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Everything I underlined, especially the "finally" comment is cause for concern. Plus, if she was still having issues, and discharged without further diagnostics, I'd be looking for a different surgeon. She's almost 6 weeks post-op, and still having difficulties without any resolution. Chronic pain 6 weeks out is NOT normal, and should be considered a cause for alarm. I dealt with a surgeon disregarding my concerns with my band for about 3-4 months, and it ended up causing me issues with my revision. I left his practice because as a patient I learned you have to be your own advocate and do what is best for your health, and quality of life.

I don't have your experience, but am stopping to throw out a couple of thoughts. Maybe I'm missing something here. If the reviewer looks at the paperwork only to see if you meet the eligibility requirements (minimum 40 BMI for 5 yrs and 21+, as you report), it seems that you'll be rejected again. Wouldn't that mean it's likely that the initial denial will stand? It certainly won't hurt your peer-to-peer procedure if you supply letters in support of sleeve surgery from any and every doctor you can. These letters aren't about explaining why you don't have the required five years, but rather to state all the medical reasons you need to lose gobs of weight, all sorts of health and physical problems that are dangerous and can be solved by weight loss. If you do have doctors who can whip out brief letters, you need to move fast so that your insurance coordinator can get them to the peer review people. It can't hurt your case. If the process fails, you may choose to go to the next stage of appeal, whatever it is. I don't have personal knowledge of them, but there is a law firm that works on these things. If you'd want to consult, the head's is Walter Lindstrom. If worse runs to worst, would you be covered if you wait until you have 5 years of 40BMI? Would you be covered despite the earlier surgery? Just tossing out questions in case they haven't occurred to you. Good luck. Yes I'd be covered but I have other health issues right now that I need the procedure for.. And I work in oil and gas and chances are we will see more layoffs. My doctor should be able to justify that this is a revision of the failed procedure UHC covered me for before. That I have health issues now that would greatly be reversed through the weight loss. If I went in today to have my lapband removed, UHC would cover a revision. Hands down, no questions asked. My surgeon has had success in overturning their decision before and the care coordination rep I spoke with at UHC said that she sees the initial denials get overturned all the time especially for someone in my position. The peer to peer is a chance for my surgeon to sit down with the UHC medical director and clearly state the facts and fight for approval. If that fails the next step is appeals and that's where I would get any and all supporting documentation from my other physicians. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am not a revision but I have lost my hunger. If I don't eat for a while I feel "empty" and maybe have a headache but that terrible "Feed me NOW" feeling I had before surgery is gone. It is the best thing about the surgery for me, as I always was hungry and I had to eat until I was stuffed. Now food is fuel most of the time. I have head hunger for sweets but I had a bite of a cupcake a couple weeks ago and it just didn't taste the same as it used to.

I had the traditional duodenal switch surgery. It was done in a one-step revision from a lapband. My surgeon said he might have to do it in two stages if there was too much scar tissue from the lapband, but that didn't happen and I was relieved. I didn't have my gallbladder removed, and I've been fine. I love my DS. My feet feel a whole lot better carrying less weight around.

Thanks for the info on obesitylaw.com. I sent a request to them today to help with my appeal. How long did it take start to finish for you. This will be by second appeal. I just don't understand how they can deny when 2 dr's say this is crucial to my health. Congratulations to everyone that was approved. I have Aetna and was denied. the denial was uphelp in the first and second level appeal by Aetna. It was so stressful. The final appeal is an independent external review process. This is where the decision goes out to an independent doctor not associated with the insurance company who will decide based upon the information provided if the patient meets the standards published by NIH and other medical groups. Mine did and the decision by Aetna was overturned. The entire process took almost 10 months and was SO stressful. All of my appeals were done with the help of http://www.obesitylaw.com It cost me nothing and Kelley is the BEST !! She called me 2 days before I was going to Disney to tell me the good news. She even offered to give me passes to Disneyland that they use to take out the employees in the office each year. Unfortunately I was going to Disney World in FL so I couldn't use the passes. She was so nice I decided I would tell everyone who was having issues with approval about them. They provide an awesome service to people who could really use help. I believe her husband Walter had both Gastric bypass and a Lapband revision later on. Good Luck to anyone having to deal with Aetna.

Thanks for the info!!! I'm sure the people that get denied can use a little help!! Congratulations to everyone that was approved. I have Aetna and was denied. the denial was uphelp in the first and second level appeal by Aetna. It was so stressful. The final appeal is an independent external review process. This is where the decision goes out to an independent doctor not associated with the insurance company who will decide based upon the information provided if the patient meets the standards published by NIH and other medical groups. Mine did and the decision by Aetna was overturned. The entire process took almost 10 months and was SO stressful. All of my appeals were done with the help of http://www.obesitylaw.com It cost me nothing and Kelley is the BEST !! She called me 2 days before I was going to Disney to tell me the good news. She even offered to give me passes to Disneyland that they use to take out the employees in the office each year. Unfortunately I was going to Disney World in FL so I couldn't use the passes. She was so nice I decided I would tell everyone who was having issues with approval about them. They provide an awesome service to people who could really use help. I believe her husband Walter had both Gastric bypass and a Lapband revision later on. Good Luck to anyone having to deal with Aetna.

I had my lap-band removed a little over a year ago due to complications. Since then I have gained 30 pounds and growing, and now have a BMI of 35. I met with my surgeon today in hopes of getting a revision to gastric bypass. He does not believe I would qualify due to my BMI not being 40 or above, although my band was removed due to complications. He is still willing to play out the process and see what happens (dietician visits, etc.). He has also ordered a bunch of tests to see if anything shows up that may be obesity related that may help the process. Has anyone else been in the the same or similar situation? What was your outcome? I appreciate any feedback.

I am revising from band to bypass on October 24. Unfortunately, despite insane nausea, heartburn, the pain with eating, I had nothing that looked to be an emergency, so I had to start back from the beginning with weigh-ins and nutrition visits. Without anything showing the band had to come out in an emergency situation, insurance would not cover the revision. I hope you have better luck, but just be prepared that it might not happen right away! It's a bummer, but I'm certain it will be worth not dealing with the band anymore 😃

Oh that's great ! It says a lot that you are returning to him, that makes me feel even better! I was banded also, I did very well until I revised to the sleeve and Iv struggled ever since, it didn't work for me at all I'm revising from sleeve to MGB.

Let me know when you make your decision please. I will be getting a revision from band to sleeve. I can't wait either!!!! Looks like I am going to have to wait until July for my sleeve. I can't get vacation time at work to take my week off until then.

Today I got a phone call from my insurance advocate. She said that she was submitting my info to the insurance company today. I'm so happy! Apparently I don't have to wait to do my 3 month supervised diet because I've been a patient of my surgeon for years. My doc and her say that my insurance is one of the best that they almost always approve for revision sugery, especially when it's due to the Lapband. She set a projected surgery date of March 1st!!!! I am super excited. I'm praying that everything goes well and that I'll be able to have all my finances in order by then. This is something I have been living with for years and I'm just so relieved to know that this horrible band will be gone soon. And I'll be on the road to a happy, healthy person. Anyone else having surgery in March? Sent from my SM-J700T using the BariatricPal App

I joined. Had revision on Monday, so will use this to keep me honest, though I know I am concentrating on healing first and loss second! Thanks for doing this...

sunflowerw...., Sorry you had such a traumatic experience with your band. When I had mine removed I was too afraid to attempt a revision because I was afraid that it wouldn't work and that I could just try to lose on my own. At first I was able to lose but it turned around within a month. My stomach had shrunk before so I ate little but soon was back to my old self and now working on my RNY approval. I don't have to eat a lot to gain anymore because my metabolism is so screwed up from so many years of dieting and then the lap band. I feel I have no choice but to take another risk again! Good luck to you though, Nancy.:w00t:

You're me too! Band to sleeve revision, lost about the same amount with the band then stopped. Gained weight back. Got the sleeve. Lost 16 lbs. Stalled at about 2 1/2 weeks and have been stuck here. I'm three weeks out today and am on softs, getting in a good amount of protein, tracking everything carefully on MyFitnessPal, getting in my fluids, staying away from carbs, etc. I'm stuck, frustrated, pissed off and am miserable because I wonder why I put myself through this for nothing. Closest I've ever followed a diet and I'm not getting anywhere. This sucks.

Don't do the band!!!!!!! Lol. Same dr did my band in 2008 is no longer doing bands because of all the problems plus the excellent long term results from sleeve. I am sleeve revision self pay. Start saving for it if you cannot finance. I did credit care or care credit (zero interest if paid off in a year, I think?) Dr didn't finance me (paid that in cash) but the hospital did take care credit. Good luck with your choice.

My band was placed in Aug 2008 and eroded and removed in April 2011. Since I was so sick, the surgeon opted to do the revision in two seperate surguries.

Washington (CNN) -- President Obama blasted Senate Republicans on Monday for blocking a small-business assistance bill, calling their opposition "pure partisan politics." The country needs a "full-scale attack" on economic sluggishness, he said at the White House. "While we have taken a series of measures and come a long way ... too many Americans are still looking for work, and too many communities are far from being whole again," he said. The president also said his economic team is "hard at work" on a series of new measure designed both to spark short-term hiring and lay the foundation for long-term economic growth. Among other things, Obama said the administration will continue to push for an extension of middle class tax cuts, new incentives for clean energy research and development, and initiatives to help rebuild infrastructure. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, released a statement immediately after Obama's remarks criticizing the president and Democratic congressional leaders for dramatically increasing the size of the national debt while doing little to restore stronger economic growth. "Instead of growing jobs as promised, Washington Democrats have grown the size of the national debt, the federal government and the unemployment rate," McConnell said. "It's no surprise that most Americans think the country is on the wrong track and that Democrat policies have failed to do anything to fix their top concern, the economy." Growing economic jitters amid new signs of a slow recovery remain a top political issue in the runup to November's midterm elections. The U.S. economy sputtered to a near stop in the second quarter, according to estimates from the government released Friday, although the slowdown wasn't as bad as many had feared. The nation's gross domestic product, the broadest measure of economic activity, was revised sharply lower to an annual growth rate of 1.6 percent in the three months ending in June. The initial reading had been for a 2.4 percent growth rate in the period. The bill currently stuck in the Senate authorizes the creation of a $30 billion lending fund. The Treasury Department would run the program, which would deliver cheap capital to community banks, defined as those with less than $10 billion in total assets. The idea is that community banks are the ones that do the bulk of lending to small businesses and so by pumping capital into them, it will get in the hands of Main Street businesses. Other key components of the bill would provide $12 billion worth of tax relief for small businesses between 2010 and 2020, according to an estimate from the Joint Committee on Taxation. The bill also increases Small Business Administration loan limits and extends loan sweeteners through the end of the year. It offers several tax cuts for small businesses, to both encourage investment and entrepreneurship. The legislation also provides $1.5 billion in grants to state lending programs that can't rely on depleted state coffers for more cash. This bill is paid for and doesn't add to the deficit. The republicans are always yapping about small business but when they have a chance to vote for this bill they don't. More evidence that they just want the economy to get worse to improve their chances in November. How very sad that some will be duped to voting for these people. And to Mitch - I have this to say: This is the best you've got? Pres. Obama slams you for holding up this bill even for a vote and all you can do is say the democrats have increased the deficit? Hey, Mitch, why don't you tell us how much the deficit will increase with that unnecessary tax cut for the rich you support? Huh? What's that I hear? The silence is deafening.

I’m on 2/20 also in Southern California, not on liquids until the day before surgery. Have to take milk of magnesia at noon and that’s about it. I am having my lapband taken out and revisioning to sleeve so hopefully all goes smooth! Good luck to you! Glad I found this website!

Just wondering...........you 've had the band almost 6 yrs. and are only down 15 pounds. Why would you not want to revise???

I don't want to revise because I don't want to drop below 150 so my mindset is firm and I want this so its time to use my band what is for a tool. But I originally lost 50, I also was dealing with thyroid issues the past year and I recently had my thyroid removed. I also don't want to revise because I am scared of the complications.

There are different types of weight loss surgery. The different types affect the amount of weight loss expected and the speed of weight loss. They affect the revision rate (this relates to how often one might need to have the surgery modified or corrected or adjusted or changed to another type of surgery). I choose RNY gastric bypass because it had the smallest revision rate. It also produced the quickest and deepest weight loss. Also because of a pre-existing medical condition "major acid reflux or GERD", it was the only procedure recommended for this type of condition. But it also means that I have to follow a strict Vitamin regime for the rest of my life because my body no longer synthesizes Vitamins from the food that I eat. The process of getting surgery is not simple. It has many steps. Qualifying for insurance is one of them. But then you need to undergo an evaluation by a Psychologist. There is a half day of pre-op testing to uncover any medical condition that may impact the surgery. Generally there is also a half day of classes in which almost all aspects of the surgery and meal plan and vitamin regime and exercise are covered. Many insurance plans require that you undergo a medically supervised dieting and exercise program in order to qualify.

JUST SEEN YOUR POST, I TOO AM BEING SLEEVED ON NOV.1ST. I AM 54, AND AM FREAKING OUT, ITS FUNNY CAUSE I HAVE THE BAND AND THEN I HAD IT REVISED IN MARCH AND WASNT SCARED AT ALL, BUT NERVOUS WITH THIS ONE. PROBABLY CAUSE THEY ARE TAKING SOMETHING OUT...LOL...GOOD LUCK TO YOU, KEEP US POSTED

I cant believe you lost sooo much. I would love to hear about your story!!! Maybe start a new thread. With my old band I definately contributed to the `slip` because I always pushed the limits with my eatting. I still went from 105 kilos to 65, nothing to sneeze at, but I didnt put effort into following the rules. For some reason the weight just came off even with me eatting junk & drinking with meals etc. My problems really started when I kept getting more fill to speed the weight loss or to compinsate for my lack of effort. ie instead of revising what I was doing incorrectly, I just wanted more fil. So being too tight eventually caused too much pressure from the pbing & it caused the band to fail. I plan to remember & learn from this 2nd time round. However, this new band has different signals than the old one. I can feel things getting stuck & then make their way down! That never happened with the old band. I can eat everything from chicken to california rolls. I dont know if its because the new band tollerates more food types or because Im not tight enough. It is interesting though to have a second chance, I hope I can make it work......because you know, of course I had to tell everyone in the world about being banded, & I am getting lots of comments!

Kathy, THANK YOU for always keeping me in check. I love you, too! At least I have an excuse for acting insane, considering I'm the product of a mother who just spent another stretch in the rubber room. I know there's a huge part of my brain that reacts the way she does and flies off the handle without thinking, which is why I thank the LBT Gods for the lovely Edit feature. The difference between me and the Momster is that I realize when I've acted like an ass so I retreat, reflect and revise.

i had revision surgery from the lapband to the sleeve in October. when i found out my lapband slipped, i was so afraid of gaining the 70+ pounds back so i started researching the sleeve. i had to have all liquid removed from my band so my stomach was "normal" and i was able to eat whatever i wanted. i decided to gain 20 pounds before my revision surgery so i'd have a buffer of weight to lose after surgery during the liquid food stage. i didn't want to go in to surgery at my goal weight and then lose more weight. i weighed 147 pounds the day of my sleeve surgery. today, almost 6 weeks later, i weigh 137... so i've only lost 10 pounds. i would like to lose the other 10 pounds i gained "on purpose" but i'm okay just maintaining too.