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Had my RNY in 2008 but looking to have a revision in January. Had my original in NC Sent from my KFFOWI using the BariatricPal App

So today is the first day of my (Liver Shrink) Pre-Op Diet. My GBS is April 30th. Gulp. I’m a sleeve to by-pass revision. New surgery due to esophageal damage from GERD and regain 😞. Moving forward with my head held high, using my mantra “it’s just fuel” to change my thinking about my former best friend named food. Wish me luck!

Hi All, I am back! I am having my Lapband removed. The port has been an issue. I’m having the band removed and vertical sleeve revision on the same day, February 2, 2023. I have been dealing with Fibromyalgia since 2014 and take three different medications for it. The meds just for my fibromyalgia number 12 throughout the day. If I don’t take these fibromyalgia meds I cannot get up out of bed and function. And I work full time. I asked my Bariatric doctor can I still take my meds right after surgery and he said I could with liquid. 😱 Those 12 fibromyalgia pills, doesn’t include all the other meds I am on and the pain pills he will prescribe. Some of the pills cannot be crushed and some cannot even be taken with food. I feel like I am going to have an issue with all the meds and fluids, and God help me me if I have any strictures. I take a total of 15 pills a day, so I would like to hear from people who had a vertical sleeve and lots of pills/meds they had to take everyday during the first four weeks of their surgery. Thanks! TQ

I had the Plication done in September 2010. So far I have lost only 30lbs, I am going on January 6th to try to revise the plication to VSG. This is being done by Dr. Jose Rodrigues. I will go in 1 day early to get some test done in order to measure my stomach to see if the VSG can be done. Has anyone heard of the plication being revised to VSG. I am feeling a bit nervous as the date is getting closer. I look forward to your comments,

Ok so you did not get weight loss surgery for the weight loss. It was due to this tumor on your stomach. Ok now i get ya. You may need to end up getting revised to bypass if your reflux is getting this bad. Its always a fear for most that get the sleeve on having to revise it to bypass and its something i fear because my insurance does not cover these surgeries. Maybe talk to your doctor about other PPI medications. There are better ones than Omeprazole.

When you pick a doctor, definately ask about their experiences with patients having acid issues after sleeve. How often does it happen to their patients? What treatments do they pursue? How many of them need surgical revision? Some doctors will have a better handle on this than others. Also ask...how have you modified your technique to avoid acid issues with sleeve? Do you have fewer patients with post surgical acid issues now? Have you done any recent continuing education on patients who experience acid with sleeve? Go to someone who is part of the conversation for the newest ideas in surgery. It's not a guarantee you won't have problems, but it increases your odds for success.

The very first time I felt the full impact of my weight loss was when I began to have A LOT more energy for tasks and activities I had long dropped because of fatigue. Walking long distances became pleasurable again and I encouraged others (mostly my thin & lazy teen kids) to join me. I believe it was around 190lbs (down ~60lbs) Next was when my super attractive Surgical PA said he wasn't worried about me or my progress, I was at the proper weight for my frame and I looked *amazing*. I could tell he really meant it by the way he gushed over my results. That was around 160lbs (down 90lbs) Another time, I was waiting in my surgeon's office about to discuss revision (from VSG to RNY to solve a few complications) and a prospective patient kept staring. Hard. He eventually asked me if i was waiting with/for someone and I told him no just my surgeon. I thought he was trying to *pick me up* but in fact he was confused that I needed to see a surgeon & was a WLS patient because i didn't look like it. (I've heard these types of comments several times) Two final events sealed the deal for me: My Bariatric surgeon and I decided revision to RNY was the best course of action for me but he DID NOT want me to lose anymore weight. He was adamant that I was at the right size and was already small enough at 155lbs & 5'3". (The revision went well and I'm maintaining in the 150s as promised.) Finally, I had Plastic surgery. At the Preop workup, I was discussing my plan with the surgeon. I wanted a Mommy Makeover- breast augmentation, Tummy Tuck and Brazilian Butt Lift. I wanted lipo on my back to transfer fat to my buttocks. He informed me that there wasn't much fat to lipo and it was excess skin that needed to be removed (instead I would need skin removal - a back lift and *maybe* after we could lipo my inner thighs for fat grafting.) He manually lifted the skin to prove it. I was shocked because I thought for certain it was excess fat but apparently I have thicker skin in certain areas. ****************************************** I took the long way round just to say that there were many incremental (progress) points that help me view myself differently/adequately and not just one defining Aha! moment. For sure outside validation played it's role and luckily I became receptive to complements instead of misanthropic because of society's new level of interaction with me (nicer, more welcoming) However, I'm unsure if I would have ever believed anyone's comments if I didn't begin to feel & see the change on my own first. Being kind, loving and accepting myself at every single stage of weight loss, instead of just at goal, really helped me. Good Luck ❤

I also went to the doctor anticipating the sleeve, but he suggested the bypass. He was really good about explaining the whys. He asked what my concerns were about the bypass, and I mentioned that I thought it was more invasive. He said that it's a more technically complicated surgery than the sleeve for the doctor, but on the patient side of it, the pre/post op are pretty much the same. When it wasn't done laparoscopically, I'm sure it was much more invasive, but now it's pretty much the same as the sleeve. I've decided to take his advice and go with the sleeve. Also, my insurance made it very clear this one a one time surgery, and I've seen so many people with revisions that I'm just going straight to bypass.

Julie, you went on vacation and still managed to lose, that is awesome! I hope your new plan for the gym goes well. I can barely get myself out of bed in the morning to go to work, let alone work out. Fortunately for me though, I am home by 5:30 so have plenty of time to exercise, fix dinner, help kids with homework and hang out with the family. I had no idea about my port. My first fill went great, he was able to get right in with no problems. On my second, nothing would happen and that is when we learned it had flipped. So, off to surgery tomorrow for a revision. I am anticipating everything will go well. And, he is going to give me a fill during the surgery too, which I am really looking forward to because I need one bad!

Have you talked to your surgeon? They would be best equipped to handle any weight gain issues. I'm only 1.5 years out so I can't say I've had reflux issues... do you eat small meals? Chew really well? I'd have your band checked for problems like dilation or a slip or erosion. If there's a problem like that the surgeon can probably do a revision, right?

I have just started my research on revision surgery in Mexico! My head is spinning I'm looking to revise a failed RnY of 14years. I think I've decided on RnY to DS now to find a surgeon and start things on it's way! Any info on a good surgeon for revision would be so appreciated!!!

Hi Fellow April Bandsters, It looks like everyone is doing great, congratulations! I had my first fill in June and finally started losing about 2 pounds a week. Then it stopped because I was hungry again. So, I went in for another fill and it was a big no go. My port has flipped. So, I have to go in for port revision surgery next week. I couldn't do it right away because I work for a non-profit and we were putting on a major fundraising event and I just couldn't take the time off. But, that is done now and I am anxious to have my surgery so I can get back on track. It is good reading the updates and seeing how everyone is doing.

I had to start with a fix to my esophagus and repair a hernia. Now it's my turn to make this work. Before, the foods I was supposed to eat created acid. So I ate the food that didn't create pain. I gain 40 pounds. Now, moving forward with my new revised tool. Highest weight presleeve: 281 by the time I had courage to get on the scale. recorded weight before sleeve: 281 Weight before this procedure: 231 Goal weight: 159 to 161 New year and new plan. Goals set and this time I have help. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using BariatricPal mobile app

I had the sleeve and then due to acid reflux and my sleeve stretching I got the mgb. Unfortunately for me the reflux got worse after the mgb so now I'm getting a full bypass on Feb 3. What I can tell you was different for me was with the sleeve I had no pain and lots of energy. With the mgb I was really sore for at least a week and I was exhausted for at least 2 maybe 3 weeks. It also took longer for me to go from one phase to the other like clear liquids to full liguids, etc. I had to work harder to get my water in also, really small sips. I also found out about dumping which I didn't have with the sleeve. Hardly any sugar and I was laying down, sick to my stomac, heart racing, head spinning and then exhausted like an adrenaline dump. You learn quickly to avoid sugar! It gets better over time but here I go again with the revision.

Good luck with your upcoming revision. I gained back 50% of my weight during COVID, but have recently lost it back again. I still struggle with eating due to boredom or stress.

I have terrible Gerd. It’s. So. Bad. 😩 Originally I was going to have the nissen fundiplication surgery for Gerd but the surgeon talked to me at length about getting gastric bypass instead. I’m still pre op at this point, but my main motivator in this process has been to try and stop my severe Gerd. (Also I’m quite heavy.) I’ve heard from quite a few doctors at this point who recommended gastric bypass for greatly improving or curing Gerd. I’ve seen some people I follow on Instagram who have had sleeve surgeries revised to a bypass due to the Gerd the sleeve caused them. It’s definitely worth discussing with your doctor.

I have been waking up with burning in my chest like before the revision and tonight I actually started feeling it and it went on for a few hours. I am still on my PPI and hoping it clears up over the next few months. Have you gotten any better ?

You are only in a few months and I would assume you still have quite a bit of swelling, maybe after all the swelling goes down so will the acid? I sure hope so because I am going in Friday for my revision and wont be happy at all if in 6 months I am no better. Would be nice if you could update when/if things change. Good luck How much have you lost since surgery ?

I thought you all may want to see the infor below.. Insurance Company to Cover Newer Method of Bariatric Surgery by Kerri Seidler on April 21, 2010 ? Comments | Weight Loss Surgery Aetna, one of the nations largest health insurers, revised its policy on obesity surgery this month to include open and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy among its covered bariatric procedures. The sleeve gastrectomy procedure, often referred to as the gastric sleeve, is a newer method of bariatric surgery that is gaining in popularity as a treatment for morbid obesity. The gastric sleeve promotes weight loss by reducing the size of the stomach to help patients eat less and feel full faster. It appeals to many patients as it does not require a medical implant or need adjustments like laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding and does not require cutting and rerouting the small intestine like the gastric bypass procedures. Prior to the policy change, Aetna considered the sleeve gastrectomy ?investigational? and did not cover the surgery. As of 4/9/2010, Aetna revised its Clinical Policy Bulletin for Obesity Surgery and stated that the ?sleeve gastrectomy is considered medically necessary when criteria are met.? The policy now reads: Aetna considers open or laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB), open or laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, open or laparoscopic biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) with or without duodenal switch (DS), or laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding (LASGB) medically necessary when the selection criteria listed below are met. Although the sleeve gastrectomy is included under bariatric procedures, coverage for obesity surgery is still dependent on benefit plan details and approval by Aetna. Aetna?s decision follows in the footsteps of United Healthcare, another healthcare giant, which began covering the procedure in October 2009. In response to the Aetna and United Healthcare change in policy, The American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) issued a press release announcing its support. In the statement, John W. Baker, MD, FACS, President of ASMBS, said ?We are pleased that Aetna and United Healthcare now includes sleeve gastrectomy among its covered bariatric procedures?Sleeve gastrectomy has now reached that threshold where the data and our experience with the procedure supports its safe and effective use in people affected by the chronic disease of morbid obesity.? The ASMBS, which is the largest organization for bariatric surgeons in the world, is a non-profit group committed to educating medical professionals, patients, and the general public to the various effects, risks, and benefits of bariatric surgery. The decision of Aetna and United Healthcare to cover gastric sleeve will benefits patients who are morbidly obese and considering weight loss surgery. While weight loss surgery is the most effective treatment for morbid obesity, it should not be considered a ?one size fits all? approach. As the best surgical intervention for obesity can vary from patient to patient, insurers who cover a wider range of options will better allow surgeons to treat patients on a more personal basis.

I'm so impressed with you for standing up for yourself with that first doctor, and for jumping back on the bandwagon with your new dr. He sounds great that he was willing to work with you and the band instead of jumping right into a revision. You're doing a great job!

Thanks everyone. I'm trying a bunch of diff things and will contact my pcp tomorrow. I have another question tho is it that the insurance will cover a panni but not a tummy tuck? And do most surgeons/insurance whoever allow you to pay the difference? Is that how it works generally? Band to sleeve revision surgery 1/16/17 HW: 283 CW: 199 GW: 160

mgb is heaps better than others......best feature is its reversible and revisable....... 30-45 mins procedure... its the simplest procedure of all. approx 2 day hospital stay..

I had lapband in 2008 was 305 went down to 170 in 9 months. Kept it off for 6 years then my band eroded in oct of 2013. I was revised to bypass in May 2014 but had to gain weight to meet the criteria to have the bypass. Day of surgery I was 245 on May 21, 2014. I am at 189 now still have 19 left to get back to my optimal weight but it's coming off ????

Hi there!! This is my first post here. I am scheduled for revision from lap band to gastric bypass Dec 12th in Tijuana with Dr Coravala in Angeles hospital. Has anyone else used him? Also, can anyone give me more information on how you are doing after the revision? I’m very concerned because I know it has a higher risk of complications.

hi....my bmi the day of surgery was 31. yesterday i was one month out. i have lost 18 lbs since surgery. my bmi is now in the 28 range. you will do good. who is doing your revision? kelly