One Step Closer

Well folks, the letter for revision approval has been sent off to the insurance company and I'm scheduled for an endoscopy this Friday.  My surgery coordinator says it can take as long as 2 weeks to get an answer back from them, but I've put it out there that it needs to be sooner rather than later.

I hope everyone is having a positive and blessed week so far.
 

I'm scared of revisions, but I sure in hell need one.   What are they going to do to revise you?

My lap band is being removed and I'm getting a sleeve. Im scared, but i dont want to feel the way i do anymore. I've had my band for 5 yrs now and its been an issue since the 5th month. I cant eat anything but slider foods and all of those are high calorie, high carb.

I can't see a revision either but I doubt either of us would qualify anyway.  The guideline for success is maintaining 50% or more of the excess weight lost unless there is a 'mechanical' problem. 

If you were to go for revision, what would you have done?  I've heard of band over rny which works for many but seems crazy to me.  Then of course there is revision to ds; and, lengthening the bypassed intestine of the rny.  Less invasive are stomaphy x (aka rose procedure); and one I do not know the name of that shrinks pouch capacity through injections.  Someone on BAF had the last option done but I don't remember who.  It seemed promising for her but where she landed in the end, who knows? 

Like all wls, every procedure is not for everyone.  A few folks on baf did well with the band.  I know a woman who has been loosing steady for abour five years now at about  lbs a month.  There was a lady on the CT board lost 400 lbs on her band. 

Then I know several like you where it just was not working for them.  Some had issues of slipage and erosion.  Others needed it unfilled due to problems.  Others had port problemms. 

If you don't mind my asking, did you loose any weight with your band?  Did you have any malnutrition because of the limitaions?  Did you have weight gain due to the slider foods.  If the answer is "nunya" as in "nunya bidness" (Translation: This is none of your business now go and mind your own.), I understand. 

I lost a total of 35 lbs with the band.  My issues began during my cycle because it would get incredibly tight. I had to go back to a liquids only diet during that time.  The it became more of an issue as time progressed.  After a while, we had taken all the fluid out of the band and I still had serious restriction issues.  I fell into that 5% of folks who can't tolerate the band.  I left it unfilled until I could figure out what to do about it.  At the time, I was self pay and couldn't afford revision after having just paid for the band.  Now we have a different insurance carrier and they cover WLS.  I found a local surgeon (my original surgery was done in Mexico) and began the process of requesting a revision.  Since my band has caused so many issues, insurance considers it a medical necessity and will cover the removal and revision to VSG.

I do not tell people not to get the band.  My experience was unique to me and everyone still has to do their own due dillegence and research.  I don't blame the band for my surgery failing, it simply is a matter of my body not being able to tolerate it.  My surgeon and I reviewed all options for WLS and he sent me home with a ton of information and homework to research whichever WLS I was going to choose.  That was in December and at this point, I'm just waiting for my approval letter.

To answer a few of your other questions, I had some malnutrition because I couldn't keep anything down and yes, I gained weight with the slider foods and then with no restriction at all.  Before my original surgery on 2/14/07 I weighed 267 lbs. I currently weigh 286 lbs.
 
I don't want to discourage anyone from the band, but I think these boards are here for people to ask questions and get honest answers.  This was my lapband story and I firmly believe the VSG will be the best revision choice for me.  I hope this helps!

Whenever I hear the word revision I wonder what went wrong.  We need to hear about all types of outcomes.  Thanks for sharing your story. 

Your welcome! Thanks for not being afraid to ask questions and get all up in my "bidness" LOL

Congratulations to you and your revision. Let us know how it turns out gastric sleeve is what I'm going for:)

@ Thicklin me too. I hope to be sleeved mid April/May