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Hello, Has anyone had success with United Health Care getting approved for a revision ? I am in the early stages of the process. Any stories you share with me ?

Hey all! Using my daughter's account because it was already logged in. I am 60 years old and have had my band for 8 years with no problems. SW was 256 and CW is 180. I never really had any of the typical complications associated with the lap band. However, finding that "sweet spot" has never been easy. My port needs to be replaced, not the band, just the port. Yesterday, I saw my daughter's surgeon (she had a sleeve in Dec) and he asked me if I had ever considered converting to a sleeve. So my question is, if you had a lapand that was fairly successful and am happy where I am, what would you do?

Anyone else on this day?

So I am have my first appt with my doctor at the end of the moth to discuss gastric sleeve. I previously had a lapband but had to get it removed about three years ago. Would my sleeve be considered a revision or a stand alone procedure? My first surgery was self pay but I am needing my insurance to pay for this one. I'm worried if they consider it a revision that the insurance may not pay. Now I'm worried :-/

Let me start with a little history... I became a bandster in 2007. I lost 130 lbs and have gained back 115 lbs. I did well in the beginning. The weight melted off of me. Restriction was never a problem. I followed the band rules perfectly. Then in 2009, things changed. An event actually changed everything for me. I either had a virus or food poisoning. Either way, it was terrible, I could not stop heaving. We all know that with the band, anything below the band is not coming up. I had to call my surgeon and was prescribed Zofran, but I think it was too late. Something terrible happened. The area around my band was sore for quite some time and my little "friend" inside of me, started to become my enemy. Since then, I have shown a nasty hiatal hernia. My reflux is terrible. And there is no fill that is comfortable. I get a fill, follow the rules, and I am right back at the surgeon's office the next morning to get an unfill then I am back to NO RESTRICTION. It has become a viscous cycle and I have gained most of the weight back slowly since that time. I have been told that if I correct the hiatal hernia and if the band is pushed up a bit, that my restriction will come back and things will get better. However, even with that in mind despiration has pushed me to go more extreme to scheduling a VSG on September 17th. I am strongly reconsidering my choice after doing much more homework on the possible complications of a VSG. Now I am doing some homework on the RNY, which may be a better alternative to VSG. Either way, I have to get the hiatal hernia fixed. So, my questions to the lapband community: Would personally try to correct the situation if you were in this position? Have you been through a revision from an existing band surgery to a correction and were you successful after the correction? I am just looking for some input and possible support either way. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Hello fellow WLS people I am new to this, I have had a lap band for 7 years with minimal wt. loss and a few problems along the way. 2 hernia surgeries 1 regular, 1 fondoplication. Recently went to the ER due to waking from a deep sleep choking on my own saliva/reflux?.. went from once in a while to more than a few times at night. A trip to my gastroenterologist to find my band had slipped and needed to be removed. I am a candidate for Revision Surgery and have researched Vertical Gastric Sleeve surgery.... But I have some serious concerns about the choking issue with the band. Was I only choking because the band had slipped or can this problem happen again with the new surgery. It was very scary not to mention I would think dangerous (aspiration pneumonia) anyone else with this issue with band slip and what was the result after Gastric Sleeve Surgery. I should add since I have had all the Fluid removed from my band I have experienced no choking... Any insight or experiences to this issue would be helpful..Thank you, Angel-Whetstone.

:sad:HELLO ALL, I AM SORRY IF THERE IS A THREAD ON THIS ALREADY, BUT I DIDN'T SEE ONE. SO HERE'S MY STORY. I AM 2 MONTHS POST-OP, HAVE HAD TWO FILLS. LAST FILL WAS ON THURSDAY THE 9TH OF APRIL, WAS TOLD MY PORT SEEMS TO HAVE FLIPPED ON IT'S SIDE. SHE THEN SAYS I MIGHT NEED A REVISION. I AM DREADING ANOTHER SURGERY. CAN ANYONE SHARE THEIR STORY ON THIS WITH ME? THANKS A BUNCH!

Hello everyone. Haven't been around for a while--real busy w/work, etc. But I'll try to stay more connected. The revision went fine, did I tell you that they were able to use the same holes that were used for my band? The recovery was longer than after banding, 2 weeks home; 3 would have been better. I'm doing well. So far I've lost 35 lbs, which my doctors insists is good, but I feel like a slow loser. I know it's because I "only" weighed 210 lbs. at time of revision. Still, I'm pleased with my ability to eat, believe it or not, more normally than I did w/the band & I think if I stick to my food plan, which is basically the same as when banded, I can get to goal within a year. If you go back & read my posts, you'll see that I had an unusual condition that necessitated being unfilled, and even then I had problems w/a lot of foods (tuna, chicken, hamburger & others). So, now I'm on a full foods diet. I can eat chicken, chile, hamburger, sushi (no rice, I have it rolled w/cucumber), cooked veggies & most fruits. I haven't tried steak yet, but I will next time I'm around it. I need to get 60 grams of Protein a day & 2 liters of Water. I supplement my food a whey Protein Drink most days. Also must take bariatric multi-Vitamin & extra Calcium every day. A huge treat for me was a grilled tomato topped w/melted cheese on a piece of whole wheat toast. I would have PB's on that w/my band. I had one minor complication, a stricture, which is is caused by scar tissure & causes a narrowing where the stomach & intestine meet--2 painless endoscopies later (they use the scope & inflate a small balloon at time of endoscopy) , 3 weeks apart & I was fine. I'm not one of those people who gets full after a bite or two of food, but my portions are small. I feel satisfied after 1 scrambled egg w/melted cheese on top. The denser the protein, the faster I get full. One very interesting thing: things that I didn't find sweet enough before, i.e. sugar free Jello pudding, now is just fine. That's really the only sweet "treat" I have, I don't crave sweets at all. Not ice cream, not Cookies, not cake. gone. It has something to do w/the bypass procedure; not sure it lasts forever, but for now it's very good. I'll take it while it lasts! (that's not to say it doesn't look when I see a candy bar or ice cream, but it's a passing thought, not a craving at all.) I love my surgeon. He does bands too. All his patients love him, he answers emails within 24 hours & if one has an urgent problem, the office connects you to him or his partner AT THE TIME OF YOUR PHONE CALL. Amazing, huh? I go to a support group @ the hospital he & his partner operate ,and the group is split between bandsters & RNY'ers. And guess what? We all get along. So, that's my progress so far. Take care, my friends. Karen

Got my surgery date!! September 17th!!

Gastric bypass revision

Hello! I'm new to this site. I had Lapband surgery in 2005, with no results. I'm thinking about having it removed and possibly getting a different surgery. I'm not sure what would be best for me to look into! Anyone with a similar scenario? Thanks! -Amanda

Hi all, I had my sleeve revised to bypass on Monday, 8/31. I am 4 days in and weigh more than I did on surgery day. Is this still surgical fluids? I’m following my Stage 1 plan to the letter and frustrated.

I had gastric bypass 12 yrs ago and SERIOUSLY looking into self- pay for a revision. I'm looking for someone that can give me any advice/info on surgery in Mexico. Sent from my XT1650 using BariatricPal mobile app

Hello. I’m new to this forum. Got a lapband in 2011. Overall it’s been successful. Starting weight was 255, I now weigh 198. My weight is stable. But…. I am now having a large amount of reflux and nighttime coughing. I’m worried about my esophagus and I am starting to consider revision surgery. But… my BMI is now 33. Which is great, except I’m discovering that is too low to qualify for revision surgery through insurance. But if I get the lapband taken out without any other help, the weight will not stay off. And I’d much prefer to just have one surgery instead of two. I’m only about 6 lbs under my insurance’s minimum BMI of 35. What do people do in this case? Wear ankle weights to the doctor? Just try to gain the 6lbs through milkshakes? Any advice appreciated.

Hi folks, Here's my situation. I got a band in 2006 and did great for the first 18 months - lost about 75 pounds. A year ago I had a fill somewhere other than my doctor's office and plateaued then started gaining. A few weeks ago I found out I had a lot of inflammation and had an unfill at which time I also discovered that I'd lost saline from the cheap fill -- who knows, maybe I didn't have a real fill that whole time. I went to another doctor who diagnosed a slip and pouch dilation. He recommends a VSG but insurance denied it. They say they don't cover VSG which I can fight because they do (Federal BCBS). And they also say my complication doesn't warrant band removal and that since I no longer am morbidly obese I don't qualify for revision (that's just stupid since I met all the qualifications and had coverage when I got the band). I went back to the original surgeon who repeated the barium swallow and says if anything was wrong it was a very small pouch dilation which is now reverted. They gave me a very small fill with the idea that I could slowly return to restriction. I'm up about 30 pounds from my lowest weight and pretty upset about it. At this point I could either try to make things work with the band OR move forward with a VSG revision, most likely self-pay with Dr. Aceves. But that's a lot of money and I worry that if I couldn't keep the weight off with a band I could just as easily be unsuccessful with a VSG. I'd love some insight as to whether I ought to give the band some more time with proper physician visits, support group etc. Or if I ought to just scrap it and dig into my savings and get the VSG. Any thoughts? Thanks, Britt

Help!! I am wondering if anyone has any experience with Highmark after having a revision. I am looking to have a band to sleeve revision but I am concerned that it may possibly not be covered due to my current BMI which is 35. According to my plan coverage it states it will be covered at 35 with at least 1 co morbidity if there was failure to lose weight or complications which I fit. My concern is the co morbidities. I have had sleep apnea when I was diagnosed prior to banding 5 years ago but unsure if I do currently .. although my husband and kids say I am snoring really loud now again.. but I haven’t had and new sleep studies. I really need to get this surgery done and I don’t want to disqualify myself for insurance payment. I really don’t want to gain weight ..any suggestions or input on what I should do!!!!! HELPPPPPP!!!!!!!

I made some rookie mistakes yesterday when I added fruit and vegetables to my protein shake. I put so much in that there wasn't room for hardly any ice. By the end of the drink, it just tasted like lukewarm beet juice. Today's is much better! 1 scoop of market pantry chocolate protein 3 tablespoons of organic fat free vanilla yogurt 1/2 large organic cucumber 1 handful of organic blueberries lots of ice This is a much smoother taste. And according to the interwebs, cucumber is a natural anti-inflammatory!

As some you know, my Lapband slipped. On Friday April 19 was my revision surgery. I go home thinking I'll just better over. Stayed home for a night checking my temp every so often. I had a fever just about every time I checked.I go to my hospital on Sunday morning, they found an infection so I left my hospital via ambulance and when I get to the hospital where I had my surgery, took a cat scan and it showed up on that so I went into surgery ): I had a serious infection and absess? It was so bad one of the best things for him to do was to take my band out. So I have been here since Sunday. My fever is slowly going down, my heart rate is still a little high, took the fully tube out (the one for your bladder, and got the tube that was Hooked up to my stomach.got plugged today. I am getting closer and closer to getting out of here, this just sucks ):

Just home from having my sleeve converted to bypass on Friday at the Northern General in Sheffield by Mr Ackroyd who did the original sleeve, severe reflux and gain. Feel amazing compared to last time around. Good luck and plenty of health sent to anyone on a revision journey [emoji3] Kim Sent from my SM-G960F using BariatricPal mobile app

I have the band and I'm getting ready to have a revision to the sleeve due to issues with the band. My insurance won't cover anything bariatric related so I'm looking at going to Mexico. Anyone recommend a good surgeon or have good advice for me? Thanks.

So Merry Christmas and Thank you Jesus for the miracle of beign approved for revision lapband to sleeve surgery!! It has been along road being told no unless i come up with a 5 year food diary for everything i put in my mouth. Yes, they really demanded that journal. It wasnt what i put in my mouth that was the problem it was the faulty lapband and being to tight, then leaking and all the hoops I had to jump. The slap in the face was the unfair treatment of my old dr blaming me and not admitting that my band was bad. Thank God I went to another doctor out of network who is a pioneer in his field. So now I am on the right road to beign healthy and happy! "Merry Christmas"

Just wondering if anyone can shed some light on what to expect from 2nd port revision. The first one was done 12mths ago, and the tube broke, and i was in extreme pain and had to stay in hospital over night. I went for a fill last week and the stitching has broken and they need to go back in, they couldn't find it. I'm going in first thing in the morning.....am i a whimp, and i'm trying to work out if i will be going home or will i be staying. Is it painful surgery, they have booked me in for a general anaethesia??????? Can anyone give me some advice. Cheers

I had my revision from band to sleeve on June 4th in Mexico. I started to have an odd feeling where the port used to be I just thought phantom pain no big deal. Then I noticed on the 15th that my incision felt weird, I had a co-worker feel it and I said man I am going to have a lot of scar tissue she couldn't believe how wide the scar tissue felt. It was almost 3 inches wide and went the length of the insicion. RThe next morning I got out of the shower and I had a pinhole in my incision that was gushing blood and wouldn't stop. I was filling up a 2x2 gauze pad in 2 minutes. I went to a clinic still bleeding like a stuck pig and the PA I seen was thrown for a loop. I was bleeding the color of iodine just dark as could be. She called their bariatric surgeon and he wasn't sure what was going on so they sent me to get a CT scan. Where my port had been had pooled with blood and had made a canal to the surface and pushed it's way out. Luckily it pushed it's way out and not in and caused an infection. The PA ended up cutting a larger hole in the incision and pushing all that "old blood" out. I guess when it turns that dark it's old blood, odd. The PA pushed out 10cc's she figured I had already leaked out 4cc, she then packed the hole with what looks like a shoe lace, 2 feet was packed in there. Twice a day 1 pull out 2 inches and cut it off. On weds I go see the surgeon for a check up and to see why this happened. Has anyone else had this happen to them or heard of this happening??

Has there ever been an issue to where people have chronic back pain issues after the sleeve? I had a gastric lap band to sleeve revision about 10 years out. I've had back spasms in my back. It is in my back and in my upper leg and thigh area. Can you get the gastric sleeve be revised to other procedures? Can you get it revised to a gastric bypass? Can you get it revised back to its old way or to a duodenal stitch? Anyone heard of anything like this? Any ideas? Do you think a revision would stop the pain?

I just had a revision 7 weeks ago I lost 22 lbs but now I am at a stall I've been like this for three weeks I don't understand why because I'm watching my carbs Sent from my LM-Q730 using BariatricPal mobile app