chatty826

Thanks Alissa, I agree with you it was a buzz kill comment. Anyone who is having surgery should be well aware of all the risks of each surgery.

Hi I am so excited my insurance (US Family Health Plan subsidiary of Tricare) just approved my sleeve. My consult was 6/10 then had testing done. Insurance was submitted Fri 6/26 and approved today! I had a lapband in 2010 and due to complications has to have it removed less the 6 months after getting it. I was 430 ish pounds post band. I lost 60lbs before surgery and have kept off most of my weight from that time. Currently in the 285 ish lb range. Now I am just waiting on a surgery date and hoping for August!

Girl LOL I did the same thing! I emailed them vs calling but she was like the dr needs to review everything and then we will call you to schedule. They did tell me he's out of the office till next week so it would be next week sometime before I hear back. I can't wait. Are you pre op or post?

Yes I am aware that this is a possibility and that it if it happens I might have to convert down the road. I discussed in depth with my surgeon and I feel the sleeve is right for me and he supports doing it with the knowledge that there is risk of GERD.

Yes it is!! I cannot wait I just want that surgery date so I have something to plan towards!

I had my band removed 6 months after getting it in 2010 due to complications (aspirating in sleep at night). Sleeve wasn't approved by my insurance at the time so I just got a removal. Today got approval to get a VSG done!

Can't wait!!! Ready to heal and get on with my revision! How long were those who have had theirs removed on liquids?

I had my band out 8/27 and since then everyday is a constant struggle. I don't go in for a recheck to discuss the next surgery until the end of November. I am trying, struggling, succeeding, failing then repeating it all over on a weekly basis. I workout out but I am so tired of this battle with my weight, with my health. My guess is I won't be able to revise to the bypass till early 2013. That is 3-5 months of dealing with this and I am unsure of how I can. I have never lost this much weight and then had to battle with not gaining it all back. If I could loose 20lbs and maintain I would be fine. If I could maintain without fear that everything I eat will end up on my midsection I'd be okay. I am hating food, hunger and the depression that goes with it. Someone say it will be okay.

Hi all, I got banded Oct 09 and for the last year I have had problems with my band. I was diagnosed with a dilated esophagous and it has gotten worse so it was suggested by the RN I see the surgeon for a revision as the band won't work for me long term. Meet with the surgeon today and left in tears. He said unfilled me entirely and says I will need to wait for the dilation to go away before band removal and then a healing time before revision to RNY. I was hoping to have these two done at the same time and sooner than months from now. Has anyone had this issue and can you please share your story? Did your doctor wait? How long? More than one surgery? Complications? I expect to get a second opinion just to be safe. I am new to this doctor and while he seems overly cautious which isn't bad I am also concerned about having to take off work for two surgeries and tests for both and gaining back all my weight. I have already gained back 50lbs since dealing with band problems.

Thanks Ladies. And jups you are right. I havent actually used this site since getting my band 3 years ago. I have actually lost 160lbs though I have recently gained back 40. Thats a lot of weight and I am much happier now then in the past and yes I will loose again. Thanks again this is a long wait and I needed to vent. Most days I can deal just fine but then some days I want to call up my surgeons office and beg and plead for them to do the surgery now lol I'd bribe them if I could. Thing is I waited 3 months for the band but I had never been thinner had no aspirations that it could happen so I didn't know how it felt to be almost there and then gaining. It's a weird roller coaster ride.

For those of you who have had two surgeries how long apart was the band removal and then the bypass? And how and why was this decided?

Just had my band removed two weeks ago and I have to wait till november to consider the revision to bypass. Sucks to wait but I trust my doctor.

I did mine in two procedures Just had band out and heard that I have to wait till end of November to recheck and see about getting bypass done. This according to my doctor to allow for healing. Good luck with your process and yor insurance company.

Hi Ladies, I think the thing is for me is I didnt want to wait the 2 months for an all in one procedure. I was having so many problems I wanted my band out immediately. Anyhow post op two weeks on band removal. I feel so much better now that my band is out. It is amazing. Also I have lost 8lbs I am trying hard not to gain as I already did when I had an unfilled band. My doctors office is supposed to call today with a time line on when to do the bypass. I struggle part of me doesnt want to go through another weight loss procedure but then I still have a good 90lbs to loose to be at my final goal. Thats a lot to do on my own plus if I ever get lazy about working out (which happens) its very easy to put it all back on. Sigh I am torn. That said I am still going to move forward with things to get the conversion. How are you all doing?

Hi Lisa, I have tricare as well here's some things you need to know I'm triwest in Washington but its prob the same. 1) banded 2009 tricare covered approval in 2 days 2) removal tomorrow tricare covered due to complications approval a week 3) tricare will not cover the sleeve I wanted the sleeve as well. You can only get the sleeve done at a mtf I know for a fact jblm does them as my friend was revised band to sleeve there. 4) I love my surgeons and want to stick with them. Seems to me bypass is a more guaranteed weight loss with less complications than the sleeve. I am tired of complications 5) I hope to ask my surgeons office to submit for bypass next week even if surgery is out a few months. From all I have read if your band either failed due to complications or you still have not lost weight tricare will cover a revision. Good luck im in your shoes as well!

@Patty I've been having serious complications for the last year and have been told my my surgeons office I can't keep the band so converting to bypass. Bypass is being done later as this is an emergency removal was in er yesterday and scheduled removal for tomorrow. Im okay with them being seperate

I have been having problems with my band for the last year. In May I ended up with aspiration pheumonia and had to have an emergency unfill. I had two upper gis two months apart that I am having dilation of my esophagous so i was told I need to convert. My options are sleeve and bypass. Unfortunately my insurance (TriWest) will not cover the sleeve so I am looking at bypass which is my least prefered of the two. I have a roomie who had bypass and had great sucess. Has anyone converted from band to bypass and how did it go for you? Thanks! I am scared nervous, gaining weight (band only has 4cc), and having naseau and push back issues every time I eat.

Thanks! If I had my choice id go with the sleeve but my insurance doesn't cover it (yet they covered the band) crazy insurance companies! Anyhow my roomie had a bypass and I know a lot about them and have researched them so I feel good about doing one. Hope things get better soon for me I wish I'd had the ugi ASAP

HI Believeinme, About a year ago I started having problems with my band I felt like it was too tight but I knew I wasn't at my sweet spot. This was solved by taking a little Fluid out then waiting awhile. I had a fill in May (needed one) but was too tight for some reason. i could not keep anyting down and got aspiration phnemonia which really sucked. All the fluid was taken out at the ER and when I went to see my band doctor the Nurse practioner did a small fill but wanted an upper gi first as she was worried about my band either slipping or causing dilation. Upper GI showed dilation and then one two months later showed worsening. I currently have no fluid in my band and am hoping to get the band removed in the next couple weeks because even with it empty I am having issues. Not able to eat solids well, lots of reflux which includes some food and well as gas issues and pain when swallowing. Honestly this has been nightmare.

Hi all, I got banded Oct 09 and for the last year I have had problems with my band. I was diagnosed with a dilated esophagous and it has gotten worse so it was suggested by the RN I see the surgeon for a revision as the band won't work for me long term. Meet with the surgeon today and left in tears. He said unfilled me entirely and says I will need to wait for the dilation to go away before band removal and then a healing time before revision to RNY. I was hoping to have these two done at the same time and sooner than months from now. Has anyone had this issue and can you please share your story? Did your doctor wait? How long? More than one surgery? Complications? I expect to get a second opinion just to be safe. I am new to this doctor and while he seems overly cautious which isn't bad I am also concerned about having to take off work for two surgeries and tests for both and gaining back all my weight. I have already gained back 50lbs since dealing with band problems.

Looks like two procedures for me as well. Sigh I was all ready to move forward with the revision plans today but looks like band removal in 2-8 weeks then revision a few months after that. I am having trouble gaining weight and hope that doesn't cause some serious depression. I will be happy to be done with this whole process on onto dealing with other things lol I do plan to get a second opinion at the military base here. They can convert to the sleeve as well so it never hurts to find out what they'd say.

I had a band 3 years ago and am now looking at a conversion. I will say lap band works for some but I have 3 friends who I have met locally through support groups and of the 3 one converted to the sleeve, one lost all her weight and had tt, one had so many issues she doesnt go in for fills (some issues were her own doing) and then me who is forced into a revision because my band caused me to have dilaton of my esophagous. I have been partially unfilled for months and gained back 40lbs that I lost. Was my band great when I had full restriction yes but I also had so many issues that I feel it would have been better to have GB or Sleeve to begin with.. Also band is not minimally invasive: It causes adhesions A lot of people get the esphogeal dilation (my dr said the last few years this is showing to be a big problem) It slips It often times will need to be replaced. Surgery is surgery and there are complications with all surgeries. Do research and ask questions.

Thanks this is so hard I am so nervous I dont want to have to wait between as I feel i will ballon up in weight. I meet with my surgeon today and then submit for approval then I guess it just depends on whats going on. Sorry you are having to go through such a long wait that must be hard! Hugs

Just checking in to see how everyone is doing!! I cant believe in a few short months we will be reaching our first bandiversary