Violetflame

As a flight attendant, my experience with the band has not been a good one. I wrote a letter to my surgeon regarding aviation and the band for his case studies. I have a complete unfill and still feel chest pain. However, i must tell you that upon banding three years and four months ago had a 5cm hiatal hernia. Last year my crew encountered severe turbulence that required months of PT. Since I had pain all over I did not contribute it to the band. Upper GI's and endoscopies reveal it has herniated above the diaphragm. My port site has always been sore, very touchy, I yelp when my husband brushes his hand over it. So, if you are considering the band and are an aviator, be sure to discuss your concerns with your surgeon. Keep in mind while making your WLS decision, this industry has a higher injury rate than construction workers. Case studies would be useful (occupational/WLS stats) in making a decision. I should have known better. It is common sense that anything filled with fluid or is sealed on an airplane at a certain altitude may not remain intact.

Wasa! There you are. I was hoping you would respond. Have you ever seen this before? herniated lap band above the diaphram? This freakin hurts!! And yet I'm still FAT. All the fluid was removed from my band and even tho it hurts i can eat grapes, citrus, broccoli, all kinds of fiberous foods i haven't eaten in 3 years. I just think patients who have a hiatal hernia to begin with aren't the best candidates for successful banding. Poor choice on my part. Expensive lesson. So i saw it (and can feel it) pop above the muscle of the diaphram on the flouroscopy monitor. The radiologist pointed it out. Now i know why i have constant chest pain and my voice is often raspy.

Anyone had to deal w/a herniated lap band? I did have a 5cm hiatal hernia repaired at the time my band was placed three years ago. I wish I'd never done it. Now I have to have it removed and am revising to rny most likely. Just fighting w/the ins. co. anyone have a story to share?

I am not 'eroded' but have been diagnosed with 'herniated lap band above the diaphram' according to my last upper GI. I can tell you that I'm having chest pain, some other symptoms too. WHAT THE HELL!! Ins is still denying my appeal, I've consulted legal council. Whomever the policy administrator is-whenever they respond to the inquiries will be named in the lawsuit blah fkn blah. HATE litigation. Oh well, they'll have to pay all legal fees and court costs eventually plus the surgery. Still trying to deal in the meantime. So, any suggestions? I started a thread "peer consult" and not much has happened since but more tests and trying to keep up with work and home. Has anyone had or have a herniated lap band? It would seem logical remove/revise to another procedure. All of these sypmtoms are the same as my hiatal hernia only more chest pain. HELP!! My surgeon wants me to go w/the rny revision, right now I just need the band out but don't want two surgeries.

Please forgive new thread-but i have been all over this place for hours. WHA THE??? Just spoke w/ins and the rep said it wasn't flatly denied. A conference call w/my dr is requested within ten days. Also there are appeal options. Has this happened to anyone else? :thumbup::mad:One would think that the CEO's enjoy large enough bonus's that the ensured could use a covered benefit when medically necessary and not have to have your surgeon plead your case during a conference call-how demeaning for them. No small wonder dr's are abrupt, our insurance companies are telling them how, when and on whom to practice!!! Infuriating!! I pay for insurance!! Legal theft! Should be in jail!! GAME OVER.

Well, Adagray and Sue in ne, my status report is I am still waiting for this peer conference to happen while swilling maalox on ice and sleeping in a chair :crying: (how long can one do this and remain sane?) The position Anthem is taking is "there is nothing wrong w/the band" so, too bad for you.....i think this band may cause more serious problems before they decide there may be something wrong with it, thus medically necessary. :cursing:

OK, for anyone following this, my pathetic saga continues. ANTHEM BCBS, (the bs part fits) put my surgeon on hold for fifteen minutes today during their "peer conference"!!! I am livid! irate! My Dr is proceding with a level one appeal while the conference is rescheduled......Has this happened to anyone else? I seem to attract difficult scenarios.

I am very happy to hear someone has been taken care of by their ins co 100% Sue, and they should! I just spoke w/my Dr.'s office and she said he was steamed that there was a request for a peer consult. Good!! He is an excellent surgeon and probably does not appreciate bean counters questioning his diagnosis and treatment. It is all set up tho, I should know within a couple of days. Wish I could be a fly on the wall........

Thank you sooo much Adagray. I've never heard of this before. Just another eye opening experience with the insurance industry. :bored: We must remember we represent losses as this is a very much for profit business to the shareholders that own the stock in our insurance companies. I have been denied covered benefits before when medically necessity was met, because of my "habitus". FORGIVE my thinking that medical necessity was the basis for ANY covered procedure!! FYI if you want to reduce your 38FF breasts, you must be at your ideal weight according to Anthem bcbs. The Schnur sliding scale is GOD here people!! Just keep making your insurance payments and shut up!!! YES I'M PISSED OFF!!!!!!!!!!! No icons to express myself.......

Mac, Elisabethsew, Oregondaisey, Wasa!!! WHERE is everyone??!! I need my group!!:bored::thumbup:

me too, everything was submitted May 21. Three weeks waiting.......... my dr submitted gerd, esophagitis, gastritis, band intolerence. praying for relief:crying: i am so sick of sleeping in a chair and swilling maalox on the rox. i want to rip it out myself!!

hi my name is violet and i have a fatass bc i am addicted to sugar

i am going staight to hell

has anyone gained 20 lbs in one month w/the band? obviously i have been very bad but OMG! THAT is also w/the esophagitis, gastritis. just wondering........?

thank you, thank you so much Wasa. I've heard of that before and just didn't think of it.

Hi Cyberfriends. My ins does not cover the sleeve but i did learn alot here about the procedure, can't thank you all enough for sharing your experiences. My band still has to come out, i am not well. Ins covers that as well as the RNY BUT my bmi is 39 at this time and they require 40 for approval as medically necessary. Has anyone gotten approved anyway that was so close?

Sooo happy you are home and doing so well Daisy. wow. i really thought this sleeve revision was an ordeal and you seem to have aced this-no complications thank god, thanks for the posting too. it was amusing to think of you wandering around in your robe, too funny!

Elisabeth, do you mind sharing what kind of band you had and what was your highest fill? i have an Inamed (sp) 5cc band w/a 3.9 fill. Will anyone share what i may expect as far as the psyche profile/eval goes? I must do this Wed. Tomorrow I see my pcp regarding my bp-140/100-is this bad? i didn't even know my bp was an eyebrow-raiser until the nurses @ the clinic took it twice last week and asked if it is always so high. maybe that why i am so #!*#!! tired.

i didn't tell anyone about my band either. the only person in the know is my husband. because i have been so sick and the children were overly concerned i told them i was banded in mx three years ago, that i have developed problems because of it and that is the reason for all my symptoms. they can learn from my error as well. when the band is removed, that also is the only thing on the table. i don't feel the need to discuss everything. i highly value my privacy among coworkers also, who wants to deal w/probing, inappropriate questioning. Thanks for posting Daisy, i was wondering how you were doing and how well you were being treated.

that is absolutely fantabulous! over half a pound daily, you must feel great. no more reflux, energy returning. that is wonderful. are you sore anywhere from the surgery or is all that completely gone too?

How long did you suffer w/reflux Elisabeth? What meds did/didn't work for you? Did you wake up at 5am with your throat on fire? and that is sparing everyone gross details. Dr. Rumbaut did repair a 5cm hiatal hernia before placing my band. i feel banding was a mistake. i don't do fast food, mostly for hygenic reasons, but i will grill my own burger and eat it all w/o the bun and i have a 3.9 fill. sweets are my deal, i've never been a volumn eater but don't wave a cream stick, cheesecake, or chocolate anything. i love my green salads tho and i really miss fruit-the acid is a killer. The only fruit i've had in three years has been in yogurt. Thanks again for sharing.

6-9 months for the sleeve or rny? or bc you did not go w/their recommendations?

thanks Elisabeth. i will try that approach. however, i do not have pcp notes as i am self pay, banded and filled in mx (work for an airline) so the only thing i have are test results, and vitals taken recently at the cleveland clinic to go with. plus the twelve yr documented physicians records that indicate a 50 lb yoyo w/the diet, meds and excersize program prior to the banding. i am 5'7" 232lbs bmi 36. hey anyone hear from Daisy?

first, i want to thank everyone for sharing their experience, i have learned alot about the sleeve from you. after an entire day spent commuting and waiting to see the surgeon, i was met by an intern whom i did not care for but actually spent more time w/me. i have to attend a workshop, meet w/a psychologist and nutritionist. the surgeon and i decided that the band must be removed and that the sleeve would be the best option for me if ins covers. when i spoke w/the customer service dept i was informed that bariatric surgery is a covered service per contract IF medically neccessary. Also to have the dr submit all correct coding. that was absolutely all i could get out of her. she was distant, cool and did not want to talk to me. she just kept saying to submit all documents for determination of medical neccessity. no small wonder patients are self pay or leave the country to get what they need. i am in the proccess of completing a packet of materials and questionaires. severe esophagitis, gastritis, GERD endoscopy results and a failed lapband, all documented of course is not enough.....so in my third month of drinking maalox on ice, wondering how long i can hang in.

look at what you've done already. have faith, i'm sure everything will go smoothly. please keep us informed if your taking your laptop/ipod, or you feel the need to chat. will be thinking of you. rest well. enjoy your flight:) godspeed Daisey.