NoMoBand

Search for Dr. Altamirano on this site. I beleive he is a bariatric doctor from Mexico. He posted on this site a couple of times which leads me to beleive that Alex endorses him. Dr. Altamirano for sure can tell you how much he charges.

Greeting May Sleevers. Thought I'd do a roll call. So, we're out at least 5 months. How's everyone? How much weight have you lost? Likes, dislikes of being sleeved? Complications? Regrets? Anything you would like to share? My weight loss has been very slow, but, it's because I'm a band to sleeve patient. I've lost 35 pounds thus far and I'm ok with that. I really like being sleeved, I do suffer from heartburn, but is controlled. No regrets at all! Let's hear from you. jake

Same here. My doctor said that if there was too much to clean up, I would wake up with only band removed. My outcome was in my favor and woke up unbanded and sleeved. So glad I got revised to sleeve! If you have to wait and get the sleeve months after, it's worth the wait. A 2nd surgery is the only thing that sucks, but, the surgery recovery is not bad at all. Much luck to you.

I've had heartburn from get go. Mine is so bad that any flavored Water will cause it. My doc told me to take Pepcid AD initially and it worked, but, only for hours at a time. I tried the Nexium 24 hour and it works amazing. I called my doctor and he said that the Nexium is ok. I also asked the doc why this is occuring and his response is because our stomachs are still producing acids like before it's original size and takes 6 - 12 months to adjust to the smaller size, in most cases. Some stomachs adjust shortly after surgery, but, ours are the stubborn ones. jake

You should be feeling better by now. You won't regret this decision! Get though the initial hurdles and things become awesome is the best word I can describe this journey. I have no regrets! jake

I had band to sleeve revision in May. Complications had just started with my esophagus caused by the lapband. Thus far, revision is the best decision I have made. The only downfall for me now is that weight loss has been extremely slow for me with the sleeve. I thought it would be quicker, however, with the lapband my weight loss had stalled the last year that I had it. I'm perfectly ok with this. The benefits with sleeve are far better. No regrets here. jake

Sweettea, If your comment was aimed at my post, you are correct when you say "I'd sure be asking doctor and NUT about this". We are seasoned WLS patients and no one should ever just try something because someone says so. I should have rephrased my sentence from "If you can take it, it can't hurt to try" should have been "If your doctor approves it can't hurt to try." I was just offering what I thought was a helpful suggestion. BTW, Yes my doctor approved it. Sorry just trying to be helpful. jake

My doctor told me the same and told me that I could wake up to discover that he only did band removal and this was his explanation. The sleeve surgery itself is a 1 to 1.5 hour procedure. With a two in one surgery, the surgery could last much longer depending on how much damage the band has caused and repairs and also how much surgical scar tissue that must be cleaned up. If there is too much to be done/repaired, this will add to the normal 1 to 1.5 hour surgical time making the surgery less safe for you. In addition, if the repairs are extensive, there is a greater chance of leaks on the staple line afterward. Some doctors will not even consider 2 in one revision and will make you wait weeks or months for things to heal from the band removal before they'll go back in to do the sleeve. My doctor also told me that he wouldn't know what he was up against until he was inside, because unfortunately the preop tests/procedures don't show everything. I was lucky, he was able to do both. Word of encouragement for you. Same as in my case the band looked great from pretest scopes and the only thing that might hold me back was having a huge amount of scar tissue. You should be fine. Hope this helps. jake

Restoration15, Have you tried the Nexium 24 hour? It is amazing! Well, for me anyway. If you can take it, it can't hurt to try. jake

I had my revision done May 3. Lost 30lbs. while on pre-op and post-op diet, then, weight loss halted. All of July and August I was up 3 pounds, down three pounds. In July I added 1/2 hour light strength training, in addition to my 1 hour cardio and recently changed my cardio (mainly arch trainer) with intervals. I also, added 1 or 2 days of swimming and a weekend bike ride. Mid July I only weighed myself every 2 weeks, if that. I just got on the scale 3 days ago and am down 6 pounds. My point? Heck, I don't know, I was told so many things, but, what seemed to make the most sense to me was that my body was used to the same workout over and over. Once I changed this, I guess I shocked my body and the weight started dropping again. My portions are 1/2 cup. I follow the rules and I did increase my calorie intake to 1000 cals per day. I think for men 1200 is a good number to lose weight, but, for a female it think 1200 may be a little high, but, I'm no nutritionist. Anyhow, one thing that stuck out to me on a facebook support group was someone telling that I would eventually find what works for me. I googled "why am I not losing weight with working out" and discovered the interval cardio training with an explanation why my body was holding on to my weight and how interval training would help. I also learned that I needed some carbs before my workout session and I try to get in some oatmeal before my workout and gives me more strength and endurance. I say "some" because it fills me quickly. Anyhow, I hope this it and I found what works. I'm not out of the wood yet, but, am feeling much more encouraged. We have to be patient and above all we can't give up! jake

Dlucia, Unfortunately, there is a very real possibility of a band to sleeve revision not happening in the same surgery and this is due to how much damage the band has inflicted and repair or how much scar tissue that needs to be removed. The doctor probably has some idea, but, won't know for sure till he/she's inside. Not only are the repairs important, the doctor also takes under consideration how much time you will be under. This is why some doctors refuse to do both at the same time requiring a 2nd surgery for the sleeve. I was lucky that my doctor will do both, but, I was warned that when I woke up I could wake up to the news that band removal was all he could do. I did have lots of scar tissue repair and fortunately he proceeded with my revision. My surgery took a little over 2 hours.

Bandproblems, If nothing is going through and you are completely unfilled, it sounds like you have more damage than what they can see. In my honest opinion and the little time I experienced in between being unfilled and revision, you will gain your weight back, even with regular exercise. Your old eating habits will come back, it's so easy to find that old friend again. One of my concerns was once sleeved I would lose the same amount of weight as I did initially with the band which would leave me skin and bones, but, it doesn't work that way. You will lose weight quickly while you are on the pre-op diet and then the healing stage post op diet, but, once you build up to regular meals your weight loss stabilizes. Your body weight is at a very different stage now before you had the band done and the body now responds differently to weight loss, so, no you won't disappear. lol As far as the stomach size they leave behind for a revision patient depends on how much surgical scar tissue the band has created, thus, this is different for every person, but, the stomach size difference is minimal. Google "bougie size" and you will see the difference in the circumference on the sizes. Once I completed the progression diet after surgery and began eating normally again, I eat the same amount as when I had the band which is about 1/2 a cup. In time, your sleeve stretches a bit and you eat a bit more. What I've researched is usually 1 cup. Last, a UGI only shows if things are going through or not. If you doc hasn't mentioned yet, I would ask for an EGD to see how much damage you may have. Depending on what kind of damage the band has done or doing, your doc may be able to get your insurance to cover the whole revision. Keep us posted. jake

Don't be so hard on yourself. The fact of the matter is that you are serious enough to want to help yourself and you've been on the light side of your weight loss journey and know how different it is! Taking on another journey with the unknows is extremely difficult, but, takes a determined person to proceed. Kudos to you! I have revsion from band to sleeve and am out only 4 months. It's still very early in my sleeve journey to make any definite statements, but, will say that beyond a shadow of a doubt that I prefer the sleeve over band and am enthusiastic on this journey. Yes, you will do Great!! Jake

Drewr, I had my revision in May, so, I am approaching my 4th month. I feel great! I had the lapband 4 years and can report that the differences between the lapband and sleeve are substantial. I don't miss the getting stuck episodes if I didn't chew my food well, with the band then the slimming or upchucking that followed, measuring my meals assuring that I didn't overeat, the night coughs when I would wake up choking cause I either ate too late or it could be a symptom of something gone wrong with the band, the foaming that I'd spit out continuously when my allergies were at their worst, pain in my port area if I put too much pressure on the torso area, the feeling that everything was about to explode with upchucking due to a bout of stomach flu or food poisoning, the worries that my band could erode into my stomach or the band could slip at any time, ending up in the emergency room and the ER staff not knowing what to do with a lapband patient, the fills and unfills, the uneasy mental feeling of having a plastic device and tubing inside my body, the constant fear of band removal due to complications etc. Sure there are issues and concerns with the sleeve, but, far less than the band and so far I am a very content recipient of the sleeve. The very best with sleeve is I don't have to measure my meals. When your banana shaped stomach is filled, that's it and no more! The only down side for me is that some sleeved patients will develop heartburn and I'm one of them. It's very minor and nothing that Pepsid AC doesn't take care of. Doctor tells me that this may very well go away. So far, I have no regrets! I feel very privileged to have experience both band and sleeve and again by far I recommend the sleeve over lap band! Pardon all my repeats from my previous responses to this post, but, this last one has a bit more detail that I wanted to share with Drewr. I made a promise that I would never bash the band system because it saved and changed my life and I'm very grateful for it, however, I will share the truths and differences between the two and of course these are the truths that apply to me and my journey. Hope this helps. jake

Drewer, I was a very successful patient with the lap band, until by chance, I discovered that it caused my esophagus some real issues. The scariest thing about my situation or what I now know was a blessing in disguise. I was doing awesome with the band and lost over 120 lbs. at the most successful point of my journey. I had no real obvious symptoms or problems, other than I could eat a bit more and had some very little night issues. My insurance company changed at work and so did the their bariatric service. I was forced to switch bariatric services and doctor and when I saw the new doctor, he asked for a UGI. To my surprise, the UGI technician told me to contact my doctor as soon as possible. Things took off very quickly after that and I ended up getting my band removed and revised to sleeve. Had I not seen the new doctor and UGI performed I would have ended up with much more damage that I had - Thank God! Wish I had gone sleeve originally. My vote: Sleeve 100%! Much luck to you! Jake

Patrick, It does get better. At first, I had to take a Pepsid AC 1-2 times a day. Almost 4 months out and I'll take one once or twice a week depending on what type of spicy foods I eat. I kind of know when I will need one, before I eat, it's weird. Getting proper calories and Protein is difficult for everyone at first, but, then gets easier as you progress. I also had a hiatal hernia repaired when I got the band and remember not being able to eat much at and I also lost weight extremely rapidly at first. I don't recall any hiccups though, but, then both surgeries are very different. If you don't already, you will feel weak until you start eating more solids. Hang in there. jake

With God nothing is impossible! I will keep both you and your wife in continuous prayer.

I also had a Nurse Soup Nazi that I dealt with my fills. Long story short I reported her and one of the doctors to the hospital's administration. After that my fills hurt like hell when I had them with her and I know that she did it purposely because when I had fills with the band doc it was a piece of cake. I also asked other patients if she was brutal with them and the answer was consistently, no, she's so gentle. That witch! I was lucky that my Band doctor moved to another health organization and nurse Nazi stayed behind. Thank goodness!!! Well, I just discovered that nurse Nazi is now back with my band doctor and the timing was perfect, I'm sleeved and with another bariatric doctor. I do miss my first bariatric doctor though, but, she can keep her nurse! I hope you do end up in our world of the sleeved, it's so much simpler. Keep us posted. jake

Pinkgirl1234 said: That's it ?No psych or nutritional requirement?How long did it take to get approval? That's it ? No psych or nutritional requirement?How long did it take to get approval? That's it ? No psych or nutritional requirement?How long did it take to get approval? That's it ? No psych or nutritional requirement?How long did it take to get approval? Wow, I'm counting my blessings. The only requirement I had was the barrium swallow results, list of my mediations, list of my vital signs from my last 6 month primary doc visits and lapband surgical report. My Bariatric doctor submitted to insurance early in the AM about 9ish, I got the call of approval at 2pm that same day. Surgery was 2 weeks later. I must of been in worse shape than I thought. jake

If your doctor hasn't already done this, I would ask your doctor to do a barrium swallow (UGI) to check if anything is going on with band. One of the symptoms that my band was not functioning correctly was that I could eat more than I should and stopped losing weight. I could also feel a thump when the food would go through the band. Turns out that my band was OK and it was my esophagus that had enlarged and was acting like a 2nd stomach. The UGI is a simple and less expensive procedure and will let you know if there is an issue. if you have not been successfull with weight loss with the band, the sleeve works the same way by restriction. I would talk more to your doctor to see if the sleeve is the way to go.

I'm 4 months out from lap band to sleeve revision. Was very successful with band, but, ended up with stretched esophagus. Best thing about sleeve is when you fill your sleeve you are "full" and "full" is definitely "full" and no room for overeating!!! No more measuring food, I know when to stop on my own, no more getting stuck, slimming, night coughs, frothing, throwing up. I can have about 1/2 cup of food at mealtime depending on what kind of Protein I eat and no more. Being sleeved is very different from being banded. I am very pleased with the sleeve so far. 30 lbs. lighter and feeling great! The only discomfort with sleeve is I get slight heartburn at times, but, this is one of the possibilities with sleeve and doctor tells me it usually goes away and nothing that Pepsid doesn't take care of. I'm glad I did this because at first I seriously considered just getting the band removed and continue with my life and the gym, but, after having my band emptied, I started gaining weight rather quickly and changed my mind very quickly. Hope this is of some help. jake

I had my band 4 years and my journey ended having it removed and revised to sleeve 4 months ago. My issue was also a stretched esophagus. With my esophagus working as a 2nd stomach, I could eat more and I gradually started gaining weight was my first symptom. When my esophagus issue was discovered my band was emptied and I put on even more weight very quickly. With the weight gain I qualified on the BMI requirement for revision. In addition, I was still on medications for high blood pressure, which also helped me qualify. Getting the band removed was a very tough and sad decision for me and revision was even tougher. Four months out and my feelings have completely changed about my revision. 30 pounds down, no more stuck episodes, no more slime, no more puking, night coughs etc. and the very best is that "feeling full" is really "feeling full"! No more measuring meals, I can now do my own push aways very easily. I understand how you are feeling and the unknowns. Hang in there. If band removal is in your future, don’t let revision surgery scare you. Of course, I’m going to say that sleeve is the way to go, but, then I would be saying different had I had the by-pass done. One thing I do know is that I still need my weight loss tool! Having my band emptied a few months, I started gaining weight and started to fall back into my old habits of overeating. Much luck to you and please do keep me informed of what happens. jake

Good luck to you Albuquerquemom! Rust hospital is really nice hospital and very modern. As you already know Dr. Rice is a good guy! Keep us informed on how your are doing. A prayer going out your way. jake

I saw my doctor yesterday. I need to increase my calories by 500 per day and is exactly what the trainer has been telling me all along. I kept a food log on myfitnesspal and was deficient 300 - 500 calories per day if I wanted to lose 1.5 lbs. a week. I asked the doctor about the high calorie Protein before or after my workouts. It would work, but, I have to consider that the high sugars could make me sick. He suggested that I eat my 3 regular meals and 2 good Snacks in-between, which is what I have been doing, but, just couldn't get my Water in. Doctor suggested that with the snacks only I can have a small amount of liquids just to get things down and continue with my water. I tried it today and it worked! My energy is back with the increase in calories. After my workout I would come home and was exhausted and usually slept for 1/2 hour or so. Today, I'm rare and to go with a ton of energy! I hope this continues!! Before anyone disagrees, please understand that I am on an intense program at the gym with high cardio and light weight lifting. I burn between 1200 and 1600 calories per work out and am left with between 800 and 1000 calories after my work out. Being sleeved I cannot eat anymore at mealtimes and the snacks were extremely difficult to get down until today when I added a little liquids. I hope I found what will work for me. We are all so different and we should always check with our doctors and nutritionists before taking anyone's word.

I'm in the same boat. A trainer suggested that I use a weight gain Protein enhancer that people use to gain weight. They are high in calories and was told to use it before my work out. GNC carries these. I have a doc appointment tomorrow and will ask about this. It makes sense, but, seems so wrong. jake