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Hi all. Just curious and wondered if anyone had similar experience that could offer input. I have Anthem BC/BS Ohio. I have a leak and surgeon wants to do a port replacement. Insurance said they needed a letter of medical necessity and that was sent last week. Anyone have the same situation and if so, how long did it take to get approval. According to Anthem's website and the rep I spoke with, this is covered under my plan. Thanks for the input!

@@Halfagain our stories are the same! Banded in 2001...removed Sept 2011...sleeved Dec 2011. Been at goal for awhile. Revision was the BEST decision ever. My port area was very sore and then weird for weeks. I got a little depressed after band was out... maybe the sense of failure? Anyway here I am years later with no regrets about my revision.

Anyone else having their Surgery in Feb? I am getting a revision from VSG to RNY due to severe acid reflux. Anyone else in the same boat?

Well I did it! After 14 years with the band almost to the day, I had the band removed, a hernia repaired, and the sleeve on October 1st. The first few days were rough due to pain but today I am two weeks out, back at work, and feeling pretty good. I am still on full liquids and start pureed foods tomorrow. I am glad to have the revision behind me and look forward to life with the sleeve

I am starting 5 weeks today. I have bad shoulder pain today so I am wondering if I over ate and opened up my stomach. I can eat one egg and maybe 4 Vienna sausages different times of course. I had a few chips and salsa yesterday at th restaurant maybe 5 but chewed them very well. How do I know if I am over eating? I really need to up my calories and protein so is it okay that I am eating every couple of hours? Mushy foods stage. I have lost 14 since surgery. Past 3 weeks the scale hasn't moved I am a low BMi to start with revision from band to sleeve. I am 148 now and am wondering if I will lose this extra weight and get to my 120 goal. Don't want this surgery to have Been a waste for me...... Help!!!! What I'd you all eat at 5 weeks as such??? Stalls etc?!?!

Thank you everyone for your responses! For some reason I lost this thread and glad I found it again I have been approved for my revision and I am very nervous. I am taking 3 weeks off from work then returning to a sedentary job. Do you think that will be enough? I am also going on a short cruise (3 nights) at 5 weeks out of surgery. Anyone think it will be an issue? Thank you all for sharing. I sometimes feel very alone in this whole thing and your words mean a lot to me

I'm from a little further east of Indianapolis, about halfway between Indy & Richmond. I had Dr Margaret Inman do a lap RouxNY at St V Carmel on Jan 31, 2007. All went well and I lost to my goal weight within 8-9 months or so. I maintained that weight as I struggled with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (both of which existed prior to my WLS). About six and a half years after my surgery, I began dropping below my goal weight for no apparent reason. It wasn't super long until I began vomiting nearly everything I ate or drank. I returned to Dr Inman's office where they told me they suspected that I had an ulcer. A large ulcer near the gastric outlet was confirmed with an endoscopy, and because my weight was down to 104#, I had a PICC line placed and received home therapy of TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition) a double sized IV bag containing a milky solution that infused over 24 hours. That, along with IV Protonix was just the ticket! It wasn't an overnight thing, but after 8 weeks, I was able to eat and drink without any nausea or vomiting, and I was gradually gaining weight to get back to my goal. That was the weirdest thing ever! I'd worked hard to LOSE weight my whole life, so working to GAIN it seemed crazy to me! Anyway, all of that resolved and I was doing well with my WLS issues. The Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue were rampant, tho. Any type of stressor gets that all jacked up! About 18 months ago, I started having vomiting troubles again. An endoscopy showed that the ulcer remained healed, but that the outlet was constricted. They stretched it by inflating a balloon inside it. That seemed to help for a couple of weeks, or maybe a little more. I tried altering my diet in an effort to resolve the problem, without success. Another endoscopy showed the same thing, and another dilation of the gastric outlet temporarily fixed it. This past October was the last endoscopy I had, with the same temporary stretch. In November I had an imaging study to follow the liquids & solids after I swallowed them. The radiologist said the gastric outlet was very narrow, and my pouch was "generously sized" as a result. Also, I'd gained about 40# over the last couple of years. So... the decision was made to do a revision of my RouxNY and resect the area of scar tissue that keeps tightening the outlet. I had all of the workup done and attended my pre-op nutrition class. I'm scheduled for the revision surgery 10 years to the day after the original surgery, and I'm soooo hopeful that it will be a big success! I believe my Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue were "stirred up" from the couple of major surgeries within a year or so, as well as the big weight loss and nutrient deficiencies from the ulcer! I feel like I've got a second lease on life! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi Mook, I don't know if you've seen many of posts but personally I'd say go for the sleeve as it has a better success rate - the GPS has failed me, no complications but just not enough restriction. See below for details: overall weight loss was considered satisfactory in 78.6% of the patients who underwent gastric plication and in 97.5% of those who underwent sleeve. http://www.skrekas.net/surg_hemstatistics.htm As you're a revision you really do want to go for a reputable surgeon as it's a more complex surgery. BTW what's your current BMI?

I love my band and feel successful although I would still like to lose another twenty or so pounds. Exercise, for me, is imparative because of arthritis, etc. I eat two to three healthy meals a day, avoid sliders, chew very well and experience the food rather than wolfing it down as I did before. My surgeon was of the small frequent fills to get me to the correct restriction (wrong word to use but you know what I mean). I have twice gone in for tiny unfills when I felt the first signs of being too tight. For now it's just right. I drink a lot of liquids and can do that without any discomfort (glugging my water). I don't count calories and I eat when I'm hungry and don't eat when I'm not hungry. It's the first one that can be the most difficult as I was a very restrictive professional dieter going into this process. Now I feel hunger and eat until I feel full. My signal is a sigh. I notice, take inventory and I'm done. Sometimes I count off on my fingers 4-5 hours and note the time at which I might feel hungry again. Alcohol certainly hinders weight loss but I indulge for pain relief and enjoyment. Reading through this thread it seems like things got off on the wrong foot. Best wishes with your research. My surgeon is great but he does not discuss the banded life and I suspect has no real idea of how to guide patients in the post-op realm. I got that here when it was Lapband Talk. I found the successful banders and followed them. Now the site is mostly other surgeries and that's a bit discouraging sometimes as the revision folks post so much about their negative band experiences. I love my band.

I'd be happy with a 14, thrilled with a 12. At my lowest weight of 270 I fit into a comfortable 18, tight 16 so I have no idea what weight I would be to fit into a 14. Maybe like 230lbs, but my goal weight is around 190. I'll revise it if and when I get there lol.

Can you give us a bit more info? Revision to what, do you mean? To undo the RNY? To a duodenal switch?

Cigna revised their bariatric policy today and only requires a 3 month supervised diet now! Yippee!

Maybe we can have a meeting somewhere in Brooklyn at some point. It seems that at least myself, BloomingLotus and Sleeve_Sistah85 are all from Brooklyn, and there may be even more of us. Just a thought.... My best to everyone, especially to the two of us who will be sleeved this month, but also to those who are still completing their 6-months of testing, etc. and to those who have already been banded, sleeved or whatever. I really appreciated the August meeting, and I look forward to our next gathering. BTW, I've updated my user name from bandeee to sleeveee to reflect my upcoming revision surgery, but it's still me!

If it were so easily remedied then you would think I would have gained some weight by now. I eat nuts all the time. Roasted, salted pecans handful after handful, roasted almonds, granola with nuts, P3 with nuts, cheese, and turkey. I can put away an entire can of the Planter's Nut·ritious within 24 hours. That stuff is like crack ???? It's definitely not my lack of eating. It will sort itself out, I'm sure. Then one day I'll be whining about needing a revision ????

The only people I told about my band to sleeve revision was my mom and aunt since I needed them to take me to the hospital and watch my son. I feel this is a very personal decision and it really isn't anyone's business. I've been starting to eat healthier and talking about my weight loss to a few people at work so they are aware that I'm working to get healthy. They do know that I had surgery but I told them I had a hernia repaired, I didn't lie just didn't tell them I also had a revision. You just need to do what you feel is best and if not telling anyone then don't. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Welcome to the boards Rhonda there are several on here who have had the revision or are in the process of getting it. Stay away from the crap food and you won't dump. Rny is a tool to help you lose weight. The things I worry about is getting all my protein in and exercising. It will all come together... Again welcome to the boards!!

This is a good question. In all my prep for my surgery (band to sleeve revision) I missed the part about no caffeine...I had the worst caffeine withdrawal headache post op. I would have weaned myself off if I knew I wouldn't be able to have any. I am actually drinking a little coffee today, just enough to make the headache go away (a couple ounces). I was not a big Starbucks drinker, didn't do lots of mochas or lattes, I just like a cup of coffee in the morning.

Sface1963...you're one day after my revision! Good luck!!

I do think the sleeve is a much much better choice than the Lap-Band some people have great success with it but unfortunately it was not one of them, I'm looking forward to having the revision done so you'll have to let me know how you are doing! Sent from my SM-N910V using the BariatricPal App

Welcome! I have a similar timeline to yours--banded 2007, had a baby in sept 2010. My band stopped working after I delivered--it was actually unclasped so it no longer worked. I am about 3 weeks post revision now. I had terrible reflux during my pregnancy too, but none after until a few months before my surgery. I don't have any at this point with the sleeve. But I would trust your surgeons opinion on this. You can certainly get another surgeon's opinion. But that is what you are hiring him for, his professional expertise, not just to give you a one size fits all solution. I have heard that sleeves can have more reflux problems and that RNY is essentially a cure for reflux. Good luck with your decision!

The band goes around your stomach (on the inside) to make the pouch so you can't eat as much. So yeah, you would need surgery. You should look at all WLS options before making a decision. So like Pooly said, you might want to look into the RNY - that would help you get over the Reese's because you would dump when you ate sugar. I don't know much about that, I have the band, but it doesn't sound fun! If you were to get the band it is with you for awhile. You wouldn't want to get the band and have it removed one month later - that would be another surgery. So, again, you should look at all the WLS options before making a decision and having to have some sort of revision.

Kirajh I just bought a ticket to San Diego today. It was only $98 not counting taxes. It was a really good price. Leaving Dec.4 for a fill.:hungry: BabyGot WOW you are doing great..145!! Below is a quote. I am absolutely amazed that someone would do what this wife did. She wanted him to fail. She may have wanted to kill him. Hopefully the guy smartens up and leaves her. She will sabatage all his weight loss efferts. :thinkMy own doc had a patient who had bypass and less than 24 hours after surgery his wife decided to sneak in Mickey D's for him to eat. Well, he ripped out staples, got a leak, and an infection. The doc took him back to OR and fixed it. Didn't even charge the patient for the additional surgery or hospital days. Five days AFTER the leak his wife requested he do revision surgery on her. Failed bypass to band.

It makes sense that your fears are magnified with so little support at home. Good for you for coming to a safe place and asking for feedback from people who have actually had sleeve surgery. Everyone's journey is unique but we KNOW what we're talking about. I am a band to sleeve revision. (Band failed to produce weight loss and 6 years later caused serious complications.) I wasn't sure the sleeve would work for me either. I feared another failure. It had to make a conscious decision that whether or not the sleeve produced weight loss, I was giving myself the best chance possible to avoid diabetes, heart disease or stroke - all of which contributed to my mom's death. it was the mental adjustment I needed and I went into surgery 100% at peace. Recovery was so easy. I had localized pain where the port was removed from the abdominal wall but it wasn't unbearable and resolved completely in a couple of weeks. My nurses had me up and walking, which I think jumpstarted my healing. I would do it again tomorrow because my experience was so positive. Really, I would do it again with no hesitation. Weight loss has been slower than I'd like but I'm losing 1 - 1.5 pounds a week. Plus, my joints don't hurt, my clothes are getting loose, I'm starting to recognize my face in the mirror. I feel terrifi. I made the right choice for me. You considered this choice in consultation with your doctor for a reason. Listen to your inner voice and have the confidence in yourself to know that you'll make this happen. The sleeve is a powerful tool if you work your program. Don't give up and keep coming back here! We'll support you!!!! Band to Sleeve Revision Surgery 7/28/14 Before surgery 211. Now 173 Pounds Lost: 38 and counting

... is not a magic bullet. If it was there wouldn't be the need for WLS. Yes, I'm afraid as well that this might be only temporary. However, I did quite well maintaining with the lap band before I got revision so I have hope that I will doing quite well with maintaining after MGB again.

My initial consultation was in March (don't remember the day), I got the revision surgery June 19th. BCBS will only pay for "one weight loss surgery per lifetime." I was told by some doctor's offices that since it was a revision, my insurance wouldn't cover. I called my insurance and spoke to a fantastic lady who really helped me out. I made the point that in 2009, when I got sleeved, BCBS for my school district wasn't covering WLS yet. It was private pay for me, and I had it done in Mexico (no hoops to jump through). So, technically, BCBS had never covered a WLS surgery me. She agreed. It was approved. Edit: I did have to follow a diet plan to lose weight before the surgery, I had to have an endoscopy, a barium swallow (to check for acid reflux), blood work, see a cardiologist, have a psyche eval (on the phone), and talk to a nut (on the phone). It was a little easier than virgin surgeries because it wasn't my first rodeo.