CherBee

Congrats on your success. I am 3 months out also...I have lost 45 pounds since December. The surgery was the end of March. I feel like I have stalled a bit in the 170s. I hardly can eat a thing, still. I can't drink much at one time either. I don't really have any more cravings. A few bites and I'm full. i can barely eat 1/2 a Lean Cuisine or Healthy Choice. I don't want sweets any more . i thought i might be losing more at this point. i also still get heartburn. I am happy with my weight loss but unhappy that eating has become such a chore and I no longer enjoy it.I wore a size 2x and now i wear a 14-16. But at a cost. Anyone else relate? Also, skin is hanging under my arms, my thighs, my gut, my neck. I am 63. Not much chance of toning up at my age. : /

So the WLC just called and said my insurance denied the whole procedure until I go thought the WHOLE pre-op procedures that I had in 2005, including nutrition, psych, etc. I had a required sleep apnea test done which qualified me this time around since I was just under a BMI of 40. I thought that was all I needed. And now this. I have the surgery already scheduled for Sept. 24 with a one night stay to remove the crappy Lap Band and have the Gastric Sleeve done. I am pissed. I am waiting to hear from the insurance coordinator from the WLC. I asked can I get the band out and later get the sleeve after all ducks are in friggin' row and have it all covered? I think insurance companies are cracking down on these procedures, even tho they have proven to be more cost effective than treating ailments caused by obesity. Anyone else in a similar situation? I probably won't have anything done w/o the insurance coverage.

Mine is not off. I still have it.

I just found out, 2 weeks before my scheduled revision from band to sleeve, that my insurance denied the whole thing. I have to go through the 6 month nutrition thing AGAIN. Also the psych AGAIN! Well,i hope i pass cause this is making me craaaazy! I got the band in 2005 and the most weight lost was in the month before and 2 months after. I had a hard time with the band w/o drinking something when I eat. it also made me gag, drool, sweat. I wish i had done more research. And i never felt satiety...just an overloaded gullet! So now I hope the insurance will at least cover getting the band out. And then hopefully cover the sleeve. But we are all at the mercy of the insurance companies.

Thank you everyone for your prompt replies. One of the things that is really bugging me is that the insurance denial came through so close to the procedure...2 weeks. I'm not sure who to blame, if anyone, on this. I amstill waiting to hear back from the WLC on my insurance. i have not contacted the insurance people myself yet. Oh,and today in the mail i get a claim form from the insurance co. that my visit at the WLC is not covered from Aug. 12 and it's for $145. A 15 minute long office visit! At this point I am hoping to get the band out on Sept. 24 and the sleeve done in early March. But in the meantime, i am on my own with dieting. And as I said before, i can't move forward on anything, not even another drs. appt. till I get this insurance thing figured out. i am also going to talk to more sleeve patients at the next WLC meeting. I have heard nothing but positive feedback so far.

The most weight I lost with the band was pre-band and 2 months post band. The the weight started coming back on. It made me gag, puke, and the band itself shows on the outside. At one point the port turned and was difficult to fill. The main thing...my appretite was not suppressed. My stomach never felt full...just me gullet to the point of drooling. I have the original band whatever it was called, not the newer version. I have spoke to people who had the band and have had the GS revision and all are pleased. I guess I will have to play the waiting game. But going back to square one just makes no sense to me.

I had the band in 2005 and it sucked and now I am trying for the revision to the highly successful Gastric Sleeve. 2 weeks out from the procedure I just got a call from the WLC that my insurance denied the whole thing, removal of band and GS, until I get another psych eval and nutrition regiment for SIX MONTHS!!! I am pissed. I even had a sleep apnea test done as that is a new requirement if BMI is under 40, which mine barely is. And yes I have it zzzzzz... I am waiting to hear back from WLC about the possibility of having the band removed now, and the sleeve done in 6 months. AND insurance covering it. GRRRR... I look at that 6 months as time wasted when pounds could be dropping. I am 63 and getting older by the second!!

$65,000??? Or $6500?

I get an upper GI today...and i sure hope they find something wrong to qualify for band removal and sleeve replacement to be covered by insurance. This is harder the second time around. My insurance company has new stiffer requirements. I thought it would be a no-brainer...band not working, replace with sleeve. I also need a sleep apnea test. If i fail that, i can get the sleeve. This is nuts!

That's great news! How did you get around insurance issues? Did you have to have a bunch of tests, some repeats, to qualify? I am havign problems in that area. See my post.

So today I go for an upper GI and in August go to sleep center to be tested for apnea. All this to try to go from banded to sleeve. It is like I am back at square 1. My BMI is under 40 as it was 5 years ago but insurance companies (I have Berkshire Health) have gotten pickier about non-morbid obese patients. I could gain 20 pounds and qualify as a morbidle obese patient...no I don't think so. I thought maybe if they consider the band to not have worked that would be enough to get the sleeve. I am so bummed about this. it also means all the other tests, including the psych, would have to be repeated. It's as if i never did anything.

OK...I got the results from the endoscopy...band is OK in normal position and no problem. I wish there would have been. It might have helped expedite the switch to Vertical Sleeve. So the doctor told me I don't qualify for the sleeve as I don't weigh enough. I would have to gain weight to get my BMI to 40. At least 20 pounds! Who wants to do that. And then I would have to lose weight before the VS procedure. It's like I am back to square one. I also would have to have the psych eval again and other pre surgery exams and tests. AND to see if I qualify to even proceed I need to get an upper GI (had one 1 year post op) and a sleep apnea test. This would be to see if I have any issues that would qualify me w/o the 40 BMI. I think my insurance company will cover me if I meet the qualifications. I thought having a revision would be a lot easier. Anyone else go thru this? The doctor seems pretty positive that I will qualify one way or another. I am SO bummed. I almost feel like having the band removed and call it quits and go back to regular weight loss means.

Please see my other posts on this message board. Basically I have not been able to lose substantial weight over the past five years.

Hope you look great! Wondering if you got contacts? Thanks for sharing!

Thanks so much for your reply. So if I can get over the hair loss hurdle and the no drink dilemma I might be able to do this. I want to lose weight once and for all. I want to wear a size 8 again. : )

1. 500 calorie a day diet...how and why? That is really low. 2. Still can't drink Water with meals. 3. New small stomach can stretch like the band pouch. 4. Can still have same reactions as band...gagging, fullness but still hungry. 5. Isn't the lack of Ghrelin supposed to curb appetite? 6. Here's a new one...just read some people have this problem...hair loss. OK someone help me out here...I don't want to go from the frying pan into the fire. :thumbup: I would want this to be better than banding and work over a long period of time. And I want to be able to dine out in comfort. I want to drop the weight and keep it off, in comfort. My exercise regime currently is aerobics with weights, bowling, and I am picking up swimming. Thanks in advance for all responses.

I am glad it has worked for you. I definitely would have a problem with the hairloss thing. That alone might be enough for me to say NO THANKS. What is the cause of the hair loss? Is it the procedure? I did not lose hair with the lapband. I had 3 C-secs and did not lose hair. Also, you don't get the weird feeling of food backed up in your gullet? I will be discussing this with my doctor next time I see him. I don't know if I am a candidate or if my insurance will cover it as a recent endoscopy has shown no defects or problems with the band.

Thanks again, Lynn.:001_tongue: