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Well I figured it was time to start documenting everything, so here it goes. On March 10, my best friend was telling me about how we should get the lapband to lose weight. Now being a member of weight watchers for many years at first I was very against the idea (if you even mention it on the weight watchers boards you get yelled at!) Then I decided that maybe I should look into this and talk to my doctor. So I say my doctor on March 14 and she said that she thought it was a good idea. I called the surgeons office to sign up for his seminar on March 29 and the moment he started explaining everything I knew this was for me. He gave us a packet of everything we would need to do as far as clearances so I started making appointments. Here is my timeline: April 2 Psychologist April 3 Gastro (need endoscopy) April 4 Cardiologist (need echo) April 5 Chest xray April 11 Pulmonary April 16 Echo April 23 Endoscopy April 23 Nutritionist 1st appt May 8 Nutritionist 2nd appt June 12 Nutritionist 3rd appt June 10 Surgeon!!!!!!!!! June 16 Hospital bariatric coordinator So before I started this process I had called my insurance company HIP and asked what the requirements were and I was told it had to be medically necessary (yeah no six months) then on May 5 I just happened to be on HIPs website when I see that bariatric surgery was revised on April 15, 2008. I almost died when I saw that. According to their website you now needed six months diet. I called HIP and the girl had no idea what bariatric surgery was and I had to give her the link to the website and of course she had no clue and said whatever it says on the website is what it is. Well I was pissed. So I told the nutritionist this and she said ok then come to me for six months. Then I thought did I just open up a can of worms? Although I didn't want to not say anything and get everything else done and then have to start over with a six month diet. So I figured let me just tell her. Then I decided I should probably go talk to the surgeon, even though he doesn't want to see you until you have every clearance including the nutritionist. So I get the appointment and tell him everything about the insurance and he tells me that he probably won't be taking my insurance much longer! I almost cried. He then tells me that he was going to submit everything I had up until this point and for me to get the nutritionist to sign off on the three visits I went to. Well 2 days later I was approved. I could not believe it. Thank God. My surgery date is July 16 and I couldn't be happier.

Today is so bittersweet to me! I reached my initial goal of 150.0 lbs (I was 217.1 surgery day) today! I am thrilled beyond words, but I'm scared too. This is the lowest weight I have been my entire adult life! I have dropped weight a couple times before (the lowest being 155.0 lbs), but always gained back and then some. I want to maintain my weightloss! I also however, am scared of losing too much weight! I was revised (band-to-sleeve 6/15/12) and I honestly feel like all I do is eat! Not a lot each time, but still! Plus I don't exercise (I know this is terrible, but its the truth). I really don't want to get below 140ish...

My surgeon recommended bypass from the get-go, and I insisted on the band. I thought, based on the little patient information, that it would be a great fit for me. I couldn't have been more wrong, and just like Suzy, I was basically bulimic for four years. A very SMALL bulimic woman - but bulimic! I struggled, thinking "I failed," too, then finally it was so bad that I had to let go of my stupid guilt (really stupid since I had done everything right!). I had it pulled out in November, and an RNY February 10. My surgeon does it in two surgeries because he said the stomach needed time to heal. Money-making scheme or not, that's the only way he would do it. I was scared I'd gain a ton of weight in the months between, and did, but either way, I had to wait. The bypass in February has been a great success. I have absolutely NO food intolerances, no throwing up, NOT ONCE, no problems with anything. It is a very different feeling, though, from the band, and takes some getting used to. And, since it was revision surgery (and my body is basically saying, "um, enough of this starve me routine, I'm holding on to this weight!) I am losing FAR more slowly. But I always lose a pound or two a week. I am not suffering AT ALL, and I never have reflux or gird or trouble sleeping. BUT ... with the band, even in those few good months, I really could only eat maybe a half cup TOTAL of anything. The bypass is different: I'm not about to puke because I've eaten too much, not ever. So I think I have to work a lot harder with this surgery. People have shared that the experience changes as the bypass heals, too, and that I will feel full more easily and the feeling will be more pronounced. I also DO feel hungry, often! But since the entire bottom of my stomach has been cut off from my pouch, I realize it's my brain telling me I'm hungry, NOT my stomach. I try to ignore it and drink a lot of water! The Vitamin thing is a pain (which is why I chose the band in the first place), but ... I've learned to schedule taking them all and manage it in the not quite three months since the surgery. No regrets - I'm very very very happy with the new surgery and it's milder results!

Thank you to all who have written me back. This has really helped. I also have been going to a support group here in town and one of the women I met had had revision from band to sleeve. She was quite happy with it. Now to just choose a Dr. Deb

Hey everyone!! I'm a little over 3yrs post OP (3/6/15)...wow that seems like a lifetime ago. I've had struggles over the past year and had a slight regain...about 20-25lbs from my lowest. But my concerns centers around GERD. I have to take omeprazole every single day. If I miss even one day...it's quite literally a fiery hell. I know that GERD is a side effect of complication from vsg, but I see a lot of people having revision surgery for it. So my question is...how do you go about that process? Is it self pay? Does ins cover it? If so, what ins do you have...if that's not too personal? I'm not going to lie...I would LOVE to regain my old restriction...but I'd love to get rid of GERD more. So does anyone have any advise out there? Thanks!!

I had a gastric bypass in 2007. I had a revision 9 days ago. I was supposed to start regular liquids 2 days ago for the next week then advance to softs for 4 weeks. Tonight I had to attend a memorial service for a friend and out of depression/bad habits I ate some chips and salsa and a bite of a quesadilla at dinner when everyone gathered. I threw up twice before leaving the restaurant, once on the way home, and twice when I got here. I know the seriousness of what I've done, but at the time I really wasn't thinking. I have no doubt that everything I ate has come up by now but my stomach is still severely hurting...like a cramping in the bowel area. It almost feels like needing to poop and you're trying to hold it in. I have eliminated that as a cause of the pain already. I'm thinking I might have seriously hurt something. Has anyone else ever experienced this? Should I be concerned enough to contact the doctor? I just want the hurting to stop.

Come over to the sleeve section of the board and read all the stories of why there are so many of us getting revision surgery from band to sleeve. You are welcome to send me a private message and I would be happy to answer any and all questions you may have. :grouphug:

2Fly, I can relate. I have been very successful on the band, I lost about 105% of my excess weight in less than a year and am terrified that it will come back. In the back of my mind, I have already told myself that I will go in for a revision in a New York minute if I have any major band complication. I have never been thin in my whole life, now that I am I will NOT go back to fat. I too am obsessed with working out, not so much for weight loss at this point but more to tone up all those loose areas now that the fat is gone. I do worry that it is a little much at times, I work out 1-2 hours a day 5-6 days a week. I don’t think of it as an obsession though, more of a release. I don’t have any other vices (no drugs, smoking or drinking) so exercise has become my addiction – is that really so bad?

I think it worked for me, it was just a torture device at times :wink:. I don't miss taking acid reducers everyday. But I can say now since I don't have a band or anything anymore that I miss restriction of any type. My doc wants me to get a sleeve but for the meantime, I'm calorie counting and working out and have still managed to gain weight. My removal was covered by my insurance as a revision (I was supposed to be rebanded, but it didn't work out).

I am sure you will do well. There are quite a few band/sleeve revision people on this forum and they seem to do fine.

Silviamom...When did you have your band removed? I have heard the 30% chance of leakage is when you have the revision, but if you wait 6 months and everything is healed the chance of leakage goes way down. I also don't have any interest in bypass, to many risks for me. when do you plan on having your sleeve? mine will be around Xmas or right after the first of the year.

i get exactly what you say i have been one of those who was so harrassed on OH after i was banded last year (and before my surgery) with pm's saying how stupid i was to get the band and why didnt i get the sleeve or bypass and in two years id have to revise and all these complications i was due to get... and every time i posted a question of what is this or that, id get a link to the failed banded fb page...that my dear is what i call trolls and people who bait just to be mean.. i cant tell you crappy i felt for a few months thinking what a mistake i must have made...i felt bad bc my ins didnt approve sleeves..self doubt..how nice of people to do that to a newbie.. but you know what, i am proving those women wrong. so as for all i got out of your post..i read it and understood it. i agree with it. i support any and everyone who gives a crap about following their dr's advice i do not coddle those who divert off course.. and if you want support, in my opinion, it starts with ones own self.

Well, I guess it has been a few years since i wrote in this blog. So, I am having a revision from lap band to sleeve tomorrow. 9 Feb 15. I am excited but nervous. I would like to write every week. The exception will be this week. I will write after surgery and again over the week. See you on the Loser Bench!

Yes. Originally I was scheduled for 7/18/17 but I was moving that next week and since you can’t lift more than 5lbs I needed to be rescheduled. Was revised on 8/8/17. Easy peasy.

I am revising from the lap band to....RNY ...final decision.I was going with the sleeve until I did my research and RNY is my decision.Do your research and ...listen to your dr....I didn't the first time so here I am 15 years later...finally RNY .

I had my first fill 3 days ago (after a port revision surgery) and only have 3cc in a 10cc band. I am having a really hard time putting anything down (even water!). I am super thirsty and hungry but feel a tight pain in my chest like something is always getting stuck. is this normal, will it eventually give in? is it that maybe im still recovering? please advise.. should i go and get a cc taket out? i want to eat!

You're getting a revision?

I started with 1 Dr for my lap band surgery & had different insurance during difficult times which resulted in revision surgery through a different insurance. And now, I'm actually back to another insurance again. I haven't found that replacement surgeon, but am looking. Mind you, this is all within a 2 year time frame You didn't mention why you're changing, but I'm guessing it could be as a result of insurance. Contact your current insurance company & ask them if they cover bariatric, and what Dr's are in your area,

Thank you so much for that explanation and advice! I really appreciate it, will read up on DOMS (sounds kinky lol.. Sorry couldnt resist) and will revise my supplements after the bloodwork. Definitely not getting discouraged.. I have pea-sized body builder bumps haha! :-D thanks again!

I am looking for some data regarding GERD and the Rny Gastric Bypass for Post Op's. You can be a virgin stomach or a revision patient, if you are a revision, please reply in the comments as well. I am revising from Sleeve to Bypass because my Surgeon feels it will be best bet to cure my GERD. I have it extremely bad and even if it helped to make it better it would be a relief for me. Thanks in advance!

Hi Becky I am so glad that you found this thread! We will definitely keep in touch. I'm wishing you the very best on your surgery in a couple weeks and please check in to let us know how you're doing. I pray that having the revision to bypass will get you on the road to recovery and having use of your tool like you're supposed to.

I had my revision from Lap Band to Sleeve 7 weeks ago and have lost 20 pounds...woohoo!!! I lost 30 in the 3 months prior to revision...another woohoo!!! I am officially 100 pounds down from my lifetime high of 260, 11 years ago... the biggest woohoo of all!!! Let's celebrate Broads over 50 getting it under control!!!

Wow it seems everyone is doing awesome I forsure have hit a stall had a band to sleeve revision on 2/12/13 I was 248 at my consultation started my pre op diet surgery day 227 and now I'm 213 I feel like I am a slow loser been bored so I've been hitting the elliptical with no incline for 30 min hard to get ally protein in just don't feel hungry and don't want to force it I hope the stall ends soon I'm so proud of everyone though !!! You all are amazing !!

An 40 pounds from my weigh goal and had my band removed. What is success rate with lower weight loss?

Some doctors are not able to do the procedure. You'd want an actual revision surgeon for it. It's not that it can't be done, it's that they can't do it. ;o)