Insurance company says they have sent a letter to Fort Worth Lap-Band telling them that the surgery is medically necessary. 

I expect to hear from the doctors office soon. 

Hello All!  I'm semi-new to OH! I had an account years ago and never created a new one until today.  I have a quick question I'm hoping someone will be able to assist me with.  In February 2004, I had the VBG w/ Sleeve (mesh band) placed around sleeve, procedure. I lost a total of 140lbs with 311  being my heaviest and currently @ 170 - 174 average.  I'm interesting into looking at having the band removed, but not sure where to start or if it's even possible because I know that scar tissue forms around the mesh.  I thought I;d start here with OH before I make an attempt to contact the good folks of ALAGSA.  Anyone have any input?  I want to clear up some things.  I had an awesome surgeon! Dr. Elariny did a wonderful job and pretty much predicted my outcome.  I'm grateful for him. Also three of my friends followed my lead and had the same procedure! I haven't had major complications, just some burping, especially after I eat!,  some reflux/ throwing up, which I tend to take responsibility for that!  I'm 30 and truly feel that I'm ready to rid myself of this bad!  Any suggestions/comment are greatly appreciated!

We're happy to share the latest update to our exciting feature, myJourney.  You can find out all the new (and fun!) changes we've made on our OH Blog. 

Thanks!
Member Services Support Team

 I had surgery with Dr. Cottam in SLC March 10, 2012. He did Imbrication of the fundus of my stomach and repositioned my LAP band and repaired a hiatal hernia. I had my band done at OCC with Dr. Ortiz and Dr. Martinez in September 2007. I lost 70 pounds the first year and was doing perfectly. One year flouro check up everything looked perfect. The second year I maintained the lost weight and was feeling great. Didn't have flouro check. The third year I gained about 5 pounds and started having some trouble with referred pain to my left shoulder especially after eating larger portions of food. I rarely felt stuck and never threw up. I returned to OCC for an annual fluro check up in Oct-Nov. 2010 and learned that the pouch had dilated. Dr So at OCC then emptied the solution and instructed me to leave it empty for about a month. I did so, stayed on a soft diet for several weeks. And had the solution reinserted by Dr. Cottam under fluoro in Jan. 2011. But for the following year, I was unable to maintain "the zone", because if I felt restriction enough to get "full" on less than a cup of food- I would always have the referred pain. If I left the fluid out of the band I would not, of course, have any restriction of food volume. But would off and on feel pain to my shoulder. Eventually, I just left the band empty and tried to "diet" again to control my weight. I regained 30 of the 70 pounds I lost. But worst of all I was not feeling comfortable. I had this sensation of "a pill sitting in my throat" and pain in my shoulder nearly every time I ate.--I was not in touch with OCC, though I am sure they would have been happy to do whatever I needed. I simply didn't want to travel that far. So Dr. Cottam was willing to check out the situation: he had a strong suspicion I had a hiatal hernia. Recovery from this is definitly more uncomfortable than the original band sugery. I am grateful for Dr. Cottam and his skills and faith that I will be able to control my weight again.