Jess55

They basically said the only thing I could do is perhaps get the band removed(which they would pay for) and try again down the line. Which there's no guarantee they'll approve me. They said gaining is not really an option that the directors at the insurance have caught on to that and are not approving if you gain. So I guess it's back to the band I go and try with fills again.

I got a letter in the mail from the insurance company saying they were denying me because my bmi is only 36. I'm going to talk to the office tomorrow and if they have had people get approved by gaining 10# I may do it. But I don't want to have to stay there. I'm not willing to stay at that weight for an extended period of time though. I mean I'll gain a few pounds and then drink a ton of water night before going in. But I'll have to see if that would get me approved

AvaFern, you do? Do you know why? Is there a cause? That sucks. When I vomit with the band it feels like it's stuck and then most times I just bring it back up. It usually happens within the first few bites, but then after I can eat anything. So really I vomit but feel like after I have no restriction. So what is the band doing to help me? Nothing. I thought I'd done enough research prior to the band, but apparently not, now I read so much about long term or even short term complications. Slippage, erosion, scarring, ulcers. I don't want to have to worry about that forever so I really wanted it gone. I thought maybe for once I'd be able to be happy in life. I'd lose weight and be happy. I'm going to keep my fingers crossed though and maybe the office will appeal it. As for the lawyer, I doubt I'd be able to afford one.

I think when they talk about the sleeve losing effectiveness is that the hormone ghelin eventually returns, therefore your hunger returns. Obviously you still have the sleeve so you still have restriction.

I'm trying to convert to the sleeve too. I also felt bullemic with the band, not the binging, but when I had fluid in my band I was puking at most meals. My doc removed all my fluid like 4 months ago and I've still had a couple stuck episodes. My doc made me do the entire pre op testing again. Luckily they didn't make me do the sleep study again, that was awful. I just got my letter from my pcp so they can finally submit it to insurance. I'm crossing my fingers they will approve it, since I no longer meet the 40 bmi requirement and I don't have any comorbidities. We're hoping they will approve it due to complications.

My goal is 135, which is the high end of a normal BMI. However my surgeons goal is 143, because I have a large frame. I don't think I've ever been anywhere close to those in my adult life, so I probably need to see as I get close.

I hear that, I've been trying to get a letter from my pcp stating I'm a good candidate or something for surgery. I went there in April and I was hoping she'd just write the letter for me, nope, she's making me come in again. I think it's because she tried to push diet pills on me last time. Now I couldn't get an appointment for 3 weeks. I'm so annoyed with her. Given that I always wait like an hour to see her, one time I couldn't get an appointment due to back to school visits (I go to a family practice) and now this. Once I get clearance for surgery I'm going to find a new pcp

I'm so happy to read these posts. Especially about the chicken and broccoli. Lol. I had my band in 2010 and never go to the green zone. Either it was to loose or the fact I couldn't eat lunch but then could eat most anything for dinner and didn't get full. When I had my fill in I was puking at most any meal. I felt like a forced bullemic (without binging). I had to go throug all the pre op testing again, but now they are going to submit to insurance and I'm keeping my fingers so crossed that they approve due to complications. Because good and bad I'm under the 40 BMI with no comorbidities. I just want this band gone and lose the rest of this weight. I still have 60-70# go. I look forward to not being hungry and being able to eat small meals and not get stuck!

I'm planning on revising to the sleeve. I've had problems with my band with vomiting. Not sure if it's from not chewing appropriately or what. But I was just wondering if you don't chew well with the sleeve does it cause problems? I have a class 3 malocclusion. Basically my teeth don't meet in the back and I literally have to push my lower jaw forward to chew. Sometimes I feel this causes problems with me chewing well. So I was just wondering if this will cause problems with the sleeve? I may try to ask my surgeon tomorrow if I remember but I wanted some input from people who have the sleeve TIA

But is it the same as the band chewing? I'm still waiting to find out if I can convert, but I'm having second thoughts. The reason I am having problems with the band is I keep vomiting. Now I'm not sure if I'm not chewing enough or what. It was worse in the middle of the day. I had asked my surgeon and he said just cut food smaller. But I am becoming scared that I won't be able to chew completely and I will puke the rest of my life, since there is no reversal. Please let me know what you think Thanks

I have the Fitbit ChargeHR. I love it. I've tried the bodymediafit, and the jawboneUP24 also the bodymediafit was good except it was to noticeable. The jawbone I did like, but after having to get a replacement three times in 6 months I was done with it, even though I just got the newest replacement in the mail, I already switched to Fitbit. I feel like it keeps me accountable. I like seeing the steps I've taken. When I didn't have it I would be lazy, but with it if I don't see it over a certain amount of steps I get disappointed in myself. So if I hadn't had a chance to go to the gym or its my off day I will still go take a walk to get them up. The only two things which I wish were different on the one I have is battery life, I wish was a little better, and I wish it were waterproof. But I just stick it on the charger when I get in the shower

I had lap band surgery 4.5 years ago. I'm hoping to revise to the sleeve. But in the past I was always hot. Probably since I've lost weight, I won't even think about wearing shorts unless it's more than 75 out. I am cold a lot. I still am hot in the summer, but I'm definitely colder than I used to be

It's strange. Everyone seems to say no NSAIDs ever. I currently have the band, but working to convert to sleeve and I specifically asked my surgeon and he said that rules only for bypass patients.

I want to go from band to sleeve. I was to,d I need to do the whole pre op work up again which I am finding really annoying. Apparently insurance will approve removal at this point but won't even consider revision until I do the whole thing, psych, support group, etc. I just hope I don't do it all and then they still decline revision since I'm below a bmi of 40. I am like 36 right now.

I'm hoping I can get approved in time for a June 8th date. I'm trying to revise from the band and I go back to my doc tomorrow after last going he told me to see the cardiologist and pulmonologist and my pcp. I already have that week off of work from vacation time I had left. If I can't get approved for that week I probably will have to wait until July or August when I can get another week off of work without actually telling my job in having surgery. My supervisor/friend knows I have the band and I don't feel like telling him yet that it's failed.

When I did the pre op diet which was 5 days full liquids and 2 days clears I found it much easier than I thought it was going to be. When I've tried to do a liquid diet on my own just to try to get back to basics, I've found it miserable. Not sure why it's different.

I've always been a t-shirt person. I've never worn really fashionable clothes because I hate the way everyone looks on me. I told myself though, after I revise to the sleeve (currently I have the band which I'm having problems with) when I start having to buy new clothes I WILL NOT buy t-shirts. I'm going to go to Old Navy and buy fashionable clothes. Nothing to crazy, but nice clothes. That is what I'm going to look forward to.

I was wondering the same thing. I'm used to drinking a lot of water throughout the day. Especially while working out. I sweat a lot.

Good question, I was wondering this myself since I love to put lots of jalepenos in my chili!

A few years ago, I used the Bodymedia fit, which I liked, but got to many questions of what's that on your arm? It got annoying. Then last year I got the Jawbone Up24. Which I liked, but after having to send it back 3 times in 5 months, I gave up. I now got the Fitbit Charge HR, which I really like. I've only had it 1.5 months but I enjoy it. I do notice the step count has been higher than the jawbone. Not sure which is more accurate. I may be exercising more, but even at work it says I walk more. I am on my feet my 10 hour shift. I love Apple, so I thought about the watch, but I think I would break it. One of my exercises is kickboxing and hitting it on the bag may break it. Otherwise I would totally get it.

I currently have the band, but I keep vomiting and am miserable and not losing weight. I spoke to my doc about revising to the sleeve nod currently he has taken all the Fluid from my band. He recommended me getting the sleeve. I'm kind of leaning towards this because I'm not thrilled with bypass. And right now my bmi is 36, so he feels like I'd do better with a sleeve also because of my age. But I was wondering, do you get dumping with the sleeve? I've read some do and some don't. Honestly I would want to have it because I do have an issue with avoiding sweets and I'd want to know that I physically can't eat them. So just wondering. TIA

my surgeon is going to do it in one procedure, but when I was there like a week and a half ago to talk to him about revision, he removed all Fluid from my band due to vomiting and I've already gained 4lbs . It's awful! I'm thinking of due Protein drinks for a few days before going back because I'm afraid what my doc will say if he's seen I've gained a lot.

It's open enrollment at my job, so we have to pick our insurance plan for the next year. I plan on revising from the lap band to gastric sleeve shortly after the switch, I am confused on which plan to choose. Which would give me the best way of paying less out of pocket, for my surgery. So can I have some advice from someone who is knowledgeable in these matters. With my current plan - which is the middle tier, I pay $338 per month and it has a $1000 deductable, and it says for a hospitalization it says 90% after deductible. Does that mean I pay 10% of the total bill after my deductible? The highest plan is $539 per month has no deductible and $500 hospitalization inpatient and $150 out patient. The difference would be paying $200 per month, which would be $2400 more per year. But the lower plan would be $1000 plus 10% of the bill if I'm understanding correctly. Do you think it would be about even in the end? Does anyone have any idea what the gastric sleeve surgery costs with the one night hospital stay? If it is about even, I'll probably keep the middle plan and just pay off the other part. Any advice would be great! I have to choose by May 1st. Thanks!

I appreciate your advice. I was trying to descretely ask the head of HR today, how much more would seemingly be taken out of my check if I chose the higher plan, and he was saying he'd only choose it if I were to see a doctor often, while he knows I have lap band, I'm not ready to tell him of my plan for revision (even though we're friends and I've known him for the past 11 years) I think I'm going to keep the middle plan and just hope the hospital will come up with a payment plan to work with me. Thank you again

The out of pocket max is $3500 an the lower, $2500 on the higher. Leaning more towards the higher one now, because not expecting it to, but what if something goes wrong and I need something additional?