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Heather, Definitely! Glad to know we are not alone:) I am still nervous about the revision and I am sure I will be freaking out before surgery but I am not letting fear stop me. I actually regret not get bypass done first time around.

Wow listening to you all is really helpful and encouraging. I was banded in 2007 lost some weight I think it was mostly due to liquid diet after surgery, been struggling with it ever since. I have been feeling like a failure for many years now with it. I moved so I had to go to another dr for follow up, he made me feel that it was my fault that I don't know how to use the band, I had lots of heartburn so we emptied the band.... And I never went back to that dr. A year went by, more weight came on... I finally decided I have had enough and started doing research on revision surgery even though I was terrified. I was shocked to learn that revisions are very common now, so many people have issues with them (the band) and many surgeons don't even offer it anymore. Before I learned this I felt like I was all alone in the world and that it was my fault that I could not make it work. My husband has been telling me for years to get this band removed because I would have all these stuck episodes, be in so much pain and still obese. So finally I made up my mind, found a new doctor last August who is great, but about an hour drive, well worth it... Did all insurance requirements and now 2nd week into insurance review... Really hoping for approval on the first try, if they do approve I most likely will be having surgery in May as well. I already have my pre op clearances scheduled for mid April. Cannot wait to get this done and start over again and hopefully this time get there and stay there. I so appreciate everyone sharing your experiences and stories, definitely need this support!

I was banded in July 2005. I was never successful with the band. I might have lost 20 lbs all together with the band. I did a lot of dieting, just as I had my entire life, but I would only lose while I was eating 500 calories a day and then gain it back. At one point I was even heavier than when I started. I weighed 309 the day of my lap band. Eating bad things was fine, but as soon as I tried to eat lean Protein or vegetables it was uncomfortable going down or would get stuck. I felt like a failure once again. How was it possible to be such a loser that I couldn't even be successful at weight loss even after wl surgery. After 10 years lost with the band I decided to go to Mexico to have a revision to gastric done. The insurance that I have will not cover anything to do with obesity. The great news is after the revision the weight has been coming off steadily. I weighed 288 the day of surgery and at a little over 4 1/2 months I'm down to 227! The gastric has been better than I could have imagined. Anyone who has had the band and not had success please don't waste any more time. I spent 10 years being disgusted with myself because I didn't lose the weight that everyone bragged about, I've since seen that there are many of us who weren't successful. I eat about the same as I did with the band, but now I actually lose weight! Sent from my VS880 using the BariatricPal App Wow you sounds like me, I am waiting for insurance approval for revision, sure hope i get approval and have surgery in May:) it's been waaay too long with this band

I think you might want to consult with Lindstrom associates they deal with bunch of these type of cases and appeals they might help, I hear good things about them on forums

Does it say anywhere how long they have for review?

Sounds like this might be heartburn. That's how i found out I had heartburn, I had that knot in my throat that just wouldn't go away. Try taking some over the counter heartburn meds for few days and see if it helps.

I just tried to look up the benefits for this insurance it is very weird, doesn't mention any requirements pretty much states prior approval required and they will determine if it's medically necessary. That's a tough one

Oh no! Sad for the surgeon but still bummer

Bummer, just called insurance to get status. They did receive paperwork but they do have 30 days to review, so they are still reviewing. Good thing my surgeons office told me to go ahead and schedule nutrition class and pulmonologist appt already which are pre op clearances, and earliest they had was April 19.

Awesome!What has been your pre op like? How long did you have to do liquid diet? I am excited for you! Please let us know how everything goes!

Hey Pinkgirl!I actually did well at my weigh in so that was good. They submitted my paperwork to insurance on 3/18 still waiting... Really hoping I get approval first time around... I feel butterflies in my stomach

It's been a week today since the submittal... The wait is driving me crazy

Interesting thing, I never had heartburn until I got lap band... Especially the last few years it's been bad had to empty my band twice completely and heartburn got better after emptying. Heartburn is the main reason I revising to bypass but also I feel that sleeve is such a hype right now like lap band was back in the day, plus sleeve is not good for those that are prone to heartburn, I don't want to go through another revision in the future. Hope you are feeling more at peace about your surgery, I can't wait to have a date. Right now I am waiting for approval for insurance... It will be a week on Friday... It's like watching Water boil.... But I already have my appointments set up for surgery clearance in middle of April so if everything goes well I am thinking end of April beginning of May I should have my surgery. Can't wait for s new beginning.....

I am currently waiting for my revision from band to bypass in 4 weeks time. What really shocked me was finding out that way back in 2010 a Swiss study on gastric bands found that 80% would be removed within 10 years of initial insertion! So the manufacturers of these bands have been pushing a medical product that they know is dodgy for 6 years. Almost as bad as the tobacco industry! Having said that I'm still terrified of the bypass because it is so permanent. Any tips or advice on the bypass? How has it impacted on your life...especially when going out with friends? Sent from my GT-I9505 using the BariatricPal App I am also in process of revision to RNY and I am also terrified which is why I went with the band but after all these years of suffering and still being overweight I am facing my fears. I cannot let fear stop me this time around, I have had it :)hope your fear goes away, I hear it's so much better without that annoying band

It really depends on your insurance, check your booklet if they cover subsequent bariatric surgery, if they do, they will list the requirements. For me in addition to doing all pre op requirements (3 month diet, psych eval etc) it stated that I have to show that I have been obese for 2 years prior to the surgery and that I complied with the requirements of my first surgery. My surgeons office submitted paperwork on Friday so right now we are waiting to see if they will approve it. I am glad you made a decision to look into it, it took me many years to convince myself (I was banded in 2007) and overcome a fear of having RNY (that's why I didn't have it first time around) Seems my only other clearances I have to do now before surgery is meet with pulmonologist and take s nutrition class to learn how to eat after surgery.

Thank you! I can't believe it took me so many years to build courage to go through with this. Hope the ins won't make me go through appeals and hoops.

How much have you lost with the bypass if you don't mind me asking? And how long did it take? I am on process of fulfilling insurance requirements in order to get revision to RNY and I am nervous I won't lose will even with bypass. I have extremely slow metabolism, I hit a plateau 2nd week after lap band surgery, hearing that the weight loss is slower after revision makes me very nervous. I have about 120 lbs I want to lose to be at goal. Guess I need some emotional pick me up here

@@PinkGirl Since you are the expert, I need to lose at least 3 lbs for Thursday for my last weigh in with the dietitian for my supervised diet, even though I was good on my scale at home I gained 3 so I want to be safe. Any suggestions on how to drop 3 fast?

@@PinkGirl Since you are the expert, I need to lose at least 3 lbs for Thursday for my last weigh in with the dietitian for my supervised diet, even though I was good on my scale at home I gained 3 so I want to be safe. Any suggestions on how to drop 3 fast? @@PinkGirl Since you are the expert, I need to lose at least 3 lbs for Thursday for my last weigh in with the dietitian for my supervised diet, even though I was good on my scale at home I gained 3 so I want to be safe. Any suggestions on how to drop 3 fast? @@PinkGirl Since you are the expert, I need to lose at least 3 lbs for Thursday for my last weigh in with the dietitian for my supervised diet, even though I was good on my scale at home I gained 3 so I want to be safe. Any suggestions on how to drop 3 fast?

I am with BCBS and going through revision from band to bypass. I have to meet all requirements as if I haven't had WLS before, they require 3 month diet which I am finishing up this week.

I actually can relate. I had my band emptied and I still can't eat most foods like salad or Proteins that are not drenched in some sauce or dressing. Right now as I type this I have Hard boiled egg stuck I my band...it's always been an issue since I had it placed in 2007. I am currently in process of going through revision to RNY due to insufficient weight loss and heartburn. I still have to go through all of the insurance requirements same as first time around. We will be submitting to insurance in about 2 weeks so will see if I get approval. Insurance does need to see you have been compliant with the post op requirements etc. I would start looking into it more.

I am in the process of going through insurance approval for my revision from band to RNY. My surgeon does it in 1 surgery unless something will come up during surgery that will require the 2 step. Hope everything goes well with you. I had my band placed in 2007 I think I have been regretting it since, should have gone with RNY all along but I was too scared.

Yeah sounds like some legal action needs to take place with these people.

Wow sorry you are going through this. It's horrible:( BCBS of what?