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i'm so sorry this has happened to you. You have done such a great job with your band. Can they tell what caused the slippage? Will insurance pay for the revision? I'm courious because i don't have the same insurance that i had when i got my band and my new insurance doesn't cover WLS. I completely understand about the food cravings..... i had all my fill removed 4 1/2 weeks ago when i got my Tummy tuck and i feel like all the "bad" stuff is call my name.... Chris, come eat me while you can....lol The other day i ate a hot dog with bun from sonic... OMG it was so good. and i ate pizza with the crust... this has got to stop... Please keep us posted ...

Thanks ladies I appreciate the support. Bayougirl, did your surgeon say why he needed to unfill your band for your tummytuck? My PS did not unfill my band before my tummy tuck surgery...he said it wasn't necessary. Since it is not clear as to what caused my band to slip I am wondering if the tt surgery had anything to do with it. My band slipped 4 months post tt surgery. My insurance will pay for the lapband revision so I am grateful for that. Thanks for sharing your experience Jean. Having more problems is what I am afraid of if I keep the same band. Is your dialated esophogus issue possibly related to the previous band slip? I understand your point about the 4cc band being too small for some people, but I actually thought it was the perfect size for me. I always thought the bigger bands would be too big for me. I have lots of questions for my surgeon regarding the different bands as well as the gastric sleeve procedure. I plan to have answers by the end of this week so I have some idea of how I want to proceed. Thanks again ladies!

My band slip was cured by a complete unfill. I had another complete unfill 4 weeks ago to treat a dilated esophagus, and I feel the same as you. Suddenly foods that I'd lost interest in are invading me again...I feel like my food demons are having a wild party in my brain. Some foods that had been tasting bland to me taste fabulous again. It's definitely showing me how my band had been doing for me (and that I was taking for granted). I also have the old 4 cc Lap-Band, which I think is still manufactured but sold only in Mexico. I haven't had much trouble getting fills that are manageable. I'm not sure it's been proven that having one slip predisposes you to another one, but I understand you feeling that way. My current surgeon did tell me that (in her opinion), the 4 cc band is too small and too tight, even without fill in it. Now she won't re-fill my band, and as much as I love the band, I've decided to revise to the sleeve (fortunately, my insurance will cover the revision). From what I've learned so far, the sleeve eliminates physical hunger but doesn't provide the early satiety or appetite suppression I've experienced with my band. If I were you, I'd be tempted to revise to a bigger band, probably the Realize rather than the Lap-Band. Good luck! I hope you get good news at your next upper GI. Jean

HI all -- I am worried! So I am one month post-sleeve revision (from the band) and today was my first "food" day. Being the contrarian type, I decided to "test" the waters, as it were, by eating "more than I should"....but I am not feeling restriction!! Here's what I had: Believe me, this will not be a habit, and I've asked hubby to throw away all tempting food items. I started with chicken - about 1.5 oz....went down great - in fact, in my 3 years banded, I was never able to get chicken down. So I was glad. BUt I still felt "hollow" so I went on...had some cherries. WOrked out great. Then had some of my son's salad (with croutons and cherry tomatoes). Still great, a bit hollow. Then, I lost it! I was feeling so "good" -- and worried about it (why can I eat so much!!) that I had a granola bar, graham crackers, little PB cups and mini chocolates my poor son brought back from a birthday party -- and still, not FULL!! I know I'm not "supposed" to eat this stuff, but I thought I'd get restructoin (you know, the negative reinforcement??) WHAT GIVES??? Is this supposed to happen?? It's also my 2nd day of monthlies, and while on band, the monthlies usually triggered total openness and ability to eat (except for chicken). But I Thought the sleeve operated differently? Thanks in advance for your thoughts! I'm really worried.... Danielle

hello, I too am a revision from band to sleeve...we have to be more careful as it was a longer surgery...my weight loss is very slow...i had started weights at 6 weeks but got a lot of swelling.. first few weeks are tough but soon you will forget them. so now i am being careful.i dare not ruin things by being careless...what is the hurry..i can wait few weeks... all the best to you both.

Shoot, today I have a tiny red patch below the incision and just a little itchy as if I'm allergic to the tube. Me and my friends are keeping eagle-eyes on it. If it gets any redder or warm, I have an emergency round of antibiotics at home (thanks, Donali!) I know my own body better than any doctor, and it feels exactly like an allergy. I'm taking two Benedryl tablets right now, and my friend is going to track the time and incision to see if the redness goes away. But why have I gone 6 months with no redness or irritaton? And isn't it strange/odd/coincidental that the wound closed up for 2 days with no leaking, and during that time it got red? As if the liquid needs to come out or the tube gets pissed? Sonia, none of my posts are meant to scare anyone. I live on this board for answers. These people have saved my life. I'm actually glad to go through all these problems if it means someone else won't have to suffer one day. I don't mind being an experiment! We're all glad you're researching beforehand. It's important to know that there are risks involved. But please know that even after all I've been through, I'd be banded again in a heartbeat. As far as my problem being unusual, yes, that's true. But even so, you have to add my possible "rejection" into the list of potential problems. Maybe erosion is only 1% nationwide, but if you add up all the infections, slippages, port revisions, rejections, etc., that risk goes up. But lots of stuff can be corrected without removing the band. I didn't know who Lindsey Lohan was, so I checked her out. That's a total compliment! She's hot! I better post a new pic of me soon, cuz my avatar is that one special pic that is really cute but doesn't look like me. That's why I keep it there! And NO, I'm not kidding about my port being missing. I need to call Dr. Kuri's office and see if they know what happened to it. Maybe Inamed received it but here's why I say it's lost: Craig Arthur at Inamed needed the serial number, so he called Lopez's office since the serial number should be in my medical file. Inamed was unable to get the information from Lopez (scary, huh?) I didn't chase it any further though. Then when Kuri took out my port, I was under the impression he had to send it to Inamed. But if Kuri sent it to Inamed, then why is Craig Arthur having trouble getting the serial number? Hmmm.... I've heard "rumors" that Mexican doctors use cheaper ports, and that issue was addressed to Inamed just recently. They stand firm by Lopez. As far as I'm aware, I have an Inamed band. Even if China or Japan made a new band, how would one tell the difference between the the fake and the real one? All valid concerns. Shelly, I always get so excited when you jump in. Thanks for showing up!

I've seen the same thing. I think people become very defensive of their procedure. I think I know the exact thread you are referring to as well. I think a lot of doctors do call it a DS as it is a modified DS procedure. I had mine done by Dr. Jawad at Orlando Bariatric and Laproscopy. It was a robotic procedure to boot! The procedures offered were thoroughly explained at the info seminar and at the first appointment when you determine surgery type. The biggest advantages are the pylorus is intact reducing dumping syndrome, lessening the gas and diarrhea issues and because it is a bit simpler the the surgery takes less time, so less time under anesthesia and a quicker recovery. While it isn't really a "new" procedure it is kinda the new kid on the block. All WLS procedures were new at one time and doctors and researchers spend hundreds of hours improving them. My doctor's office no longer performs the lap band because the long term results on many require revisions.

Part of the issue is accountability and the other part is identifying the issue and taking steps to address it. I'm 225 lbs and can't eat as much as you in one sitting. I think you need to address some addictive personality traits before you consider any revisions. You need to start small with making better choices when eating, and I do mean small adjustments at a time so it becomes sustainable over time. However soda and french fries should never be part of anyone's diet. You have to remember a point where it started to spiral out of control and you began to regain the weight. Go back to that point and identify what caused you to start making the bad choices you have been making when it comes to food selection. I know boredome and stress are big triggers for me. It's good you identified that your are beginning to derail now than later on down the road. Now it's time to put on your big girl pants and crack down on yourself and your daily intake. No amount of surgery is going to help you until you address the other issues making you eat badly.

Why do you think you gained the weight? And why would you think a revision would be the answer? Sure, you may lose again with a revision, but it will come right back if you repeat the same behaviors that caused you to gain in the first place. Just keeping it real.

Aww are they revising your mind? Otherwise I can't see how that will help in the long run. What's stopping you from regaining after a revision.. your still the same person.. I'm confused.

My surgery was over 3 times longer than it should have been for a Band removal revision to RNY. I arrived at 6am, was in prep by 630 and was in the surgical suite by 730-800. I was awake and coherent before around the same time my bed made it back to the recovery room. My family was allowed in at that point (once I was awake) From there I did a little light walking, then I was wheeled up to my room within an hour or so. I was then in my room for the rest of day 1, 2 overnights and I was home before 1pm on the 3rd day of my stay.

Hi Banded 12 years ago UK and got to BMI <25. Had band removed as it failed mechanically. Regained weight. Waiting for a date for sleeve revision.

Had my band out 1.5 yrs ago. I was successful for 5 yrs but it slipped. I have tried so hard this last 1.5 yrs but the weight keeps creeping up. I have finally decided to get the sleeve. I'm nervous about long term complications but I can't stand this anymore and need the help. Anyway. That's the very short of my story.

My doctor did the sleeve revision the same time as removing the band. I had gain about 10lbs from Oct to Jan when he removed all the saline from my band. I went in to the hospital on Jan 13 2014 at 185 and Im now down to 173 as of today. He said he didn't know of any reason he couldn't do the sleeve at the same time unless there were complications, obviously there wasn't any.

August 5th here! I'm having a revision sleeve to bypass.

HI Everyone! I'm new to this site. I'm a former Lap Bander -- had emergency surgery to have it removed on May 15. I wasn't able to eat or drink anything and was in horrible pain. I was already schedule for a revision surgery on June 13 but my band slipped and so May 15 it came out. Now I have to wait until September for my revsision surgery. I'm excited and neverous. I'm nervous bc I don't want to have a horrible experience like I did with the band. I was always having trouble and was in and out of the hospital for the past 9mo with band issues b4 it acutally slipped for good. So with this new surgery I'm hoping that life gets easier and the weight ACTUALLY comes off!! The whole non-reversible thing has me a little uneasy but I have to do something or i'll put on what little weight I lost with the band!!

Here is instructions for the ticker Tiff posted it a few days ago. There is not a truly simple way to do BUT I can give you the step by step instructions I followed to get mine: Click on your Name at the Top of the Forum A drop down menu should appear. Click MY PROFILE From there, you'll need to click on CHANGE SIGNATURE. NOw, open a New Tab or New web browser window and go to www.tickerfactory.com Make your ticker to your liking with A PIN, so you can edit it later. Once the ticker is made and you are at the "code" page. HIghlight, and COPY the entire bBcode. Come back here to where the Blank signature box is, and PASTE that code into the box. Add whatever other information you'd like, and then hit SAVE CHANGES. It will give you a Preview of your signature, if it's too your liking, it'll show up on your posts. If you don't like it, change it and save it. If these steps do not work, contact the site administrator for further technical assistance. In the future to edit your signature, you can just click on any of your posts that has your signature ticker on it, and you'll need to enter the PIN and edit your weight loss stats. it will auto update if you refresh the web page here. If you don't want the truth, don't ask me. If you want something sugarcoated, go eat a donut. LapBand 10/01/08 Band OUT, Sleeve done 06/03/09 Dr. Michael Michel M.D. Highest weight-270, revision weight- 263, goal weight 150 (hit that in 6.5 months with the sleeve alone) current weight- 125lbs and maintaining since April 2010. You can also find me on Facebook with this link, PLEASE just tell me you are from this site or I will deny the request: facebook.com/sparkleandcharm

Anybody have experience with them for revisions from Lapband to Bypass?

I really don't know how long it will take to stretch out your pouch. I'm jsut recovering now from revision surgery where I have been eating as a good bandster. I still need to slow it down somewhat, but my pouch was HUGE...no idea why it was so big. My band has been empty fort he last 6 weeks so it's really a mystery to us. I don't htink the band itself can stretch though. I will say, if you have to have your band reset, recovery from that is easier than the orgiginal surgery. The progression of foods is a bit faster though I'm too afraid to try anything. It is really the best thing to go slow with fills as the damage that can be caused from being too tight is really quite painful. Hope all is well in this thread

I am happy and scared at the same time! I am so scared of complications!

1. Doesn't involve putting foreign matter inside me - i am both a cancer survivor and have multiple auto-immune diseases. Titanium staples aside, i want NO foreign matter inside my already overly-inflamed body. 2. Simplest of the available ops that doesn't involve putting foreign matter inside me (ie: no malabsorption or severe dumping, no band with known and significant failure rate including complications that can be v severe) 3. Simplest long term management - no regular drs visits for band fills/unfills, no ongoing Vitamin shots etc 4. Weight loss success better than band and comparable with RNY 5. Fits with my total weight loss requirement (100 lbs) 6. Have significant co-morbidities and need "serious" action with likely success in the short to medium term (ie: was getting to the point where my life was in danger if I didn't act) 7. Am older so reversible solution not essential 8. Can be revised to DS or RNY later, if necessary 9. No difference in cost and no insurance company issues where I live, so I was completely free to make my decision on the basis of all of the above. 10. I soooo wanted to get rid of a large part of stomach and to tame my surging hunger. Hope this helps.

I'm starting the process with Gastric Sleeve to RNY conversion. If I knew in 2013 what I know now about the sleeve I would have went with RNY to begin with but here I am. Hoping to have my revision in April/May 2017. My insurance requires all the original criteria including 3 mo of nutrition counseling. Anyone else have sleeve to RNY? Would love to have someone to talk to. Thanks.

I had a slipped lap band that I had to have removed and a revision done. I also thought I wanted a sleeve but my surgeon strongly recommended a bypass because I already had terrible GERD before my lap band. I took his advice and have been very happy with the decision. It's your choice, but be well informed before you decide. Good luck!

No need to worry, just pulling myself out of the fog..... My surgery was Monday, 10/3 with Dr. Aceves. Since my surgery was the 2nd of the day, I was given a sedative to relax. The rest of the day is a blur. I remember people coming in to get me....blur........I remember looking up at the ceiling as I was being wheeled to surgery......blur.........I remember someone telling me to turn on my side and bend my knees for the spinal block....blur.....and OUT. I don't remember recovery at all. The next thing I remember is being back in my room, thinking it must be over and then falling back asleep again. I was in and out of sleep for the rest of the night, knowing that nurses came in and out, taking my temp and blood pressure, but not really ever becoming fully alert. Sometime early Tuesday morning, I told one of the nurses I needed to use the bathroom. Although I stumbled a bit, I made the trip successfully and immediately fell back asleep. Later that morning, they brought me those infamous 4 little cups of blue "apple juice." They weren't good, but they were tolerable. I sipped and slept, sipped and slept, sipped and slept for hours. Several times that day, Dr. Aceves, Dr. Campos and the nurses came in and told me to try to get up and walk. I'd answer "Sure, ok." with every good intention of doing it, but I'd always fall back asleep. I really had a tough time coming out of all that med-induced sleepiness. By late afternoon Tuesday, I finally got up and walked the halls. I was completely pain-free (yes, really.....it must have been the spinal block), but I felt unsteady on my feet and climbed back into bed about 5 minutes later. Tuesday night was pretty much the same as Monday night, but I woke up Wednesday morning feeling alert and energetic. I took a shower and even put on a little make-up! Wednesday, I walked several times, visited my neighbors, sipped tea and finally got a bowl of that wonderful chicken broth everybody raves about. Yes, it IS that good. By the time I left on Thursday morning, I felt pretty good - minimal pain and absolutely no nausea. It may have been this sense of well-being that caused me to completely overdo it on Friday. BIG Mistake! I met up with a friend Friday afternoon to do a "little" shopping that turned into a 5-hour shopping spree. I thought I was listening to my body.......I sipped Isopure all day........I took sitting breaks pretty often, but by the time I got home, I felt awful. My abdomen was completely swollen with Fluid and gas. I looked 9 months pregnant and felt equally uncomfortable. That was the first time all week I broke down emotionally. I remembered reading somewhere that Day 4 after surgery was the worst..........and that was definitely true for me! So, I sobbed myself to sleep Friday night and woke up Saturday with renewed energy and renewed resolve. I really took it easy that day. I stayed in all morning, sipping Protein and napping. By 3:00 pm, I felt good enough to take my son to a birthday party. It was a huge event, and EVERY single person there must have told me to eat......twice! But I politely told them I had eaten before I came and continued to sip on my bottled Water. The party lasted about two hours and I was definitely ready to come home by then. I went to bed about 7:30 pm, slept pretty soundly, and here I am at 5:00 am on Sunday, finally getting on the Internet for the first time since surgery. To sum up, I've really had a fairly easy recovery. Considering the mess my Band had made of my stomach and liver (Dr. Aceves told me it was NOT and easy revision) I've had very little pain except for the incision sights. I've experienced none of the shoulder "gas" pain I had with the Band surgery. I've had no nausea or stomach pain......just a lot of gas and gurgling. No doubt about it, those first four days kicked my butt, however, I think I'm over the "hump" now. I have one more week of recovery before I have to go back to work and I'm sooooo glad I didn't try to rush it and go back any sooner. I hope all my fellow October sleevers are well, whether you are just home from surgery or about to have it. Take it easy and follow the rules........you'll do great!

Im going in for my revision next month for these exact reasons !!!! Im glad you are ok now. Still praying for our OP Sent from my Z981 using the BariatricPal App