Carrie_C

I would think your insurance would cover the removal since you are actually having problems with it. I am in the same boat, I want mine out and I don't want anymore weight loss surgery. I am waiting for my insurance to kick in and then I am having it out. I am sick of being in pain and being miserable. Even if my new insurance won't cover the removal, I will borrow the money or run up my credit cards. I don't care. I just want it out.

I agree with you. This is no way to live. And you are right, the doctors are no help. All they see is a fat person and blame all problems on that. And it is embarrassing. I hate it. I also just started a new job and my insurance hasn't started yet either, so I have no idea if it will cover the removal. Even if it doesn't, I am still having it removed. I don't care if I have to run up all my credit cards or borrow the money. I would rip it out myself right this minute if I could.

I was honestly in tears while doing this search and found this blog. Im so sick of this band! The pain and the embarrassment from the vomiting and burping is just ruining my life. The pain is just so much and Im just at my wits end. We just relocated for a new job and the health benefits havent kicked in but even then doctors are already saying the insurance wont cover the removal.

I honestly feel like Im dying. This just cant be a normal way to live! These terrible chest pains cannot be good for my heart. Ive gone to the ER several times and it seems like the docs there cant get over their weight loss bias. Its the same prior to loosing any weight! They just see an obese person that they think they are to good to help.

I really want my life back. I dont want my husband and kids to keep looking at me with sorrow in their eyes!

I cant stop crying because I just do not know what to do.

Yea my quality of life is really bad. I don't want another weight loss surgery either. I figure I can keep the weight off and hopefully even lose what I have gained since hopefully I will be able to eat healthy food once it is out. If the weight doesn't stay off, I would honestly just rather be fat than have to ever deal with this again.

HI!

I'm sorry to hear how miserable you've been and I totally understand. I had my band removed after 3 years. My surgeon would not help me; he said my problems were not related to the band.

I went to a different surgeon who ordered a barium swallow test that not only showed the band position, but also the actual functioning of the band. He was able to make the argument that it was medically necessary to remove it; my insurance paid.

This different surgeon does a lot of weight loss surgery, including placing bands. He knew right away from hearing my description of what I had been going thru that the band needed to come out -- so, no, he did not give me a hard time.

The removal was much easier for me than the placing. I took around 2 1/2 weeks off work, as I recall. I do clerical work. I think I also did couple of half days when I returned. So I'd suggest taking 3 weeks off - and go back earlier if you feel you can.

The recovery was fine. I rested and took pain meds, but was able to quickly taper off. My surgeon ordered 5 walks a day, which was the best order I've ever had! I'd do 5 ten-minute walks which got me walking 2 miles a day without realizing it! It also helped structure my day so that I wasnt just sitting around and losing my stamina, etc.

I hope this helps! Good for you for realizing you need to do something to resolve the issues you're having. I'm so sorry you've gone thru such misery.

I remember being so excited about my weight loss, but at the same time I was in a lot of discomfort all the time.

My body rejected the band; I didn't have the sliming or food getting stuck, etc.

The decision to get a band was a good one --- and the decision to have it removed was also a good one.

If you decide to have the band removed, please be patient with yourself as you acclimate to not having that tool. My body is still healing after 2 years; give yourself some time

~hiddn

Thank you for your reply. I was also very excited about the weight loss, even though I always felt miserable. I think my surgeon will be willing to help me. They do a lot of different weight loss surgeries, and I think they also do a lot of band removals. I am just worried about insurance paying. But at this point, I am ready to beg, borrow, or steal to have it out. Did you have another type of weight loss surgery once yours was removed?

Does your surgeon know all this? If so, it seems negligent on his part to not have it checked to see if it was placed wrong or slipped.

I never saw my surgeon again except once soon after my surgery. I always saw the nurses. They knew the problems I was having then, but they always seemed confident that all I needed was an unfill. I wanted it to work so badly that I never pushed the issue. It is partly my fault, but they also just acted like nothing serious was ever wrong.

I have had the lap band for 7 years, and after years of misery, I have decided to have this stupid thing removed. I haven't called for an appointment yet. I just started a new job and my insurance will soon kick in. As soon as it does, I am calling to make an appointment with the surgeon who put it in. I have had nothing but problems since day 1. Every single fill I got was too tight. I would be fine the first day, but then the next day I wouldn't be able to keep a thing down, not even Water. I would be in terrible pain, and I always had to go back in to have some Fluid removed. This went on for about the first year, then I decided to not even bother with going back in for another fill since I had so many problems. In 2010, it got to the point where I couldn't keep much down and I was having to drink something hot just to get a few bites of food down. So I went in and had the rest of the Fluid taken out. I still have constant problems, even with no fluid. Some days I can eat anything with very little problems. Other days, most days, I can't get a thing down. I constantly slime and burp. It doesn't matter how good I chew or how slow I eat, it is always the same thing. food always gets stuck. I don't go out to eat with people because I know I will have to run to the bathroom, and it is embarrassing. The only person I will eat with is my husband, and even then it is embarrassing, but he is used to it. I initially lost about 65 pounds. But the only times I would lose was when I had a fill and the band was so tight, I couldn't eat. I would lose about 10 pounds in a week. Then once I had some fluid removed and could eat a little, I lost very little weight. In the last year, my band has gotten tighter, and I have had even more problems. I have gained about 40 pounds back. But it is because most of the time, all I can keep down is junk. I can sit here and eat ice cream all day with no problem, but I can't keep a vegetable down to save my life. My eating habits are now worse than ever, because junk is all I can eat. My cholesterol is high and my triglycerides are through the roof. Plus I have always had constant port pain.

What I'm wondering is, those that have had it removed, did your insurance pay? This is the main reason I have put off getting it out is because I'm not sure if insurance will pay to remove it. Did your surgeon give you a hard time about having it removed? What was recovery like? How long should I take off work? (I am a nurse on a stroke floor). I so wanted this band to work. I have been in denial for a lot of years, but the simple truth is, it isn't working. Thanks for reading.

You have more in your band that I do. I only have a little over 4 ccs in mine. I did have more, but it was too tight. I have a very thin line between too tight and just right.

Hi. My understanding is that the AVERAGE weight loss is in the neighborhood of 50-60% of excess weight, and that that is considered a good result (though not the one we all hope for). So, for example, if one is 100 lbs over their ideal weight, he or she can reasonably expect to lose in the neighborhood of 50-60 lbs. over two years (I can come back with citations - this is from memory). As this is an average, we can expect to see people fall on either side of this average - including people who lose (for example) 110% of excess weight and people who've actually gained a bit. It would be interesting to know what variables are associated with different outcomes (like exercise or food choices, for example).

If that wasn't exactly encouraging, I do hope its helpful.

I agree. Maybe some of our bodies just reach a certain set point that it's comfortable with.

Thanks, you all are right. I think I will call the doctor and go have a small amount taken out next week. I have just become SO frustrated!

I am wondering also if my band might be too tight. There are a lot of times I just eat slider foods because that's all I can keep down. But I'm afraid if I go have some Fluid removed, it won't be tight enough.

I am beginning to think you are right. It seems the first part of the weight came off good with just moderate exercise. I think I just need to make a bigger commitment to working out every day.

I had surgery a little over 2 years ago. I lost 70 pounds within about a year and a half. My goal is to be at 150, but I honestly don't think I will ever get there. I have not had a fill in over a year. I do not need one. I have good restriction and there are even days where I can barely eat anything. In fact, a lot of times I have to drink something hot before I eat or I can't keep anything down. I have been at basically the same weight for about a year. I will gain and lose the same 3-4 pounds every few weeks. I know I need to exercise more, but I just wonder, is this as good as it gets?

I think she's just jealous, lol.

That's great! My weight loss has stopped. I really need to exercise more. I have a lot of loose skin on my upper arms and legs. But clothes hide it pretty well.

PB stands for productive burp. It's not the same as throwing up. Basically something gets stuck and you burp to bring it back up. A lot of people say it's like throwing up, and while it's not the most pleasant thing, it's not as bad as throwing up. It happens to me sometimes when I don't chew enough.

My problem is I still have restriction, but I'm not losing anymore. So I don't think a fill would be good for me. So I don't really know why my weight loss stopped.

My insurance won't pay for my pills either. I am a nursing student and I'm not working right now, so I can't afford to pay for them. So I just went to the health department and got them. Maybe you could do that? They gave me a years supply for like $40.

After a couple bites of any 6" sub it would be slime city for me.:ohmy: It might even be worse than slime city. :eek:

I'm with you on this one!

I don't really consider it fast food. I think it's somewhere in the middle. I don't eat there anymore because I can't eat the bread. I know they have salads now, but they are just too expensive. I eat Wendy's grilled chicken salads sometimes, but they are huge as well. I never realized how big portion sizes are until I got the band. No wonder America is so overweight and unhealthy.

Is this the first time you've been on birth control? I take ortho tri-cycle lo, which is just a lower dose of the ones you are on, and I haven't really noticed a difference.

If you have comorbidities such as diabetes or high blood pressure, you should qualify at your current weight. But just another thought, if you are only 5 pounds away from qualifying, why not just gain 5 pounds? Others probably won't agree, but I think that's what I would do. As far as the weights, if you do use them, you will probably only need them the first visit. But I don't know if I would put weights in my pockets. They may make you empty them.

I think it's totally normal. I was the same way the first week. Your stomach is just swollen from having the surgery, giving you some natural restriction. But it does get better. The first few weeks are the hardest. Hang in there!

I think everyone is scared at first that they won't succeed with the band. I was too. But once you start losing, it will motivate you more. Good luck!

I was banded 2 years ago. I am still not at my goal, but I am happy. Did you reach your goal?

I don't mean to offend you and I'm not judging, I was just wondering what your reasons are for not getting a fill?

I have been banded 2 years, and I can honestly say I have never heard of this! I agree with you, it sounds like they need some help other than the band! :scared2: