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I’m in Woodbury. I finished all of my appts today. They will submit for insurance approval now. I’m going for a band revision to bypass. I’m going to Meadowbrook. Anyone have experience there? They have been very nice so far. Plan to have the surgery in June due to work and travel until then. Can’t wait!

Hey all! Minnesota here as well! Saint Paul (Dayton's Bluff). I am having my revision surgery on Aug 7, 2018 (also my 30th birthday!) and am so excited. I had a lap band placed in 2011 and lost 115 pounds, only to have gained it back after complications made me take saline out. I am getting a RNY at St. Josephs in Saint Paul- Dr. Geoffry Fasan So nice to see other MN peeps! I'm excited and nervous and it's been the main thing on my mind for months, but its coming!

My surgeon's range, for my height, is lower than most ranges from other sources: 99-121. (Weight Watchers' range is 109-137). My goal is 109. My doctor's goal for me is 127--it's a level where I've maintained long-term in the past. I'd like to get to 109 because of back and ortho issues that just feel better the less I carry. I will reassess as I get closer, though--if it's not realistic, I'll revise.

Dr. Schulman: Once again I come to the answer man with a question. In less than a month I am having lipo of my inner and outer thighs and knees, outer thigh lift, butt lift, arms and possible anchor revision of my tummy tuck. I have a lot of significant people in my life telling me that I don't need the anchor revision. I don't like the little roll of skin on my upper abs when I sit down, but for some reason, I'm a little nervous about that particular scar. I don't know why since I am going to have so many scars! Would you please look at the attached pictures and give me your professional opinion on whether you think I could benefit from the anchor revision (sorry to put you on the spot!). I would really appreciate it! Thanks!

Hi Dr Schulman I had an armlift in March this year. The scars are at the back of my arms (I wasnt given any reason for this but had expected them to be on the inside of the arms) and the arms themselves are not as slim as I would have liked given the extent of the scarring. The measurement pre-op was 15 inches and post op is 13 inches. The scars are positioned at the back but close to the inner side. In such circumstances where there is still a significant amount of excess skin, do you think a revision op might be possible to remove the excess and reposition the scar on the inner side of the arm so that it's not immediately visible from the back? Thanks for your advice. Ellen

Dr Schulman, I had a Anchor TT on Oct 23, 2008. I had a large wound seperation, skin necrosis. It has just finally healed after almost 4 months. But it didn't heal smoothly and I will need a revision done to correct this. My question is. WHAT are the chances of having the same problem again??? I see my Ps today to talk about this, but was wondering what your opinion was also. I know it is not as extensive at all as the first surgery, but I am still scared to death of this happening again. But I cannot live with what the healed area looks like... Thanks, Kelly

I lost my before pics but I have an after pic at goal. Height 5'3 SW: 193 CW: 140 Revision from band to sleeve. Band SW 214 LOVING my sleeve!!!!!!!

Thanks, mzchyll924! At this point, self-pay is off the table, but now that I've seen the certificate of coverage for my plan next year, I'm really hoping it's a pretty easy process given the requirements. I'm so glad to hear all of your revision will be covered!

Hello, here's my story (I wrote this all yesterday, 5/13/09) I started getting ready for the surgery Monday night. I tried to do things that I knew I wouldn't want to do right away after coming back from the hospital. I scrubbed a bath/shower that needed to be cleaned, unloaded & loaded the dishwasher, cleaned the kitchen, (TMI) DTD with hubby lol. I also had to wash our sheets so I could sleep on freshly washed sheets, per my instructions. I also had to take a shower with a hibiclens sponge and then take another one in the morning. I only ended up sleeping 2-3 hours so the showers weren't that far apart but oh well. I got to the hospital at 8am with surgery scheduled for 10am. (I wasn't early just for fun, they asked me to come that early) lol I signed a couple of papers at the admissions desk and then sat in the waiting room for about 5-10 minutes. Then they took me back to a small pre-op room with a bed, chair and tv. The nurse asked me to get all the way undressed and put on their stylish gown, gray skidproof sockies and blue surgery cap. She had me hop on the bed and asked a bunch of questions and I had to sign another paper. She also collected a urine specimen (to make sure I'm not pregnant I think). About this time my friend Becky arrived, which helped pass the time. (I had driven myself there because hubby needed to be home with the kids.) The nurse came back in and gave me a shot of heparin in the belly and it really didn't hurt or sting, thank goodness. She told me that they would be taking me down to the OR about 10:30 (so I guess it got moved back a little) she also started my IV and gave me some medicine to calm my nerves a little. That stuff was great, it did calm me down and made me mellow. They gave a little light up pager thing to my friend and sent her back to the waiting room until the surgery was over. They wheeled me down to the OR and transferred me over to another bed, put the mask on my face and I was out. I woke up in a recovery room and coughed a little from the breathing tube they had put down my throat during the surgery. I remember looking at the clock at seeing 11:30am or noon. I honestly don't remember much from the recovery room, just that they told me everything went really well. I think I might have cried a little as I was coming out of the fog, I don't know why, but I'm pretty sure I did. Other than earlier in the day when my surgeon came to say hello, I never even saw him at all. They wheeled me to my room, which was a double room and already had a lady in there. My roommate had a lot of health issues, I felt so bad for her. She had gastric bypass in 1999 and then a revision and she came in to have a hernia repaired for the 3rd time. After being in the room for awhile, I wondered where my friend was and called her cell phone. She, my husband and my 17 month old son were waiting to come to my room, but no one let them know that they could come up. That was kind of annoying...but I understand they get busy. They came up to visit and my son seemed a little scared by the IV, oxygen in my nose and leg compression thingees. My daughter was at school, thank goodness, I think she would have been really worried about me. After they left, I tried to take a nap and nodded off a little here and there. My roomate got discharged so then I had the room all to myself. :thumbup: I got up a little while later to go to the bathroom and walk the halls. I spent the evening dozing off and on, getting woken up constantly for vitals, blood sugar testing (even though I'm not diabetic) and once, around midnight, I woke up to find housekeeping stripping down the other bed in the room and cleaning that side of the room. Really, at midnight?? As of right now, I am still waiting to be discharged. I actually kind of wonder if they forgot about me...I was able to get the IV unhooked and took a shower. They also wheeled me downstairs to do the swallow test to make sure the band was in the right place (it is). They have not allowed me to eat or drink anything, other than a small amount of water...it has been 36 hrs since i ate!! I don't know what is going on but I am not having any problems so hopefully they will let me go soon.

Hi Loriha So glad your getting sorted, finally. I too often think about the awful conditions and way were treated by ACS, it doesnt bear thinking about if there was an emergency. You wont know yourself now and will be Twiggy by Xmas :thumbup: I met Gerri today and she looks just fantastic! She has been so lucky not to have had any problems! Im just waiting on a date for my bypass. I had a scope done last Friday and I still have a stitch in my stomach from when I got the band done. They couldnt see it when they were removing the band because I had an infection. I kind of knew something wasnt right because at times I still feel like I have a band. But they will remove it when I have bypass done. Hopefully will be having op done in Blackrock clinic, but may have to go to liverpool as its more complicated having revision surgery. Anyway I just cant wait to get it over and done with, its been a long road both physically and emotionally. Best of luck and hope the lbs drop off you!!! Brenners xx

My name is Jenny and I was originally supposed to be banded on August 24, 2010, but due to my doctor's family emergency my date got changed to August 25, 2010. I went in for pre-registration on August 23 and they told me to be there at 12:30 pm the next day for my surgery. There were 3 other people in the pre-op room with me. Myself and another woman was getting banded, one was getting revision because her port had flipped and another one was getting gastric bypass. I undressed. I had to take off everything and I mean EVERYTHING! put on my knee high compression stockings and non-skid socks and the gown. One of the nurses took my vitals and she attempted to start an IV on my right hand and beforehand she told that their hospital prefers to inject numbing medication (lidocaine) before attempting an IV. So, she injected lidocaine and it burned so much when it was injected and then she put the IV in and moved it all around, fumbled around for the vein, took the IV needle out half way and shoved it in again trying to get blood back flow. She then said sorry again and tried my other arm on my forearm, injected more lidocaine (it burned again) fumbled around for the vein (it hurt) told me sorry and took out the IV. Then the head nurse came in explaining that her policy for the pre-op room was that every nurse got 2 chances and 2 chances only to try to put an IV. So, with saying that, she, the head nurse, attempted another IV on my left hand, injected more lidocaine and got the back flow for the IV (FINALLY!). By this time it was already around 1:30 pm and the anesthesiologist had come to speak with me to explain his part of the process in the operating room and he asked me if I was nervous and I said yes so he asked the nurse to give me something to put me to sleep. I feel asleep fast. Then I woke up like an hour later and was told that the doctor wasn't going to come in til 5 pm. It was 8 pm by the time I decided to get dressed and leave the hospital to reschedule for another day. I left. I thought maybe him not coming was God's way of telling me that I wasn't ready for the surgery yet. But then I got home and I cried to my mother and brother that I should have stayed. Then at 10 pm the doctor called my mother's cell phone apologizing for his lateness and that he would go ahead and do the surgery tomorrow morning and that I would be the very first one in the operating room. I got too excited and said yes. So the next day I was told by the doctor to show up to the pre-op area at 7:30 am and the IV was quick this time. It was 8:30 am and I was finally wheeled into the operating room. Being wheeled away from your family is one of the hardest things ever! I was wheeled into the operating room and they told me to scoot myself onto the narrow operating table and I was looking up into the bright over light they have and I think that's when I wanted to jump off the table and run back to my family. Instead I felt my eyes get all misty. I wanted to cry but I held it together. It's just really creepy being in that operating room and you being in a very vulnerable state. They covered me with a warm blanket. It was too warm. I don't like being covered with blankets ever because I get hot easily and I think I was even trying to shrug it off of my body. Then they attached the arm portions to the operating table and spread my arms apart and strapped then down with a pad that felt cool and gelatinous to the touch. By then I was already feeling drowsy and I could feel myself going under anesthesia. The next thing I knew I was in recovery with a oxygen mask blowing oxygen 100 mph into my nose and mouth. I wanted to remove it but I was told not to touch it and I obeyed. It was so so very very hard to try to keep my eyes open. My lids were so heavy but I felt that I needed to make myself open them because every time I drifted into sleep with the oxygen mask on I felt like I had stopped breathing...so that made me very scared (of course I didn't stop breathing, it just felt that) So I fought off the sleepies and kept my eyes open and finally after a while I won the battle and eventually I was able to take off the oxygen mask. When the nurse took off the mask she told me to try to keep taking deep breathes. I tried but I was still kind of drowsy and drifted into a second long sleep and my respirations would reach below 94 and that's when the machine would start beeping. So every time it beeped I took a deep breath and my respirations would climb back up to 97 or 98. After I got that down I started to notice that my mouth was bone dry to the point where I would gag because it was so dry. This freaked me out. I hate having a dry mouth. So I asked for a wet sponge and my nurse brought a cup with ice cold Water and a sponge and wet my lips and my tongue and it felt like the most wonderful thing in the entire universe until she took it out and placed the cup and sponge on a table behind my bed so I wouldn't be able to reach it. My mouth started to get bone dry again and I freaked out again and I had to ask another nurse for the sponge and I opened my mouth expecting him to wet my tongue, but no dice. He just wet my lips. I made sure not to ask him again. So finally I saw the anesthesiologist and he was peeking into the curtain of the patient next to me and I waved him over and I asked him if he can give me the cup of ice cold water and the sponge and he did. He gave it to me in my hand, the cup and the sponge and I swear if was physically able to yell out "I LOVE YOU" to him I would have. So I felt a lot better that I had control of the sponge now and I constantly wet my lips and my tongue when needed. And I guarded that cup like it was my most prized posession. After that I felt between my legs and noticed a pressure there and found out I had been cathed. It felt weird and I just wanted it out and I was told by my brother who is a nurse that once you tell them you can get up to pee on your own and you actually do it then they'll take out the cath. So I told my nurse I wanted to pee on my own and she took out the catheter and I was helped to the bathroom by a male nurse. and OMG I Peed! on my own! I went back to my area and the male nurse that escorted me to the bathroom told me to sit on the recliner chair so I did. but he opened by entire back side of the gown but by this time I didn't care what was showing. He would open it so I wouldn't have to manuever myself to get the back of the gown out from under me thus me causing unnecessary pain to myself. So I sat there and I asked for some pain meds and the pain went away quickly and I feel asleep in the recliner chair. And then they woke me up and took me to x ray so I can drink some liquid in a little medicine cup so they can track it going down through x ray. The stuff was horrible and it was a small amount but it took forever to finish because it was so horrible. but at the same time I was thirsty and my mouth and throat were so dry that I was thankful for anything to drink even if it was that horrible stuff. I was done with x ray and taken back to post op to my recliner chair and I asked my nurse if I can go home now and she said that they had to wait for the results of the x ray. I just wanted to go home already. It took an hour and a half to get the results from the x ray. Everything came out fine and then my nurse told me I could go home but to just give her about 30 more minutes so she can bring me some "food" and explain the LAP-BAND® rules to me and to schedule my follow up appointment with my surgeon/doctor. She brought a tray that had chicken broth, a bottled water, a popiscle in a cup that was half way melted and some Jello. I could only take 2 very small sips of water and one smaller sip of chicken broth by the time I was done. I didn't even touch the jello or popsicle. So then my mom was in the room with me and the nurse explained the rules and told me I could get dressed to go home. They took out my IV and the male nurse who escorted me to the bathroom about 3 times adjusted my stockings and told me to keep them on for a couple of more hours because his wife had to wear them too and that they helped her. He closed the curtain, I changed into my exercise capri loose fitting pants, and a dark t shirt cause I didn't want to put my bra back on because of the incisions. I came out with my pink crocs, my white compression stockings showing, and my high water capri's and my nurse laughed at me telling the others to look at how cute I looked. I guess I looked funny. I didn't care. I just wanted freedom! By this time my mom had left and I was escorted to my family and I got into the car and we drove home. When I got home, it was a completely different story. I took a nose dive. I cried and wailed. Crying out that I had made a mistake and that I wanted to go back to the hospital to get the band out. I couldn't drink any water at all or any liquids for that matter. I cried and cried and felt like I had committed the biggest mistake of my existence. My family got real scared. They had never seen me react that way. I cried for 3 days and I was really depressed and wanted the band out. I think it was the fear of not being able to drink anything at all without feeling pain. My thinking and reasoning were irrational. I started looking up "how long do you have to wait to get your band removed" on google" I did this for 3 days and I was completely determined to have my band out. The reason I was freaking out and wanted it out was because I could not, it was not physically possible for me to drink any liquids whatsoever plus I needed to take my liquid antibiotic and liquid painkiller. If I couldn't take water down then I was I going to get my medicine down? The antibiotic was 2 tsp and the pain killer was 3 tsb. It doesn't seem like a lot but it was. I took me 40 minutes for me to drink my painkiller (and without water cause water meant more more liquid I couldn't take in...which made it worse because the taste was just horrible) The next day I wasn't crying as much but I still felt that same restriction. I couldn't take water down plus my mandatory meds. So I googled the same thing again and cried again, and I was particularly attached to my mother and brother. I would not let them leave my side for nothing! I begged that they stay with me because I was afraid to by myself. So my mother laid in my bed with me while she watched her novelas and I cried and stroked her arm telling her not to leave me. She missed work the next day to be with me. The 3rd day I didn't cry until the evening when I started taking my pills for all my comorbidities. I had to crush them in applesauce because it was the only way I can get it down. So I started crying because the applesauce hurt going down but it was the only way I could take my crushed pills (I first tried crushed mixed with water and it was horrible to even get it down because of the taste) So I cried and my brother who is a nurse was already annoyed by me and by my irrational thinking and reasoning that he sort of gave it to me straight and told me "WHAT"S WRONG WITH YOU?" and him just yelling at me made me cry even more and I backed into a corner like a wounded animal and he said "look at you!? you're backing into a corner like I'm going to hit you!" I cried more and felt like no one understood me and the pain that it took for me to sip water or take my meds. The next day I was a lot better and didn't cry anymore. Today is the 30th and I'm doing a lot better. I'm not depressed anymore or crying. I'm back to myself again. Laughing and joking with my family. Those first 3 days were horrible and I don't know what came over me but I felt as if something else, some other force had took over me. Looking back I don't even know who that person was. Like I said, I'm doing a lot better 5 days post op. My family is especially happy that I'm back to normal. And now I can sip liquids like I could before I got the band. well, not has much intake but enough to keep me satisfied and happy. I've been on the clear liquid diet for 4 days...i was told to do 3 days but decided to do 4. This morning I moved onto full liquids which includes, sugar free pudding, yogurt without granola or fruit pieces, or seeds, and cream of Soups, and cream of wheat...I ate pudding today and it felt like I had swallowed a burp with my pudding, it didn't hurt but it there was some discomfort but I decided to eat it more slowly and it's getting better. I'm on the full liquid diet for 2 weeks, then I move on to pureed for 4 weeks, then soft foods for another 4 weeks, then finally regular food after that. I mapped it out on my calendar and i'll be done with my food stages on November 7. By telling my story I don't want to scare anyone out of getting banded. I just thought that I would be honest on what happened and what I felt the first couple of days. Please, know that it does get better with time. The pain starts to subside, the soreness goes away, and you'll be able to take in a little bit more liquids then you think you can (just not too much). I also cried on the 3rd day because I had to start nursing school on the 30th and I was a wreck thinking that I wasn't going to be able to go to school and I was just going to end up crying all the time. Today was my first day of school and it was no big deal. Everything went well. I didn't drive myself though. The most annoying thing those 3 days were getting in and out of bed, the soreness in my neck and back, and arms. Also, I'm a belly sleeper and I've been having to sleep on my back and cautiously sleeping on my side that doesn't have my port. BENGAY really helps with the soreness a lot!

I had GERD pretty bad for years and sick multiple times a week due to past vertical banding. My revision to RNY went well, and the GERD is gone and I can now eat healthy foods and have no more issues---It feels so good. Hope it works as well for you.

I had a band to sleeve revision done on Tuesday. All I wanted to do was sleep after that. Which I think helped tremendously with healing. Got up and walked that night. Pain was mostly soreness and chest pressure from the anesthesia. Walking helped with that using that ball thingie to exercise the lungs. Slept off and on the next day, walked some more. Leak test done yesterday afternoon and no leak found. Started feeling a lot better last night, enjoying the heck out crystal light, 1 oz every 15 minutes. No hunger at all. Now just waiting to find out what time I'm being discharged today. Feel really really good about doing this and looking forward to a better future. Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

I had lapband surgery in April 30th of 2012. I am 5"1, and I'm 49 years old. My highest weight was 223. I lost 100 pounds and reached my goal weight of 123. Then I had a port leak in early 2014 and had port revision surgery in September of 2014. I have had a huge regain. I am back up to 165. The insurance I have now doesn't cover my Dr's visits anymore. I am not at a good restriction. And I can't afford to get the fills I need at this time. Has anyone else had a regain? And if so, what did you do to drop the weight again? As of right now, I feel like a total failure. Two days ago I went to only liquids. Today I am on pureed. I'm trying to restart and refocus. I am walking again as well. It's tough because I have a really bad back. And I hurt a lot. I feel so lost. I don't know what to do. I am so off track, I don't even remember what I did in the beginning of my journey! Please help.... Sent from my SM-G920V using the BariatricPal App

I revised to a sleeve almost 2 years ago. I didn't realize just how many things I could not eat with a band. I love the sleeve. I never PB, and food never gets stuck. I can eat anything I want in small portions and I have been maintaining at goal for over a year.

Cardshark, aren't you on sleevetalk too? Anyway, if you're not go to verticalsleevetalk.com the sister of this site. There are a lot of us band to sleeve revisions over there. Nope no, side effects. Just small portions of anything I want!

It's funny. The timing of this thread is perfectly ironic as I had my band completely emptied last week because of awful pain when drinking mere liquids and awaking at night with vomit in my mouth. I am having an endoscopy tomorrow morning and will hopefully learn the fate of my band shortly after. The GI Series that I had last week was not promising: the flow through the empty band is too slow and my esophagus is "playing" with everything that enters it. I'm contemplating a sleeve revision because I fear I will continue to have these issues even with a new band. Have any of you "Old Timers" had a revision and if so, what was your experience like?

I am an old timer who was banded in 2005. This year would be seven years, but this band won't make it to my bandiversary in June. I have quite a severe slip. Since Kaiser is now doing Lap Band surgery, I have moved over from Dr Cirangle in San Francisco to Kaiser since that is my insurance. On Wednesday (March 7) I am going in for a revision. Dr Alami is going to take the old style band out and put in the new (and from what I hear, better) style band in. While I'm going to be very happy to have a fixed band, I'm also kind of sad that I have to have surgery again. I have to remember how it was seven years ago and start all over. I'm kind of sad that I have to start over and yet very relieved that my insurance will pay the bill this time. I originally lost about 110 lbs and have since gained about 50 of that back. I hope I can have the new band installed and I will feel that sense of fullness again, and that sense of control over food. I hope.... Anyhow, I'm a little down tonight because I feel in many ways like a failure. I failed the band and yet crazily enough, I got a second chance. Fingers crossed and all. Edited to add: I've been happy to read quite a few people posting who said they had a slip, had a revision and were doing great. That gives me hope and confidence. Thanks for that!!

This is my not so "Peachy Story" on my experience with the Lap Band and a few surgeons. Right now my husband is trying to get the band out of him and a revision as well; I used to post herea lot a very long time ago and even met some of the ladies from the DFW Band Group! I thought for a long time I failed the band, but according to the company's own research it is a rarity to make it as far as most of you guys have without complications. I myself had plenty of problems with the band and i hope those who were talking about problems drinking Water read my story below: Hello everyone my name is Carrie, I am originally from Texas, but currently reside in Washington State. I am 32 years old and I once weighed 302lbs at my all time high standing "tall" at 5'4". I was squeezing into a tight pair of 24 blue jeans and 3x T-shirts. It was at my highest weight I became pregnant. I was scared to death as I knew my blood pressure WOULD be a concern. Eventually it was at a level that put me at risk of having a stroke at 26 yrs old! Thus I was induced and eventually because my body wasn't ready to have the baby at 38 weeks after 18 hours of labor I failed to progress and ended up with an emergency C-section.When our oldest daughter was 10 months old we (my husband and I) began to look into surgical help as I was 297 after giving birth and he was 360lbs. We had a friend's girlfriend who had the Lap Band. She was doing great and totally loved life with the band. At 26 I was concerned about the safety of having my digestive system tampered with and decided that the band would be the best place for us to start, afterall it's reversable right? I had my lap band surgery in August 2005. I went from 297 to 160lbs in about a year. I was very close to reaching my goal of a normal BMI for my height. My hubby had his band surgery in January 2006. He works for a major computer software company here in Redmond, WA and isn't very active. He was raised to clean his plate no matter what and he eventually had to have his Fluid removed due to a dilation from over eating. Eventually I started having problems. I called the office of the Surgeon we used only to get a recording. He was gone. All of his patients were given away based soley on insurance to other doctors. It was at that time I began to realize that he was only in it for the money, he never cared what damage he did to the "meat" he operated on. He currently continues to Band people in California. So, I had done research and was told by this surgeon that the band is reversible. Well, yes, they can remove it but not the damage that IT CAUSES. I have permanent Esophagus Damage at 32 years old. I had two EGD (upper edoscopies) done and our surgeon's replacement only gave me a PPI and said the band looks great. He too didn't seem to have an issue in the fact I couldn't swallow WATER anymore and it took the nurses 6 tries to get an IV started in my dehydrated body!! Needless to say eventually he offered to remove my band and do a Vertical SLEEVE Gastrectomy. The Sleeve was a brand new surgery that he had recently learned how to do. He had never done a single surgery revision from Lap Band to Sleeve and insisted that it MUST be done in 2 seperate surgeries months apart. Of course he couldn't recall exactly how many times he had done this surgery, which his office manager didn't know either. Surgeons are generally very proud of their work and have no problem bragging about it. Thus I had a problem with his indirect lies. I told him he was just as bad as the other doctor as he was in it for the $ as well. His practice continues to grow and prosper in the DFW area. I found a surgeon based upon another lady who had suffered with a failing Lap Band and she had written about it on a forum directed to VSG. He was in Dallas and very close to my home at the time. He was educated in Mexico and praticed in Mexico for many years before coming to Dallas, so his English wasn't that great but for some reason I trusted him. I was very much the "dog who had been kicked too many times and snappy". I had constant sharp pains in my chest and couldn't swallow water very well. He had done several hundred revision from band to sleeves and mareketed himself as an Expert of the surgery. On August 26, 2010, I FINALLY had my Lap Band removed and the VSG surgery done. My new surgery was of course considered to be "investigational or experimental" thus our insurance covered the removal of the band and that part of the surgery. We paid $8k for the additonal time and skill needed for the VSG. I spent ONE night in the hospital and was more than ready to go home. The next few months was VERY rough. I had been primarily on an ALL liquid diet because my band had failed I had a hard time learning how to eat again. I knew if I ate too soon I could vomit and have staples pop thus getting the nerve to actually cheat was scary. My newest surgeon found that the original doctor had put my band in BACKWARDS and the second guy who did TWO scopes on me along with several films knew it. . The truth is most bands fail. Most are removed when the person it is put into can no longer tolerate the issues it causes. Do a Bing search for "Lapband Lawyer", yes, they too are starting to rack in the money trail for damages people had and bad medical care we got from doctors who didn't care if we lived or not. I weighed 243 on my day of surgery back in August 2010. I have since dropped down to 195. Take it I am still not "Skinny" but I can eat anything I wish, just not a lot of it. It's like I am ALWAYS walking away from the table of a big Thanksgiving meal. I no longer have intense hunger. As I am getting further out I notice my hunger is slowly returning which I'm happy about as I've not been interested in eating since surgery. All I can do is share my story and you must do what is right for you. I will say before you have any surgery you need to know the truth about what the risks really are. It seems that 2 out of the 3 surgeons I dealt with were after the money and didn't care about me as a fellow human being or someone's wife or the mother to two little girls who would have missed me had I passed away, which COULD have happend during my second pregnancy, I had a big belly from a full-term infant and a backwards band that was a few inches from my aorta, at anytime my baby could have kicked that band and ruptured my aorta. Scary huh? I'm here for anyone who wants to ask anything. As for future surgeries, even at 195 I am better off than I was at 295, so I will NOT be having anymore weight loss surgeries. My life is the most normal it has been since prior to my Lap Band surgery! The Sleeve has given me EVERYTHING that the band promised without the side effects, That alone is work a ton

It just shows that even when we think our bands are not doing anything for us they really are. When do you go for your revision Jean, hopefully soon? I think the worst part must be having to go through that post op diet thing for a second time and it is even stricter with a sleeve isn't it? Tammy you can only do your best. Try to snack on healthy stuff. Maybe take advantage and eat the low cal filling foods that you were unable to with a properly adjusted band e.g raw carrots, celery etc I only had my fill out (except 2ml) for 10 days and managed to not really gain, not sure how as I felt like I was eating everything in sight. I am now trying to consciously make an effort to not go crazy as it still doesn't feel like I have much restriction although it is definetly better than it was.

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!

Wow man... Except for the Hurling part and the revision surgery, I would say that yours and my stories are nearly identical... I will just have to say DITTO on most of yours.

I thought I had posted on this thread. I feel so bad as I read about the band problems! I revised to a sleeve 2 years ago. I could not take the aspirating at night, the reflux, etc. Getting the band removed and revising to a sleeve was the best thing I've ever done. The sleeve is effortless. It works exactly like a band is supposed to. I am never hungry; food never gets stuck ; I can eat anything I want, in small quantities. I have friends who had damage to their stomachs so badly that they could not have any revision surgery. That is why I had my band removed as soon as I could afford to . I self paid for the band, and it sits on my dresser. I self paid for the sleeve, and life is great! If a revision surgery is affordable for you or if your insurance will pay for it, don't keep the band if you're having problems! There are many band to sleeve revision stories at verticalsleevetalk.com Come and check it out.

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 ...

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