3 months post-op

It had been a little while since my last post. So to update anyone that may be paying attention, here goes..
I have lost about 35 pounds, and feel great. I'm working out using the RIP60 training system, which really works great. Food is always an adventure.

Looking forward to my next follow up with my doctor, which will be in July.

2 Weeks Post Op

Today marks two weeks post op. I'm feeling much better and ready to go back to work tomorrow. I can't believe how good I feel, especially after ready so many stories from people that had such a hard time post op.

My biggest concerns are that I'm having a hard time remembering to have some nutrition. The surgery pretty much removed all of my appetitie. I force myself to have a protein shake, or something else, just to keep my blood sugar stable.

No worries, since overall I feel great. My follow up appointment on Friday went well. Happy days.

Tired

Today I took my oldest son to a doctors appointment. I thought it would be good for me to get that done since I was feeling pretty good. I had a list of plans for the day, but the trip to the doctor, pharmacy and one other quick stop really had me worn out. I was out of the house for 2 1/2 hours and I was really drained.
So I cancel everything else, and decided to wait till another day to get those other things done.

2 Days Post-Op

On Monday April 7, 2014 my wife drove me to the hospital for my revision surgery. The surgery was scheduled for 10AM. While in surgery my doctor removed my lap band, and performed the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. 
The portion of my stomach that was removed was the 2nd largest that my doctor had ever removed. It was almost the size of a 2 liter pop bottle. 
The morning after the surgery, I was taken down to the radiology department for a swallow test/leak check.
I'm still sore in the upper abdominal region.
I was fortunate to be allowed to come home the next day (April 8th). So I spent last night at home.
I'm moving around pretty well. Drinking my fluids. Not hungry at all.
Thank you Dr. Taddeucci for your excellent work.

Making progress.

In preparation for my Lap Band revision to Vertical Sleeve, we are making progress. Since I received the phone call on March 21st from the surgeons office, I have had my pre-op physical and the consultation with my surgeon.

As a reminder, this surgery is necessary because of the complications I had with my lap band. When the Lap Band was fist put in I weighed 355 pounds. I lost just over 100 pounds in the first year. Then the weight crept up some, but it was still manageable. Last August, my band slipped causing my opening to close up. While the doctor went in to unbuckle my band, he found my gall bladder inflamed so he removed that also.

 

After waiting a few months for healing to take place, I started the process of getting lap band removed and revised to the vertical sleeve.

 

To say I'm getting excited would be an understatement. My surgery date is April 7th. The surgeon advised me that the surgery will take about 4 hours because of the extra work that needs to be done because of the lap band removal.

APPROVED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I received a phone call today from my surgeons office! APPROVED FOR MY VSG!!!!!!!

As a reminder, this is to remove my lap band, and revise my weightloss surgery to vertical sleeve gastrectomy.

As soon as I got off the phone with her, I scheduled my pre-op physical for next week. I'm starting my pre-op diet on Sunday.

Yes, I am very excited!

Still waiting...

I've been contacting the nurse at my surgeons office once a week since the request was submitted to BCBS for approval. It is getting frustrating waiting for the insurance company to make a decision regarding my weight loss surgery.

Still waiting

Last Friday my surgeons nurse received all the information for submittal to the insurance company. I contacted her on Monday, and she told me she was working on the paperwork to get it submitted.
Now it is just a waiting game.

Waiting

I finished my supervised weight loss consultations with my personal doctor on January 29th. All the information was forwarded to my bariatric surgeon. Now I'm waiting for the surgeons office to send in the authorization request and a decision from the insurance company.

Praying for a positive response.

Latest Information

I talked with my surgeons nurse to make a plan and get a full explanation of what needs to get done to re-apply for approval from my insurance for my revision from Lap Band to the Sleeve.

I am going to need to have 3 months of documented supervised weight loss with my primary care doctor. Don't miss a month, or it will have to start all over again.

Make an appointment and see the psychologist for another evaluation. I say another, since I had to see her when I had the Lap Band.

I made my appointment for the primary care doctor for tomorrow. I'm looking forward to getting this started, so that we can get the process going again.

Insurance response

I received an email today from my surgeons nurse telling me that the insurance company wants me to complete a 3 month supervised diet and another psych eval.  I am waiting for a phone call from the nurse to discuss exactly what this all means and how it needs to be accomplished.

Request Submitted

I found out yesterday that the surgeons office has submitted for approval to perform a revision from Lap Band to Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy.  The wrote a strong letter supporting the revision due to the complication I suffered when my band slipped.

I have seen where some people were able to get the revision approved without any trouble, but I've seen otherwise as well.

So, here's hoping for a positive response from Blue Cross Blue Shield.

Revision Surgery Update

I suppose the best way to say this is there really is no update yet. I've been working my Doctors nurse to compile a compelling case to present to the insurance company.  Since BCBS Federal doesn't seem to want to approve VSG surgery, she is trying to build a strong case, so that I don't have to go through a lot of other complications.

The crazy thing is that the insurance company would easily approve revision to gastric bypass or to reconnect my lap band, but will resist the VSG surgery. I don't know why, but that is the case.

Hopefully we will get what we want on this, or I will have to come up with a new plan.

Revision attempt

Dr. Taddeucci's nurse, Christy, called me the other day to find out if I could help her find information on my insurance plan. It has been difficult in the past for Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal to get approval for revision surgery for the Vertical Sleeve Gastronomy. Since my surgeon believes this to be the best option for me, they are going to try and get the approval.
I have provided them with a copy of the insurance plan, and several pieces of information that I found all over the web where others have been successful in getting the approval from BCBS FEP.
Wish me luck.

Consultation

I met with Dr. Taddeucci, my bariatric surgeon last Friday to discuss my future options. He is recommending that if my insurance will approve it, I should have my Lap Band removed and have a revision to the Vertical Gastric Sleeve.  We discussed the gastric bypass, but he feels I am a better candidate for the sleeve.
Now we wait for another 2 months for a full healing from the band unbuckle and the gallbladder removal. Hopefully the insurance company will approve the revision.

Pictures of the Weight-loss Progress

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The picture on the left is from June 2008 when I weighed 335 pounds. I eventually gained up to 355 pounds before I finally had the Lap Band surgery. On the right is a picture from July 2013 at 275 pounds.

Research

I've been doing a lot of research lately to determine my best course of action for the future of my weight loss road. I have found out that there are a lot of people that have had complications from the Lap Band, so my wife and I are not alone. Did I mention she had complications and had to have hers removed last winter?

I don't really know the answer for me. Do I get the band re-buckled, get it removed and get the vertical sleeve, or do I go all the way for a gastric bypass?  I just don't know. I do know, that I'm not excited to deal with future complications from the Lap Band. I also know there are risks and complications with any bariatric surgery.

By the way, my pre-surgery weight in March of 2010 was 350, the lowest post surgery weight was 250 and now I'm back to 275.  I am scared that I won't every get this under control. 

Doing more research and praying for guidance.

Band Complications

Just over two weeks ago I was having a lot of pain in my stomach area. I couldn't keep any food or liquid down. It started on Saturday night after I got done teaching a class. I just couldn't keep anything down and started feeling uncomfortable. The next morning, I thought I could "gut it out." (no pun intended.)
I went to work thinking that things would get better, but it actually got worse. I left work to go home, I was sure that my band was blocked. On the drive home, I called my doctor, and he met me at his office to remove the fluid from my band.
When he did the xrays, he noticed that it looked like my band had possibly slipped, but even after all the fluid was removed my stoma (whole which food travels thru) was very restricted. He told me to stick with liquids for a few days to see if it got better.  Well, the next morning I felt worse, and couldn't get anything through still.  The pain in my abdomen was worse. I called the doctors nurse and let her know what was going on.
She called me later in the morning to tell me that the doctor was ready to admit me to unbuckle my band, but I wasn't ready for that as I do not want to regain my weight. I've come too far with my weight loss to want to give it up now.
After a couple more hours of worsening pain, no fluids making it through, and my urine getting much darker, I knew I needed to do something.  I knew I was getting severely dehydrated, and it wasn't getting any better. I called the nurse again and told her what was going on.  The doctor told me that I should go to the hospital to be admitted for IV fluids.
Once in the hospital, the staff told me that I was scheduled for surgery the next morning to have my lap band unbuckled. The thought of having the band unbuckled was a little saddening for me. Not going to lie.
The next morning my doctor did the surgery to unbuckle my Lap Band, and while inside, found my gallbladder severely inflamed and decided that removal of that was the best course of action. Once I woke up, and was able to eat and drink I began feeling much better.

Yesterday I had my follow-up with my doctor. We talked about getting the Lap Band reconnected in a few months and about the gallbladder.  Since I have done some research on the Gastric Sleeve procedure, I asked if that could be possible. He said that it is possible, but it might be a fight with the insurance company, but he is willing to try and get it worked out. We will have to see what the future holds on this.

Nutribullet

I've been using the nutribullet for a few weeks now. I really love being able to take in a lot of leafy greens and fruit in the amounts that are needed for good health. I personally have noticed a difference in how I feel.
I whole heartedly endorse the use of the nutribullet.

The best part is my weight loss is moving again. Done a few more pounds.

Juicing

I decided to trying juicing to increase my vegetable and fruit intake. Anyone with a lapband knows how hard it can be to eat some fruits because of the fiber. The Nutribullet is my tool of choice for this. It breaks down all the fiber and skins down to very manageable sizes.
I did a bunch of research on the YouTube to see what others had to say and since almost everyone had something positive to say about the Nutribullet, I decided to take the plunge and spend $100 at the WalMart. Just a quick note, I'm not a big WalMart fan, but they had it instock and the price was right.
I will let you know how it goes, but the first week of using it has been great.