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Am I the only one who has had post-surgery complications? I tried to find the post-surgery thread but it appears to have disappeared!!! I ended up being re-hospitalized five days after my surgery because I had paralytic ileus - essentially my intestines just stopped moving entirely and nothing - including gas - could go anywhere. It was extremely painful. I was in hospital for four days. Now I am back home but I am having trouble with the incision over my port - it came partially open when they took the staples out and while it is not open all the way to the port (i.e. it is partially healed) it is an ugly mess. I have to go to the clinic every day to have my bandages changed and for it to be irrigated and checked, and it's going to heal into a massive, massive scar. One of the surgeons from the team who treated me reassured me that they could "revise" the scar later and right now we have to focus on saving the port - which of course makes sense - but after having so many complications it's hard not to be discouraged. I am on antibiotics for the open incision. At least I have not have any trouble swallowing at all. I am at the pureed foods stage and have had yogurt, cottage cheese, oatmeal, and pureed sphagetti sauce (with meat in it) no problem. My stomach is so happy to have real food in it again! For lunch today I'm going to try scrambled eggs and for supper mashed potatoes with some pureed apple pork. I'm eating under 1000 calories a day and not having any trouble sticking with those portions - I already have 3 ml in my band. From when I started the pre-surgery diet I am down 20 lbs, 2 pants sizes, and my BMI is down almost 4 points. So it's working. But no more complications, please!!!

My surgery is booked for May 6th with one of the fat doctors from the TV show here in the UK - but Im terrified of blood clots, bleeding, hernias adhesions, ruptures and god knows what else, am I doing the right thing? Does this surgery fix you short term but decrease your life expectancy because of lots of long term side effects from having your digestive system re built? I have had a gastric band, I lost 6 stone (14 pounds in a stone) anyway, I looked and felt great, went and lived in LA for fun, and was an american size zero, worked out in the gym every day, and felt fab, then my dad died, I came back here to the UK, and then the climate and food and misery got to me, no more gym - replaced it with cakes, anyway, then my band slipped, and in Jan this year had it removed, now, Im back where I swore I would never be.... what do I do, do I dare to go ahead with what they say is more risky revision surgery or do I just slip into my fat invisible world.....

There are several MTF's that perform the VSG. My husband is active duty Air Force, and I had my band to sleeve revision at Eglin AFB. I know there are a couple of MTF's in OK and TX that are performing the VSG. You're best bet would be to call the general surgery clinic for the MTF's that are close to you, and find out what options are available. If you have Prime, you have to stay within 100 miles of your home base. If you have Tricare Standard, you could go see a civilian and pay the out of pocket expense scheduled by Tricare and the surgeon.

I went to Mexico 7 years ago and got sleeved, revision from band. I was in the hospital 3 nights, but I didn't need to be. That's just the way they do things. I was out of my room most of the time, walking around outside. Feel free to ask me anything.

Ginny C I am 63 and had a band(that had gone bad) to sleeve revision 3 weeks ago. It was hard on me for the first few days. I stayed overnight at the hospital and my husband drove me 150 miles home. I had a migrane for the first few days at home. I was wishing I had never had it done. But after a few days I felt fine and was very happy I had it done! I have lost 23 lbs in the 3 wks since my surgery. The best thing that happened to me is I found this forum. I am on a pureed diet til next week when i go on a soft diet for 2 weeks. I cant wait. I walk a mile on my treadmill every morning. I still get weak at times, but they are getting less and less. good luck with your surgery! Jeri

How did it go? I got revised from band to sleeve this morning and feeling great (all things considered lol). Not about to run any races quite yet That's great thundergrrl!!!!! And haha same here! I was expecting a lot of pain just preparing myself for what some were saying here and I guess I was a lucky one...just have some soreness but the hydromorphone (morphine?) is taking care of that ...I have a high tolerance for pain though too so that could be it. My mouth is dry still and sleep is always difficult in a hospital, but I'm also an extremely light sleeper. They just came in and took bloodwork, I'm guessing the doctor will be seeing me around 8am Hope everyone is doing good! Check in here if u can, I'd like to know yall made through fine

Just had my revision from band to sleeve yesterday and I'm feeling great. So much less pain than when I had the band put in 5 years ago. Wishing a quick and easy recovery to all of you 3/16 folks!!

I live in Jackson, but had my surgery in Muskegon as my daughter's surgeon was there. Good luck with your revision. I'm so glad I have my sleeve!!!

It has slipped and I have a leak and my port has flipped.. I want a revision to the sleeve...

Alex, did you get a revision surgery?

Gday Feb Bandsters, Well I have bad news. Yesterday I saw my surgeon for my first post op check up and fill. He was happy that I had lost 7 kgs. He then attempted to put my first fill in. After trying several times he told me that he thinks that my port has flipped!:eek: I went to hospital in the afternoon to have it looked at under fluroscopy. The port has come away from it's sutures and is moving around freely. When they looked at it, it was at an extreme angel, and they told me it may easily flip.:confused: They were somehow able to turn me on my side and put a fill of 1ml in it. I have to go back to my surgeon in three weeks time. He mentioned that I may have to have revision surgery to re implant and suture the port. I can't believe it. I was only banded last month. I don't want any more pain. I knew that you can have complications with this surgery, I just was not expecting any five weeks out.:eek: I read all your posts daily and am proud of you all. Well done. Susannah

This is what happened with me and the band..... i decided to have the band because i was obese. i was obese because i ate way too much food. not because i was a sugar or carb addict. I did not have a sugar and carb addiction before the band. I repeat... too much food too often. After i had the band I had nothing but problems. I could not eat meats, poultry, eggs, vegetables or fruit without it coming right back up. so what does one do eventually, eat what stays down. which is slider foods, sugar, carbs, etc. I am having a revision to the sleeve soon, which my doctor says he has seen way better results for the people that had the band and had problems, and switched to the sleeve. Meanwhile he unfilled my band so I can eat , how how i had missed these healthy foods! So my plan is that when i get the sleeve , I will still eat healthy as I have been since the unfill and i will be restricted to the amounts i can eat and be successful. It sounds like some people dont understand how and why some of us with the failed lapband/self experience ended up on the failing end. Good Luck to all and good luck to me! :-)

I was going to wait until next month when we are 18 months post-op but I thought it might be good to do a check in before the end of the year and also because this is our first holiday season fully healed and I know there is a lot of food temptation at this time of year. How is everyone doing? I have exceeded my own personal expectations, and it seems like I am actually going to make my goal well before 2 years, which I am going to revise pretty soon for a stretch goal of 165 I think. After going so long not eating lots of stuff, I find it very easy to pass things up. Holiday candy doesn't appeal to me. Alcohol doesn't interest me. Even when I get a drink I usually only have one sip and I am bored.

Susannah I am so sorry to hear of your complication. I can imagine your frustration of having to have revision surgery not to mention having to heal all over again. Just remember this time next year when you're slim and gorgeous all that you're going through now will be well worth it and a distant memory. I really hope everything goes well for you. Keep us informed of how things go.

Had mine done outpatient. Insurance covered it as part of WLS revision. Pain was minimal but my stomach felt heavy when walking for about 3 weeks.

Thank you I do still have some pain on my right side which my surgeon's PA said is where the largest incision is and where I had adhesions and scar tissue from my sleeve. She told me it would take longer to heal because they stitched it very tight to prevent abdominal hernias. It is mostly ok but I still get pain bending there so inflammation is possible. Menstrual cycle it's hard to say. I am 40 so could be in perimenopause but I have a Mirena IUD which mostly stops my periods. I drink mostly Gatorade zero, powerade zero and propel because that's what has tasted the best since revision and miralax mixes well. I do ok on hydration getting 40-50 oz a day. My gastroenterologist has me do two caps of miralax to prevent constipation and it is working. I do feel like #4 is what makes most sense. I think I dropped water weight rapidly due to the shock of surgery and bounced back up. As long as I don't keep gaining weight I'm fine here. My weight would fluctuate pre revision between 142-145.

Now if we could just get Chris Christie ( Gov of New Jersey) to do a band to sleeve revision! Maybe then people would stop asking me if I had a lapband! Geez! That's all people seem to know about WLS! Maybe Elliott will join our group?!

Just to play devils advocate. My Dr wanted me to do the duodenal switch, but I was adamant I wanted the sleeve. If down the road I decide I'm gaining weight and want to I can do a revision to RNY. I like the fact there is no dumping and no malabsorption. I don't know the statistics on weight gain, but I worked with a girl who had the Rny and she previously weighed 600 lbs, I saw pictures. When I started working with her she weighed 220. By the end of one 1 year she had gained back to 400 lbs. Not sure how this is even possible? So I'm not sure if you can gain with either one? Personally, I don't ever want to he super thin. So, it might be something to think about. If you want to be thin, I think rny offers a better, longer weight loss future. Best wishes. You will do great!

if you read enough posts it seems that the rate of loss is a little slower after revision I’m currently 2 yrs post revision from VSG to RNY (for GERD not regain) and for me I have been able to maintain the same weight I was with VSG but I’m now GERD free. Initially I lost a little but since I was already at goal my surgeon wanted me to maintain not lose so I ate whatever I wanted for a short period of time. Then went back to normal (post bari lifestyle of moderation and overall food changes/substitution) Knowing what I now know, I think revisioners should consider asking their surgeons: 1. No GERD but substantial regain- Should I consider VSG to DS/SIPS for greater weightloss? 2. GERD and substantial regain- Should I convert from VSG to RNY with a longer bypass? 3. GERD but no regain- Should I convert from VSG to RNY with a slightly shorter bypass to prevent excess loss? Good Luck ❤️

So far I have had good luck in revision due to weight gain. starting weight for sleeve 254 3 months out 204.5 weight loss of 50.5 ——————————— starting weight for bypass 245.5 3 months out I weigh 199 today (wooo!) weight loss 46.5 So the weight loss has been about the same but it has felt easier. I’m very glad I did the second surgery.

Hi Melanieleigh, congratulations search, you've come to the right place. This is a long, overdue story and I will also post it in “My Positive Experience w/Dr. Watkins Thread." This forum is awesome and I've been researching WLS HEAVILY since about June. I've read a lot on WLS. I struggled with the idea of partial stomach removal w/VSG, but knew that having a foreign object in my body would make me worried: slipping, rubbing, etc. - so I wasn't excited about lap band, but some have had great success with it. When I read about GPS on this forum, I KNEW it felt right. WHAT MAKES THE RIGHT DOCTOR? Initially, in my mind, I was all set to go to someone locally, so that if I needed support or had issues they would be there for me. I have never had surgery of any kind so this was all new to me. I also thought that I would ONLY choose a doctor who has had some sort of WLS and would be understanding in the weight loss/surgery/food struggle. I attended a seminar from a Dr. who I think had done only 3 VSGs (yes, I know, they have to start somewhere and make a living, but in this case, I didn’t want it to be me) and I found out later that certain things he talked about were incorrect, (like shoulder pain cause being unknown and that could be permanent) is actually referred pain from the diaphragm -per Dr. Watkins. RESEARCHING… THANK GOODNESS I RESEARCHED MORE! According to one of the WLS books I read, complications go WAY DOWN (like 80%) when you use an EXPERIENCED surgeon. Of course, this GPS surgery is NEW, but it would stand to reason that it is still better to choose a doctor who had done a lot of surgeries, especially weight loss surgeries. Naturally, I researched Dr. Corvala in Mexico because I think has had done over 100 GPSs by now plus thousands of other weight loss surgeries. However, the book I read also cautioned that while some hospitals/Dr. were terrific in Mexico (just like US-there are good and bad hospitals/Drs.) it may be more challenging to find aftercare in the US. However, there are many people happy with their choice to leave the country and I probably would have been very happy with that route, but I am a worrier. As I constantly read the forum and asked MANY, MANY questions of the patients and to a few doctors. Dr. Watkins was the most responsive doctor. I would ask him about the surgery details, what other patients experienced, emotional eating, what hunger felt like, hormones, genetic makeup, etc. my symptoms, how big the size of the sleeve, aftercare, etc. For awhile I thought I would try dieting and exercise one more time, and he directed me to the free YOU TUBE about weigh loss which again, shows that although he does run a business, he is really trying to help people. I came obvious conclusion that Dr. Watkins is EXTREMELY KNOWLEGABLE, DEDICATED and in always in COMMUNICATION when you need him, is ALWAYS helping on the forum (even if someone is not his patient) and isn’t pushy. I had a friend that wasn't sure about her GPS surgery, and he left it up to her - didn't pressure her. She had it and is doing fine. I researched him EVERYWHERE and found happy patients and a great track record. Like others have said, it is important that you have the hiatal hernia fixed when they are doing WLS surgery, and that was important to me that Dr. Watkins did that. Yes, I love Cincy Weight Loss-NO I don't get any financial gain or have anything to gain, no discount for my writing all of this. I do not work in any way with Cincy/Dr. Watkins; I am just a happy patient. WHEN ONLY THE BEST WILL DO..TOP NOTCH CARE- DR.WATKINS/CINCY WEIGHT LOSS & HOSPTIAL This Dr. does the right thing.. he even denied me surgery because it was the right thing to do.. Here is my story: After asking A TON of questions and doing lots of research, I was scheduled for Plication surgery in the fall w/Dr. Watkins a couple months ago. Everything went great up to surgery, did well on the pre-op. Visited Cincy Weight Loss, it was a VERY NICE, NEW upscale area, the OFFICE was GREAT. EVERYONE there IS REALLY & TRULY INTERESTED their patients! They had a great book with lots of before & after pictures of real people and it was so exciting to see the success. My husband and I chatted with Diane for almost 3 hours about the great things and weight loss challenges. We met the nurses and his lovely wife Pamela and they were ALL great! We made new friends and had a GREAT TIME. We met Dr. Watkins in person, and sat in his office. He truly is a NICE, SINCERE, DEDICATED & KNOWLEDGABLE PERSON. He is very humble, but it still made me feel good to see all of his certificates/accolades on the wall to know that I was getting a quality and knowledgeable doctor. Since they rarely talk about it, I’ve taken pictures so everyone can see HOW NICE & NEW, MODERN the hospital and his office are. Never once did we feel “rushed” or pressured, or cut off in conversation, they listened answered our questions thoroughly-my husband and I were REALLY impressed. I was VERY scared, because I hadn’t ever had surgery or been put under other than my wisdom teeth. However, being put under and waking up was a breeze. HOSPTIAL was MODERN, NEW and I felt VERY confident with my surroundings. They even offered me a hospital gown with state of the art technology where warm air was blown in. I walked with the Dr. and staff into the OR, and laid down on the table. Everything was state of the art, clean new and I was out like light, felt NO pain (except for the initial IV). It felt odd when I woke up, like it had only been a couple of minutes. Unfortunately for me, the surgery didn’t happen because I had surprise stomach polyps for no good reason. I was VERY disappointed and asked Dr. Watkins about 5 times if we could do surgery later on that week, but it was important to have some other tests & due diligence done. Even though he faced disappointing me, he did the right thing. Some surgeons don’t even do an endoscope, which can reveal polyps, ulcers, hiatal hernias, etc. My family was also grateful for the level of care and professionalism from this Dr. Later on that day and few times over the weekend, he called us to see how I was doing with anesthesia recovery, and I didn’t even have the surgery! But he is that caring. After many tests, (gallbladder, H Pylori, blood test, gastric level tests, gastric emptying test and colonoscopy) it looks like I am fine. I have one more I am going to have done on Friday but I am SO happy that I SHOULD be having GPS surgery with Dr. Watkins in about a week! I am praying that there will be nothing from stopping the surgery and the new life.. Here are a final few words on what I’ve learned..1) It is NOT normal to have stomach pain/throat burning. I lived with this probably my whole adult life. The pain/burning I experienced feels the same as STARVING HUNGER-GOT-TO EAT-NOW was actually acid and was GREATLY reduced on the pre-op diet with the PPI/Prevacaid. Dr. Watkins and his staff have kindly and patiently helped me through this lengthily process of research and tests. Hopefully, no one will have any surprises like I did, but it only made me feel better about my decision. 2) Keep researching until feel comfortable w/your doctor. If you research their website you’ll see they SUPPORTIVE & HAVE GREAT FOLLOWUP: http://www.cincyweightloss.com/ Here are my pictures.. Info from Cincy Weight Loss Site Cincinnati Weight Loss Center is owned by Dr. Watkins, not a large corporation. This allows us to provide you with the kind of customer experience that family owned businesses like ours can provide. Most of our competitors focus on surgery. We focus on weight loss. There is a huge difference between the two philosophies. Other practices try to compete with us by lowering their price. We focus on maximizing your weight loss success. We don't strive to be the "cheapest in town". That is not a good weight loss model. We strive to provide the best weight loss success in every patient. We offer value - the lowest cost per pound lost. We get a lot of transfer patients who had gastric band surgery elsewhere and are disappointed with their post-op program so they transfer to our practice where we help them achieve their weight loss goals. Many practices don't monitor their weight loss success. We do, and have published five scientific articles on gastric band weight loss. We started doing band surgery shortly after it was FDA approved in the United States (June 2001). Since then we've completed nearly 5,000 gastric band procedures and have experience with band adjustments that number in the tens of thousands. That extensive experience has taught us many import things on how to perform gastric band surgery and how to take care of patients afterward to minimize their frustration and maximize their weight loss success. We repair/revise a lot of band operations done improperly by other practices. Patients who choose our practice want it done right the first time and want to maximize their weight loss success. People who only care about getting the cheapest surgery and don't care if they lose weight afterward go to our competitors. Dr. Brad Watkins Dr. Brad Watkins is one of the few surgeons in the United States who: · Has completed well over 1,000 gastric band procedures · Has experience with nearly 5,000 procedures in his gastric band clinics · FDA proctoring surgeon for both band companies (Allergan, Ethicon) · Published five academic papers on gastric banding in the surgical literature · Performs band-over-bypass procedure · Performs the new incisionless ROSE procedure · Teaches other surgeons on primary gastric banding · Teaches other surgeons on band-over-bypass · Teaches gastric band courses · Teaches ROSE courses · Consultant for Allergan Company, LAP-BAND® · Consultant for Ethicon Company, REALIZE ™ · Consultant for USGI Company, ROSE procedure · Completed many advanced bariatric courses and bariatric CME programs · Involved in multiple clinical trials for adult and adolescent obesity · Nationally recognized on the "Today Show" · Member American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery · Member Council for Advances in Bariatrics

If you had bypass 20 years ago you would not be able to revise to a sleeve. You have a few options, a band after (band after bypass), ERNY, DS <--not suggested), or there are a new set of procedures such as Rose, Restore, and stomaphyx but the results so far from what I have read are about as close to 100% failure as one can get. Those procedures are designed to tighten up your stoma and decrease the size of your pouch but every person I have read has lost about 20# on the post op diet then they regain again. There is another procedure that literally burns your stoma and causes scarring thus, a smaller stoma. Some docs like it, some don't. You usually have to have several treatments. I don't have an opinion of it one way or another because I've never done extensive research on it. There is a doc in MX that specializes in bypass revisions, I can't think of his name. I don't remember where in MX he is, Ensenada?? I forget. But that is all he does is bypass revisions and open bypass for very high BMIs. There are two surgeons that are experts in band after bypass, one is my doc and the other is Rumbaut in Monterrey. A band after bypass is tricky to do and you really need to go to someone verrry experienced or it won't work and you'll lose the band or have many problems down the road. It's not an easy procedure to do. You can verify licensing, certification, credentials, and education quite easily. Go to someone that is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. The American College of Surgeons has already done an exhaustive background check and those docs have to have to meet the same standards as US docs. There are not many non-FACS docs I would go to outside of the US. Otherwise you are left to believe whatever the patient coordinator tells you and they will absolutely tell you anything you want to hear to get your business.

Brandy, you look amazing! Congrats on the gym. I had just gotten back into a good routine when I had my revision and was told no gym for 4 weeks, I am ready to go back so I understand.

Thank you for understanding the purpose of my post. I'm sorry you're going through this, too. My reflux came on strong after my unfill too. I'd wake up choking on acid, horrible way to exist. In addition to dealing with my motility issues, I've had influenza A and B plus a stomach virus in the last 5 weeks. My immune system is really run down and I think stress and the fact I only can eat properly about half the time aren't helping. Hope you find some answers! Let me know how your doctors appt goes! We have a Failed Bands group on FB, let me know if you want to join. The admin is very knowledgable about revision surgery and the kind of problems we've been having.

MsMaui thank you for posting your story. I think its important for people to know what kind of experiences are out there. Some complications are because of the band, some are exacerbated by the band, and some have nothing to do with the band. It's not clear from your initial post where you were coming from with respect to the above three purposes for posting about complications. it may have been helpful if you included that. I noticed the same thing in your other thread about "Thinking Of Revising to VSG good info". The point of the post was vague and it is natural to think the worst when the poster doesn't clarify. It came across as misleading and possibly deliberate. As far as your problems, that's just awful and I'm sorry you've dealt with it this long. And I'm sorry you're losing your band but it doesn't sound like it is compatible long term with your existing conditions. I hope VSG or whatever you choose is a better solution and this stops being a negativ issue in your life. There's too much great stuff to experience without being hindered by pain or even Internet arguments. Best wishes.