Nancy Coleman Burke

My story started back in 2004 when I became a research patient at Tufts New England Medical Center in Boston, MA.  I was in a group that was testing the Gastric Pacer, a medical device that was implanted into the abdomen and had lead wires attached to the stomach wall to stimulate the stomach and force it into thinking it was full.  The stimulation came from a small battery device that was implanted in my abdominal wall.  The device was controlled by a hand-held programming device (much like your TV programmer) to increase or decrease the voltage going to the leads in the stomach to stimulate more or less, as required.
 
The device did not work as they had planned.  It is now being offered by Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA and the difference is that they learned to attach the lead wires to the NERVES of the stomach, rather than just the stomach muscle.  This device is made for the people who need to lose less then 100 lbs.  They say it's working...
 
While I was having the Gastric Pacer removed as part of the research trial ending, they implanted the gastric Lap-Band.  I have had this for 6 or 7 years and at first lost around 30 lbs. and as of now, have regained it.  It did not work well for me.
 
I went through all the hoops to get the Lap-Band removed and revised to the Gastric Sleeve, but when it was submitted for insurance approval, it was denied.  Long story.  
 
There's nothing to do but take matters into my own hands and control my own life, rather than be at the whim of insurance companies.
 
I would love to go to TJ and get the band-to-sleeve revision next month and I am following a few groups to see what I see.
 
So far, I think I've found exactly what I want.
 
Thanks for asking.
 
Nancy Burke