Revision of band to sleeve

Yes, it is pricey here. Also, the medical insurance companies don't allow these ops, they say it is "cosmetic"..duh.I would have thought that taking a proactive approach to health is more than sensible- and MUST save the health insurance wallies in the long run, by preventing diabetes, hypertension and other assorted weight related health issues.

One more week until I see the docs in Auckland. I am really excited about the possibility of this happening..I am just hoping they won't refuse me the revision.Even if I do have to wait the 3 months between procedures, it will still be worth it.

I have my cupboard stocked with Optifast vanilla and chocolate.I like the vanilla drink made with a teaspoon of coffee granules and hot water... it is so yummy. I also take the chocolate drink the same way. But the bars? UKKKKKKKK... flavoured cardboard!!I quite like the chicken soup, but it is so hard to get, seems to always be out of stock.

So, roll on next week!

Hi guys

Another ex kiwi here. Geez I am gobsmacked at the price of Baratric Surgery in N.Z. Glad I had it done here, Private health covers it here.

You will not regret going for the sleeve. I absolutely love it. Changed my life.

Good luck to everyone

Val

Hi Teeli,

I'm so pleased for you, you see your surgeon one day after I see mine, so perhaps we will have our bands removed on simular dates.. I too don't mind the optifast I have often had it for breakfast.

Hello Jo-Anne

Great to see you are have you band out next week, you will be able to tell us all about it. Im new here as well, everyone is just so accommodating.

There is always someone to help you through....Vicki :)))

hi everyone, my band is coming out next friday after 5 years and then going for the sleeve. so very interested to read everybodys stories and learn from everyone.

regards
Jo-Anne :

Thanks Vicki. I am seeing a Grant Bebhan in Auckland on the 18th Sept. His cost for band removal and , later, the sleeve operation comes to around 23 thousand total cost. His sleeve op alone is 17 compared to 25 in Tauranga. So, that is on a par with Michael Booth.My daughters have set my appointments up for me, there are 4 of them,over 4 days, whew... see the surgeon, then the shrink, then the dietician then the surgeon again.

If I am approved for the surgery, it could be that the band removal may take place in early October, then a 3 month wait for the sleeve operation.That's the only part I hate the thought of- 3 months between one and the other.I know, healing, unpleating etc etc, and I understand the need for that, but still......

I have no great faith the Optifast will keep me lean, lol... pre-banding, I lost 13 kgs in the 2 weeks of Opti, actually more than I lost after the band was installed.But once I stalled, and began to gain, I did the Optifast again and lost not even 500 grams.Thats weird, because I rather like the Optifast and find it no hardship to take.

Hi Teeli... Rosa's Surgeon is Mr Michael Booth - Waitemata Surgeons & her fee is 17K, below is his site so perhaps you would like to check him out..I do wish you the very best & hope you may be feeling a little better... Vicki

http://www.surgicalweightsolutions.co.nz/

Teeli that is an outragous amount to pay.. Rosa said the surgeon in Auckland was charging her 20K I googled him as he had Seminars that she went to, but I have a shocking memory & don't remember his name. Rosa has Health Insurance but they don't cover this type of surgery. I will text her tomorrow to ask his name for you & you may like to make some enquiries for yourself..

Yes I do love living here, we came over 14 years ago as my arthritis was gfetting worse with the colder weather, but I love the heat here, I wouldn't or couldn't live in NZ as the winters are far too cold for me now... Take care will catch up tomorrow... Vicki :)))

Yes, lot of money, Trisha. However, the Auckland group has the lowest costs that I can see.I doubt there are cheaper ones, at least ones accessible to me. It is only 3 hours from here to Auckland... a day's travel to Wellington and of course more than that to the South Island.I am not going to use my old surgeon in Tauranga, I'd rather pay the 25 in Auckland than the 39-40 in Tauranga.

I do not have any medical insurance, and even if I did, it wouldn't fund weight loss surgery- that's classed as cosmetic. DUH.I did have Insurance, but it was costing 150 per month and only for some surgeries.So I let it go.

Australian costs are way less than our's in NZ, you have a bigger population so the funding is better to the hospitals.The band to put in , cost 17 thousand and the hiatial hernia repair as 11.And IT didn't work, but I don't see any refund offered, just the same.

Oh well, I will cope with the 25 in Auckland...

That is a whole lotta money Teeli... It cost me 6 grand (before my healthfund and medicare.. $3000 after these rebates) to get my band in ....nothing for removal as my doc bulk billed and nothing for my sleeve as he bulk billed that too... it did cost me $1800 all up for the gas man for the both ops combined of which I got a medicare rebate of around $800 all up.

I would shop around, there are a couple of Kiwis on here like Skinnygreyhound. Perhaps PM her or put a question in the general thread to get some advice on docs over there and get some idea of cost.

Good news about your friend! Yes, I am well, sort of, well, apart from my BP going up and up and up...3 meds not holding it down at all. And I had 4 days of sliming and heaving which ended last night. Arghhhhhhhhh... apart from that, I am a little bruised in spirit from the way my surgeon thinks I haven't really tried. However, having read tons on here, I realise that a LOT of people have Band problems, so I am not gonna let that get me down.I see the surgeons in Auckland in Sept, and so I guess it will be December or January before I get the Sleeve done, if they approve it.Hopefully they will remove the band sometime in September.

I know heaps of people from the bay are living over there- I would be too, if I could.It never gets hot enough for me over here!Do you enjoy your Aussie life?

Thats amazing, funny how over the years since living in Brisbane, I have met people you have come from the Bay of Plenty.

I had some great news yesterday, my friend Rosa went to a surgeon in Auckland & has a date for Novenber 5th, she is over the moon... Rosa will now have her sleeve done way before me but I'm very happy for her!!!

All the best Teeli, hope you are well ??? Vicki :)))

No, I didn't know them, personally.I know who you mean though. :)

Teeli, thats is an even smaller world, don't suppose you ever knew the Marshalls, Hal & Eileen. They lived up Mclarens falls road. I used to go to their farm on a regular basis as a child & more often to Hal's Mums home just as you entered the Road from the Main Hwy. Beautiful part of the country, many happy childhood memories had there. xx Vicki

OOPS! Vicki....yes, it's a small world alright! Mind you, I actually live in Kawerau, but I know Tauranga very well, having lived there once, in McLaren Falls, actually.

Good morning everyone.

Well.

I am back from seeing the bariatric surgeon yesterday with mixed emotions and lots to think about.

He weighed me, yes, I have managed to find 5 of the kgs I lost before.I KNEW it, even though I wouldn't step on the scales myself at home.And YES, he quoted "calories in calories out".... even though he admitted grudgingly that he knows how committed I am and how motivated...Yes, even though he knows how active I am , given 3 different types of arthritis and a whole raft of meds to combat them.

Still, he says I am his first band failure. Somehow, having read thru the boards in here, I do not see how I can be.I think maybe they just haven't been back to him..... who knows?

Anyway, the upshot is that he will do a band removal on 5th Sept, cost between 11 and 14 thousand.Three months later he will do a sleeve operation- cost 26 thousand.

I have opted to wait until October, as he is leaving the country 2 days after the Sept surgery date and will be away 3 weeks.In the meantime my daughters in Auckland have set up appointments with the Auckland Weight Loss Clinic , for me to be seen and evaluated on 17,18th and 19th of September.Their prices are 8 thousand for band removal and 17 thousand for the sleeve operation.So, both operations come in under the cost of just one of his.

It isn't all about money, I know.However I am a pensioner now, and I have to take the money from my nest egg, my safety net fund-with no way of making it up again, so it IS important. Plus, the Auckland group has a very good reputation.I like the guy in Tauranga, but I'm a wee bit leery now...

Anyway, there ya go.... any thoughts?

Teeli, I lived in Greerton for the first 18 years of my life, what a small world.. Vicki

A HUGE thank you to everyone who posted! It is marvellous to get the positive feedback! I have an appointment at 1.30 today with the bariatric surgeon in Tauranga....don't know how it will go, he is not the most encouraging of people.However, I will not be swayed from this course of action- if he won't agree to the Revision( remembered the R, see? lol)...then I shall travel to Auckland to see a surgeon up there.My 2 daughters up there are so worried about me they have made provisional appointments with a bariatric surgeon on the 17th of Sept.

Since Friday I have had problems with every meal except breakfast.....lots of pain , sliming and throwing up...enough is enough.

Hopefully today he will take the fluid out, at least , and give me an appointment to have the band removed asap.

I was beginning to think it was all MY fault( as he has hinted before when I have seen him)...now I see the exact same problems with many of you in here, so it isn't just me!For the first time in ages, there seems to be a ray of sunshine ahead!

Once again, thank you all so much for your kindness and your inspiring posts!

Hi Teeli

Like others have said welcome to the site. I'm not an ex-bandit but as you can tell there are quite a few of them on here.

Good luck as you explore the site. I'm not sure whether you've found the band to sleeve thread yet, but it's here...

http://www.gastricsleevesupport.com/f38-from-band-to-sleeve

S

Hi Teeli, I'm an ex Aucklander living in Brisbane, 56 years & like you I'm new to this forum.

I have an apt with my Band surgeon on the 17th of September to see about having my band removed, but I couldn't wait any longer & had the fluid removed last Thursday. Dinner was amazing, salad, lovely fresh veg, nothing nicer.

I have had my band since 2005, having lost really nothing, huge disappointment over the years with all the same problems as you have had. I had very little pain from my surgery & was back at work after 2 days, just feeling a little sore under my ribs, so hopefully having it removed won't be any worse.

Teeli keep us updated with your progress, this is an amazing forum, so much info & everyone has been through the same.. Best of all, such wonderful caring people...Vicki :)))

Hi Teeli

Welcome to the forum

I had my band out in June after living with it for 7 years. For me having it removed was not as painful as when it was put in. I was lucky as my surgeon said that it almost fell out.

It was a godsend to get rid of it as I was rejecting the port and was quite swollen and sore from this. I had my port initially relocated in April as it had been pushed by my body all the way to my pelvic area from above my belly button. The surgeon placed it where yours is now and it had to be the most uncomfortable position. They don't think about us having to wear bra's thats for sure.

I now have to wait until November for my sleeve and from all my research here it will be the best thing I've done for myself.

The wait between the 2 surgeries is the worst due to the weight increase, but knowing it will soon come off again makes it a little bit easier.

You've certainly come to the right place for advice, Trishah is a gem!!

I found the removal more uncomfortable than it going in. Remember that they have to cut and dig that sucker out of your stomach. Though not excrutiating but just kind of worn out and super tired for about six weeks.

It wont stop you doing anything, like you can go back to work in a couple of days and eat normally 8 hours after the op but for some reason I felt like I had been hit by a truck for about 6 weeks.

The up side is that you will have no hunger and will get full quickly on small amounts for a good month or so before your insatiable appetite returns.

Dont worry about it, it isnt a huge deal or anything and to be honest the next morning when I woke up in hospital I felt like a tumour had been successfully removed... I had not realised how aweful I had felt with the band in and its removal made me feel light and well again...it was a massive shock

And OMG that first feed when they bring in toast and a cuppa.. you will feel like you have died and gone to food heaven. At first you brace yourself for the hit when the food hits bottom...and when there is no pain but a nice mmmmm feeling of food on an empty belly ...you will smile...trust me...its the best feeling in the world!

Thank you so much Trishah! That sounds way better than what I am going through right now.

Did you have much pain with the remval of the band? I sleep on my stomach and i think I have been pushing my port out of place, which hasn't helped...they may have trouble finding it, because it is always turned over when I need refills!My port is on my ribcage, sort of at the "keel" centre of chest... so it gets squashed by bras etc.... I will be sooooo glad to get rid of the whole thing!



footnote: I left the R off the title, duh! Should read Revison...

Oh my goodness yes it is better Teeli. It is like night and day with band.

If you can remember what eating was like prior to the band this is what the sleeve is like but with considerably lower intake of food.

My full response is exactly that ...full and satisfied and happy to stop.

No pain or sliming or reflux or vomiting...just normal

I do get hungry but not ravinous and in truth its mostly my head not my belly telling me Im hungry... my eyes were not sleeved so I still see things and think."mmmm that looks good, I might have me some." buuuuuuuuuuuuut I can only get tidgy bits down and I have had enough so its not a full on guts fest

For instance if I go out for coffee 3 small fork full of cheese cake and I am super full with a few mouth fulls of coffee, so no damage done.

Meat, salad, bread all go down like a normal belly but in small satisfying amounts.

Recoup after the op is much better than the band. It seems that your back to normal physically quicker... or I was anyway...in fact I found getting the band out more debilitating.

Take the time with your band out to enjoy your food and dont beat yourself up...opti fixes any gain you will have.

Good luck, I am really happy for you

Hi, I am new here. I have had a band for almost 3 years and in that time, despite not cheating, despite sticking to the rules, I have only lost a total of 21 kgs.Plus, it has been a battle all the way. Not tight enough, too tight.Pain on filling and refilling.Regurgitating food. Dreadful slime over- production...you name it, I've been there.

So, tomorrow I have an appointment with the surgeon who put in the band, to see about doing a revision from band to sleeve.

I know there's going to be a wait, between procedures- everything I have read on here seems to point that way.But, if that is the case, I shall just have to grin and bear it, I guess.This kind of surgery is still in it's infancy here in New Zealand, but having a forum like this to come to and learn from is great.

Anyone got any kind words I can boost myself with? Have those of you who went down this track found it better?