Diane Moro Abramowitz

I'm also considering having my band removed and the plication taken down. I'm at the 4.5 year mark and having horrible reflux and some other discomfort. The reflux is so bad, I'm hoarse all the time and wake up coughing. I'm 62 and scared to revise to a RNY at my age. But I've gained about 30 of the 70 pounds I lost with the band, and I'm afraid I will gain all of it back; possibly more. I'm also scared that the band is doing damage." Have no fear! I had gastric bypass at 62, last year, after having the band removed. the band caused a ton of scar tissue internally. the surgeon said he worked over an hour to get it all out before he could proceed to the bypass. so it was a long surgery but totally worth it. Much easier to live with. I am retired but you could probably go back to work in two weeks' time. I have lost much more weight with bypass and have a feeling it will be easier to keep it off due to the mandatory restrictions. My friend was 65 when she had hers done. YMMV

Loretta, I feel for ladies trying to keep their weight down during pregnancies. Don't beat yourself up, it's NOT you, it really isn't. Nature has made it so that we have the extra fat to cushion those babies! Just do the best you can to eat healthily, protein first then veggies, take your vitamins and minerals, drink lots of water and walk. Walking is still good exercise and you know it's great for everything. So much of this is out of our control, just do what you can to control the controllable. happy Mother's day from NY

I feel for you, I had similar issues. Once the lapband fails, that's it! Believe me, BTDT. I had my band removed and revised to gastric bypass. Big difference and I would do again in a heartbeat. My practice won't even do bands anymore as they have proven to fail more often than not long term. I feared bypass more than I can say, but for me it has been the true key....no more being a slave to hunger! One thing I can say is that weight loss may be slower after having another weight loss surgery. Still, I am 63 years old and unless I'm losing, I'm gaining so this is good! Have no fear, just do it.

I had my revision from lap band to gastric bypass at 62 and I am sooooo glad I did it! I never lost the weight with the lap band like I am losing with the bypass Not a tremendous amount but YES DO IT

Rachel, this is NOT normal, you are probably dehydrated and this is dangerous. Have you had blood work done? Besides staying on top of the doctors, I would begin taking something over the counter to stop the diarrhea, first and foremost. You also need Protein so keep up with your high Protein shake, even if you have to sip sip sip. Same with the Water. but if you can't get out of bed, your body needs water desperately. Good luck.

I can't help, I did not have much pain postop. I did have the dizziness though as I suffer from vertigo....my surgery was 3 hours. I was in the hospital 4 days and the worst part for me was the awful bed, and being woken up every few hours to have different things done. i strongly suggest that you walk as much as possible to get rid of the gas.

follow up: I am now 199 so to be continued....

I did not have a good experience with the Realize band.....I just had revision surgery, he took out the band and did the gastric bypass....I told my doc that if he did not do the revision i might not come back for the bypass....so he did it all in one four hour surgery!

I had revision surgery from band to bypass on July7, 2016. I had that stupid band in for 5 yrs and it was a disaster. However, I too heard from the nutritionist that those of us who have this revision lose more slowly, great. Full disclosure I'm 62 yrs old, so maybe my metabolism is screwed up. I've been averaging about 2 lbs a week loss but I already had a few weeks of no loss....I started at 255, I was 238 on the day of surgery and 215 now, 11 weeks out. I am glad to have the looser clothing, even underwear...But I've had a few naysayers who I know expected to see more of a loss. I cringe at the idea of answering the question, how much have you lost? or my favorite, couldn't you have lost that without surgery? grrrrrr. So I have decided that when asked I will smile and say, I don't like to discuss it....