Marianne390

Hi..I was banded in December of 2010 and things were going great for several months...then I got a stomach flu and was violently throwing up. This is what I think caused the prolapse of my band. It took several months for the surgeon to decide it needed to be corrected, and she unbuckled it and left it in. This happened in October of 2011. It made me feel better almost immediately, and once my stomach healed and the swelling went down the doctor was going to buckle it back up. Well, as luck would have it my insurance company denied the claim stating my bmi wasn't high enough! I had to appeal the decision and it did end up being approved. In the mean time, I gained 25 pounds back from the 55 I had lost! Anyway, January 12th I had it buckled up again and I am very happy to have my band back! The big problem is nausea...I did not experience this the first time I was banded. I have tried gas ex, tums and Pepto Bismol. I also have been waking up at night with terrible indigestion. I take Tums and it goes away but I can't figure out why I am feeling this way! I was instructed to be on clears for the first day then on to full liquids, which I have been doing. I have no real hunger, but I am frustrated with this nausea! Anyone got any idea why this is happening? It has only been 4 days since I had surgery. Any input would be appreciated! Marianne

I had no problems getting approved for the surgery, but my band slipped and the surgeon had to go in and unbuckle it in October, and that too was approved by the insurance company. I am scheduled to have the band rebuckled on December 8th, but the insurance company denied the coverage for this surgery because my BMI is too low!! I lost 55 pounds originally and had another 30 or so to go, but since the band has been unbuckled I have gained back 15 pounds! Do I need to gain it ALL back so they will cover the surgery? OMG!! I am so frustrated right now and want my band back!! Any suggestions on how to convince the company that I need this surgery? How can they let me have an unbuckled lap band sitting in my body?

Thanks Cindy! I know the surgeon's office manager has been calling every day and they say someone will call her back and they never do. I have tried once myself, but I am going to call again tomorrow, as well as send my appeal in writing tomorrow. Hopefully I can wear them down! Marianne

Sanction, they put a realize band in, back in December 2010. I didn't know that the older or different models weren't able to be buckled and unbuckled. I guess there have been improvements with the band over time. I have decided to write a letter of appeal to the insurance company (United Healthcare) as instructed by them. I will let you know how I make out. They say they have 15 days to answer the appeal. Guess I will miss the December 8th scheduled surgery date...

I had no problems getting approved for the surgery, but my band slipped and the surgeon had to go in and unbuckle it in October, and that too was approved by the insurance company. I am scheduled to have the band rebuckled on December 8th, but the insurance company denied the coverage for this surgery because my BMI is too low!! I lost 55 pounds originally and had another 30 or so to go, but since the band has been unbuckled I have gained back 15 pounds! Do I need to gain it ALL back so they will cover the surgery? OMG!! I am so frustrated right now and want my band back!! Any suggestions on how to convince the company that I need this surgery?

Hi...I am also very happy for you!! I was banded one month ago today, and I am going for my first fill tomorrow, 1/24/11. I am a little frustrated right now, since I lost 13 pounds within the first two weeks, and for the past two weeks, the scale hasn't budged! I am hungry alot, but I am not overeating, and I have been going to the gym, though only about 3 times a week. I haven't been able to do more than cardio so far, since the doc had me on no lifting more than 10 pounds for 6 weeks. Just starting week 5. I was wondering if you experienced these problems during your journey? I know it is early in my journey, but I expected a little more steady weight loss. Thanks for listening! Marianne