Lap Band to Sleeve revision journey (ongoing)!

[breprih 96]

Hello Everyone,

In 2009 I underwent Lap Band surgery with a starting weight of 252lbs. I slowly lost over the course of 3 years weighing in at 149lbs (103lbs lost). I literally had never felt so good in my entire life! Around this time I started noticing that some things felt “off” with my band. However, my focus was then on my struggle with infertility so the band was put on the back burner. Fast forward 4 years later and 2 rounds of IVF I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy!

Now that my son is a year old I’ve been focusing on my health a bit more. During my struggle with infertility I gained around 50lbs back and am pretty upset about it! I actually just got a letter from my hospital about revision from the band to the sleeve. The letter stated that greater than 50% of their lap band patients were having complications and undergoing revision surgery.

My consultation is this Friday 9/15/17! I’ll be back to update you on how it goes!

Edited September 12, 2017 by breprih

[breprih 96]

2008 - before Lap Band surgery. 252lbs

[breprih 96]

2012 - pretty darn close to goal at 150lbs

[breprih 96]

2017 - around 200lbs give or take 5lbs

[breprih 96]

So I had my consult yesterday! I know most of the nurse practitioners in the office so it was really nice seeing them and catching up as it's been a few years since I've been there for my band. I weighed in at 202lbs (I wore the heaviest clothes I own) and that only puts my BMI at 33.66 so right now the concern is that I don't weigh enough. They are confident that insurance will pay to have the lap-band removed but not confident that they'll pay for sleeve revision. So.......when I see the surgeon on 10/3 I somehow need to be 11lbs heavier. I'm going to have to figure that one out. If my BMI is 35 I need a comorbitity. The only one I used to have is sleep apnea. When I went through all these pre-op things with the band I had a sleep study and found out I had it. So, I'm going to be having an at home sleep study and hopefully I still have it. That feels so weird to hope I have it. Insurance is so twisted.

Anyway so next Friday 9/22 I have to go for a barium swallow and lab work. Then, on 10/3 I'm going to meet with the surgeon. I'm waiting for the sleep lab to call me but I am hoping I can get the sleep study done before I meet with the surgeon. If all goes well and the surgeon thinks I could be a candidate for sleeve I'll have to have an upper endoscopy too to check for erosion and scar tissue. It's possible that I may only be a candidate for bypass due to erosion so we will see. That isn't really what I want but I'll cross that bridge if I come to it.

There will be other with nurse practitioners and nutritionist if all goes well but for right now I need to have the barium swallow and meet with the surgeon and go from there! Oh, and I also had them remove some Fluid from my band and my heartburn has subsided. Hallelujah!

[breprih 96]

My insurance gave me this website. From what I can tell if you look at page 4 coverage sounds pretty optimistic!

https://cignaforhcp.cigna.com/public/content/pdf/coveragePolicies/medical/mm_0051_coveragepositioncriteria_bariatric_surgery.pdf

[breprih 96]

Wow. Since removing .6cc from my band last week to help my reflux I can eat almost ANYTHING.

It did get rid of my reflux but I want to be losing right now, not gaining. Hopefully a few pounds will help me out when it comes to my BMI and approval.

[ert08 18]

I have a band. I got it around the same time as you. I have around the same weights as well I was 207 at weigh in with a BMI of 34.5. I was told most likely I'll get my surgery. I was also told for me the sleeve which I wanted might not be a good choice, he recommends bypass because of the amount of damage the band does and how he couldn't make the sleeve small enough.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G928A using BariatricPal mobile app

[breprih 96]

Well that .6cc removal of my band really gave me the ability to take in so much more. I'm up to 204. Oh well at least it'll make it that much easier to hit the 35 BMI. I called the hospital today regarding the at home sleep study and they said they are just waiting for approval from insurance and then they will scheduled. It feels so wrong that I'm like praying I still have sleep apnea.

[breprih 96]

19 hours ago, ert08 said:

I have a band. I got it around the same time as you. I have around the same weights as well I was 207 at weigh in with a BMI of 34.5. I was told most likely I'll get my surgery. I was also told for me the sleeve which I wanted might not be a good choice, he recommends bypass because of the amount of damage the band does and how he couldn't make the sleeve small enough.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G928A using BariatricPal mobile app

Do you have a co morbidity? I had sleep apnea when I went through all of this for the lap band so I'm hoping I still have it so I can get approved.

[ert08 18]

I just have high cholesterol, that I know of. I'm just starting to go through other testing. My program does medical weight loss prior to sugery as well. I was told he would argue my case but like everything its not 100%.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G928A using BariatricPal mobile app

[Road2health 28]

I'm on the same journey. I had my lapband 14 years ago and 4 children from then on. I maintained weight at 125 for over a decade. But scar tissue and acid reflux problems caused me to get my band emptied in June and I have gained 33 lbs since June:(

I had my endoscopy last Monday and I'm getting revision to sleeve on October 3. The rapid weight gain has been really hard and made me very depressed honestly. Keep us posted on your journey ❤️

[breprih 96]

Hi all,

I was supposed to have my Upper GI this past Friday the 15th but I had to cancel. My son has been sick (now my husband and I are as well) and he was up the ENTIRE night. Ugh. I literally didn't sleep at all. So, I'm going to call Monday and reschedule.

Good news is I found the pictures from the surgeon who removed my fallopian tube back in 2015. She was the Dr. who took a look at the band while removing the fallopian tube and said that she didn't think it looked right. I'm going to bring the pics to the surgeon on 10/3. I'll try and post them below momentarily.

Edited September 23, 2017 by breprih

[resitton 50]

I know this sounds crazy but when I had my band put in in 2008~ I wore ankle weights under my jeans to push me the 5 pounds to where I didn't need a co-morbidity to qualify...

[breprih 96]

On 9/26/2017 at 6:15 AM, resitton said:

I know this sounds crazy but when I had my band put in in 2008~ I wore ankle weights under my jeans to push me the 5 pounds to where I didn't need a co-morbidity to qualify...

Not crazy at all! I've actually had others suggest this to me!