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my husband is also in the union (elevator) and we have BC/BS IL who manages our plan. WE DO NOT follow the BC/BS IL guide lines either...what I was told by my benifits office was to call our pre-cert number and speak directly to the nurse and ask what the requirements are for WLS (weight loss surgery) which I did...VERY VERY different than the BC/BSIL requirements. So I would suggest going that route first. You can also ask your benifit department what surgeons are allowed, what the copay if any is (I have none), and any other questions you might have. Once you find a surgeon, they should have some one that will work with you on your benifits...BUT be aware that they may look at your card and ASSUME you have to follow BC/BSIL guide lines. I actually wrote down my guidelines, the name of the nurse that gave them to me including his/her extention, and the phone number...i had to request that the benifit nurse from the surgeons office call while I was there. She was very suprised to learn that I was correct and revised my plan for the surgeon... Hope that helps you some!!! Feel free to private message me if you have any questions...

Hi In need of, I had a tummy tuck almost a year ago (Oct of 08) and I am very happy with my results. However, I don't look like a lot of the before /after pictures. I have stretch marks that the surgeon couldn't remove. In addition, I need a revision because the Dr. couldn't get all the skin the first time. Having said that, I would absolutely do it again in a heart beat. I have a belly button, and it's not covered by a flap of skin. ~Lori

I have been through this. I have traveled this road in the last 2 months. I had a revision surgery. My band slip as found jan 6 and I went into surgery 2 hours later. I however had fluid all taken out of my band dec 26th as my stomach swelled and closed off and I could not even get water down. I vomited 3 days so bad. I don't need to go in to this. I was stuck in a blizzard here in South Dakota. So I could not get to the Dr. all this was part of the crap deal of my band slip. I however did have a surgery to fix it. The band was removed and replaced the same time. It all fall under the same rules as the first band surgery. it is like doing it from square one. liquids soft foods chew ya ya ya. trying to get the sweet spot back is a mess. I was running perfect before the bump in the road. I am a positive person and all things happen for a reason. the good thing is my stomach is in good shape, liver looks great. No signs of erosion. all positive. So I fall in the 2 to 5% of the cases that have issues. Big deal someone has to be one of the few to fall below the line. You know to hold the system accountable. So here we are. I know your angry. well maybe. look at the bright side. your loosing weight. getting healthy. It could be worse. You might say Really? yes it could.

Sorry you are having troubles. I have a funky shaped sleeve too. I was a band revision. My surgeon asked me to do a swallow test post op in hospital so they could document my sleeve shape. He said they want more documentation on new procedures, I think I was his 5th band to sleeve. Anyway, pre op I had been reading about maintaining the pyloric antrum, and possible reduction in long term heartburn post sleeve. I understand that how much of the Antrum is left is not a standard practice. My surgeon said that yes they maintain the Antrum. So I imaging my sleeve has a wider area at the bottom. And because of all the tissue damage from the band a funky area at the top also. No banana shape for me. Hopefully they can dilate your narrowing and you will feel better!

I'm also a band to sleeve revision (almost a yr now). Had my band for 3 1/2 yrs and lost almost all of my weight (went from 250 to 144. Then it slipped. After vomiting almost everyday. After my unfill, I gained about 35 lbs back. Had to have a tool so I chose the sleeve (I figured the RNY was a bit drastic to lose 40 lbs) when my band had to be removed (eventually herniated when I continued vomiting even with a total unfill) While the weightloss is really slow (I'm still 15 lbs from goal), I know if I actually tried, I could lose it. It's nice to not even try and still maintain. I've vomited 2x in the last yr - vs almost everyday. Vomiting now is a long drawn out process that yields little results, so if I take 1 bite too many, I'm miserable till it passes. Luv my sleeve. Even if all it does is allow me to maintain...I vote for the sleeve. My dr told me once ur band slips, u have a higher chance of slippage with a new band...

Another good one to talk to would be Dr. Ara Keshishian in Glendale. If you need a revision, he would most likely go for a DS rather than a bypass as that is more his specialty. But since the DS uses the sleeve as its basis, that means that he has been doing them a lot longer than most bariatric surgeons, so if there is something wrong with your sleeve, he would be the one to be able to fix it rather than revise it to something else. By your description, it sounds like your sleeve may not have really been done correctly, so a correction rather than a revision may well be the answer. Typically, a revision from the sleeve to the bypass doesn't do a lot to correct a poor weight loss problem as the sleeve and bypass are so similar in their metabolic strength; if one really needs a stronger solution, the DS is the way to go, but it sounds like a simple resleeve may the the answer for you. Good luck,

I'm getting sleeved Thursday afternoon and I really, really want to do this right the first time. I don't want to have to have a revision, etc. I know that people lose more weight more quickly if they are male or have extremely high BMIs, but I don't fall into either of those categories. So I'm looking for tips and success stories from other women who got the sleeve when they were around 40 BMI. I only need to lose 80-90 pounds, but I don't want to get stuck only losing a few pounds per month like I hear others complaining about. Thanks! Sent from my Nexus 5X using the BariatricPal App

Congrats on your revision. I am also a revision and although I have less restriction than I wish I had with the sleeve, I am glad to have the band gone. After all the complications and problems I had with it I feel so much better with it gone! I didn't realize how crappy I really felt until I didn't anymore. Best of luck with your sleeve!

I'm not interest in berating you or your surgeon or anybody else for that matter. Perhaps you should re-read my previous post. My insurance carrier will not cover lapband surgery anymore because of the high failure rate. For this reason and this reason alone, I had to self-pay for lapband surgery. I am extremely careful not to do anything through my own negligence to damage my band. Therefore, I do follow the manufacturer's guidelines to the letter. If Allergen says not to consume carbonated beverages then I will not consume them. I do follow my surgeon's recommendations so long as they coincide with Allergen's guidelines. I feel extremely thankful to my husband for supporting my decision to go outside of network for a procedure my insurance would not cover. It was a financial hardship for me and my husband to pay out of pocket for my surgery during this poor economic time and even more of a hardship to have to pay for revision surgery especially if its for something I could have prevented. Remember, if even a fraction of banded people don't follow the band rules and increase the failure rate, it affects everybody down the line who has the hope of getting a lapband in the future. Perhaps now you will all understand where I am coming from. I really don't care a rat's ass if you disagree with me or not. Perhaps all of you need to calm down and practice a little more understanding of other's views on things because afterall, this entire thread would have been concluded if a select few of you didn't keep stirring the pot. As far as I'm concerned you can all keep this going or you can let it rest, but I'm done! Goodnight!

Sounds like my symptoms when I had a slip 7 months post-surgery. Time to get it looked at, xray or endo, and see what's happening. I ignored it and ended up having to get a revision and get ulcers in the esophagus treated.

Sorry, I have not been able to get on the forum for some reason. I am doing great. And yes, I was on full liquids after day 2 and it makes it much more tolerable. I don't think you are doing anything wrong, just make sure the consistency of what you have is liquid enough to sip through a straw (without the straw, they are not allowed.) Tomorrow marks two weeks and I believe I have lost 10 pounds. I didn't weigh on my home scale before I went in, so I could be a pound or two off. I don't care, I tried on a pair of pants today that are a half size smaller and they fit. I've been wearing 18 - 1/2W and almost breaking out of them, but the 18 misses now fits (remember I was a revision and had not gained all my weight back from the band.) I kept all my small clothes in anticipation of this surgery. I have not had a problem with nauseau, but certain smells will set me off. I had to tell my coworker her perfume was making me ill. She does apply too heavily, I will have to teach her how to properly apply perfume. Today, I tried to eat a half cup of cottage cheese which I finished in about 30 minutes. I should have taken it a little slower, because I felt like I could toss it. Luckily, we have a jogging path around a lake at work, so I got up and did two laps which helped. I'm glad you are over your nausea, there is nothing worse. Friday is two weeks and I can start pureed foods, also it is my followup day with the doctor. So far, so good. I am very happy in the way my new stomach lets me know when I have had enough. With the band, you get a terrible pain in the middle of your chest, I have not experienced that with the sleeve (although I am not on solids, so we will see.)

How odd.... when you look at the boards most posting here were banded in the US and they have never heard of the sleeve. I question why you always try to get your digs in for Mexican doctors? I think one of the big problems in the US is that there aren't many "good" sleeve surgeons. Most surgeons do bands or bands and bypass only. They don't tell patients about the sleeve because they don't DO the sleeve. They aren't going to push a procedure they don't do. Since most bariatric doctors in the US are holding the seminars that US patients are going to during their research, I question why the US folks are not educated when they get to MX for their surgery. So when you infer that it is just the Mexican banded patients that don't know about the sleeve, aren't you really knocking US surgeons? I don't know, I'm looking through the boards now and US patients banded or not do not know about the sleeve. Your digs to MX surgeons are not very professional as a bariatric surgeon. I just saw my doc in Mexico recently when I went to him with a friend for her band fill. I asked him how many bands vs. sleeves he's doing. He's doing mostly sleeves and very few bands. Only for those that insist on a band. Lucky for us (those who had surgery in MX) all the better MX surgeons have always done bands, sleeves, and bypass. It just wasn't popular until Cirangle's studies came out. Some of the MX surgeons are extremely good, my doctor has done over 500 sleeves and hasn't had a leak yet, how many have you done and how many leaks have you had? Two of the mods here on LBT were revised (one yesterday and one today) and another next month... they are all getting band to sleeve revisions by the same doc I went to. There are several excellent band/sleeve/bypass surgeons in MX. Considering the type of sugery most don't really want this procedure done on an outpatient basis or one night in the hospital. They want 3 nights in a hospital, they want the leak tests, they don't want to cut corners. I'm glad Allergan realizes that the band isn't working well. First the mesh band, then the non adjustable band, then the small adjustable band, now the mega big adjustable band... for 40 years medicine has been trying to find one that works. Finally they are catching on that it's a sinking ship.

Hi, I'm a revision patient, having had the band removed in May. At this point, I'm 5 months into my supervised diet and will request insurance approval next month. As I look toward planning the sleeve surgery, I have two questions: - is a liquid diet required for a particular amount of time before surgery? - how long should I expect to be out of work? I'm a high school school teacher and I'm trying to work around holidays in October or November. Thanks in advance for any and all information.

I had lost 118 pounds with my band but it slipped and had to be removed 11 months ago. I am going to be sleeved in 11 days and I can't wait!! I was 159 pounds when it was removed and have gained almost 80 pounds back!! I should have been revised to a sleeve back then but I was hoping I would be able to maintain my weight loss!! Good luck on your decision and journey!!

Hi everyone, First post here, I'm on lapbandtalk tho. I've had my band for 3 1/2 yrs and recently it herniated (bad slip). The dr closer to me (my dr is 3 hrs away and it was an emergency) took out all of my fill and told me contact my dr. I emailed his nurse today and she said it can probly wait for 3 weeks (we have a 7 day Alaskan cruise in 3 weeks and I really don't want to go on it eating only liquids!). I talked to the insurance lady in the office and she told me I can either get a new band (plication isn't covered, which I really wanted), a sleeve, or gastirc bypass. My BMI is ony 27 now but since I'm having complications, Medicare will pay for a revision. I luv my band, however it's alot of maintenance. I have to drive 6 hrs round trip + pay $160 for every adjustment. So I'm thinking about the sleeve. But I'm scared cuz it's permanent. Would you do the sleeve again or get a new band placed? Just looking for info on how many people are happy with the sleeve. I weight 162 today and my goal is 135, so I have less than 30 lbs to goal, but I know if I completely just take out my band, I will gain all of my 104 lbs loss back. I need help. What do you think? marci

I had the band about 5 years ago. Everything went fine until December. I had severe heartburn and problems with fluids coming up, etc. Long story short, I realized (as my Dr. has at this point also) that the weather can affect the band. When it's cold out or the barometric pressure drops (basically when rains are coming) I get extreme restriction. During these times, I stay on liquids and basically "baby" the band until it passes. I wish I had known this before I'd gotten the band. I would've know better how to handle it instead of the fill yo-yo we started on and ultimately having to have revision surgery. When you start having issues with tightness and heartburn/reflux, pay attention to the weather......that could be part of the problem.

I had lap band in 2008 and I am miserable about how it hasnt done what I thought it should do. I want to go and have the sleeve done. I had a MVP insurance then now I have Humana. What does it take for an insurance company to approve the revision?? Also for a revision to they make you go through all the hoops they did the first time I had WLS or do they just approve the surgery and you dont have to lose a certain amount of weight before hand? Any help with this is appreciated.

I had my surgery 11 months ago and the thing I hated afterwards was the lump - I was very upset about it - my scar was very deep and there was sort of a pooch like the skin wasn't pulled tight enough - In February I had a mini-arm lift and at the same time the PS revised the scar - the port is still obvious by sticking up where I can see it and feel it but the scar is straighter and not as jagged and looks much better so the port sticking out doesn't bother me as much - to be honest I loved the band as far as helping me not overeat but hated it because of the lump. I think eventually I will have the band and port removed because if I get to my goal weight it will stick out even more and it sort of creeps me out.

That is interesting, but I am 13 months out from surgery and 15 pounds BELOW my doctors goal weight so I have lost more than what that article claims. And I know of a lot of others on this board with the same fantastic results. I love my band and I went into it knowing it might have to be removed but I just had my yearly upper gi and everything is perfect and I have had absolutely no complications. I will not let myself dwell on these statistics anymore. If anything happens then it does and I will deal with it then. I will decide to either replace my band or revise.

Has anyone had band to sleeve revision with Dr. Provost in Denton or consulted with him? If so I would appreciate some feed back about the experience. Was process easy? Did he try to get you to do the GB vs the Sleeve? Did you do it one surgery or two? Did he drain band first? And if you happen to know how many he has done that would be great!!! Thank you all for your in put. I want the good and bad

Well, I got my schedule for my revision surgery....July 9th. So I will have a month on my own with no fill. I will say for the first few days I've eaten anything and everything but now I've gotten that out of my system and I'm back down to controlled portions and HAVE TO EXERCISE this next month. When they go in the will check everything out to make sure my band is all intact, which is good. Kind of like a tune-up :thumbup: If there's anything they can see wrong with the band at that time, they will replace it. The port is fine as far as they can tell. But I did have the conversation with the surgeon that in the future if what I can eat changes radically from day to day...like one day I can eat Soup and the next day I can't eat the same kind of soup, then that's not normal. I guess the guilt my mother instilled in me my whole life led me to think that clearly there was something I was doing wrong..:smile: But the plus side is I don't have to do the two week liquid diet but after puking for five days straight, even that wouldn't have been a problem...:tt2: Wish me luck guys trisha pennreporter

Trishia, I haven't been on here in a while and haven't seen previous posts. Why are they doing revision if they don't know if your band is OK or not? I'm curious, because it sounds like you are having trouble with stuff getting stuck? I'm having that problem, one day I can eat like a lumberjack and the next I can't get cottage cheese down. I've had an endo, pressure fill, fluro, the band checks out pefect, and actually is too LOOSE. WTH? I'm PBing nearly every day now. It's very frustrating.

Well, my revision surgery is just one more week away. Yeah!!! I've been Ms. Little Piggy the past three weeks...lots of social stuff going on. Finally had to break down and join the gym today and get over the food pig-out. Can't believe I'd ever say that I'm sick of eating but I am. Can't wait to get my band functional again. I'm assuming it will be at least four weeks before they will start filling again. But I really felt so much better with the smaller food amounts. So I've had my summer fun :thumbup: Trisha

Hello -- I don't think it has much, if anything, to do with your eating hot foods. It's a slip, slips usually result in a weird cul-de-sac in the pouch just above the band. That little pouch on a pouch creates serious reflux, think of a tide pool at the beach. With that I'd say avoid spicy liquids during this period, keep it very bland while you're trying to get the slip to self-correct. I've dealt with this for a long while but mine didn't self-correct with a total un-fill so I've decided to get my band revised to an RNY Bypass. I've heard that most slips will self-correct though. Oh -- and take this FWIW as I am not a medical professional in any way, don't even play one on TV

Actually I have had adequate followup care. Minor adjustments to the band, food changes etc. I have had the band going on 4 years, this isn't like I just got it last week. Last year I had symptoms where I felt like someone was pulling on my throat, so I went to a surgeon that specialized in the band and after all the tests they decided it was my Gallbladder and it needed to be removed. So I told the surgeon I didn't think that was what it was but because it had a lot of stones in it taking it out was probably the best thing to do. But I also told him to check the band and check the fill line because the discomfort I was feeling was just that, a pulling sensation. When he removed the gallbladder he found that a section of cavity fat and flopped onto the cable and was indeed pulling the fill line, so he repositioned the cable and also added a stitch to the backside of the band (one had apparently come loose somehow). After that I had minor pains but I just assumed it was the stitch healing. I waited 6 months and got another small fill and everything was fine. Three weeks ago I started getting sharp pains when I twisted my body, I feel like I have something gripping my chest right behind my breast bone. I have seen the surgeon, he wants to do a endoscopy and then a exploratory lapriscopy to check the inside and outside of the area and maybe remove scar tissue and shorten the fill line. My thing is, how many surgeries do I want to have and complications before it is too much? I am not getting younger. This pain is currently barely tolerable. I am taking two nexium a day right now. I can't find a doctor in the area that takes my insurance and does the band, even though I live 15 minutes from Washington DC! Sure there are surgeons around that do t, but none seem to be in the United Healthecare EPO plan (In network doctors only). The current surgeon I am going to was in network and was covered for my regular checkups and maintenance but is now out of network. I did get my insurance to give me a GAP coverage for him to perform the two listed proceedues. Since I couldn't find a doctor within 30 miles and niether could the insurance company. But After 3 surgeries for this, I am beginning to question if it is worth it to have another. The pain I am having right now is not fun, I love the weight loss I have had, but is it worth this? Everyday I wait for help is another that convinces me getting a revision would be worth it. Do I want to get one, right now yes. But maybe it is just a desire to get help for the pain. If I wasn't in pain, or discomfort, I wouldn't want to get it removed. Fear is a powerful thing. I also know where the band is and I know where the pain is, and they are both in the same spot. I was right about the last complication, I am probably right about this one. Naturally I am not an expert surgeon, but I know when something is wrong, pain says so. My family wants me to get it removed, they don't like me staying up all night because it hurts to laydown, hurts to situp, can't sleep from worry: eat foods other than salads and Soups because it hurts. I loved the band when I got it, still love what it has done for me. Didn't like getting a new port put in because the first was too big. Hated getting my gallbladder removed because fatty tissue was pulling on the fill line. Don't want to go in and get another surgery to see what is going on on the outside, maybe fix a line issue, or something, and then have to go back again for some other possible complication. I am reaching out to help myself decide what my limit is for weightloss to pain/discomfort. Where do the surgeries end? That is why I am considering a reversion.