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Wow, so you had to do the liquid diet to mushies to solids and didnt lose any weight? That sucks - although I too am below goal, I always want to lose more weight, lol. Not that I'm scheduled for revision surgery but I've always wondered if you would lose a ton of weight you didnt need to lose. I guess now that I think of it though, its extremely hard to drop weight now.

My DH can not feel it.... Although I can and as I lose more weight I can now even feel the little spongey tip.. (but I was really playing with it last night) GET YOUR MINDS OUT OF THE GUTTER! DO NOT FREAK OUT.... if you get to the point that you think small children will run away in terror... simply have a port revision and get the LOW PROFILE PORT............ Jaque has AWESOME genetics and she is a RUNNER so she has literally RAN HER ASS OFF to look like she does! ME... well.... I plan a tummy tuck in a couple years and if I need a port replacement I will have it done at that time. (I think) Who knows what will happen!

My surgeon told me that it makes no difference, on weight loss, if it's a revision or first time surgery. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Good luck hope it goes well but there are many ppl now having to revise from sleeve to bypass

Thinking about a revision from Band to Sleeve at OCC. I was very happy with OCC for my band and although it did well 8 years ago, 2 kids later it isn't working it may have slipped, I am not entirely sure). Anyhoo, does anyone have experience with this? Wondering what the costs might be and how long I will have to be out of work. I have a semi-physical job (massage therapist) so I need to factor that into my decision. Thanks!

Hi! I am new to this forum. I got my lapband in 2013. My starting weight was 280lbs and I am about 5'3". In the first year I lost 95 pounds and was down to 185lbs. I never had a fill as my doctor never recommended one. In the last 4 years I have shot back up to 225lb as menopause had set in and I started to lag going to the doctor which was no help. I am now 56 years old and can't seem to budge even a couple of pounds off. I have moved out of the state where I had the procedure years ago and had a consult with the local general/bariatric surgeon about 10 months ago. He agreed to remove the lapband and do a revision to bypass. I met remotely with the bariatric nurse and participated in the orientation zoom meeting. I went for my first weigh in as I was told I would have to start from scratch and in the program and work with a doctor or dietitian for 6 months before they would get approval for the surgery which Iwas more than willing to do. I was turned off by the nurses attitude as she never answered my calls to guide me in the right direction to get started so I gave up on the idea. I feel stuck, depressed and frustrated and I don't know where to turn. My insurance has changed and I can't seem to find a doctor to help me. Thanks for listening. Sent from my SM-A505U using BariatricPal mobile app

I currently weigh 405 lbs. I was banded in 2008 and lost 90 lbs the first year, but anytime I would get a fill my reflux would land me in the hospital with aspiration pneumonia due to reflux in my sleep. So I have been unfilled since 2009 after I decided I was done being hospitalized from band fills. All the weight came back and I am back to where I started at 405. I am currently working towards a revision to gastric bypass. I have so much to lose. I see all kinds of stories of people losing over 200 lbs with the bypass, but I have yet to run across a story of someone losing that much that was a revision from lapband. I have googled and googled but can't find a story of anyone losing several hundred as a revision. So please, if you or anyone you know has been a lapband revision that lost 200+ lbs, I would greatly appreciate the encouragement. I just need to hear that it can be done.

I had the band for 8 years and then it was removed in emergency surgery after it slipped. It has been about 6 years from that point, and I was recently revised to the sleeve. I'm not sure if you're looking for people who have experience with a direct band to sleeve in a short period of time. But if you have any questions I'd be glad to answer them.

When I did my pre-op for my VSG I had loose stools and was gassy. When I did my pre-op for my VSG to RNY revision I was constipated and bloated even with the same diet. Some people experience loose stools and lots of gas with a mostly or all liquid diet. Just depends on your body and how it wants to handle things. Hang in there, the loose stools and gassiness didn’t last forever for me, just a few days so hopefully the same for you!

Than you for posting that. I am planning a revision and was turning more to rny then started questioning my thoughts.

My Doc said the same thing. In fact she said she almost cringes when some opt for the band because she has done so many revisions.

Had my Surgery 6-4-15, best decision ever, don't regret it at all. I had the lapband in 2010 and revised to RNY in 2015. I only lost 30lbs with Lapband and over the years had issues with the band, I'm so glad I revised to RNY I've lost 58lbs so far and still slowly dropping SW 230 CW 172 GW 150 or whatever looks good to me

O

Revisions of all kinds! Please share your experiences!

Parisshel, You mentioned: I just read a lapband blog where the blogger decided her weight loss wasn't "fast enough" so she was going to get a fill that would allow her to take in her calories by liquid only. I just shook my head and thought "that is not the goal here." That sentence right there is the NUMBER ONE reasons for Lap Band complications. MANY here are losing their weight just like this, and THEY THINK they are in the "Clear" now because their bands has not turned on them -- at the moment. They think it is NORMAL to not be able to eat solids, If I KNEW that I would not suffer consequences by tightening my band up to allow ONLY liquids -- I would do this too, but I am not stupid, I've BEEN THERE AND DONE THAT APPROACH and I've seen too many others harmed by this approach, many NEWBIES that are less than 5 years post op will argue -- WELL nothing has happen to me - YET.....sometimes it takes awhile before horrible damage sets in. My advice, the lap band does not discriminate, it will bite and it will bite in a nasty way if the band is tighten beyond the recommended level. Dr. O'Brien put that safety chart out, yellow, green and red zones, describing HOW THE BAND WORKS clearly and MANY still IGNORE IT...and think they can get away with keeping a too tight band and think, it only happens to others....and sadly some don't care, they will just misuse the band until the reflux and vomiting get so bad until it has to be removed in an urgent way and then they will just revise to something else.... And if they revise to another surgery type.....Sooner or later these people will have to "comply" with SOME weight loss surgery, whether it be Band, Sleeve, Bypass or DS...sooner or later they will have to comply and these other surgeries will cost them their life if they don't comply...

Doctors in the South, Florida area are starting not to do the lap band procedures anymore. Their saying, its having too many erosions and revisions. Ugh!! Anyhow, I notice in other states within the US they no longer doing lapbands. Anyone else is knows of this too?

Forget snacks entirely unless they are protein or vegetable. They grease the slippery slope to regaining what you have lost. I speak from experience. I am approaching RNY revision and I will not make the same mistakes again. The pre-op food plan and the (clear/full liquid/puree) stages post op while we are not getting hungry give us the opportunity to establish a new way of eating. If we seek sugar-free or keto snacks we are merely making some substitutes for the OLD way of eating. It's too easy to find ourselves eating sugared and carbohydrate snacks and food when we don't happen to have the "-free" type. Just because substitute snack foods are sold on bariatric sites does not mean they are good for us. If we are wise we will ignore those products. Eat whole foods, fresh or frozen vegetables and fruits, quality poultry and meat products. Avoid sugar, sugar substitutes, wheat/flour products, and processed foods. We can get plenty of tasty food to eat with these choices. I encourage you to obtain and read these two books by Dr. Matthew Weiner: A Pound of Cure and The Bariatric Guide and Cookbook. There are lots of other bariatric cookbooks available, too, including some for Air Fryers, InstaPots, and CrockPots. These will help you learn your new way of eating.

Walk walk walk! It sounds stupid and everyone says it! I flew 3 days post-op. Not painful but exhausting. Wear compression socks and move your feet around. I walked so much in the hospital and didn't have any gas pain! I had a band 1 1/2 years ago and the gas pain was the worst pain I had ever felt. So I walked and 2alked and walked. Worked! No gas pain at all. I am not 5 days post-op from a band to sleeve revision. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi Everyone, I have been absent from here and I know why.....I am doing all the wrong things. Recap- Banded 10/09 @289 Unfilled 02/11 @199 due to slippage Rebanded 03/11 @216 Follow up 04/11 @224---- =( I have been having a party with food since I was unbanded. Even after the revision, once I felt better was eating crazy. Each day I start over and do fine while at work, but once home the grazing begins. I am eating the wrong stuff and so much of it. I feel more out of control than before the original surgery. I also have been smoking again. I took a walk tonight and feel good and hope to do this regularly. I feel like I am on the downward (upward on the scale) spiral. I know what I need to do, just having trouble doing it. I need that excited motivation I had when starting out. Having a lot of stress at work and though my BF is great, I will be leaving my school and home within the next year to be with him and that is weighing on my mind. Nothing is "planned" and that makes me crazy. Just thought some true confession might help by getting the sins out there. Hope everyone is doing well.. Tracy

HI Everyone, :laugh: I am really really struggling...I am seriously having the fight the insurance co & my PCP blues. Pasted below is draft copy of a letter that I am working on to send to the insurance co. and maybe even the insurance consumer division. Although a really tight squeeze for now, I am working on Plan B. Dr. Alvarez in Mexico, 9750 for sleeve. Here struggling...having gained 18 pounds since September 15--all of my clothes are fitting way way way toooooo tightly! Bumming Here's my letter! I just dont know what to do.... Any insight is greatly appreciated! I am not sure if I should be outright saying I want to request an appeal or just asking for an update. Please review and give me your insight. Thanks! Group/ID Number: XOH842901948/H06800 Primary Care Physician: Dr. Derek Kelly Diagnosis: 278.01 Morbid Obesity Procedure: 99241 Office Consultation Referred For: Office Consultation Requested: 12/9/08 Denied: 12/9/08 Services Requested: Consult with Dr. Vitello for a Sleeve Gastrectomy Referral Authorization No. 23,562'Denied (Referral Denied'This is a request for an out of network non-contracted provider with Managed Health Care Associates Managed Health Care Associates 2740 W. Foster Avenue, Suite 411 Chicago, Il 60625 FAX: 773-271-0264 Illinois Department of Insurance Consumer Division 100 W. Randolph Street Suite 15-100 Chicago, IL 60601 Greetings I a writing to formally request an updated status of the referral decision rendered in December 2008. First of all, the services requested are inaccurate. Since October 2007, Dr. Derek Kelly has provided referral authorizations for me to see Dr. Vitello regarding lapband adjustment. From October 2007 until September 2008, I visited Dr. Vitello for lapband adjustments and presented with complications of my adjustments on a monthly basis. Resultingly, September 2008, I had to have emergency surgery to remove my lapband due to slippage. I followed up with post-operative care with Dr. Vitello, who then consulted with me regarding revisional bariatric surgery. In the interim, I informed Maria, of Dr. Kelly's office and contacted the BCBS of IL to be advised of my benefits coverage and protocol for seeking revisional surgery. At that time, I was advised of the criteria for coverage, which I meet now and did so at the time of request, and advised Maria of the same. She advised me to have Dr. Vitello submit the referral authorization and that she would handle the request, as she had handed the processing of all of my prior referral authorizations to Dr. Vitello. Upon mutual interest, Dr. Vitello petitioned for referral authorization for revisional bariatric surgery, vertical sleeve gastrectomy. My last follow up appointment with Dr. Vitello was October 31 and the referral authorization was submitted twice by Dr. Vitello's staff (University of Illinois at Chicago) before warranting a response by the Managed Care Group. This petition submitted in full disclosure, my operative and post-operative reports and medical necessity substantiating the need for the procedure. According to my insurance terms, bariatric surgery is a covered benefit as long as it is deemed medically necessary; this is furthered for revisional bariatric surgery with indication that as long as the first bariatric surgery was medically necessary, there is no waiting period for clearance for the authorization of a revisional surgery. Additionally, according to my policy's terms and conditions, I have been advised of the following: Repeat of a covered bariatric surgery may be eligible for coverage only when ALL of the following criteria are met: For the original procedure, patient met all of the screening criteria, including BMI requirements The patient has been compliant with a prescribed nutritional and exercise program following the original surgery Significant complications or technical failure (i.e., slippage, etc.) of the bariatric surgery has occurred that required take down or revision of the original procedure that could only be addressed surgically Patient is requesting reinstitution of an acceptable bariatric surgical modality. Dr. Vitello submitted his referral authorization to Dr. Derek Kelly indicating my request to reinstitute an acceptable bariatric surgical modality, vertical sleeve gastrectomy. On December 9, I received paperwork advising of a decision of denial for a consultation. It indicated the denial was based on the fact that the services are available in-network and the request was from a non-contracted provider. The basis of this claim request for out-of-network coverage is due to this surgical procedure being revisional bariatric surgery, which is an acceptable bariatric surgical modality. Secondly, the letter advised of an alternative for the non-approved service, to contact Dr. Kelly for a referral to an in-network specialist. On December 15, 2008, I met with Dr. Kelly in follow-up to the denial. Dr. Kelly advised that he needed to submit supplemental supportive documentation along with the referral for processing to secure an affirmative decision. Dr. Kelly then proceeded to review my operative report records from the surgery and reviewed my other health records in my medical file and interviewed me regarding my health status. Dr. Kelly indicated this procedure should take approximately 30 days maximum and to anticipate an affirmative response to proceed with revisional bariatric surgery and that I had his medical support in substantiating the medical need. I have been waiting since December 15, 2008 and to date am more frustrated now than ever. For the past 2.5 months, I have meticulously called Dr. Kelly's office regarding a status update. Maria, the administrative assistant, has provided several updates. The updates have included the fact that the previous medical director retired and was replaced and the new director was then on vacation, to the medical director making request for additional paperwork (which was submitted), to the medical director needing to meet with Dr. Kelly regarding the details of the approval process for this type of referral authorization, to the medical director and Dr. Kelly being unable to meet to further discuss the nature of my referral, to Brenda communicating that there was never a properly submitted referral from Dr. Kelley to the Managed Care group which resulted in the initial denial decision. In my first direct contact with Brenda Blazek, the Referral Coordinator who signed the referral denial letter, she claimed to know nothing regarding my case and further indicated that there was no documentation in my file. When I followed up with Maria with Dr. Kelley's office, she advised that Brenda did not find any information in my file because all of the information was being held by the medical director. Whatever the real case is, this is neither professional nor acceptable in accordance to my patient's rights under section 502(a) of ERISA. Just yesterday, I called and spoke with Maria five times to get an updated status, to exhaustedly be declined, yet promised an update by the end of the work day. I have not spoken with Maria, nor have I missed an update call from Maria. This has been my experience for the last 2.5 months. Below is an excerpt of the fax sent to Dr. Kelly, which was confirmed as received by Maria on February 5, 2009. Maria, I would like to reiterate that on 12/9 the referral authorization stated that the procedure, Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, is a covered benefit in-network; however my request was to have the procedure done by an out of network provider. Additionally, this was confirmed by Tammy on yesterday at 12:50 with Blue Cross Blue Shield that this is a covered medical benefit as long as it is deemed medically necessary. My appointment with Dr. Kelly in December was to have provided me with a specialist referral to have the procedure done or we could have executed an appeal. I think Dr. Kelly submitted an appeal for coverage of the procedure; however, I am requesting to have this surgical procedure done by Dr. Vitello or be advised of the in-network provider who can perform this surgical procedure. Even in accordance to the appeals process, the timeline has been elongated to address issue of medically necessity when that is not the matter'the issue is approval for out-of network coverage or referral to an in-network specialist. I hope this clarifies the situation more. I will call you tomorrow to see if you have an updated response. Additionally, I was contacted by the non-contracted provider's office as a follow-up to the request in January and February. Last week, I advised them of the insurance referral hassle that I have been experiencing and they formally resubmitted their request, directly to Dr. Kelly (attention Maria), to the medical director of the Managed Care Group and to Brenda Blazek. To date, no response has been received; however, they have confirmed receipt of such documentation. Resultingly, I am assuming that since the only official documentation I have received to date is the referral denial, then I am evoking my patient right to request an appeal, specifically an expedited appeal process. However, I am highly dismayed because Dr. Kelly advised that there would be no need to execute an appeal. I would like to seek clarity first on the status and if this is in order, I would like to request an activation of the appeals process and under separate cover I will or will have my attorney to handle the appeals process. Before escalating to that level, I am very much interest in seeking resolve immediately. If and when I need to activate an appeal, I am requesting an expedited appeal process because my health at this point is continually declining and it is therefore imminent and serves my best interest to not further jeopardize my quality of life by waiting for a decision. Since December, the following symptoms I have presented: my breathing has become labored and therefore results in extreme shortness of breath my severe obstructive sleep apnea condition has worsened (hypopnea with severe oxygen desaturation) my acid reflux has returned my amenorrhea has returned and I have again began experiencing tumultuous joint, knee and lower back pains __________________ Originally posted at www.lapbandtalk.com

Hello, I need some help. I am looking into getting a band to sleeve revision. I really wanted to go to Mexico and get this done but unfortunately my dad, who is going to help me finance this adventure, will help me if I go to Mexico. I pleaded and pleaded my case that is was just as safe but he wouldn't listen, Over protective dads, even when the kids are all grown up..lol. Well anyways, I am looking for an affordable self pay revision surgeon. I am not meaning a cheap surgeon just someone who is reasonably affordable. I live in Utah and it is super expensive here. The lowest I can find is $18,000 and the highest is 22,000. I know that there has to be a slightly lower option out there. If any of you awesome people out there know of anyone please let me know. I don't mind to travel, a small vacation would be nice! Thanks everyone

Hi! I had my revision from band to sleeve 11/13. I also woke up full of regret and pain. My husband went back to work today and it’s just me and the toddler today...hope we survive 😂. I’ve only lost 10lbs so far so I’m a bit discouraged. I was hoping to be at 12-23 lbs down today. I am having a hard time getting protein in but liquids are going much better.

I guess i've never heard of a bypass being revised to a sleeve.

I had gastric bypass revision on June 6th. I lost 16 pounds after surgery and have not lost a pound since. I'm very frustrated. Is this normal? Are my expectations out of whack? Sent from my SM-N920V using the BariatricPal App

For a "classic" BPD/DS, I'm not aware of any surgeons in the Boston area that do them - the closest would be in the NY/NJ/PA area where there are several good ones to choose from (Roslin, Greenbaum, Pomp, Herron, Bonnani that I can think of). The SIPS is a newer and simpler procedure so more surgeons are capable of doing it, but experience and technique with it is a big variable with those who have started to offer it, so you need to take a good look at how their post-ops are doing. Unfortunately, being a fairly new procedure, there aren't the number of people around who have had it for a few years as there are with the BPD/DS which has been around for some thirty years or so. Good luck in your revision!