erosion- bye bye band

About 6 weeks ago I started having cramping pains beneath my sternum. Went to see my surgeon and had an unfill, barium swallow, blah blah blah.... Finally this week I had endoscopy and it turns out my band has eroded.
I am so disappointed and scared. I loved my band and did very well with it. I have had it for just over two years. And I babied it- kept it loose, no getting stuck, no pb or vomiting.
I asked my doctor about revision- he said my stomach had to heal first, and then I won't qualify for wls with insurance because my BMI is only 26. So, I would have to get fat again first. This country has the stupidest health system ever.
My doctor also said that he doesn't like to do the VSG (that would be my choice) after the lapband because there is an increased risk of a leak due to the scarring.
Needless to say, I am scared ****less.  I keep thinking of how much I've changed my eating and my exercise habits, but the odds of keeping this weight off are about 1 in 100.
If I get fat again, I'll definitely get another surgery. It really is the only long term cure for obesity.
Good luck to all of you *****main bandsters! I hope everything goes well for you.

First...I'm sorry about your band

I don't know where your doctor gets his information from, but many of us have successfully revised to a sleeve after an erosion. True you may need time to heal between surgeries, but I myself didn't. There is a risk of leak, but I believe it is in the immediate post op phase ( just like with any surgery ) there are always risks.

My BMI didn't qualify for a revision surgery either, but I was revised anyways. Consult a different surgeon and see what other options are available to you. You will probably need to fight and appeal your ins for the revision, but it is doable.

I absolutely agree with Pumpkin on this. Consult a different surgeon...one you've researched that does the VS.   There's no reason you can't win an appeal if you're prepared to be patient for the time it might  take.  You will have plenty of assistance for the asking here.  

I like my band...love? meh.  I love the results the band has helped me achieve but if my band failed, I would revise to the sleeve because the statistics are worse for getting a band after a failed one.   I am grateful I have had no problems but I would be afraid to get a 2ND band if this one should ever fail on me.

I don't think I can wait and fight with insurance before I get the band removed-erosion is a fairly urgent situation. Whatever I do will have to be after it's removed, which makes it harder.

 You would have to wait for the revision anyway while you heal, so might as well fight it now. Since my band was a mechanical failure my insurance didn't give me ANY issues with covering a revision even though my BMI didn't qualify. Call them and see, can't hurt to ask AND call another surgeon, one who will help you though the process instead of giving you bad information (I am a band to sleeve revision, there is a slightly higher risk of a leak with the revision, but it goes from like .5% to 1%, not really that big a deal.) 

Karen, I am so sorry to hear you are losing your band. I can just imagine the fear of gaining your weight all back. You have done so well! I think you should seek a second opinion. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Let us know how you progress.
Good Luck!

Karen,

So sorry to hear about the erosion. It can be hard to lose your band. Best of luck with your removal and should you be able to get a revision, I would just echo what others have said and encourage you to get a second opinion regarding the sleeve.

Keep us updated!
Lindsey

I am sorry you are going through this. I pray that the removal and recover go smoothly.

Sorry this is happening. My best wishes.

Kate

Hugs! It sucks to do everything right and be losing the band. So many ppl on this forum want to blame the bandster when there are complications, but it is usually NOT their fault! It's terrible your band didn't last but 2 years. I am almost 2 years out so that is kind of scary to me to think of having to pay for removal at this point. Especially when my band never worked! :-(

As pumpkin said, appeal if you have to. Also keep in mind that many insurance companies have started a "one WLS per lifetime" stipulation. A lot of bandsters are losing out on getting an effective WLS b/c of that. Good luck!!!