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I am a lapband revision. That is my total weight loss.

Hi Everyone, I ended up in the ER a few weeks ago after a routine fill on my band, unable to swallow even liquid. My body thought I was choking so it kept sending saliva to my espophagus, with no way for it to go down (completely swollen shut). It was horrible. Radiologist said I need to get it out asap. Primary care doc is not familiar with bands at all and wasn't sure what to write. So I offered to write the letter of request to Cigna for her to put on her letterhead. I've searched everywhere online for a letter that outlines the dangers of leaving the band in, as well as the benefits of replacing it with the sleeve. To no avail. There are plenty of letters about bariatric surgery, but none dealing with the dangers of a failed band. Can anyone direct me? We need to submit something asap. Thanks so much.

sometimes all the fluid is removed for a time and the band will go back into place it's self, if not surgery is required - if the band is slipped badly then it will have to be removed, replaced or you opt to have a revision to a diffent type of WLS.

I got my lapband almost exactly five years ago. I was self pay so did not need to jump through the insurance hoops to prove that it was medically necessary for me to have it although I could have if I had insurance at the time. I wasn't employed but I had come into some money so I could afford to do it self pay. A wonderful thing so I thought at the time. Now my lapband has eroded and I need to have it removed but my insurance is giving me the run around trying to say that I got it for "cosmetic" reasons. I guess if an insurance company doesn't give their blessing that it is medically necessary then they assume that it wasn't. Anyway, I was just wondering if anyone had experienced this before and what the outcome was. I'm terrified that my insurance company isn't going to cover the removal of my band much less the revision surgery to the gastric sleeve that I want just because I was original self pay. Thanks for any input anyone can provide.

Hello Canadian Band Buddies For those of you that have not heard CIBO Clinic in Toronto has filed for bankruptcy. I received the following email today from Dr. Chris Cobourn at Smartshape (formerly Surgical Weightloss Centre) and he has asked me to post this message. Tom, Toronto Banded July 6 06 Wt. Loss: 156 lbs Hi Tom: We had a meeting at the clinic today and we have come up with the following option for CIBO patients. We will offer them the opportunity to join our follow up program which includes: Initial assessment/consultation with Dr. Cobourn either in person or on the phone Counseling with our team of nurses, coaches and dietitians via email, telephone or in person as necessary Band adjustments as necessary Band adjustments can be performed at our facilities in Mississauga or Downtown Toronto, and with our affiliates across the country Radiologic or endoscopic evaluation as necessary 24/7 access to one of our surgeons if there are concerns or worries after hours Access to weekly webinars by our nurses and dietitian Access to Lap Band Connect – an extensive online support forum for Lap Band patients Access to this comprehensive program is offered to CIBO patients at the cost of $1000 per year and can be renewed annually as the patient wishes. We are not able to offer a fee for individual adjustments because our philosophy of care is that the highest quality Lap Band care is more extensive than simple band adjustments. There was a great deal of empathy for the situation of these patients that are not able to access a follow up program that they have paid for. However there needs to be an understanding that there are real costs associated with the delivery of this extensive follow up and we cannot offer this program without additional cost to the patient. We understand that additional costs may be a burden for these patients and have modified or usual access fee for the CIBO patients. It is important to understand that access to the follow up program does not include the cost of any revision surgery that may be necessary. Revision surgery may include port fixation or placement, as well as band repositioning, replacement or removal. We will develop a schedule of costs for these revision procedures. Please feel free to post this information on the Message Forums that you have access to. You know the quality of the follow up that we provide and we think this is a fair and reasonable option for these patients. SWLC is well known for the quality of care we provide and all patients who join our program will have full access to the post op care we provide to our patients. We want to assure the CIBO patients that we are here to help them if they are interested in our program. Dr. Chris Cobourn | Surgeon and Medical Director SmartShape™ Weight Loss Centre Phone: 905.278.8000 | Toll-free: 1.888.278.7952 | Website: smartshape.ca 1413 Hurontario Street Mississauga ON L5G 3H5

Jersey City area here. Currently have the lap band but will be revised to bypass by dec2013/ jan 2014. My surgery was done at Lourdes Medical Center in Burlington NJ by Dr. Samuel Wasser. Same Dr. and hospital for bypass in the future.

That is so good to hear. I have to have my band out in a month. Partial slip, and surgeon says he will try to revise my band or take it out period. He feels I didn't do well at my 2 yr check up. Since I only lost 30 lbs and my bmi didn't go down enuf. I'm not diabetic anymore so I think I did good. I'm praying for a revision Sent from my iPhone using LapBandTalk

Have not had the revision yet still have first band but it has prolapsed three times and I have to have it replaced but questioning if anyone has had a second put in and experienced prolapse with the second one

Tracy, I had similar experiences with my band also. It worked, it didn't work..I went to Mexico (Monterrey) thinking (as 2 different docs suspected) that I had an erosion. After the endo, it was found I didn't. Well, I was already there...the doc said he could do it (Dr. Zapata is absolutely FABULOUS) so rather than coming back, I said lets GO FOR IT...I did have a lot of adhesions around my band. And when they removed it and did the sleeve, the portion where the band was ended up swelling severely...shut off completely, hence I was vomiting for 2 days....once that subsided, it was a breeze. I'm down 17 pounds in 1 week!! I would do it over again in a heartbeat. Band to Sleeve revisions are a little different and need to be watched closely..but it seems from where you've come from, it should be a breeze...will keep you in my thoughts and prayers, let me know if you have any questions, glad to help with any info I can.

Omg. I'm glad I'm not the only one. I've had super oily skin all my life and now I'm two weeks post op and need moisturizer. I'm following this to see what others suggest! Katy W- Louisburg, NC Lapband revision to VSG with DS HW- 297 Weight at Surgery-279 CW- will update at two week appt

My starting weight was 283 lbs. I have done all of the fad diets over the years including multiple attempts at Weight Watchers, Atkins, South Beach, Slim Fast, just to name a few. The most I ever lost on any diet was about 70 lbs and I gained it all back(and then some). I had reached a point where my health was really beginning to suffer as a direct result of my obesity. I had hypertension, heart palpitations, type 2 diabetes, and was on multiple medications. I decided to look into WLS in January 2013. The only 2 surgeries I was willing to consider were lap-band and gastric sleeve. I ultimately decided on lap-band because it is less invasive, reversible, and can be revised to the sleeve, if needed, at a later date. The reverse is not true. I was also very uncomfortable with having part of my stomach removed, concerned with leaks, and other post-op complications that can happen with the sleeve. I was banded on December 20, 2013, so less than a year ago. My current weight is 148 lbs. I have lost a total of 135 lbs. I have gone from a size 24 to a size 6 in pants and dresses, and from a size 3x-4x down to a size small in tops. The best part is that I am off all my cardiac, blood pressure, and diabetes medications. The only meds I take now are synthroid because I have hypothyroidism(and even that is only 1/3 the dose I was on before), zyrtec for seasonal allergies, a multivitamin, and calcium supplement. This was absolutely THE best decision I ever made and I would do it all over again! The only regret that I have is that I didn't do it sooner! Best of luck to you in whatever you decide to do!

My start weight was 326 or 320 can't remember after 2 years out , that was when I started thinking about it that was my weight then after my consult after the weigh in at the Surgeons office he gave me the pre op papers and instructions and after pre op right before and at time of surgery I weighed 276 , I chose the band because I knew it was revisable if anything happened , I also chose it because I needed help and I saw what happened with other wls on friends, family, and coworkers , I knew when my health started going down and I had to walk with a cane just to hold up my weight because my legs couldn't hold my weight now I can move and walk without a cane and have lost 110 lbs. so far I have 40 more to go to get to my goal of 135 & when I do it will be 150 lbs. I will have lost

My WLS journey has been at a Bariatric Center of Excellence in a major Medical Center. The Weight Loss Center here has done thousands of surgeries in the last ten years. The program is discouraging patients from pursuing the lap band procedure because of the risk of complications. In my classes, I met two lap band revision patients that have had multiple issues. After talking with them, I am very comfortable with my decision to do the sleeve.

I had the band for 10 years and I felt like I was always hungry, but eating dense Protein often made me feel pain or discomfort. Since I knew that revisions might not lose weight as well, I talked alot to the nutritionalist about this. She started me down the path of not thinking about "full" or "too much". Rather I was to practice stopping eating when no longer hungry. Now, that was a new concept! So, I suggest that once you are on solid foods you start thinking that way - absence of hunger, not full. I have vomited a few times since being sleeved, each time it was from inhaling food too fast. I don't know about foamies or any of that... I am 2.5 years out and have not experienced those things. Small quantities of dense protein and veggies, follow the guidelines and you will likely feel satiated. A couple of caveats... first 6 weeks, I ate by the measuring spoon and clock - while your stomach is healing you can't trust the "signals". Also, acid can feel like hunger so be sure you are on a PPI the first few months at least while your body adjusts to a small tummy.

My mom is having a horrible time with her band. All the usual band problems, esophogus problems, unfilling, refilling, weight coming back, and now the port seems to be moving. She has Health Plus and doesnt think she can get them to pay. Has anybody gotten the revision paid for by inssrance? did you have to appeal? Anybody have Health Plus? I am trying to get whatever info I can for her. Espescially since I now I have my Sleeve Im feeling a little guilty.

I had the sleeve in 2011 and lost 88 pounds. Then I gained about 40 and had really bad acid reflux and could not lose the weight. So I went back to Mexico in March 2016 and had the revision to mgb. I will say the sleeve was a breeze and I felt like I didn't even have surgery. The mgb was not bad, just a little discomfort. The main difference I noticed was with the sleeve I had plenty of energy and with the mgb I was really tired for about 2 or 3 weeks. I'm a police officer at a hospital/university and I walk several miles a day and frequently have to fight or restrain mental or drugged out patients. I took 3 weeks off with the mgb and I was fine. If you have an office job you could probable take 2 weeks off and be fine. My starting weight with the sleeve was 257 and it was 199 with the mgb. I'm currently about 160. My goal was 150 but I work out a lot and I've went from a size 16 to a size 8/10 since the mgb so I'm pretty happy if I stay where I am.

Hello all, I had my lap band surgery done on June 16, 2008 and a port revision done November 19,2008. I started at 226 lbs and now weigh 195. The majority of the weight came off before the surgery during my two week liquid diet. I would like to hit 135 as a high goal weight, but at this point I am focusing on breaking through 190. I have refocused and started tracking my foods more carefully and really trying to be more accountable. I have my 4th fill this month on the 22nd - hopefully that will get me just right. Anyways, just wanted to share and introduce myself

I only told my husband and my best friend when I had my lap band. I had to tell more people when I had the revision because it was not planned and we had to accomodate kids, job, and etc. So I ended up having to tell my manager and my mother and another friend. You will find out that this is NOT the easy way out and in time you might be comfortable telling people you had weight loss surgery. The truth is that you will be losing the weight from diet and exercise. As far a not working out until 6 weeks that is not what my surgeon had me do. I was expected to be up walking the day I got home. I was up walking the hospital the entire 5 days I was in post op (mostly my choice because I was paranoid about getting blood clots). I wasn't allowed to lift weight for 4 weeks but I bet you will be exercising right away. It is your journey so do it how you feel comfortable. I even told a few people that I decided to follow a bariatric diet to support my friend having a lap band (my friend was having the lap band so it was partially true and that explained all the protein shakes. LOL

This is a topic I've been thinking about a lot myself lately. I'm almost a year out now and down 100lbs, I've just started to research plastics and their cost/the doctors I may be interested in. I currently have no significant other but do want kids at some point. when I find someone I dont want to jump right into baby making (thought the "practice" will be fun ;3 ) so I figure that I'm at least a min of 2 years out from having a baby. that will make it three years that I would get to live with the skin sack... :/ Are there any ladies here on the board that have had children post plastics willing to talk about their experience? did your body go back with the healthy eating and exercise or did you have a revision to your plastics?

Thanks for the response. Well went to the dr for my followup and she suggested adding an additional scoop of Protein to my ready to drink. So I have doubled the amt of protein without having to increase volume. She said even though I am not having any trouble drinking she is still concerned with stressing the revision with all the complications.

Hello from down under, I have worked extensively with burns and scars as a therapist. Adhesive silicone sheeting can work wonders with scars. That being said, it does require a build up of wearing time due to sensitivity to the product and the wound needs to be completely healed. I have used it for all three surgeries (original band and two port revisions) and you could barely tell I've had any surgery. I hope this helps :thumbup: Miss Dee www.wonderwomansequel.blogspot.com

User name.....................# of minutes...................# of days per week 4jin....................................30............................ .......5............. patticNJ..............................20.............................. .....5............. becca.................................20.............................. .....3............. abeaher..............................15............................... ....4.............. aliwatt................................30............................. ......4............. Rhapsody............................30................................ ....6............. Angie4b1g...........................30................................ .....5............. Marathinner.......................45-60....................................4............. DancingBelly.......................15................................. ......5............ mhazelrigg...........................30............................... jaunderwood 20 5 joyaddison...........................45-60.................................4.............. jlobyxmas............................30............................... .......4+ StLouisGal............................30.............................. .........6 OK . . . I needed to revise my exercise plan, my weight loss seemed to slow down and stop . . . so I'm now doing 30 mins of "fat burn" walking on my treadmill . . . I really feel great doing it! I lost another pound today, so it seems to be working! Keep up with the great job all! :thumbdown:

I am 3 days post op and was given little 30 ml cups to sip from. I'm supppsed to take 3 sips to finish each one so that's a very tiny sip at a time. Lap band 2009 Sw 200/lw 161/cw 214 Sleeve revision booked 17 May

Well, I learned a valuable life lesson yesterday... Went for my second fill - Dr. couldn't seem to figure out if he was in the port or not - could not get Fluid to draw back. Put in 1 cc. Called in his partner - same story, put in about 2cc trying to figure it out, couldn't get it back. Tried to drink Water after that....Oh my -- now I know what you all are talking about with your PB stories!! Instant severe pain, thought I was going to pass out (vaso-vagal response) and finally up it all came. BUT....they couldn't get the fill out. So, I had to have an emergency port revision last night - found tubing had kinked. But here's the kicker: One of my daughters graduated from high school last night, 60miles away in our home town, while I was 60miles away at the hospital...the same time I had to have my surgery!! My appointment had been in the morning, plenty of time to get back home...or so I thought. Couldn't get the surgery until night... The moral of this story- Never schedule a fill when you HAVE to be somewhere that day! Guess I'll be on Clear liquids today and mushies tomorrow - so much for the parties we're having this weekend! I was hoping the fill would help me stay on my diet...well, I guess it will REALLY do that! I can laugh about it now, but it didn't seem as funny last night.

When I had my band (I'm having revision surgery) the stitches just dissolved. Is this not the case with sleeve? X