Sue Magoo

Cris - Sounds like you're doing very well. I am considering getting sleeved. I was banded for 6 years and had band removed due to erosion. You said above that it's very different from the band. Can you please share more about the differences? I've only had my first appointment with surgeon, but am seriously considering sleeve. I have gained way too much weight since losing my band. I appreciate anymore details you can share. Thanks. Sue

It won't be a claim until someone (hospital or surgeon, etc.) makes a charge against the procedure. So, wherever it was that you saw those claims see if there's something there about authorizations or procedures. You may find your authorization number there. Sounds like you're very close and if December 23rd is your date, you're going into the new year being a healthier you. Congrats! Good luck! Sue

Usually an insurance company has an authorization number for a procedure that 's been approved. Ask your surgeon's office for the authorization number and also ask them to scan the authorization document that they have to you for your records. Another thing you could do is contact your insurance provider and ask them for the same document. There's usually a phone number on your insurance card that you can contact. I know with my insurance I can look up procedures online and when I was authorized for my lapband removal I could see the authorization there. Good luck! Sue

Wow! You look fabulous. I'm just starting out - have appointment with surgeon on 12/20. What kind of advice can someone as successful as you offer to newbies? Thanks. Sue

Hello: I had my band removed last summer after finding out it had fully eroded into my stomach. I am gaining and gaining and gaining weight. I have no control over my appetite. Never did without a working tool. I'm considering (very seriously - have appt with surgeon in December) getting sleeved early next year. Can you tell me what amazed you most about the sleeve compared to the band? Looking for honest feedback to help me in making my decision. Thanks for your responses. Sue

Sorry it took me so long to respond. My symptoms were weight gain and after having four fills in a short period of time not having any restriction still. No pain at all.

Hello: My band was removed on 7/30 due band being fully eroded into stomach. My appetite is back to where it was when I weighed 325. Please share your experiences with me if you got the sleeve after being banded. Things I'd like to know are: Is it hard to get insurance approval? What are the requirements for BCBS and HCHP? What are the pre-op requirements? Is it a difficult surgery? How many days in hospital after being sleeved? And, most importantly, are you glad you are sleeved? I can't seem to get new lines when typing here, apologize for the format of my questions. I look forward to hearing back from you. I was very successful with first band in 2007. Not successful with larger band in 2010. Now what? Thank you.

Hello: You need to call your doctor and be seen. He'll probably do a barium swallow and/or a EGD to see what's going on. Don't delay seeing the doctor. It's important to take care of yourself. Please let us know how you're doing later. Sorry about the format as it won't let me create new paragraphs or lines. Sue

Hello: My band eroded and I had it removed in July. Removal was Tuesday morning. I was sent home on Friday morning. It's a lot harder than getting the band because the surgeon has to repair the damage from the erosion. They didn't let me have anything by mouth until Friday morning. You'll be on IV for all of your nutrition if they treat you like I was treated. I wish you the best. I ended up having an infection and back into the hospital for four more days. All is well now, but I'm grieving for my band. I am now considering sleeve, but I have a lot to learn. Best wishes for your surgery.

Update.... Home resting now. It was much harder than just having the band put in. Could just be me though because I have such nausea issues. They give me everything they can for the nausea, but it's still bad. I had the band removed on Tuesday morning. I stopped the intravenous pain med on Wednesday because it just makes the nausea return. I can live with pain in my tummy when I'm not making it have dry heaves. Good news is that doctor said there was very little scarring. I have zippo energy now, but know that's why they suggest staying out of work for 2 weeks after you get home from hospital. So, I'm bandless, and a little bit lonesome without it. I'm one of the few that have erosion cause band removal. The percentage is very low and it is a risk that was worth taking. Take care.

Hello: I had my band out 5 days ago. It was much more difficult than getting the band put in. Mine had eroded through. I had to have nothing but some ice chips for 3 full days. On the fourth day my first taste of anything was contrast for the xrays. Gross! I recommend that you have everything set at home for ease when you get home. For instance, put sheets over the couch because then it will be more comfy. Have some mushy foods ready in the freezer. I'm not hungry, but I have zippo energy, so I have been making myself eat a little bit of this and a little bit of that. I was lucky because the band didn't leave much scar tissue. Good luck to you. Sue

Hello: No talk about anything but removal and repairing my stomach at this point. I'll figure out if I need another surgery and consider it after 6 months to heal. I won't get another band! I would consider sleeve, but not interested in full gastric bypass. We'll see what happens. Like I said above, I've lost 9 pounds in just over a month with my band not working, so I know that I can do it! I just want to get below 200 again! Again, thanks for the good wishes. Sue

SorryHellHe Hello: I got my first band 7/26/07, slipped and replaced on 7/23/10 with larger band. So, I've been banded 6 years now. I don't know what doctor saw on barium swallow because I didn't ask. He told me he wanted to do the test because I should have started to feel some change from all of the recent fills and I wasn't. I really don't know what caused it. It was gradual that I was able to eat more and more and more. If I was a better bandster I would have brought it to his attention as soon as I'd gained10 pounds, but I didn't. I've almost always had reflux issues, except for when I was at my lowest weight. So, didn't seem to be much different to me. However, I do think that I was having more reflux issues. Again, thanks for your well wishes. I'll let you know how it goes after I'm on the other (unbanded) side. Take care. Sue

Thanks for the good wishes everyone. I truly had no symptoms other than being able to eat a lot more and subsequent weight gain. I had a renewed effort and had three or four fills in a very short period and still didn't feel any restriction. My surgeon did a barium swallow and when he made me drink the barium three times I knew something was up. His staff scheduled me for endoscopy. When I woke from the endoscopy I knew there was a problem because they left some pictures on the table next to me. It really is shocking to see that stomach acid can turn that band from white to black. Ewwwww. So, we'll see how this goes. I'm guessing I won't be a candidate for ever getting another band because I've already had two. I just have to get my butt in gear and exercise. From 6/21 to now I've lost 9 pounds, so that's a great start. I don't know how the band eroded. It certainly was never too tight for me. On 12/24/12 I had oral surgery and had a lot of vomiting afterwards, but I never had pain. Would have been hard to tell if my band was different then because of the oral surgery I was eating only soft foods. So, I'm really guessing that it happened then. Again, thanks for the good wishes.

Kathy: My surgeon suggested the extra vitamin C. Worked like a charm.

I took some extra vitamin C before and after surgery while healing. My wounds healed wonderfully. You may want to get some cotton pajama pants with pockets. It's nice to have pockets to put your drain bulbs into. Good luck!

You look fabulous! Congratulations.

Almost forgot. My lap band surgeon recommended extra Vitamin c before and after surgery to help with healing. My healing went very well and my scars are just a very tiny light pink line.

Hi: Make sure you have a pillow for the car ride home from the hospital. Every bump hurts. I wore mens flannel pajama bottoms because they all have pockets to put the drains in. The tops had buttons which made them easier to undress. If you plan to wear a support garment try to have two so you can wash one and wear the other. My Plastic Surgeon insisted on a support garment for first six weeks 24/7 and then after that it was during day only. Pain in the neck at first, but you'll get used to it and feel more comfortable with it than without it after a while. Stock up on some small nutritional easy frozen meals. You won't be up to cooking. Write down the time of day that you take your pain medication and stay ahead of the pain for the first week or so. It's very hard to deal with it once it gets to be intense. All of this is based on my experience, and yours may be entirely different. Remember, any of the pain is worth it. I'd do it over in a heartbeat for the results. Take care and best wishes. Sue

I had to get my first band replaced after losing more than a hundred pounds. I was not required to go on liquids before the replacement surgery. Good luck! Sue

If you can keep liquids down, then just liquids and let your pouch rest. If you cannot get liquids down call your doctor for an unfill. It's very dangerous to be dehydrated, so please make sure that you're not. Take care. Sue

Jana: Try the softest , thinnest, cotton teeshirt under the binder. That did the trick for me. Good luck. Sue

I was banded by Dr. Adam Glasgow. He is great! He's experienced, kind, gentle, and caring. His Partner, Dr. Arthur Glasgow, is great too. Together they have put together a great LapBand program. They genuinely care for their patients and their success with their LapBands. They provide a great support system for their band patients, both pre and post surgery. Their website is www.massweightloss.com. Check it out for more details. On a scale of 1 to 10, both of the Glasgows are 12's. I love my band! Sue

Hello Dolphintattoo: You can go to his website and see the schedule. I believe that the first meeting is 1/3/13. His website is www.massweightloss.com Sue

Hello: I got a tummy tuck at Newton Wellesley Hospital with Dr. Peggy Howrigan in 2009. It included one night stayover at hospital. She did an excellent job. It cost $20k just for the tummy tuck. I think I asked and it would have been additional $5k for boobs. She does great work. There's hardly a scar. She has an excellent bedside manner and the office staff and nurses are great too. Good luck. Sue