Becca

I would try your insurance first. I had an exclusion and went to Mexico three years ago only to have my band fail me and the aftercare is horrible for Mexican patients in the U.S. (I did receive excellent care while having my surgery, though. The doctors really know their stuff. I just can't afford to fly down there everytime I need something.) I know the sleeve doesn't really require aftercare, but if something does go wrong, at least you have a doctor here. They treat you like the plague when you say you had surgery in Mexico! I now have insurance to cover my revision, thankfully. Don't give up! Hang in there! :thumbup1:

Well first of all, HUGS! Thank you so much for sharing the truth. It will help pre-sleevers prepare for the emotions to come soon. Still, after reading about your concerns, I know that the life I am living now is not a happy one and the surgery is worth it. I am passing on my horrible eating habits to my kids and it has to stop. I know there will be ups and downs, but we have each other to get us through it. Happiness is in our future!!!!

So LOVING this! I was self pay for my band and it has been nothing but a BIG waste of money. I will have to ask my doc if I can keep it and see what he says! I am so glad I am not the only one who thinks the band is a JOKE.

I am in the same situation, except my band never really worked. I was hoping to get it fixed. My doctor gave some great perspective on the sleeve. He asked me if I wanted to be dealing with fills the rest of my life and said that most with a band will have a complication at some point that requires surgery. The statistics prove it as the long term studies are coming out. I am scared to have surgery again, but I am not happy living with a broken band anymore. I am sick of drinking barium and being poked with a needle!

I am so sorry about all of your problems! I am ready to kiss my band good-bye to from endless complications. I haven't had reflux problems, but I would like to know if anyone has had problems with this after revision. Good luck and I hope healing is in your near future.

I am in the same situation. I was told I have to do the normal pre-op requirements except I don't have to do the six month weigh ins before surgery. I will know more at my second appointment later this week.

So sorry! I am happy your are still getting the sleeve. Keep smiling! :scared0:

Congrats!!! Keep us posted on how things go! :scared0:

Hi! I am also a 34 year old mom who is about to go from band to sleeve. (Just waiting on final approval from the insurance). I have had nothing but problems from my band and I did once lose 70 pounds, but gained back 30 when my tubing cracked. I just found out today that my band has slipped, so my doc said my band has to go and he wants me to get the sleeve. You have had one hectic journey! Hopefully we will have some great new stories to tell when we get out sleeves!:001_unsure:

Hi there, I am new to the forum and thought I would tell my story. I have had nothing but problems from my lapband. Cracked tubing and now a slip. I am now seeing a new doctor due to a change in my insurance. The doc said I need to have my band removed and he wants me to have the Sleeve. At first I was shocked because I was planning on having my band fixed. After listening to my doctor's reasoning, plus looking on the forum, I am thinking the sleeve will work for me. I only lost 40 pounds with my band and I still have 100 more to go. So glad to have the support of this forum! :001_unsure:

I am telling my co-workers and family. I think they will figure it out anyway once the weight starts falling off! LOL However, that's a good thing right??

I have had my lapband for three years and it has never worked correctly. I did lose about 50 pounds, but I never had enough restriction to go further. Since I was banded in Mexico (I know, I know...but please don't judge me since I was a desperate to lose weight at almost 300 pounds and my insurance had a bariatric exclusion) I just gave up. So about two weeks ago, I started having this extreme sharp pain in my lower right abdomen. I thought is was appendicitis or something of that nature. I went to the ER because I couldn't even walk without pain. They did a CAT scan and found nothing at the ER. A couple of days later the radiologist who read the CAT scan in detail called me and said my port and the tubing was fractured and down in my pelvis! WHAT??? Luckily, I now have bariatric coverage (as of Sept. 1) and after calling several doctors I found one who would treat me. I go in Saturday. I just needed to vent and see if anyone out there has been through this. I am excited that I more than likely will have a lapband that works despite all this pain!

I was diagnosed with the same problem at first but since I was self pay, I was out of luck getting it fixed. My band never worked right because all of the saline would leak out. I should be getting mine replaced soon now that my insurance covers it. I am curious to see when they take it out if it has a defect.