duckhnt

So I was banded 8 years ago. No real complications...got to a the median estimated weight loss over time. Began to creep up a pound here and there and figured would "upgrade" to a new long term solution with the sleeve being the direction I was pointed. Main reasons were that I know that at some point the band will fail etc as it is a mechanical device...and secondly to get ahead on the weight regain curve. Saved up on self pay, got my unfill about a month ago now in preparation for a Feb 19th sleeve revision surgery which is scheduled. Now here is the problem...and question.. prior to banding I had severe gerd...to the point where I was afraid to go to bed at night. Woke up with acid in my sinuses 3 times a week, choking on stomach acid whole nine yards. I thought it was because I was fat and was one of the driving reasons for my weight loss surgery. In my banding surgery they found a hernia and repaired it. Cool that must be my reason right? Fat and hernia... Never had Gerd or heartburn post banding...well, until after my unfill that is. Just about after every meal I have heartburn to some degree. Havent had a night time gerd episode "yet" but after reading all the GERD stories on sleeves I am hyper nervous. To the point of looking at all options to include blowing the surgery off...Does anyone have any experience, stories from yourself or even other friends where something similar occurred ?? Any suggestions at all? I haven't talked to my doctor yet as I want to kind of have my mind in a strong direction before doing so. I am thinking about bypass, but it seems the most extreme and frankly freaks me out a bit. My BMI is 34.5 currently...Also what if I try to go back into lapband fills after the break? Maybe it will be like a new banding? but that contradicts one of the reason I wanted a revision in the first place, lol.. Anyone tried unfill to refill strategy ? Any thoughts or comments are appreciated!

So I was banded 8 years ago. No real complications...got to a the median estimated weight loss over time. Began to creep up a pound here and there and figured would "upgrade" to the sleeve. Main reasons were that I know that at some point the band will fail etc as it is a mechanical device...and secondly to get ahead on the weight regain curve. Saved up on self pay, got my unfill about a month ago now in preparation for a Feb 19th surgery which is scheduled. Now here is the problem...and question.. prior to banding I had severe gerd...to the point where I was afraid to go to bed at night. Woke up with acid in my sinuses 3 times a week, choking on stomach acid whole nine yards. I thought it was because I was fat and was one of the driving reasons for my weight loss surgery. In my banding surgery they found a hernia and repaired it. Cool that must be my reason right? Fat and hernia... Never had Gerd or heartburn post banding...well, after my unfill that is. Just about after every meal I have heartburn to some degree. Havent had a night time gerd episode "yet" but after reading all the GERD stories on sleeves I am hyper nervous. To the point of looking at all options to include blowing the surgery off...Does anyone have any experience, stories from yourself or even other friends?? Any suggestions at all? I haven't talked to my doctor yet as I want to kind of have my mind in a strong direction before doing so. I am thinking about bypass, but it seems the most extreme. My BMI is 34.5 currently...Also what if I try to go back into lapband fills after the break? Maybe it will be like a new banding? Any thoughts or comments are appreciated!

Called Weight loss surgery Center of Hampton Roads today to try and talk to DR Clark...said he left the practice. Anyone know where he went or have contact info?

did you maybe do some yardwork or something outside that used your stomach muscles which you dont typically use? Mine will hurt from time to time from raking leaves, stuff like that..

Alright...got something weird going on for the first time. Was hoping others may have some insight. Banded a year ago...been loosing weight, everything has been fine. Just this week I have had issue drinking water/etc. When liquid hits the bottom of my stomach there is a really weird and uncomfortable feeling..like when you swallow a horse size pill and you can feel the pill kind of stuck. Its that feeling with every sip...not with food, just with liquids and it has been there for about 5 days now... Its been 6 weeks since I last had an adjustment, so its not that and my restriction is still fine. Its just a feeling that there is a horse pill stuck in my stomach after every single sip. Anyone have any thoughts what that could be about?

If your doing fills in his office and not in the hospital he is probably not doing a fluro x-ray right? If thats the case he really cant see the restriction your having so he is taking it slow is my guess. Just take smaller fills and go back more often. Whenever you start getting hungry between meals, go get another fill. They are free anyway right? Get one every other week!

sounds like your constipated...happens a fair amount in new bandings...increase your fiber or take an exlax and see if it doesnt go away after a good clean out.

if you just emailed him on Friday...chances are he wouldnt have replied yet

Ready for this...just got a BILL for mine...insurance wont cover it and it is 875.00:scared2: 350 for the fill, 275 for one xray and 250 for the other...that sounds like a racket to me!

youll be back at the station in a week saving your comp time for funner things!

Alright guys...was hoping for a little insight. I am 5 days post op. I have been up and running just fine since day 1 really. Had surgery in the AM and was back to work that afternoon. Havent had any pain issues really, been working in the yard and around the house everyday with no problems. Today I have something a little weird though I need opinions on. The largest of the 5 incisions is about 2 inches above my belly button and to my right about 2 inches. I have an unyielding itchy hurt to it. Is that just the port settling in (I assume thats my port incision) My belly is still tight as the gas is still going away so I havent really poked and prodded it, and am a little nervous to do that anyway. I would have expected the pain to have been there at day 1 and be going away, not coming on day 5...thoughts? Thanks all

same thing happened to me...with heavier men often times its the pressure from pants or jeans that are buttoned to tight that can lead to an inflamation..that coupled with pressure from a full intestine just puts a lot of pressure on it. Just a few pounds less and less tightness in the wasteline helps the prostate breath and get better...if it comes back wear baggy shorts for a week it may help

to be able to move again like a porn star! :tongue2: Boom chicka wow wow!! :biggrin:

I know there is a lot of women on this forum, I am not one...but none the less am experiencing some heavy anxiety. I started going through the obstacles of insurance authorization fully 9 months ago. My insurance company originally said no, then I went to the parent company of my insurance company for approval, bla, bla...Here is the deal, I just got my authorization letter Monday from the parent insurance company. The authorization was quick and unexpected frankly. I have been going on doctor visit and nutritionist visits, and psyc evals for what seems like eternity, I never thought I would actually get approved and move forward really. Now the fear and realization has set in and I am having second thoughts. I am rationalizing things like 1) The parent company authorized it, but the insurance provider will deny it and I will get stuck with the whole bill, dont do it. 2) You're not really that fat (6-1 & 275) you dont really need it, just get some exercise equipment and give it 6 mos. 3) You're going to have to eat crappy for the rest of your life, what are you thinking, you are not that big 4)No Diet Coke anymore....are you CRAZY?? 5) you really want to change everything so radically? Am I weird or what...I am closer to chickening out at this point then going through with it!

I posted this on the insurance forum...but didnt get a response so I hoped I might get a little more exposure on the main forum...If anyone can help I would appreciate it!! Has anyone had any experience with approval through Healthnet/First Health? My company is based in CA and I am on the east coast ...as such it is my understanding that First Health is the contract provider for healthnet since I am remote from my corporate HQ. I have been trying to get an answer on what the criteria are to be banded and I am not sure they even know. I have gotten 3 answers literally from representatives of First health and Healthnet. The least stringent was a phone conversation where the rep said only "100 lbs overweight or under 100 with co morbidities". The worst response said something to the effect that I "had to be twice my ideal weight and 5 years worth of morbid obesity records!!" Has anyone actually gotten approved and know what it in fact does take through healthnet/first health...or even understand the dynamic interaction between those two organizations as it pertains to a patient?? If the later is the way healthnet is going to be I think I am going to end up haveing a real problem getting banded through insurance :thumbup: Thanks for any help!

My wife teaches sex ed in high school and swears by the new nuva ring. NuvaRing

Has anyone had any experience with approval through Healthnet/First Health? My company is based in CA and I am on the east coast...as such it is my understanding that First Health is the contract provider for healthnet since I am remote from my corporate HQ. I have been trying to get an answer on what the criteria are and I am not sure they even know. I have gotten 3 answers literally from representatives of First health and Healthnet. The least stringent was a phone conversation where the rep said 100 lbs overweight or under 100 with co morbidities. The worst said that I had to be twice my ideal weight and 5 years worth of morbid obesity records!! Has anyone actually gotten approved and know what it in fact does take through healthnet/first health...or even understand the dynamic interaction between those two organizations as it pertains to a patient?? Thanks for any help!