It doesn't matter what type of surgery you have the RNY board does a daily menu type thing and it can be really helpful to everyone. I know lately IF or intermittent fasting has been working for a lot of folks. Both my husband (non-WLS) and myself have been doing it and it has helped to lose some regain during the pandemic.

Take a look at Dr. Sten Ekberg on youtube. He talks about fasting and all sorts of stuff. I know you can do this.

I would suggest checking out and participating on the Menu thread on the RNY forum (just because that one is the most active). That way you can see what other folks are eating daily. Also check out eggface Shelly had WLS years ago and posts some of the best meals for folks that have had WLS.

I am a band to bypass revision. My insurance was Cigna and though they gave me a hard time about it at first, they ended up approving the revision. I had reflux so bad even with a completely empty band I was popping tums like they were candy. Since the revision no more reflux.

Good Luck

Unfortunately 15k to 20k is around the norm for placement or removal of the band. It is half the price in Mexico.

Do you have insurance now?

As a former lap bander I would say run not walk away from it. There are so many long term issues that have come up over the years that many surgeons no longer place the band.

For me due to the damage the band did I could not have the sleeve, so I revised to the bypass which was the best decision ever. I kind of wish I had done that first instead of the band.

I think the sleeve is a good virgin surgery to have, but know that some folks have had to revise from the sleeve to the bypass due to GERD/heartburn/reflux.

There appears to be two doctors in Federal Way, WA, but understand no all doctors will do fills on folks that had their surgery in another country.

Good luck to you as many doctors in the US no longer perform the lap band due to long term complications and that means they also no longer perform fills.

Here are the two doctors.

Dr. Myur Srikanth

4509 9th Ave
South #103
Federal Way, WA 98003

Dr. Ki Oh

200 S 333rd
St #150
Federal Way, WA 98003

The answer would be no. Unless there is a mechanical failure of the current band insurances will not pay for a new model.

I want to be honest with you. One of the long term complications of the band is esophagus issues. I myself started having issues at around 10 years out. I ended up revising to the bypass.

Please be very careful and aware of issues once you get a fill again. Barrett's esophagus is very serious and leads to throat cancer.

From a previous post she has never had a fill and won her band with no follow-up. 

Please don't take this the wrong way, but after having the lap band in for 12 years and never having seen a doctor regarding it you may not be able to even have fills done.  There are many long term complications that have come up for many people who had the lap band myself included.

Did you not have any form of insurance for the last 12 years?  I had my band done in 2003 in Mexico, but had no problems finding a follow up doctor here in the states that would do fills and my insurance covered them.  I had to revise to the bypass due to extreme reflux/heartburn and when my surgeon went in to remove the band it was inflamed and incased in scar tissue.

You need to find out if the band was placed correctly before you go for any fills.  Who is going to be doing the fills?  I ask because many surgeons will not perform the lap band and have stopped doing fills. 

If you have insurance now it might be a good idea to speak with a surgeon about a revision to the VSG, RNY, or DS.  You will have much better success in my opinion with them than the band. 

Unfortunately this forum isn't very active as many folks have had their bands removed and revised to another WLS.  There are a few that still have the band, but they don't post much. 

Many doctors and insurances are no longer covering or performing band surgeries due to the long term complications that have arouse from the band.  Please make sure if you get any stuck feelings, reflux, or left shoulder pain you go see your surgeon.  After having my band for 13 years I had it removed and revised to the bypass.  I no longer have reflux, but I still get left shoulder pain due to damage done from the band. 

Best of luck to you.

The band has slow weight loss and high long term complication rates.  It is not until you start getting fills that the weight loss picks up a little, but not like 20 or 30lbs in a month.  Most of the  people who lose a lot in the first month either have a large amount of weight to lose, have had the sleeve, bypass, or DS.

I'm surprised surgeons are still placing the band. 

Your doctor is an ass and yes you were bullied.  I would find a new bariatric surgeon, get that band out, and revise to the RNY.   Shame on your doctor for saying the lap band would be your best option.  It was the worst option for you. 

I'm over a year out from lap band to bypass and feel great still have about 40 more lbs to go, but I'm under 200, with almost 100lbs lost (12 more lbs to go for that goal).

Not to many people have good luck with the lap band most have it out and have a revision and some can only have it out due to damage done by it.

The band is the only WLS I would NOT recommend anyone getting. 

I had the band for 11 years and even though the first several years were good I ended up with complications severe reflux, port pain, food getting stuck and the kicker was that I had NO fill.  My band was completely emptied and I still had 24/7 heartburn/reflux to the point of me eating tums like candy. 

For three years I suffered with my throat burning everyday and not being able to eat a piece of chicken without it coming up.  Heck I couldn't even eat a soft scrambled egg without it coming back up.  That sucked big time.

I had a revision in February of this year to the bypass and I am so happy I did.  Since the band came out I have not had one ounce of heartburn/reflux, no pain where the port was and have lost more weight with the bypass than I did with the band. 

The band is not easy to work with like others will make it out to be.  If you never get that sweet spot for fills then you going back and forth to the surgeon for fills and unfills.  Then you will get depressed for not losing enough weight.  Anyone who has a good amount of weight to lose should never even consider the band.  

Oh and you said you weren't ready for a non-reversible option, well the damage that the band can and has done to people make it where some can never get a revision down the road.   There are some on here that that has happened to.

Honestly you should have stuck with having the sleeve or look into the bypass or DS. 

Not to scare you, but you need to get to a bariatric surgeon NOW or the ER. Do not wait. It sounds to me like it could be a few different things to much saline in the band, you may have developed scar tissue around the band, your band could have slipped or your band could have eroded into your stomach.

With the pain happening recently I personally would rule out to much saline unless you had a fill in the last few months.

Please get help ASAP as I have seen bad things happen when people wait to get their bands checked or removed.