AZPete

Thank you

Well I'm on my way. Surgery is the 11th. Completed three hours of pre-op exams today. All in all very healthy. Just need this damn lap band out of me. Scared as hell but hope it's all good.

So after a long night of trepidation I decided to contact another doctor to get a second opinion on my band to sleeve revision. I found Dr Juarez on the Internet and was looking to see if anyone had any information first or second hand in dealing with him and his office. I am currently scheduled to have my band removed and then wait 3 months for the sleeve. My insurance covers revisions from band to sleeve. However if it is removed, I then have to requalify all over again. My current doctor who placed the band has tried to urge me into the direction of the RNY. which is her bread and butter procedure. I opted for the sleeve. However I just don't see the point in waiting three months and then hoping for the approval. Dr Juarez's staff said that he will and often does them ain't one procedure unless deemed unsafe. I'd rather not risk an insurance approval and or my life. I also didn't feel comfortable with being pressured to a surgery that I don't feel comfortable with. I have a consultation with him on December 4th. I would greatly appreciate any information on both him, his staff, and hospital. Thanks a bunch.

Awesome. I sent you a message

Good luck to you. Let me know how it feels.

Just got approved for a band removal to a sleeve surgery. Very scared and nervous. Cannot go back after this one. I'm nervous that I will fail like the band. I lost so much weight only to gain it back. Anyone with a band knows how bad and painful it is to eat proteins and other healthy foods, yet the sliders as they are called became the food of choice. I need to know that I am making a good decision and that I will loose. I am very athletic and good at losing. I just need to know.

I just met with dr Juarez and his PA. Both very nice. I was approved for surgery by my insurance today. An hour after they submitted for it.

Thank you so much for your reply. I will pray for you on the third. I see him on the 4th. And I would love to here about your experience.

January 2nd I'll have my lap band removed after 6 years of torture. Both mentally and physically. I should have a date set up for the sleeve sometime in mid March. Very excited. Insurance has approved the removal already.

Went for initial consult on Friday the 9th. Received insurance approval today for my Lap Band removal surgery. Will be done as an outpatient. Last two lap band surgeries totaled 7 days in icu. So we shall see. Either way the ball is certainly rolling. I will being unbanded in the first week of January. That way my ins deductible wont have to be repaid for the sleeve. I was told that my approval for the sleeve should be a synch. I hope so. Can you work the day after removal of the band?

So if I could offer a little background first. I was banded in march of 2007. I quickly in six months time lost 120 lbs. I ran 20 miles a week and ate a very regimented diet. About a year later I stopped losing weight. Never reaching goal. I began struggling with food and eating. Chicken fish and beef became impossible. I turned to soft foods that caused me less discomfort. Weight began to slowly return. But I just increased my running to compensate. April of 2009 I had a fill to help control my appetite. It caused my stomach to be closed. No spit even went down. The tubing had been kinked and I had to have emergency surgery and spent 5 days in icu. I wished then that I would have had the damned thing removed. I came out with a renewed attitude towards the band. I was eager to lose weight. It didn't happen. I slowly climbed back up the weight chart. I got another fill. Finally some restriction. But short lived. My pouch dilated badly and I suffered from extreme GERD for a few months. Had a partially slipped band and all fill removed. I turned to sliders. We all know them. Anything that didn't hurt. December 2011. 285 lbs. miserable. I join weight watchers. I follow it to the T. Lose 50lbs. Tell my wife screw this band. Two weeks ago start training again. Try to eat proteins. Chicken stays in my pouch for an entire day. Vomit all the time. Go right back to the sliders. Anything that doesn't hurt. Realize that how WW worked for me was that I ate soups, chillies, and microwave crap dinners. I cannot eat healthy foods. I'm pissed off and tired of this god forsaken band. I am scared to have nothing, but also scared to have the sleeve. I'm hoping that my surgeon isn't just selling the latest and greatest. As was the band 6 years ago. I am also scared that I will fail. What if I turn to this style of eating again. I want to eat grilled chicken, steak fish etc. but it causes so much pain. I no longer follow the rules. I drink before, during and after I eat if I can. But only when I'm eating crap. Which is always. I want to be successful again. I run like a marathoner. But get nowhere because of diet. I'm tired and frustrated. Sorry for venting. I'm hoping my consultation will bring good news. November 9th. And I do have full insurance.

Ok so yesterday I had my upper GI done and the radiologist was extremely distressed by the position of the band, the severe reflux, the dialation of the pouch and esophagus, and the fact that barely a drop a barium went through. Fast forward to this morning and after ignoring the radiologist's request that I immediately go upstairs to have my fill completely removed, I did just that. They quickly removed all of my fill. Then stated that I have a dialated pouch and stretched out my esophagus. My band may also be slipped, but not officially stated yet as such, but with all of the symptoms, it fits that diagnosis. They stated that more and more of us are having trouble as the years go by. I was a model patient for the first year, then complications struck. Major surgery to repair, then it was never the same. Extremely painful to eat, led to eating only foods that didn't hurt. I haven't gained much back, about 20lbs. But I see that changing. We are discussing a revision. Probably the VSG which they believe will phase out the band in the future. I don't knock the band completely, it did give me my life back, however with this foreign body inside of me, things have been complicated at times to say the least. So it looks like I'll enjoy a good thanksgiving dinner and that the new year will bring a new partner in helping keep off the weight. Any info on what to expect and/or consider would be appreciated.

Ok so yesterday I had my upper GI done and the radiologist was extremely distressed by the position of the band, the severe reflux, the dialation of the pouch and esophagus, and the fact that barely a drop a barium went through. Fast forward to this morning and after ignoring the radiologist's request that I immediately go upstairs to have my fill completely removed, I did just that. They quickly removed all of my fill. Then stated that I have a dialated pouch and stretched out my esophagus. My band may also be slipped, but not officially stated yet as such, but with all of the symptoms, it fits that diagnosis. They stated that more and more of us are having trouble as the years go by. I was a model patient for the first year, then complications struck. Major surgery to repair, then it was never the same. Extremely painful to eat, led to eating only foods that didn't hurt. I haven't gained much back, about 20lbs. But I see that changing. We are discussing a revision. Probably the VSG which they believe will phase out the band in the future. I don't knock the band completely, it did give me my life back, however with this foreign body inside of me, things have been complicated at times to say the least. So it looks like I'll enjoy a good thanksgiving dinner and that the new year will bring a new partner in helping keep off the weight.

It would be the VSG that I would be revising to. My insurance covers revisions, but we need to appeal for the Sleeve specifically. The reason for the weight gain, is that with a slipped over tightened band, your pouch and esophagus stretches out, allowing much more food than we are used too. There are days when I am constantly hungry and can eat way too much, and other days when a hand full of nuts makes me puke all day. Sucks.

I was banded in March of 2007. I quickly lost over 100 lbs. in six months. Time passed and I maintained for a year or two and then I went in for a fill that ultimately filled me to the point I couldn't swallow. Due to a kink in the tubing I needed emergency surgery to repair the port and tubing. That was last April. So here we are a year out from that and I am having some new complications. About two months ago I had a slight fill, as I felt that I could still eat way too much. About a month ago I started to notice severe heartburn and acid reflux. Also, I can still in my mind, eat way too much. I also throw up my food way too often. Now I know that if thats happening that its because I eat too quick or too much etc. But I'm not. Any ideas on whats going on? I'm gaining weight back, not feeling full, puking too often, and have bad heartburn.

Ok so yesterday I had my upper GI done and the radiologist was extremely distressed by the position of the band, the severe reflux, the dialation of the pouch and esophagus, and the fact that barely a drop a barium went through. Fast forward to this morning and after ignoring the radiologist's request that I immediately go upstairs to have my fill completely removed, I did just that. They quickly removed all of my fill. Then stated that I have a dialated pouch and stretched out my esophagus. My band may also be slipped, but not officially stated yet as such, but with all of the symptoms, it fits that diagnosis. They stated that more and more of us are having trouble as the years go by. I was a model patient for the first year, then complications struck. Major surgery to repair, then it was never the same. Extremely painful to eat, led to eating only foods that didn't hurt. I haven't gained much back, about 20lbs. But I see that changing. We are discussing a revision. Probably the VSG which they believe will phase out the band in the future. I don't knock the band completely, it did give me my life back, however with this foreign body inside of me, things have been complicated at times to say the least. So it looks like I'll enjoy a good thanksgiving dinner and that the new year will bring a new partner in helping keep off the weight.

So they scheduled me for a barium swallow on Tuesday morning. I am concerned as I have to take heartburn medication like clock work every morning or else the I cannot make it through the day. It even wakes me up at night. As far as the puking, that happens almost daily, however as strange as it sounds I can still eat way too much food, the puking happens after a few hours when I try to drink. I think I may have messed it up. I will let you know.

I am down 110 lbs. and saw a plastic surgeon last April for a cosult. He came highly recommended, however, he wanted to do multiple procedures at a cost of $25000. He recommended a full belt lipectomy, thigh lift and gynocomastica fix. I feel that my chest is fine, in fact quite muscular, my legs are fine for me, I run a ton, yet my biggest problem is my abdomen. All I want done is a belt lipectomy. It goes all around the abdomen. I found a surgeon who will do it for $11,000 which includes all post op visits, two nights in hospital everything. My question, is that a reasonable price? And do any of you have any experience on what to expect as far as pain etc. I have had many surgeries, and my last was last week for an emergency lap band issue, which hurt more than any other surgery. How bad is this plastic surgery procedure?

Ok friends let me update you quick. I had a kinked port tube and an over fill that completely closed off my stomach. It led to an emergency surgery last Thursday and kept me in the hospital for four days. They scoped my stomach, trimmed up the damaged tubing, and relocated a low profile port on my right side. Has any one else had this problem? And my second question is why does this hurt ten times more than the original surgery? I know they said that it was hard to get my original port out and my right side where the new port is hurts like hell. Should it be hurting this bad six days out?

So I am feeling better everyday now. I can eat anything I want however I refuse to. I didn't go through that kind of pain to only gain weight. I have a follow up on Friday, and my first fill will be in a month. They ended up removing all of my fill which was 10cc. so I have little to no restriction. I am happy with everything though. I have a great surgeon and great Nurse Practioner that take great care of me. I will update if anything changes.

So its been a while since I have posted but I felt that I needed to share this. I went in for a fill Tuesday morning. Recieved a 4cc fill and thought everything was fine. I hadn't had much in there in the two years since my initial surgery. Well I left the Dr.'s office and soon reallized that I could not get any fluids down, and soon there after began to throw up violently. I called them Tuesday evening and informed them that I had been vomitting quite a few times, around a dozen times, all dark brown fluid. Wednesday morning I showed up at their door when they opened and said that I needed help. They immediately tried to remove some of the fill. Nothing came out. He tried again, this time one or two drops came out, and no relief. They speculated that it was swelling from the fill and to give it some time, but not too much as I was dehydrating by the hour. At 2:00 I called them informing them that the vommitting was getting worse and that I was feeling ill and weak. They immediately ordered me into the hospital for IV fluids and tests. So Wed. turns into my first day at the Hospital, Thursday I take a GI swallow test with something other than barium and the radiologists says that not one drop is getting by my band. But there is no slip, no errosion etc. At this time my surgeon visits me and informs me that I need immediate surgery, believing I have a bent or kinked port tube. Long story short I wake up in recovery with way more pain than the initial surgery. They found the defective part of the port and fixed it and relocated my port to the other side and used a low profile port. Story goes on and I did spend four days in the hospital. I had some crazy complications to the surgery involving an inability to urinate and bleeding due to catheterization. But all is well now. I couldn't say enough good things about my Surgeon and Nurse Practicioner. I know that I am in good hands.

I to was my Dr.'s first patient with a bent/kinked tubing. It all started when they noticed they couldn't asperate the fill out of the band. They thought it was a leak, and I got more fills, that led to me being overfilled with 10cc's and unable to get fluids down. I began to puke up blood for two days and was told to get myself to the hospital immediately. The GI swallow test showed no leaks and it showed that I was completely filled and nothing was getting through. My surgeon took me in for surgery immediately and trimmed the bent tube and relocated the new low profile port to the other side of my abdomen. The surgery hurt way worse than the original. I was hospitalized for four days. She believes that my rapid weight loss and exercise regimen may have caused the kink.

Your lucky you were able to get your fill out. My ordeal started with a fill that completely closed off my stomach. Followed by two days of puking dark brown liquid which was blood, followed by hospitalization and emergency surgery. So hopefully your ordeal ends there and you don't go through what I did.

I had my port replaced last week in an emergency situation. There was a bend in the port tubing which made it impossible to get out the fill. I had been over filled and could not eat drink and was vomitting constantly. My surgeon performed it under full general anesthesia and used a low profile port and placed it on the right side of my abdomen. I have to say that this surgery hurt much more than the original surgery. And it may be due to the nature of the procedure, as it did start more as an exploratory surgery that turned into more. But as I lay in the hospital for four days I thought about all of you on here who have done the same with locals or office procedures and wonder how the heck you did. My surgery took almost an hour and a half.

So its been a while since I have posted but I felt that I needed to share this. I went in for a fill Tuesday morning. Recieved a 4cc fill and thought everything was fine. I hadn't had much in there in the two years since my initial surgery. Well I left the Dr.'s office and soon reallized that I could not get any fluids down, and soon there after began to throw up violently. I called them Tuesday evening and informed them that I had been vomitting quite a few times, around a dozen times, all dark brown fluid. Wednesday morning I showed up at their door when they opened and said that I needed help. They immediately tried to remove some of the fill. Nothing came out. He tried again, this time one or two drops came out, and no relief. They speculated that it was swelling from the fill and to give it some time, but not too much as I was dehydrating by the hour. At 2:00 I called them informing them that the vommitting was getting worse and that I was feeling ill and weak. They immediately ordered me into the hospital for IV fluids and tests. So Wed. turns into my first day at the Hospital, Thursday I take a GI swallow test with something other than barium and the radiologists says that not one drop is getting by my band. But there is no slip, no errosion etc. At this time my surgeon visits me and informs me that I need immediate surgery, believing I have a bent or kinked port tube. Long story short I wake up in recovery with way more pain than the initial surgery. They found the defective part of the port and fixed it and relocated my port to the other side and used a low profile port. Story goes on and I did just get home today. I had some crazy complications to the surgery involving an inability to urinate and a bleeding penis due to catheterization. But all is well now. I couldn't say enough good things about my Surgeon and Nurse Practicioner. I know that I am in good hands.