Anyone gone from Lap-Band to RNY???

Hi! I'm looking to hear from people who have removed their lap-band and had RNY. I'm 4 years out from Lap-Band and am 4 pounds heavier than when I got the band. Yes, a lot of my failure had to do with my choices. The lap-band was too easy to cheat and I never felt restriction. I likely didn't go in for enough fills (mainly b/c my doctor was inconvenient to get to). Because of lack of success, throwing up when on occasion, and never being successful with weight loss I want to have RNY. My hopes are that the RNY will allow me to feel full and also allow me to be successful losing weight (whereas I never have been). I'm hoping that when I do actually loose some weight, I will finally be motivated to loose weight (right now the cost/ payoff ratio is just too off balance)! Any thoughts / suggestions are welcomed. Thanks guys!! ~M~ 

I am five years out of banding and in the beginning it worked well but now I am told that it has failed that fills will not help. I have put almost all my weight back on.  I asked about having the band removed and switch to RNY.  I have been told that they can do that but I would have to have two surguries.  remove band and then 6 to 8 weeks later do the RNY.  I would like to have it done all at one time.  Insurance doesn't want to pay  and It means alot of time off from work/  I see the dr again on September 9th.  I feel like i'm between a rock and a hard place.

Hi there,  I have had the Realize band since Feb. 08.  I have gained all of my weight back, and have went through the terrible choking at night, PBing, only able to eat slider foods, etc.  I am currently trying to be revised to RNY.  I have BCBS of MI and hope that they will pay!  I have already talked with the surgeon and I am going for a psych consult Tues.  We will then submit to my insurance.

I have BCBS NJ.  Hope they will cover also.  My doctor say it will have to by two operations removal and 6 weeks later RNY.  A friend had her band break and they would not pay to have it replaced because she had lost weight.  If she puts the weight back on they will consider the surgery

Hi there!  I had a band (06/08) and had it out too (03/09); then revised to RNY in 04/09.  BCBS NJ *did* cover my removal and revision, but only because the band was considered a *mechanical failure* because of the reflux, pain and vomiting it was causing me. 

Dr. Bertha did my revision and I am glad that it happened in two parts, it gave my stomach the much needed time to heal from the band damage.

Oh wow, that's horrible! Was there ever a time you weren't uncomfortable w/ the band??? Was the removal of the band painful? ~M~

It started in October 08, when I got my first adjustment.  My reflux was progressively getting worse.  I got another tiny fill in January, and had to get it unfilled shortly thereafter.  We gave my stomach a chance to recover with an empty band for a couple of weeks, then I got a fill.

I knew before I left the hospital where I had the fill that it wasn't going to work.  I went for an emergency unfill the next day, and Dr. Bertha and I decided that the band wasn't going to work for me due to the reflux I had, and the best thing would be to revise to the RNY.

The removal was nothing, and I felt instant relief.  I was fine in a day or two.  The RNY, however, hit me like a ton of bricks!  I was on my ass for about a good week!

How long where you out of work for the removal?

I was unemployed at the time, but I would say that if I was working, maybe a couple of days?  Just because anesthesia completely ruins me!

I sure hope they cover it! I hope the psych consult goes well and you get a speedy approval. Keep us posted!!!