Very depressed,,by band has failed

& I am wanting information on the sleeve,  Can anyone explain it to me what actually happens when you go from a  band to a sleeve >

Anothr issue I have is I was a self pay with the band, this month is actually my last payment totalling $15,000 and I have NOTHING to show for it except and 80lb weight loss that I am gaining back by the minute.

I will try to re-apply with the same company that fianced me for the band & I HOPE to get approved , again.  But the economy has been very hard on us & our credit has gotten worse, though NOT to my weight loss bill...

Does anyone know approx how much it would be going from one ( removal ?) and going to the sleeve ?

I NOW have BCBS Hmo Blue Advantage...I doubt theyll cover anything

Can anyone give me any help ? 

Thanks

Hi I am new to the site I don't have any info for you sorry to here your band didn't work but this is why I'm writing you I have a consultation thursday for the lapband! should I change my mind what went wrong?

The band has the poorest stats on excessive weight loss and also a high rate of post-op complications. I would encourage you to do your research before getting a lap band. You may also want to read the lap band board around here and get a feel of the kinds of problems that are common with the band.

There is also a failed band group on OH. Check out the revision and failed WLS forums as well. The band fails a lot of people.

Best of luck,
Lindsey

Oh wow thank you I will look into that group and research a couple other surgeries as options! Thanks

 I would definitely start out by finding out whether your policy covers bariatric surgery and what conditions you have to meet to get it.  Personally, I like to read the policy myself, so maybe they could mail that to you.  More and more insurances are covering the sleeve, and I've heard of people in Illinois with Blue Cross who were covered.  Of course, depending on the policy your employer purchased - who knows - that's why you need to get and read a copy of the policy.  If you don't want to wade through the whole thing, look for "exceptions" or "exclusions".

As far as cost - it varies wildly.  There are some very reasonable prices here in the US, and certainly in Mexico.

I wish you the best.  

Hi,

  I had band to sleeve recently.  It was done in one surgery, the recovery was ok.  The first two days I was very nauseous and had severe head aches but on the third day there was a significant amount of improvement.  The reason why I needed to swithch was because my band had slipped and I could have either had it repaired or had the option for gastric bypass or the sleeve.  I chose the sleeve.  I am doing ok, I lost about fourty pounds and I am doing pretty good.  My insurance paid about fourty eight thousand dollars for this procedure so it can be pretty costly.  Why are you switching, do you have slippage?  Sometimes that could be corrected by going on a liquid fast for a few weeks. 

Good luck,

Santos

I did not have a band but I have been sleeved now for almost a year. It was truly the best decision of my life.  I was a self pay in Cancun, Mexico with Dr Sergio Verboonen. I paid $7900 for my sleeve. He does the same surgery in Tijuana for $5400. The difference is the hospital charge.  I had a wonderful experience and the hospital was great. I did at first try to finance with a company in the States but they were charging high interest rates and did not cover the full cost for the Cancun hospital. I finally just paid it out of pocket.
Hope that you find your band to sleeve experience successful. Ihave read here many people that have had to go from band to sleeve to obtain and maintain weight loss.

I'm having a band to sleeve revision on Dec. 1st.  I had the band placed 5 years ago and went from 240 pounds down to 200.  From there it was one problem after another with slipping and fills/unfills.  When I had the right restriction, things were great.   Now, 5 years later I'm at 230 pounds and still have a slipped band which has recently caused some significant issues.   My doctor really pushed me to have the RNY but I decided to go with the sleeve.   I will have the band removed and have the revision to the sleeve in 1 surgery and my surgeon said I will probably be in the hospital for 3-4 days.   Sorry-I can't help you with the cost.  I think my lapband alone ended up being about 25K but I have a max. spendout through insurance so didn't have near that cost....and my clinic is usually on the higher side of price. 
  Good luck!

Thanks for your story-
Good luck !