LapBand Failure/Wanting MGB & Looking for surgeon who accepts Illinois Medicaid.. ugh!

July 2005 I got the LapBand, I started at 221lbs, with several comorbities, today after the up and down weight loss/gain, food stuck in my esophagus, the wonderful world of sliming & feeling like I am starving all the time I am looking to put an end to this mess. I need a surgeon will to take Illinois medicaid to help get my body straightened out. I guess I should ask anyone first if they have ever had a second surgery because the first one failed and had Medicaid as their insurance??? WIll they cover this a second time? I am noticing more and more problems health wise and want to get control over this asap.. Any info would be greatly appreciated!! Michele

hi i am on medicaid i dont know if they will do a second surgery but it sounds like we have alot in common i have had my lapbband since 9-4-03 ive had my ups and downs with the lap band and got food stuck in my essofagus along with having my port flip had to have surgery in the drs officed at the time i had a good job and lost it when my mom was dying so when the port flipped i didnt even have medicaid the dr did everythign under local anestesia in his office surgery room had lots of fills and had to have fluid removed from being too full. My point is after all ive been through i still prefer this to being as heavy as i was i wonder if the dr told you everything you need to know to make things work maybe i can help. They told me dont eat bread products they stay in your lapband for hours afterwords and you dont get the nutrition you need. Second take tiny bites chewing at least thirty times before swallowing this could be why your food is getting stuck. I used to do the same thing. Make sure you dont drink anything a half hour before you eat until an hour after but then you need to drink lots of water and skim milk. Eat lots of protein at least 50 grahms a day lots of meat and fish beans milk products stay away from sugars and fats. I hope this helps you i lost 76 pounds at first then put on 40 but have lost 25 lately since ive gopne back to following the rules. I hope you can get things straightened out i know how you feel i started out at 250 .thanks for listening Cindy Shepherd

I am 100% with you on this one. There is NO happy medium with my band, either I am too loose, or too tight- to the point I can't even swallow my own saliva! I've also gained back half of what I've lost. Not fun! Amanda

Well first off i hate to see that you guys havent had much luck with the band. Me personally ive had the band since Sept. 2005 and ive lost around 82 pounds so far. The most i have gained is 5 pounds. What does your surgeon say about this? Its possible the band could be eroded or has it slipped? Have you done barium swallows to see whats going on? My latest and only problem with the band is that i was beating it. I was over eating and not following the rules. Bad enough that i stretched my pouch out so now he has takin saline out to let my stomach rest and put it back to its right size. The band can fail if you dont work at it. Its not a magic tool thats just going to make you drop weight like that. This is still something im trying to make my mind understand. I hope you dont take anything that ive said the wrong way i just hate for people to give up unless there is nothing else that can possibly work.