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This is very interesting to me, since I also have RA/PsA. When we started discussing biologics, I asked my rheumy's opinion of WLS. She was enthusiastically behind it, citing WLS as many times reducing the inflammatory factors. However, she and my surgeon (and my research) all said that the bypass was NOT a good option for someone with auto-immune because of the complete contraindication for NSAIDs and steroids, where the sleeve only has a relative contraindication for those meds. Not criticising you or your docs, just find it interesting how there are so many differing opinions in the medical community. BTW, biologics are now off the table for me for the forseeable future. My inflammatory factors are down, and we still have dosing room on sulfasalazine and we haven't tried plaquenil yet. Mtx failed and I developed an allergic reaction to it, so at least I don't have to give myself chemo anymore! LOL. So the sleeve has worked amazingly well for me. Not remission, but meds are working better and we're able to avoid the real heavy hitters indefinitely. It is interesting how doctors differ in their opinions. I have autoimmune diseases as well. Medications really truly were the reason i packed on so much weight so quickly. I have Psoriatic Arthritis and hypothyroidism. At the same time, I had a very severe case of GERD causing me to cough every day all day for over a year with no solution. We had to heavily weigh the right choice of surgery for me. GERD is 100% resolved, issues with pain control for my joints are an everyday battle and I can not and will not risk taking any nsaids even with treatment. Because I have Psoriatic arthritis oral steroids are out as well as it kicks up the psoriasis so bad that it has caused serious infections that have caused me to be hospitalized over the years. I also never over ate. However, I ate crap all the time so i was actually malnourished while being morbidly obese. In fact my family and friends could not understand how i was so heavy because they saw how much i ate, they just did not realize that all the carbs were killing me. Anyway, since bypass I am still on biologics (Stelara) and Cyclosporine to keep my Psoriatic arthritis under control. It has been well controlled for the last 2 years so we have slowly be reducing the quantity of those medications. We tried lowering the dose of Stelara over a year ago and I went into a full on several month episode so we increased it back to where it was. We are discussing trying a reduction again in the spring as everything looks like it is going into remission. That being said, anytime i have surgery it seems to kick back up again so we are going to wait until after my plastics in January to try again. The biggest thing about having WLS is the head game. You have to change the way you live and learn to make better choices. I think for the most part i have done this well. Of course there are times when i indulge but 90% of the time, I do have to fight with my head. In the beginning, it was easier for me because even if i did indulge, the weight still came off. Now that I am two years post op, those decisions matter. I will gain or lose based solely on my behaviors. I believe this MUST be true of anyone going through or that has gone through WLS. Yes, some people will lose slower than others - I was one of them. It took me 18 months to lose my excess weight and alot of hard painful work to actually get there. Others have lost their weight of similar proportions within the first 12. I am sort of glad it took me longer, and took me understanding that I am now in the drivers seat, not my pouch. What i choose to put in my body and how often will dictate whether i lose, gain or maintain. If i choose to get no exercise at this point, it will and does have an impact on whether i lose, gain or maintain. I am in the drivers seat......not my surgery. The sooner some people realize this there will be less need for revisions in my opinion. Of course, I am NOT referring to those that have a equipment failure. I personally feel that a surgeon that is considering a revision for those persons who failed to lose the weight (not by malfunctioning equipment/surgery) really do need to see someone to assist with why they have not lost the weight. There is a nurse in my doctors office who had bypass surgery at the same time i did. I know this because she told me and seemed almost upset that I lost all of my weight and she has lost very little. She immediately blamed the surgery for not working. Then proceeded to tell me that her schedule simply did not allow for her to focus on herself so she is unable to get the right Protein and even fluids in her body. She skips meals and then eats whatever is handy in a few minutes in between patients. Ok, that is not the surgery failing, clearly she is still following the same behaviors she was before surgery. Dont get me wrong, I get it....she is taking care of patients. But, there comes a time when we have to be selfish and focus on ourselves if we want to be successful in the end. I literally started taking care of everyone else but me from the time I was 16 years old. I was a working married mother of 2 by the time i was 19 going through a horrible marriage. By 22 I was divorced and a single mother working 3 jobs just to make ends meet. By 25 i was remarried to my wonderful hubby of 29 years and working a high paying very stressful job. I did so well in my career and became the primary breadwinner. Well, then there was the stress of that so again, not taking care of me just working like a crazy person. By the time i was 51 i was in big trouble health wise and was literally told, i would end up in kidney failure soon if i did not lose weight. So, it was time for me to be very selfish and start taking care of myself. For the last two years, I have been focused on my health and well being and when you are morbidly obese, that is a necessary part of getting your health back. So, i say again......your head really has to change in order to be successful. It is why they send you for physch evals before this surgery. I honestly think they could do a better job of assessing patients and setting them up with the right people to help them through the mental part of WLS. Most of us need some sort of help. @@Djmohr, thank you for your comments. I was on the October 2015 forum and your posts have been encouraging. I am finally going to have gastric bypass surgery on December 12th and I have learned a lot from you and others in that and other forums. I just wanted to let you know that you are appreciated. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Not what I said at all... but hey, read what you like into it, we all seem to be doing that. I said people deserve second chances. I said not all doctors who perform them are unethical. I said I don't want to make anyone feel ashamed for having a revision. I said I found my place here on this board after I never thought I'd be fat again, so I can see how someone would have faltered. Let he who be without sin cast the first stone... everyone deserves a second chance... I did not say any of those things you think I said. Not my opinion... fact.

Yep I was banded in 2005. Revised this year

So I'm about to be told a whiner so bear with me. I have hit another intermission has been a week since I've lost anything besides the 4 pounds I lost briefly after my last intermission. Ugh. It seems like I might be one of the slow revision losers that has been mentioned before. Plus it seems that eating At work will become a chore. We only ever get 30 minutes to eat at a time. I may have to ask my boss if I can take an extra 10 to really focus on eating.

Change of taste also and I think you mourn food that is the only way I can describe it but you make the appropriate decision and keep going-in the morning I am still rely on my shakes then I can drink liquid till lunch and do better then and supper-my surgery was the day before yours and a revision-I just keep going and follow plan as much as you can

Hi. I am new and only just beginning the process of trying to be revised. I've seen my band doctor about it, and he is getting something together to submit to insurance for approval. I am hoping to avoid starting over as though I have never had any bariactric surgery. I guess I will know more in a few weeks. I have been banded since 1998. At my highest, I weighed 254. I lost down to 169. I held steady at 174 for almost two years. I don't have an erosion. My band has simply stopped helping me. Over the last year, I have been dealing with either being able to eat everything in sight to not being able to get more than sips of broth down. I am just tired of fills and un-fills... I have gained about 20 pounds. I don't want to ever go back to where I was. I just wanted to introduce myself and stop lurking.

Welcome! I was banded 03/2010,lost 90 lbs. Band slipped in 2011, after a series of unfills, fills, unfills, we discovered that I have a non-functioning band. My choices were gastric bypass, sleeve, or revise the band. I definately didn't want to revise my band, based on the poor stats. I just revised to a sleeve 8 days ago.

Alabama checking in!! Having band to sleeve revision on January 9th 2013. Very Very Nervous!

K, I'll bite. I believe what they are saying is that almost 35% (of the group who were virgin sleevers) and 50% of the band-revised-to sleeve group were still with a higher BMI after 5 years. Basically that they never reached a goal weight that would put them out of the range of "risk" factors associated with having a higher BMI. They were still considered medically obese.

OH crap! I am going to have to revise my opinion. I am not in love with the reputation of 1-800-get-thin. They have issues.

January 17th revision from band to sleeve! Excited and scared. Have to travel to be in a wedding on January 5th so I'm nervous about the liquid diet at that time. But no one said it would be easy. Congrats to everyone!

It's been a bit busy lately with fair season here trying to maintain the goats, get them ready for shows, judging, etc. Add in that a friend had to move so tried to help with that and I'm still struggling with finding a decent mask for the CPAP machine and I just haven't had lots of online time. I got down to 205 but am now holding at 215. First goal was 225 and then revised to 210 but at 210, everyone thought I looked ill and 215 seems to be a bit healthier looking weight for me. I've held there for about 3 weeks with absolutely no fill so that's encouraging. Still have bad food days where things get stuck but, for the most part, I'm able to eat reasonable foods without difficulty. Ice cream is still my downfall so I try not to keep it in the house. If I go running around, I'll sometimes stop and get some. It's far more expensive that way but it keeps me a bit under control. My other stumbling block has been fudge. I've been making goat's milk fudge and have become rather proficient at it and have some interesting flavors. (A couple of friends are encouraging me to explore the options on selling the fudge.) Of course, I have to sample what I make! <G> I've also made some chevre (goat cheese) and some goat's milk ice cream but those products can't be sold in Ohio without getting licensure. Fudge has to be cooked to such a high temperature, there's more flexibility there. And, as if I didn't have enough going on, after wanting a miniature donkey for years, this past week, I now have two, Mary and Feller. A friend has one she's trying to find a home for so I may end up with three but if that happens, will probably find Feller a new home. And I may be getting a fourth dog. Before I got my first Aussie (who is almost 6 now), I really wanted a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. I came across one that may get to live with me. Don't need it but I've decided that I need to do things for me and I want it. And I'm getting very spoiled. My mother and 86 year old grandmother come out at least weekly, when I'm not going to be home, and clean my house, do my laundry, dishes, etc. It's like having the good parts of a wife but not having to put up with one. <G> (Ducking now!) My mom hasn't been out since the donkeys came, and I didn't tell her so it will be interesting to hear her reaction. She likes animals (has 3 dogs, a rabbit and a couple of birds) but doesn't understand why I want so many. She already complains about how much dog hair my house has so I can just imagine her reaction if I get another dog. (She does know, though, I really want a Cavalier. My brother's fiance got one and I was jealous so she asked them if there were others available.) Off to milk. Hope everyone is having a good summer. I'll check in now and then. Tom

I was banded 10/04/11 and between then and August '12 lost about 40lbs. In November I had redness and pain in my port area and my surgeon put me on an antibiotic and the pain and redness resolved. Then about 3 different times between November and August, I would have pain in the port area that would go away the next day after applying heat. Finally, though, in August the pain would not resolve and taking extra strength tylenol did not touch the pain. My surgeon started me on pain medication and his office went to work trying to have a port revision covered through my insurance. I paid cash for my original surgery. After a month, I was finally scheduled for an EGD and possible port revision, but when the doctor did the EGD he learned that the band had eroded into my stomach around the buckle area. This was on a Tuesday and by Thursday I had the band removed and spent 5 days in the hospital. I am not going to sugar coat it, it was awful. I've had surgeries before but this was the most difficult. In fact, it's now 5 weeks later and I'm still dealing with a lot of pain. The surgeon said that this was a very difficult surgery that would require a long recovery. He also said that if I wanted to in about 6 months I could revise to the sleeve. I am extremely down about the whole ordeal. I am so tired of being obese. I have tried every diet/program out there and have not been successful to become thin and healthy. That is why I took such drastic measures in getting the lapband, I need help outside of myself. So, I don't know what to do now. The lapband surgery was difficult, the removal was even more difficult and to consider another surgery scares me. Thanks for "listening"...I just don't know what to do. =(

I'm not a revision, but I'm Jan 15th with Dr Ortiz too!!

Good Tuesday Morn, Vi's~~ Another "regular" day... starting to make packing piles for the trip! Then work, errands, activities... the usual. Haydee, maybe you could have the housekeeper come weekly for the big stuff (bathrooms/kitchen)? I try to do a little bit each day, too... some days it works, others, not so much. + w/3 of "them" & 1 of "me", the odds for a top-to-bottom clean house are waaaay against me! I mostly try to keep the "public" areas spic & span... you never know when someone will pop in (well, yes I do... when it's a wreck!). Janie, yay for you for getting your work done AND figuring out the oversized screen! SuzyT, Rest & liquids! I called yesterday to schedule a regular flu shot for dd & was also told that they're not ready yet. hmmm. Pam, loved the texting w/you last night & the reason why. I was @ DS's soccer game... he earned a shut-out, yay! Judy, YES!! I am going to wear our bouncy shoes @ WDW... that's why I got them when I did, so I could break them in/get used to them. I'm going to do all that walking AND tone & firm my butt & legs -- lol! I love them but sometimes am a bit wobbly going down stairs in them. (So the moving walkways / ride loading areas should be interesting!) We love Morocco... on our first trip when DD was 4 she was mesmorized by the bellydancer! She just sat down right in front of her, right in the middle of the sidewalk, & stared. So it was all the Dads & DD! So funny! (This is why I love WDW so much, the silly fun & lasting memories!) Laura, any word yet on the port revision? Crossing my fingers for you! Make it a great day, everyone! 3 days 'til Disney!

Newbie to forum. Getting Band to Sleeve revision on August 2nd in Mexico with Dr. Rod. Nervous and excited.

I was revision from Band to Sleeve Nov 27th and down 69 lbs. I am loving the new me!

Congrats, Vicki! So exciting. I'm sure you've been on such a roller coaster--I'm so glad you are going in tomorrow. Less time to really worry! Good luck. Let me know how it goes with the revision. I'm having the revision on Monday. You're in my thoughts and prayers. Good luck!

WOW you go jen!!! Haydee that would be AWESOME!! And Kat, Dr. A is actually who I am leaning toward, now it's convincing everyone it's SAFE and ok. They believe it's all unsanitary, they butcher you and leave instruments, because there's no regulation. But there is, and it's the fly by nights who rent an office space, etc. that do the things they worry about. It will take some time to get them to come around. Dr. A quoted me 12,500 to remove the band & swap to sleeve. They don't include airfare, but we fly to SD which isn't too bad. I didn't know any of you went to Dr. A. That will actually help me when I talk to them about it, to let them know one of my very own V's (not just some 'random internet person' which is what they refer to everything else I read) went there and would go back! My mom said, don't go just because of cost; it's dangerous. I told her, I was thinking of the sleeve after finding out I may need another surgery--which had nothing to do with cost. And right now from what I have researched, Dr. A sounds like the best option, even if money wasn't a factor. So she said, wait a few years till the TN doctor that does them has them under his belt.. well I can't find any stats on 'revisions' for him, which is an important factor, and Dr. A has done a lot of revisions.

Ayla is doing great. Well, she is also doing terrible on her sleeping. She got sick with an ear infection, got babied for a few weeks and now she doesn't want to sleep on her own . . . we are working on that. When you say you are going alone, does that mean no Carson? I have been really enjoying your facebook videos. Carson has the most adorable laugh in the whole world :0) As far as not losing since revision . . . I am right there with you. I just lost 2 pounds out of the 20 or so I gained since surgery and waiting for restriction. I don't know what it is but it seems like getting in the groove of banding is a lot harder the second time around.

I am very impressed by your journey did you have any complications with your revision

I have taken pent ermine off and on for over 10 years, the last time being 3 months ago, after my band was un-filled and I literally could only fit into a few of my clothes after gaining 25-30 pounds. I was just revised from the band to the sleeve and 12 days post op, I feel wonderful. No hunger and none of the dangerous side effects of phentermine

I was prescribed Adipex (Phentermine) when I was in my pre-Band medically supervised diet back in 2008. I lost 70 lbs with it (and doctor supervision and diet journaling) prior to surgery. At first, taking it made me a little nauseated, so I didn't want to eat - therefore instant appetite suppressant. Then it started to mess with my blood pressure and my sleeping. I took it for almost a year, I think, before and for a little while after lapband surgery. Getting off of it didn't cause the weight to return (or bring its friends), but that was because of the lapband. Since then, I have had trouble with my LapBand (having revision surgery in Feb 2015), and I was prescribed it once again. Not so good this time. - If I take it, I'm so jittery that my hands shake and my writing is almost illegible for about 3-4 hours following the dose. - If I take it, I am guaranteed that I will NOT sleep that night. Maybe 15 minutes total all night. Not even kidding. I would take it between 4-5 am - come night time, I close my eyes and they continue to dart around like I'm in an "awake" REM cycle, my mind races... insomnia is hell. - If I take it, I will have poor BP results - even a day later. I have a couple weeks' supply of them left, and I'd have to be REALLY desperate to take them, despite the weight I've gained following the fail of my band. On a related topic: My mom took the Phen-Fen (Fen-Phen?) concoction back in the late 80s and lost 123 lbs in 8 months - you couldn't nail her down, she was on such a speed-high during that time. However, about 10-12 years later, she was awarded part of the big lawsuit settlement after having an artificial heart valve placed as a result of the "non-phentermine" part of the drug. My personal opinion - I appreciated the drug years ago, but I'm no longer on the Adipex bandwagon.

had a lapband for 6 years, I LOVED my band, I went from 223 to 139 lbs and I maintained around 145 for years ! However, in order to do that I had to keep the band very tight. I couldn't eat anything before noon or after 6 without pain and suffering. When my body had enough I had shoulder pain and chest pain and never just felt full. I was always dehydrated and ended up with kidney stones twice but i was happy to sacrifice because I was a size 6/8 for the first time in my life ! But live long enough that way and it causes problems (severe reflux) and just misery any time you eat or try too. My surgeon started offering the sleeve and after years of "selling" the band to others (with my personal success as a witness) I asked him to revise me to the sleeve because everyone said how wonderful it was. Well for many it is but for me I hate mine. It's not always the same for someone who has had prior surgery so as I type this today, I have gained 20 lbs since the sleeve and it's a fight (that I'm losing) to not gain more. I had many barium swallows over the years that always showed a dilated pouch. Sorry so long, I pasted it from a prior post lol

Just got my revision scheduled for next Friday. I finally got the guts to ask parents for a loan. Mom said, it seems like a waste if the next baby is goign to mess it up too--I said yeah, BUT there may not be a next baby if I don't fix it. I'm gaining and gaining, and I was infertile before. She said she wondered that too. So I asked dad if they'd help me, he said go ahead and get the surgery scheduled and I can pay him back monthly. If/when it breaks again, post-2nd baby, I'll swap to the sleeve. 8am is preop, and 10am is surgery. So glad to be moving the right way again. Should definitely help with this funk I'm in!!!! I have so many clothes in my closet waiting for me to lose weight, I'm glad to think about wearing them again.