Hate my lapband and want RNY questions

I currently have lapband and I have horrible acid reflux, heartburn, and regurgitation. I want this band out.  I am going to be getting Kaiser ins through my job and I have decided that I will get the band out and go with the RNY.
QUestions
Has anyone had the lapband removed by Kaiser if you were a cash patient when you got it?
What docs in So Cal do you recommend that are Kaiser docs?
How long is the wait after you take the option classes for a surgery date?
Thanks
Gina

I don't have Kaiser nor have I ever had the lapband but I wanted to wish you the best of luck with everything!

I have Kaiser and before you get assigned your Primary Care Physician, make sure that he/she is "Bari Friendly".  If your doctor does not like Bariatric surgery you will never get sent to the Classes.  It took me 2 years to get my doctor to finally approve me to at least take the class and make my own decision over having the surgery.  I saw him recently and found out that he has only ever sent two of his patients to the WLS Classes.
I know that when we were in class, they had a list of Doctors which were "Bari Friendly", What area are you in?  Once the classes are done it takes about another 3/4 months to get your surgery and I had to wait six months to get into a class. 
 

Thanks. I am in Eastern Ventura County so the Woodland Hills Kaiser will be the Kaiser I go to. Do you see any that are Bari friendly there? My friend works there and her co-worker/boss had the surgery about a year ago. She also just had plastics all covered too! I am hoping since I know ALOT of peopel who work at the hospital I might be able to get things sped up a little. I just want to make sure I get a doctor that is Bari friendly like you said. I need them to do a revision and get this nasty band out sooner rather then later.
Thanks for the info!
Gina

Plastics are rarely done by insurance companies. That said, there are extreme cases that warrant it. But typically, a panni is done (lopping off excess abdominal skin--you may end up without a belly button), or sometimes breast reduction.  You may not have a choice of surgeons with Kaiser.  But, your gerd, throwing up, etc. probably warrant a revision. You'll likely have to go through a PCP within Kaiser, then get a referral to be evaluated.  I have Kaiser and went through the RNY surgery, with an outside surgical group. I was referred to Crown Surgical group of Corona, and Dr. David Suh did my LAP RNY--he's done several thousand of these surgeries in the past 10 years. He also does revisions on some patients. He did a revision on my wife from a 1980 gastric bypass that had issues.  You may get a referral to an outside surgical group too, especially if Kaiser doesn't have surgeons experienced in revisions.  That's something I'd stress--finding a surgeon that's done more than one of these revisions. Whether you have to go through the Kaiser classes or not, depends on your evaluation, how severe your current issues are, etc.  Surgical wt for standard RNY or banding depends on number of patients who are ahead of you waiting for surgery. Times will vary. DAVE

Thanks For all your info Dave. I am about 270 pounds right now. Before I had my lapband I was 294. The first year I lost 20 pounds with my band, and it was barely 20 at that. Then next year I lost about 50. I then got pregnant last year and gained the 50 back and can't get it off. When I got pregnant is when I started getting the problems and they have not stopped just getting worse. I definately am going ot need a doc who is experienced in revisions.  I am going so see if I can find any that are closer to the LA area because Cornona is a long trek for me.
Thanks again.
Gina

Hay Gina
you can check in with the health educations department at the area kaiser you would be in and talk with the person there that over see that program and see what they say. things have change since i started the class at kaiser but from what i was told there are 3 area places they do the surgery West LA, Harbor City  and San Diego  and was told that the wait time is like 6+ mouths at the LA area ones and San Diego has like 3 mouths wait time after you finish the classes. The one in San Diego is not a Kaiser but is covered by Kaiser as of now this is where I'm getting mine done.  Remember thing are changing at Kaiser and you may not be able to pick the place to have it done at.  Do you any other heath problems other the being over weight ? the more problems you have the better it is in getting the surgery.  the surgery center in San Diego web site is www.PBSMG.com and you can talk with them too

I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, acid reflux, heartburn, and regirgitation, the last three from my lapband. Thanks I am going to give them a call!
Gina
I love this board

OK Gina

with me i have diabetes, HBP, sleep apena and a bmi of 64 made it a good idea that made my doctors refer me to the program.  so I hope you can get it keep the faith

Gina, with the complications you are having from the band, you really should be fast-tracked - but that probably won't happen unless you advocate for yourself. This may involve filing grievances; don't be afraid to do this. If your pcp refuses to refer you to the bariatrics program - file a grievance. Even without your complications, you qualify based on the NIH criteria for wls. There is no excuse for a pcp not to refer you, but some won't, and a lot of people just don't know that they don't have to accept that, they can challenge that denial and get into the program.
      Once you are in the program, don't wait around for months to get into the Options classes, and then spend months taking them. You are suffering NOW. That band is adversely affecting your health. Again, you can file a grievance and get out of taking those classes (and the wait just to start them). Others have done this and succeeded.
      While you're at it, take a look at ALL the different surgical options before having your revision, not just the ones Kaiser offers. Take a look at the DS (duodenal switch) also. It's an excellent surgical option, and there are lots of people on the DS forum here on OH who have gone from the band to the DS with great success, and who are much, much happier than they ever were with the band. There is now a surgeon in So Cal Kaiser doing the DS, but Kaiser won't tell you about this - you have to speak up and ask for the DS. But if you do, you can get it.
     You've already had one wls that, for whatever reason, didn't work out for you. I'm not criticizing, just saying that before the next operation, do lots of research and make sure you choose the wls that is the best choice for you.

Larra