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Thanks everyone for the encouragement! I feel like the sleeve is the answer. I just have to get my doctor to agree! He feels like since there is nothing actually "wrong" with my band that we should try to make the band work with proper adjustments. I understand what he is trying to do and appreciate his honesty (he could always have said -yeah lets do the revision and made $ off of me). But, I feel like its prolonging the inevitable and don't want to waste another x number of months figuring that out. I would rather have the surgery (which I don't take lightly BTW, and am scared to death of), but then I can get on with losing the weight and on with my life.

Hi, I had a revision from GVB to RNY on June 6/16/17 Aka_ET HW-220 Pre-op 194.3 RNY SD June 16th 2017 CW-172 GW-140 HT 5' 3" [emoji120][emoji878][emoji1272] "You may see me struggle but you will never see me quit"

Hey Guys, So I've been having a ton of issues since my surgery 18 days ago on 6/12/2015 m, have been in and out of the ICU/ISCU and am just hoping for some support from other people who have suffered the same complications. Here's a brief overview so far: 6/12 - went in for gastric sleeve. I woke up and they took me out to walk around. Next thing I know someone says I'm bleeding into the floor. I also believe I was taken back into surgery this day. 6/13 - I was told I didn't have a leak in the way I was thinking of it (ie gastric juice in my stomach) but that there was "oozing" from the incision line. They offered surgery again and suggested they could insert drains. Additionally, I was told I had a blood clot (hematoma) at the incision line and that I was losing blood. They had to give me transfusions and it took about 4 pints of blood transfused for my level to stop dropping and then at the 5th it went up slightly. This was an indication to them that the bleeding/clot/hematoma had stopped. I was told it would take several weeks for the clot to be transformed into my body. 6/17 - I was released from the hospital, told to progress normally from week 2 of my diet, etc etc. 6/21 - I had been having some stomach pain all day and thought I just had a lot of backed up stuff that was finally coming out. I was in the bathroom for like an hour and stuff (semi-solid) stool just kept coming. After like an hour of agony, I took a small sip of the liquid hydrocodone and was going to try and take a nap. Within a few seconds of taking a sip my body warmed up and started getting itchy. I looked down and knew something was wrong as I had broken out in hives all over my body in a few minutes. Mind you I had taken this medication for several days prior. I called 911 and ended back up at my surgery hospital. 6/21 - My surgeon took my back in for surgery. I was told my stomach had ruptured again and they tried to seal it but the skin was so thin they couldn't guarantee it would stay together. They also put in 2 drains. 6/22 - They did another sip test and I'm still leaking. I'm on "NPO" which means no liquid at all ever. They put me on TFA or something which is a white liquid hooked up to an IV so I'm not ingesting any food or Water. 6/30 - They did another sip test and confirmed I'm steal leaking. Just to cover a few other things, I didn't cheat and I don't smoke. They want to transfer me out of ICU and to a short term recovery facility. I was pushing to be able to go home and have a nurse come out but I guess there are a few medications I'm on that some of these assistance companies don't want to be responsible for administering. It may be because of the medication itself or having to come to my home very frequently. Not sure. The hospital I'm in said they would probably want to wait 4 more weeks before another swallow test so it sounds like I'm going to be stuck not home somewhere either way. Has anyone gone through these issues with leakage? Could you share your information with how long it took to recover? How will I know when my stomach is no longer at risk of tearing? I'm super worried at this point and don't want to confuse "not currently leaking" with "not currently leading but still not strong enough to resist leaking from 1 extra sip of water." Thanks!

With my sleeve, I took 2 weeks off and needed every bit of it. With my revision to bypass, I was up and doing things after 4 days. Only took a week off, but honestly didn't need it. Still took it, though lol

So let me get this straight.If you have band slippage or erosion then it's covered.?What about the fact that you are having regain,Gerd,other co morbidies and say you hover around 35 to 40 be I are you able to great revision covered.?What is your insurance?

Indeed! I have been in the middle of just that over the past 2 months. I have been struggling with the "last meal" syndrome since I started the process of having band to sleeve revision. Fortunately, my pre op diet starts on Monday and I'm going to do my very best to really use those 2 weeks to regain control again.

sweetie if you can't keep down any liquids then you may be obstructed and in trouble....get on the phone with your docs office and do what you need to do to be heard amanda obstructed postop had successful revision

My starting weight was 303 on my scale. I had the gastric sleeve done on 8-22-2013. My weight the day before surgery was 259, a loss of 44 pounds in 4 months pre-op. Over the next 5 months or so I lost about 33 pounds & then I stalled. Nothing would break the stall. I did lose another 5 pounds over the next 10 months. On 12-8-2014 I had a panniculectomy where my surgeon removed 15 pounds (!) of excess skin & fat. This was covered by insurance since I had documentation of recurring severe rashes under the "apron." I did hit a low of 201 pounds about two months after the panniculectomy but that was very briefly & I have gradually regained to a weight of 218. My BMI was still just over 35 & I still have the co-morbidities, although markedly improved, that I did when I started. I can’t say the sleeve didn’t work. After all, I was down 84 pounds from my starting weight & 95 pounds from my highest weight. When they say patients lose an average of 65% of their excess weight, there are many on both sides of that average. I’m just one of the lower percentage people. So, after much consideration I decided to have the duodenal switch as my surgeon originally suggested. The major malabsorption of the classic duodenal switch still scares me so I had decided to ask Dr Srikanth if he would do a longer common channel when I learned of the single anastomosis duodenal switch, AKA loop DS or SIPS, which has an even longer common channel. He & I agreed on a 300 cm common channel which I am comfortable with. I got insurance approval one week after I completed the pre-op testing. On December 29, 2015, I had a revision of the sleeve, the loop DS & an hiatal hernia repair. Recovery has been a bit rocky. A week & a half ago I spent the afternoon & early evening in the ER getting IV fluids & a CT scan because I was having difficulty getting my fluids & Protein in & was vomiting quite a bit - four times just that morning. Two days later I had a repeat upper endoscopy & my surgeon dilated two strictures in my sleeve. There was still a lot of edema in the stomach but I'm doing much better now. I do wish there was a way to speed up resolution of the edema. I still feel a lot more restriction, especially in the afternoon & evening, than I ever did with the initial sleeve.

Today is my first post surgery appointment. It has been 11 days. Minimal pain. Not a lick of nausea. I have been so lucky! Can't wait to see if I am doing as well as I feel. I has lap band to sleeve revision. Best thing I have ever done! Hope you are all doing well!!

I am also a band to sleeve revision. When I got the band in 2009, that was a selling point - that it was reversible. But, as I started to lose weight, I wanted it to be permanent, not temporarily. Why would u want something temporarily? I thought the same thing. God put this organ in my body for a reason and would I regret losing most of it? Not yet. I'm 10 mths out and don't regret it for a second. 15% is all u really need. Good luck!

When I had Lap Band and Sleeve I had Cigna, they denied my Sleeve but I appealed with my doctor and got approved. Now I have FL Bcbs but no bariactric benefits so in order to get revision approved their rep said I can mention morbid obesity or any co morbidities, only medical complications to see if I could get it preauth.

I am a band to sleeve revision. On Monday, I will be 6 weeks post-op. I had a band for 10 years. If you pull up my profile you can access my story. I explained all of my troubles before the sleeve surgery in that section. So far I have not had any complications and I am feeling really good now. I am back on a regular diet again. I worry about the leaking problems too so I try to follow the food plan and just hope that I don't feel any leaking symptoms. My surgery was done at one time. He removed the band, performed the sleeve procedure, and repaired a hiatal hernia. It's still pretty new to me. Maybe someone else can help you with your questions. Good luck to you.

Hi welcome! I'm pretty new here too but had my sleeve 4 weeks ago and have lost 30 lbs. I have heard its 2-3 lbs per week after the first month, so that would work out to 8-12 lbs per month, which is a nice steady loss. I hope that all goes well with your revision, please keep us posted! __________________ Originally posted at www.lapbandtalk.com

I am so 'happy' to come across this post. I know that's the wrong word but it's just so nice not to feel like a freak of nature and that there are other people out there with the same issues. I'm so glad you had a revision and that it's been sucessful. Like you, I'm self pay and paying for yet another surgery is just not possible. I had a band to bypass conversion on 10th October and from week two, I suspected that I had little or no restriction. For a few weeks I was told 'you'll be fine' and then I had my first visit with the dietician who nearly fell off his chair when I told him I could eat a whole sandwich for lunch! I felt someone was finally listening and they sent me for x-rays and the x-guy said all looked fine ... so that confused me. How can all be fine when I can eat a whole baguette? I have an appointment to see one of the surgeons next week but can't help but think I might be fobbed off. Despite my asking, I'm not seeing my own surgeon (who, by the way has now performed surgery on me twice. Once with the band and this time with the conversion to bypass). I'm seeing his collegue which seems weird and I'm hoping that it's just because my guy is on holiday. Anyway, we'll see what they have to say but as I'm in the UK, I don't have many places I could go and seek a second opinion. If they tell me to go away and nothing's wrong, I'm kinda left out in the cold with nowhere to go :-(

During my initial consultation, I wanted a sleeve. My family was very anti-sleeve because it is permanent. My doctor actually agreed, saying my health was fine and that I didn't need to lose so much weight that I would need a permanent surgery like the sleeve. When I saw my doctor last, I asked about revising to the sleeve as I have concerns about the band longterm. She said again that if I was having no problems, I did not need to revise. Maybe the weight gain since then would change her mind? In the band's defense, despite not being great for actual weight loss, I did not experience many of the horrible complications I have read about online. My gallbladder actually had nothing to do with the band, but with years of extreme high protein/low carb dieting and quick weight loss. Still, I want to lose weight! Maybe I will see what she says. I don't really have time right now for a revision, but I want to be healthy and if that is what it takes... It is hard because she is so glamorous and I can really tell when she is disappointed. Well, I worked up the courage to reschedule the appointment I cancelled this week. I have one in a few weeks. Maybe by then I will have lost a couple pounds from restricting calories? Yeah, that feels right to me! I am shooting for that as I find it difficult to meet Protein requirements (and be a pleasant, functioning human person) at 600-800. If I find that I'm not losing weight, I can restrict down.

Are you going to get a revision? I'm hoping to get the duodenal switch just on my intestines later this year. I want my stomach left as is. I'm 16 months out and the regain only gets worse.

No, I'm probably not going to get a revision as I really cant afford it after paying for the plication out of pocket. I'm kind of bummed out about the whole thing, though. It feels like I'm back to fighting for every pound. Good luck to you if you get the duodenal switch!

Hi, everyone just wanted to say I am home with my 34 bougee stomach and I am wicked sore and tired. The hospital stay was a complete exercise in patience and futility. I am so excited to be done but man oh man I am tired and sore. I hope all who got done on the 12th are safe and doing well. I will catch up with you as soon as I can stand to be on the computer again. OH PS, the revision was the worst part. He went threw my old incision scars and put staples in to close my wounds. WELL one of the wounds is stapled so taught it is pinching my skin and that is making my pain increasingly awful. Got to love liquid Loritab. xxoxoxo

Hi, congratulation . on your weight loss. Just a few questions. I'm going to have a revision from lap band to sleeve. Do u still loses enough weight after having the band. I heard that you don't have the restrictions after having the band like you would if you just had the sleeve.Also did you have ONE SURGERY OR DID U HAVE TO GO BACK AND HAVE THE SLEEVE LATER AFTER TAKEN BAND OUT? Would really appreciate of you information you can provide. Thanks, Joyce

YALL!!!! OK, I am hoping someone can give me some advice. I was banded in 2009, lost 100 pounds, was at my goal weight for about 9 years. Then around Christmas of last year, I started having trouble keeping ANYTHING down. My surgeon said the band was properly placed and had not slipped. He removed all of the Fluid from my band and I gained 40 pounds in a matter of months. My insurance finally approved a revision and I had that done 4 days ago. I had no real pain, just some gas pain in my shoulder and neck. They laid out these tiny little cups and told me to "sip sip sip every 15 minutes". It didn't take long before I had both small bottles of Water drank. I was released the next day and was able to drink 2 cups of beef broth, I ate an entire cup of sugar free jello---last night I ate an entire can of thinned down cream of chicken Soup in the amount of time it would take someone who had not had bariatric surgery. I have not had my post-op follow up yet but my mom had the VSG about 18 months ago and she can only eat about a cup of food. She told me it took her an entire day to drink 1/2 of a Protein Shake. My goal weight is 145 and I am currently 169. (I am within a normal BMI and have no co-morbidity factors but the revision was approved because of all of the issues I was having with the band.) My fear is that surgeon might have been super conservative and made my sleeve/pouch larger than it should be because I don't have a ton of weight to lose. I am just hoping that someone reading this had a similar experience but felt restricted once solid foods were reintroduced. I feel like this surgery might have been a waste of time. Is there anyone out there that was successful after not having drinking limitations immediately following surgery?

I have hypoglycemia and PCOS I take metformin .I am having lapband to bypass revision but really...I am on Dr Ruth organics...I take both supplements and get in fluids..isopure...

I got pregnant 3 months after revision from band to sleeve....we had been trying for several years and my doctor told me that I probably wouldn't be able to get pregnant until I lost about 100lbs. We had stopped trying I was focusing on weight loss......Anyway long story short I am having issues with low blood sugar. I have a few questions and concerns. 1. What have you all done to prevent this? I am eating about every 3 hours. Maybe I need to go to every 2? 2. I am supposed to do that sugar test next week but I honestly don't think I can go from midnight until 8am with nothing to eat....... 3. What about during labor....do they give you fluids with sugar in it? UGH so worried. Other than they low blood sugar I am feeling fine.....just nervous about all of the above. Thank you in advance.

I am currently banded but undergoing a revision & plication this Thursday August 29th! I'm so excited as I've been having problems for such a very long time and I'm ready to get back on the bandwagon!

Wow that's awful! Maybe try a different doctor/hospital. I can't speak for anyone but myself, but when I scheduled my surgery for revision to bypass, I made my first appointment in June 2021 right in the middle of Covid, and my surgery was November 2021. Some additional precautions were taken in terms of visitors, etc. but otherwise went off without a hitch.

no to almanza the butcher. there is a fb page called something like Mexican Weight Loss Surgeons or Weight Loss surgeons in Mexico Thie is a page that does NOT allow anyone to join that is involved with the surgeons, as in, works for thesurgeons in any way. It is a place where people who have had bad experiences can feel free to write about their experiences without hassle. Just google almanza and see what has happened. go with bariatric pal. I hope you are getting the MGB, i've researched it a very long time and it has amazing results, its a short operation and it is reversible and revisable. You get to keep your stomach. good luck.