jen_g

I went in for RNY as my surgeon promised on 7/2. Surgron said adhesions & scar tissue too much to risk (even though he claimed he cleared this up on May 7 when he removed the band). He did not perform the surgery, so I'm stuck recovering from a non-surgery surgery,. The band and all the revision surgeries for the band has stolen any ability for me to ever have bariatric surgery. Just waiting for the inevitable now. People don't realize how much damage the band does internally to you until its too late. My advice would be to go straight to RNY if you need to lose more that 100lbs. The bariatric system is all about $, not about us. You won't know for years that the damage is. It's over for me. I wish all the rest of you the best of luck & be proactive when when you know things aren't quite right. Surgeons aren't Gods...sometimes they just put ego above everything else--but it's your gut that will tell you when something is terribly wrong.

Don't self pay. Escalate to the top of the insurance plan. File a grievance and also report the insurance company to the state dept of insurance. If all that fails (or goes on for months as in my case), go on the insurance company's Facebook and all social media to tell your story. Leave out all names through (surgeons, doctors, etc...) Say "band" rather than naming the type of band. After months of frustration & mental anguish, I posted on my insurance company's page--by 8:30 the next morning the head account executive for my state called me. She took care of it all. It's been a long road since I had a band put in Feb 2010 (followed by a revision for a flipped, inaccessible port). My band was removed in May, and now i'll be having the RNY July 2nd. I'm terrified, but going forward full steam ahead. I read so much great stuff on there that it inspires me to keep going. Thank to all of you for that

Whether you can have the band removed and the RNY done at the same time all depends on the damage/scarring from the band. I went in on May 7th expecting to have both procedures. To me it was the logic of "killing two birds with one stone." Well, when the surgeon got in, he felt it was too risky to perform the RNY. He removed the bend, repaired my hiatal hernia, and did a few other repairs. He wanted me to wait at least two months, so now I'll be having the RNY on July 2nd. The pain & problems from the band are gone--thank God. My surgeon mentioned that current research is indicating that performing the removal of the band & conversion to bypass in the same surgery can increase the risk. The scarring from where the band was makes the stomach thick and difficult to handle & staple--and no one wants a "leak." Each additional bariatric surgery increases your risk in following surgeries; "rushing" to do both in one surgery might not be the best route for everyone. I trust my surgeon totally. Although I was initially disappointed, I realized he made the decision that was best for me and an ultimately successful outcome.

I'm starting over too after I failed with the band. I had the surgery in February 2010. By September 2010, I had a port revision because it flipped & was inaccessible. Acid reflux became a real issue, I had continuous port pain, pain in the chest. I gained back what I lost. I now have a hiatal hernia & Barrett's esophagus (you won't know you have it unless you get an actual endoscopy). I fought with the insurance about my choice of surgeon (nearer to home) and finally was so desperate I posted my story on their Facebook. I was contacted right away by the insurance company & now I'm approved for removal of the band & RNY. The band wasn't as safe as I thought. Barrett's esophagus can become esophageal cancer. The RNY will actually inhibit the Barrett's from progressing. I hope to have a surgery date in the next 1-2 months. The last 2 years have been traumatic, but it makes me that much more determined to succeed with the bypass. Anyone else out there come to find they developed Barrett's & having the revision to RNY? I'm new to this forum, but after my failure at the band--I know support groups and forums are part of my plan this time around.