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It's been 10 mths since my band to sleeve revision but I remember that 4 weeks of full liquids like it was yesterday. Definately hard. After being banded in 2009, I only made it to the 2nd week and then I cheated. Regretted it for yrs. I was single back then and it was easier to cheat. It was also easier to cheat knowing I couldn't really damage myself withe the band. But I could with a sleeve. Plus I gained a "food Nazi" husband who woulda tattled on me had I cheated. I got my hunger back on day 10 (was easy till then) and then I could eaten my arm - had I been able to suck my arm thru a straw. I ate tomato and split pea Soup, Jello, sf pudding, yogurt, and popsicles. Hot stuff satiates (not "fills" u asn liquids don't do that much) better than cold stuff. So sip tomato soup. Sip, sip, sip. Gawd, how I wanted a french fry or a taco. But then I'd be paranoid about causing a leak and my craving would go away - for about 5 minutes. Nothing I can say that will make u feel better. Hang in there. It WILL get better soon. No, u won't feel "full" while on liquids but u certainly won't die. I wouldn't rush out there and eat something - just in case ur the 4% that get a leak. When ur able to eat soft foods, it will get much better. Good luck!

Any updates from anyone on revision from plication to sleeve? Though I do not want to do that at the min the subject is of interest.

Hi Gendy and welcome. I got my band in 2004 (10 years now) and had the exact same trouble like Stacielynntate. Horrific acid reflux, food stuck, vomiting all that went in and so on. My surgeon suggested the sleeve but I was only thinking about getting the band out. I had lost 100 pound in the first 5 years but gained back 30 to 40 pound over the last 5 years. So dieting is what I did for the last 5 years to keep is below 40 pounds but I am really ready now to get the sleeve and hope to have the same luck that it works for me without trouble, like acid reflux. Because that actually was my worst nightmare with the band. Not being able to sleep more than 30 minutes before all came up again. So yes I am hopeful and nervous at the same time. Where do you get the revision done?

When I had lap band surgery I was back teaching summer school (middle school) after a week. I am planning on returning to work after the revision surgery after a week as well. I think it is doable as long as you listen to your body, pace yourself, and remember to drink drink drink during the day. It can be easy to get distracted at work and forget to eat/drink regularly. Jennifer

Hi all, Im scheduled for revision on 3/13/13. Met with surgeon to sign consents last week. I currently weigh 256 and although I don't know what to set as an exact goal weight, I am thinking somewhere in the neighborhood of 140-150. The Dr gave me this sheet of paper with my starting weight and a weight of 183.5 as a weight that I will "probably" end up at. I would think that he would expect me to lose more than that. I sure do. Not so sure I want to go through all of this and only lose that much. I know that the ultimate amount that I lose will be up to me.. guess I just needed to vent a bit..lol In the other part of my question is for those of you who have had lapband removal and VSG (in one procedure). How long were you in surgery? My doc was telling me between 4-5 hours. How many days did you spend in the hospital?

I had my revision January 25,2013 and I think my husband said i was in surgery about 3 hours (that may include recovery). I had to stay 4 nights/5 days but I had a lot going on. It was not a scheduled surgery but I began having pain that wouldn't go away and you could feel a not in my sternum. The surgeon told me to go to hospital and he would have orders waiting. End result my stomach was completely prolapsed through my band but my band had not slipped. He admitted me and took me in for surgery 6 hours later. I was actually glad I stayed that long because I got enough pain medicine to stay comfortable and I had a lot of nausea so the IV meds were wonderful. I was very sick so this isn't the case for most. The band had been prolapsed for a long time and I was severely dehydrated and vomiting blood so getting medication and rest was exactly what I needed.

I chose the sleeve over the band for all of the reasons listed above, and then some. My late mother-in-law had stomach cancer and had a stomach gastrectomy for that. She was left with even less capacity than I have, yet she still managed to eat and to take medications with it. I also have a sister in law who has had THREE Gastric Bypass surgeries, and we had a very frank, involved discussion of her complications and revisions. Not for me. Lastly, a former co-worker had the early stomach stapling surgery. Watching her eating habits and problems convinced me I'd rather be fat than have those issues. When I finally went for the seminar, I was initially going for the LB, but the doctor said one thing that convinced me completely. He said that those with the sleeve can only eat so much, period. Even for someone whose main problem was sweet addiction (like me), the sleeve is a better choice because it restricts how much of any food one can eat. I was sold, right then and there. 5 months and 81 pounds later, I'm very happy with my sleeve! Good luck with your decision.

Most bandsters would disagree with that little theory because I know more bandsters that suffer with horrific non-treatable reflux than I do sleeve patients. I never had acid issues before the sleeve, not even with my band, and I nipped it in the bud around 6 weeks out when I started getting this false hunger, weird twinge in my stomach after I'd eat. My surgeon didn't put patients on a PPI initially either, but as the trend goes more and more people were having issues, and I think his protocol has changed. I think a lot of people don't realize that the biggest issue is that the staple line is healing, and really we don't need hoards of acid bubbling inside our tiny tummies. I was NPO for 22 days post-revision, so my staple line had a long time to heal, plus I was clears for another 17 days, and only had issues once I hit mushies. I'm over 16 months out now and still take my 20mg Prilosec once a day every morning an hour before eating like i have for the last 14 months. I'm not going off of it any time soon either. I like not being hungry, I enjoy not getting reflux, and especially love that I can eat whatever and not worry about heartburn.

Both! Sleeve in 2011, developed GERD, revised to bypass this past June.

oops, now I see that you haven't had surgery yet. So let me revise that to say if you find a new PCP, let them know you are in the process of getting approved for surgery. If you have other medical issues, or are on meds, it's a good idea to have your PCP involved, I think, but if you don't you may as well go to a new one the next time you need an annual and let them know then.

So here is my story and already I know your being able to help me is a long shot. I had my stomach stapled in 1999. I lost 100 pounds but the metal ring that was placed at the bottom of my stomach eroded through. Later I learned this is why they do not do this procedure anymore. I then had a conversion surgery to a gastric bypass in 2012. This was following the death of my daughter. I lost 30 pounds but that was from no appetite due to depression. I never had restriction from the surgery. I had a revision in 2020 (October)) again I have no restriction and am not losing weight. I have done everything I was told and it did not work again. Have you ever heard of this? My pouch is an appropriate size, but I can still eat? Why doesn’t it work for me? Why can I still eat? Do I need a ring or device to truly have restriction? I need some help and answers.

Craig, Im sorry to hear that you let your family get in the way of your dreams and healthy future. Maybe if you let them read all these great revision success stories maybe they will change their minds. If you read all these stories in revision from band to sleeve they are all 99.9% the same thing. No matter what the decision that yo stay with you have to remove the band or it can cause serious damage later on. i wanted the band out so bad that i was willing to pay for it myself before fighting with insurance. but thank god all went well insurance approve revision to sleeve and removal of band. i too had the band put n in 2006 did great lose 80lbs and about 2 years ago started having problems slip throwing up cant eat acid reflux gerd ect ect. January 2016 decided i had enough and went back to my doc for revision i had surgery a few days ago May 24 revised im am thrilled and doing great 3 days later im walking 2 miles cleaning driving and back to normal following protocol. (oh by the way i had gained all of my weight back.) arrgg im not to upset just as long as the scale is moving the right way im good. I wish you the best in your decision. keep us posted

@@sandeebYes, i will be having one. Im now keani g towards the gastric bypass, i dont want,anymorw surgeries after this, like a revision that so many people have to get. Sent from my SM-N920P using the BariatricPal App

Hello world! I am a current lapbander in the process of getting a revision to the sleeve as of july 8th! I have been doing quite extensive research and i am quite curious if there is much of a difference in the restriction feeling between the band and sleeve? It seems what i have read, most virgin sleevers experience a "tightness in chest" feeling which lets them know their full (or over full) Anybody care to share what they have gathered the true difference between the two are? Wether it be from personal experience or personal opinion? As a lapbander, the tightness in chest is all too painful in my experience and was not exactly what i want to look forward to the 2nd time around. Any opinions or factual statements would be most of help! Thanks!

@@jodie1961 yes, my surgeon was able to complete the surgery in one operation. My surgery lasted longer than normal due to a lot of scar tissue from the band(the most he had ever seen) which was apparently what was causing me to have issues all along. My pain has subsided however its still there but the doctor mentioned that this was due to the trauma my body had gone through with the Lap Band removal & RNY in one process. Today I am feeling great and have no regrets on this revision surgery wishing you the best next Tuesday good luck.

Unfortunately, no amount of revisions will work if your head isn't in the game. You'll just end up in the same place. Have you thought about the reasons WHY you sabotage yourself to not become successful? Would counseling help? I wouldn't consider a revision to bypass until you feel you're emotionally ready to change your lifestyle to ensure that this surgery is successful. Otherwise, I think a revision to bypass would be a good option for you. The sleeve isn't for everyone, and some people need the additional help the malabsorbtion offers with the bypass. Also, take anyone's advice who chimes in that hasn't had regain with a grain of salt. They don't understand the struggle of being several years out and trying to get back on track and go back to basics. They all think the weight loss comes as easy as it did during the honeymoon period, and I'm here to say it absolutely doesn't. It's a whole different animal several years out. Our metabolisms, appetites, and capacity changes, making going back much harder. It can be done, but you're talking pre surgery effort at that point.

Well I am 5 days post op and tho it's true everyday gets a little better than the day before, I am so scared. I fear that I have made a mistake, I fear that something really bad is going to happen and I am selfish for subjecting my babies to this. Let me give y'all a little background....surgery was Monday 1/14, starting weight when I began pre-op diet was 278 at surgery 260....however I had a revision surgery from a lap band which had been already removed 11/2011 d/t slippage during pregnancy, but with it my weight dropped to 175. So Monday I check in for surgery and I am nervous, mainly because I was scared of the impending post surgical gas pain :-/ the docs came in and reassured me, slipped me something to relax me and I'm off to the operating room. Next thing I know I'm waking up, pain in my belly and shoulders pretty bad but mostly because they had me flat. Next thing I see is my surgeon telling me that I have had complications d/t old scar tissue and I bled out during surgery which required me to have several blood transfusions, I had a central line and was being whisked to ICU...oh and I would need to have another surgery on Wednesday to repair my hiatal hernia that was "wide open". It hurt to cry but I did, my husband was home with my babies so I was alone. Too weak to pick up my phone and call or text anyone. I've never been that weak before. The ICU nurses wouldn't let me get out of bed which I heard helps profoundly with the trapped gas pain...& I swear my pca pump wasn't working ( idk really lol) and I kept having to pee!! Every movement to lift up on the Bedpan was agonizing & tbh I didn't even care that some dribbled up my back. Then the respiratory therapist kept coming and giving me breathing treatments that force my lungs open...and I know the reasoning behind this but to do this while hurting and with an already dry mouth is nothing to right home about. The next the day they got me out of bed...and told me my blood pressure drops really low when I stand, understandable with blood loss...and they put me in a wheelchair for my swallow test. Let me tell u...omg horrible. The gastrograffin they make u drink is simply horrendous...and they had me standing in pain, dizzy trying to drink this stuff and in my mind I'm saying..."this is going to hurt to chug this". Don't worry it didnt it just taste retched and the dry heaves aren't the funnest. So yay I passed my swallow test! Back to ICU to start drinking...I took one tiny sip when I got back just to moisten my mouth and I was done. After several more blood draws I was told I would be moved to a regular room. Soo off to my room I went, the nurses and cnas there were very pleasant...they kept trying to push me to drink but it was hard cause I had no desire to do so, all I wanted to do was sleep. I promise I have never been so weak before in my life. I drank maybe 1/10 of a 20oz water bottle and started to feel my heart race, began breathing hard like I had come from the gym and passes back out. Around 4am the nurse came in and asked me...did u know you were having surgery today..I started to cry again, I had hoped they forgot :-(. I guess I was so scared of hurting more than I already did. Later on they came and got me for surgery...I was crying and the nurses kept asking what was wrong. Finally the surgeon came told me don't worry "anything bad would have already happened", then back to surgery I went. This time when I woke tho I didn't feel quite so miserable. :-). After another swallow study I was cleared to drink and began clear liquids. For the first time in a very long time I don't automatically reflux what I drink. Amen!! They kept me another night in the hospital to watch me, gave me several iron transfusions and calcium transfusions thru my central line....so many more lab tests. I got up and walked when I could because I was still so weak. They also came and did a venous ultrasound to make sure I didn't have any blood clots. The next day I was able to eat a Popsicle and my broth....baby steps:-) I'm not physically hungry at all but the mental hunger makes my belly growl whenever I see Joe's Crab Shack commercials:-). So I was finally released Thursday night, I have my jp drain in place which is causing ALOT of anxiety to me over it's removal. I will cross that bridge when I get there. Friday I rested, tried to play with my baby as much as I could before I got tired. I tried a protein shake and only got about 20grams in...but I did take my vitamins and tried to sip water all day. However....I have been running low grade fevers still, this was present in the hospital also but they told me as long as it doesn't go over 101 or I have other symptoms of infection that it is ok...I constantly feel my heart beating in my chest...my normal hr is about 45 and now it's in the 90's could be pain related. I'm still weak, and weirdest of all is whenever I fall asleep I keep having crazy vivid dreams....and in some of them I am like stealing French fries or other madness lol...I know how silly it must sound but it is what it is. I have been sleeping in my recliner because it hurts to lay flat, I tried this evening but no go. I'm hopeful for the future, but scared of being that small percent that all the bad stuff happens to. I sit here now praying for a better tommorow, for energy & health. Sent from my iPhone using VST

one more thing, why did you have to have a port revision?

So, is it info on the surgeon or info on the procedure? I have never heard of this doc, but I would try googling him. Go to healthgrades.com and look him up. Do searches for his name in this forum but also at obesity help and the gastricsleeve forum (google them for the link). Is he one of the Mexican surgeons or is he in the USA? There is a whole forum dedicated to surgery in Mexico - poke around there to see what you can find out. this is just me, but I would surely pick Dr Aceves if I went to Mexico - that guy has done alot of sleeves, alot of revisions and seems to have a great reputation. Not to say there aren't others that are good too! Good luck!

My coordinator has scheduled my dtr's revision from band to sleeve with a Dr Juan Arellano. We are having issues trying to find/get info on this surgeon. We would feel much better if we had info that would allow us to make a more informed decision.We would greatly appreciate anything any of you could tell us. This is too serious not to go into the surgery informed. Thank you so much. A concerned/nervous mom & dtr.

Also how have you been feeling since revision? Rny scares me. But I think cancer scares me more [emoji20] Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using BariatricPal mobile app

I am so glad to hear you are doing well [emoji171] A revision scares me but when I talk to others it makes me feel like if I need one I will be ok. 🥰 How often did you get heartburn, or reflux? I seem to have it everyday. Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using BariatricPal mobile app

I started looking into the lapband a few years ago. I went to seminars and started reading. Last year I started reading the boards where lapbanders were talking about the problems they were having. I saw where many were going to get revisions to the sleeve. So I started researching it. I went to a support group that had people who had different kinds of wls. I read medical journal articles and studies, read all the boards for all the WLS and even joined a militant anti-weight loss surgery group on Yahoo to see if they could talk me out of it. Even after all that I decided the sleeve was the best choice for me. I love that it is permanent. There is no constant adjusting. There is no food I can't eat - only in limited quantities. After the initial healing period there is very little risk of a leak. I don't have to dread the day in a few years when the band will have to removed due to slipping, eroding or leaking. The band doesn't last forever. You will have to make a decision at some point in the future to have it removed (and risk regaining all the weight), having it replaced (with all the same risks) or going over to another kind of WLS. And removing it can cause damage. Just ask some of the people here that have experienced that. I had lost a lot of weight before but gained it all back and more. I know I needed something permanent. The bypass wasn't my choice because of malabsorption. I HATE taking Vitamins and barely manage what I have to take now, so I feel I would be in trouble with deficiencies if I went that way. Plus I've known some people that had bypasses and gained a lot of weight back. Good luck and good for you in trying to be well-informed.

I am so glad to have the revision surgery 6 weeks ago.I do not miss the sliming when i went to bed.I lost 80 Lbs at first with the sleeve but when i had the fluid taken out i gained 40 lbs.I felt like somebody was chocking me all the time.Due to the inflamation I wouldnt work out for the year around january I felt so bad I thought I was having heart failure.My diabetes got worse again.I havnt got sick with the sleeve.It is so much better than the band.There is some discomfort when I eat but not near as bad with the band.It feels good to be able to eat and not worry about excusing yourself to throw up.I was told the discomfort will go away in 2 more months.I was able to go back to work in 8 days only because i was alittle weak from the liquid diet.My job requires alot of concentration and i have been fine.I feel so much better.I whent in for my physical and my doctor was impressed he shared wih me when I saw him in january he didnt know if i would make it by the end of the year because my heart condition,Also with my condition I was able to go home the next day from surgery and heardly any discomfort.If anybody has any questions follow up with me.

Good morning from Anchorage Alaska! Congratulations on your surgery! You are on a life long journey for a healthier you. Bypass is a tool that I believe God has given us to use. What a blessing! I had Gastric Bypass 16 months ago on the 16th of this month. I have lost more weight than my surgeon told that I would and have had to revise my weight loss goal! He told me I would loose 75 pounds, I have lost 100 pounds and feel great! Well, with following orders and exercising, Protein and Water I have exceeded his prediction. When I went for my last doctor visit my blood work showed that my body was absorbing nutrients very well, so well that my doctor asked what kind of Vitamins I was taking and I told him the bariatric vitamins and some of my own that I had previously taken. He asked me not to take vitamins everyday for the next 6 months but only once per week. I was 61 when I had my bypass and am now 62 and glad that I did it. My family was afraid for me at first. But I did my research before the surgery and was able to put their mind at ease. I exercise and get in at least 60 grams of protein each day with sips of water every 10 to 15 minutes. I have had no physical or medical complications from the surgery. I now realize how much time and energy I have spent in the past relating to food. I no longer do that! That's freedom! I have cravings sometimes but I look at where I was and compare it to where I am and decide if I am really hungry or if I'm experiencing head hunger. Usually real hunger is for natural foods not carbs or sugary foods. When you follow the protocols for this surgery it works and you develop new habits that can carry you through the rest of your life. Scripture and Prayer has helped me. Scriptures like Galatians 5:1 and Philippians 4:13. I plan to live this way for the rest of my life. How about you? Again Congratulations to you. Love to hear from you! Vickiebc