MS C, Dr. Anthone doesn't do revisions from RNY to DS anymore. It's a shame, because he is truly a gifted surgeon but he's just not doing them.

Starting at the end, life with the band is different for everyone. For ME, it was a diet. Living on 1000-1200 calories per day and not being able to eat whatever I want, to me, is a diet. As far as the BMI is concerned. My insurance, Blue Cross CA no longer covers the band for BMI of 50 +. (They are collectively insane, of course, and have--since paying for my DS surgery AND since Medicare has begun allowing the DS--declared the DS to be experimental...yeah, right.) But, about the band, their logic is that even though significant weight can be lost, on AVERAGE (and that's the operative word, because some will do better and some will do worse), the weight lost will not be enough to get the AVERAGE patient out of a state of morbid obesity. So, with a BMI of 52, I would weigh 315...and if we assume an ideal weight of 150 and that I could lose the AVERAGE of 60% of my excess weight, I'd end up weighing about 215 or so and--if I had comorbidities--I'd STILL qualify for wls. Now, this logic is rather flawed in that, a few years out, the band and the RnY people are at the same place. HOWEVER, they get to that same place different ways. Let's see if I can say this in a way that doen't start a flame war...the RnY people who end up a few years out with a post-op weight that qualifies them for wls often get there by losing and then regaining...so--say the insurance companies--the surgery did fine, the patient just screwed it up AFTER a successful surgery. But the banded people who end up still eligible for wls get there by never losing enough to get out of the BMI of 40 or bmi of 35 with comorbidities categories, so--say the insurance companies--the surgery was not a success. There are people who lose the weight and have no problems...and then there are people like me who lose weight and develop problems and then move on to another surgery. There are no guarantees about who will do well and who will not. BUT...if you think this guy is basically a band doctor, go to one who is an RnY doctor and to one who specializes in DS. (There aren't many of those.) Know your options and what chances you can live with and what restrictions you can deal with. You just can't do any more than that. good luck... Sue

Does anyone out there think about food even though u r not hungery? I seem to always think about what I wont to eat all the time this is my 11th day out of surgery . I think I am in for some truble because I can keep down every I have yet to burf, help me out if u can.

Nadeen, you already have an angel and you didn't even know it. someone contacted me and told me of your plight. Please don't give up hope. I, too, have had a RNY which failed after 2 years. You can read my profile to see why I choose a revision to a DS from RNY, even though I had to travel to SF for it and had a couple of well known wl surgeons much, much closer to me try to convince me to fix what I already had, I DID not want another surgery that could fail mechanically. I was 259 when I went in for my revision and in 3 months I have lost 56 lbs. I'm sorry you haven't been getting the social or medical support you desperately need. I hope those days are going to be over for you, because there are very good revision surgeons that can and will help you. My first suggestion would be to research which surgery you think you want to be revised to. Don't think that you have to stay a RNY'r, since they're notorious for failing after a few years. After that, then find a great surgeon (not just a good one, because revision surgery is much more complex and more issues for complications) than any other surgery. Which is why I choose Dr. Husted. He is extremely experieneced with revision surgery and is the best of the best. He's with Dr. Rabkins now at www.paclap.com. The Rabkin brothers are two more of the top guns in the WLS world. Dr. J. Rabkins does liver transplants as well as wls. Anyhow, now you know you're not alone in this journey and PM me anytime or send me an email. I'm in the middle of packing our house to move to TX, but I take breaks often and come into my computer room, so it won't be long before I answer you. Remember, have hope and come over and check out the DS board. http://obesityhelp.com/forums/ds/a,messageboard/board_id,5357/

if anyone can help please let me know , is there any drs in missouri taking medicaid for lapband or gastric bypass ?