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Would like to revise from band to sleeve but am concerned about this reflux issue. Even before having the band I had issues with acid reflux. I have it well under control now by taking omeprazol daily, but am concerned that with the sleeve the omeprazol won't be effective. Has anyone been ableto control their reflux succesfully by taking a ppi after VSG? Thnaks!

I am 58 and about to go for my last surgery. I am 9 years out of my lap band surgery and on my best day I am down almost 70 lbs. I’ve had it all done, breast lift with aug, tummy tuck, and a revision, lower body lift, and many rounds of Lipo. I started with plastic work around 2 years after surgery. I say wait a little while and get close to your goal weight. This is a personal decision. Do not listen to others that have not had the experience. No one else sees or feels the way you do when you look in the mirror. You lose weight and see all the imperfections and want to correct them. Nothing wrong with that. The pain is tolerable and well worth the result. Interview many Doctors and do your research. Find one that you are comfortable with and drag your hubs there to listen and see. He will change his mind. My parents weren’t on board but could see how much happier I was with myself. In the long run, we are all pleased. Good luck.

Question 1- I struggled. There was a time right at the beginning of the pandemic (1st surgery was Dec 2019) where all I could drink besides hot tea was grape powderade zero (hated artificial grape pre-op) and everywhere was out. I distinctly remember crying in my car, like full on grief crying. I had buyers remorse for several weeks after that wondering if I’d ever be normal again. Be prepared with emotional/ therapeutic support if you’re already battling disordered eating. Question 2- A dry cough is indeed a symptom of gerd. For me, it’s now hiccups. If you’ve ever heard those honking plastic chickens just know that’s what I sound like. I did end up having a revision to RNY and hiatal hernia repair. They don’t remove your stomach, it’s still in there, they just bypass most of it and attach it in a y shape to another part of the intestines while keeping a small portion attached. The only reason I have hiccups again is because I have another hiatal hernia that needs repaired. Would I do it all over again knowing the journey I’ve been on? Absolutely. Would I also be more prepared mentally? Also, absolutely.

Hello all! I'm pre-surgery. waiting on a surgery date - I have been approved by insurance but will be out of the country for two weeks in July and told them I'd like to wait until back. I have lots of questions but two of them are below. I'm hopeful someone can wrap their brain around what I'm asking because I have struggled to find anyone who is able to really answer it for me. It's not that they are telling me what I don't want to hear, it's just not addressing the crux of the question. I'm hopeful this will make sense: Once you have WLS, in the first couple of months post op - what is your mind doing? I know people struggle to hit their protein and water goals a lot. I know it's a huge learning curve to adjust to the new stomach and relearn your limits and to feel full faster. But for those of us with food addictions who are looking at this as tool to get us through therapy and really force change - what is your mind doing?? when you realize you can't anymore - are you ok with that? are you angry? are you still craving the food? are you sad? are you relieved? are you satisfied? what is your brain telling you and your heart feeling in those moments as you adapt to not eating foods you used to crave, or if you can eat them how does it feel to limit those portions? I understand this is a tool. I KNOW this is necessary for healing and retraining and to make it through therapy successfully but I'm really wanting to try to know what to expect my mind and heart to feel when this massive part of my life is just ripped away. I am probably to equating it (albeit maybe not fairly) to a drug addiction rehab where they make you go cold turkey... i know i won't have physical withdrawls (aside from minor, potential repercussions while i learn to adapt to the new food intake) but what is my mind going to feel? what will i tell myself? what was your experience? does this question make sense? Also - i've never had problems with Heartburn or GERD beyond any sort of one-off meal once in a blue moon that may have caused a smidge of heartburn but it didn't last long and those instances are few and far between. BUT - I started taking Omeprizole because i clear my throat a lot and a nurse friend of mine told me it's likely acid reflux. I've not really noticed a difference in taking omeprizole so maybe it's not acid reflux and is just a weird habit. Anyway - should I be concerned about developing heartburn? My biggest fear with this is worrying that they might have to revise to bypass and i don't want a bypass. i'm fine with losing 80% of my somach but i'm not ok with bypassing it altogether... any thoughts or experiences anyone can speak on?

I was revised on Tuesday, too! Staci, I had my surgery early in the am and NOTHING by mouth until about 2 pm on Wed...after doing the xrays with contrast to check for leaks. I didn't experience any extreme pain, although I did have one bout of severe gas for about 1.5 hrs later that evening. That hurt like hell and the dr had left orders for morphine if I needed it...nurse didn't give it...only gave the "regular" stuff. I didn't find that out until the NEXT day, so instead, I walked, stood, rocked from foot to foot, etc...and it went away. Probably better in the long run that I dealt with it that way vs being doped and in bed. But t the time, I would definitely have preferred being doped! So try not to worry about the pain...sometimes the anticipation of it is worse than the reality. Right now, I'm VERY glad to have my band out. I think the band was causing some irritation and chest discomfort for much longer than I realized. And to be able to lie down without gurgling, sleeping through the night without coughing or reflux...even WITH the surgery incisions and drain is just HEAVEN!

Please study all my threads - please. Infected ports can and do lead to erosion. An infected port won't give you a fever (well, it might but I never had one.) I had 2 port removals due to infection, and I was diagnosed with erosion this week. I started a thread the other day about the importance of an endoscopy. Is your port inflamed, hot, red? If so, it's most likely infected and needs to be removed. But please don't get all worried because maybe the port just shifted after losing weight. If there's no infection and it bothers you a lot, they can do a port revision. But if it's infected, that means you should keep an extra special watch on your band. You're very smart to have paid attention to loss of restriction, which could be a sign of erosion, but again it just might be a sign of "time for a fill." PM me if you want to talk and I'll give you my number. Don't let all this worry you. I've been accused of trying to scare people with my infection and erosion stories but that's not what I want. I just want everyone to have the greatest band experience possible. Good luck and PLEASE keep in touch with me, k?

I was sleeves in Chicago by doctor Elli in January and up to date I only lost 33 pound very frustrated my sleeve was a revision from band to sleeve. Despite, I have seen successful revision why not me ? I had the revision to be healthy but it seems like it won't happen. My diabetes and blood pressure never went on remission. I went see my surgeon two month ago he assure to me that I had a good sleeve Really a good one ??? So why Am I struggling yo lose the weight then. I am stuck in 195 the scale don't move much it goes up and down and stay in the same weight for month. The funny things is that I don't eat much. When I had the sleeve I was told I will be 130lb not even close to that. It just unfortunate how I lost a part of my body to gain nothing. I had to have iron infusion last week and my protein was low although I drink about 60 g of protein a day. I just don't know what to do it some what very embarrassing hearing your friend saying you have not loss much. Well that my dilemma hopefully someone with the same situation that over come it will help me out. Sometime I wonder I my sleeve was done right but who am I to know since I am not a doctor please I need good advise.

Hey Susan! Thank you for your warm welcome. I look forward to being part of this wonderful forum. When I set out on this banded journey there was so little support. It's grrrrreat to have such a wealth of knowledge based on personal experience. I find that quite often, our combined knowledge, tips and support can be of more value than what our surgeons can offer. Hope this second time round for me (after revision) will be an improved experience with support on my side. Best, Nava

You are worrying too much. Make sure that they are aware you have sleep apnea but know that the people taking care of you are professionals. You won't be the first person that's had anesthesia and suffers from sleep apnea-I actually have it too and had my revision surgery done on 10/18/16. They will be monitoring you the entire time so don't drive yourself to crazy with worry. It won't help! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Yes there are 3! My insurance wanted me to use one of them b/c they are all "in network". Amy Elizabeth Martin Great Falls (406) 455-2821 More InfoRNY, LAP-BAND® Benefis Bariatric Institute 37Dale Mortenson Great Falls (406) 452-0877 More InfoRNY, LAP-BAND®, Revision Benefis Bariatric Institute 12David Rohrer Great Falls (406) 771-8411 More InfoRNY, LAP-BAND®, Revision Benefis Bariatric Institute 96

Startingover, I had my band removed last October and am planning on revising to RNY on 6/11/09. I'm using the same surgeon who did my band and the part of the same team that did my 20 year old daughter's RNY last May. I think you need to get as much info as possible and will have a difficult finding all that on this site because it is designed for lap band patients but obesityhelp.com and thinnertimes.com are two that cover RNY. Also there are books out there and I have read Weightloss Surgery for Dummies and it was helpful for my daughter and myself. I don't think you can judge a surgery by one person's opinion even if it's positive. I've been there with my daughter from day one and she did have issues in the beginning with a stricture where her new stoma actually closed and she couldn't get any food or Water in so they had to do an endoscopy with a balloon twice to stretch it open. That also involved an er visit and two day stay for IV fluids and to wait until the following Monday for someone who could do the endocopy to be there. I don't know the percentages as to how many people get them but I wouldn't be surprised if I were to have one also. Also she has never had "dumping syndrome" and from what I read only 40% of people do but it doesn't also mean she never will some people won't have it until a year post-op. She has lost well over 100 lbs and it was fairly quick due to her stricture but she has tapered off for now. It's been almost a year and I think that's normal. I think there is a honeymoon period where you lose easily and quickly and it can stall. Then it requires more work from the individual. I've also read a statistic that you lose 1/3 of your weight so my daughter has met that statistic. She is only required to take one supplement that I can purchase at her surgeon's office now which is nice. She's able to eat regularly now but she definitely has to chew her food very well! You also are not supposed to drink about a half hour before you eat and I've heard a half hour to an hour after you eat as you do not have a pyloric valve that would slowly empty food from your stomach so you basically are self flushing with liquid. Anyway I hope I didn't mess any of the info up for you which is another reason why you can't depend on a few opinions to decide on a surgery, lol. But good luck and discuss this with a surgeon and ask as many questions even the ones you think maybe stupid with him/her! Take care Nancy.

The band made me constantly sick. It was an easy decision as soon as I found out about the sleeve that I wanted that thing out of me as soon as possible and to have revision surgery to the sleeve. The sleeve is everything the band was supposed to be-small portions and no hunger. The band can completely ruin your stomach and esohagus so I wanted it out before it did so much damage that it could not be repaired.

They did a full Endoscopy yesterday in the main OR and my stomach is totally twisted and kinked, in order to fix is revision is required. This is VERY UNCOMMON and happens in less then .02 % of sleeve patients. :/ I just happened to be in that lucky percent, ugh

Oh Kyle! I hate to hear this! I'm so sorry you have to, once again, go through surgery. What is the reason for the revision? I'll definitely be sending positive thoughts and prayers your way for a smooth and speedy recovery. You already know you'd better keep me updated!! I'll be worrying about you until I hear back from you! Oh how your anxiety must be going nuts right now! Just plz try to stay calm and don't miss a dose of your meds! I set alarms for mine so I have a consistent level of Ativan in my system at all times. We both know how traumatic attacks can be. I was under the impression that your sleeve was doing great, what happened? What symptoms did you get?

'but I wish they had pushed treatment on what they thought was an abscess at the time. Either way, he would be in the same boat he is now, because he was treated, just not as aggressively as they are doing now....' "Any fool can see the danger once the damage is done" - Aristotle I am sorry, But my sympathies are NOT with the medical profession as yours obviously are; mine are with this suffering patient who is lucky to be alive. It is NOT good enough that the doctor made a bad decision, a 'medical call." He made a MISTAKE that has caused the patient great suffering and almost his life. He got his money and moved on. This is NOT experimental surgery. I have never heard of revision surgery over unstable and damaged tissue. This doctor is looking at making a fortune doing WLS. His patient is looking at the rest of his life with problems and pain. My advice: Get a lawyer.

Great article though a bit scary to confirm we we already know ~ that our stomachs will expand to hold a slightly larger capacity, "but" that WLS was always a "tool." A tool that we alone have complete control over. Treat it well & it will treat us well in return. I'm thankful every day for my tool. I'm almost 8 months post revision to sleeve, and this thought scares me. I hope it's enough to always keep me focused!!!

Hi...after a lot of research ,thought and pain I have changed my mind.I am not seeking a revision to the sleeve but in fact a RNY.My lapband has caused my stomach and esophagus so much pain...the reflux is severe.I can't cut away 85% of a very abused stomach.The Gold standard for me... My first time sleeve friend is doing very well with her sleeve.

I am dealing with this band..my insurance is being crappy and it is 2 weeks before I can get a barium swallow and a look to see if my band has slipped or erosion etc.Inwant it out .Still open to sleeve revision or bypass.My surgeon I met with only does 2 part revisions.Band out wait 3 months then revision....I am not sure I want to go through 2 surgeries.

I had the gastric band and wanted a revision to the sleeve, but I also found out I have Barrett's esophagus and my surgeon would not do the sleeve. The reason is the shape of the new stomach a sleeve is made into will cause acid reflux which leads to Barrett's esophagus. Gastric bypass is known to get rid of acid reflux in most patients. I was freaked out and saddened by this, but I knew I didn't want to not have any weight loss tool so I went with the gastric bypass. I have never regretted doing it and my recovery was much easier than when I had the the band surgery. I have never had acid reflux again. I have to have a scope yearly and acid reflux medicine once a day maybe forever. I have not once thrown up or had that stuck feeling either. I had the revision a year ago this coming up may. I have never had to run to the bathroom for bowel problems. I have dumped only once and that was on Carmel popcorn I got for Christmas. My symptom was bloated stomach , sweating, stomach and I had to lay down from being extremely tired. When I woke up an hour later all good, but I wont do that again. I love the bypass!!

I am a band to vsg revision 2 years ago. The acid remains to the point I take 40mg nexium daily and still have break through. Dr has told me recently that I may have to revise to rny to fix the problem. He also told me that he no longer revises band to sleeve only band to bypass because of the acid issue. Good luck. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I think by "user error" my surgeon meant compliance, that in his experience band people were less likely to follow the rules. But with any procedure we have to follow the rules to be successful. We all know that. @@laceemouse Yeah, I agree with that. I just see a lot of people who are forced to have revisions due to band complications through no fault of their own, and others insisting it didn't work because of their "user error". Product liability type of issue. Hehe Sent from my SM-N910V using the BariatricPal App

Actually slippage isn't mentioned in the 2013 study...these were the complications and rates..... "A high number of revision procedures were performed-proximal pouch enlargement (26%), erosion (3.4%), and port and tubing problems (21%)." Happy you are happy and I hope you stay in the 50% with no issues. I never had a slip. I had irritation, reflux and then eventually device broke. I lost as well and I felt great as well for the first 3 years. The point of my post is for people to know that if it does go bad...don't put your head in the sand. Do something...

I had the band and plication on Jan 23, 2012, and it was my first procedure... not a revision or new LWS. So far, though, I've been really disappointed.

Hi Jacksbanster, I was banded back in 2004 and weight loss was great. I went from 322 pounds to 140 pounds. In 2010 my band seem to stop working and i started to gain weight (plus I stopped following the bandster rules) but that is because again I didn't feel I had the control the band gave me originally. Anyway, after gaining 60 pounds I was fed up and decided to investigate if others where experiencing the same thing with the band and if there were other options out there for me to look into. So I did a lot of reading and research and found out about the plication surgery. So I met with my Lap Band doctor and he told me more about this new investigational surgery called Plication. Fast forward, I had the surgery Dec 8th 2011. The surgery was a success, recovery was a breeze, the liquid diet was hard, but I got through it. My first post op visit I had lost 8 pounds. Then I got walking pneumonia and had to go on prednisone - this made me ravenously hungry and of course I regained all the weight I had lost back. I was so disappointed and frustrated that I wanted to die. But my doctor told me that prednisone is know for weight gain and I'll get back on track soon. So fast forward, my next appointment with him I had only lost 4 pounds which did not make me happy because before I had lost 8 and now I was starting all over and at a slower pace. It is now Feb 16th 2012 and I've not gotten on the scale because I don't feel like I've lost any weight. All my clothing fits the same and I just don't see any change and I've not weighed myself since my last fill. I've had two fills since my plication surgery and I'm still hungry (more than) I thought I would be with the band and the plication. This is a different experience than when I had the lap band surgery, the lap band surgery had the weight come off very quickly. I didn't even have to think about dieting I just wasn't hungry. With this surgery (albeit it is a revision of the previous band, new band with more capacity, and the plication) I'm not as pleased as I had expected. With all that said I think my expectations need to be adjusted. I wonder if people who have had the band and have had some type of complication with it (slippage, erosion, etc) it the pouch that is above the stomach is premanently stretched out of shape. I don't have the answer I just know that the experience is not the same. I'm having to really monitor what I eat and exercise everyday. So I eat around 900 to 1000 calories a day, and I exercise on the stairmaster for an hour/ or I go for a jog. I know that I need to incorporate some weight training but I'll just have to get to it when I can. As for your questions above: How was your recovery? Recovery was great. The first couple of days there was a little pain but after that it was a breeze. How soon did you go back to work? Surgery was on a Thursday I went back to work on the following Wednesday. Do you follow a low carb diet? I followed the liquid diet they put me on for about 4 weeks. Since then I've tried everything - right now I'm basically eatting lean cuisines or smart ones. But I think I'm going to try a one week Medi fast - we will see. Right now I'm so hungry between meals I doubt if I can pull that one off. Have you had to have any fills in your band? Yes I've had 2 fills since my surgery and they don't seem to have made that much of a difference. The doctors, are being cautious because they don't want me to get too tight and have another band slippage.. I understand that but in the meantime I wish I had more restriction. How is your hunger level? Higher than I thought it would be. But if I try to stay on an eat every 4 to 5 hour schedule I do okay. How much can you eat before you feel "full" If I allowed myself I could eat a lot. The think is I count every calorie that goes into my mouth. I use www.fatsecret.com they have an incredible food database - almost everything you can put into your mouth in in their database, So that helps. I hope that my story has helped you and I will keep you informed on my progress - I hope that you will do the same. Regards, Willowsdoweep

So many studies on stretching your stomach. It seems to be a rare occurrence. Some may need a revision. So think about it this way. Long term success is behavior change - Slow down when you eat. Stop eating when you feel your new sensation of full. Don't eat to the point you vomit. Drink 30 mins after you eat.