Any Band converters under........

[Garveydanielle 6]

Hello Everyone! I was banded in 2007 and weighed 332lbs day of surgery....and the lowest I got to before having complications with my band in 2010 was 163 pounds. I loved how I felt and how I looked and how easy it was to go shopping and say....yes that size 10/12 will fit...nope I don't need to try it on. But in late 2010 I started having reflux really bad and some severe stabbing pains on my left side. Doc thought it was my gallbladder....had it out, complete unfill for this surgery and I put on a little weight. Started getting my band filled back up to where I was at before surgery and started having the reflux issues again really bad and was gaining weight quickly not loosing. Doc said oh your band has slipped and you have severe dilation and you will have to be completely unfilled to let your stomach rest and let the band to move back into place.

This has happened 3 times in the last 3 years to where now I have put back on about 100lbs and hate the way I look....hate having to go to the store and buying bigger cloths knowing I have a closet full of cloths that don't fit. In October I met with a new Doc and got his opinion and he said since my band has never been fixed....he could try that but there's no guarantee it will stop slipping cause once it slips the first time it more then likely will slip again. So shame on my original doc for not realizing this and fixing it.

So new doc and I have talked and I have decided I don't want to take any chances of more slippage so I have decided to have a revision to RNY. The case worker at new Doc office submitted request to insurance for approval ( my employer has exclusions built into our insurance not allowing these procedures so I thought for sure it would be denied) Called Michelle yesterday (12/10) to see if she had heard anything and when she called back I could hardly believe what she told me. She said I had been approved for the revision and as soon as she gets the formal written letter from UHC they will schedule my pre-op and then my surgery which should happen before Jan 30th. A little hesitant on what she told me I waited a little while and called UHC myself....fully expecting to be told no....surgery is not approved and that somehow what Michelle was told was a mistake but to my surprise they told me I had been approved on 11/23 for the surgery.

I can hardly believe it, it has been a long 6 months of my band being empty...eating cause im stressed, anxious, and depressed that my tool that worked so well in the beginning was no longer working and thinking I would have to come up with 20K to have the revision. I know that is great news and I sit here patiently waiting for the doc office to call and get me scheduled.....but I still have a lot of hesitation and waiting for the other shoe to drop to say....oh we are sorry there has been a mistake....your surgery is not approved and at that point I think I would rather just crawl in a hole. So Im trying to be patient but its so hard and I keep praying my revision surgery really is approved and is going to happen.

So here's to my patients holding out a little more for me and hoping the official letter comes soon. Wishing everyone continued success with their decisions and procedures!

[Mary23 17]

Hello Everyone! I was banded in 2007 and weighed 332lbs day of surgery....and the lowest I got to before having complications with my band in 2010 was 163 pounds. I loved how I felt and how I looked and how easy it was to go shopping and say....yes that size 10/12 will fit...nope I don't need to try it on. But in late 2010 I started having reflux really bad and some severe stabbing pains on my left side. Doc thought it was my gallbladder....had it out, complete unfill for this surgery and I put on a little weight. Started getting my band filled back up to where I was at before surgery and started having the reflux issues again really bad and was gaining weight quickly not loosing. Doc said oh your band has slipped and you have severe dilation and you will have to be completely unfilled to let your stomach rest and let the band to move back into place.

This has happened 3 times in the last 3 years to where now I have put back on about 100lbs and hate the way I look....hate having to go to the store and buying bigger cloths knowing I have a closet full of cloths that don't fit. In October I met with a new Doc and got his opinion and he said since my band has never been fixed....he could try that but there's no guarantee it will stop slipping cause once it slips the first time it more then likely will slip again. So shame on my original doc for not realizing this and fixing it.

So new doc and I have talked and I have decided I don't want to take any chances of more slippage so I have decided to have a revision to RNY. The case worker at new Doc office submitted request to insurance for approval ( my employer has exclusions built into our insurance not allowing these procedures so I thought for sure it would be denied) Called Michelle yesterday (12/10) to see if she had heard anything and when she called back I could hardly believe what she told me. She said I had been approved for the revision and as soon as she gets the formal written letter from UHC they will schedule my pre-op and then my surgery which should happen before Jan 30th. A little hesitant on what she told me I waited a little while and called UHC myself....fully expecting to be told no....surgery is not approved and that somehow what Michelle was told was a mistake but to my surprise they told me I had been approved on 11/23 for the surgery.

I can hardly believe it, it has been a long 6 months of my band being empty...eating cause im stressed, anxious, and depressed that my tool that worked so well in the beginning was no longer working and thinking I would have to come up with 20K to have the revision. I know that is great news and I sit here patiently waiting for the doc office to call and get me scheduled.....but I still have a lot of hesitation and waiting for the other shoe to drop to say....oh we are sorry there has been a mistake....your surgery is not approved and at that point I think I would rather just crawl in a hole. So Im trying to be patient but its so hard and I keep praying my revision surgery really is approved and is going to happen.

So here's to my patients holding out a little more for me and hoping the official letter comes soon. Wishing everyone continued success with their decisions and procedures!

I am so happy for you! I went to rny revision this year. My docs office has a Michelle too, where do you live?

[Garveydanielle 6]

Hi Mary23....Im in Ohio. My new doc is in Columbus at OSU Medical Center and the doctor who did my band originally is in Cincy. Where are you at?

[Garveydanielle 6]

well....so much for thinking I was approved even though my dr office called and I called my insurance company and was verbally told I was approved.....Doctors office just called and said I was actually denied due to exclusions from my employer. UGH....

[Mary23 17]

Hi Mary23....Im in Ohio. My new doc is in Columbus at OSU Medical Center and the doctor who did my band originally is in Cincy. Where are you at?

I live in Florida

[Mary23 17]

well....so much for thinking I was approved even though my dr office called and I called my insurance company and was verbally told I was approved.....Doctors office just called and said I was actually denied due to exclusions from my employer. UGH....

That crap is so wrong! Insurance companies are just mean. Kinda funny how I'm glad I had diabetes cuz that is what got me through my insurance and was also the reason I was having the surgery. I hope it was a mistake and all works out for you

[shellbelly 8]

How did you know your band slipped, I was banded May 2013 lost several # s till August, and stuck issues, well my eating style and old habits changed , I stopped watching calories but just now I am almost back to my original weight and I can eat like I use to and have no problems but a do have a few stuck issues and pain in my left shoulder when I have stuck issue. Can it of slipped? Or just pouch stretched out? I hate it....I am so upset and miserable

[SoccerMomma73 1,867]

How did you know your band slipped, I was banded May 2013 lost several # s till August, and stuck issues, well my eating style and old habits changed , I stopped watching calories but just now I am almost back to my original weight and I can eat like I use to and have no problems but a do have a few stuck issues and pain in my left shoulder when I have stuck issue. Can it of slipped? Or just pouch stretched out? I hate it....I am so upset and miserable

i was unable to eat and barely able to sip fluids once I had a full slip....I think I'd had a slight slip for a while though....GERD like crazy and sometimes I could eat anything and other times I'd take 1 bite and be ill.

[shellbelly 8]

I think it may have slipped, at times I can eat and then at times I take one bite and have to excuse myself from the table to go to the restroom to cough it up or wait for it to go painfully down..just don't know. Thinking of changing my doctor also, my doc said to me no need to see him if I just going to gain the weight it was my choice

[Garveydanielle 6]

I started putting weight back on and had reflux really bad. I had also noticed I would have really bad smelling burps. I was able to eat more then normal cause my pouch was dilated too. If you call your doc with symptoms like these and he doesn't want to see you right away then find a doc who will.

[suzjourney 2]

My story is very similar to yours. Banded in 2006.. Lost 90lbs.. Felt sooo awesome... Then reflux set in.. Fluid removed .. Lots of meds... Gained 45# back. Having revision .. Rny on 12/23/13!! I am so excited but reading all these posts about slow weight loss after revision is making me very nervous. I hope it is a greater tool than the band was. Anyone have great revision stories ? I wish I would have NEVER done the band.. I'm sorry no one told me no band from the beginning . Merry Christmas to all.

[SoccerMomma73 1,867]

My story is very similar to yours. Banded in 2006.. Lost 90lbs.. Felt sooo awesome... Then reflux set in.. Fluid removed .. Lots of meds... Gained 45# back. Having revision .. Rny on 12/23/13!! I am so excited but reading all these posts about slow weight loss after revision is making me very nervous. I hope it is a greater tool than the band was. Anyone have great revision stories ? I wish I would have NEVER done the band.. I'm sorry no one told me no band from the beginning . Merry Christmas to all.

slow loss is still loss...it's not a race. And though it may be slow I feel fabulous! Nothing gets stuck, there's no sliming or PBing....I feel like a normal human being, not deprived or miserable. It's absolutely fabulous!

[Birthsjourney 146]

Sounds like your on your way! Think positive .. In spite of your history! My surgeons group will only do a RNY to correct GERD! Mine was so severe the cough and acidic juices damaged my lungs! 4 weeks post and GERD gone along with all the meds for it! Good luck and let us all know.....

[suzjourney 2]

Thank you! Yes a loss is a loss and no more gerd is a huge woohoo!! Awful feeling like you may aspirate in your sleep n never wake up..

[shellbelly 8]

Suez journey how are things going with the RNY from dec 23?