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Too often, I am a revision from a lap band that has been in 10 years and causing me problems. I have a beautiful 3 year old boy and I am 45. I am the income earner in my house and I am so scared that something will happen.

I don't expect to get approved except for my port revision but the sooner I hear back, the sooner I can start my financing...and the sooner I can get the surgery I've been waiting for for four years

Initially, you'll have to eat small bites, and chew to mush, but not because of the pouch/stoma combination like what you have with the band. It's simply because of the swelling and trauma your stomach endures after being sleeved. But, it doesn't last forever. I eat normal sized bites and chew like a normal person and have since being about 7-8 months out. I never did the pencil eraser sized bite thing, but I did chew to mush. Digestion begins in the mouth, it prepares the stomach to accept food so it's important to chew well. As for pain post-op, it was minimal, except for the incision where they removed my port. I had a flipped port that had migrated so my port area was full of scar tissue and adhesions. I still have sensitivity in that area even at nearly 29 months post-revision. The gas pains are the same, the sipping post-op is the most often reported side-effect of sleeve surgery regardless if a patient is a revision patient or a virgin sleeve. Food can get stuck if you eat too fast, or don't chew well enough. I've never had a true stuck episode like I did with the band. Personally, I think the band helps us beat the eating curve with the sleeve. The key to sleeve eating is 1) measure your portions by volume 2) chew well 3) do not eat and drink simultaneously 4) and stop looking for this elusive full feeling, undereating your sleeve will give you 2 things a) keep you from overeating keep you within your dietary guideline for calorie/protein/carb intake I do not eat until full or stuffed because it leads to that "one last bite" syndrome and inevitably that one last bite is going to come up. I puked enough with the band so I have zero desire to do it with the sleeve. I did it a couple of times early out. I didn't get a full signal for months, and even then it was and still is a single hiccup. I don't rely on a full signal to tell me to stop eating. Finding satiety is the key for me to stay successful. As time progresses, the sleeve matures to maximum capacity, and your capacity will change so learning to measure food, not eat until full or stuffed has served me very well in maintenance by keeping me from overeating even though I can eat double the amounts I could today from what I could eat at 2-3 months out. There are no foods that I can not eat. Scrambled eggs still sit extremely heavy in my stomach, but poached, deviled, egg salad, hard-boiled eggs all work fine. Pork chops for whatever reason are heavy as well. We quit eating pork products 2 years ago after my husband's last deployment so I don't miss them at all. Best wishes with your revision. Getting rid of the band was the best thing I ever did for myself and my life. I've had an amazing 2 years post-op, and look forward to my future.

I would like to meet more members that had the DS or revision from RNY to DS. I am in Arizona and my doctor has been outstanding from the beginning to the end. I had my revision 12/29 ; preoperative testing on 12/17 then postoperative testing 12/30 to check for leaks . The radiologist said he did a wonderful job on my surgery especially since I had a ton of scar tissue. I want to get meal ideas and chat with more people. Also they say there was no good Duodenal switch doctors in Arizona which wasn't true there was a lady the travel outside of AZ to come here for her surgery. Good luck to your weight loss journey and your decision

When I was banded I knew that being banded was hard but I thought that meant hard to lose weight, more effort required. Not so, banding is hard because of what folks are writing here. The fills, unfills, restriction problems, gas, constipation, pain, esophageal spasms, reflux, pain, all of it. THAT is what is hard about the band. I realized that I learned to accept this as a way of life, it is what it is. Then things got worse in a hurry and with an unfilled band I was on liquids for 4 months. That's when I had enough and revised to a sleeve. I guess my point here is that if you can't get these problems resolved you really need to consider removing the band or getting a revision. I have a sleeve now and a sleeve is like a band that actually works without all the risks and complications. NO STOMA! Just a tiny little stomach. I waited too long and now I have esophageal damage. Don't make the same mistake I did. Don't sit on this, get something done.

You mentioned: I think if my Wife told the surgeon she wanted surgery, he would schedule it ASAP. Admittedly, I know very little about the lap band. Honestly, it seem like your wife is being irresponsible on this, and as long as the scale is moving, even if it means an (IV feeding tube) she is willing to keep the band a little longer in hopes of getting to goal weight, even if it means a horrible complication?. Also, when searching for a new lap band surgeon you have to be persistent, you have to let them know that your wife is suffering, and usually if you tell them the issue, the receptionist or nurse will schedule you for an appointment, but it may be hard at this point, because your wife's surgeon IS WILLING TO HELP BY REMOVING THE BAND or replacing it with a larger band. If you and your wife is not willing to protect her health and get that band out ASAP, there is nothing this board can do for you, and if your wife suffer horrible complications, I doubt you will have any type of malpractice lawsuit because your wife is responsible for her complications by not doing anything about her issues, and not agreeing to remove the band (in a timely manner). Actually her surgeon IS trying to help her in this situation and your wife is refusing to get the band out, thinking the band will loosen, and she apparently is liking the rapid weight lost. That band IS NOT GOING TO GET ANY LOOSER, losing 20 pounds will loosen the band, your wife has lost 70, if it was going to loosen, it would have done so by now. She will cause damage to her esophagus and body over time because she will constantly vomit, and have obstruction and swelling until she has to get it removed in an emergency. The lap band IS the safest operation, when it is done properly and the patient acts responsibly, Revising to the Sleeve or Bypass will not guarantee her to be complication free, if the band is installed right, it is safer.

I am 6 days out from sleeve to rny revision & still have not 💩. I am finally passing gas, but I do not feel any urge to have a bowel movement. I have been taking Dulcolax stool softener a couple times a day, but still nothing. Was wondering if MOM or Mirilax is the way to go? I am also having a sharp pain under by left breast/rib cage. Hurts to take a deep breath. Anyone else experience this?

Last Tuesday I emailed my surgeon to let him know that I didn't want to wait and see what the band is going to do, I want to revise to a sleeve. He called me back on Friday and said they would submit the paperwork to my insurance company to get approval. This takes 2-3 weeks and then we can schedule a surgery date. This also puts me in the middle of vacation time hell at work - as my department is very small only one person at a time is allowed to schedule time off. For the months of July and August every available day has already been taken so it looks like I'll need to wait until Sept for surgery. This wouldn't be a bad thing except that with an unfilled band I am STARVING all the time. My stomach actually growls.....I haven't heard that in over four years and it freaks me out! I've put on a solid 3 lbs this week but I am determined to get a grip and not totally screw myself up over the next 12 weeks.....wish me luck!

Help Center -Department of Managed Care This I my appeal letter to ask that you reconsider and approve the Sleeve Gastrectomy Weight Loss Surgery that was denied by Anthem Blue Cross because they consider the procedure investigational. I believe this surgery is exactly the tool I need to improve my health and the quality of the rest of my life. I have been told by several of Anthem Blue Cross customer service representatives that 43775 is a covered procedure and that as long as my HMO approved they would pay for the surgery. This is not what I am being told now. I have been getting the runaround on this for two months. I received a letter from my HMO dated 2/6/10(copy enclosed) stating this is not a denial of service but Anthem considers this procedure experimental and has to go to the Utilization Dept for a decision. The number to call this department was on the letter. I called this Dept. a minimum of 5 times and was told they don’t know what I am talking about, this dept. doesn’t handle HMO. So I call my HMO and they say “oh you have to appeal” so I send my appeal letter to Anthem on 2/16 and wait the 30 days for a decision. On the 28th day they inform me that I cannot appeal because I haven’t been denied, oh and the people in the Utilization Dept. don’t know that their department handles this?? So they send it back to the Utilization Dept and now I have officially been denied. This part of this process has taken two months, very frustrating. I. PATIENT BACKGROUND My name is Jeani Xxxxxxx and I am insured under group plan xxxxxxxxxx. My member ID # xxxxxxxxxxxxx. I am now 59 years old. I am 5/5 tall and at this time I weigh 233 lbs. I am seeking approval for weight loss surgery. I have been overweight to one degree or another since I was a young child and was advised by my pediatrician to diet at age 10. I have made numerous efforts at weight loss throughout my teenage years and adult life. I dieted frequently as a teenager and young adult. Numerous times I have lost 40-80 pounds or more but eventually the weight returns. Weight loss programs I tried include juice fasts, traditional calorie counting on quite a few occasions, Weight Watchers, Slim Fast, Nurti-system, the Atkins diet, Cabbage soup, Mayo Clinic diet, the Zone, gym membership, lap swimming, weight training, water aerobics, walking programs, various buddy-system diets and individual, self hypnosis, ”Think yourself Thin” “ Think yourself Thin Automatically, tape you listen to in the car” Dexatrim, Metabalite, Hoodia, Green Tea Extract, and numerous other fad diets. In all cases I lost weight but each time the weight crept back, usually with a little more. Eventually I realized that traditional dieting seemed to actually cause weight gain due to increased hunger that seems to occur after significant weight loss. I believe science is only now beginning to understand the reasons for this phenomenon which is consistently reported by clinically obese people. Studies also show that genetics plays a larger role than once thought and there are morbidly obese people in my family as well as slim people. My co-morbidities include high blood pressure, high triglycerides, low good cholesterol, have had abnormal EKGs, borderline diabetes, and osteoarthritis in my hip, which my doctor said weight loss would help significantly. I have also had sever back pain most of my life. I take hydrochlorothiazide and verapamil for high blood pressure which is effective. I take medicine, Niacin for high triglycerides. I have a family history of cancer as well as strokes, heart disease and severe arthritis. I take nabumetone almost daily and ibuprofen to help with severe leg pain related to arthritis in my hip. I have taken ibuprofin for back pain that i have had most of my life even when I was not overweight. I believe I will need NSAIDS even after WLS which is why I need the sleeve as this is the only WLS that you can still take anti-inflammatory medications. I buy over the counter ibuprofen as I can get 500-200mg pills for $10.00 which last over 6 months, whereas when getting prescription I only get 30 -800 milligrams for a co-payment of $10 which only last a month. My excess weight and other health issues makes everyday activities difficult including housework, shopping, standing, walking significant distances, working and recreation. It effectively makes my world smaller limiting the number of things I can do each day. I have lived with obesity for years and strongly wish to change this aspect of my life. I fear the consequences of my high triglycerides especially considering the family history i have of heart disease. Many members of my family died of heart attack and stroke. I was stunned to learn that my weight is in the obese category but heartened to learn of this newer treatment with fewer side effects and shorter recovery. I am highly motivated to succeed with VSG and understand that food intake will be significantly limited for the rest of my life and that I must continue to exercise to be successful. Before I found out about the arthritis, which is the result of a subtle fracture at some point in my life that affected the curvature and angle of my right hip bone (this was found by an MRI that was done after pain medication didn’t help and physical therapy made the pain worst), I used to walk a minimum of 30-60 minutes a day at least 5 days a week. Since this pain in my leg as a result of the hip arthritis I no longer can do that and I am afraid that the weight will just continue to creep up on me. My particular problem is in volume eating. I eat good food, lots of chicken and turkey, lots of fruits and vegetables, the thing is I am always hungry and I eat until I am full. Having a smaller stomach and feeling full sooner seems like exactly the kind of help I need. I had given up on traditional dieting as it always resulted in failure and am pleased to have found the VSG surgical option which appears to be the only tool offering a realistic possibility of lifelong weight control for me. I believe VSG is the best surgery for me because it offers restriction like the lap-band and the RNY but without the malabsorption of the RNY. The RNY is not an option because I very much need regular doses of nabumetone and ibuprofen for the leg pain related to my hip pain and even once I lose the weight believe I will still need ibuprofen for my back pain which I have suffered with most of my adult life. Tylenol is not effective for me. I am allergic to codeine, vicodin, any pain medication of that type I cannot take. Narcotic pain relievers make my head seem fuzzy but do not help with pain. I have the same concern about the lap band. I also understand that as many as 27 percent of lap band patients require band removal and weight loss is often unsatisfactory (I think the number is even higher now). Most importantly, the VSG removal of a large portion of the stomach removes many of the cells that produce the hormone ghrelin which is known to cause hunger and appetite. The RNY and lap band don’t have this advantage. At age 59 I am concerned about the side effects of the RNY and do not want to spend 6 or more months with dumping syndrome and feeling rotten. I also worry about the ability to take and absorb other medications I might need in the future as I age. The VSG appears to offer the fastest recovery, weight loss similar to the RNY and the least amount of side effects. One recent publication, “The Best Bariatric Operation for Older Patients “ by Drs Lee, Cirangle, Taller, Feng and Jossart, 2005, concludes that “These data suggest that the best bariatric operation for older patients may be the laparoscopic VG because it achieves the greatest weight loss with the shortest operative time and the fewest complications”. I have investigated this procedure very thoroughly including attending support groups and talking with others who have had it. I have completed most of the preoperative testing and strongly believe this is the best procedure for my circumstances II. THE VSG SHOULD NO LONGER BE CONSIDERED INVESTIGATIONAL The only stated reason for denying approval for the VSG is that it is investigational and …” current available medical studies do not show that this service improves health outcomes, is as good as or better than standard alternatives, or shows improvement outside the research setting”. It is respectfully submitted that this conclusion is incorrect. The conclusion ignores the 36 studies now available on the effectiveness of VSG which indicate that excess weight loss is similar to the RNY and that complications from surgery are actually lower than RNY. It also ignores the fact that the VSG is now widely performed and is routine for many bariatric surgeons and has long been performed outside the research setting. Anthem’s policy on Surgery for Clinically Severe Obesity is set forth in a document with an effective date of April 22, 2009. This document reviews the various forms of bariatric surgery and explains when weight loss surgery is considered medically necessary. VSG is excluded from ever being medically necessary because it is designated as investigational and that “…there is insufficient convincing evidence in the peer reviewed medical literature, in terms of safety, to support the use of …sleeve gastrectomy…other than biliopancreatic bypass with duodenal switch, in individuals with clinically severe obesity.”. Nevertheless, the lap band and Realize band procedures are approved as medically necessary in this same document based upon what appears to be two three year studies involving 219 and 352 patients respectively. There is now a considerable body of data and studies supporting the safety and effectiveness of the VSG as a primary procedure for weight loss. The June 2009 Supplement to Bariatric Times reporting on the Second International Consensus Summit on Sleeve Gastrectomy (available at www.bariatrictimes.com) includes 10 papers pertaining to the safety and effectiveness of the VSG presented by leading bariatric surgeons. In Reducing Risk in Bariatric Surgery: Rational for Sleeve Gastrectomy, Dr. Eric J. DeMaria concludes that “A growing body of evidence suggests sleeve gastrectomy may be an appropriate primary bariatric surgical procedure primarily due to low risk and ease of surgical revision when required.” In the paper presented by Drs Jossart and Cirangle, four years of data showed a 68% excess weight loss by VSG patients, a figure not largely different than RNY patients of the same time range. Most significantly, in Debates and Consensus: a Summary by Dr. Michael Gagner, important questions concerning the VSG were debated and conclusions reached by the 400 conference participants. Question 6 was as follows: “Question 6: In your opinion, is there currently enough published data to support the sleeve gastrectomy as a primary procedure to treat morbid obesity on par with adjustable gastric banding and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass? Several groups presented cohorts of patients with follow-up periods of 4 to 8 years the day before. Jossart and colleagues in San Francisco presented eight years’ experience including 1,200 cases, whereas at more than four years, weight loss resulted in a similar curve to gastric bypass. At higher BMI (greater than 55kg/m2) a plateau of nearly 40kg/m2 demanded a second stage, but below a BMI of 55, the operation was terrific. Schauer and colleagues assessed the literature from 35 reports, studied more than 3,000 published sleeve gastrectomy cases, and found an extremely low mortality rate (near 0.12%). Results have shown excellent weight loss and co morbidity reduction that is comparable to or exceeds other bariatric operations and that the sleeve gastrectomy is safe and efficacious. Himpens of Belgium analyzed his patients from 2001 through 2002(sic) to attain six-year follow-up. Sixty-five percent of 46 patients were considered a “success” (%EWL greater than 50 ) at two years. At six years the success rate was maintained at 59 percent. Weiner from Frankfurt and MacMahon of Leeds, who started in 2000, also had similar results. *** Certainly, the audience thought there was enough evidence published to support the sleeve gastrectomy as a primary procedure to treat morbid obesity on par with adjustable gastric banding and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass with a yes vote of 77 percent. This is perhaps the strongest contribution to this second consensus conference.” A review article entitled “Systematic Review of Sleeve Gastrectomy as Staging and Primary Bariatric Procedure” was recently posted on the web site of the American Society of Bariatric and Metabolic Surgeons dated May 26, 2009. The authors are Drs Brethaur and Schaur and Jeffrey Hammel M.S. of the Bariatric and Metabolic Institute of the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio. Thirty-six studies involving 2570 patients who had the VSG procedure were analyzed. Their conclusion was: “From the current evidence, including 36 studies and 2570 patients, LSG is an effective weight loss procedure that can be performed safely as a first stage or primary procedure. From this large volume of case series data, a matched cohort analysis and 2 randomized trials, LSG results in excellent weight loss and co-morbidity reductions that exceeds , or is comparable to, that of other accepted bariatric procedures. The postoperative major complication rates and mortality rates have been acceptably low. Long-term data are limited but the 3- and 5- year follow up data have demonstrated the durability of the SG procedure. “ To date ten thousand patients have had the VSG surgery with good success. Many are going to Mexico or other foreign countries because their insurers refuse to pay for the VSG even though it is less expensive than the RNY procedure, the so called “gold standard” of weight loss surgery which takes several hours and requires a hospital stay of 3 or 4 days. The VSG can be completed in one hour by a skilled surgeon and most patients stay only one night in the hospital. While there is certainly follow up care, the repeated fill and unfill procedures required by gastric banding are unneeded for the VSG. Nutritional supplements are much less of a problem than with the RNY. Many insurance companies are recognizing the value and cost effectiveness of the VSG and have approved the VSG for at least some patients, including BSBC Federal, Tri-west Tri-care Prime, United Healthcare, the Veterans Administration, Aetna, Blue Care Network HMO, Healthnet, Anthem BC of Connecticut, Definity Health/United Healthcare, PPO, Empire Blue Cross Anthem, and UHC. The VSG sleeve gastrectomy is now routinely offered by Kaiser Permanente to all patients that qualify for Weight Loss Surgery and would not do so if this surgery was not proven to work. I don’t think it is fair that if you have five people, one with Kaiser, one with United, one with Aetna, one with Cigna and me with Anthem Blue Cross of California, the other four will be offered the sleeve and I will not. The California Department of Insurance has recognized that VSG is widely accepted by the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery as a standard procedure at medical centers for excellence. In Decision #EI09-9645 the physician reviewers reversed the health plan’s denial of the patient’s VSG request and concluded that VSG was the most appropriate option for the patient. The same conclusion was also reached in EI06-5882 though the patient had significantly more co-morbidities. That decision noted the important fact that the VSG is nothing more than the first part of the duodenal switch operation which includes the second step of intestinal modification and as such, the VSG portion has been performed for many years as part of the DS procedure. Some patients have the VSG first as part of a two stage procedure and find that they do not need the second stage. Thus, the VSG is not as new and investigational as Anthem’s conclusions seem to imply. Anthem does cover the DS procedure which includes the VSG as one part. According to an article published in the Detroit Free Press on August 17, 2009, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, in conjunction with the University of Michigan, has been compiling a large detailed data base on bariatric surgery in order to improve surgical outcomes and provide cost savings. In three years of data collection, it appears that the VSG now accounts for as much as 12% of all bariatric procedures. This percentage indicates that the procedure is far beyond investigational status. This data base indicates that 10,000 VSG procedures are known to have been performed. My Anthem group policy excludes investigational procedures and defines that term as procedures: “ 1) that have progressed to limited use on humans, but which are not generally accepted as proven and effective procedures within the organized medical community; or 2) that do not have final approval from the appropriate governmental regulatory body; or 3) that are not supported by scientific evidence which permits conclusions concerning the effect of the service, drug or device on health outcomes; or 4) that do not improve the health outcome of the patient treated; or 5) that are not as beneficial as any established alternative; or 6) whose results outside the investigational setting cannot be demonstrated or duplicated; or 7) that are not generally approved or used by Physicians in the medical community. It appears that the VSG, based upon the articles cited above, has been performed on thousands of patients, has been accepted by a consensus of participating members of an international conference devoted to this subject, is widely accepted by the ASMBS, does not require FDA or similar government approval, is in fact supported by at least 36 studies analyzed by highly respected physicians, is as effective as the RNY and more effective than gastric banding in terms of percentage of excess weight loss, has fewer complications than the RNY, has as good or better reduction of co morbidities as other procedures, and has results that are similar in studies by both United States and foreign physicians. The VSG therefore no longer falls within the definition of investigational procedures excluded from coverage. The conclusions stated in the previously cited Anthem Policy on Surgery for Clinically Severe Obesity are simply no longer correct and that policy should be updated to include VSG coverage or disregarded. With the VSG patients lose about 68% of excess weight and lower BMI patients like me often do much better. Weight loss will most certainly help my back and hip pain and improve ability to exercise. High triglycerides, high blood pressure, and borderline diabetes are corrected in about 76 percent of WLS cases and I am hoping for this result. It is therefore highly likely that my health will be improved by this procedure and I respectfully ask for your reversal of this denial. I am a mother and soon to be a Grandmother and I want to improve the quality of my life so that I will be healthier and able to help raise my grandchildren and be able to take an active role in their life.Thank you for your review of this matter. I greatly appreciate the fact that the state of California has a procedure to help insured patients who find themselves in disagreement with their insurance companies. I strongly believe this decision will greatly affect the quality of the rest of my life. Thank you for your time. I eagerly await your decision regarding this. I can be reached as indicated below if further information is needed. Enclosed is a copy of my denial letter from Anthem Blue Cross My HMO is Healthcare Partners Primary Care Provider is xxxxxxxxxxxxx Gastric Surgeon xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sports Medicine xxxxxxxxxxxx who ordered MRI and diagnosed arthritis Cardiologist xxxxxxxxxxxxx did my last EKG and stress test All these doctors agree Weight Loss Surgery is a good option for me. Respectfully yours, Jeani Anderson xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (xxx) xxx-xxxx Work info: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxx CA 91101 (xxx)xxx-xxxx ext. 244

I'm having my band to sleeve revision (hopefully simultaneously) at the OCC in Tijuana Mexico with Dr. Ariel Ortiz,

I need to revise this: according to my Drs. Visit today, the don't allow Tramadol in the first six weeks, so if you are in that timeframe you may want to stick with Tylenol. I was sent home from surgery with tramadol, works great for me. I also use Tylenol once in a great while for sinus pain.

As I retired nurse I have heard a lot about duodenal switch being done in European countries for years before it was done here. It is much, much safer as it doesn't mess with the intestinies, but still is major surgery. Sue, if you had the choice at the beginning would you have chose DS over the band. I can see that the DS revision is not going to require the constant and unending fills and work that the band does, so in your honest opinion what would you have chosen, and did your esophageal problems exsist before banding or did it come along with the banding and continue to get worse. I've heart this to be true with lots of people. They never had esophageal problems before. I'm so glad you switched over and are doing well. I think Gastric Bypass will become a thing of the past with DS on the horizon. Best of everything to you. Sounds like you have been through a lot. Hugs Dody

AGREED. I had revision to bypass on 9.04. You have to get the protein into your body. Shakes, scoops in water....whatever it takes. When you do that you will feel better.....

Hi,thank you for your input. I revised from the lapband, and understand that this is a lifestyle change. I have no problem with carbs, never been a big carb eater. More of a drinker, so I will look for low cal drinks. I will count calories if I have to up them, but they are so little now, maybe further out I will become a calorie nazi.

Did you start out with exercise, are you still doing it? When did weight loss slow down. So you must be struggling, or is there another reason you think you should have had the bypass (acid reflux?)? Are you considering a revision now?

It's not that they don't eventually get it done, it's that they tell you they are goiing to do something and then they don't. I didn't mind waiting. I'm having to wait an additional three months or more to have my revision surgery because Dr. Koppman wants to wait six months after my band was removed so the scar tissue will have a chance to settle and so I can have additional tests done to make sure I am going to be a good candidate for the sleeve. (Makes sense to me). Anyway, read my post (or not) and see if you would have put up with repeatedly beiing told one thing and then nothing ever being done. I used to be a staunch advocate and defender of Dr. Cywes practice but when he suggested that I get a fill when three weeks prior he had removed my gastric tube from my surgery, I decided it was time to move on. You need to have confidence in your surgeon.

I pray dumping doesn't happen to me. This seems terrible, I've seen a few wls employees in my office experience this at work. Yet, they continue to repeat the behavior with the same food. One of them never dumped until she had the revision to rouxny. The other lady has the sleeve and she's not going to let something like dumping get in the way of her love of sugar. I personally hate being nauseous and miserable, I can deal with pain better than nausea and vomiting.

OK...my surgery is scheduled for July 23rd, and that's all I've been thinking about....UNTIL I got a job last week...not just any job a part time job in the travel industry. I mean these jobs don't come around often and there was no way I was turning it down. My problem is of course I couldn't tell them about the surgery because there are 100 others waiting in line for this job. It requires that I go out of town for 2 weeks of training, which I am trying to cram in pre op. My question is post op. Is lifting objects a concern? At times I will be required to lift objects up to 40 pound for very short distances. It's actually just to pick them up and put them on the conveyor belt? How long before I am able to do it? I don't want to lose my dream job, but then again I don't want to mess up my surgery. I may have to delay the surgery....something I DON'T want to do. HELP!!!!

I got banded in August 2014 liking the idea it wasn't permanent because I wasn't sure I would be able to adapt to the lifestyle changes. I have had 3 fills and am now at 8 CCs. I am in the green zone. I eat small portions and chew well. I joined a gym, own an exercise bike, and do yoga. I exercise most days 30-50 minutes. Since August I have had a fluctuating loss of 14-22 lbs. I get stuck on virtually all solid food. I had lost 120 lbs on my own before and regained it. Right now I have about 45 lbs to lose to get to my goal. I believe I need assistance and really wish I had chose the sleeve. I want something permanent that will be with me forever. I am dedicated to this lifestyle. My surgeon knows how frustrated I am with my standstill weight loss and regurgitation issues. I am going for a barium swallow to see how the band is, this is my surgeons first step in the revision process. Then we meet and discuss the revision but I'm a little worried he won't do it because he'll want me to give the band a longer shot. Thanks for letting me vent!!!

Got the Lap Band in 2002. I lost 30lbs but in 2005, the port became separated from the tube. Not one doctor would help me get it fixed. I finally found a doctor that was willing to repair it. He decided to convert me to a VSG. I had surgery this morning. During surgery, the doctor decided there was way too much scar tissue to convert today. While operating, my stomach tore! Fortunately, it was the section of the stomach that is to be removed for VSG. The doctor decided to proceed with the conversion and I am recovering now. I feel very lucky and relieved that it turned out the way it did. I could have not been so lucky and want to thank everyone involved for their great care.

I know this is easier said than done, but try not to panic over bumps in the road. What looks or feels catastrophic today is probably not as bad as it seems. That’s what my mom used to say when I was growing up and despondent about something (which was often, especially during adolescence). I was strangely comforted by her words because I knew (and she frequently reminded me) that Mom had seen some pretty bad stuff in her life. It's easy to "awfulize" things when you have a pain, symptom or experience you didn't expect and can't explain. You're sure that's something's wrong. You haven't lost weight in three days, or you found hair clogging your shower drain, or you puked up your dinner. Don't let fear cloud your thinking. You will wear yourself to a frazzle if every event becomes a crisis. This applies to many aspects of your life. It's extremely difficult to make a good decision when you're in a panic. Your vomiting might be related to WLS, but it could also be the result of a garden-variety intestinal bug. Your teenaged daughter's failure to return your phone call could be because she was in a terrible car accident, or it could be because her cell-phone battery died. So ask yourself: Is this an emergency? Is it life-threatening, disabling, or just inconvenient? What will happen if I don't do something about it right now? Can I deal with this myself, or do I need help? What kind of help (medical, emotional, spiritual, financial)? Who can help me (my surgeon, therapist, best friend, minister)? Be careful how you choose your helper(s). I know you love your sister, who might tell you that everyone in her family has been sick with a bug since you saw them (and their germs) on Sunday, but she probably can’t accurately tell you whether your symptoms are related to your WLS. Is whatever you fear might be wrong really, truly the very worst thing you could hear? I’ve survived some scary and disappointing stuff during my WLS journey. I’ll probably never forget hearing my surgeon say, “Jean, your band has to go,” and “Jean, I removed your band but I wasn’t able to do your sleeve revision today because of a stricture in your esophagus.” I’ve also gotten bad news about friends who are fellow WLS patients. I mean really, really bad news, when death was reaching out its evil hands to take my friend away forever. In my own life, nothing can top losing a parent. “Jean, your mother died today,” is (so far) the worst bad news I’ve ever heard. A cancer diagnosis, the death of my husband, or the loss of my home to a tornado (entirely possible where I live) would also be mighty devastating. But if I dwelled on those possibilities, I’d spend the rest of my life in anxious misery, and I’m pretty sure that’s not what God has in mind for me. I'm not saying that your struggles aren't important. They are. But it will be easier for you to handle them if you do it with a clear mind and a calm heart. So take a deep breath. And when in doubt, call your surgeon.

I had a revision from a VBG/SR from 16 years ago. Back then I lost 90 pounds and kept it off about 4 years. This time (surgery was 10/24) I had RNY and am down 27 pounds as of Monday. I had the RNY because my silastic ring from my previous surgery was migrating upward and causing choking issues. I wasn't in the best frame of mind and definitely not the best health this time around. I mainly have head hunger. I was sent home with a fork - tender diet. I've definitely been cheating (i.e. had a fun - sized bag of Cheetoes, had a piece of Halloween candy less than 5 grams) so I bought baked Cheetoes and sugar free hard candy trying to curb this. I feel like I'm failing before I start. I have really bad fibro and am extremely exhausted almost every day. I lost my insurance Nov 1st. I am working on that. I go to a support group once a month, but they don't want to be friends really. I need more than a monthly meeting. Help? Sent from my SM-N900T using the BariatricPal App

I just had my revision surgery on 10/5 and my first week I lost 7.7 pounds. My bmi was 37.5.

That's how mine was set up as well. My insurance ended up pulling through last minute and approved my revision, but their requirement was that I had it done at the hospital instead of the surgical center. I think the way the hospital administered the anesthesia and pain meds post-surgery contributed to my having to stay over night. I had never had that reaction with previous surgeries done at the surgical center.

I am new to this site as I am getting ready to have the bypass. I have had the band for 3 years, and have had many complications and little weight loss. My surgeon recommended I have the bypass, so here I am! Could anyone give me some feedback about their revisions? I am much more nervous for this surgery then I was for the band!! I would enjoy hearing others' experiences. Thanks!