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Well let me chime in here- I am 4 years post op!!!! I had pretty significant GERD way BEFORE my surgery, and in fact it was a huge mitigating factor in my surgery. my surgeon told me that the reduction we both expected in weight would easily eliminate my GERD, so either surgery was an option. I chose VSG in 2014. I lost about 70 lbs total and felt great. I took the occasional PPI for the first 4-6 months during that huge weight loss. Then...well about 2 years post op I regained a lot of my weight and GERD returned. I went back on a PPI. last fall I made an appointment with my surgeon who said that I REALLY had to lose all of the regain, and that if the GERD didn't resolve, I would probably face a revision. Around the same time I had an EGD and got some ugly news from my GI doc. That sparked a huge drive in me, I went full on Keto and have re-lost all of my regain!!! BUT...my GERD is still present and not getting any better. I know that I DO have a sliding hiatal hernia that may be reacting to the fat in Keto, so I just keep pushing and hope that by the time I see my GI doc in fall, it will be gone.. So yes, reflux after surgery can be and IS a real issue. for me, I honestly wish I would have just had the bypass 4 years ago, because I STILL face that option, even 4 years out!! EDITED TO ADD: I was formally diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagus in 2012 but thankfully, no other positive screens since that year.

We're very similar, except I never had issues before the surgery. I could eat virtually anything and my stomach was fine. I am 4 months post-op. Now the acid churns whenever I eat anything. Some days my voice is hoarse by 10am. I used to love spicy foods. Now they burn all the way down because my esophagus is irritated. I am now on prescription Prilosec 2x/day plus Tums as needed. My surgeon is already considering a revision to bypass, but the insurance company wants to try to control the acid with medication for 6 months first. One thing to be aware of - when PPIs first came out, they were considered safe for long-term use. Now the recommendation is for 6 months or less. So, those of you who are on PPIs might want to research this.

There are a few folks around who have been in total hell with GERD after sleeve on here if you search for them, you might get some more balanced feedback. There have been people through here that needed and did the revision. I can only say I've been totally happy with my sleeve and have had no symptoms. A lot of people have their GERD resolve after sleeve, too, though....losing weight helps a lot. Luck of the draw, I'm afraid.

So i had an egd back in 2006 and was diagnosed with a small hiatal hernia. My surgeon now says she will repair it and give me the sleeve. She thinks i will be fine on the sleeve but says that I can always do a revision later if need be. She wants to take the least complicated approach first

Many people who get GERD after sleeve end up needing revision to bypass because their symptoms are so uncomfortable. It is a realistic risk to discuss with your surgeon. My advice is to make sure you are using a surgeon who does hiatal hernia repair, who has some expertise in checking for them. My upper GI noted moderate chronic gastritis...so I was a little concerned about developing GERD. My surgeon said my hiatal hernia was probably complicating this condition and fixed it when he did my sleeve surgery. I have had no problems with nausea or acid.

I felt the same way. It took me years to see a doctor about my sleeve to RNY revision. It is very scary! but being anxious & scared is normal. But things got better when going through the program again and feeling confident with what my surgeon & team were saying. And honestly, being on this forum helped; to read about others revisions. Don’t give up and try to remain positive. If you have complications that can only be fixed with a revision, then it’ll all be worth it in the end. Hang in there!

Hey there! Yes I felt the same way I am 3 months out from a revision do to complication of my vsg. I just focused on feeling better I had really bad Gerd and hital hernia had returned along with few other things. I felt very confused and didn't want anything to go wrong. And things went good. Try and stay positive it will be ok[emoji4] hope that helps please keep us posted Sent from my SM-G950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Well, Thursday is the big day. Thursday I go to my first appointment to see about how to get a sleeve revision to a RYN. I don’t know why but I am really not excited about it. When I first considered getting the sleeve, I was really gong ho about surgery. I wasn’t worried at all. Just wanted the surgery to go smoothly and quickly. Now that I am face with needed a RNY revision do to change complications associated with my sleeve, I am just stressed. And a little freaked out. Anyone else feel like this?

Hi! I haven’t been here for a while. My date kept changing and now my surgery is TOMORROW. I’m hoping it’s a successful lap band removal revision to the sleeve. If not, just having the band out will be a great relief. Although, I’m hoping they can do both in one surgery. Anxiety has really been driving me a little crazy as I’ve had many insurance issues (they didn’t approve my hospital, now at a hospital I’ve never been seen at.) Today I’m on full clear liquids and cleansing... it stinks but my mind is on the surgery so I’m not concentrating too hard on hunger.

I had this revision in May. I too lost very little with my sleeve & developed GERD. Since my revision 2 months ago, I lost 56 pounds. More than I lost with my sleeve (which was about 20 something pounds).

I haven't had revision but I'll be watching this thread closely. It's something I'm considering. No matter what, please stop beating yourself up. That's not doing you any good. Instead, what if you treated yourself better than your best friend? You're not a failure. You're not alone. Good luck.

Hi, It has been a year since my sleeve and I feel like such a failure. I’ve only lost approx 40lbs since surgery. Will the liquid phase I’ve lost 80-90 lbs. While some might be happy, I have a LOT to lose. HW 430 lbs, S.W. 365lbs, current 320lbs and it’s remained there for 4-5 months. I’m so disappointed in myself and feel like I’ve failed. I have the option to get a revision from sleeve to bypass... has anyone done this? Is it worth it? I’m just worried I still won’t lose 😔 Thoughts?

Hi everyone, I am in the looking into / leaning towards the sleeve. A little more about me. I am an (ugh) 45 year old single mom to an amazing 17 year old daughter. She’s truly my partner in (all quite legal) crime. It’s been 12 years that we have been a team. I had always been active growing up. I swam US Swimming up until I was 17. I coached swim team. Taught swim lessons, etc. I worked in various health clubs and worked at the very first curves in my area at the time. So I always watched what I ate - but not anything outrageous. I am 5’ 4” and my weight would fluctuate by about 20 lbs (depending on the season...damn you egg nog). Which brings us to April of 2010. I live in MA to be more precise, on Cape Cod. If you don’t know where that is - GOOD (I’m kidding - kinda). But back to Doomsday as I now call it. I was visiting my mom who lived about an hour and a half away and I needed to get back for a pedicure appointment because it was the Friday before April vacation and we were going to the coolest indoor water park. At that time, I drove an older model Volkswagen Cabriolet Convertible. And it was borderline HOT that day. As I was leaving my mothers I contemplated taking the roof down, but decided not to because I was running late (typical). So I’m driving down the 2 lane stretch of highway that will bring me to the bridge to get to my town and nail appointment. I’m going a steady clip and traveling in the fast lane. All of a sudden a Ford 350 Truck is pulling into my lane on top of me. I was terrified of slamming on the breaks and getting rear ended so I hit my horn (if you could call it that- honestly it sounded like you blew into the wrong side of a kazoo) so I’m edging myself over and now I’m panicking. I have gotten myself in a terrible position. Since I was on the shoulder of a very narrow road, my car hit sand going at least 60 and I took off. All I really remember is sky/grass, sky/grass, sky/grass and finally coming to a stop upside down I could see all my belongings strewn everywhere in the grassy median. That accident made my “bad back” (ha not even close) worse my disc between L4-L5 was bulging. My options were spinal surgery or Physical Therapy until I couldn’t bear the pain anymore. That moment came in October of 2014 my daughter’s friend dropped an ice cube on the floor and somehow I managed to step on it and it took me down. I was in great shape and wanted to go the PT route again So we did that with Pain Management and a TON of steroids. I wasn’t improving so I was referred to my Neurosurgeon. I had the fusion in December and I knew it didn’t work. You have to wait a year before you are re-evaluated So I did and this led to a year and a half of anger, agony,depression, - you name it I had been gaining weight since the accident since I couldn’t do kickboxing any more. It’s weird, with the obesity epidemic where it is in this country why did not one single nurse, aide Rt doctor mention it. I am now 5’4” and weigh about 250. I’m supposed to have revision back surgery with another level of my back fused and they will take a bone graft from my hip to help ensure the surgery goes well. As I researched I started reading more and more about complications with spinal fusion in obese patients I got up the nerve and emailed my new Neurosurgeon’s nurse for information and she sent it to me right away as the clinic is a bit a way from me I opted to do orie I online. That will be next week. I feel like this may be my one best last chance to get some quality of life back. I would love to hear your stories and successes. Also how long is the recovery time? I think I read 4 weeks. Another question - my only other medical condition is my back at this point I have Medicare and Mass Health How long is the procedure from deciding , choosing dr appointments etc to actual surgery? i hope I didn’t put you all to sleep thanks for listening xx jacie

I had the sleeve and then revised to RNY. I only had GERD woth the sleeve. I had rumbling noises with both surgeries but not loud enough for others to hear. And I have no GI issues with the RNY. No uncontrollable gas or poo

Then definitely discuss the heartburn with your doc. My doctor is already talking about possibly having to revise my sleeve to bypass because of reflux that came after the surgery.

I had a bypass . Mainly for maximum weight loss and to get rid of any chance of reflux . I also notice(d) that many sleevers tend to have revision to bypass for medical reasons . I didn’t want to chance having two surgeries . I’ve had zero issues, pain or vomiting etc or anything people tend to think of when they think rny Good luck with your decision

I had GERD ever since I had my sleeve in 2011. I had a revision from sleeve to bypass in May & haven’t had GERD since.

I'm getting the sleeve!I had my first nutrition/exercise class yesterday and someone asked how often their patients regret having WLS and they told us that this virtually never happens. They also said that a majority of their patients who have revisions do so out of medical necessity (such as having severe acid reflux), but not due to lack of weight loss.

@BajanSleeve You stated, "I have the opposite problem to you. I can eat a TON and I am 5 weeks post op and worried I wasted my money and that I will be eating like before the surgery very soon." You might end up being revised to the duodenal switch (DS) if you end up discovering the sleeve isn't enough. Sounds like you might need the malabsorption component. Those with a higher BMI do better on the DS than the sleeve.

Hi there @Midwest Girl I am also a band to bypass revision. I have no feeling of restriction that is even close to the band. I never have productive burps, and only if I swallow something pretty well unchewed do I feel any blockage type feeling inside. But I get comfortably full after about a cup of food (I am six months post surgery, and just under my ‘not overweight any moe’ goal). My surgeon has a strict ‘three meals a day’ rule, no grazing - and I happily live with that. And I really don’t get hungry any more - just like the best effect of the band! I wish I had done the bypass right at the start - it is marvellous, comparatively! The first few days is rough, and then the first few weeks transitioning to real food, but just grin and bear it, stick to your plan and watch the real you emerge! Good luck with your journey!

Hey Midwest. I'm a band to bypass revision. Restriction is pretty close to what I had when the band. But without any of the issues I had with leafy greens. Really dry meats are still slightly problematic if I'm not careful. As far as being able to eat more after a short time, I haven't noticed that, or rather, I haven't had the desire to do that. I could eat a LOT with the band... the bypass, lol not so much. I'm often passing off half of my food because I'm still getting or making myself too much food, or in cases where I cook something like a burger, the larger ones get split with someone else typically. I just don't have the drive to eat more after eating. I wait the 30 mins before and after eating before I drink any liquids and I'm sure this helps to some extent. I wish I went with the bypass back in 2011 when I got the band. I feel better now than I have in decades.

Hi, I’m having a revision from the band to bypass. Right now my band is unfilled but there’s still some restriction. When I eat with the band the small pouch causes me to stop eating after a few bites but then I’m able to start up again after 15 minutes. I’m concerned that this will happen with the RNY and then I’ll be grazing all day. Is the gastric bypass more effective than the band on terms of how fullness feels?

Congratulatons!! You look fantastic! I made it to my goal, but also had to have the revision due to reflux. My revision was on 5/29. Reflux is no longer an issue...yay! Plus it's a bonus that I've lost even more weight. Good luck with your revision.

August 7 here! Also my 30th birthday lol. Revision from lap band to RNY

Hi all! I know there are tons of threads here but I’m curious to hear any stories or tips you all have that’ve gone from the lapband to the RNY. I got my band in 2011 and lost well over 100 pounds but with that came an insane amount of vomiting and inability to keep liquids down. Saline was taken out and the rest was a 91 pound history lol. I have my revision to a RNY next month on my 39th birthday (yay!) and was attracted to it specifically aside from VSG as my doctor explained to me the following; -due to having part of you intestines out, head hunger is still there but reduced a lot in most patients. Is this your experiences as well? -identify and steer 100% clear of slider foods and stick to thicker style foods, meat, fiber outs veggies and if tolerable some breads after a time. Coming from the band world any bread was an automatic upchuck lol. Your thoughts? -success rates from band to RNY are extremely high. I’d love your thoughts and tips! I’d be naive if I thought this would be easy, I did so well on the band for such a good time but the success rates are so low come to find out. I think you’re all amazing and love the advice you all give! We are in this together! Mitchell