joanieA

I don't know how this ticker got attached to me, but it certainly isn't mine. I should hope so; my surgery was 3 weeks ago!!<br />Really, this is not mine. But thanks for noticing!

I am scheduled to have my band repositioned after a slip tomorrow morning. Im hoping it can be repositioned, or replaced. Ive had my band since 2006, and did well with it for so long. Im optimistic but getting a little nervous now! There is a possibility that the band may have to be removed altogether; I won't know till I wake up. Im going to remain positive though, and hopefully continue on my path towards my goal weight. Anyone have any experience with rebanding?

I am feeling waves of nausea as well. Surgery was Monday. This is my second time being banded. I don't remember feeling this nausea the first time, but I sure have it now. Got some chewable Pepto-Bismal that has helped some. I also bought SeaBands, an acupressure-point anti-nausea wristbands. Can't hurt to try. The more I drink the better it is, but still hangs in. Warm broth seems to calm it the most. Hopefully this too shall pass!

Hi and thanks so much for asking about the surgery. It went ok, considering. My band was an old model from 2006, with the buckle in it. My surgeon said most of my stomach has prolapsed up through the band, and formed a lot of scar tissue. The surgery took 2.5 hours to repair the scar tissue damage and replace the band with a newer, updated model. Im not sure exactly which one yet. Post-op wasn't too bad, but I did stay in the hospital 2 days because of the extensive scar repair. Right now Im feeling pretty good. Up walking around, driving, and doing small stuff. No lifting for 10 days. I have surgical staples still in place till the 21st. All in all. an ordeal but Im glad its over and happy I got right again. Ben some nausea this time around, but not too bad. Will be on stage 1 for 4 weeks. My surgeon is ultra-conservative and extremely cautious; couldn't ask for a better person to be in this with. When I got home, I was horrified to have gained 6 pounds in the first 4 days, without so much as a morsel of food consumed. My brain knew it was swelling, fluids, post-opjunk, but to any heavy person who hasn't eaten in 4 days, a 6 pound gain is mentally devastating! Glad to say that today, 5 days post-op, I am back to my starting weight. Although this has been tough, Im happy I was able to be rebanded. I did so well with it for so long. I intend to recommit myself to keeping with the program, going to support meetings, and working the band to my best advantage. I feel very grateful for this second chance!

I was rebanded on the 6th and have GAINED six pounds? Haven't had an ounce of food in 4 days. So depressed! Dr. office says its from swelling because I had a lot of scar tissue removal done at the same time from my original 2006 band slipping. I remember losing 11 pounds in the first wek with my old band, not gaining 6! Im sorer and slower to bounce back this time around as well. Trying to keep positive but wished I had never stepped on the scale this morning; (

Thanks everyone for the supportive messages! Facing any kind of surgery is nerve wracking! I would love to keep my 4cc band, but any band at all is better than none. I had the fluid removed in late September and have gained 11 pounds since then. Didn't help that all the major holidays were in that time frame either! The hard part is the surgeon doesn't know what he's going to run into once he gets in, so I won't know the results till I wake up. Hoping I am able to be rebanded and continue on my way. Thanks so much for the support!

I am scheduled to be rebanded in 10 days. My original surgery was in 2006. I did very well with my band, but now it has slipped and I have to have it either replaced or removed. I am not a candidate for a sleeve, as my BMI has dropped to 30 with the weight loss from the original banding. Has anyone had any success with a second band, and gone on to further weight loss and/or maintenance? Ive heard too much negative commentary and not enough positive results on second banding. I had little or no problems with the band, and Im hoping that repiositioning the band and starting over again will help me get back on the right path. anyone have any experience with this?

You are right about the insurance. The guidelines and criteria do not change because you have successfully lost weight. My procedure is covered as it is a complication from the original band surgery, not a new procedure. The gastric sleeve may have been a tougher fight, but I didn't want it anyway. My surgeon thought they may cover it because of band failure, but since I had a lower BMI and no longer fit the criteria, it was going to be an uphill battle. As a rule, they do not cover an alternative procedure unless the original failed. Mine didn't fail; I lost the weight and did the program. At the end of the day, Im happy to be rebanded. Im familiar with it, and know I have the commitment. I even feel that I've been given a second chance of sorts. I became less and less diligent as time went on. This can be looked at as a wakeup call! As your band has been trouble-free and you are where you need to be, I would just leave it. Mine has been in place for almost 7 years. Don't know why it slipped, but as soon as he removed all the Fluid, I regained 13 pounds since October. I need the tool it provides, was successful with it, and plan to keep it forever. They are intended to be permanent, with the removal option if something goes wrong. there is no harm in leaving it in place, especially since you are experiencing good results. It wouldn't hurt to go to a support meeting and voice your thoughts. People who are new to banding are usually "up" on all the latest insurance and alternative surgery issues. I hope you continue to be successful!!

That is the plan, if all goes well. But in reading and researching, it seems overwhelmingly that banding a second time has a very high failure rate. It may well be that people who were not successful with the first band will have problems with the second. I had minimal problems with my original band, so Im hoping for the best. I have one of the original 4cc bands, which it seems are not in use that much anymore, at least for initial band placement. I don't know what kind of scarring I may have either, so its a sort of wait-and-see situation. My hope is the band will be able to be repositioned and I can continue on my slow but steady weight loss ways! Good luck with your band!