Protein drinks, I must say that I'm tired of chocolate and vanilla. My surgeon will only recommend drinking 100% whey protein isolate (because it's the easiest to digest, low-ish calorie, and is one of the few Proteins that is almost 100% absorbable). So, having tried many, many different types of Protein Drinks, I can say that my favorite is made by Bio-Chem. The flavor I enjoy the most is Berries and Whey (but I would not recommend it until you can have seeds, etc, because there are some seeds in the powder). Right now, I'm finishing a container of Caramel Creme by the same brand and hate it. Occasionally I will do a chocolate Protein shake, but I usually have to add Peanut Butter to it to make it palatable, but it also adds calories, so I tend to shy away from it. I hope that helps! Oh, one more thing: if there is a health food store near you, go in and see if they will let you sample their powders, so will, and that's a great help in trying to decide what you like. Nothing is worse than buying a 30-serving container and finding out that you hate it. Best of luck!

I am also not allowed to drink Crystal Light because of the citric acid. I have occasionally done it when I'm in an area where the water tastes awful, but generally speaking I avoid it. Just like most other things, you get used to life without it and it's not so bad.

Ljlsongbird:congrats are definitely in order for you! I can only imagine how wonderful it must be to be only 6lbs. away from your goal! To the rest of you: Keep up the good work! While being in college does allow us some free time, it can be extremely stressful. I know that running a student organization, taking 15hrs, preparing for graduation, and serving on two committees takes its tole on me--and I'm sure I'm not alone. That's been one of the hardest things for me: not giving into stress eating, making healthy dining choices (especially when my friends are eating the unhealthy, carb. laden meals), and making exercise a priority. However, we're all accountable for our actions and must continue to move forward. :smile2:

Hey! I'm a collegiate bandster too--I started my senior year (this year) banded. As many others have said, it's definitely hard, especially living on campus and eating in the dining center. Lfoley hit the nail on the head about losing more when home versus at school. After living the college life for three years without the band, living the college life WITH the band is completely different. I'm so glad to see this thread has been started, as most of you said, it's definitely nice to see other young people who are dealing with the same thing.

Nausea seems to be my specialty. I don't know either of you, but I can rattle off the list of things that I've dealt with. 1. It could just be the band. Because the band lays around a nerve in the stomach, some people are nauseated. According to my doctor, it will go away with time. 2. A bad gall bladder could be the culprit. After I had my gallbladder removed (about 6 months post-op) the nausea improved. 3. It could be acid build-up. If some reason, after getting the band, I've suddenly struggled with heartburn and acid indigestion. Excess acid in your stomach and definitely cause you to feel nauseous. I know how frustrating this can be, as I am 7+ months post-op, but hang in there. For a while, I felt like I was the only one and that I was going crazy, but it does get better with time. It wouldn't hurt to bring it up with your primary care doctor or your surgeon.