Search the Community

@ForMyBabies I want to address your questions because I recently had a sleeve revision (12.2.2019). First, I will say yes it is possible and I had a sleeve to sleeve revision with a smaller sleeve. I too had success after the first surgery in 2013 and then regained the weight, plus some for good measure. You talked about eating because you are depressed, feeling disgusted with yourself for eating, and then doing the same thing again because it is almost like why bother anyway. It is a very vicious cycle. I think the first time around I believed the surgery was sort of magic because the smaller stomach means eating less. That seemed simple enough, but the sad truth is the stomach is a muscle and can/will stretch to its original size or greater. However, I never dealt with the things that made me eat in the first place, including depression. I went back to the same surgeon, had many long conversations about the revision, and spent about two years working through some of the mental stuff because the bottom line is - as you said, the surgery is only a tool. Eight weeks post-op I still grieve for what I call my inner fat girl even though I still weigh plenty. I want to eat - EVERYTHING! I am not hungry, but I miss it - pretending I didn't care what people thought, or how much weight I gained. I just wanted to eat and had many reasons for overeating. For me, moving forward means dealing with the issues that makes me eat or want to eat in the first place. Every day I see something and wish I could eat it. Fortunately, right now my inability to eat stops me, but that will change. I need to be ready to deal with when I can and finding different ways to deal with the poorly adaptive behaviors that I used when I couldn't deal. In the long term, I have been advised that revision surgeries have even less success unless I am willing to work on it. I know statistically I am less likely to succeed, but I made a choice not to get on that table until I was ready to deal with the lifelong changes I will need to make to be successful. So far, I am beating the odds with 68 lbs down, but it is a daily struggle not to give in to my inner fat girl who wants the things that I used to think made me feel good. The reality is they never made me feel good and actually contributed to that vicious cycle of eating, feeling worse, eating that got me to nearly 400 lbs. If you decide a revision is for you, I can promise you it won't be easy. You will be confronted by your prior success and also by the gradual things that allowed you to regain the weight again. For now, it is one day at a time. My nutritionist gave me a powerful thought - food is only fuel. You need to eat enough fuel to get you to the next time you need fuel in the tank. I have 6 small meals per day 2-3 oz to get me to the next meal. My silent prayer is for lifelong sustained success in the future. The scale is a motivator but less pain and the ability to move more freely propels me forward. Only you can decide if a revision is for you, but you have to consider all the facts for you and decide from there. It took me over a year to decide to move forward and I had absolutely no pre-surgery weight loss requirements. One day I finally decided I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I hope this helps. epicdreams

Hi all. This is my first post, so please be kind... I am 37 years old and had my sleeve surgery over 3 years ago. It was the best. I lost 150 pounds pre-surgery, and then lost about another 100 after surgery. I was so proud and happy and healthy. I had needed to lose weight for many reasons, but my main driving factor was the fact that I wanted children. So a year after my surgery, it happened. I had to have fertility treatment done, lots of shots, pills, and lots of stress. This, along with the medicine, caused me to gain some weight back. Maybe 30 pounds. I wasnt happy, but i felt it was necessary to become a mom. Then pregnancy happened and I was hit with brutal morning sickness. The kind that lasted all day and only was curbed by carbs. At least that is what I convinced myself. So I thought, okay eat what you need to, but after the baby comes, lose the weight. So I gained about 80 pounds. Yep...80 pounds. After I gave birth I was so disgusted with myself, and that coupled with my hormones and other issues, I spiraled out of control. I had debilitating PPD and ate myself sick. Then, with no treatment, I got pregnant again. This time I was determined not to gain more weight. But I failed. I had convinced myself that Iw as pregnant and I needed to eat for my unborn baby's sake. So now here I am, 2 kids later, and gained back 215 pounds. I am disgusted by myself and am miserable. I know how to lose the weight, i did it before, i just cant do it this time. It isnt working. I am never full. I am a ravenous animal. I eat because im depressed, then that makes me depressed, so i eat more. WTF Anyway, i feel like maybe if I met with my surgeon again and was forced to face him, and talk about revision, maybe that would give me a goal, give me hope, give me motivation. Tell me about revision. Is it possible? does it help? I know that revision will not make a world of difference if I do not get my eating under control. I know that the surgery is not a cure. I need to make a lifestyle change, and I know that and I am ready. This must stop. But give me some positives of revision. Revise the sleeve? Convert to bi-pass? Thanks all

^^ yes - I think that's what they're referring to when they do band over bypass. It's not a lapband. Those band over bypass surgeries used to be a pretty common type of revision, but I don't hear much about those anymore.

Hi everyone so new to this. I had the sleeve surgery in November 2016. I have been having regurgitation for the past 2 years and endoscopes shows that I have moderate gastritis my upper gi showed I have a trace of gastroesophagal reflux. I have used every anti acid nothing works. I am currently meeting with the surgeon to go through revision to rny. But i am not sure if I have to do the six months weigh in due to it only being a revision due to reflux. I have Cigna open access

I don't see how or why a band would ever be offered when the RNY is one of the best surgeries available...? A band is old technology with known complications.. I have heard that the bypass can be revised by overstitch to tighten the pouch up if needed... I don't know what the band will do to help if the bypass didn't do it already...

Has anyone had band over bypass revision surgery? I had RNY bypass surgery in 2002. I lost about 80lbs, but never lost as much as I had hoped/expected. Over the years, I've gained back 50-60lbs. After 5 years of trying everything to lose the weight, I went for a consultation to discuss revision options. My Dr. suggested placing a lap band over the original bypass. Has anyone had this procedure done? How successful was this revision? Has anyone found any other successful revision options?

I am new here and I was revised (so I was told ) May 2018 and I have never felt so terrible , 104 lbs any morsel of solid food causes pain to upper stomach (kidney stone pain x100) then violently vomit and who says no sleeve bad removal , liver nicked port cut thru stomach muscles , non absorption thiamine def , weekly losing 2-8 lbs mirgrane and expected to be ME 48 yr old mom g mom and g ma to be ... in-laws care taker as my moms and I am to now get ANOTHER UPPER G I SERIES -suregeon left New Jersey help

Good evening, Hi everybody, I'm newbie here, currently waiting for revision approval. I'm a Lap Band failure case - Had it in for 11 years (actually loved it - it was a great tool), and got to goal weight after 18 months. I kept it off without much issue, until it eroded into my stomach, and pretty much almost killed me. This was the third issue that I had with the band. Two port infections, lead to port revisions, and one MRSA infection. It was finally removed in 2015, and sadly, now I'm back up to where I was before my banding. I'm currently in my 5th month of 6 monitoring/counseling, for pre-op revision approval for bypass. Unfortunately, I've also since gained 6lbs. since I started that monitoring [during the holidays]. I know that I'm being a bit, "It's my last _______, and I want to enjoy it" . I've followed every class, every appointment, and every health test, but still have not heard back about my "March" surgery date for bypass. I have one more nutrition appointment as required by BCBS, and one more evening 'STRIVE' support counseling meeting that must be done for revision surgeries as per my doctor's office. I'm just panicked that I've been going through all of this, but have not heard anything regarding a yes or no at this point. I'm currently at a BMI of 39.4 with sleep apnea (on CPAP), severe heartburn, failed back fusion surgery, Lupus, Fibromyalgia, and am in LOTS of pain - 100% disabled since 1995, so Medicare is my primary with BCBS of GA secondary. Has anybody gone through the six month pre surgery hoops only to get turned down? I'm just so worried that it's going to be a no go decision. I really appreciate that this page/group is here, and look forward to hearing from y'all! Thanks 🙂

Sorry I never saw this post from you. I did pretty good weight wise but have had horrible acid reflux that the mgb was supposed to fix but for me it didn't. So here I am about to have a revision to full bypass because I can't take the reflux any longer.

How did your surgery go? My insurance denied me so I'm going back to Mexico for revision on Feb 3rd. Since you're from the KC area like me we should meet sometime and chat. Kinda like a support group lol. Are you part of a wls support group?

Only an EGD will give you answers to the condition of your band and whether there is too much damage to do a revision to sleeve or bypass. Many banded people do get revised because of this type of issue. I wish you the best in your medical decisions.

I had a revision from VSG to RNY bypass on Monday, 1/13/20. I had major complications with the VSG, and that was the only option. I ended up with a pinched nerve in my left shoulder due to the position my arm was in during the long surgery, so I’ve been on painkillers a bit longer than planned. Enough back story! Today I’m on full liquids for my seconds day. Not my first time at the rodeo with the graduated diet. However, I’m having liquid poo. Cannot trust a fart (lol)! Is this a concern that I should call the dr’s line over the weekend for, or is this a common issue? I go back to his office first thing Tuesday to get my drain out. That’s the first time they’re open again.

Revise. That’s what I did with no regrets so far. It is really the only long term solution for those of us that have gerd after sleeve.

I'm having revision to RNY as well (plus hiatoplastic and gastropexia). I'm going in on February 25th. I was satisfied with the MGB for over three years until my hernia came back.

I had the sleeve and had a revision for acid reflux. I had to go to Mexico because insurance wouldn't pay and the Dr. recommended the mgb so I got that in 2016 and now I have reflux worse than ever. Guess what, insurance is refusing to pay for this one also so now I'm going back to Mexico for the rny. Had I known the mini wouldn't fix the reflux I never would have gotten it. Because here I am needing a 3rd surgery and having to pay cash, again. I know some people have the mini and it fixes the reflux but why risk it, I would go with the rny just to be safe.

Yep, the black is my bra and the nude is my arm compression garment. I sorta wish they were both MORE restrictive as I find them a little too loose for my liking. My mom tailored the arm garment for me to make the sleeves smaller, but the rest of it is still too big and results in me constantly pulling up the shoulders cuz they keep slipping off. I think I'm going to have to revise my de-swell goal date to July as well. I was hoping to be all bikini ready by April for vacay , but thinking that's gonna happen

I had the sleeve in Mexico in 2011 and then had a lot of acid reflux and found out my sleeve had stretched some. My insurance wouldn't pay for rny so I went back to Mexico in 2016 and was told to have the mgb. I've had even worse reflux than before and found out my esophageal sphincter doesn't close and that I need the rny to fix it. Insurance had denied me again so back to Mexico I go for revision on Feb. 3rd. Never in a million years dreamed I would need a 3rd surgery.

Yes only a surgeon will be able to advise. Revisions are based on other factors besides weight.

people who do it as a revision don't always lose weight - esp if they're a normal - or close to it - BMI, so she may be OK. A surgeon can tell her for sure. It's probably the best option for someone with reflux.

I worry with your current weight you will be too slim to be a candidate for bypass. Only your doctor would know. I had the band for a few years and also had issues with certain foods I couldn't eat. You were very successful with the band, and not everyone is. I wasn't. In fact, I gained 20 pounds with the band and had pain when eating foods like chicken, carrots, or anything firm. I had to revise to the duodenal switch for my body to respond in a healthy way. Now I can eat healthy foods without pain, and I've lost 82 pounds. I was revised in 2017.

If you are having band problems you should definitely consider a revision. And I know you are interested in a sleeve, but you should consider the bypass. First of all, it isn't more severe--in the sleeve they are removing a large portion of your stomach. In the bypass the stomach is sectioned off, but the remnant (the part left after the pouch is made) is still there, and the bypass is actually reversible, while the sleeve is not. If done by laparoscope the bypass and sleeve are about the same risk--actually more people have died getting hip replacements! Did you have reflux before you were banded? If so the bypass is a better choice. Costwise, I'm sure the bypass costs more but I don't know that for a fact. Whatever you decide, get that dang band out and start being able to eat again (albeit smaller portions) without the fear of what it will do THIS time. I know before I got mine out I faced each meal with trepidation--am I going to be able to eat this without throwing up? Whatever you decide, visit often--you'll learn a lot here. Good luck!

I had a band in 09 (went from 310 to 198) it slipped 2015, got sleeved at the same time band was removed, never had restriction (lost 10 pounds), revised to rny last week. Lots of scar tissue, hernia repair. I’ll update once more time has elapsed.

The problem with GERD is - there can be very serious longterm complications because of it as well. Deciding for revision is tough. How much damage to the esophagus did the EGD show? On how many anti-reflux meds are you now? Do you wake up in the middle of the night? Does the reflux bother you during daytime as well? These are all things that need to be taken into the equation when deciding for revision.

Might need a revision

I am lossing weight after surgery (hernia and esophagus) repair. I had my sleeve done over 5 years ago. GERD was not really a planned issue. However, it's a big issue for me. I think that revsion is good option for many. However, I am scared. I don't want other complications. I spent 5 days in the hospital due to complications with these surgeries. Every doctor was amazed at the great condition of my sleeve. I still have GERD. I still spent a month in pain. I still need to lose weight. Help! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G935A using BariatricPal mobile app