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ljm - Thank you for the photos. I have been watching your progress since early January. You gave me the confidence to go forward with my own TT. I got insurance approval yesterday. I am scheduled to have the TT on April 18th. I am very excited. My PS said that there may be some concern with the gallbladder scar. May have to revise later, or something like that. Yours didn't have any concern? Mine looks like a zipper. I never knew that it was called that.

Your amazing Jachut. Good for you! I can't get over your tight body! We're about the same age & I've had tt/lower body lift/revisions & 2 boob lifts & I still wobble like a huge bag of jello! It's horrible to see me run. I have to for hockey & it's not easy. I'm the same re: good or bad eating...scales stay the same. :w00t:

Oh great! I am an avid reader and this will be right up my alley. I hope the books are available on Kinle or Ibooks. I am having RNY revision on 8/22 and have been researching everything I can get my hands on.

Please bear in mind that I am a very happy and very successful bandit now 9 years post-op. I do not regret my band, would do it all over again and if I ever have to have it removed, I would hope to have a replacement. When I was banded in 2006, it was a miracle surgery. And for some people, who accept that they will still have to work hard, it is just that. It was and still is for me. But over the years it has become clear that serious complications necessitating further surgery are much more common than originally thought, some of these are avoidable by careful eating and by not keeping the band tight; unfortunately others are beyond our control. We used to be warned about band slips, leaks and about ( very rare) erosion into the stomach tissue but it turns out that a build up of scar tissue round the band (causing it to tighten) is quite common. It can be very difficult to get the right level of restriction and some people are tempted to keep it tight enough to physically limit food, in fact it was once thought this was how it should be. But this causes food to back up into the oesophagus and that risks problems such as oesophageal dysmotility which may be irreversible. It can also damage the vagus nerve. Quite a number of doctors have stopped implanting bands as they found the removal rate was unacceptably high and it was too easy not to lose enough weight. Revision from band to sleeve is not uncommon! We still need lots of will power. The band makes it easier by dimming hunger, but it does nothing for head hunger and, contrary to popular opinion, it does not and should not physically stop us eating. If it does it is too tight! Having said all that, I love my band, I know many successful long term bandits in real life. My own experience has been good and so has that of almost all those I actually know and have met. But don't rule out bypass. For many people the element of malabsorption is a key factor.

Really? I have a yellow topaz pendant. That's my birthstone. Why isn't it available? I used to be that way, too. Then I had kids. :what: They're old enough now, though; I should revise my earring wardrobe. Seriously? That's depressing. I hate hate hate makeup. Why oh why does the world want its women to be painted? That's a great idea! My anniversary is next month, the day before my rebanding. I told my husband this must be the silicone anniversary and I was getting a ring!

My revision was 4/11/13. What they found was that the stitches failed when the band was put in 3/05/12. I never had a working pouch, it was <1 cm from the esophagus and I vomited daily from when I moved from liquids to food at 2 months post band insertion. I had ulcers from the chronic vomiting visible on the upper endo prior to my revision surgery 2 weeks ago. My pain has been significant. I am still on Lortab. Today is the first day I was not feeling fire stabbing in my abs to get out of bed. Pain IS decreasing, I have real nervous energy and my hunger is little to none. I did have a fever that went to 100.2 in the first week, labs came back normal. It was just my body reacting to the trauma of surgery and that I have an allergy to morphine which we discovered while I was in the hospital 2 days. I have dropped 11 lbs and 1 pant size already. Good luck with your upcoming surgery. I feel so blessed to have not vomited since 4/09/13 after a year of it being my norm.

I'm also revising from the band but not until May 31st! So you will know before I will. Lol. Congrats and good luck!

Thank you. If I do end up getting a revision, I will tip toe into solid foods. Dumping does not sound like a good time!! I appreciate your response!

I asked my Dr. and his very good nurse about the same thing and I was told yes stress can cause the band to tighten up. I asked my friend a nurse this same question she said that when we become stressed and I mean very stressed our internal organs can swell up. I get stressed and boom the band tightens up like a vice..I was told if this happens to go back on the clear liquids for a few days until things settle down. I ahve had so many fills and then un fills as I call them it is not even funny anymore due to this. The last one was about two weeks ago. I seen a new Dr. in May and he did not fill me, he just checked me out. I started to cough at night and get reflux my last fill was in mid March so I know what I was experiencing was not from the last fill. The new Dr. said that I am a crammer a packer that I eat and gulp my food, well I ahve never done that not in my entire life. I eat slowly and chew very well more so since I ahve been banded. He also told me I had a mega esophagus well without the upper GI unless he had x ray vision there is not way to diagnose that and well my esophagus had been dialiated a few times in the past but it was diagnosed after the swallow test was done. He started talking about how the esophagus could rupture and I could die and how I needed to have surgery and a revision well I don't think so. He took out 1 cc and well I have been fine ever since and am I going back to him?? oh heck no I am going back to my original Dr. that did the band and I should have never left his practice and di the other Dr. ever order up the GI test? no he did not I have not heard back from him or his office. So don't let anyone tell you that your doing stuff that your not doing at all.

hi and congrats ur approved for it. iam in thhhe preop process adn indeed havean upper gi series planned for mondday a.m.i am seeking revision surgery to to a failed byppass. iwll have lapbanding as my pouch has stretched out and i hav e 3 comorbidities. i acant wait to get started i hav ebeen gaining due to meds i am on. ouch.

@CurvyCakes you will be a day after me on this revision. I am glad that your doctor gave you some idea of what to expect weight loss wise and that eases my mind a bit. I have at MAX 20lbs to lose before I start looking sickly. Keep in touch on how you are feeling with your journey!

I am having my band to VSG surgery tomorrow morning and I just want it to be 24 hours from now and it will be over. I know this is normal but man, I was not this anxious and scared with the band surgery. I think a lot of it was kind of like having your first baby, you are scared because you don't know what to expect and with the second your scared because you know what to expect. Except with this, I have the added worries that I have scar tissue from the band, major organ getting removed, etc. So its not really the same thing, right? The following is my post on my blog today. I thought I would share it over here also. Hopefully any new followers will look back on my journey and realize that I've had a Lapband for 15 months and not think that I am a crazy person trying to become anorexic by getting VSG! Even I look at these pics and think "I think I look pretty good right now and I'm so close to goal. Why can't I just be like everyone else and have a band that likes being inside me and lets me continue to lose and maintain my weight!" Honestly, if my band would behave, I would stay at this weight even though I am not at goal. The problem is, it doesn't and I cannot maintain with an empty band. Been there and tried that. Not happening. Believe me when I say that I did not make the decision to have my band removed and revised to VSG lightly. I have and continue to agonize over it but I am putting myself into my doctors hands tomorrow morning and I know I will be ok. Here are some pics from my journey so far. I apologize for the pics that I took of myself today...my husband/photographer is not home right now and I do not own a decent full length mirror! A few days before Lapband surgery - March 2010 213 lbs. Day before Lapband removal/revision VSG - June 2011 160 lbs. Please wish me luck tomorrow!

Hi I'm Traneé from Houston Texas! I'm scheduled for a revision from lap band to rny next Tuesday April 30th due to a slipped band. Very ready to get this band out and start on my new journey with rny!! I'm considered a light weight so I'm a little worried the weight won't come off as quick as it should :-/ Thanks, Traneé

I will be having sleeve to bypass on April 10 due to excessive acid reflux. Of course, I am going for the trifecta because I had a band to begin with and have already been revised once. Insurance has already approved me, but info on this is so hard to find regarding changes and weight loss expectations

Hi there! I'm being revised from sleeve to RNY 4/11 due to severe GERD. From what my surgeon explained revision to RNY lose about 50% of their excess weight on average. That number could be more or less based on the individual. We are expected to lose at a slower rate than with our original surgery. There are some revision folks that loss quicker than their initial surgery but again we are all different. Pre-op and post-op diets also vary surgeon to surgeon. I have to do a 1 week liquid diet prior to my revision yet another person I follow on a different site only have to do liquids for 2 days prior to surgery. Wishing everyone much success on their upcoming WLS journey be it your initial surgery or a revision.

How much would it be here for a sleeve revision? I had a sleeve 2009. Lost 40 pounds. Gained 30 of it back.

No regrets. Coming up on 6 weeks post op. No gerd from my vsg after the revision to bypass. Weight loss satisfactory. Equivalent to the sleeve. I just broke a one week stall, and dropped another 1.8 lbs. What is interesting is I had heard horror stories about "never trust a fart" lol and bowel problems. I almost decided against it but surgeon said I had to fix my gerd... But maybe cause I no longer have severe gerd, everything is literally normal. I feel no difference than before any of my WLS except I get full after a few bites. Having said that, I am early on and hope this positive trend of health continues. I can handle stalls and working to get the weight off but am always scared of leaks and other serious complications down the road. Sent from my SM-N986U using BariatricPal mobile app

Me too! I lost a 100lbs and had a TT and all bat gained it back again. I was hoping not to have a revision as it was a difficult surgery although I recovered quite well not I've never been balanced on both sides completely as my surgeon also did Lipo on my flanks and they are not completely symmetrical but it's not noticeable under all my extra weight.

I was very fortunate that the surgical center where I had my sleeve also had a plastic surgeon that specialized in post weight loss skin removal (he also assisted on my sleeve surgery, so I had an existing relationship). I thought about having additional consultations, but I had absolute faith, so opted not to see anyone else. I was 100% self pay for all of my surgeries, too, so I did contemplate going to Mexico, but ultimately, I was more comfortable staying close to home even if it was going to cost significantly more. From everything I read, it seemed like most people who were unhappy with their results, went in with unrealistic expectations. In my consultation & in my pre-op visits, I made sure that I understood what he was going to be able to do… and each time, the results were better than I expected! When you go for your consultation, be clear about what you want most as it's possible they'll recommend more than one surgery. Make sure you understand what is included in the price they quote. Does it include follow up visits? Will they correct dog ears or scar revisions if needed? Everyone heals differently, so if time off from work is an issue, I suggest planning for a long recovery (I'm big on hoping for the best but preparing for the worst). Make sure they're going to be available to you if you have more questions after your consultation… you really need to feel 100% comfortable with your team! Best of luck to you. It's expensive & the recovery is rough sometimes, but it's totally worth it!

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.

Hey all! I'm new to this forum but a lot of the topics have really helped me so thank you!! I actually had a Band to Sleeve revision 6 days ago. Everything is going great so far.. No real pain.. Been doing clear liquid diet now since my surgery. I'm wondering when you all made that transition from Clear liquids to full liquid? My body is craving nutrition.. I must only be getting 150 calories a day right now. I know all surgeons have different plans but I feel like my body is ready to advance. I'm very weak too which is what bothers me the most. So far I've lost 18 pounds since my weigh in last Monday which is insane. Would love any advice I can get! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I Hope they can give you the fill you need, I need one bad. I just found out in December my port is flipped and they couldn't give me a fill even after trying to find it several times. I go in tomorrow for my port revision and I pray it doesn't happen again. I can't wait to get back on my lossing weight!

I am going to do revision if all goes as planned from band to sleeve however I'd like to lose approx 19lbs. Is that even possible with the sleeve? When I go in on the 21st again I will talk with my Dr. She did my band and seems to think sleeve would be a good option. I do not want rny but is that the only way to lose that much?! :/

I think you have a point here, lap band "problems" are mainly due to not having restriction, bad aftercare, can't afford fills, being unfilled from being too tight etc...MANY PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT THE BAND that is a FACT....for being annoying if things aren't right. However, what I found and by those with the Sleeve, that have ISSUES just deal with it, or have their GI docs to deal with all of their reflux issues and heartburn and nausea...and honestly after someone gets the Sleeve they really don't have to deal with their surgeon any longer...Surgeons are cutters... However, they have to constantly "DEAL" with long term lap banders and their "reflux issues" because when the band is damaged --ONLY the lap band surgeon can treat and manage reflux by either unfilling the band, or surgically fixing the pouch or a revision surgery... There ARE MANY Sleevers that have reflux issues...MANY...in fact surgeons suggest those who have issues with refux from the band are advised to NOT get the Sleeve, the Bypass is recommended if they are considering a revision from the Band. I have a few Sleeve friends that told me that don't have any reflux or dumping syndrome...but some say they get this the further out they get... The biggest complaint that I see with my friends that revise from Band to Sleeve is that you have re-learn the restriction and they have tighter restriction with the band than the Sleeve...however they also say they can eat better with the Sleeve -- but ALMOST ALL say they still get hungry.... I am not too quick to do the Sleeve because my older sister had the stomach stapling surgery 20 years ago. (SIMILAR TO THE SLEEVE) restrictive only..she's never really been hospitalized or had any dangerous life threatening complications, -- HOWEVER, I've seen her suffer from stomach pain EVERY SINGLE DAY for many years, not enough for hosptiization, but enough to be annoying and she vomits often, and she fears those staples will cause some issue eventually, which that had --she had a revision surgery 8 years ago..but still did not lose enough weight... Also she still have a "little" restriction, but not enough for weight loss and she gained all her weight back years ago..and if she wants to lose weight she has to diet and exercise because there is nothing she can do at this point. That's my fear with the Sleeve, after about 2-3 years, the Sleeve stomach WILL STRETCH double it's size in capacity and you really can't do anything after the Sleeve stretch but revise to the Bypass or DS or get reSleeved which I hear is very dangerous since many don't have enough stomach left to do anything, but the stomach will stretch too much for it to help with weight loss. I guess it's a personal decision on which direction someone takes...NO weight loss surgery is perfect...BELIEVE ME...I wanted to revise to the SLeeve...even tho I did not want to get my stomach removed...but I really did not see a benefit and I DO NOT want dumping syndrome the rest of my life...to each his own.

Im hoping we can work together on this let me tell you a little about my story -- LAP-BAND® 9/2005 02/06 - slip 03/06 - re band throught the past 5 years I have STRUGGLED and the ONLY time i lost weight was when the bad was so tight I barely could drink Water. One day I would be able to eat yogurt, the next day it would get stuck -- it was this way constantly and Id never know what i coul or couldnt eat unless i tried - so in teh end I have a band with 1/2 fill so i can eat normally but it defeats the purpose of even having TWO surgeries because here I am weighig in 10lbs les then my 1st surgery and 10 more then my second.... Just went to the Dr. yesterday and he suggested I look into the bypass revision. He made it sound really good but he also didnt leave out the fact that because it is a revision - the risks are automatically higher for compications. I sit here wondering if my body had this many compications with a simple band who will ti react to a bypass? Maybe I will do great with bypass and i will finally see results Ive been striving to see forever what is I am the 15% that thigs go drastically wrong My job now covers this revision - if I waitr health care might change ................................... I too dont know what to do! Complications? What kind of complications? Like is its "dumbing" more often.. k I can handle that.. If its leakge... that can cause death.. IDK I wish I could survey 100 ppl who had this themself! Help for us both What ever we decide , we r not alone! sry for typos - at work tryign to do this fast w/out boss seeing XD Lisa (yes im lisa as well)