honey32

Good for you!! Congrats..I'm over here holding my breath for this very moment!! I have a question for you tho, I see have a date already...how did you get a date before the approval or is that date also new to you?

MsKeeKee I have an AWESOME doc. He gave me my surgery date(3wks) before I was approved! He said that there would be no problem getting me approved with my insurance (TriCare) I still had to do the 3 weigh ins and keep my food journal and track my steps.

You're not going to like this post, but I swear I'm trying to save you a lifetime of regrets and headaches.

Briefly: In 2009 I got banded. Never got restriction in spite of MANY attempts with fills/unfills etc. I could either eat ANY thing ANY quantity, or I barfed everything I ate up. The "green zone" was never found. I lost 30 pounds the entire time I had it (mostly from fear of barfing!).

Now, does that mean YOU won't be successful? Nope, not at all. BUT - don't believe the hype they sell you on; "It's less invasive", "It's reversible"... blah blah blah. All that's fine and dandy until about seven years or so go by and your band has slipped, or eroded into your stomach, or your port gets reversed, or develops a leak from always being poked etc. I made a HUGE mistake by getting the band. Are you aware that the Mayo Clinic (the MAYO CLINIC!), will not perform them any more to their HIGH complication rate, and 70% long-term failure rate?

I am REALLY not trying to mess you up - but I SOOOO wish someone had told me all this when I wanted the band. Actually, people DID try to tell me - and I didn't listen - like an idiot. So zoom ahead. Gained back all my weight, no restriction ever since I had to have it unfilled due to horrible heartburn (another very common problem), so I gained back all my weight AND now had complications.

I revised to RNY in December - BEST thing I ever did. NO complications, the best long term success rate of ALL WLS (although the Vertical Sleeve is doing very well too but only time will tell long term), and I've lost almost 50 pounds in 3 months - And I'm a lightweight! My surgeon told me that when he removed the band I had soooo much scar tissue he had to cut around it all - AND my band would have needed to come out within a few years anyway because it was eating into my stomach! THIS IS COMMON! My surgeon hasn't done bands in years and told me to run from any surgeon who does because they're in it for the money and are NOT paying attention to the statistics!!! (I've posted several links below - please read them - this is YOUR health - forever!)

Yes, you have to make some other commitments (vitamins forever - but then shouldn't we always?)... but the main thing is - complications are RARE and success rates are HIGH.

PLEASE research your other options! On ObesityHelp.com there is a revision board - and most of those are band to RNY or Sleeve because of band problems. Go on there - ask them questions. http://www.obesityhelp.com/search/action,search_forums/?q=failed+lap+band+revision&cx=000946886326336472648:u5ypdm9novs&cof=FORID:9

All I'm saying is, we've ALL been through what you're feeling at some point in this journey - and before you make the biggest commitment of your entire life - look at ALL the options. Talk to others, get a second or third opinion. Research, research, research. I wish I had NEVER had the band. You may have some success initially, and no complications - but long-term (and you want this to be forever, right?) - the odds are against you.

Sorry to be a bummer, but whatever you decide, just don't go into in blindly like I did - and then need another operation. It sucks. But I'm sure glad I am where I am now! Good Luck to you whichever way you go! I wish you success in your journey!

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/lap-band-surgery-half-patients-complications/story?id=13187452

http://www.webmd.com/diet/weight-loss-surgery/news/20110321/study-poor-results-from-lap-band-surgery