WASaBubbleButt

The sleeved side? Great! Love it!

Not really. It's not because of your BMI it's because of your reflux. If your reflux is due to a hiatal hernia then you can fix the hernia and the reflux goes away. But if it isn't from a HH then a sleeve can make your reflux a gazillion times worse. If you get a sleeve and your reflux gets worse the surgical option for fixing GERD is a nissan flundoplication but you can't do that procedure after WLS. So you'd be stuck with GERD worse than you started out with. But..... If you get bypass it will fix your obesity problems AND your GERD. So first thing is first, do you know why you have reflux? Has a hiatal hernia been ruled out? If you have one, get it fixed. Then if you still have reflux then your best option is bypass. The anatomy of the pouch after bypass is such that GERD goes away 99 times out of 100. You cannot live with reflux, you will end up with barretts esophagus and that is basically esophageal cancer just waiting to happen.

Once you have dilated your pouch or esophagus it is very easy for that to happen again. You really need to get in and see your surgeon and if you don't like that doctor/staff then you need to find someone you are comfortable with. You've had and have a lot of problems, this needs to be resolved.

Your concern is a legit one. Revision from band to sleeve carries triple risk for leaks, perforation, and bleeding. This is why it is CRITICAL that you go to an experienced revision surgeon. Not every surgeon is a revision surgeon. How have you done as far as losing weight with the band?

True revision surgeons are refusing to reband or reposition a band. The problem is (came out of a FL convention about 3 months ago) that when you replace a band or surgically reposition a band you stand about a 70% chance of a slip in the near future after the 2nd surgery. I have had a band and I have a sleeve. If you have any questions I'm happy to answer.

Doctors who do not have a lap band claim weather does not affect restriction. Patients who live with it believe differently. ;o)

But that wasn't the topic I responded to.

I had mine done in Mexico at the same time I revised to a sleeve, $10K. But that was the price for people who that surgeon did their band, it's more for newbie patients. If your band is causing you problems there is little reason why ins shouldn't pay for this.

PCOS and obesity seem to compliment one another quite well, they work well at causing more pounds. When you lose weight your PCOS will likely improve drastically. For most PCOS patients it is key to cut down on carbs! If it has flour or sugar it in, don't put it in your mouth. Metformin is also used for PCOS patients with some amount of benefit. There was a study I read a few months ago and to be honest, I didn't put a lot of stock in it because there were components I could not verify but now I'm starting to realize that I may have been wrong. The study shows that African American women have a harder time losing weight. There were many suggestions at why this was and I found them all insulting to the African American community and so I guess I copped at attitude about the study without giving it a fair chance. But it did bring up one potential reason statistically why white folks seem to lose about 10% more than African American folks and it was because AA's have a different type of fat cell they battle. This is what I was unable to verify. I can't find anything other than a passing comment by Dr. Husted, a well known revision surgeon in KY about this type of fat cell. It's just not something I am familiar with. In my research of this specific type of fat cell there was reference to being AA, this type of fat cell, and PCOS. I'm bringing this up because it might be worthy for you to research. If it is correct than surgery type could be affected by this. I'm going to try more research on the topic. I was really interested in more info on this fat cell but I just couldn't find much. MacMadame is the queen of WLS studies so I might ask her to come over here. She might know what it is all about. Or... you can talk to Dr. Husted on OH's revision board. You'd probably want to PM him as he doesn't show up very often.

I agree about not shopping for doctors by price but sadly, when it comes to the long term band complications that has nothing to do with the surgeon but instead, the band.

Do you have PCOS? Have you been tested? Remember, less invasive does not always mean safer long term. The band has as many complications long term as bypass but with bypass the complications can be far more serious. If you can eat bad foods with the band you can eat good foods. If you can eat ice cream you can drink a Protein shake instead. If you can eat Cookies with a band you can eat dried veggies. Remember again... less invasive does not mean safer long term. The SURGERY is safer by about 0.5%, long term the sleeve is actually the safest surgery type long term.

VSG has been a stand alone procedure for over 10 years now. Very important when doing research to read current data. That's not really true, bypass folks work for their weight loss. People with a BMI of 30 get bypass. No, it is not RNY that is safer than the band it is VSG. That is not your standard issue person, that is a person that has 400+ pounds to lose. And if they get a band they can lose just as fast if they are a very high BMI. Esophageal spasms (I had that) Esophageal motility problems (I have that) Esophageal damage (I have that) Esophageal dilation Stoma spasms (I had that) Pouch dilation Port infections (a risk with each band adjustment) Slips Erosion Band intolerance (I had that) Reflux (I had that) Scar tissue growing under the band causing too much restriction with an unfilled band Mechanical problems such as: Port flips Tubing disconnects from port Tubing disconnects from band Leaks Kinked tubing (all mechanical problems need to be repaired surgically) Actually, it would. If someone has severe GERD that is not caused by a Hiatal Hernia and they are obese bypass is the surgery of choice. The other surgical option is a Nissan Fundoplication and once that is done there is no WLS to be had. So if someone is obese and has severe GERD bypass is the best option.

I can relate to what feels like a gazillion fills/unfills. It's very frustrating and expensive. :crying:(

I'm not so sure it's a bad thing .... dumping. That is exactly why many people opt for bypass, they are hoping they will be one of those that do dump. I have a friend that eats her 800 calories a day in good food and 5# of candy. Yes, daily. She has the worst true sugar addiction of anyone I have ever met. (She's banded) If she had bypass and dumped that would be a wonderful thing. The reason she isn't getting bypass is because it's not a given she will dump. When they first realized bypass could lead to dumping it was a concern. Today they don't look at it as a bad thing, they look at it as a benefit and if you talk to most bypass folks with sugar issues they hope and cross their fingers that they will dump. The issue with the person that claims one will dump with bypass isn't that it was a "potential" complication, it was that she flat out demands and insists bypass folks will have this issue and that simply isn't accurate information. And whether dumping is a complication or a benefit is ... opinion. Personally, I think it's a benefit. The reason I was banded was not because I really wanted a band, the real reason is that I did not want bypass. There were no United States long term studies on the band or the sleeve. I couldn't even find any long term studies on the sleeve anywhere in the world at the time I was banded. We had no idea what the long term results (regarding weight loss) would be. So, I got a band. That was one of the biggest mistakes in my case. I've since revised to a sleeve and it's a much MUCH easier journey. Personally, I'd never get another band. I honestly do not believe it is going to last more than 10 years at best in most people. Newbies want reversible. Once they get to goal they want permanent and forever. ;o)

I know you believe you are correct here but you are not. Dumping only happens in 35% - 50% of bypass patients. Perhaps instead of bickering and arguing and starting fights you might want to do your research before insisting you know something as fact. It's not just sugar that can potentially affect a bypass patient, it can be other types of foods as well. But again, dumping does not even happen in a majority of people, half or less at best.

Check out this procedure. It's investigational so don't bank on getting it just yet. Welcome to Satiety, Inc. I have to admit, it's a bit too much like banding to me and the thought of another stoma, puking, sliming, and foaming would make me stay far away from it but those not afraid of a stoma ... might be kinda cool. Be sure to view the video, it's very interesting.

How about this example?

Isn't it great???? No more sliming like a drooling St. Bernard, foaming like a rabid raccoon, or stoma spewing like that girl on the Exorcist with the spinning head... I just thought of something, maybe that girl on the Exorcist wasn't really possessed, she was BANDED! Ahhh, sleeved life is good. ;o) And no banded noobs coming to the sleeve section to tell us all how we didn't chew our Protein shakes well enough. I'm liking this forum!

Isn't the port disgusting? It's like those red turkey timers. When it pops up the turkey is done. When a banded persons port sticks out, they are done losing weight. ;o) I do not miss my port even a little. I do have all new scars, my band scars are a LOT lower than they were when they were made. Losing my fat stomach made them much lower. But I don't really care, I can hardly see them anyway because they are so little. There is only one that is about an inch long, the others are smaller.

No, it's not you. It's the system. The sister forum (VerticalSleeveTalk.com) is having the same problems. I think Alex must be out of town.

VegasAngel answered most of your questions. He does have an office, I saw it when I was originally banded. It's less than a block from the hospital. I remember I was outside walking after my band surgery and Dr. Aceves happened to be walking to his office to get something and asked if I wanted to go for a quick walk with him. That's the only time I have ever been in his office. He does everything out of the hospital. He did all my band fills/unfills and check ups in the hospital. I don't really have a need to go back anymore since I'm sleeved. Yours will be a revision and your recovery might be a bit longer than someone just getting a sleeve. I really had no problem going back to work but the one thing that was really annoying was where my port was. That felt like a bon fire was going on in there periodically. I seem to be the only one that had that issue, Susan, Daisy, and Elisabeth didn't seem to complain as much as I did. ;o)

Congrats on getting your life back! I'm so glad your surgery went well. It's a relief to have it over with, eh? ;o) Keep posting, we'll get you through the hard part... the first month after surgery! Welcome to the losers side!!!!

Wow, $30K for a revision? That's horrible. Earlier you were asking about Aceves, I do not know what his revision cost is because they have all these promotions going on now. Call Nina and ask her. If you want the number I can PM you with it. One thing I would suggest is that if you are still considering Aceves he is driving distance from you. You are in Tucson? He's about 3.5 hours from you so go down there for a consult. Check it out and see if you are comfortable with it. Make a day trip out of it, leave in the AM return in the afternoon. Revisions cost more than a straight sleeve but if you get the band out under insurance then couldn't you save a few bucks that way? Even if your ins does not cover WLS they may cover band removal. Your doc agrees with my doc that if the revision can be done in the same surgery that is best, it's less OR time, one surgery vs. two, etc. But that is something for you to consider anyway. My doc told me that leak risks are triple with a revision from band to sleeve so it really is important for you to go to a revision surgeon regardless of which country you choose. For leaks... I don't know how other doctors do it but Aceves does three leak tests. If you have a leak happen later you can go to any surgeon in the US. It's the band surgeons that won't take care of other doctors banded patients. There is also insurance you can buy just for that. Let's say you go to someone in Mexico or the US and come home and have complications there is an insurance policy you can buy that covers those costs.

Congrats for taking control of your life! I think you'll love the effects of your sleeve. Take care of yourself and yes! POST! We want to know how you are doing. We should set up some sort of angel program like they have on another board. The person having surgery picks someone to keep in touch with while they are in the hospital. We could even extend it to a mentor program as well, like a buddy system! We should work on that! Enjoy your stay in Mexico... I mean, it is surgery but still... ;o)

Wow, it all sounds so familiar. I'm really sorry you are going through this. The reflux is a serious issue, you *really* need to get a bit of an unfill. The reflux can cause damage if you don't get it resolved. Being too tight leads to soft food syndrome and that can lead to weight gain. Has you doctor put you on anything such as Prilosec or Nexium? Something to help with reflux? I get it about getting stuck on everything. I remember a business dinner once when I was banded and I was stuck on broth. I was mortified. What do you mean by concerns with Mexico? Are you referring to the gov't warnings out right now? The US, Mexican, and Canadian gov'ts are warning about specific cities in Mexico but Mexicali is not one of the cities they are specifically warning about. A leak is always a risk of surgery and since you are a revision like me, your risks are higher. All the more reason to go to an experienced revision surgeon. Hang in there and please get an unfill, you could cause even more problems than you have now if you stay too tight for much longer.