starrgirrl

Hi Pete- I'm sure you will attune to what is best for you. I also had a major slip with my band and it was removed 7/2008. At the time, I was told that a revision was not possible due to the guidelines with my surgeon's office & insurance company. I begged them to do something because I was terrified that I would regain the weight. All they could offer me was an appointment with a dietitian who told me how to eat. It's no surprise that it didn't work.... and sadly, I have regained all of the weight + an extra 10 pounds for good measure. I'm now with another surgeon who says that I am a candidate for revision and I'm in their bariatric program. The strange thing is that had I been offered a revision right away after the band slip I would have said yes right away. But 18 months later, I'm not as quick to jump in. While I'm unhappy with the regain, I'm realizing that none of the surgeries are a "magic bullet" solution. Through the bariatric program I'm in a mindful eating class that is really helping me to rewire my relationship with food. So I'm still attuning to what will best serve me for the long term. I'm inclined towards the VSG although the bariatric office that I'm with is more pro-RNY. I'm taking my time and allowing the wisdom to come forward about my next steps. Lots of light to you on your journey. May it be paved with grace!

Hi Michael- Kaiser has several Bariatric Departments in Northern CA. Each has its own policies. From what I understand the South San Francisco department will consider doing VSG on a case-by-case basis, but they do not talk about it in their classes or orientation. I would recommend calling some of Kaiser Bariatric Departments to find out if you would qualify for their program should you switch to Kaiser. I believe the South San Francisco Kaiser program is the biggest in the region and I've heard of people coming from Sacremento to participate. Kaiser also has Bariatric Departments in Fremont and Richmond. There may be more, but that's all I know of at the moment. From what I know of Kaiser & CalPers, you should qualify for their bariatric program. Usually you need to get a referral from your PCP and then you go into their program. The program is well-rounded and provides an excellent level of care. That's really amazing news about UCDavis cancelling all Lap-Band procedures. All the best to you!!

Hi Michele- I was banded in 2004 and released about 60 lbs. I was really happy with my weight loss and the band... but about a year ago I started gaining weight because I could eat more... I also started experiencing bad acid reflux. It turned out the my band had slipped and needed to be removed. I had surgery to take it out in July of this year... I've gained back most of the weight I had lost. I'm not anti-band... but for me, I need to investigate other options. If you click on my name to the left, you can pull up my posts that share more about my jounrey. Lots of light and success to you!

Hi JMH- My heart goes out to you. What a challenging journey! God bless, and you're self-pay, too! I'm not writing with any brilliant insight or answers. I recently had my band out, too, but I was fortunate to have it for four years and my insurance paid for it. Now I'm investigating other options. The thing that I really liked about the band is that it wasn't really altering how my body metabolized the food. I've been reluctant to have pieces of my digestive track removed or rerouted. I'm seriously considering the sleeve. However it's still in the early days of the procedure (meaning that there aren't a lot of people that are 5+ years out). The medical community is watching closely and assembling the data. However it looks very hopeful. The other day I was wondering if I should try and get rebanded, too. Hopefully I could have the band for a few more years -- then ifhave complications again I could go for another procedure... but it's an odd thing to know that I might not keep the band for the long haul. I've been talking with a lot of bandsters who are 4+ years out and there seems to be a lot of us who are experiencing complications. However, I'm sending prayers that whatever procedue you are guided to do, it works beautifully for you!!!

Hi Marlena- I'm not a medical expert on the sleeve or the band, but I'm a former bandster who is also investigating the sleeve. To help with my research, I subscribe to the medical journal, Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases. As it's a medical journal, the articles are intended for doctors, therefore the language is sometimes hard for me to understand due to all the medical terms. However, it has been very helpful to be able to read about all the studies that are happening regarding WLS. In this month's issue, there is an article about bariatric surgery reducing the cancer risk in morbidly obese patients. I mention it in case you feel guided to buy the article or get an annual subscription. I paid around $148 U.S. for my subscription and it's been worth every penny. It's allowed me to gain a better understanding of the developments in bariatric surgery. I figure if I'm going to have pieces of my anatomy removed, I want to learn all I can about the process. Their web site is www.soard.org Wishing you well on your journey! Laurel

Hi- I thought I would post an update to my June post on this thread. In July I had my band removed. It's not the outcome I wanted, but my doctor felt there was too much scarring to give me another one. Since then, I've regained quite a bit of weight and I'm almost back at my starting weight pre-band. It's so hard... I'm now investigating the gastric sleeve. All this and I'm still pro-band. However, I do suggest that before having the band or any other WLS that you research this in depth. I subscribed to the Obesity-related medical journals so that I could read the studies coming out about the various WLS methods. Don't rely upon these boards for your statistics. Speak with your surgeon and read the medical reports for yourself. My surgeon cooborated what I've read in several journal articles that complication rates for bands are as high as 25%. And a good number of patients will require intervention at the four or five year mark and beyond. If you are a long-time bandster and experiencing complications or weight gain, please don't hide out from your doctor. Please get evaluated. Wishing you all the best~

Hi Vampyrekiss- Sending lots of prayers to your situation. Did your doctor do a floroscopy to see if your band is properly situated? If things have resolved with the unfill, you may be able to keep it. I had my band removed in July due to a slip, and I've gained back most of my weight. It's been challenging. What I'm really missing is the "full" signal that I received from the band (even will little fill). So now I'm back to managing my food intake the old fashioned way. It may be that you or your husband will find another job after the first of the year that will give you even better health insurance. Whatever decision you make, affirm that it is the best one for you... Attune to your guidance and knowing. :smile2:

I was originally banded in 2/2004 and had my band removed due to slippage July 2008. The band worked great for me for the first three years. In the fourth year, I was able to eat much more and began experiencing reflux. Tests showed that the band had slipped. At the time, my surgeon (at Kaiser) shared with me that complication rates for the band are as high as 25%. I agree with the original poster, us long-time bandsters are seeing higher complication rates than originally anticipated. Prior to the removal I did quite a bit of research. One of the best places I found was the Surgery for Obesity and Releated Diseases Journal (SOARD). It is a medical journal, so it has a lot of scientific language, but I learned a lot by reading through it. An annual subscription is $148, but well worth it. Afterall, we're looking at a lifetime commitment to the procedure. I've been having a challenging time. Prior to have the surgery I was at 260. My lowest weight post banding was 200, but I was very happy there. I'm now back up to 250 and don't know what to do. Kaiser in the SF area has a policy of not doing revisions. However, I see that someone in the LA area is getting one, so I'm going to see about filing an appeal. The problem is that I don't quite know what I want to have done. The sleeve has tremendous appeal, but it is relatively new. It seems that most of my research indicates that almost all procedures have a rebound effect a few years from the original surgery. But a part of me wants even those few years of freedom from lugging around all this weight. I've also researched the various clinical trials, but most of them won't accept people who have had previous WLS. I share this not to dissuade anyone from getting the band. If I were new to WLS, I might give it a try again. I just keep praying that the wise doctors and researchers who are focused on finding treatments for obesity hit the jackpot soon. I would love someone to invent a patch that can be worn against the skin that helps to balance hormone and body chemistry levels so that we don't want to eat all the time. One thing is clear, this really does seem to be heavily influenced by body chemistry. P.S. One more thing about band removal. Quite often there is scarring that affects the liver and stomach. The scarring can prevent future banding. This is what has happened to me. If you do have or get the band, please pay close attention to your body. If you experience PBing, sliming, acid reflux, insist on a floroscopy to make sure the band is being properly maintained.

I didn't know that my band had slipped until it showed up under florouscopy. I went to the doctor because I didn't have much restriction. I had been diagnosed with a stretched esophogus, but didn't realize I had a slip. I was gaining weight and had developed acid reflux. I'm so sad... my band was taken out a few months ago and I've been gaining weight. My insurance won't pay for a revision and so I'm not sure what to do.

Dear Cat- I'm afraid that I don't have any solutions... However I am here to tell you that you're not alone. I was originally banded in 2/2004 and had my band removed on 7/3/08. I haven't had the courage to step on the scale, but my clothes are all tighter on me. The experience of hunger is scaring me. For most of my banded time, I stopped eating around 5 pm... I wasn't able to process food later in the day and if I did try and eat an evening meal, I had to stay up past my bedtime. Now I'm getting hungry again around 6pm and need to eat an evening meal. I was uprepared emotionally to feel that kind of hunger again. Just typing this makes me want to cry. People are giving me well-meaning advice, but I just can't seem to make them understand how terrifying it is to think that my only option right now to control the number creeping up on the scale is something akin to Weight Watchers. Well, shucks, if that had worked in the first place I wouldn't have required surgery. Due to scarring, I'm not a candidate for rebanding, at least not through my health care provider. I'm sending lots of prayers to all of us experiencing this challenge!!!