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I was told $6900 for the revision but Dr. took $500 off since I was coming back to him. He was supposed to have Dr. Illan do my mgb but he had an emergency that day and another Dr. stepped in to do my surgery. But this time I'm going to Dr. Illan. His patients really seem to love him and his staff is amazing to work with.

Hi everyone! I had the lap band in 2015 and thought I would be completely different within a year. I initially started to lose weight but even at the beginning felt like I shouldn't be able to eat as much as I could. I was constantly hungry and felt like I was starving all the time. I had several adjustments and even got to the max allowement then had to have it drained because I couldn't even drink Water.. It was aweful! My heaviest weight was 289.7 and I didn't even realize it! I seen a picture of myself and had no idea who that person was. I am 5'8 and have always been told that I'm curvy and look "good" so it never occurred to me that I was actually that big since I carry my weight well. Don't get me wrong, I knew I was a big girl but still felt like I wasn't that bad. My horrible motto and cop out was, "You can fix chubby but you can't fix ugly!" How horrible right?? Smh.. Well, I had pain, brusing on my belly button and could no longer hold down real food. But let me tell you that chips and candy went down super easy. I ate the big Reece's cups everyday! I felt like a complete and total failure and started feeling like everyone who loves me was being nice to me and telling me I was beautiful because they knew my heart. I am currently 33 and was 17 when my beautiful mother died and 19 when my amazing father died. I raised my 2 brothers and 1 sister when that happened and worked 3 jobs to make sure we had a roof over our heads. I sang in a band for many years and always felt like the fat girl. I even had a miscarriage 5 years ago that devastated me to the core. I was tired, and tired of being tired. Last week, October 19th I changed my life!! I had the revision to sleeve!! Let me tell you the honest raw uncut truth... I NEVER EXPECTED THIS! My amazing, supportive fiancé got me a scale yesterday as a surprise. I almost felt like maybe my doctor didn't actually do the sleeve since I don't notice any changes. I went into surgery at 281.7 and I weighed myself this morning at 262.4!!!!! I AM IN AWE!! I go to the doctor today for a follow up and am honestly in pain (mostly super tenderness) and man oh man do I want a cheeseburger.. Lol.. But this has been all worth it! I know that if I stay focused, stay connected, stay honest and give my all.. I will have amazing results! This site has been so inspirational. I have literally been reading stuff all night!! Haha.. I had to tell everyone a part of my story and really stay accountable. Thank you for reading my extremely long story. I hope that someone out there can relate and feel encouraged. My new motto is, "Live the life that you want to live and live it well!" Bee Sent from my LGMS550 using the BariatricPal App

Hmmm i was revision from band to sleeve 4/9/14 and was told i may or may not have any food restrictions that it was trial/error....i havent had an appetite at all since 4/9

If you can't afford a second surgery, you might want think about this some more before leaving for Mexico. It's a gamble no matter what doctor or country you chose. Yes, I went to Mexico, but who's to blame for my infection? The fact is, a percentage of us will have complications that cost us extra money. I certainly didn't expect it, and the complications financially devastated me (I'm working 2 jobs now pulling myself out of the mess.) I'm not the only one that had to go back to Mexico. You might have to rush back for an emergency unfill, or a port revision. If you live close to TJ, you have a great advantage. In the US, fees are fees. In Mexico, the doctors might "work with you" in special financial situations. You might have to stay an extra night or miss a flight. Be prepared for anything. Call your doc and discuss these concerns. Don't let me scare you because lots of people fly through this with no complications. Keep reading. Making an informed decision is the safest and smartest thing you can do.

That is a question I asked my dr before surgery and she does all the easier ones first...luckily the day of my surgery there were only 3 booked, first person was gastric bypass, then I was 2nd band to sleeve and her 3rd patient was also band to sleeve. I didnt find out what order I would be until the day of surgery but I knew since i was having revision i would not be first

I was revised to the sleeve about a month ago. Got banded 2009. I immediately have noticed a tremendous difference between the two. I have immediately began losing weight. You literally can't hardly eat and don't really want to......AFTER THE POST OP liquids PHASE OF STARVATION HELL.........but that's only about 2 weeks. As soon as you hit puree or soft foods it is crazy how little fills you up. With the band you had to guess if you were in the green zone and get 50 adjustments just to hopefully get full. The sleeve IS the green zone. So much easier and you're not a slave to those damn fill appointments. Soooo much better. Oh, if you eat too much or too fast you can get sick and feel a little "stuck" but not like you are being strangled by your food like the band. Others have thrown up....not me....and you CAN get dumping syndrome if you eat something too fatty or sweet. I have experienced that a couple of times. Sweaty, flushed,rapid heartbeat, nausea, diarrhea. No fun. But that's rare and STILL better than fearing each bite will choke you and slime. This is just what I have experienced so far. Hope it was useful to you.

I lived through something similar and had a slip and a hiatal hernia and I believe my band was never positioned correctly. Corrective surgery (revision) has helped immensley. Good luck, Mimi

I was just approved today!! Bcbs anthem i waited 10days for answer bmi 40....i am band revision to sleeve

Hi Erika! My BMI is right at 40! My surgeon told me NOT to lose any weight while I'm on the 3 month supervised "diet" with their nutritionist (a NEW requirement as of Jan 1, 2011 for BCBS- Fed). I'm surprised you have been denied for the revision! What was their reasoning for the denial? Do you have a good patient advocate with your doctor's office? If so, they could probably contact your insurance and get all the details for you! I have a hiatal hernia and I was told by another surgeon (when I wanted to get the LapBand) that they would correct the hernia BEFORE putting the band in. Did your surgeon not do that??? My co-worker got approved for the sleeve after the second try and that was back in Oct 2010; so I know BCBS- Fed does approve the sleeve!

I had my band to sleeve revision on 10/1 and am down 10 pounds so I am right there with you. I'm getting 50+ of protein and 64+ of water and working out (hiking or biking) at least 30 minutes every day. I know it is slow but as long as my weight continues to go down I am trying not to worry about it. It will have to come off eventually eating 800 calories a day right?

I regained all I had lost, too, but my rny was in 1990. In preparation for revision surgery I have been doing "no sugar, no wheat flour, no processed foods". I finally came to the conclusion that I am a sugar addict and these are my trigger foods. I have lost 36 lbs since the first of April. I intend to continue an abstinence diet for the rest of my life. These books helped me arrive at this decision.

Ok so those who have gone through this is it that bad? The doc says he might need to move mine cause it floats around to much. I went in for my third fill and yet again he couldn't get the needle in the port. He found it and was hitting it but because when i lay down it floats up under my ribs he is having problems getting in it. Anyway just some help would be nice thanks alot.

I would also be looking for a revision. Even at 4 years out I know I cannot do this on my own.

BCBS is pretty good about clearing up confusion. It just may take a few calls to get someone who knows head from arse. I have Anthem BCBS CA but I was a revision so my 6 month diet was waived. Never had to deal with that. Normally your surgeon's office advocates for you, gets your requirements, and can answer questions but they can also misinterpret. I've seen it several times. You might want to take (if you haven't already) a copy of your requirements to your PCP and let them read for themselves what's required. If they haven't worked with a WLS patient in the pre-op stage before, they may truly just have zero clue what's what. Be diligent, and keep posting any questions you have. There are a few of us around who have good "insider info" on the workings of insurance companies, who will be happy to help as much as we can.

Anyone have experience with this insurance for band to sleeve revision? Health Net HMO originally covered my band in 2007 after 2 appeals but I'm more hopeful with the PPO I'm getting starting Jan 1

My tubing is supposedly kinked too... I am self pay and can't afford the revisions surgery right now, but would be really interested to know how this goes for you. My last fill was this enjoyable experience of manipulation of my still huge belly, but I guess as long as they can retract the excess I am going to be fine.

Getting advice from someone who never had any luck with the band may sound funny but here goes. You did lose weight with it in the beginning so you did something right. Then it sounds like you had a lot of stress in your life and to compensate for larger amounts of food you found a way to eat around the band and did and gained it back. If you feel you can get back on track and are able to avoid doing that then you should be able to lose weight again with the band. If you're too tight and chewing your food well, Protein and other healthy foods don't go through then you may need some removed. Otherwise see if you can psyche yourself into eating healthy again and eat as you did in the beginning. If you don't find this to be possible you may want to discuss revising but I wouldn't rush into it without a good try first. Take care Nancy. And I did have mine removed and am trying to revise to RNY in June!

I'm a military spouse with Tricare Prime. I'll preface my response and tell you that if you can hold out until after the 1st of the year, and get the sleeve, do it. I had a band, it was hell. I had the major issue of not being able to get restriction, and being hungry all the time. Tricare paid for my band, and my civilian surgeon (that Tricare referred me to) disregarded my concerns and pain with a flipped port. So, I went to our neighboring base here in Florida with a referral for a revision to the sleeve. BEST DECISION I ever made, literally. I hated my life with the band. It was miserable, and Tricare Prime covered my revision 100% no questions asked. There are many stateside MTF's doing the sleeve at this time, and have been for at least the last 2 years. Just to give you an idea of my band experience: October 2008 - Band placed Flipped my port (or at least ripped my anchor sutures and the port flipped soon thereafter) in the hospital the day of surgery because a nurse had my pull myself up in the bed after going for a walk. First fill came 6 weeks later Lost 23-25lbs the first 2.5 months then the swelling from surgery went down, LOST all restriction. Next fill came in January still no restriction. Begged for a fill didn't happen until mid-February Pain in my port area had managed to get to a 6-8 some days (on a pain scale of 1-10, 10 being the worse), and the surgeon at the time would not address the issue even though I told him that my husband and I could not have sex some days because the pain was so intense. In March, after begging again, I went not for just 1 fill, but 2 under fluoro because he could not longer access my port, because it had literally moved in my abdomen. LOVELY. I endure almost 40 minutes of him prodding around trying to get to the port under fluoro, and then he finally told me to just diet, and eat smaller portions, but don't work out because it would cause more issues with my port. From the January fill to June 3rd, 2009 when I had my revision, I gained about 16-17lbs back. So, technically, I only lost 7lbs with the band in an 8 month time frame. Since having my revision (June 3rd 2009), I've dropped 107lbs. A week later I started researching my options with Tricare. I found myself at Eglin, and got approved the day of my consult for my revision. It's been rumored that the VSG should have full approval shortly after the first of the year. Since you are overseas, I would highly recommend researching surgeons. There are several MTF's here in the states that are performing them, and that are the preferred surgery. My revision surgeon wanted to just do a port revision. Luckily, I told him that there was something wrong with my band. I could literally feel the tubing of the band pulling on my stomach. The band damaged my stomach severely. If you can hold out for VSG approval, I would highly recommend it. The band is very tempermental. My mom has had one for over 2 years, and she gets food stuck 3-4 times a weeks which leads to her puking up her dinner. She came to Florida for a visit from the Texas, and the humidity here didn't allow her to eat anything but mushy foods because solids would not go down. She's only lost 75lbs in 2 years, and she just thinks her "band issues" are normal and deals with them.

My surgeon has revised Protein goals to 80 plus (used to be 60). My personal experience was I had to go really low carb and high intensity interval training to get the last stubborn pounds off

I am so very sorry. I'd be freaking out, too. Is revision surgery an option? Either a new band or maybe a different WLS, like the Sleeve?

I had to have my band removed in August 2011. I did not revise. I've maintained my weight. It is a struggle, but I'm never going back to where I was before. If you need some tips, feel free to ask me! I'm sending positive thoughts your way!!!

I feel the struggle, I am 6 days post Rny and am on stage 2 of the full liquids I just finished a whole packet of oatmeal and felt no fullness or satisfaction of being full. Also just constantly hungry. I am also a band revision so idk. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Bariatric Pal has medical tourism packages for Tijuana MX. Contact bill@bariatricpal.com and he can go go over all the options. My revision from sleeve to Mini Gastric Bypass costs $5399 plus my airfare.

Krzy4vt, thank you so much for your response. I feel a lot better! I did notice that it seems that this time around it is taking me a little longer to heal; I also have a physical job which may also be slowing down my healing time (lots of lifting and bending). After your revision did your doctor or PA advise you about anything that you need to avoid as not to disturb the port and or cause another issue with your tubing. My doctor told me that it is a rare complication that he does not see too often and said that I shouldn't have anything else to worry about (but I'm a worry wort lol). Congradulations on your weight loss. I was banded 3/13/13 and the last time I weighed I was down 37lbs.

Feeling very discouraged today. I called to follow up on the preauthorization for my band removal, and after placing me on hold, the rep came back to tell me they'd decided today to DENY, on the basis that it's "not medically necessary." This, after the surgeon has said it needs to come out as soon as possible. Apparently a badly dilated pouch, with nausea and vomiting, isn't what they consider "necessary" to deal with. :( Has anyone had success appealing for band removal, with no revision surgery? Especially with BCBS Federal Employee Program?