Search the Community

At the beginning of April I all of a sudden had no restriction and was able to eat anything. I went for a fill thinking that I had just waited awhile and that maybe the band just loosened after losing weight, but still no restriction. I went back the next week and got another fill, and yet still no restriction so they decided to check to see how much fluid there was. They were only able to pull out 3cc, when my chart said that I should have had a little more than 9cc. She gave me a fill of 4cc (which would bring me back up to 7cc) and told me to come back the next week. I came back and they checked the fluid again..... still only found 3cc! They told me that it had to be a port leak and that I would need to get a port revision. I freaked at the sound of $1550 seeing as how I am a self-pay and still paying on my surgery. Well I got the loan regardless and had the surgery on May 7th. When I got out of surgery, my doctor told me that he was not able to see the leak in the port. I was furious seeing as how they did not even offer me the option to have the barium to see if it was even a port leak.. they were just so sure that they knew what it was. I mean the barium would have only been $100 vs. $1550 for the surgery and for a college student I would have rather taken the lesser of the two and prevented a surgery that I did not need. So I went back to the doctor this past Tuesday to get a fill. He told me that during surgery he gave me a fill of 5cc and that he was going to give me another fill of 4cc on that day (which would bring me up to 9cc). When he checked the fluid after giving the fill, I only had 7cc! I have to go back tomorrow to see if the 7cc are still in there.. if not then it's something to do with the band, which is something he has never heard of happening! I'm beginning to get extremely discouraged because I am only 13 months banded and already running into problems when I haven't even reached my goal weight... not to mention all of these expenses that I am incurring on top of the surgery I am still paying for. I go back tomorrow to see if the 7cc are still in there.. I will keep you all updated! Wish me luck.. :cursing:

Anybody trying to get revised to a VSG? Aetna doesn't list the VSG as a covered revision, what is a girl to do :crying: I'm so upset about this....I cried in the doctors office.

I requested you too. I am Joyce Ellis-joy686. My surgery is sched for 6-27. I am a revision. Thanks!

Yes! I loved having them, especially in the first days post op. They go down different than a sip of crystal light. I still like having them. Lap band 10/2007 revised to RNY 12/22/2017 HW 270 SW 263 CW 253

I have BCBS in Texas of course wouldn't pay for my revision so I did self pay.

That is great!!! I am having sleeve to bypass revision on Monday, 9/28/15. I have BBS Fed Basic insurance. Good Luck with your upcoming surgery:-) Please keep me posted! I would love to know how it goes for you. What prompted your revision? I did email Alex to ask to a sleeve revision board. It seems like there are more of us.

I was able to get a removal of my band and revision to sleeve in the summer of 2014 in Texas under BCBS. I was self pay for my band in 2007 and ended up with a dilated esophagus with major reflux and pain. I had to stay on the doctor's office and the insurance company because I am a teacher and my district was about to switch insurance on me with the new school year starting. It was so stressful and I have not lost weight since the surgery. I have gained about 35 pounds-my mom passed away and other events made life stressful. I had lost 125 lbs. with my band so I am upset with the whole thing. It feels like another failed weight loss attempt. Very disappointing! I just don't feel like I ever had restriction after my revision. I am going to my GP doctor tomorrow. I hope I can figure something out.

My doc has been extremely conservative with fills. That's good and bad. The good is that I've only been overfilled a couple of times in the past 3 years. The bad is that I have sometimes seen him as often as every 3 or 4 weeks trying to get it right. That's a whole lot of punctures to the port. I had unrelated surgery last summer and had to have all restriction removed. I've finally been able to have 2 fills and nothing seems to get me back to a point where I am losing weight. I'm seriously tired of the whole routine. So I've been thinking about either just having it removed or getting revision to a sleeve. That seems very drastic, but I've regained nearly all the weight I originally lost and the weight I lost due to the other surgery. So I've been reading the revision stuff and it sounded like maybe you were getting to the point where you might have to do something drastic too. I'm really glad that your doctor has been able to give you some relief! Hang in there.

Following... I am in the process for revision with FEP... I do think they require that BMI of 35, but if you have other co morbities, maybe they will consider. I do believe you will pay more out of pocket by not using a center of excellence. I am in month two of 3 month supervised diet....my original surgery was done abroad and paid for by BCBS. I have some medical issues as well. I would just be sure to get your PCP to write a really great letter of necessity and follow the requirements to a T. Everything has to be done again.

If you are looking to lose that much weight, you might want to consider a sleeve or bypass over the band. Yes, many are doing awesomely with their bands and losing lots, but just as many, if not more, are getting ok-ish to not great results. From all the people I've met in my support group, the band people are consistently the least successful. People are arguing that bypass and sleevers are putting weight back on years later, but that means they haven't actually dealt with their food issues properly. Band patients are just as likely to fall of the wagon and gain it back. You can go get your band tightened more, but there's a point where you can't eat at all, and if you have to go there, you're probably doing more harm than good. I've had my band for two years now and I'm in the process of getting it out. I've had constant restriction problems in that I either have zero restriction or I cannot eat at all, and it's preventing me from eating quality foods like chicken, fish and a good number of veggies. Ironic eh? I paid 18K for my band, so I really wanted to make it work, but after two solid years of Soup and oatmeal, it's got to come out. The pattern I've been seeing is that the band seems to be really good for people who want to lose 50-80lbs. Of course there are people who've lost more than that, but there are always outliers in any statistics. I'm not anti-band at all; I just think it's being marketed out of its effective zone. Keep in mind that a sleeve could always be revised to a DS later on if you find your weight creeps up uncontrollably after surgery, and a band can be put on over a bypass, and I sleeve too I'd imagine. Trust me, I understand you can afford only one surgery... I'm right there with you. I've basically bankrupted myself paying for by band. The only reason I've been able to consider a revision is that I'm Canadian, and sleeves and RNYs are covered here. Band is not. Most of all, talk it over with a doctor who has absolutely zero financial gain in whatever surgery you choose. Clinics for individual weight loss surgeries are selling you a product... of course they're going to tell you whatever surgery they're selling will be appropriate for you!

I just had my band removed Monday and converted to sleeve. I had my band for 7 years. For me I lost about 80 but gained 30 back. I had it revised once due to vomiting because of my gallbladder. At that point they stitched it to my muscle and removed my gallbladder which now I wish they hadn’t stitched it to my muscles.I agree with the others in quality of life is diminished with the band for me. It took my surgeon 2 hours just to remove and get through scar tissue from the band. Sadly that means my recovery from this surgery is longer than most. I hope all goes well for you.

We have a self-insured plan. After my second appeal, I was approved after finding out online that surgery was allowed (after I had it done!). Since it was out of network it cost me around $4700. Unfortunately, we changed TPA's and with the plan revisions, WLS is no longer covered.

I am so sorry. I totally understand because I had my lapband in Mexico. When I started having complications, everyone treated me horribly. Luckily, my insurance took off the WLS exclusion. I had about ten doctors practically hang up on me before I finally found one who would revise my band to the sleeve. Just the mention of Mexico and they would end the conversation. I hope you can find a doctor in your area. I pray things get better for you. You should not have had to deal with any of that. I am so glad you stood up for yourself. You are a superwoman!!!

Micki, How did the port revision go?

So I had my surger on September 24th and then had to have it revised on november 12th because my port flipped. Well ive been fine and losing weight but im starting to feel some pain right below my left breast. Its not major pain but it hurts if I lay on that side or bend over. I see my doctor in the morning but im paranoid and wont sleep thinking about it. Has anyone experienced this? I read that it could be a sign on slippage but I have no other symptoms at all. Anyways any insight would help! Thanks!

If I need a revision, I'm doing it at YOUR hospital! {{hugs}} So glad you made it through okay

Dang! I'm not sure what the total billed amount will be to insurance at this point, but my out of pocket costs will likely be more than $10k. $1,000 copay, then insurance will pay 80% up to a max of $10,000. I'm a revision, so have to spend the night. Expecting the total bill to be over $30k...

I had the lap band surgery 2.22.10. I lost about 68lbs with it and stopped. After two pregnancies (lost all the baby weight each time) I noticed I still wasnt able to get much more off. After my 4th child was born (my 2nd band baby) I was having many issues with my band and come to find, it had slipped. I had the band removed and revision to gastric bypass this past August. I lost almost 60lbs since then and met and exceeded my goal weight, however it was a MUCH bigger change and a very stricter life style change then with the band. I would really consider talking over the options with your surgeon. Good luck!

I had the sleeve in 2012, now looking at revision. I was a slow loser and while a lot of people do great, I was one of the ones on the 50-70 % range for weight loss. I had a baby gained and have not been able to loss since. I also developed a terrible case of acid reflux. I am scheduled for endoscopy in May. Just went through barium swallow...I have seen people do really well with sleeve. I just wasn't one of them. I worked out, tracked went to my scheduled Nut visits. I am disappointed no one wants to have a revision.

W, don't stress too much about it. I read your earlier posts. It's always difficult to communicate your thoughts and feelings in cyberspace. You are right in that you have to word things carefully in trying to accurately expressing your thoughts. It's hard and I've come across in ways that I didn't intend before. Happens to everyone. Just some thoughts from me based on what I've read from you so far. I know that I don't know you and I'm not judging or trying to fix things for you. I'm also not banded, just in the beginning stages of looking into it. I'm jumping on because I saw it was you who started the thread. In all honesty, please get some counseling. You need some help to get your thoughts in order. You have been through so much in such a short amount of time that it's probably hard for you to even think sometimes. Each thing is so huge one at a time, I can't imagine all of that at one time. Something that my pastor likes to advise people about and I completely agree with him. Don't make any big decisions for a year. Meaning life-changing kinds of things. Examples would be don't purge the house of their things, or sell the house and move, that kind of thing. Maybe in your case it means a revision surgery waiting for a bit. What about something to help you focus. Maybe make it your band or school or just day to day moments or ... Example: "okay, I'm awake this morning, that's good. Now it's time to get up and shower. Now it's time to get dressed. Now it's time to fix a simple, healthy Breakfast and eat it. Now it's time to..." You get the idea. It sounds simplistic and maybe even silly but if it works then who cares! :rolleyes2: Do know that your healing, mentally, emotionally and physically, is going to take some time. There are different stages of grief and no one stage is the same for everyone. Some stages take longer to work out than others. I didn't mean to make this so long. I talk too much even in cyberspace! I just felt the need to post to you and try to help. I do want to apologize if I over-stepped. Try to take care and best wishes to you.

Thanks for all the support, and yes it has been hard. I am on cymbalta and been in couseling since the sucide and the other deaths. It's been a full year of counseling so don't worry about my mental health, thats undercontrol. But...No amount of counseling can get ride of how lonely it is after everything like that. Being in such a small town there is nothing within 100 miles as a banding suport group. I know some get VGB after or gastric bypass. Has anyone had that done? and if not has anyone been successful after a full removal and no revision? It seems people in this forum keep getting told that band removal is an absolute death sentance. Shouldn't this be a place for those to be supported?

I don't think sharing personal experiences is a negative thing. I truly wish the band worked for me the way it did for the few people I know personally that have done well. Now that many people have had the band placed for 3-5 years, we're hearing about complications that SOME are having. With any new surgery, this is bound to happen. If I were considering the band today, I would want to know the good, the bad, and the ugly. That is exactly the approach I took when I decided to revise to the VSG. I'm sorry you see this as a bad thing.

Hi--I had my initial surgery done 1/15/08. After the first couple of fille, it became more difficult to access my port. X-rays were done, looked ok. Then in April, the port was totally inaccessible. I was going away for 2 weeks, plus insurance had to approve the port revision, so surgery was scheduled for a month away. On 4/20, the port was reattached. The surgeon said he had never seen anything like it, the suture material broke at all four attachment points---seemed like defective suture material. Anyway, I went home three hours later, and except for minor soreness, felt fine. The hardest part was going on a vacation with no restriction!! I ended up gaining a pound. Best of luck. Carol

My esophagus was dilated before I revised to a sleeve. I could see it on the screen myself. I have an x ray I took home from the hospital when I had my sleeve surgery that shows it. If you want to have your esophagus go back to normal, you need to be on a liquid diet. It's very common for bandsters to use their esophagus as a stomach. It's called pouch packing.

Just as a preface, I had the sleeve in Dec. 2016 and dropped about 120 lbs in 6 months, then screwed up and slowly went back up almost to where I started. I had a revision to bypass in Nov. 2021 and have been doing very well, about 80 lbs down so far. Last week was spring break for my kids so we decided to take a vacation, my first since the most recent surgery. We went to Virginia (drove from NY). I was very worried for a few reasons. First, I weigh myself every single day (yes I know some recommend against it, it works for me). I didn't want to bring my scale so it would be a week without monitoring my weight loss (or gain). Second, I rarely eat out and I weigh everything I eat when I make it. I wasn't going to be bringing my food scale and I knew I'd have to eat out more than usual. Finally, we were going to a lot of places where there weren't the healthiest options to eat. So I resolved to try my best not to blow it and see what happened. We stayed at a timeshare resort which had a full kitchen (stove, oven, microwave, utensils, pots/pans, etc) which was fantastic because we were able to go shopping for a lot of stuff to make in the room so I knew exactly what I was eating. I was able to make my usual breakfast (2 scrambled eggs with shredded cheese) almost every morning. I bought a few pre-packaged salads and some other stuff for the room. I only had to actually eat out 4 or 5 times the entire trip, not counting during the drive to and from VA. When we ate out I was able to check the calories for what I was eating to make a healthier choice, and made sure to stop when I was full instead of cleaning my plate. I was able to find something to eat at both Waffle House and Cracker Barrel that wasn't too horrible. Even at Busch Gardens we went to the German area restaurant and I got something called a German Chef Salad that was pretty good and not too heavy or unhealthy. Bonus at Busch Gardens: Last year (pre-surgery) we went to an amusement park and I wasn't able to ride most of the roller coasters because I just couldn't fit - no problem at all this time, got in with room to spare! I stayed away from snacks and desserts (I got Halo Top ice cream for the room to have at night). When we got back I was concerned what the scale might say, but I was down 2 lbs from when we left, so I'll consider that a win! I had a nice NSV before the trip too - I was looking for clothes to bring and found a bunch of shirts I got when I lost all the weight the first time, and they all fit comfortably and looked great. Before the surgery I wore XXL shirts, and even those were getting a little snug, I even had one XXXL I think. Lately I've been wearing XL's which were getting roomy, all the shirts I found were L and fit great, so that was awesome. I also had to buy a new pair of jeans that was 4 sizes smaller and fits great. I found my old bathing suits which were too tight last year, now half are too big and the rest fit OK (almost too big but not quite yet). So it's been a good week, hoping to continue on my path to onederland again! Here's a pic of the family having fun.