Lynn B

good luck hope everything works out!

I've been unfilled for 6 weeks and will be doing the revision in one surgery on Sept 7th. At that time I'll have been unfilled for 3 months - my doc right now just wants me to be as gentle as possible so that my stomach tissue is not stretched or inflamed when he gets in there. Small meals, no vomiting, etc. I've gained 25 lbs in the last 6 weeks ..... grrrrrr

If you haven't already found it there is a band to sleeve revision forum a little further down on the main forum page - lots of info there. I will be revising from band to sleeve on 9/7 - no erosion but I have a significant dilation. Good luck!

Hi, I haven't been revised yet but if you go look at the responses to my previous posts you'll get a lot of answers to these questions. 1. 500 cal??? Maybe in the beginning but not forever. 2. Nope - not recommended with any surgery - its just one of the things you need to accept 3. The part of the stomach left is very muscular and less likely to stretch (unless you really push it) 4. I can't attest to that as I'm not revised yet 5. For some the reduced Ghrelin does suppress appetite 6. hair loss is common after general anesthesia and if you are low on Protein so expect some around 3 months post op (happened with the band to) as long as you keep your protein up though it should grow back and be fine. Good luck!

Everyone I've talked to says that the sleeve is so different from the band - no puke buckets, pit stops and scoping out the bathroom so I'm hoping for good things!

That is what mine looked like - doc said it was a circumferential dilation. Got my insurance approval on Friday to revise to the sleeve. Wishing you luck!!

My insurance has approved me for a band to sleeve revision. My surgery date is 9/7/10 (5 days before my 5 year band anniversary). I wanted to thank everyone here for your kind words, understanding, support and advise. It has meant a lot!!

Sending good insurance vibes your way - I just got my approval today and will have the band removed and the sleeve done in Sept!!

Thanks! I can't wait to feel normal again

I just got a call from my surgeon's insurance girl "Congrats, you were approved" - Yaaaaaaaaa - "They are going to replace your band with a new one" - HUH???? WHAT???? OK - I spoke with the surgeon about band to sleeve revision - WTF?? Then she proceeds to blame me because I emailed the office and my email said band revision so that is what she submitted me for - DUH - my email and I quote was "Band to Sleeve Revision" and since when does she use a patients email as the basis for her insurance approval??? The surgeon had to write a letter - he knew what I wanted - I just don't understand how these things get screwed up. So she has to do it all again - only took three weeks - do you think it will be faster this time?? I have a tentative surgery date of 9/7/10 - 5 days before my 5 year band anniversary - If I don't go mental by then.

Patti - that is a bummer - I've got all my pieces parts crossed for you to!!

Nope - trying to be patient - I'll give them till thursday and then I'm on the phone - thanks!

Patti - I have cigna and the requirements for revision/reoperation are different from those of a virgin surgery. Reoperation and Repeat Bariatric Surgery: Page 2 of 40 Coverage Policy Number: 0051 CIGNA covers surgical reversal (i.e., takedown) of bariatric surgery as medically necessary when the individual develops complications from the original surgery such as stricture or obstruction. CIGNA covers revision of a previous bariatric surgical procedure or conversion to another medically necessary procedure due to inadequate weight loss as medically necessary when ALL of the following are met: ? Coverage for bariatric surgery is available under the individual?s current health benefit plan. ? There is evidence of full compliance with the previously prescribed postoperative dietary and exercise program. ? Due to a technical failure of the original bariatric surgical procedure (e.g., pouch dilatation) documented on either upper gastrointestinal (UGI) series or esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD), the individual has failed to achieve adequate weight loss, which is defined as failure to lose at least 50% of excess body weight or failure to achieve body weight to within 30% of ideal body weight at least two years following the original surgery. ? The requested procedure is a regularly covered bariatric surgery (see above for specific procedures). NOTE: Inadequate weight loss due to individual noncompliance with postoperative nutrition and exercise recommendations is not a medically necessary indication for revision or conversion surgery and is not covered by CIGNA. I have lost over 50% of my excess weight but I'm no where near 30% of a normal BMI (and I've put on 15lbs since they took the Fluid out of my band). I'm hoping where they approved me for a new band that the sleeve wont be a problem because it is a "regularly covered bariatric surgery" per their list. I hope get your people fixed and we can both be sleeved!! Good luck

Thanks - I'm sure it will be fine but I would really just like an answer so that I can start planning time off and stuff. Grrrrrrr Thanks for letting me vent.

Thanks, I appreciate it!

Here is my ins update - spoke with the surgeon on 6/4 gave him to OK to approve for the band to vsg revision. He said call back in 2-3 weeks if you don't hear from us. Called the insurance co twice last week (last time on Friday) - they state they haven't gotten any requests from the doctors office. Call the office today - they sent it in last week and just got a request for additional information today (but there is not case number assigned) Patients is not one of my virtues and I'm starting to loose my mind:cursing:

Talked with my surgeon today, he is going to submit my paperwork fro a band to sleeve revision. He stated it normally takes 2-3 weeks to hear back from the insurance company but once I get approval we can schedule a date. Due to vacation coverage at work I wont be able to get two/three weeks off until September but that isn't as far away as it seems. Now to not gain any more weight with my unfilled band for the next 12 weeks. Oh boy.

I know - you can never tell who is the slow poke but as long as it gets done I'll call everyone!!

Grrrrrrr - I have to call my surgeons office tomorrow. I spoke with him on 6/4 and he said "If you don't hear back from us in 2-3 weeks give us a call" well I called the insurance co on Friday (2 weeks) and they have not received anything from my doctors office. Sooo going to call the docs office on Monday and find out what the heck their doing and who fell asleep at the wheel. What a pain.

Last Tuesday I emailed my surgeon to let him know that I didn't want to wait and see what the band is going to do, I want to revise to a sleeve. He called me back on Friday and said they would submit the paperwork to my insurance company to get approval. This takes 2-3 weeks and then we can schedule a surgery date. This also puts me in the middle of vacation time hell at work - as my department is very small only one person at a time is allowed to schedule time off. For the months of July and August every available day has already been taken so it looks like I'll need to wait until Sept for surgery. This wouldn't be a bad thing except that with an unfilled band I am STARVING all the time. My stomach actually growls.....I haven't heard that in over four years and it freaks me out! I've put on a solid 3 lbs this week but I am determined to get a grip and not totally screw myself up over the next 12 weeks.....wish me luck!

So I've been doing a lot of crying lately. I'm having very conflicting feelings about taking out my band and converting to a sleeve. At first I was thinking - well my band has been good to me, right?? I've lost 90lbs. Yes it can be hard at times. I've noticed in the past year that both my husband and I have been saying "we could have this for dinner but you can't eat it". I guess while living with the band you ignore, or take in stride the things you can't do as part of the price of weight loss. Yes, there are certain things I can't eat but its worth it right? Is there a better option, does it work, and is it worth it? Is eating with a sleeve really better? That ability to eat everything just less of it, kind of what I had been expecting from the band. The more I read and search the more I say WOW, and now I'm starting to become excited about a sleeve and that is where the guilt comes in. I've raved about the band, recommended it. I feel rather odd now saying, whoops it didn't quite work out how I had planned - isn't that partly my fault, technically the band just sits there, didn't I fail. Who's to say I wont screw up the sleeve to?? My husband doesn't understand and the rest of my close support network was used up with the band - their reaction now is "Well don't you know how to eat right now" - silly people, I've always known how to eat right, that doesn't mean anything. See now I'm rambling. I have so many emotions rolling around together right now and I'm having a hard time getting a handle on them. I'm happy that I'm getting the opportunity to revise because secretly this is what I've wanted for a while. I've always put on my brave band face but my band and I haven't been getting along for a while and I feel guilty about being excited and then I'm petrified that I'll just fail again anyway. The risks of a leak and general increased risk due to revision is also on my mind........ Then I see the revisions here that are so happy with their new lives - I was like that for the first 2 years after my band - will it last this time? My horoscope for today is kinda fitting: You may try to avoid an intense emotional interaction today by bringing the conversation back to the basic facts. It's not that you're disinterested in feelings; you just don't want to be overwhelmed by a topic that you cannot easily manage. Consider setting boundaries in a way that allows you to face your fears rather than run from them.

How did it go? Are you all set? Crossing my fingers!

HI - I'm also a new band/sleeve revision hopeful. Nice to meet you! My surgeon is submitting my paperwork right now and in 2-3 weeks I should be able to schedule my revision date. I may be the oddity around here. I've never hated my band - I've lost 90 lbs and have kept it off for the past 4+ years. I guess I just learned to live with the food restrictions and PB episodes. Now that I'm unfilled eating so so much easier (to easy says the 3 lbs I've put on). I started having severe reflux 6 months ago and finally went in for an Upper GI - my pouch was dilated all the way around. My doc wanted it out but I didn't until I came home and researched......I fully believe that since I've had this issue I will have more in the future so that is why I have decided on a revision...that and no more PB, stuck first bite, watching people eat while I drool and try not to throw up. It will be nice to have a "normal" relationship with food. Good luck!

Yay - glad your surgery went well - remember - walk, sip, walk, sip. :thumbup1:

Hi - I can sympathize with you. I am revising from a band to the sleeve and get lots of "didn't the band teach you how to eat right?" Huh? So I am not telling many about my revision. Good luck on the 19th!!