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First, whenever we see some reference to "WLS patients" in either the general media or even the general medical media. it is (unless specificallyl stated to the contrary) invariably referring to the RNY gastric bypass, as that has been the most common, and most commonly studied, WLS procedure over the past 30-40 years. Even most doctors (non-bariatric) whom we may consult over time will often confuse the procedures, or lump them all together as "the bypass". Something to keep in mind in later years if some doc suggests that "I can't prescribe that for you because of your WLS..." Ask questions and verify if that really applies to you. The RNY imposes a number of limitations that don't apply to other procedures. Aa few years ago we did discuss in our support group (in full HIPAA compliance) a patient of theirs who, after consults with many different types of doctors, had been diagnosed with ALS. As it turned out, after going back and consulting with the bariatric practice (as he had not done in years) it was found to be one of those nutritional problems that you mentioned. This patient, in his 70's if not 80's by then, had a Duodenal Switch, which is more malabsorbing than an RNY, and also somewhat fussier when it comes to supplementing, nutrition and lab follow up. This guy had not done his labs in several years, so things had skewed out on him. Once they got his supplements and nutrition in order, he was fine. The lesson here was that it was (is) imperative, particularly with these malabsorbing procedures, to stay on top of lab follow ups, as weird things can happen. Given that the RNY is also malabsorbing to a somewhat lesser degree, but much more common, I would expect that the medical field would see some of these problems in a population that may be fairly casual about following up on their health. I could certainly buy that there is some association over time with some increase in some of these symptoms owing to odd nutritional problems As to your brother with his sleeve, one of the reasons that many prefer the VSG is that there is no malabsorption, and is much more forgiving - less supplementing need, and hence less intensive follow up requirements -than the malabsorbing procedures. Further, the problem that the above patient had manifested itself over years of neglect, rather than a few months of normal WLS recovery, so I don't see that this is a likely situation for your brother; as above, it is likely simple coincidence. As with taking your car in for service and it breaks down a few days later - there is always a suspicion that they did something there - yet sometimes it is indeed simple coincidence. It looks like you are doing all the right things as far as second (and third, fourth, etc.) opinions, and this is vital when we get into situations that are beyond the normal. Another possible consult may be Dr. Ara Keshishian, also in the LA area, who is long experienced with sleeves and the DS; he may have run across something like this if there is any real connection to find. He does a lot of distance consults for revisions, so if distance is a problem, an initial consult can usually be done by phone/email/skype. All the hope in finding a good outcome,

I wish all doc's were like yours. I think if you can prevent pain you should......if it wasn't for the gas pains I'm still going through, the surgery would've been lots easier to deal with.......as it is I'm in pain throughout the day and sometimes at work I hurt so bad I can't even answer the phone........co-workers are a little confused when they see me doubled over one minute and then fine 10 minutes later. I'm tired of "half" explaining what's going on. Of course I researched the prolonged shoulder/gas pain after the fact and I came across a problem some people have with their Phrenic nerve - sometimes this kind of pain lasts for months........and people have to get a revision or removal, etc..... I'm, of course, thinking that this is going to be me. :confused: I'm so glad you didn't have this problem and was just curious about the average number of days.....

Wow - that's a big decision. Would you consider revising to something else (I'm hearing good things about the sleeve), or just nothing at all? Well...I hope you get the result that would make you happiest.

So, this is an appropriate topic for the rants section... I went through a phase of feeling exactly what you expressed and then I realized WHY people don't search. It isn't laziness it is because they don't recognize that what they are going through applies to pretty much EVERYONE! It is a very personal emotional experience and people want to get a very personal and specific reply - since according to them, in the emotional state at that moment, they feel that they are the first and only person to ever deal with such angst/issue/question and it must be answered directly to them. I remember that when I was trying muster the courage to revise from the band to the sleeve. I was pretty beaten down - I mean i really felt like I had failed and was a hopeless case. It was alot of direct info from Tiffikyns in particular that helped me process and work through my feelings. I happen to know that she cut and pasted info but at the time, her replies to ME felt very personal... like i was the only failure who might take a chance on the sleeve... this crazy "new" thing I had never heard of. That was the first glimmer of "believing" that this might work. So, I cope by not reading or responding to the repetitive topics. I figure there are less burned out people than me to answer them - excited to share their knowledge! For a long time, I made an effort to reply to nearly every band to sleeve forum post... but I don't even do that anymore as there are others who do.

I have seen (maybe in the pages attached) where they talk about a revision of VSG. But if you are diligent about changing your lifestyle you shouldn't stretch your stomach out. I wouldn't think overeating a time or two a year would stretch it too much.

I only work with him in surgery not in the office. But having said that, I've only seen one port revision. I don't know what others do but he sews his in pretty securely. I guess anything can happen since everyone's body and tissue are different. I'm not nervous yet but will be the night before. Just ready to get on with it!

Willbethin.. U had a revision?

Good afternoon everyone! Just wanted to give an update. I got sleeved on 12/15/2011, I was a lapband to sleeve revision. I am loosing slowly but surely and I am currently at 152 lbs. I started with pre Lapband at almost 250 lbs and pre Sleeve at 193 lbs. I work out 3-5 times a week and I also drink my protein shakes as a meal replacement at least once a day and try to limit my carbs and sugars. It has taken a lot of work, but I am very proud of my accomplisments and very happy with myself at this point. A little nip and tuck wouldn't hurt but will look into that in the future!!

I can relate. Back in 2011, when I was 370 lbs. I wanted to make changes, but I didn't want to commit to anything permanent. Well, I got exactly that. I lost 70 lbs, but then started gaining some back and I just couldn't break 300 for more than a day. No matter what I did. I struggled for like 7 years. Finally I had the band removed and revised to the bypass. I can't tell you how many times I've regretted not getting the damn bypass in the first place. Those 7ish years could have been SO MUCH BETTER! But... I was too afraid to commit, and in the end, that's what sabotaged my weight loss, lack of commitment and follow through. So, if you want something that's going to work, and last, and your biggest issue is that it's going to be a "forever" change... you have to ask yourself, how long do you want to be overweight? Do you want to get only some of the way to your goal and then have that non-permanent solution fail you? And yes, I know that there is a rebound risk with all WLS. But, the changes that I personally have been forced to make, in order to make this revision to bypass work, are forever changes, because they need to be in order for them to work.

Hi [emoji112] did you have the sleeve? I will be at a year next month and the same thing has happened to me. Only about 50 lbs lost. I feel like such a failure [emoji21] despite doing everything right. I go back to see my doctor because my nurse said sometimes a revision has to be done when the sleeve is not successful. I lost almost 50 lbs on my own prior to surgery. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

I am in. Starting a little late but I know I am going to need some support over the next few weeks. I am getting a port revision on Friday and I am hoping to actually have some restriction along with that. He is going to put 6ccs in. We'll see. That is what I am "supposed" to be filled to now but I am not sure that it always worked. After the first fill they had a terrible time getting into my port. Anyway, I set a small goal but I want to ROCK it! I would love to be under 250 come Christmas!!:wink2: ~A

Contact your health plan and request a copy of their criteria for revision of bariatric surgery - this is key, because most health plans have different criteria for revision than initial surgery. Hope this helps!

BCBS has approved removal of may band due to medical problems! Yeh, I am halfway there. But...they denied the revision to a sleeve stating insurance covers on one weight loss procedure in a lifetime. I am in the process of composing a request asking review of predetermination to pay for the sleeve. I have composed a two page letter covering all the medical issues and leaking band, etc. and have closed with the following three paragraphs. I welcome your suggestions for improvement. I plan to mail Saturday. ________________________________ The band is leaking and defective. Would a product failure through no fault of my own not be reason enough to replace the band with another restrictive method? BCBSAL states that revision of adjustable gastric restrictive devices meets BCBSAL’s medical criteria for coverage provided there is either a band erosion or slippage, or infection around the port site. Would it not also be appropriate to revise due to a device failure? The lack of proper fill levels has impacted my weight loss. Unfortunately, with the band failure, my weight is creeping up and I have gained 25 pounds from my low weight over the last 18 months. I am compliant in knowing what things I can and cannot eat and drink and I do Zumba several times a week and I walk. But without restriction, weight will inevitable continue to reappear. If I gain much more weight, Sleep Apnea will likely return and I will be put back on a CPAP. Thank you for understanding and approving the band removal to alleviate my medical issues, but please reconsider my request that my defective band be revised to a sleeve without further delay. All I want is to repair the damage done by the failed band and to restore the gastric restriction that I was originally approved for. Please help me bring this predetermination to a quick and satisfactory conclusion.

I first had a hiatal hernia repair 5yrs ago due to the fact insurance wouldn't pay for it if I did it in conjunction with a lap band. So, I had the hernia repair then the lap band. After the lap band, my lung collapsed after discharged home. Spent nine days in ICU. No problems for another yr and lost 80 lbs 20 lbs from goal. Began having severe reflux. nothing helped. Dr claims my band didn't slip per xray. Went back to OR for either a lap band revision or nissen/fundoplication. He was to decide based on his expertise. I woke up to find I lost the band but had fundoplication. I was devastated. He said the band severely slipped so he took it off instead of putting it back in place. I did not want to lose the band. The moron left the port in place for unk reasons. Said he couldn't get the band back on and couldnt completely wrap the stomach around like he wanted for the nissen. I have not had any more reflux and have gained all my wgt back! I am so upset with myself. I want the band back. I am trying to find a dr who will do it. If Ihave to undo the nissen I would. I am afraid of Barrets esophagus if I reflux again. I dont want bypass. If anyone knows of surgeon in Texas who will do the lapband with nissen already done please let me know. I am desperate! I loved the band until it slipped. I dont think I needed the nissen to start with just a revision of the slipped band!

losethemess, if it makes you feel any better, chances are your baby is getting plenty to eat. There are exceptions (which is why you should be monitored by an OB), but in general the baby will take whatever it needs from you. A bigger concern would be that you would be losing out on something you need. For most pregnant women, the baby's needs are met first and the mother's needs are met with what is left. That's usually not a problem because everyone is getting everything they need, but chances are if anyone is losing out, it's not the baby. With my first pregnancy, I was still down 17 pounds immediately before my baby was born. And he was a perfectly healthy 7 lbs 7 oz. My doctor watched me carefully, and my child was fine. Losing weight can be scary when you're pregnant, but it's not necessarily indicative of a huge problem. Just discuss your concerns with your doctors, and make sure you are doing what you need to do to keep both of you healthy. If that means getting an unfill, by all means, do it (especially if you're having a problem keeping liquids down). But at this point, I wouldn't worry too much about the weight loss--most weight isn't gained until the third trimester, anyway. And gaining weight won't necessarily affect the tightness of your band, either. (Mine didn't with either pregnancy.) When you can eat again, take care to eat the right things. The things you should be eating in pregnancy are largely the things you should be eating anyway, minus a few pregnancy-specific items. Try to eat well, and you should be fine. Don't use restriction or lack thereof as an excuse to abandon what you know are good eating habits. What you described actually sounds a lot like what I experienced with my first pregnancy. Perhaps brought on by morning sickness (or "all-the-time sickness," as I referred to it), I had a slip which made it exceedingly difficult to keep things down. And I guess my take away message with that was: 1) my baby was fine, and 2) I had to get a revision four days after giving birth. It was rough, but we all made it. Talk with your OB and band doctor about this possibility. They won't be able to check for a slippage while you're pregnant, but having this possible explanation in the back of your minds may help decide how to proceed as you progress in your pregnancy.

awesome thanks!.. yeah, i'm trying to look at the actual policy online now. I'm going to try and push it hard so I can get it done quick. I don't want to wait.... I think with him not being able to access the port to my lap band, he told me that I can either have surgery to go in and replace that or he can see about doing the revision (he has to look at my xrays of the band first)... I'll know more on the 27th. I'm thinking since I have gained weight.... He can't even access the port.... and lap band slippage...it may make it a lot easier for him to get the approval from the insurance just do the revision. I just hope they don't make me go through all the hoopla. I can't see having all these complications and then having to turn around and do the 3 month doctor supervised diet.

Schlesinger??? Oh Lord... I had no idea. I wish I would have seen this sooner. Schlesinger has more paid posters than any other AZ doc, not here but on OH. It's sickening to see them in action. Check out the revision boards on Obesity Help - Weight Loss Surgery, Obesity Support Groups, Obesity Forums, Surgical Procedures and you'll see what I mean. If anyone writes anything the least bit negative about the doc on the patient testimonials the paid posters dog pile them. OP... you seriously need to have an upper endoscopy to rule out erosion. When you have a port infection the bacteria can often times travel up the tubing to the band and cause erosion. This is a big deal. Are you in AZ? If there is anything I can do to help please let me know. Stay on top of this, don't let any doctor pooh pooh this, this is a big deal. You can lose your band over something like this. As for Simpson... he's okay. I don't like that he doesn't follow his patients after surgery, the rest of his staff do. There are several very good surgeons in Phoenix and surrounding areas. Burger and Aldridge in Flag are good, St. Lukes docs are good. OP, if there is anything I can do to help please let me know.

PAID POSTERS!!? Too bad the AZ OH boards aren't reading about what he's doing to this poor woman. They should know about this. This person should report him to the medical board. I am wondering why didn't he didn't give her antibiotics in the first place for that size of an infection? Ignoring internal infection is very serious - people can die from infection! In fact, TJWOOD hasn't posted lately and the last message said she had 103+ fever!! Interesting that his office told TJ that the doctor wouldn't be in the office until Tuesday. I just looked at the AZ OH board for fun and someone whose profile name is "Lizzie" just posted on her profile today that he performed revision surgery on her LAST Friday, Nov. 21st! So, apparently, he WAS in town! But, I guess he was only available for new patients! $$$$ TJ, please give us an update! I'm concerned! Even more so because your doctor's office lied to you! This is awful beyond words!

Actually, you're wrong. It IS 100% reversible. If the band is removed your stomach simply goes back to the way it was pre-surgery. If you have damage due to a slip or prolapse, you may have some scarring, but it doesn't remove any portion of your stomach or re-route your digestive system in any way. Not so with the Sleeve, you can't replace a huge portion of your stomach that's been cut out. As for the Sleeve, people don't go in for reversions because they can't. More than half of their stomach is removed, there's nothing to revise. If you look at the long term statistics, people gain back weight with the Sleeve and Gastric Bypass just as often as with the Band, the difference being, a Band patient can always go back in and get a fill to start over. A Sleeve patient will have likely stretched out what's left of their stomach and pretty much be screwed. ...not to mention there's FAR less chance of major complications and/or death with the band. And the recovery time is half of that of the Sleeve. I respect your decision to go with the Sleeve and wish you much success, but your information isn't exactly accurate.

My case isn’t typical. I developed a hernia in March that has lead to some severe GERD, esophagitis and inflammation because of it. I’m actually having revision surgery this coming Tuesday to fix everything. I do agree with the others. While your surgeon and nutritionist may say 600 calories a day, try adding an extra 100-200 calories and see if that helps. Stalls happen a lot. We just have to figure out what works for us to break through them.

I'm in the process of having my last clearance for revision surgery. Still undecided with revision surgery is the best to have. I hear the Duodenal Switch is the best. im looking forward to hear from everyone who has had revision surgery good and bad..

@Luv2cruz Unless i read over it, No one has asked a few very important questions. What is your height? What was your beginning weight? Are you logging your food? Are you exercising? What does your diet look like on a daily bases? The reason, if you have less to lose, you will tend to lose a little slower. A person who had 300lbs to lose will lose it faster that say a person that has 100lbs to lose. My story is a little different than some.... but anywho.... After being here for over 10 years i have seen and read many different stories. I have also experienced it with some very close friends. I've had friends like myself who had the band (lost 2017 gained 30lbs). Lost there band and have gained it back or revised to a different WLS. Some with success and some without. I have a few that had only the sleeve and either never lost or gained it all back. I've even had a few that had GB and either gained some or all of the weight back. I do have a few friends that had the band and have kept their weight off for over 10 years. The point is.... ALL WLS have their goods and bads. Ups and downs. It's how you as a person handles YOUR journey. (ok just read your last post, so i'm taking out this part) I would start at the begging, look within yourself. Maybe seek a counselor (it's helping me). Otherwise, i would start tracking your food (if you aren't already). Get yourself a good exercise program (even if it's just walking more and faster). I wish i had journaled.... I write myself inspiring quotes on my bathroom mirror. I know you didn't want to hear it, but its true and hard not to do... But, try to not compare yourself to others. I compared myself to others all the time, then someone years ago told me that..... So now i have on my mirror..... Envy is the thief of happiness. I wish you only good thoughts on your journey.

I would also want more info before agreeing to go ahead with the revision.

Guess what guys..I FINALLY BROKE through my 5 week long stall and reached 205 this morning! That's 65 lbs in total (if you include the 20 I lost with my LapBand before revision!) im still going to go for liquids for a few days as a cleanse but just thought I'd let everyone know! Yay!! And PS you are all doing great!!!!!

Welcome...I'm a revision like 2bthinagn and hopefully soon Losing :-) Hope to hear from you all soon...