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I have been considering wls for while. My husband is self employed and we have not had insurance for a while. We have finally caught up on everything and so I went through the very long process to apply for insurance through BCBS of TX for us and our 4 kids. I knew they would not cover the wls and planned to self pay but wanted to have the insurance in case of complications. Once everything was submitted to underwriting I started the process for gastric sleeve, met with the Dr and set a date for July 31st. Then the next week was notified by insurance that I was denied coverage because of the meds I take for water retention. It does not make sense to me why they denied me but my agent said I can appeal the decision and re-apply. I have decided to just wait until after surgery and trust God and move forward my plans for surgery without insurance. Does anyone know how long I will need to wait after surgery until it would be good for me to re-apply for insurance?

Yes, these stats are from the early trials, when none of the US docs had any experience. Yes, 80% probably have a "complication", since they include even the most minor things in the term "complication" ! Who hasn't barfed once?? The way i see it, i am willing to accept the risks, because the "complication" from remaining morbidly obese is 100% early DEATH. That is a BIG complication! Renee

Try not to worry Complications are SO RARE. If you were ok the first time you went under then there's no reason to believe you will have trouble now My anesthesiologist told me that I have a greater chance of getting hurt on the freeway then from anesthesia. (And I go on the freeway every day! )

I felt terrible in the mornings for a while. I wound up having some complications so I'm sure it will go away for you faster than it did for me, but yeah, I'd say feeling weak in the mornings is totally normal. Advice: coffee makes it worse, and don't take a hot shower-- it taxes the body too much.

I looked into WLS a few years ago, but my insurance didn't cover it, so that was that. A couple weeks ago, my wife told me that someone at her work is having WLS and that her insurance covers it. I've always had her insurance as my secondary insurance, but it never occured to me that they would cover it even if mine didn't. I called the clinic that her co-worker had hers done at, and inquired about my insurance situation. Sure enough, if my primary insurance doesn't cover, the secondary will. That clinic is out of network, but told me that they will bill as out of network, but then for my co-pay they will only charge me as much as if I was in-network. I made an appointment. I completed my paperwork and faxed it in a few days ago. I was scheduled to have a phone appointment tomorrow, and then a meeting with the surgeon a week from tomorrow. The clinic called me today and said they had a cancellation tomorrow and wanted to know if I wanted to move my meeting with the surgeon to then. I'm super excited to meet with the surgeon tomorrow and get my process started. I'm hoping that my secondary insurance doesn't have a 6 month process the way a lot of them do. As for my story, I've been overweight a good portion of my life. When I was 17, I was helping my dad move an 1800 pound safe off a truck and it fell off the truck and onto my foot. It resulted in a 10 day hospital stay and amputation of my foot. Even with that, I've always been active but a few years later was north of 300 pounds. A few years ago I was diagnosed with diabetes and also borderline high blood pressure. I've been trying, without success, to get some weght off to keep my diabetes in check. A year and a half ago, I woke one morning with incredible pain in my back. I went to my PCP, who told me essentially to quit being a baby and go home and walk it off, and if I wasn't feeling better in a few days to a week, then come back and see him. Later that afternoon, I went to my chiropractor, who advised me that with my symptoms I should go to the ER. I did and was diagnosed with cauda equina, which is essentially when a disc ruptures and presses into the nerves in your back. I was immediately transported to Swedish in Seattle (about an hour and a half away) and that night had surgery on my back. My neurosurgen told me that if I hadn't had surgery within 72 hours, she is pretty confident I would have been paralyzed. I ended up with some significant nerve damage in my legs, but I was lucky because I seeked out prompt medical attention so I can still walk and have use of my lower extremities. I do still have a lot of nerve pain in my legs, and right now my neurosurgen is trying to address that. Every day that I have to be able to walk and play with my kids is a blessing however. Now I'm hoping to get rid of this weight so I can be even more active and involved in their lives. Wish me luck at my meeting with my neurosurgen tomorrow! I do have my reservations however, because I'm going to Puget Sound Surgical Center, which, for those of you who have been following, is where iggychick got her sleeve done. However, her doctor was Dr. Billing and I'm meeting with Dr. Crouthamel. It will be interesting knowing iggychick's story, how forthcoming he is when I ask about complications, not only his, but of the clinic as a whole. It will show me how trustworthy Dr. Crouthamel is.

I guess I really lucked out because I did not have any gas pain whatsoever. I had my surgery yesterday afternoon and when I woke up I was slightly nauseous and they gave me some meds right away and I was fine. I was in no pain at all yesterday and this morning I have quite a bit of pain around my incisions because I decided not to take the morphine. I am on liquid vicodin, but am taking a very low dosage. Other than the pain around the incisions I have been just fine. I came home this morning, so I spent less than 24 hours in the hospital. I am SO happy with this surgery so far and so grateful that I have not had any complications or serious pain. I went in expecting the worst and was very pleasantly surprised. The most pain I have is when I go from sitting/laying to standing up. That hurts quite a bit but once I get to walking it goes away. Anyways, I know this isn't the norm, but I just thought that I would share that it's not always horrible. Just wanted to give a little hope to those of you out there that have yet to be sleeved.

I had lapband surgery in March of 2004 and now am exploring the idea of a revision to gastric bypass surgery. I have been very fortunate not to have any complications from the band, I just haven't used it the way it was meant and since I'm so far into the game the chances of me losing more weight are very slim. I just discovered that my health insurance plan will exclude bariatric surgery beginning April 1, 2012. so, on a whim I decided to attend a surgical weight loss seminar sponsored by the healthcare system that I work for. The surgeon seems optimistic that he can remove the band, get my 3 month medically supervised diet complete, and get an authorization from my insurance for the gastric bypass surgery. I'm interested in hearing about everyone's experience with RNY surgery, whether you started off banded, or not. I'm also looking for a community of support and ideas. I haven't been an active participant of a weight loss forum for quite a while, so I'm excited to be back and to make some new friends.

Does anyone know of anyone who has died due to the lap band or complications? Not really something I have seen talked about but just wondering...

I heard of a woman in Colorado who died because her surgery wounds became infected. She didn't go to the hospital for it and died. I think I have heard of one other case like that too. Generally, if you die from a lap band, it's because you get infection from your wounds. This is extremely rare and if you get to the wounds in time, it's treatable. And yes, Bypass you can die from as well. However, there are more complications that cause death in those cases.

I know Dr. Alvarez and his team quite well. I also researched his background, the number of VSG's he had performed, and his complication rate. His surgical record was impeccable, and his compassion and care is first rate. I'l see him again in July for the VSG surgery. His nurses, his coordinator, etc; they treated me as if I was royalty. Lovely facilities and upgraded suites with internet in the rooms. If you need more info on Dr, A; I would love to share it with you:kelleyanita@sbcglobal.net

Feeding tubes aren't the standard fare for WLS. As you say, you had so many complications you are likely one of very few folks that have had to deal with them. The positive side is the site now has someone with experience of feeding tubes. You're our foremost authority. Hang in there, Tek

Hi everyone, Thank you for your replies and the showing of support for my wife. It is Saturday morning October 8th and I am sitting here inside the hospital room next to her bed side watching her sleep. She had surgery yesterday morning to remove her band but she had multiple unexpected complications during the surgery. Initially we were told the whole surgery should last between 1 to 1.5 hours in total and it would be done laproscopicaly. Unfortunatley once they got into her stomach they discovered the situation was far more advanced and complex than they could had ever thought. We were told that not just part of the band but the ENTIRE lapband clamp and some of the tubing had eroded and pushed itself completely into her stomach cavity. Because of this complication they abandoned the lapiscopic approach and made a vertical inscision about 6 inches above her stomach to go and fix the problem. Once they got in they discovered the ulcers in her stomach were also larger than orriginaly expected and the surgeon ended up having to bassicaly remove a portion of her stomach and repair it with tissue collected from elsewere in the body. The concern now is will the inscisions hold and will her body accept the essentialy patched layers of skin that are being used to repair her stomach. In whole the surgery lasted almost 5 hours and she is on a Morphine pump to control her pain. We were told her recovery time just here in the hospital will be a minimum of 6 to 7 days and the next step will require a barium swallow to confirm there are no leaks in the stomach itself. She also cant eat or drink anything for this entire period which I can only imagine what she is going to be like in a few days with that news. I have to tell you, the more and more I read on here about the simualrities of many people posting their complications of the lapband and what it has done to their bodies and life "ESPECIALY 5 to 6 YEARS LATER" I really have to wonder if this device is miracle that we all once belived it was. Both me and my wife have experienced the joys of weight loss and now unfortunately the cost associated with it. Yes, I am also having complications with my band and even though I work for a major company with thousands of employees and we subscribe to a major healthcare provider here in the US guess what else is happening? We found out the This past Thursday afternoon that our insurance will not cover this surgery at all. It is considered an complication due to a non covered gastric band removal and even though it was also considered emergency surgery, the insurance company is denying the claim. What else can be said, I am not sure but it makes you wonder if all those people out there that use to baulk at us when we told them we had this surgery and how some of them would say we just cheated to loose weight were maybe right. Stephen Wallace / Atlanta, Georgia

I've had my band just over three years and have had no serious complications. There have been effects and some irritation/reflux symptoms that required testing, but the tests all showed that my band is in good shape and good position. I've had no infections or surgical complications at all. It's not realistic for anyone to expect the band can be installed and then forgotten about. It inflicts significant changes on our eating habits and requires attention and followups with doctors. But it's also not true that most people have complications. In my experience, MOST bandsters don't have what I would call "complications."

Hi. I had massive complications after my sleeve and was in hospital for over 4 months from October 2011 to Feb 12. Another additional bonus was I lost the vast majority of my hair. By January this year it had all gone. I started taking biotin in Feb (I was nil by mouth before then) and took 1 per day. My hair grew back enough to stop wearing wigs by early June. I believe the biotin played a huge part in the regrowth and highly recommend it.

Lara that made my day! I have been having horrible mixed feelings!! Am I doing the right thing? Should I give my band another try? may be I am the one failing it not the band failing me.. My band is the same, I have no complications with it Except not being able to eat chicken and other stuff! that are healthy. Also I have been on my band for almost 7 years and I cant deny it helped me lose most of my lost weight up till now. I think my problem is so mental!! I am so attached to my band and I am afraid if I let it go I will fail more! And still I stopped losing for more than 2 years! if I ever lose small amount I gain them so quickly!! I believe ur words so much that I shouldnt stay in the sad/depress phase.. I am really just confused! Will I be eating less than I am already having now?! cause I am eating SOOOOOOOOO little how less can I go!! I cant see how great difference will the sleeve be except from the results I have been hearing here on the board! I took my decision about the sleeve and am not going back but I am not having any great expectations either:(

Hello. Anxiety is normal. If its unbearable, talk to your primary doctor. Mine gave me Lexapro and it helped amazingly! I am 3 weeks post op now. I just want to tell you that if you trust your decision, trust your doctor, and are confident in the hospital you chose, then you can relax. They are professionals and have performed hundreds, if not thousands, of these surgeries, no doubt. I can also tell you that your experience is going to be uniquely yours. ( Read that last sentence again.....) Please, please, please do not read these threads about complications and assume that you are going to go thru the same issues. I can tell you that odds are in your favor. Complications are a very, very, very, low percentage. Keep in mind that people are reaching out for answers sometimes and those types of worries can dominate a lot of these threads. Look for positive threads...read some of the post op threads. The energy you are using on all this worry and anxiety is not necessary. Have faith, trust, believe and you will be just fine.

So my hubby had the bypass, I had the sleeve. He is loosing weight faster, I have to work harder and it's slower. BUT, I am getting stronger and healthier by working harder. I can do things I have been able to do in years. The sleeve hasn't effected my meds I have to take for my bipolar. The absorption seems to be the same. My hubby hasn't had complications nor have I, but his recovery time has been longer. I think...for me...the sleeve was the better choice. I am changing my bad habits and learning healthier ones. It's slow, but constant. This is my experience. Sent from my XT1650 using the BariatricPal App

Hello, wls comrades. Five years ago today, I entered Onederland after a VSG Dec. 2013. HW: 271. SW: 257.2. Lowest weight: 180.8 (1/23/17). I wanted to get to 175, but my face was getting so thin and I was looking older/wrinkled. My Onederland weight was "197.8" and I smiled so broadly!! Alas, today, I weigh 206...ten pounds heavier than that day, and 27 pounds above my lowest weight. Grrrrrr. I am bummed, as I'm having a hard time getting back under control. I'm mad at myself. Just saying. I'm considering having a re-do...a second VSG later this year...because I don't want to be in that fight again. I'll see how I do between now and July. Keep me in your thoughts/prayers. Although I had NO complications, was done outpatient and did great, I don't want another surgery, but more...I DON'T want to be in that fight again, nor be over 200 pounds. But I'm told that ghrelin returns after 5 years; I'm approaching 6 years, so...'Hello, Heartache... here we go again..." My thought is...if I have another VSG ~205 pounds; lose 50-60 pounds, get to ~140-150. Then if I regain 20 pounds after five years (when i'll be almost 70 y.o.), wth. :-) I won't worry about it then. lol. When I was at 180 pounds, I was a near-size 10, feeling real good, etc.I can 'finish out' around that weight. Just thinking. Any thoughts? I may try that old "Master Cleanse," if I can hang in there the first few days. I'm open to thoughts to get back on the food track. If I can do that and get over the hump, I may be able to lose again. Hmm.

My revision. Was done in one procedure on 8/31/17. My surgeon predicted 45 min for everything and I woke up in my room and family told me took 2. 5 hrs. Had so much scar from band collar and esophagus was torn. And I had a very experienced surgeon and he told surgeon who put in my band placed the collar too high on esophagus. Not to scare you but it really depends on what they find when they get inside. My doc didn't anticipate any complications because I was healthy and other than band being too tight, had no other complaints!

I am a 2x revision patient, starting with LapBand in 2011, followed by VSG in 2019 due to severe Lapband complications, and finally GBP in 2021 after even more complications with the VSG. I have been fighting the good fight for ELEVEN YEARS now, and trust me when I say I was so ready to give up many times during the process, but I am so glad that I never did! I am officially down 152 lbs, and have been maintaining within 3-4 lbs since Feb 2022. I am to the point that I am ready to start looking into plastics. After so many years of fighting to get to where I am, I love the way I look and feel.... when I'm fully dressed. But seeing all the loose skin is a hard mental hit every single time. All the work, tears, pain, determination.... it all feels like it's for nothing when I see the destruction it all left behind. After a lot of research on various options, I am heavily leaning towards the Beltline procedure due to the amount of work that will need to be done. Does anyone have any experience with this? I would love to hear all about it! Pros, cons, horror stories, success stories... I want it all!

And I have lost 30 pounds:) I have had no nausea at all, but I do one uncomfortable incision:( also my doctor has me in full liquids for 3 weeks to ensure my stomach heals and there are no complications. My biggest challenge is this mid morning slump I get? Afternoon I pick back up but between 11-2 I could sleep!?

For me, I have to re-educate myself.. Have the right tools! Clean out all the un-healthy cookbooks, replace them with organic cooking & recipes that are healthy, which means purchasing the fresh groceries to go along with it. My daughter, my mother and I are going to continue getting together & help cook for each other, healthy meals. I have a weekly date with two of my grandsons (3 y.o. & 9 mos) and were going to make healthy pizzas & play games. They can learn how to decorate their pizzas with good fresh ingredients given to choose from. Start slow,, food will taste different, textures will be different. Spend time researching this site, read what has worked for others; talk to people and find out what works for them.. Change your habits.. The first day of my 2 week liquid diet had me a little concerned. My 'habit' was to come home after work & pour a glass of wine before anything. That first day I came home & literally walked around talking to myself "Must find a new routine" and I got busy with some things I had put off a long time, found myself distracted & alas a new habit was formed. No regrets. Keep focused, but don't make it too complicated. Set some short-term goals & long term goals. Those are some things I have done... Dawn

No problem! And trust me you're not alone. All these tests were making me a basket case. During my testing they thought I had barretts esophagus ended up being a mistake. I was told I had an enlarged heart, mistake, something else major happened bunch it's all a blur... Or I blocked it out. Oh they found gallstones.... Lots of them. Thanks for the compliment. I've been extremely lucky. I had one small complication which required me to stay in hospital for 4 days. Make sure you read up on the complications just to be prepared. There are many success stories here but also some very scary ones. Don't go into this blindly. Not trying to scare you just want you to be prepared.

When I was in the hospital I lost pretty much all my hair due to the complications of WLS. I used only biotin for my hair and Now my hair is back and thick but curly. It used to be straight! But I am a happy camper. This is the last bottle I am going to take for now. As I feel I won't need it anymore after this one is empty.

I got to the point where I couldn't exercise enough, and I couldn't follow weight watchers anymore. I worked my butt off all summer to stay in the low 280's, when fall came and I couldn't bike anymore I went up to 299 by Christmas. I swore to myself that I would never see a 3 in front of my weight again so I knew I had to do something. I started looking at WLS, I compared average weight loss with average complications and decided on the band. While the weight loss for bands is lower than the more drastic surgeries, the band complication and mortality rates are only a fraction of what RNY and VGS are. I looked around for a surgeon, found one with over 900 procedures under his belt and a complication rate that was less than the national average. I have tried every diet and every diet drug on the market, and always gained it back. Today, after a little over three months, I weigh less than I have since I was a freshman in High School, and I am well on my way to achieving my weight loss goal.