ButterflyBandita??

Hooray! I just booked my surgery today for the 19th with Dr. Rodriguez. I am thrilled to join this thread as I thought I'd never pull the trigger.

Great news! I actually just booked with Dr. Rodriguez for the 19th of October. Love hearing these great stories!

Forget those people! That's partly why I didn't tell anyone I was getting banded and the same reason I won't tell anyone I'm getting my revision. Although, now that my fiance understands that I'm serious about this revision, he has asked me a few times, "but what if this doesn't work . . . you thought the band would work too . . .you should try harder with diet and exercise . . . etc." BUt he also knows that once I have my mind made up, I'm going to move forward. Good luck to you!

I haven't done my revision yet, but am 90% ready to book my appointment for November. Why am I switching? Because I hate my band. Right now I have acid in my throat and just finished yacking up a some pizza (I took 3 bites of a pizza). While last night, I was able to enjoy dinner (lots of it) at my parent's with out any problem. I also have a leak. My band is just so unpredictable and I'm afraid of the damage it is doing to me.

OMG! One for the books. Remember that day.

Good for your! You are looking great!

I'm a potential lap band revision and I am scared to death that the sleeve will not work for me. My BMI is 32. It was a little higher when i had my band installed less than a year ago. I have only lost about 20 lbs with the band and I am constantly hungry, constantly getting food stuck and spitting up, etc, etc. Now I am experience acidic stuff coming up when I PB / Spit up. Gross! But I'm scared to take the plunge and have another surgery. And even more afraid that if I do take the plunge, that I won't lose anything. boo!

I'm considering a revision with Dr. Aceves and am also considering going on my own. Do you think that would be OK?

That's very reassuring! Now to find the time and funds! . . . and of course, decide on the surgeon.

Thanks for the weigh in Tiff and Mini. I greatly appreciate it. My band has just been a pain. I'm either hungry, unable to eat, PB-ing, or eating way too much. It is fickle as can be. I also have a leak in my band. I should have 10.2 ccs in my 11 cc band, but only actually have 8.8 ccs. So it would need to be fixed at some point anyway. I just feel like a failure with the band. And am scared that I'll experience the same level of failure with the sleeve. But at the same time, I REALLY want it to be the solution.

So . . . does the lack of comments simply mean that this procedure works for everyone? That's what I'm hoping for. I'd really appreciate anyone who might like to weigh in on this topic.

My BMI is just about the same. I'm afraid I won't lose any weight at all with the sleeve. I only lost 20 with the band.

i was able to be seen by the Bariatric unit at KAiser, although they told me they wouldn't give me fills, etc since I was not obese enough when I had my initial surgery. They also confirmed that I probably had a leak. They suggested that I continue to monitor what I eat, exercise, etc. Then, if I'm not losing, they can do an endoscopy (I'm not sure if that's what its called). I think I can get Kaiser to take my band out, but then I will need to self pay for the sleeve. But, it would be worth it if I could lose the weight. I've been stuck at 182 for the past few months.

Hi All, I'm new here, banded in Jan 2010 and am considering a revision. Dr Ortiz in TJ did my band earlier this year. I've lost 20 lbs so far - 10 probably within the first week and the other 10 over the last 5 months. I also PB often, have had several fills, am up to 10.2 cc in my 11 cc band, feel wide open many days, have chest pain occasionally when I eat, etc, etc. But more than anything, I'm frustrated that I'm not losing!!!!! I follow the band rules, but still nothing. I'm going back to the OCC this week to get everything checked out to make sure I don't have an enlarged pouch or erosion or leaking or any of the other band issues. Maybe I'm just not at my sweet spot - but how can that be when I can't eat half of a ground beef patty one minute, but then later that day, I can eat a sandwich? Again, just frustrated. I'm seriously considering a revision, but also feeling very down about my band decision in the first place:sad0: I'm open to as much info on doctors as possible at this point, as I'm not clear on how experience Dr Ortiz is with the sleeve. thanks for listening

I was banded in January in Mexico and have had dismal results. My surgeon suggested that I might have a leak, or erosion, but I need to come back in to get checked out. Well, I'm a Kaiser member and decided to see what I could make happen in that area and after forwarding my surgery report, they've agreed to see me in August. I really want a revision to a sleeve! But they told me they won't do a revision (of any kind) unless the band has failed: erosion, leak, etc. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what my "approach" with the Kaiser doctor can be once I am seen? I don't want to just say that I'm not losing, even thought I am only .8 cc short of full capacity in my 11 cc band. Who knows, maybe there is something wrong with the darn thing. Suggestions and advice are greatly appreciated.

they told me that they revise on a case by case basis, but only if there is a problem with the band. ...now I don't want to "wish" for something to be wrong with my band, but . . .

I got a call from Kaiser and they set me up for an appointment with the doctor in August. They also set me up for labs and to see the nutritionist during my visit. Since I have a band, I'm hoping this will get me one step closer to a sleeve.

I got a call from a nurse at Kaiser today and she requested my surgery report. She told me the doctor would be in touch with me in 2 weeks to discuss. I asked her about the likelihood of getting a revision. She told me that it was on a case by case basis and that they only do revisions if the band failed me - not if it wasn't working for me. So the mere fact that I'm not losing isn't enough for them to do a revision, however if I have a leak, erosion, etc, then it's possible. So, I haven't been officially diagnosed with any issues, it's just been suggested. So we'll see what happens. I do think I may have a leak, but again, we'll see. I really want to get revised to a sleeve.

Congrats! You must be so ecstatic.

I am closest to the Fremont location. I spoke with my primary today and he wasn't thrilled to find out I was banded in Mexico. He is going to send a message to the WLS group and he said that they'd either call me directly to set up an appointment or they will call him for more info. I was just banded in January, but have only lost about 15 lbs. I've been being seen by another doctor in San Jose for my fills that isn't related to Kaiser. I'm just wondering if Kaiser will even touch me since I was a Mexico bandster. Any advice?

I'm a Kaiser girl, but was a self-pay, low BMI, band patient. I wonder if Kaiser will assist me with a sleeve revision. What is the process to get things started?

I'm starting to consider a band to sleeve revision and have heard only wonderful things about Dr. Aceves. Can anyone else provide me with personal experience regarding other surgeons? I'll be self-pay, and will probably head to Mexico/ San Diego Boarder area due to location and cost but am open to learning about other options. My band surgeon was Dr. Otiz, however I'm not really clear on how many revisions, or sleeves for that matter, that he has done. Has anyone had any experience with him with a sleeve? (All the threads about him seem to go unanswered, but I thought I'd try again). Thanks in advance for all of your input!