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I know there are people who love their bands, and I'm so glad for them, but so many people do eventually have issues with the band. I had complications that made it impossible for me to keep the band tight enough to have the intended effect - and after having lost 70 pounds I gained it all back. My sister got banded the same day as me and she had a completely different experience. She lost less than me initially, but kept off about 40 pounds since 2008. But recently she's now starting to have issues and can't tolerate the band being tight either. She's going back and forth with fills, but is now starting to think about revising to the sleeve as well. The best thing about the band is that it's the least risky, and that's an important factor. But I've now had three surgeries, which has overall put me more at risk than just having done one, so in hindsight I wish I'd just done the sleeve initially. Is the sleeve an option for you? It's less risky than bypass, but may be more effective longterm than the band.

I can't believe this is really happening. I'm only a week and a half away. Somehow I have gotten lucky and only have to do a 2 day pre op diet (I was expected at least a week). Between now and then i know I'm probably going to eat an insane amount of food. But I'm ready to say goodbye to the foods that I was constantly going overboard on. I'm at peace knowing I'll never be able to eat the way I am now ever again. This is what I wanted in 2006 when I got the lap band. But somehow I've ended up almost right back where I started. My pre lap band weight was 285. I'm now at 250. 50 of those pounds, I gained in the last 6 months. Let's get this show on the road.

My band slipped in June 2009, when I was about 21 mos post-op. The blog post whose link I posted on this thread has nothing to do with that. The damage from decades of reflux was diagnosed in January/February 2012, when I was 4-1/2 yrs post-op. My surgeon and gastro doc agreed that my band was aggravating the situation. My band was removed in April 2012 and I revised to VSG in August 2012. The blog post whose link I posted on this thread describes my 2012 experience. The OH post you quoted sounds familiar but I don't remember when I posted it. Probably in the spring of 2012, at which I point I may not have had all the test results and gastro consults done and was therefore not in possession of all the facts. I'm flattered because you must have done quite a bit of digging to find it. Or you've been saving it all this time, waiting for the opportunity to quiz me about it. Anyway, I'm sorry if I confused you. Yes, my band slipped, and yes, I had damage from 20+ years of reflux, and yes, I had general band problems related to reflux.

Well some of you might remember the complications I had that landed me in the hospital around the 2 month mark, increased swelling, stricture, small hole, kink in the sleeve, etc. Well there is the possibility I will land there again this weekend I'm trying really hard to just make it through until I can get in for another scope which isn't until Wednesday. Over the last few weeks I have had an increasingly hard time eating. I take a bite and I am STUFFED. I have the "full burps" all day long, even before I eat anything in the morning. It's crazy. I dropped 10 lbs in the last 2 weeks! I am under a serious amount of stress so I assumed it was just the stress causing the restriction but usually that only lasts a few days not 2 weeks. So I finally gave in and went by the surgeons yesterday. He is on leave right now so I saw the nurse, then the PA and she went to talk to another surgeon. He said we absolutely need to do another scope. We talked about my acid reflux issues and my previous complications and hospital stay. He then called my surgeon who also called me. Both surgeons repeatedly told me to head to the ER if I get to the point to not being able to keep Water down, which is what happened last time, they both assumed I would get to that point which really stinks. They said the good thing from that though would be that if I was hospitalized I would get the scope sooner than I can now. There was talk again about a revision to the RNY. Honestly I don't get how that could possibly help. I am well below my goal, so it's def not a matter of trying to lose weight. It scares me to think that if they revise me I would continue to lose. At this point I clearly haven't been able to get it to stop with the issues I am having. Good grief, I am in a size 2, I don't want to get any smaller at all. I never even thought a 2 would be physically possible for me anyways. Anyways, from what I gather they think if a revision is necessary, which they will NOT do it unless there are no other options, that it could help the reflux. They said there is the possibility that if there is a stricture, which really I have ever symptom of having one, then it could be caused by the reflux. UGH! I am praying it's just the stress. I do NOT want another surgery, I just want to be normal Things had been going fine, I was able to eat anything and everything just in small portions, and all of a sudden at nearly 10 months post op this hits. Oh and I assume my labs are going to be a hot mess too, I was a month behind in getting them done and finally went in with all these issues I'm having and because I started bruising everywhere. Literally, my legs are covered in bruises and I don't know why.

Thanks everyone. It is very scary and truthfully with how little I eat normally even when I'm feeling fine and only able to eat 1/4 cup at a time, it scares the snot out of me to think of how bad it would be if I get revised. My RNY friends all have food restrictions and to think of me having to deal witht hat too?! I don't know how I could stop losing weight with that. Seriously the size 2 already makes me nervous. I mean goodness, I have 4 kids, how many people with 4 kids expect to wear a size 2!? The surgeon that was there and my surgeon when he called me both said they hope the revision to be the very last possible thing to turn to. the good thing is there are 6 surgeons that do WLS at my hospital and they all get together with each other to discuss the difficult cases so many opinions will go into it. It just really stinks...

Frustrated by a weight loss plateau? You need a combination of patience and a plan to push through it. It happens to everyone sooner or later. Your bandwagon stalls. You’ve been going great guns, fired up with enthusiasm, working that tool, doing all the right things, and losing weight. Then one day the weight loss stops. One day, two days, twenty days go by…you’re still stuck, and you’re wondering what happened. And because you’ve spent so many years failing at dieting, and being told that obesity is always the fault of the patient, you start to wonder what you are doing wrong. You even think, “Is my band broken?” Chances are, you’re not doing anything wrong, and neither is your band. What’s happening is that your body is adjusting itself to the many changes that have happened during your weight loss. The human body doesn’t know what you’re going to do next, be it climb a mountain or relax on the couch, so it has to continually adjust and readjust your metabolism to make the best use of the calories you take in. It looks at the history of what you’ve been eating and how much you’ve been burning off through physical activity and comes up with a forecast of what you’ll need to stay alive for the next week or so. THIS MONTH’S WEIGHT LOSS FORECAST IS… At work I’ve had to prepare sales forecasts for various jobs through the years. How many widgets will we sell in the month of April? How many defective widgets will be returned by unhappy customers who want a refund? Will all this income and outgo generate enough cash (in our case, energy) to cover the payroll and the equipment maintenance and the CEO’s country club membership? I once had a boss who joked that we might as well toss a deck of cards down a flight of stairs to come up with a prediction of which new product (represented, say, by the joker card) was going to be the best-seller. That suggestion didn’t go over big with the finance guys. Like us, they were trying to follow the rules, keep everything identified, counted and categorized. And like the bean-counters, we count our calories, carbs, fats, proteins, liquids, solids, income, outgo, with faith that this accounting system will help us win the weight game. Meanwhile, our bodies have a different agenda: survival. When we decrease our food intake and increase our physical activity, the body watches to see what will happen next. As our purposeful “starvation” continues, the body struggles to accommodate the changes we’re making. It makes some withdrawals of funds from our fat cells and fiddles with our metabolism to prevent an energy (calorie) shortage. Gradually it becomes acclimated to the new routine so that it’s making the best possible use of the few calories we’re consuming. It’s keeping us alive, but it’s also putting the brakes on weight loss. Eventually we find ourselves stalled on what seems like an endless weight loss plateau. And unless we change our routine and keep our bodies working hard to burn up the excess fat, we’re going to grow to hate the scenery on that plateau. AND ON THE FLIP SIDE I’ve suffered through countless weight loss plateaus but by varying my exercise, my total caloric intake, my liquid intake, my sleep, and so on, did manage to finally arrive at my goal weight. For the past few years, I’ve felt mighty smug that I finally got promoted to the Senior VP of Weight Management here at Chez Jean. Maintaining my goal weight +/- 5 pounds seemed effortless. But it didn’t last. Turns out it was time for me to learn another lesson about my body’s fuel economy. When I had all the fill removed from my band to deal with some bad reflux, my eating didn’t go berserk. I didn’t pig out at Burger King, didn’t drown my sorrows in a nightly gallon of ice cream. I was definitely eating more because I was so much hungrier than before – perhaps 500 extra calories a day, which would amount to a weight gain of one pound a week. Imagine my dismay when I gained seven pounds in 2 weeks – the equivalent of an extra 1750 calories a day! There was a time when I could have overeaten that much without any effort at all, but as a WLS post-op, I’d have to work hard at eating that much extra food. I was flabbergasted. And frightened. Obesity was a mountain on my horizon again – far in the distance across my weight maintenance plateau - when I thought I’d left it far behind. So at the end of a visit with my gastro-enterologist during that scary time, I asked him if my sudden and substantial weight gain was the equivalent of my body shouting, “Yahoo! We’re not starving anymore! Let’s get ready for the next starvation period by hanging on to every single calorie she takes in! Let’s store those calories in those fat cells that have been hanging around here with nothing to do! C’mon, troops, get to work!” I’m pretty sure that’s not the way Dr. Nuako would have explained it, but he smiled, nodded, and said, “Oh, yes.” I felt like I was facing the flip side of a weight loss plateau: I might be in a weight gain plateau. All I could do is keep on keeping on with exercise and healthy eating, enjoying some of the foods, like raw fruits and veggies, that had been harder for me to eat with a well-adjusted band. PUZZLING OUT THE WEIGHT LOSS PLATEAU So the good news was that my wonky metabolism following that complete unfill wasn’t my fault, but the bad news was that my metabolism wasn’t in a cooperative mood. I was going to have to start playing much closer attention to the details of weight loss and maintenance again. What a pain! But hey! I’d already had a lot of practice at that. I had the tools – a little rusty maybe, but still in usable condition. I ended up regaining 30 pounds between that unfill and my revision to VSG, but I have a suspicion that without those weight tools, it could have been 60 pounds. And that’s one of the reasons that even today, bandless for 14 months now, I don’t regret my band surgery. The band helped me lose 90 pounds and learn a host of useful (if uncomfortable) things about myself, my behavior, my body, my lifestyle. What about you? How can you get your weight loss going again and avoid regain? So many factors can affect your weight that sorting out the reason(s) for your weight loss plateau can make you dizzy even if you’re not a natural blonde like me. To help you assess what’s going on and what might need to be changed, I created a Weight Loss Plateau Checklist. To access the checklist in Google Docs, click here: https://docs.google....emtSYjJLRnVGTFE The checklist includes a long list of questions about you and your behavior, with answers and suggestions for each question. I can’t claim that it will give you the key to escaping that plateau, but it should give you some food for thought and perhaps some ideas to try. Use that to come up with a plan to deal with the plateau, and work that plan for at least a month to give your body a chance to get with the new program.

I had 5 incisions for lapband 2005 and I had 5 for revision to sleeve in 4/2014

Hello Blondie311, I had a sleeve to bypass on Feb. 3. I had my revision to help with my reflux and it has taken it away. That being said please call your doctor your reflux should not be getting worst.

Hi! Long time reader, first time poster. After several years of researching, I finally decided it was time. I went to a highly regarded surgeon, I completed my six month mandatory (per insurance) wait. I met with the nut, I had my psych eval, I had blood work, EKG, etc. I even lost weight. Then, on my last visit with my surgeon, I happened to mention that I get heartburn every once in a while, nothing that can't be relieved with Tums. He asked about reflux, and I told him the only time it has ever happened, I was eight months pregnant and ate hot wings. He decided he wanted me to have EGD, just to be safe. Wouldn't you know it came back as Barrett's Esophagus ( No dysplasia.) I am DEVASTATED. I have spent MONTHS reading and learning and preparing for the sleeve, and now it's all in jeopardy. My surgeon said since there is no dysplasia, that he would still sleeve me, but I needed to be aware that I may have to be converted to RNY down the line if the GERD gets worse. He also advised me that I was limiting my treatment options if I was to ever develop Esophageal cancer. After a long few days crying my eyes out and discussing with my partners- I decided to go ahead and just have the RNY. I figured I'll do the hard part now, ( longer recovery, etc) than do the sleeve, and have it hanging over my head that I may need to go back in for a revision each time I feel a tingle. So happy to have found you! Elle

I didn't get your email. I'll check my spam folder. I'd live to know how you are doing. Bacca? I used a surgeon out of Dallas for my band and revision. He did an excellent job on both.

Just had my revision from band to sleeve yesterday and I'm feeling great. So much less pain than when I had the band put in 5 years ago. Wishing a quick and easy recovery to all of you 3/16 folks!!

Welcome! I was banded 03/2010,lost 90 lbs. Band slipped in 2011, after a series of unfills, fills, unfills, we discovered that I have a non-functioning band. My choices were gastric bypass, sleeve, or revise the band. I definately didn't want to revise my band, based on the poor stats. I just revised to a sleeve 8 days ago.

Hi all. First post here! Long story short--I have a 10 year old lap band that I'm having nothing but trouble with. My doc said I could revise it to either a sleeve or bypass. Right now I have Aetna, but by the time I do the 6 month diet I will be on Medicare and the doc doesn't know if they cover revisions. Anyone out here have any experience with this? Thanks!

Hi fellow Massachusetts sleevers. I'm in Salem MA, having my sleeve at North Shore Medical Center in Salem, MA on December 9. I'm revising from the band which was taken out in April. Can't wait for my sleeve, I'm just finishing up week one of the liquid diet. Glad to meet you all.

I had a full RNY revision from VSG due to reflux and a hiatal hernia and it really helped me! I wish I had just had the RNY from the start. So happy I had the revision!

Always pack an Emergency Kit: Protein powder, jerky/chicken or beef, maybe some string cheese, nuts, or some trail mix you make yourself with the nuts, some dried fruits. Container of flavored Water. The insulated kits are almost purselike for the ladies, but I think a guy could keep a smaller one in the car or convert a totebag to look like a briefcase to keep these things in. I agree that appetizers can work in keeping servings small. Just be sure they are not heavy in fat and deep fried. I like to order my dinner salads with dressing on the side so that I can dip my veggies in it--I also divide my plate BEFORE the visit and meal experience. This way, I don't overeat or don't eyeball portions as much--split in half and eat the rest the next day. If my date is new, I always try to consume a protein rich meal before that date arrives to pick me up--this way I am full before going to the restaurant, but by the time visiting and driving to a restaurant or event all I want is light meal. Now, if this seems to intimidate a date, then that person may not be a gem--I would understand if my date had WLS because I am there myself. Mine is RNY that needs Sleeve Revision--waiting for auth to get it done. I think the attitude we bring to developing relationships with people and our nutritional habits will determine the successes or the lack of it regarding our WLS. Hope these strategies might help any and all in this situation.

All my adult life till 40 I weighed 98lbs. At 5'4" My ideal weight was 125. I was banded in 2005 at 250lbs. I tried to tell the Dr.'s I didn't over eat, and they told me the band was the way to go, and I knew I didn't want to give up the foods I loved, just the ability to eat less again. Right after surgery I was in alot of pain, Dr. couldn't understand why and kept me overnight. About 8pm my port flip'd and the pain went away. For at least 4 months I tried to convince the Dr. it wasn't working and finally he revised the port. I went on for months and had fill after fill and nothing. We filled with food, without, sideways, laying down, standing up... In 2009 just as my weight came on, so did it leave. I still do not over eat, have to remind myself to eat, just like when I was 98lbs. Although there is no sense of fullness, I do have bouts of pain when I eat certain foods. It dosn't matter how much I chew. I am now under 195/lbs, and since I am now 60, my skin does not retract, and does nothing but hang. I am in a size 12 pants and x-lg top. I choose now, to not loose more weight. Don't get me wrong, I still believe in the band and I encourage everyone I talk to and tell them not to use me as an example. Am I the only person who feels I should not have to pay to have it removed? It never worked, and the pain is always there when I eat. Am I the only one who has this experience?

Most bandsters would disagree with that little theory because I know more bandsters that suffer with horrific non-treatable reflux than I do sleeve patients. I never had acid issues before the sleeve, not even with my band, and I nipped it in the bud around 6 weeks out when I started getting this false hunger, weird twinge in my stomach after I'd eat. My surgeon didn't put patients on a PPI initially either, but as the trend goes more and more people were having issues, and I think his protocol has changed. I think a lot of people don't realize that the biggest issue is that the staple line is healing, and really we don't need hoards of acid bubbling inside our tiny tummies. I was NPO for 22 days post-revision, so my staple line had a long time to heal, plus I was clears for another 17 days, and only had issues once I hit mushies. I'm over 16 months out now and still take my 20mg Prilosec once a day every morning an hour before eating like i have for the last 14 months. I'm not going off of it any time soon either. I like not being hungry, I enjoy not getting reflux, and especially love that I can eat whatever and not worry about heartburn.

revisions always seem to be slower than virgin surgeries. That said, you can always lose more weight by cutting calories....I mean if you're willing to do that (I know I could lose more by cutting them, but evidently I'm not willing to do that because here I sit....still 10-ish lbs heavier than what I want to be...)

My doctor is recommended I have a bypass revision done (currently 5 years put on my sleeve) as I have severe GERD and weight gain. For those that have had this done….. which bypass did they do? Full ? Mini? Or? and did it help? Thanks in advance.

Hi Shrinkingmeme, That darn Lap Band!! My hubby had his for 13 years,which was in the year of 2000. He did lose 100#'s but he is a Large man. He started out at 520#'s so we had expected a lot more of a loss. When he went in for his fill the nurse damaged his port. First let me say his Dr at the time said he wasn't strong enough for the RNY which was what he wanted and needed. She also used a VANGAURD BAND ( he was the first man in Oregon to get one) it was a BIG lap band. So he never lost any more weight and it came to be that he couldn't eat or drink and hold anything down. The VA sent him to a Dr in Coos Bay Oregon to empty his band. Then he tried to refill it but couldn't. He was scheduled for a revision to the RNY. When they got in there the band had eroded into his liver and he had to much scar tissue to be able to do the RNY. They did remove his band and his Gallbladder. He told him that after he healed for 3 months they could go back in for the RNY. Well he developed abcesses bad He was so sick he almost died. He was sick for 9 months and 3 of them he doesn't even remember!! Fast forward to him trying to get the Dr in Coos Bay to get the RNY well he told us he wouldn't do the surgery because he was such a problem child, but he referred him to OREGON HEALTH AND SCIENCE they told him they would do it if he got his A1C down below 8. And lose 20#'s. Well I don't know if you are familiar with Diabetes but if his blood sugar is down his weight is up so he just couldn't get it done. So we went to Mexico June 3 when that Dr opened him up his whole right side was solid scar tissue from his band and other surgery so they did the Sleeve on him. He isn't losing his weight easily for sure. He has lost 60#'s now. I had the RNY and lost all of my weight in 6 months which was 124#'s. I think people should be compensated or at least Dr's should have to make it right!!! I have heard that the FDA may be pulling them off the market and there are a lot of Dr's that don't even do them anymore. It makes me so mad that so many people have suffered because of the Lap Band!! Good luck on your Journey's!!

K, I'll bite. I believe what they are saying is that almost 35% (of the group who were virgin sleevers) and 50% of the band-revised-to sleeve group were still with a higher BMI after 5 years. Basically that they never reached a goal weight that would put them out of the range of "risk" factors associated with having a higher BMI. They were still considered medically obese.

Even with the VSG, weight loss is slower with low BMI https://www.bariatricpal.com/index.php?/topic/399645-Gastric-Sleeve---BMI-31 When I was debating what to do these are the points that helped me decide: * I have a family that I am responsible for, 10% risk vs 1% is too high for me * I am doing for health reasons I will be happy with a size 8-10. I don't want to be a size 4 * I didn't want to be off from work for for 4-6 weeks * people loose a lot of weight with VSG, sometimes too much. I know of a person that did it for 40 lbs. He looks sick. * even if I have to do a revision to the ESG, that I understood it is possible if needed after a couple of years, I would do it again instead of doing the VSG. Sent from my SM-G930V using BariatricPal mobile app

Thanks for the link. I wonder if there's been any other studies to see if revisions are successful for people that had a "successful" bypass, but then gained their weight back.

I don't know anything about revisions after bypass, but just wanted to welcome you to the site!