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My revision went great!! I have no pain, am up walking and feel some much better than after lap band. The hardest part was the IV. Eight sticks. Eight. Oye. I am glad to be on the other side !!!

I had a revision from a VBG/SR from 16 years ago. Back then I lost 90 pounds and kept it off about 4 years. This time (surgery was 10/24) I had RNY and am down 27 pounds as of Monday. I had the RNY because my silastic ring from my previous surgery was migrating upward and causing choking issues. I wasn't in the best frame of mind and definitely not the best health this time around. I mainly have head hunger. I was sent home with a fork - tender diet. I've definitely been cheating (i.e. had a fun - sized bag of Cheetoes, had a piece of Halloween candy less than 5 grams) so I bought baked Cheetoes and sugar free hard candy trying to curb this. I feel like I'm failing before I start. I have really bad fibro and am extremely exhausted almost every day. I lost my insurance Nov 1st. I am working on that. I go to a support group once a month, but they don't want to be friends really. I need more than a monthly meeting. Help? Sent from my SM-N900T using the BariatricPal App

I was originally banded in Richmond, VA in 2008. I've gained and lost the same 50 pounds 4 times in the last couple years. I was never truly successful with the band and have had a whole host of complications. After jumping through hoop after hoop for the last two years I have finally been approved and will have the devil band removed and the surgery revised to the gastric sleeve in February 2015. I am anxious, afraid that I will fail at yet another procedure, but cautiously optimistic at the same time.

I am so excited to revise in 13 days. I lost 100 lb with the band to bmi 21 but regained 50lb due to slippage And pregnancies. I feel that I lost the weight first time round in a really unhealthy way basically because it was so hard to eat protein and veggies! In the last two years I have really educated myself on fitness and nutrition but like all of us I just can't lose the weight (portion control is non existent!) I feel like the sleeve will give me the right appetite for the kind of life I want to live with the added benefit of no sliming, pb'ing restricted foods, fills and getting stuck.

My story is similar...banded in 2011...going through revision process and nervous about all the same things you're all mentioning. Great to have the support.

I know we are all different, but I’m curious how much weight you’ve lost. I’m 5-weeks post op revision from vertical silastic ring to bypass. I’ve lost 26 pounds. Weight before pre-op diet: 240 Weight day of surgery: 230 Weight today: 214

I am 65. I got a lap band at 55 but it recently slipped and caused me to develop a hiatal hernia. So I got it removed, the hernia fixed and a revision to a gastric bypass all in one surgery. Recovery was a bit harder than the lap band but I don't think it was that I'm 10 years older as much was how much more involved a bypass is than a lap band. You are never too told to try to improve your health, and the benefits far outweigh the risks, so go for it! And we are all here to help you get through it.

I agree! My husband and I are high school sweethearts. When he met me, I weighed 130 pounds. He has stayed with me through my weight gains (mainly from pregnancy). I still love him after losing 111 pounds and I feel the same for him. I am so self conscious with all of my skin issues, but he never complains. I felt so guilty when I asked if we could start saving for a tummy tuck, but he is supportive of me getting one. (We have spent 12,000 between a self pay lapband and revision co-pay) I you have a strong relationship, weight loss should not matter. I do feel though that some people may change when they lose the weight and that could cause them to want to leave their partner, espcially if there are issues before the surgery.

Has anyone out there had a revision done from a sleeve to a bypass? I'm scheduled for Wednesday April 6!

I have a job with heavy lifting and right now at 16 days, I still cannot lift a gallon of milk without it being shaky tiring. Knocks me down for quite awhile. Saw my MD for the 2 week check up 4/25 and the normal he approves for disability time out is 3 weeks and told me 4 weeks would be better for me since mine was a revision lapband removal and VSG in the same procedure. Today is my first day I have been able to back off on the pain meds. And I still have leaky incisions...that would not be good at work

I'm planning on taking two weeks. Someone I work with had band to sleeve revision and was back to work within a couple days of being released from the hospital. We have sit down jobs but work 12 hour shifts. I think she was nuts though. My doctor said that a minimum of one week off was needed.

I never had a sleeve after the band but was converted to MBG (that was a stretch as well regarding the reflux but there were reasons MGB was chosen over RNY in consent). Talk to a surgeon about revision because of the reflux. Weight loss could be significant but doesn't has to be.

Thanks so much for the info! I too started wanting lap band, but after hearing and reading the huge number conplications and revisions chose the sleeve. I'm hoping it's covered, I don't really want to go the route of gastric bypass. I kinda like my intestines the way they are. I would love the codes when you get time.

I had a revision on May 11. I feel hungry all the time and can eat/drink up to 5 ounces at a time(pureed soups, jello etc). I still feel hungry after that at times. I have lost 25 or so pounds since pre-op diet and weight loss seems to be slower than I thought it would be. Again, surgery was 14 days ago. I feel like I have already failed and ruined the sleeve. My lapband was a nightmare and it was a fight to eat EVERY SINGLE TIME so the feeling is so much different now that its gone and Im not throwing up every meal I think I am not noticing the "signal" for full or just ignoring it. I am doing protein shakes at least once a day. Please help and let me know if this is normal. Will I feel the restriction once I get on solid foods? I have had a pretzel here and there and a tiny nibble here and there of solid foods but Im scared so I really try not to do that.

That really stinks! I am sorry that you are having to consider more surgery. I know there are a lot of people on this site that had revisions to bypass so hopefully you will get your questions answered. Many of them have done fantastic with bypass. I can tell you that from what I have read, the initial weight loss is much slower but I have seen folks get to goal. Personally I am so thankful I went the bypass route because it put several illnesses into remission for me. One of them was very severe Gerd, I have not had a single bout of heartburn at all. My diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, anemia and stage 3 kidney disease are also all in remission. Do you still have the same insurance? You might want to give them a call to better understand coverage. I had Medica United Health Care and I was only allowed 1 Bariatric WLS surgery in my lifetime. Now I have a completely different insurance and they cover nothing. It really depends on your specific insurance. I wish you the best of luck!

Agreed. I’d speak with Dr. Keshishian regarding a revision to the DS. He’d give you a fair opinion.

honestly? my insurance will only cover me having a sleeve at a military treatment facility, which makes me uncomfortable. everyone is different though. i'd rather use my own hospital since i have other health issues that they are well aware of, and they are one of the top hospitals in the nation. supposedly my insurance will be covering the sleeve for civilian poviders within a couple years and if that's the case maybe i'll have a revision if i need it...way down the road. i plan to succeed with the band though. good luck in your decision!!

I can't help but relate... I just had my band removed and the sleeve revision on 11/27/13. Aside from the pain from the ton of scar tissue and a band that was infecting my stomach, I am feeling pretty good today. I am scared of failing too....So far, (albeit only two weeks) I'm 30 pounds down. It took my more than 6 months to lose that with the lap band. totally different mind set.

I am a band to sleeve revision also. Had the band out in Oct after having it for 10 years, and am scheduled for my sleeve Jan 13th. I feel the exact same way that you do. What if THIS doesn't work either? I am self pay, so have invested a lot, first in the band, and now the sleeve. I have looked at bypass and even sleeve with Duodenal switch. This last option is the "fail" safe one, but also the highest risk and long term issues with mal-absorption. I think I am going to be ok after sleeve. I know there are ways to "eat around it" but I am determined not to get in that rut, and am also hoping the surgery does away with the hunger issues as it's supposed to. Good luck with your journey.

Well, as the title suggests I've been a member of the form for a while but just as a reader I haven't posted anything yet. I figured it was time to post my story so I could get some feedback, and possibly a little guidance. My journey started about a year ago when I had made the final decision to go ahead with the gastric sleeve. I was very confident in my surgeon and was excited about the surgery. As per protocol, he did and endoscopy beforehand and didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. I had my sleeve gastrectomy done on August 28th 2017. Almost immediately, I noticed what I would call an agonizing amount of pain and extreme gastric reflux. This was before I was even off of my post-surgery liquid diet. Over the coming weeks it didn't get better, only worse. I was continually told by my surgeon that it's normal, and it happens to some people. Within about 2 months the pain in my stomach to get better, at that point I was developing a pain on my right hand side below my rib cage. I had done some research, so I had a pretty good idea that it was my gallbladder. My surgeon agreed with me, and without even running any tests he decided to remove my gallbladder. My gallbladder was removed in January of 2018, and almost immediately I noticed the pain in my abdomen was gone. However, the gastric reflux still persisted. In early February of this year by surgeon decided to do an endoscopy to see what could be causing the acid reflux. He told me that I had numerous moderate to severe ulcers and that revision surgery would be advised. I was scheduled for traditional gastric bypass on March 22nd of this year. I'm pleased to report that the gastric reflux has gone away. However, I'm not able to keep down any solid foods without violently regurgitating them. I was following my post surgery diet without any deviation. The first soft food that I tried was mashed potatoes, no salt or butter and it didn't go well. Almost immediately I violently regurgitated them. Within about three minutes of that I had some of the most excruciating pain I've ever had in my life, it started near my stomach and felt like a travel down. I told my wife that I had to go to the emergency room immediately, once I got there she called my surgeon. The surgeon conferred with the emergency room physician and ordered a CT scan with contrast. I was advised that my stomach was clear and I didn't have any blockages. My surgeon had told the emergency room physician to prescribe me Prilosec 40 mg and I was to take it twice a day until I saw him again. A few days later I saw the surgeon, and he informed me that it was most likely an irritated stomach and that it was normal. This was about 3 weeks ago. I'm still not able to keep down any soft food of any type. I'm still on liquids, and even when I take in liquids I feel very uncomfortable. I'm not exactly sure how to describe it, it's not cramping, it's not nausea or pain it's a very awkward feeling. At this point, I've decided to get a second opinion and had all my records sent to another surgeon. I'm just curious if anyone has had these symptoms, rather these combination of symptoms or if anyone has any ideas for me to try. If you're reading this and considering weight loss surgery please I implore you to not let this deter you. From people I've talked to and information I've read, this amount of side effects is very out of the ordinary. I've lost almost a hundred pounds since my first surgery and I am feeling pretty good other than the symptoms I've described. Thanks everyone so much for taking the time to read, I look forward to any advice that can be offered. I hope everyone out there is doing great, and I wish everyone the best of luck and whatever stage of the journey they may be in!

I just know you’re gonna rock this whole revision! Wow, my step daughter is half Japanese and lives with her mom their family in Tokyo. She just graduated from a graphic art school and is interning for a company that does video gaming graphics

Hi There, I had a band to sleeve revision done by Dr. D. on the 19th of April this year. He was wonderful. Gentle, caring and very cautious. I had one night in the hospital, and after a week, I felt really good. You will have a drain for a week, because he believes in them, but there was really no pain involved with it, it was just annoying. Once he took it out, I felt I could do anything. He's a great doctor. You'll see. Good luck.

I was banded in 12-06 but I recently got a revision to a sleeve. The band was causing me all sorts of problems.

All surgery poses risks... even Band removal. Having said all that, I cannot think of one death attributed to Band removal in the seven years I've been on Band boards. :confused: I would ask your consultant more about why he believed that... and seek out a different surgeon. You may also want to talk about revising to a different operation (vertical sleeve gastrectomy, RNY, or DS). Good luck

I got sleeved! Denise knew I was going to be doing this and has been very supportive about my decision but I had my band removed a week ago and revised to a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. I now have a stomach the shape of a tube and the size of a man's middle finger. I was having severe band problems the last three months and just couldn't do it anymore so I'm now without a band. But I think the sleeve is going to work for me and be a bit easier in my case. So does that mean I am still a 12/06 bandster? ;o)