Recent Posts

Kathy S.
on 9/30/15 12:53 pm - InTheBurbs, XX
RNY on 08/29/04 with
Topic: Coming Soon: New profiles & member tools! Plus a GIVEAWAY!

Coming Soon: New profiles & member tools! Plus a GIVEAWAY!

 

Our developers have been working to bring you a brand new member profile that includes updated tools to more easily share your stories, photos, goals and more. You can now customize your new home on ObesityHelp with one of our pre-made themes or get creative and build a custom design that expresses your own personality. "Read More" including video.

We are scheduled to launch the updates on Thursday, October 1 at 9PM PST and site will be down for roughly 3 hours.

 

HW:330 - GW:150 - MW:118-125

RW:190 - CW:130

ahowar
on 9/29/15 1:38 pm
Topic: RE: 6 years with Lap Band and having problems.

Well my surgery to remove the band is tomorrow, thank you for the input, I'm a little nervous about tomorrow 

ladygodiva1228
on 9/29/15 6:01 am - Putnam, CT
Revision on 02/04/15
Topic: RE: Need help getting my mom's surgery approved though insurance

Unfortunately many insurance companies are doing away with covering the lap band due to the high rate of complications and revisions.  Now don't get me wrong there are some very successful bandsters, but most folks including myself are revising to another form of WLS due to the complications.

I would strongly urge you to have your mom look into the WLS that are out there. 

Best of luck.  

Dr. Sanchez Lapband 9/12/2003
hw305/revision w280/cw197/gw150

Revision from Lap Band to Bypass on 2/4/2015 by Dr. Pohl

    

Neesie57
on 9/28/15 10:48 pm
VSG on 08/04/15
Topic: RE: Need help getting my mom's surgery approved though insurance

Please do some research on lap band versus other weight loss surgeries.  It has more complications than other WLS surgeries with a high rate of failure.  My doctor says the only time he does lap band surgeries is to take them out. 

Look into vertical sleeve gastrectomy, gastric bypass and duodenal switch, and compare the success stories.

Good luck!

5' 5" tall. VSG on August 4, 2015/ Starting weight 239.9/ Surgery weight 210.9/ Current weight 137.4/ Goal weight 140/ No longer overweight, now a NORMAL weight. Now that I'm at goal, it's time to move on to maintenance!!!!!!!!

 

 

 

Nic M
on 9/28/15 8:01 pm
Topic: RE: WLS tips for those that are still researching.

There's really a lot of information in this thread, so I'm bumping it. 

 

 Avoid kemmerling, Green Bay, WI

 

jaymad1987
on 9/28/15 3:47 pm
Topic: Need help getting my mom's surgery approved though insurance

I got my mom insurance through Obama care with blue cross blue shield of Texas it's a blue advantage silver hmo plan. But she couldnt get approved for the lap band surgery from true results through her insurance. But true results wouldn't point us in the direction of an insurance provider that could or would cover the surgery. And we are willing to change insurance providers in order to find one that would cover all or some of the surgery. Any help or experience dealing with insurance companies and lap band surgeries in Texas would be greatly appreciated. 

Dejah H.
on 9/28/15 10:24 am - Central, TX
Topic: RE: 6 years with Lap Band and having problems.

I would love to see the documentation from lap-band/allergen that states it should be removed after 10 years. I have never seen any documentation to that affect.

Can you post a link to that "manufacturer documentation"?

289 / 273 / 163.4 / 164   10cc AP Standard  my band! 

    

Hislady
on 9/27/15 6:16 pm - Vancouver, WA
Topic: RE: 6 years with Lap Band and having problems.

I always advise removal of the band simply because it is a poor product and has cause thousands of people to have permanent damage of their esophagus and stomach function. You are right about the stage where problems begin and everything tends to start going downhill. The band causes scar tissue to build up between the band and the stomach where it can't be seen and that causes it to act as if it is too tight. You can get an unfill but eventually it builds up again and starts causing problems even when empty. Your surgeon is very wise to suggest removal however I don't agree with just leaving you with no tool as most people regain without a revision to something else. Even the manufacturer changed the length of use from life time to 10 yrs so you would need to have it out soon anyway.

I would suggest you start researching the other 3 main surgeries the VSG vertical sleeve gastrectomy, the RNY gastric bypass and the DS duodenal switch. See which one would fit your lifestyle and eating style. I know of a few people who have managed to maintain their weight loss without revision such as myself but I have other health issues that caused my weight loss. In fact the band caused so much damage to my stomach and intestines that is what caused a great deal of my weight loss. I am still in pain from what the band did to me even tho it has been out for almost 2 yrs. So please don't try to keep it especially if it is causing esophageal issues for you already. When you start losing your ability to swallow that is permanent and you don't want to live that way, it is not fun. If your surgeon doesn't do revisions look around in nearby cities I'm sure you will be able to find one close by. 

As to whether your insurance will cover removal you will need to contact them and find that out and then they can tell you what if any requirements there are for removal. Best of luck to you!

ahowar
on 9/26/15 1:40 pm
Topic: 6 years with Lap Band and having problems.

Hi I've been banded from 2009 and things were going good I lost approx. 90 pounds and started to have some problems a few months ago with sternum pain and vomiting after I eat almost every time I eat. I also have had moderate pain from the port area. I recently went to the Doctor and he found that I have dilation to the esophagus, and that my port has ripped away from the muscle wall of the stomach. well he recommended the band to be removed, that it was time since I changed my eating habits for the better. What do you guys think? do you think the insurance company will cover it? tks allen

Nic M
on 9/26/15 9:34 am
Topic: RE: Back pain when eating after fill? Too tight ?

It could be caused by the pressure your esophagus is experiencing while trying to push the food/ liquids down into the stomach. The nerves get pretty jumpy when that happens. I'd consider loosening up the band a bit so you don't damage those nerves or your esophagus. The band should never be so tight that it prevents normal swallowing function. 

Good luck. 

 

 Avoid kemmerling, Green Bay, WI

 

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