Bkhuffman

So I found out about 2 weeks ago my 2008 band has slipped. I'm completely unfilled and can eat like a beast. I've gained 4lbs since unfill. I'm working with a new surgeon and insurance to get approved to take out my band and do the sleeve. My insurance coordinator stated I shouldn't have to wait the six months period because this is complications which I truly hope is correct because in the last week I've felt this strange "pulling pinching" pain from my port area, my left shoulder hurts and reflux is definitely getting worse. I don't know if its my mind because I know the band is "ruined", but I'm getting concerned...should I be? I see my doc the first week of Nov for the monthly check-in in lieu of the six month deal. Advice? Thoughts?

My band has slipped and I'm going to consult with a new doc next week for "fixes". I had a fluoro done Tuesday and when I asked him how to fix, he simply said, "call my office, make an appointment & we will discuss". I admit I was a little alarmed and started asking - Sleeve, fix this band, blah, blah blah. What I'm looking to hear is people's experience with a slipped band=gained weight 40lbs+ for me, and what the outcome was. I'm not uncomfortable, hungry really - I kind of just eat because it sounds good. I have no fluid in the band now. Please share your experiences - good, bad and indifferent. I do "lift" for a living and one of my concerns is recovery time for lugging 20-30lb boxes. THANK YOU - Karen

Visalus - you have to order it online but let me tell you its the best EVER! lowest sugar, carb, high Protein, Fiber, great taste NO after yuck. Let me know if you want my link to order it. $99.00 for 1 months supply - money back guarantee if you don't like it. Karen - I drink it daily, as does my husband and our diabetic daughter who swears by it for being the most "filling" - keeps her sugar in-check too!

I was banded in 08, self pay, its slipped and I was denied for Sleeve. Should I do peer-to-peer with docs/insurance and appeal. I was denied for "non-compliance" - I wasn't having problems and didn't see a surgeon due to proximity and cost. I have coverage now that hasn't paid anything out - help on what to do - appeal?

I was banded in 08, self pay, its slipped and I was denied for Sleeve. Should I do peer-to-peer with docs/insurance and appeal. I was denied for "non-compliance" - I wasn't having problems and didn't see a surgeon due to proximity and cost. I have coverage now that hasn't paid anything out - help on what to do - appeal?

I'm in the same situation - banded 08. big slip a couple months ago - up a solid 50lbs. I'm actually only 27lbs from where I started. very sad. I submitted for sleeve conversion and insurance said no. I can eat, eat, and eat more. Its awful. the doc is now submitted for "fixing this band, but what I'm concerned about is - this one slipped what if it happens again... I actually mentioned to my husband I wanted to find out about "Care Credit" and finance the 16k - even though I have bariatric coverage - its BS! And the topper...I paid cash for this band. New insurance from my husband's employer that has paid NOTHING toward my Bariatric coverage.

So I feel like I'm ranting, but I'm really searching for information. My 08 band has slipped, pouch is stretch, so-on & so forth. Insurance WILL NOT pay for revision to sleeve - denied for not seeing doctor for 3 years, might not cover fixing of this band and will only cover "emergent" to take the band out. The PA said I can live on a 2-4 week liquid diet, high protein, low cards and they'd try to submit for insurance to cover going in a repositioning this band. Is this safe? They think I can live with the "complications" of the slip by not over eating, swelling my belly/pouch, and making better choices. When, or IF, the band causes such discomfort they will submit for emergent surgery to take out. I'm really lost, pissed, and getting fatter by the day - what would you do? Do I fight with insurance doctors? My next appointment is Nov 4th to review my liquid weeks and see how I'm feeling. If I choose good foods and don't over eat the symptoms are much less, burping, pain in back/shoulder, reflux, but if I do what overweight people do - EAT and eat wrong then I pay. Thoughts anyone?

I still have no word on revising this band. I checked with insurance coordinator yesterday and she said its still in pending. I'm not having terrible problems if I don't overeat, but I'm steadily gaining. Probably up another 2-3lbs. I have no self control and I just sit in front of a desk all day long. I'm about to start popping dextrim - LOL...I'm sure sometime in my weight loss trial and errors I did that.

people that "don't need a WLS" don't understand the addiction to food. we need food to live, we HAVE to grocery shop and cook for our family therefore a "trigger" is always upon us - A good smell. A beautifully presented meal. But you can stay out of the drug corners or ABC liquors and go to your meetings right? Boy you hit a bad spot for me. I've battled obesity ALL MY LIFE - since age 4. At age 8 I dreaded the bus drills because we had to jump out of the back of bus. I started dieting at age 16 when I was over 200lb. I dieted, did the magic pills, Atkins, South Beach, Shakes - WW again, Jenny, Nutra, WW again. Then I had the band. NOW IT'S broke...and I'm gaining weight every day. The next time someone so cruel and insensitive says something like that to you don't take it to heart. What you and many of us did was a procedure that could save our lives. Tell that heartless person they are clueless in many degrees.

okay this is how I hide them from my kids - you can add finely chopped carrots to say chili meat or taco meat - noway to tell. You can make beef stew with just taters/beef - but make a veggie fiesta and puree it. Carrots, onions, pepper, etc. Then its becomes the broth. Zucc's can be cooked up into this as well and you can make them into muffin's or bread. Search onlilne for hiding veggs - I like zucc/yellow squash in a bread crum/parm crust baked in the oven. Gotta try to get creative.

I'm in FL too, going thru similar. My band is slipped and my insurance will only cover taking it out if its "emergent" surgery. The last submittal they are doing is to fix the band. I guess its called 'Revision' - I don't even know anymore. What I do know is that if my eating is out of control I'm in such pain its ugly! But nobody said the word "eroding". Does that mean literally falling apart? If you have bariatric coverage I'd get a second opinion and definitely fight with the insurance company. Keep us posted. Right now I'm getting fatter by the minute with no result in sight - pretty sad. I was a self-pay - 14k down the tubes and my ass is just getting larger.

my burgers and fries day was "fat person frenzy" - what I find hilarious is the doctor telling me to live on liquid - hello Doc I had a weight loss surgery because I don't control myself. I haven't had another B & F's night therefore the reflux/pain has been minimal. I'm doing my best trying to control my eating, but I love food, I eat because it smells good, looks good, tastes great. I need to have this fixed, but I'm thinking the insurance is going to deny even the revision of my "broken band". I will update when I know and maybe its time for good ole' weight watchers again. I did join a gym and have been 2x in a week, wanted to get that third visit in, but life hit me hard - kid broke his foot & ankle.

I am in your shoes. Self pay 08. Band slipped. New Insurance, with coverage. BUT - I'm a bad "band patient" - I had my surgery in SW FL in 08. In 2010 I moved to BFE, Vermont - the woods basically. Didn't see about new insurance covering anything and closes doc was 100 miles one way - yeah - NOT! In the snow and sleet. So I had no problems therefore no doc. BAD GIRL! So I get back to FL - praise the lord - and with coverage - AND TON'S OF PROBLEMS. My band slipped and I've gained over 40lbs since Feb - and climbing. I can eat ANYTHING - but it hurts. My insurance won't pay for sleeve because I didn't see a doc in over 3 years. They will cover "emergent" surgery to remove, but that means me basically going to the doc and stating I can't live like this I'm in pain all day every day. Which I'm not unless I overeat - their answer - "Don't over-eat" - HELLO...I've been obese my whole life, elected to get cut on to help that so what makes them think I would be able to diet now. Anyway, I''m ranting and raving. SORRY. I'll keep you posted with my development's please do the same. GOOD LUCK TO YOU!

From 08-09 I saw my "self-pay" doc - then I moved from SW FL to Vermont and didn't have coverage or a doctor within a 150 mile trip from my house, not to mention I couldn't afford to go. I didn't have any issue up there. I moved back to FL - other coast, husband got a GREAT JOB - praise the lord!! and I have coverage with Cigna. I started to climb in weight - Feb hovering 200lb - by April 217 - by June 230 - July 233 - finally went to see new Doc here. He ordered a fluoro and I had to wait 6 weeks due to $300 co-pay. At 238 for that test. Now I'm at 243 with a confirmed slip and no way to do anything but have "emergent" surgery to remove because I didn't comply and see a bariatric doctor for 3.4 years ... per the insurance. They won't approve the sleeve, the band HAS TO be causing me issues to get it covered to take it out and who knows if they'll allow the "re-positioning" of bad band - I'm not hopeful they will say yeah. If they will, i'll have the surgery and get this band fixed and start basically ALL OVER. In the mean time, yes, I can consume a whole burger with some fries - but I'm not because I learned real quick that isn't good. I really want the sleeve - but again, I'm not getting it. I've started an exercise program and I'm watching my intake with mostly liquid shakes - and lots of protein. Very discouraged - thanks for advice - I surely do appreciate.

Well I'm not going to give up. I guess I'll try and diet the best I can - which is hard - i'm a food addict BAD. I don't want to gain or hurt, but the whole "liquid" diet thing is not for me. I'm praying they will fix me. the reflux and burning are relatively constant, the pain comes when I over-eat or eat fried. But in all honesty I can eat and entire burger, fries no problem. The band isn't working for me at all and I'm just not sure what to do. Without insurance covering anything I'm SOL. I can't self-pay again. I paid 14k for my band - which really pisses me off b/c why is the insurance saying anything - they didn't drop a dime. I guess I've got a long road ahead of figuring out what to do. thanks for sharing your stories and input. I'm constantly reading on other ppl's stories.

Update on this craziness. Insurance denied everything except "emergent" surgery to remove the band. PA says I can live with slipped band just fine if I adjust my eating and do a liquid diet for 2-4 weeks to shrink the swollen pouch. They are going to try to submit for "repair" to this band. I'm over this crap. I guess I'm going on liquids for a while and see what happens. I started a exercise program yesterday and "shakes" - oh the liquid life...BLAH. 100 g of Protein, 30 carbs - that's what they want for the next month...I'm not a happy camper!

thank you all ladies and gentlemen. as soon as I hear back from the coordinator I will post. I should have picked up the phone and called her rather than alarming her with an email stating my issues. really I should have called her, voice inflection would have been great for this conversation!

Okay - So I may just be a "ticking bomb" - a little befuddled right now. My ins. coordinator spoke to my doc and I now have a "er" number and I need to report to "er" asap. I was like I can't, I have kids, a job, and the pain comes and goes. All I wanted was to NOT wait 6 months to have a broken tool removed - sleeve or no sleeve. HOLY cow I'm in awe. I just called the insurance coordinator back and explained in more detail, along with a request to see the Doc before Nov 4th. Yes, reflux is bad, yes, a sharp pain comes and goes in my shoulder and in my stomach/port area, but I'm working, and living. I just don't want to wait till April of 2014 to take this crap out. OMG...I want to scream right now - NOT at any of you...but the damn lady for blowing it out of proportion - for goodness sake I was able to compose a lengthy email with proper etiquette - had I been in excruciating pain would I have been able to do that?

I've reached out to my insurance coordinator and explained my thoughts - hopefully she'll respond and I can maybe move my next appointment up. My "mind" doesn't like the idea that my body has a broken foreign object in it...I feel like every little gurgle, pinch, stab, etc. is something going further wrong. Thanks for all the pointers.

I must put this out there. I was banded in 08, went from 272 to 185 and loved it. Then life hit me smack pat in the kisser. My husband lost his job & we moved to a very 420 friendly state - literally. South FL to Vermont and I was clinically depressed so I utilized the good ole' for depression - without a "wake & bake" I wouldn't do anything. Once I par took I was up doing my thing get a groove on. However, I ruined my band. Just found out its slipped and being taken out. Now can I say it was from the EXCESSIVE DAILY "medical mary" - no, but I coughed like a fiend! I got stuck because yes the munchies do happen, but Ben & Jerry's was my main friend. Now I didn't gain my weight until recently, but I'm not certain it wasn't to my failed attempts at living normal in a bad place. Now my sad news - band is coming out, hopefully insurance is going to pay for revision to the sleeve, not sure yet and I've gained - 242lbs is my current weight. All I'm saying here is pay attention to your choices and make good ones. A drink, red wine, no vodka tonics, or rum & cokes - leave the carbonation out, and a little puff-puff here and there is one thing, but make good life choices - SPOKEN FROM SOMEONE WHO'S been there, done it. I'm more sad now buying "Fat clothes" again. All said with love

Remove "only" from your dictionary - you've done very well - 23lbs down is almost 2 sizes...I'm up almost 40, I know. I'd be elated to loose 23lbs. Remember your body is in shock too - surgery, dieting, not the norm. Keep positive and get on here for support - this place is great. I chat regularly and love the advice from some very seasoned people!

worth a look: Visalis - or "Body by Vi" - its a new pyramid drink promotor craze that I tried, but quit because I want FOOD...Sugar is very low like great for diabetics, fiber is high, protein super high and they say if you do 2 shakes, 3 snacks and 1 meal you don't even need vitamins - they're packed. Your order the stuff online from a promoter - which I'd be happy to share the wonderful young lady, who is a personal trainer that invited me - def worth a try. When I get the Sleeve and I'm on liquids for a while I'll def use. I have a "GNC Lean Shake" product that I try to use but it give gas - terrible.

Here's my point of view on this. My first surgeon and his staff made me feel (self-pay) after my year I was just another customer in the line. Rushed thru the in-out and no real after-care. He was 1 hour from my home. I stopped going. Then I had a life-altering event happen: we moved from Sunny SW FL to rainy, dreary Green Mountains of Vermont. I was basically raised in SW FL - 38 years. I went into a depression, ate and drank (and shhh, smoked mary) to conquer the horrible living situation while the whole time I was honest with the doctors up there. They wouldn't offer me help - mentally, physically - nothing. Actually approved of the "mary" - go home and take the edge off its better than any prescription pill on the market. THUS - I ate, drank and RUINED my band. I'm not blaming anyone but myself b/c I let my body get the best of me. NOW TO THE POINT - I've switched doctors because I'm back in FLORIDA...yeah & love my new team. Doctor cares, teams actually holds a conversation with you and they want to help with resources. However, I ruined my band. It slipped. Now i'm up for conversion to the sleeve. Trying to get a handle on gaining weight which I'm climbing slowly but surely back to my starting weight. I recommend trying a different doctor especially if you don't feel the care is respectable. Best of luck to you!

I couldn't function without coffee. Never stopped drinking it. Never had any reflux problems - more gas from lettuce than any coffee issue. GOD BLESS JAVA!

I had a fluoro done a week or so ago and have a slip. THis is due to my own over-eating and getting stuck. My doc says "you tried it, now we need to move forward with a better method" - he submitting to insurance for sleeve conversion. The insurance rep at his office seems to think it will take less than the 6month supervised dieting, etc. b/c I have complications. I'm excited to get the sleeve. I'm ready for permanent weight loss without fills and getting stuck. Keep us posted on your developments and best of luck to you. I'm completely unfilled due to slip and can't imagine waiting 6 months for the sleeve. I'll weigh more than when I started in 08.