New, Switching from Lap Band

[Morgandobes 0]

Hi everyone

You guys have a great forum here, LOTS of helpfull information.

I was banded in 2005 at about 295. I was scared of the bypass,

so I opted for the band. I lost approx 70 lbs by 2007, and was doing

well, but then my weight started creeping back up. I also have had terrible, uncontrolled heartburn. Then I started getting stomach aches from trapped gas(I think from the hearburn) that didnt have a place to go

and wouldent come up. I had the barium swallow and they didnt

see anything wrong, so I had a complete unfill the first of march 2010.

I was researching and a friend of mine got the bypass 11 years ago.

She losted 130 lbs give or take, but now struggles with weight again.

Although thats not exactly what I wanted, I have gained back up to approx where I was pre-band.

I went and talked with a local bariatric surgeon, Timothy Brown, and he suggested the vertical sleeve gastrectomy. I hadnt done any research on this one, hadent even really heard of it. He said he thought the key was to get rid of ghrelin, the hunger hormone and that the eating issues would resolve themselves. He said he had discussed it with other bariaritic docs and they thought it was the best operation far excluding the bypass.

Anyway, I rushed home to do my research and am pleasntly surprised with what I found. It would be awesome to occaisonally have a bite of sweets without 'dumping'

Anyway, hopefully get the band out next week. He does it in two separate operations. He says the scar tissue with the band can be tricky to deal with (to revise in the same operation to the new surgery)but that it resolves on a month or two. So, with a little luck, I will get my operation in may or june. Please keep your fingers crossed for me

that Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield will cover it.

If you have gotten this far, thanks!

Lisa

[Tiffykins 673]

Lisa, hi and welcome to VST. You'll love the sleeve, and the life post-op that this tool can give you.

Many well wishes, and fingers crossed for insurance approval. If you need anything, post away, we'll be here for you.

[Morgandobes 0]

Thanks Tiffykins!

I talked to my nurse today and she says that blue cross blue shield needs "medical necessity" shown. So, I have an 'scope' scheduled for next tuesday. Hopefully have this band taken out ASAP!

Lisa

[TexasT 99]

Good luck with your insurance issues - I was self-pay as my insurance doesn't cover any of it, but I know it can be a hassle. You will love life without that horrible band in your body. You'll feel like a new person. I'm so glad I had gall bladder problems and went to talk to my surgeon. If I hadn't I never would have realized there was an option that could control my hunger and portion size, and allow me to eat pretty much anything I like. There were so many healthy things (like salads and fruit) that I couldn't get down with the band. Now I eat whatever I want without worrying about eating too much. It's easy living now!!!