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Well I figured it was time to start documenting everything, so here it goes. On March 10, my best friend was telling me about how we should get the lapband to lose weight. Now being a member of weight watchers for many years at first I was very against the idea (if you even mention it on the weight watchers boards you get yelled at!) Then I decided that maybe I should look into this and talk to my doctor. So I say my doctor on March 14 and she said that she thought it was a good idea. I called the surgeons office to sign up for his seminar on March 29 and the moment he started explaining everything I knew this was for me. He gave us a packet of everything we would need to do as far as clearances so I started making appointments. Here is my timeline: April 2 Psychologist April 3 Gastro (need endoscopy) April 4 Cardiologist (need echo) April 5 Chest xray April 11 Pulmonary April 16 Echo April 23 Endoscopy April 23 Nutritionist 1st appt May 8 Nutritionist 2nd appt June 12 Nutritionist 3rd appt June 10 Surgeon!!!!!!!!! June 16 Hospital bariatric coordinator So before I started this process I had called my insurance company HIP and asked what the requirements were and I was told it had to be medically necessary (yeah no six months) then on May 5 I just happened to be on HIPs website when I see that bariatric surgery was revised on April 15, 2008. I almost died when I saw that. According to their website you now needed six months diet. I called HIP and the girl had no idea what bariatric surgery was and I had to give her the link to the website and of course she had no clue and said whatever it says on the website is what it is. Well I was pissed. So I told the nutritionist this and she said ok then come to me for six months. Then I thought did I just open up a can of worms? Although I didn't want to not say anything and get everything else done and then have to start over with a six month diet. So I figured let me just tell her. Then I decided I should probably go talk to the surgeon, even though he doesn't want to see you until you have every clearance including the nutritionist. So I get the appointment and tell him everything about the insurance and he tells me that he probably won't be taking my insurance much longer! I almost cried. He then tells me that he was going to submit everything I had up until this point and for me to get the nutritionist to sign off on the three visits I went to. Well 2 days later I was approved. I could not believe it. Thank God. My surgery date is July 16 and I couldn't be happier.

If your gonna do it go with gastric bypass. You lose more weight & have more restrictions on your body. Plus you don't have to revise it like many other ppl.

I had a 2nd slip last year and the doc did a revision (first time it slipped I had a doc who didn't believe they worked even though I had lost 72 lbs in 7 months -I started at 237- so he simply emptied it without doing any imaging to see how bad it was. I agree that it isn't the same. Doesn't mean it won't work if I go back to basics. I too have gained half of it back. Saw these posts and decided it was time to start logging food and exercise. Keeps me honest because I weigh, measure and put it in writing. Good luck to you. You aren't doing this walk alone.

Has anyone had the gastric sleeve done and then have to have the bypass revision surgery? What are the outcomes and things I should watch for. I lost 120 since June 2014. The Dr said I may lose more.... will it be as quick as the sleeve?

So I have a bit of a complex issue. I had the Lapband put in 2009 and had great success. In 2015 I developed an antibiotic resistant port infection and had to have my band removed. I’m trying to get approved for the gastric sleeve but my insurance has denied saying I’m only allowed one surgery per lifetime. Has anyone ever successfully got them to approve it with peer to peer review. Trying to arm myself with as much info as possible.

I was banded almost 5 years ago. I lost 55lbs over a very long period of time and from what I honestly think was just hard work and not much help from the band. I hate my band. It hurts. I feel like it's violent when I get stuck (often) and I can feel my port all the time for FIVE years. Sigh. Eating is stressful and to top it off I've gained every ounce back. I sometimes eat 2 bites can't eat another bite longingly look at my healthy or even healthy-ish food and an hour later eat Cookies because I am starving. I feel like my eating habits have become worse because of the band and at this point I'm totally out of control. I'm excited about revising and petrified too. I would like the sleeve but I'm so afraid I will eat thru it like I did with the band. I hear "it's so different" but I wonder if that applies to people like me that ate around the band. Waited for food to pass then slid junk down. I suppose I could fail at the bypass as well. I'm wondering if anyone here has had a similar experience with the band and been successful with the sleeve or failed to lose with the sleeve as well. Any and all advise would be so appreciated!!!

Yes I read about someone who had her stomach imaged and it was an improper VSG. Her doctor offered to redo the surgery for her after she sent her a picture of the image. She decided after her husband used Dr. Aceves to use him for the revision instead of the initial surgeon. So I would guess getting the stomach imaged to see if the shape is proper or if it indeed was made incorrectly would be the first step and also it would give another doctor an idea of the ability to have it revised or not.

My surgeon talked with my dietician and she totally revised my eating plan. He said that the diet is per Doctors orders and the nutritionist's job is to make sure calories and nutrients aren't being sacrificed. Well with that said I told him about not being able to have yogurt or cream soup stuff or sf pudding etc. He had her change the diet. I can have thin deli slices, yogurt, sf pudding lowfat cheese slices, eggs(soft scrambled or poached). My surgeon said that the liquid phase was okay for a week and full liquids does include cream soups thinned etc. Kathy I can have egg drop soup with the egg but to got slowly! I feel so much better now. he also said I ws doing very good and the weight loss is great but not typical so don't get discouraged if it slows down after the next 4 weeks. He said that all the surgeons who perform this procedure have different diet plans. Unfortunately my dietician had RNY in mind for me and that is the diet plan I was on. I guess she got confused since the majority of the patients are RNY. I had a slice of lowfat cheese..yum and 3oz of fat free turkey and ham... and I was full WHoo Hoo! I am on my way.

I am more comfortable with the least-invasive route possible. That was my primary reason for choosing the band. I think the sleeve is an interesting procedure, and will be interested in watching its long-term success/complication rate; it's still considered experimental. Which brings me to the second reason I chose the band: it's not experimental. And that leads directly to the third reason: my insurance won't cover experimental procedures! If, for some reason, I encounter difficulties down the road, I would consider revision to the sleeve if it turns out to be as promising as it seems. But I am confident in my decision to go with the band, at this point, and have no reason to think I will have problems.

I will be having surgery here bc insurance will cover most of it. I will be going to MX for skin removal as it won't be covered. MX can be great option! My surgeon spoke about doing revisions bc the previous surgeon didn't remove enough so I would definately ask that question to whoever you go to. Good luck with your journey!

Hi Lucy, I am scheduled for April 3rd myself. Getting nervous and excited. I had the band done 3.5 years ago and have had issues with since. They are to remove and do the revision at the same time. I am very excite to have someone scheduled the same day. Jennie

Hello, I had my revision from sleeve to bypass on 10/27/21, only 3 weeks ago. I also had hiatal hernia repair, and gallbladder removal all at once. I am feeling good, no vomiting. Still on liquid stage, proceeding to soft solids soon. However, I am feeling GERD again! and worried the revision will not successfully resolve this frustrating issue. The nurse said to give it time. Did anyone have GERD weeks after their revision surgery? If so, did it resolve with time? Please I need some feedback! Thanks!

I guess i've never heard of a bypass being revised to a sleeve.

Hi Sue, Congrats on your decision to get the lap band! I had my first fill of 2 cc's during my port adjustment/revision surgery, which was about a little more than 2 months after I had the original lapband surgery. My doctor gave me another 2 cc's in his office two weeks later, then 1 more cc about a week ago. I have a 14 cc capacity band, with 5 cc's in it so far. I feel that I could use another fill, but I am just going to wait it out and see what the weight loss results are when I go for a followup appointment in 3 weeks.

Hello lessismore, I am in the same process as you. I went to the MD today and after trying for 18 months to loose wieght we desided I should have a revision. Something we have been talking about for a year although he wishes I would keep trying to make the band work. I have a choice and the revision is already approved. I am just torn about my options. I asked for the Duodenal Switch and he thought I would have a lot of problems... long term and suggested the Gastric bypass and then we talked about the sleeve. I am scheduled for August 15 at 7 am. I am afraid if I do not do the bypass piece I might regret it. Yet, I weigh 242 most days and he thinks no matter what I do I will loose 60-70 pounds which is okay for me. It was hard today because I wanted him to take the Fluid out of the band so I could eat but the last time we did that I gained 20 pounds. He would like me to keep trying and talked about only taking a small amount of saline out and that we might hit the magic spot. I agreed because unless I wanted the band removed and no more wls he was clear loosing more weight would be ideal and that gaining so was not an option. I ended up falling apart after the appointment. I don't cry often but today I did. I am so disappointed that the band did not work for me and that I have struggled so hard with only lost 60 pounds. Now, I will face another surgery. I am torn about which one. I am so tired and I feel so discouraged most of the time but I will move forward. The doctor suggested I might be consuming more calories than I think. I offered to write it all down and let him take a look next time we meet. It seems the story of my life is someone saying are you sure your not eating more...are you exercising.... He was nice about it but it was hard for me. So for me I am facing surgery a week before school starts for my two girls and then my son goes a week later to preschool. The timing is a bit off but I am really tired of not eating and not loosing weight. We were going to put it off until they were settled in but not eating is really shoving me over the edge. If I am going to suffer I should at least be loosing weight. It is so funny because I am doing all this so I can get a hip replacement. I just want to feel better and be better for my family. I want a better quailty of life. Take care, Taylorrae9

I am exactly 2 months postop today from my band to sleeve revision. I am down 42 lbs and am at my lowest weight in years...lower than I ever got w/that band I feel great and can't wait for another 2 months to pass!!! For anyone considering revising from that band, I can't say loud enough.. THE SLEEVE IS SO MUCH BETTER!!! Erika

Hi, I had my band for three and a half years. I had the band to sleeve revision in one surgery, which went well. Ask your doctor how many leak tests s/he does. The disgusting swallow on Day 2 was one of mine (and it also took a while for that to go through my sleeve because of swelling). My surgeon did a leak test with blue dye during the surgery as well. Different doctors seem to have different theories and practices about leak tests. Good luck and best wishes for your surgery and a quick, uneventful recovery!

Whatever you decide, PLEASE make sure your insurance company does NOT have a 1 weight loss surgery procedure per LIFETIME, or policy period exclusion. With the recent study out in 2010 showing 1 in 3 band patients need another surgery and it's typically a revision, you'll be stuck with a band. I have appeal letters, and there are SOOOOOOOOOOO many people on obesityhelp.com that had the same rule with their insurance, they appealed it and WON for the sleeve. I had the band because VSG was not available when I had to choose. So, believe me, I do understand in choosing the band, BUT VSG was NOT even offered in my area, along with government ran insurance through the military, I had to tackle 2 hurdles to get VSG. I say do NOT give up, do not settle for the complications that come with the band lifestyle.

I was banded in 2012. I have not had any success with it at all. The first 6 weeks I lost 20 pounds but every since it's been a struggle. I am now above my start weight and miserable. I am wanting to do a revision surgery but I don't even know where to start. I don't really like my doctor but I guess I am going to have to start with him.

I'm on pre-op too, revision from band to sleeve booked for the 10th January. Yesterday I made an asian-inspired omelette- loads of shredded cabbage, carrots, onion, garlic, brocolli and my allotted 2 eggs. Seasoned with chilli, fresh ginger and soy sauce. It was heaven! Today we're having a party at our house so I'm having my main meal at lunch and will have a shake for dinner. I'm serving lots of salads, sausages (which i will avoid) & bbq chicken. As long as I don't have bread, carbs etc I'm ok. I will really miss my social wine or two, but I know its only short term pain for a long term gain! I'm also planning on cooking a shak shakur one night to poach my allotted eggs in... the good thing is you can pack the sauce full of veg and it is very flavoursome! Finally I'll be cooking a burrito-free Mexican style dish of strips of steak, onions, mushrooms and lots of Mexican spices to be served with a big salad. My husband can have the burrito wraps.

This is exactly why I haven't told anyone but some, not all, family members and a couple of friends. Everyone sees articles and ads for WTS and lately a lot about the band. People have preconceived ideas about what it all means. The most important thing they think is that it is a revision that will keep us from getting hungry and it will keep us from eating the wrong foods. That's understandable. Many of us thought the LB would do just that. Even though we were told that it is a tool, just a tool, not a miracle, it has taken a surprising amount of work. We have to really work at not eating the wrong things. We have to work at keeping exercise in our daily routine. We have to do almost as much to lose the weight as we did before WLS. But you'd never convince them of that so we really shouldn't be surprised that their eyes glaze over and they lose interest when we don't respond, "Jenny Craig" or "Weight Watchers."

Hey there. I'm a kaiser gal that had surgery in May. My understanding is once you qualify, your in, no matter what your weightloss prior to the surgery. I was a revision patient and didn't lose a whole bunch pre surgery. However, the pre surgery diet is really about preparing you in a couple of ways. 1) are you committed to the change in lifestyle? Losing weight prior to surgery begins you on a path for continued success. 2) prepping the body for surgery. To complete the surgery your liver needs to downsize and losing weight prior to surgery will do this. It's like a win-win! I would think if you still desire the surgery, then it will still be a go. Just my 2 cents. :-)

I had the lapband done 2 years ago. I had success for the first 6 months, dropping almost 50 pounds. I didn't realize the problems associated with and things that could affect the band. I started waking up with fluid coming up and coughing and choking, as well as the heartburn. After putting up with this for a while and getting no relief, I went to my doctor. At first they gave me pills to relieve severe heartburn, stating I had some sort of gastro itis (???) problem. With still no relief, I went back and they took some fluid out, stating that the change in weather can affect the band. I had immediate relief. I went back 2 weeks later and had the fluid put back in. Within a couple of weeks, the same thing started all over again. This was the beginning of a long battle. Over the course of the next year and a half, it was take some fluid out; put some back in; take it all out; put some back in a couple of times; take a little out; take it all out.....I just couldn't get back to that perfect "sweet spot" I'd had before after my initial 3rd fill. I ended up stretching the pouch (a couple of times) and after the "in and out fill" rollercoaster, I had a revision surgery where they took out the old band and put in a new one. So I've essentially started over. That was 3 months ago and I'm scared to death to go get a fill now, for fear I will screw it up and stretch the pouch! But yet, I'm gaining weight and am desperately looking for help! Can anyone help me? I feel like such a failure.:thumbup:

Im just starting my revision process, from lap band to gastric sleeve. I'm waiting on the insurance approval. I have UHC Choice Plus. I'm really excited this change. Not that I don't like my lap band, cause it has helped me to lose some weight, but I'm just not where I want to be. I have been at the same weight for a year now and that is 218. I started at 261 three years ago. So I need some change!! I'm just hoping I get approved!!!

There are lots of people here that are having or had a band to bypass revision. There is actually a forum on here just for those patients.