pennreporter

Dr. Spivak's post op is a breeze...he doesn't put you on the two week pre-op diet or require that you lose 10 percent of your body weight which a lot of insurance plans require. I don't even think he requires, especially if you're self-pay, as to a particular BMI that you absolutely have to be at. He told my daughter, why would I put you on a diet before surgery, when we both know that's not going to work, or else why would you be here. After surgery, he wants you to learn to live with your band as soon as possible. Having been through this procedure twice, (long story, Spivak was NOT my surgeon unfortunately), the first few weeks you will have restriction because you're still swollen. The further out you get, you will feel like you can eat just about anything. Some people feel a lot of restriction even with no fill in there. I think it depends on how much weight you need to lose. My neighbor who was close to 400 lbs, obviously felt lots of restriction with no fill and lost quite a bit of weight after surgery. It wasn't until about 3 months out that he even got a fill, but it was because he didn't need one yet. As he lost weight, then of course he needed the fill. Six months out he's lost a little over a hundred pounds. This time around, I only have 40 lbs to lose. (I started at 85 lbs to lose with first band.) So you will be surprised at how well you will feel after surgery. You'll just be sore, like you've done way too many situps. good luck and you've made a great choice in Spivak. trisha

Please please check out Dr. Spivak. His credentials are impeccable. Plus, he was one of the surgeons on the original team of surgeons that introduced the band to the US from Europe. He still does medical trials for the AMA. He's done at least 4k bands. He had done 3k at the time my daughter had her band, which was 2.5 years ago. She flew from NYC to Houston. She hadn't even met him. But her doctor in NYC highly recommended him. She couldn't get insurance approval (no comorbidities) and so she did all of her pre-op, which was not the six months for Spivak, just her medical workup. Flew in on Sunday, went to watch his little video on Monday, surgery on Tuesday (no liquid diet beforehand), flew back on Friday and worked on Saturday. She's had phenomenal results. She does her follow-up at NYU. I think his fee is like 9,900 for one plan and then 10,900 for plan B which cover a full year of follow-up, He's done a lot of peer-reviewed articles and is quoted and cited by many other doctors. It's Hadar Spivak. website is www.drspivak.us. Truly, his credentials are the best. If you have any questions, please ask. He doesn't do the two week liquid diet preop...I think Lisa went out to eat Mexican food the day before. She just didn't eat after a certain time at night the night before. After surgery, she was only liquids for a few days, then mushies pretty quick. His attitude is that he wants you to get used to eating/living with your band as soon as possible. trisha

Just an update. I had a new band put in. Haven't had my first fill yet but even with no fill, I can tell the difference. Have only lost about five pounds since surgery but have been sick with the flu for almost two weeks and drinking way too much higher caloried juices. I go for my first fill in two weeks. On the day of surgery, even though surgeon had been pushing for the sleeve, when he popped his head in the door at the last minute just to double check what I wanted to do I told him I only wanted the band, if at all possible. The sleeve was still an option for him, once he got in, if there was too much scar tissue to do the band. But he said he didn't have any problems. This time has gone really well so far. Port doesn't stick out like a goose-egg like my first one. So hoping this time around with a much more experienced surgeon, that it all goes well. Trisha

I am on my second band. My first band, the PA did use a numbing agent but they didn't have a lot of experience so it was fine with me that they did. Plus the needle was a big old horse needle looking thing. I did go once with my daughter to see how her doctor did the fill. It was very different than mine, very quick, small needle, and he was done really quick. I have just had a new band put in (long story) and I go the 6th of April for my first fill with a completely different surgical staff. So I'm somewhat anxious about how it will go. But I do agree that if the person doing the fill has enough experience, it shouldn't be painful. I would clearly ask questions on why it was so painful and if they can do then numbing injection first. trisha

it still is up to the insurance company. Mine still has a requirement of 40 unless you have multiple comorbidities. I skirted under the 40 because I had sleep apnea. Blood pressure, cholesterol, thyroid and arthritis didn't cut it. It was the sleep apnea that qualified me. Good luck. trisha

The band is a learning experience and for some of us it takes a little longer. If your band has slipped, it's not the end of the world. Sometimes just removing the fill for a while and letting things calm down will helped a slipped band. I'm on my second band. The first one slipped a multitude of times and I have to say I wasn't the best bander either, eating things clearly I shouldn't have ...it's a long story. Everyone has different experiences. you say at night time you have problems. My daughter is a bander also but she can't eat anything after nine o'clock at night or she has terrible reflux and has to sleep sitting up. You should clearly be in communication with your surgeon and be honest about your eating habits and what's going on. Don't beat yourself up too much. You're better off than when you started. When I had my band unfilled in June of last year and then removed in November, I gained 40 lbs back until surgery last week again. I was so disappointed with myself that I clearly couldn't just stop eating but I'm a stress eater and lots was going on. I'm now taking it one day at a time, journaling like crazy every bite that goes in my mouth goes into an iphone app. Having gone through a slipped band and all the vomiting with it, I know now that I can't abuse the band either. Good luck and it will all work out. Trisha

For cash, you won't have any problem...it's insurance companies that dictate the BMI. My daughter is 5-9 and weighed almost 300 lbs but had no comorbidities, so she had to selfpay. She did her homework on where she could get the best rate and the best surgeon for the rate. She lives in NYC. She went to Houston to Dr. Spivak (one of the top surgeons in the US, an incredible background) stayed with a friend of hers and the cost was 13,500. I think it's even cheaper now, whereas in NYC it was 25k plus. For cash, there were women in there at only about 50 lbs to lose. With insurance many of them require the whole six month program also. My daughter, it took her about two months, but mainly it was just getting time off from work. She never even met surgeon until the day before surgery. But he had such an impeccable background, she wasn't concerned. So good luck. Trisha

Dr. Hadar Spivak in Houston is one of the top top top surgeons in the US. I'm just not sure if he does fills for patients that he didn't do the surgery. Not that he has a problem. I just think because he's done so many bands that he might not have time to take someone from outside his practice. But I'm sure his office would recommend someone that would be extremely competent. Spivak was on the team of doctors that first introduced the band to the US and still does medical trials for the FDA on the band and is often quoted and referred to by many other surgeons. Good luck trisha

I'm quite a bit older than you, 59, I was banded in '09, my daughter was banded in '08. Because of some complications, my band was removed in November of last year, but it didn't deter me to get rebanded two weeks ago. For my daughter who was 37 when she was banded it was life-changing. There are different surgeries. I would recommend doing your homework and research and seminars before deciding which procedure you want. All procedures can have some complications. To me the complications weren't near as risky as living with the risks of obesity. I did have a setback on weight loss by my complications but I still love it and happy happy to have "my friend" back. There are books out there you can read..Mohammed Ali's daughter has a book that she's written about her experience which was quite a few years ago. My number one best advice to you on whatever you decide, find the absolute best/most experienced surgeon you can find in your area that your insurance will cover and then try to find other people that have used that surgeon also. Especially with the band, it makes a huge difference (hence my complications). My daughter's surgeon had done 4k at the time she had her band...mine had done four...my neighbor who has almost 200 lbs, or did (now 100), to lose had a band. My other neighbor has had the sleeve (we're just a WLS kind of street-lol). Everyone has different decisions and reasons why they go with different procedures. Good luck and whatever you decide to do, it will be a life-changing decision. Trisha

Post op and pre op diets vary widely. Anywhere from two weeks before and after on nothing but clear liquids (as the extreme) to every variation...My first band was two weeks liquids before and after, not necessarily clear liquids. Second band (long story), just liquids for a few days before and liquids for 10 days after but I didn't stick to necessarily clear. My daughter had nothing but the day nothing after 9 pm. And then after surgery, just liquids for a few days and then mushies and then he wanted her back to food and learning to live with the band...so go by what your surgeon ask but don't beat yourself up if you slip a few times. My daughter went out and had mexican food the night before. This time around I went out and had a sensible dinner the night before surgery knowing I would be at least a week on liquids. But I also did Greek yogurt after about a week and thinned down cream of wheat. Good luck Trisha

I drink the clear Isopure drinks, my favorite it fruit punch, but not everyone like them, but they are more like juice and not so heavy...40 grams of Protein, no carbs, 160 calories, low on sodium...I didn't care for the shakes because I don't like the chalky taste, but then people like the liquid isopure because some flavors will leave like a dry aftertaste...with one of those and a container of chobani vanilla greek yogurt and I'm good for my protein for the day. trisha p.s. GNC and Vitamin Shoppe sell the bottles of Isopure, but try to find someplace that sells the bottles individually so you can test them out first. A case is like 40 bucks, but it's just one bottle a day. But if you try a bottle and don't like it, at least you haven't shelled out much money.

My daughter had lower body lift, breast lift, a yahoo lift (use your imagination), and fat implants into butt all at the same time...phenomenal results...I don't know that I could have done it but I am 20 years older than her...lol My daughter went to Dr. Lomonaco from the show that used to be on TV called Big Medicine. He's in Houston. She lives in NYC. So she stayed with her friend for two weeks before coming home. She still has a couple more procedures to do but those were the biggest chunk. But the results were well worth it!! trisha

Just got my new second band, but still thinking positive. New surgeon much more experienced than first surgeon. So I'm back on the liquids again, whoo-hoo. First band was June of '09. Totally unfilled in June of '10 because of multiple slips. Gradually filled again almost to complete capacity with no restriction until it was completely blocked again. Went in for revision in November '10 when surgeon found that my stomach had adhesed to my spleen...yippee. So now I have a hundred little titanium staples, and my band was removed to prevent any infection from a foreign body. His suggestion immediately was the sleeve. Went for second opinion to a much more experienced surgeon. My original surgeon had done four...thank you very much...but lots of bypasses. New surgeon even recommended the sleeve because of complications but at the same time was pretty confident that problems very well could have been from inexperience of first surgeon...of course, he didn't come out and say that in direct quotes...gawd forbid they speak ill of another doctor...Insurance approved either band or sleeve again...I was shocked. Over the course of June to November I had gained 40 lbs, but so much of my weight loss had been from vomiting all the time. So I signed on for the sleeve until the last minute when surgeon popped his head in the door before anesthesia hit me with the Michael Jackson happy juice and doubled checked which way I wanted to go, band or sleeve...so I opted for the sleeve again. My main concern with the sleeve is that I don't have that much more weight to goal...50 lbs and everyone I know that's had it has lost weight very very quickly and a lot. Wasn't sure about the maintenance. So Im a bandee again but it's gone so much differently than the first time around. They did x-rays before I left the hospital and a swallow test...didn't happen first time until much later. Came home last Thursday and just a little sore at this point, no pain meds since I've been back home. So I have a great feeling this time around plus I plan to be a much better bandee this time. I threw up so much the last time that ice cream was my go-to food and not sure if I always ate as slowly as I should have but having been through it once, I feel like I know the signs to look for that aren't normal. New surgeon is an hour closer so easier to get in if I need to quickly. So it's been a journey!!! My daughter is a bandee, of course, without any complications...I never like her anyway...lol Trisha

I wasn't in so much pain as much as I just couldn't get food down and was throwing up all the time. So once they removed the fill, it was all fine and dandy. It sounds like you may have something else going on. I'm assuming they've removed your fill, right? Sometimes the band can erode. I was shocked when my insurance company agreed to pay for it again, but the way my first surgeon explained it was that the only way I lost the weight to begin with was with weight loss surgery and would clearly need it to continue. If they deny you, you can always appeal their decision, plus there are attorneys out there that do specialize in insurance denials. Both first surgeon and new surgeon are very much sleeve proponents. They both think it's going to be the wave of the future once insurance starts approving it. With my company, it's almost unheard of that they will approve two procedures. But the surgeon went with the argument that he didn't know what he was going to find once he got in, as to what the first surgeon had left behind. Good luck, and hope all goes well. Please let me know what happens. I will say I was expecting to feel much worse, with it being my third time around...but feel much better than I did after the first surgery. Trisha

have you tried the Isopure liquid? It's clear,kind of like juice..I drink the Fruit Punch. 40 grams of Protein per bottle, no carbs, no aspartame or preservatives, no fat, low sodium...160 calories...not everyone likes it. Some people say it leaves a kind of dry aftertaste, if that makes sense...Vitamin Shoppe sells them and so does GNC...I wouldn't buy a big case of one flavor ...try to find somewhere that you could buy it by the bottle to find a flavor you like. Like I said, I like the fruit punch. I don't do well with the mixes because of the soy content...gives me gas. Good luck Trisha P.S. also they are a little pricey but you only have to drink one a day because of such high protein...whereas like EAS you have to drink two...so it kind of works out. I take the whole day to drink it so four ounces at a time...each bottle is 20 ounces

I am on my second Realize Band. Had many complications with first one. Had it unfilled and then eventually removed, gained back 40 of my 80 lbs without it but all my own fault because I was so discouraged at having it removed. But changed surgeons and had it replaced. I was at almost full capacity with first band and no restriction but I had had many many slippages, way too much vomiting. I hate to see you consider yourself a failure. I know this time around, now knowing symptoms to watch for, I don't think I was the best band patient with my eating habits...it was tough because of vomiting...I know I didn't eat slow enough and chew enough. But I do know lots of folks that still go to weight watchers. I also will seek counseling to deal with eating issues because the band doesn't resolve the reasons why we turn to food in times of stress or whatever. Please don't give up on the band just yet...I am from a two-generation banded family...my daughter is banded also (successfully so) and is very supportive in the fact that she recognizes that I do need to work on my eating disorder. Good luck!! Trisha

Was just rebanded by Dr. Boorse in Allentown. First surgeon was Dr. Gabrielsen with Geisinger in Danville. Loved both but because of complications wanted a surgeon with much more banding experience than Gabrielsen. Boorse was great, Lehigh Valley Hospital has a wonderful staff. trisha

I realized I hadn't been on here in a while. Did not have revision surgery in July of last year. It was put off to try a conservative approach. That didn't work. Went for revision surgery in October, when the surgeon discovered my spleen and stomach had adhesed together. He separated the two organs, threw in a hundred staples and removed the band as a precaution to prevent infection. It was pretty emotional because going in I had no idea that the band would be removed. It's now February, have gained 40 bls since June of last year when band was completely unfilled. I'm with a new surgeon and I go next Wednesday for either a new band or a sleeve. New surgeon is leaving option open for both as he doesn't know what he'll find when he goes in, since he didn't do first or second surgery. Very disappointed with myself that I have gained this much weight back. I'm a horrible stress eater and have decided after surgery, I will probably get involved with some counseling and try to find a local support group, because clearly I need to still deal with my eating disorder. It's also been a little tough because my daughter has been very successful with her band, (2 years) and has been somewhat critical of my eating habits (like I don't know it myself) but I guess if you've not had any problems with your band and everything has gone along great, it's hard to put yourself in the place of someone else who has had a lot of issues. So wish me luck next week. Loved my first surgeon but he had such little experience with banding and revision banding, I didn't want to chance it with him again. New surgeons has done hundreds of bands. Both surgeons are big sleeve proponents as it eliminates a lot of the complications with all other procedures...before this is all done, I'll be able to play checkers on my stomach from all the incisions..:) trisha

Found out yesterday my band had slipped. Not sure if I blame the band, myself or the surgeon. Guess it doesn't really matter. I've had problems with too much vomiting for quite sometime. So that could be my problem of not loosening up the band. But clearly the stitch came loose that holds the band in place. My surgeon had only done 5 or 6 bands at the time he did mine ( not my choice, limited on who I could use with my insurance company, he had done lots of bypasses). So the revision will be easy. Once all the fill was removed, it was very strange how the band completely changed locations back up to where it should have been, just maybe a not quite the right angle, but it was almost like a 45 degree change. So they just need to go in and put a few stitches to hold it in place. So I will have about a month of no fill, although this doesn't concern me too much as I had really had lots of problems with restriction, it just kept getting tighter and tighter, which I'm sure was the band slipping now in hindsight. So my system needs a break and some healing time, plus I'm almost at goal, within 15 lbs. So I'm not deterred at all and not blaming it on any one things. "stuff" happens. Trisha p.s. bandiversary was June 1, my original goat was to reach goal by my birthday on June 23. I won't quite make it but that's okay, too. I wouldn't even be remotely close without my band.

I was supposed to go in for my followup appt today but I rescheduled for next Tuesday. I'm still pretty upset with my surgeon. From what I can read and find on the internet, adhesion to the spleen is not common. I know adhesions can happen after any surgery. So I have my list of questions when I see him next week and then I'll have my 2nd opinion about 2 wks after that. I was about 15 lbs from goal at the time of major slip in June and then when they unfilled the band, and had no restriction all summer, I gained back about 20 lbs. So I'm at 174 right now, a realistic goal is 150-160. So Im not that far off. Since the surgery I haven't been eating much. Incisions are still sore. Slips are fairly common now that I've done more reading on the bands. And whether my surgeons inexperience contributed, I may never know. Just make sure you discuss with surgeons every worst-case scenario before going in. I think had I known it was a possibility of having it removed, I would have been much better prepared mentally. It's horribly frustrating to know how many thousands of dollars I've spent to be at a spot I could have gotten to on my own. Reaching this weight was never a problem. It was getting to goal and maintaining. I'm a horrible yo-yo dieter. So good luck and my fingers are crossed that it all goes well. Trisha

I recently went in for a band revision. In my mind that's what was happening. Worst that could happen was that they would have to replace the band. Wake up from anesthesia and hear the nurses talking about the band being removed. Well, needless to say, I was devastated. Seems I had developed significant adhesions to my spleen. Nowhere in the literature or even on here have I seen that as among the more common risks. But while he was in there, he didn't see anythng wrong with the band that would be causing all my slippage problems, he just went ahead and removed it. This from a surgeon who is not a great believver in the band to begin with. While I was still dopey from drugs he's talking to me that this isn't necessarily the end of the world. They could always do a bypass later or if he could get insurance to approve it, a sleeve. I was still in tears emotionally from the roller coaster and drugs. He absolutely is adamant that the stomach adhesing to the spleen could not have possibly cause the band to not function properly. But something clearly was causing the slips. I go for a second opinion in a few weeks and maybe can get more questions answered. After seeing what they do with the sleeve, I'm not willing to take the risk. If a band surgery will cause enough adhesions to have to have 100 mini staples in my stomach, what are the risks of them removing half your stomach and a gazillion more staples. Financially I will be paying for this for the next two years. I wasn't at goal yet...I'm abuot 25 lbs out but maintenance was always my issue. I had hoped that this would be the answer to maintain. So for 10k+ I've got a whole lot of staples and a pretty messed up looking abdomen. Would love to know if anyone else has ever had their spleen adhese to the stomach. Trisha

my surgeon is really pushing for the sleeve. thinks he can even get insurance to cover it. My big concern though is the fact that I had all the adhessions and now a hundred staples. With the band and the complications, I still had a chance for a do-over. If I have compolications with the sleever, there is no do-over and not sure what would happen if I again had the adhesion problem. I see him again on Tuesday for followup from the surgery and I will have lots more questions at that time. Most postings I read of people with the sleever are thrilled with it. thanks trisha

I had somewhat kind of similar problem. Had a major slip in June of this year. Even saw it on fluoroscopy Most of my stomach was above the band. Once fill was removed, it dropped back down and evverything was where it was supposed to be. They then took the next five months to slowly refill it. It was up to 8.5cc with still no restriction. Do a fill under fluoro and they take it up to 10 (in an 11cc band). Well that was all well and good until I actually ate solid food and I was blocked again. So surgeon decided to do a revision. That was last week. When he got in I had a major adhesion to my spleen. He separated the took, did 100 micro staples...didn't see anything wrong with the band and didn't feel the adhesions would have been tthe cause, so he removed the band. So I've spent 10k bucks for nothing. I hadn't gotten to goal weight but I'm only 25 lbs out but mainteannce was always my issue. He is more than happy to go back in and do a sleeve or a bypass...NOT. So I'm going for a second opinion because I'm just not sure how the adhesions could not have been an issue. But after the major slip in June, getting restriction was a joke. So you would think that something does change. Good luck

it's not so much that your band has slipped ...it's that your stomach has come up through the band so that you have more above the band than you should and it causes you to be really tight. I've had two major slips...first one, unfilled and everything dropped back into place (done under fluoroscopy). Slowly refilled band and once I got to any significant restriction I was then completely blocked again. They went in to do a revision surgery. As it turns out my stomach had adhesed to my pancreas. Not sure why...still lots of questions...this just happened on Thursday. good luck to all

I just had my band removed and have to say it was very emotional, since going in didn't expect that it would be coming out. Surgeon wanted to go in and revise the band, but when he got in he found a lot of adhesion of the stomach to pancreas. Plus, I found out by hearing the nurses talking, not from my surgeon. So I'm really in a quandary what to do next as I don't have answers as to what is the long term effect of having my stomach stapled where the separated it from the pancreas. And not sure if there are no long-term effects, whether I trust my surgeon at this point. Still kind of on an emotional roller-coaster but surgery was just two days ago trisha pennreporter