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Hi everyone! I had the lap band in 2015 and thought I would be completely different within a year. I initially started to lose weight but even at the beginning felt like I shouldn't be able to eat as much as I could. I was constantly hungry and felt like I was starving all the time. I had several adjustments and even got to the max allowement then had to have it drained because I couldn't even drink Water.. It was aweful! My heaviest weight was 289.7 and I didn't even realize it! I seen a picture of myself and had no idea who that person was. I am 5'8 and have always been told that I'm curvy and look "good" so it never occurred to me that I was actually that big since I carry my weight well. Don't get me wrong, I knew I was a big girl but still felt like I wasn't that bad. My horrible motto and cop out was, "You can fix chubby but you can't fix ugly!" How horrible right?? Smh.. Well, I had pain, brusing on my belly button and could no longer hold down real food. But let me tell you that chips and candy went down super easy. I ate the big Reece's cups everyday! I felt like a complete and total failure and started feeling like everyone who loves me was being nice to me and telling me I was beautiful because they knew my heart. I am currently 33 and was 17 when my beautiful mother died and 19 when my amazing father died. I raised my 2 brothers and 1 sister when that happened and worked 3 jobs to make sure we had a roof over our heads. I sang in a band for many years and always felt like the fat girl. I even had a miscarriage 5 years ago that devastated me to the core. I was tired, and tired of being tired. Last week, October 19th I changed my life!! I had the revision to sleeve!! Let me tell you the honest raw uncut truth... I NEVER EXPECTED THIS! My amazing, supportive fiancé got me a scale yesterday as a surprise. I almost felt like maybe my doctor didn't actually do the sleeve since I don't notice any changes. I went into surgery at 281.7 and I weighed myself this morning at 262.4!!!!! I AM IN AWE!! I go to the doctor today for a follow up and am honestly in pain (mostly super tenderness) and man oh man do I want a cheeseburger.. Lol.. But this has been all worth it! I know that if I stay focused, stay connected, stay honest and give my all.. I will have amazing results! This site has been so inspirational. I have literally been reading stuff all night!! Haha.. I had to tell everyone a part of my story and really stay accountable. Thank you for reading my extremely long story. I hope that someone out there can relate and feel encouraged. My new motto is, "Live the life that you want to live and live it well!" Bee Sent from my LGMS550 using the BariatricPal App

Hi Jennifer, Sounds to me as though you would have benefited with some more education on living and eating with the band. Is there any way that you can pursue that now and give the band a red hot go before revision to a sleeve? I have nothing against the sleeve, but I don't see that your band has failed. In fact, I believe you could be successful with the band with some education and support which would avoid putting your body through another surgery at this time. Just my opinion....

Hi Chrissy, While I don't have any insight for you on what your going through, I wonder if you might have some for me... Why did your bands fail you? It sounds like you lost weight with the band, how did it fail? I wish you the best on your upcoming revision.

I have Aetna POS in Texas as well. They will cover my band but will not cover the sleeve as my first WLS only as a revision. They tell me they consider the sleeve experimental. Who did you contact at Aetna? I am scheduled for Mexico on 12/29 and will lose my deposit and 1000.00 worth of plane tickets if I don't go there. I know that as soon as I get it done, Aetna will cover it. That is just going to be my luck. Bill

I know this wasn't geared towards me but I am a diabetic who first had lap and revised to the bypass. My diabetes was called in remission 2 days after the surgery. At the 3 month post surgery my A1C went from 9.5 to 7.5 and is still lowering. The mental need for sweets that ruled my waking thoughts is gone. I don't even miss them but it's only at the 6 month point. I'm about 50 pounds from a healthy bmi. With the bypass, for a diabetic it's the bypassing the duodenal switch which helps us first and then the weight loss. Other surgeries help diabetes but because of the weight loss which takes time to do. I do still have some lingering neuropathy but my kidneys which weren't so great before are normal and most of the other diabetic related health problems are gone now. I would recommend this to and diabetic in a heartbeat. Just follow your doctors orders though for success! Good luck!

Thanks msspicey for the kind thoughts! Well one week ago today, i was about to be taken in to the OR. The week had many ups and downs, but mainly ups. The first 2 days were really hard. I'm a revision patient so the pain was much worse this time for me than with the band. When you hear "a little better each day", believe that. Had to sty 2 nights and have a drain, again because of the revision. Today I start blenderized food, all liquids prior. Also need to start the 30/60 rule as well. Just wanted to update. I see my surgeon on Thursday and decided not to weigh myself till then. All in all, going very well....

I was banded in 2002. I had my band removed July 2016 and was revised to a sleeve during the surgery. I haven’t lost any weight as i am constantly hungry and suffer greatly with GERD and severe gastritis. I will be having yet another revision May 3rd, out of state, to RNY. I am very anxious about the recovery 😕. I started my 2 week pre-op diet today and always feel the first 2 days are the hardest. Anyone else starting pre-op today?

I had the lapband surgery in May of 2017. It never worked for me. I rarely felt restriction even with a full band. In January of 2018, I had the band removed (due to GERD) along with my gall bladder (had stones). I recently was approved for revision and I'm scheduled for RNY on April 26th. My insurance even allowed me to use my diet visits from the lapband preop since it was just last year! I can't wait! Good luck on your journey! HW- 273 Lapband SW- 258 (5/5/17) Revision SW- CW- 251 GW- 140

I was given some meds to help me with the milk supply gain 25lbs after having my baby she's now 8 months old I stopped taking the meds in may and stopped breastfeeding in the middle of aug. I started working out and I been able to loose 12lbs out of those 25lbs. I had the sleeve back in 2012 and I've never been on my weight goal. I just saw my surgeon on Thursday and he suggested to keep doing what I'm doing he said as longest I get full and eating how I'm supposed I don't need no revision, he just said just don't gain weight so I'm hoping I lose more lbs. I had friends that got their surgery in Mexico and they've lost tons of weight. TBH I don't want another surgery

Was your recovery hard with this? My revision. From lap band to RNY with hernia repair is in 5 days.. I’m so excited!

Agree with that. I went with 2 people who had Bands and revised one to Bypass one to Sleeve in the last month. But the Band has worked good for me, them not so much. cheri

As of now I am still banded. I am hoping to revise to the sleeve. Pretty much waiting on my Dr to deem it medically necessary. For insurance to cover it.

Sarah- I am so sorry that you required a revision. You are most definately in my thoughts and prayers. Please take it easy, get the rest that your body needs and keep us updated. xo

Welcome I went with the bypass because my doc said there was a proven success with it, and he felt it was my best chance to lose the weight and keep it off. I also felt that if I was going to do this I wanted to do it once and not have to worry about revisions. As for the food question. Everyone is different, and you will get different answers. I am able to eat anything at 18 months post op. You an your new pouch will go through a getting to know you period. It will let you know the items you can and can not have. Keep in mind that list changes all the time. Things that made me sick in the beginning I have no problem with now. Sometimes things I have had no problem with suddenly make me sick. I have no problem with popcorn or rice. However some doctors do not allow popcorn. You should always go with what your doctors instructions.

I'm in southern NOVA, and my surgery will be at Walter Reed National Medical Center on Dec. 18th. As for making a decision between the Sleeve and Bypass, get your doctors input, and rely on his expert opinion. I had decided that I was all in for the Sleeve, then my doctor let me know that my acid reflux could get worse, so much so that I might have to revise the surgery if it became too bad. I have now settled on the bypass due to my reflux. Best wishes in making your decision, it's a life changer.

Hello, I am new to this forum but I really need to warn others. I am 5 years post op from the sleeve surgery and am MISERABLE! I have also had 4 more surgeries to fix a hiatal hernia at the esophagus and stomach as well as pouches that were formed by the surgery. I have not been able to eat normally since the surgery and by normally I mean the way you are suppose to after VSG. I haven't been able to drink water without pain. My SW was 245 and now I am at 184 and losing since my most recent surgery. The recent surgery was to fix the hiatal hernia again. I was told it was a "new" way of fixing the hernia, nothing more was told to me. My pancreas was also removed at the same time. My surgery was called a Nissen Fundoplication, its pretty complicated. They use of the stomach to be wrapped around the esophagus so it won't go up into that area again. From the beginning I have had GERD very bad, it was so bad I was on 2 different medications as well as over the counter antacids so that is why the Nissen Fundoplication. It has been horrible this 5 year journey. I am getting all of my records together for a second opinion and to possibly have a revision to the RNY. This surgery was the biggest regret of my life. My life has suffered more and my relationship has also been hurt by this. I am always so tired and sick, and my husband is worried about losing me. I have also been just left to flounder. I have had numerous swallow tests and load of medications but NOTHING allows me to drink a nice glass of water, albeit a sip at a time, without pain. So in one word "YES" i regret everything about this surgery. Heather

Hi I had band to MGB revision four weeks ago my Bmi was 34 I am 23lbs down this month. I wanted the sleeve initially (massive slip with my band) but was persuaded to have mgb because often when our bodies are used to low calories as you have had a lapband and a sleeve we need the extra help to reset the body to lose, also I had major reflux from my band.

Please keep in mind .You want to make the best decision....no one who has had only the sleeve can tell you what bypass is like.The most informative posts in my opinion is the people who have had revisions.They can tell you what the deal is from both perspectives and personal experience not just tell you cookie cutter remarks. I have a friend who had the sleeve in August.Their were some complications and she vomits and have been to the ER.Also developed GERD.Hervdaughter had the same sleeve surgery and she is doing fantastic no problems whatsoever. I have lived in misery for far too long with the lapband .I am revising to bypass.I originally was going with the sleeve until I did more research.I have damage from the band to my esophagus and stomach.Soncutting 85% of my stomach out is not going to happen.I am a breast cancer survivor and I am not worried about malabsorption.What I am worried about is seeking a revision down the road to bypass because I made the wrong decision yet again.If you down the road find that you need a second surgery to bypass it is tough to get insurance to pay for a second procedure. Think about it long and hard and make sure you have a very experienced physician.I had a surgeon who was only able to perform lapbands and sleeve so you know what that meant....I changed to a more experienced Doctor in the same practice who can really advise me from all perspectives. I am revising to the bypass once and for all because I cannot go through a 3rd surgery.I am making the correct decision finally.The gold standard .I got too much weight to lose to play games.

This was a good thread till I saw this. For heaven's sake, stop bashing surgeries that did not work for you. I understand you had issues with the band, but lots of others including myself have done well with it and are happy. Your initial post about why you are revising is fine. It's your story and you have every right to speak to it. But this post is unnecessary. Honey you are new to the game.I just had a 5 hour revision surgery because My esophagus band stomach ....major organs are messed up from years of having that lapband!I am speaking from experience!I am not new to the rodeo of WLS!I have had the band since 2004.I will say what I please.

I will be getting my revision!!! Yeah!! 9:30 is the scheduled time. Can't wait to start a new journey!

Caralee I commend you for working to help people who need the surgery for health reasons. Good for you. But I take a little bit of an issue with your wholehearted praise of the sleeve surgery. I have had a band to sleeve revision but I did so knowing that 6 or 7 years from now we may learn that there are some pitfalls to having 2/3 of our stomach removed. Remember, 5 years ago the band was the hottest thing since sliced bread. As time passed and we've gathered more data, we've learned that there are some side effects and problems with the band that make it less than ideal for many people. We don't even know if in the very long term, having that device could cause cancer or other health conditions that would prove that it is not as safe as we all think it is. So although the sleeve seems like the answer to a prayer, only time will tell. I'm betting that I'm always going to be better off having had the VSG but I know that it may not turn out that way. A prime example of what I'm talking about are all the hundreds of drugs that are created to relieve symptoms and in so many years of use, we learn that they are more lethal and dangerous than the condition they were created to treat. I just think we all need to get our surgery and live our lives with our eyes wide open and that we should stay as well informed as our research and experience tells us. Ok, signing off. Debbie Downer. I really need to get back on my full strength Wellbutrin, right? LOL

Update : Had surgery on 9/24/09 lost 25 lbs went for my first fill to find out port is tilted had a revision done on 1/14/10. On date of surgery was 230 lbs now weighing 222 lbs. Feeling ok but kind of scared again I do not want to go through another revision. Does anyone have any suggestions of light exercises that I can do or should I wait until after my visit on 1/22/10?

Hi there, I was wondering if anyone who has Kaiser Permanente insurance got them to cover revision surgery from lap band to a gastric sleeve. I qualified for the lap band surgery through Kaiser, but I opted to self-pay because they wanted me to do the Options program before the surgery, which would have meant driving into Los Angeles once a week for six months, and I couldn't do that. I wanted to have my surgery performed by a surgeon in Ventura, which is much closer to where I live. Anyway, I paid to have the lap band surgery and got the lap band in April, 2008, and I had a small amount of weight loss at first, which eventually came back. My band was tightened nearly to the max, and I would throw up at nearly every meal. They told me that my metabolism is very low, which would make it hard to lose weight, and I have found that to be true and try to exercise when I can. Lately, I have a never-ending stomach ache and am trying to see if Kaiser will remove the lap band and approve the vertical sleeve instead. The endoscope apparently showed that there is no erosion, slippage, or ulcers, but it is possible that I have scar tissue around my band or that I may have a hiatal hernia. I am trying to get a upper G.I. to be able to learn more about my stomach pain, but I have to wait about a month before I can get an appointment with my PCP. Has anyone here with Kaiser Insurance had revision surgery approved? Can you tell me what your experience was? Did Kaiser make you wait a long time until your revision surgery? Thanks very much for any advice or assistance.

Hi Mozza, yes it's inevitable. Weight loss leads to hair loss in most people, but not all. I had the sleeve 2 1/2 years ago and at about 4 months out I started losing hair by the handfull. I was quite upset but knew it was coming. I just cut my hair shorter so it wasn't as noticeable. Once I started adding more fat to my diet the hair grew back and thickened up. It's just a temporary problem and you will soon be over it. I promise, the weight loss is worth the hair loss. I will be having a revision to bypass in a couple of months and I will go through this again and though I dread it, I know it is a temporary thing and well worth the problem.May I ask why you are having a revision to bypass? I am pre op and still deciding between bypass and sleeve. Sent from my SM-G925T using the BariatricPal App

So I have been really quiet on here because I was just trying to get rid of the last of the health issues I had going on. Polyps are gone and uterine fibroids are gone. I had an appt with my bariatric surgeon today and we discussed getting the revision now that I have a clean bill of health. Looks like it'll be mid July sometime. BUT...my revision is a little more complicated. Here's what I was told: Normally they leave the bottom part of the stomach when they do the bypass because there might be a need for a feeding tube at some point, or something like that. HOWEVER, with my situation, the part they would normally leave is where all the polyps were. So the surgeon is going to completely remove the bottom part of the stomach (making my stomach about 2oz instead of the 4-5oz it is now) during the bypass surgery. He said that's not ideal, but given my situation, it's the best course of treatment for the GERD, esophagitis, gastritis, and getting me back to being able to work out and live a normal life again (which is really all I want). He said it does present a problem later on if I need a feeding tube or whatever, but that's a big "if", and considering all of my issues right now, it's worth the risk, if I agree. I agreed with him and I'm waiting for the coordinator to call me to schedule the surgery officially. I'm so close to this being over. I can see the finish line FINALLY!!!!!