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Hi, l am 10 days post op with Dr Ilmar Kaur and he is a wonderful surgeon. I did loads of reseach before my operation as l needed a revision rather than just straight forward bypass. Only two surgeons in UK do this procedure and at double the cost of Estonia. I met him pre-op for an endoscope exam (as on holiday in Riga). He gave me and my Husband great confidence and answered all my technical questions. All his team are lovely and can't do enough for you. English is spoken by all staff except the cleaner, but do you want towels is easy enough in any language. My scars are almost invisible just 10 days post surgery. 5*

I used the vitamin md patches Lap band 2009 Sw 200/lw 161 Sleeve revision 17 May/17 Sw 217 CW 193

Hi there, I’ve been waiting to do my update till the clinic fixes their app software and I have access to my last set of pics, but it’s looking like that could take awhile. So, here goes... Things have been great! I’ve been maintaining around 187-189, looking to get some exercise going to get 3-5lbs off. Would prefer to maintain around 184-186. But really not sure if there’s a difference. I just don’t want to get in the 190’s. Incisions have healed nicely. Had one little hole in the incision where it meet at my butt. But it closed on its own. I had about one week of intense sharp pains at night that I think were related to nerve healing. They seem to be gone, but were intense!! My sex life is starting to come alive which is a side affect I was looking forward too. I was very self conscious about my hanging skin when having sex with my husband. Now not an issue and sex is awesome again!! I love shopping, but have no money!! Clothes fit so good now and I have so many more options. Unfortunately I will need a revision as the doctor did not take as much skin as there was available on the top portion of my stomach. Standing I can still grab a large amount of skin between boobs and belly button. Doctor says he will do revision after the 9-12 month healing waiting period. Depending on the work being done I may or may not have to pay for surgical fees, but would not have to pay for doctor fees. For now I will enjoy the results and hope for the best during recovery. I’m still under 3 months and have swelling in my lower belly portion. Before RYN and plastics. Likely a bridal size 28 and down to a 16....

I had my gastric bypass on July 17 had a complication while in the hospital so had a revision. So I am a little over 3 months post op and its been an on & off battle. I am glad & blessed to have the surgery & should of had it years ago. So I dont regret this blessing. I am struggling with gallbladder issues. My gallbladder has a mind of its own. Sometimes it is active and painful after drinking cold water sometimes its not. I still cannot eat solid protein like chicken,turkey or beef. I tried and tried and still either my stomach does not like it or my gallbladder doesnt like it. So I am back on premier protein,natural cheese and recently added lima beans,red kidney beans and black beans. I am also eating activia yogurt. I had a constipation problem and found that lima beans have resolved my constipation issue and so my bowel movements are so so much better. I dont even have to use suppositories or benefiber. Lima beans have taken their place! I had three ultrasounds on my stomach. Visually they only see sludge near my gallbladder. So the next test will be a hydroscan that will actually check the function of my gallbladder. I just have to wait till my next appointment(3 month followup) hopefully he will feel sorry enough for me to order it. Both my surgeon and my primary suspect that this next test will reveal more than just the visual ultrasound. So I am hanging in there with my lima beans and cheese and activia. My gallbladder wakes me up at night sometimes when my bladder is full. Weird. I have I.:'(interstitial cystitis) a bladder defect problem also inflammation. So it seems when my gallbladder is active it aggrevates my I.C. Geezz.. I am having so much fun with my gallbladder causing me problems and pain I guess that means I want more problems. Lol But still the surgery is a blessing to me and I am so happy I got it done! The problems I am having never outweigh the benefits I will continue to have from this surgery. I love the fact I can only eat so much. I love the restriction! I understand that later on in this process I may be able to eat more but I am eating healthier now... And I love it. I have gone 15 days without meat. Even though chicken,turkey and beef are good proteins I still feel great even though I cannot eat them. It is a process. It took me 2 months to understand my new stomach. I am taking my supplements everyday and set aside a monthly budget for them. Things are great. I look forward to reaching my goal even if it takes me longer than I planned. As long as you move forward in making healthy choices. God has given me strength and I will continue to lean on him for strength. God loves me God loves you. God bless you. Stay strong in him. Kisses

can i ask what made you get a revision?

Hi all - sorry if this is an annoying repost, but I'm 1.5 months pre-op and I'm trying to get a general sense of how long people are generally in the OR? I think my band procedure was about 45 minutes. I know a lot of the length depends on complexity which depends on what they find when they get in there, but any stories would be appreciated!

I see you're an inch taller than me and are about 10ish pounds lighter. Are you at all concerned about the BMI? I can't remember, are you doing a revision from the band to the sleeve? me=very little memory

Hi There MGB Peeps! I think I am being a good sport, but this slow losing really has me discouraged. I am now 3 weeks out and have only lost 10 pounds since surgery day . I know they say revisions lose more slowly, but this is the pits! It's very frustrating when you see that others are losing 20-30 lbs. the first month. I know I am nowhere near on track to deliver that kind of result. Anybody else having a similar experience?

@mrsto I'm still doing very well, thank you. ☺ I go to see Dr. Ganta (my surgeon) this Wednesday for 6 week follow up. I did hit a 3 week stall that lasted 3 weeks, but am now starting to lose weight again. I'm told this is COMPLETELY normal, and have read several posts from people referring to the 3 week stall. I stopped weighing daily & weigh once a week now (as difficult as it is to do). Am just focusing on 64 oz. water, eating as directed, increase walking slowly but at least 5 days a week. The 2 days I don't get out, I do careful exercise inside such as Tai Chi, and added arm exercises of 3 lb. wts. Keep me posted on your journey, it'll all work out. We went through the whole process of trying different saline amts. prior to my Lapband revision with Gastric bypass, and I wish I had known it was what contributed to my severe reflux (GERD) - but am SO thankful it resolved immediately after! God bless you!

Hi there! I was wondering if any of you had a BCBSLA PPO policy and were approved for a sleeve to bypass revision? If so, how was the process and what what were your requirements? thank you!!

Hello, I’m going into surgery today, it will be a revision from lap band to gastric bypass.. I had my lap band removed in 2014 due to complications and erosion. Doctor suggested we go with the gastric bypass because of the scarring as well I was hesitant and even got second opinions, but fully understand now that we would be high risk in general because of previous surgery and with a bypass they are able to cut around the scared tissue and not into it like the sleeve. Really hoping this works for me. Had done great on lap band went from 260 to 135 and leveled off at 165 for many years, but did pick up bad habits and eventually got back into the 200s. When I had my lap band removed I believe I was 220 and right afterward my son passed away to an accidental drowning and my life turned upside down I gain all my weight back plus some now my current weight today is 297, HW was 341, and lost 42lbs by myself before surgery, I hope everything works out for you!! Good luck

My name is Mallary, and this is the story of my wls. Height: 5'3" HW: 250 CW: 125 I began my journey just like many others. Being tired of carrying the extra lbs, frustrated that I couldn't shed them, and feeling like I was out of options. On top of that, I also had a mix of feeling depressed, unattractive, and overwhelmed from failing normal diets that seemed to work for everyone except me. My first surgery was actually the Lap Band in March of 2012. I would instantly take that decision back if I could. I lost 40 lbs here and there over the course of a year. I felt like the Lap Band had failed me. Or maybe that I had failed it. So, I researched, and found that the most common solution was a revision surgery, from the Lap Band to the Gastric Sleeve. So I researched and found a great Dr,. There were no insurance set backs (I was extremely lucky for this), and on May 2013, I had my Lap Band revised to the Gastric Sleeve. My starting weight was 246lbs. I instantly began shedding weight. I was so ecstatic to finally see the numbers on the scale going down! I was finally on the right track! I was losing weight so fast, it was hard for me to fit in my work clothes for longer than a couple of weeks, so I was constantly shopping at my favorite thrift store, and for the first time, I was going DOWN in sizes! I feel the need to add into my story that almost the entire duration of my weight loss journey, I was also taking my add medicine, adderall, which I feel played a pretty strong role in how much and how fast I was able to shed the extra lbs. At my 9 month mark, I had reached my goal weight of 129. But I wasn't completely satisfied, and I kept losing. There was a point in time where I was seriously overworking myself. I was managing a very busy salon and was also the lead stylist. Most weeks I worked 80+ hours. This led to me actually getting too thin (I was down to 103lbs) something I never in my wildest dreams could have imagined happening to me. For the second year of my journey, I was very good at maintaining my weight, and the scale never tipped above 125. I was fine with that, as it was healthy. Then came the ongoing downhill slide... I'm sure many of us have been warned about the risk of developing gallstones as a result of rapid weight loss. Any bariatric doctor should seriously emphasize this when a patient is even considering and form of wls. You'll see why, just keep reading... In September 2015, I was having celebratory weekend for my boyfriend's birthday, when I began feeling sick to my stomach. A few short hours later, the sick feeling had escalated to sever abdominal pain, so bad to the point where I couldn't even stand up straight. My boyfriend rushed me to the nearest er. They did tests and scans, and came back to tell me that I had a form of colitis. I spent a few days in the hospital hooked up to an iv of antibiotics. Then I was released. 2 days later I returned to work after a week off being ill. I was doing my first client of the day when all of a sudden I had an extremely sharp pain in my abdomen, and a sick and prickly heat feeling took over my entire body. I called my mom, and she rushed to get me and took me to a different er this time. After blood tests and imaging, the doctors told me that I had Acute Pancreatitis, most likely caused by Gallstones and that my gallbladder was packed full of stones. I spent 2 weeks in the hospital, waiting for my condition to improve so that the doctors could take me in for surgery to remove my gallbladder. But my test results were getting worse, not better, and they finally rushed me in for an emergency surgery. After my gallbladder was removed, I spent a couple more days in the hospital recovering and then was discharged. That round all ended a week before Halloween. So I had basically missed an entire month of outside life being trapped in the hospital, waiting. I spent the next year in and out of the hospital with constant gastrointestinal issues and complications. 3 times I was in for a condition called intussusception. What happens is part of your intestines telescope, folding in to each other, causing a bowel obstruction. 1 sever episode of intussusception, the doctors had to go in surgically to repair it. It is now October 2017. 2 years after this down hill slide began, and I am still not back to 100%. I have constant digestive issues and constant bathroom issues. I forget what it feels like to feel like a normal human being. I forget what it feels like to not be constantly aware of my insides, becaus3 I am always in pain or discomfort. My life almost literally revolves around the bathroom. I don't leave the house a lot, as a result of it. This is a warning to any one considering any weight loss surgery. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love my body now. That will never change, or cease to amaze me. Getting the Gastric Sleeve surgery was completely life altering. I was able to come out of my very deep shell and was suddenly overcome with this amazing feeling called CONFIDENCE. I never knew that feeling before wls. But I have an incredibly strong sense that, had I never undergone weight loss surgery, I wouldn't be battling the issues that I am today. Sent from my SM-G955U using BariatricPal mobile app

Good luck!! Just realized I have 1 month until my revision! :-) I wish you the best!!

Hello, I was sleeved in 2012. Hoping to get revision to bypass. Had the upper GI and it showed acid reflux, a hiatal hernia and spasms. I thought this is great! Saw my surgeon on Friday and he said the results were great, just what we wanted. But I still have to have the PH test. I am not looking forward to this at all. Even the nurse said it’s a very unpleasant experience. I’ll have to have a catheter down my nose and throat to my esophagus to measure the amount of acid. I have to leave it in for 24 hours. There is a test I have to do before that is the office before the PH test. She didn’t go into details too much but said it’s the worse of the two. I asked my surgeon after the PH test, what are the odds Cigna will approve the surgery and he said FANTASTIC. He said after the test he’ll submit to insurance. I’m nervous about this PH test for a variety of reasons. Has anyone else gone through this process for a revision?

Hello, I was sleeved in 2012. Hoping to get revision to bypass. Had the upper GI and it showed acid reflux, a hiatal hernia and spasms. I thought this is great! Saw my surgeon on Friday and he said the results were great, just what we wanted. But I still have to have the PH test. I am not looking forward to this at all. Even the nurse said it’s a very unpleasant experience. I’ll have to have a catheter down my nose and throat to my esophagus to measure the amount of acid. I have to leave it in for 24 hours. There is a test I have to do before that is the office before the PH test. She didn’t go into details too much but said it’s the worse of the two. I asked my surgeon after the PH test, what are the odds Cigna will approve the surgery and he said FANTASTIC. He said after the test he’ll submit to insurance. I’m nervous about this PH test for a variety of reasons. Has anyone else gone through this process for a revision?

I had a band placed back in May 2011 (or was it 2010) did great at first until my gallbladder pitched a fit and had to be removed. It was a straight uphill climb after that. I started at 239 with my band, got down somewhere around 185 then shot back up to 242 when I consulted my surgeon about a revision. I didn’t have any major complications with my band, just couldn’t get back into the zone. I had enough when water started to get “stuck” and i would have to pb into a plastic bag while driving. Fast forward to 2017 at 242 I asked a different surgeon (due to location, still love my original surgeon) about a revision. 8/8/2017 I was revised from band to SIPS DS. No hospital stay, it was done in one outpatient surgery. As with almost all band patients I had a lot of scar tissue but my surgeon was able to remove the band and complete the DS in one. So thankful for that.

i was banded in 2007 lost 85# unfortunately this procedure was new for the dr as well as myself. there was no nutrition classes or any coordinator to help. i pretty much got letters from all different specialists to recommend the surgery and medicaid approved it. there was one visit after surgery from the hospital nutritionist. pretty much i lived off soups and any other food i would end up throwing up. this was a daily occurrence of food getting stuck. when i got to the point that i couldnt even swallow my saliva i realized i was over restricted and my stomach was bulged over the band. got it happily removed in 2010 and was supposed to have it revised to the gastric bypass. it took the surgeon over 2 hours to remove the band that normally takes 20 min. so he cancelled the bypass. kinda glad wasnt the right time in my life for that. so 2017 was my year and got the sleeve!!!!been happy since

Revisions? Anybody? Anyone want to share your story/outcome/regret/ triumph?

Anybody? Lol What kind of revisions have you guys had?

Read the revised addition of The China Study. There are a ton of good insights in that book.

I've never tried that kind. I use bariatric advantage. I buy the big bags for home and the packets for travel (flying). It's too thick for my liking so I mix it with water according to instructions and then add about 4-6 ounces of original unsweetened almond milk or nonfat milk if I'm at hotels without access to almond milk and a ton of ice. I also discovered it doesn't stir (dissolve) well with a spoon so I had to get a blender bottle to shake it really good for a couple minutes. I've been drinking one a day (breakfast) since my lap band was removed in Feb. 2017 In preparation for the sleeve revision and to help keep me from gaining weight in the interim. They taste pretty good. However, I'm pre-op so I hope my taste buds don't change after surgery because I've stocked up for a couple months. Sent from my XT1635-01 using BariatricPal mobile app

I got sleeved mid August. ..have only lost 30 pounds as well. And mine isn't even a revision.. first time sleever. Feeling like a failure as well. Eating all the carbs I can fit into my tiny stomach. Stress eating has always been my coping mechanism. The weight loss stall is just making it worse. I have no support or friends or even acquaintances that have had the sleeve. Only support I get is from this forum. Sent from my SM-N910C using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi friends!!! So I had a revision from band to sleeve September 1st. I've read so many comments on here about people throwing up when trying certain foods, and eating something and immediately getting sick. I haven't thrown up once. (Not complaining). I haven't felt sick. But I feel like I can eat so much food! For lunch this week I was having 2 oz. of tunafish and a piece of cheddar cheese. I feel full and gthen then an hour later I'm hungry again. Wasn't that supposed to go away? Should I try eating more tuna? I feel like I can easily hit 1000 calories. Any ideas? Help!!

I had a successful lapband placed in 2012- I'm 5 foot 3 - I went from 230 to 145 lbs. I even went thru a pregnancy and only gained 15-20 lbs or so and instantly lost that after I had my baby. I loved my lapband. I only had about one or two fills. I wasn't a fan of the port but I lived with it. I never had any problems. About 10 months after I had my child I started having acid reflux problems and went into see the doctor oct 2016. He checked my band and stated that it needed to be removed immediately he thought it was eroded and wasn't sure.. So he removed it. We talked about revision to the sleeve. We removed it the next day. There was no erosion but there was some slippage. Then he told me to the heal and go thru the holidays and we would start the process of the revision process. So come Feb I went back in and we started the entire process with the test and insurance mess I have been thru all the appeals the peer to peer I have finally hired the lindstrom attorney. I am on my final appeal. I am sooo frustrated insurance keeps denying me (BCBSofNC) stating that I do not have the BMI. When clearly in my insurance it does not state that you have to have a high bmi for a REVISION!!! I mean I am not going to be over weight when I just had a successful Lapband REMOVED!!! Which clearly now I am back up to 200lbs ! and the attorneys are fighting that. Has anyone else had this problem? Why is insurance so stupid? They are seriously going against their own writing word they wrote. I wish I could have gone back to that day at the doctors office and asked more questions and also let them unfill and just see how it was instead of acted so quick. but the doctor made it sound so serious and I was so emotional to lose a tool that work and made my life so great! Now I have gained weight and depressed about it. and it has been a year and battling this stupid insurance company that can't get it thru their head - about a BMI for a revision after a lapband removal...

Hello, I am planning to have a mini gastric bypass done in early march. I had a sleeve done 3 years ago and lost 60 lbs but have gained 30 lbs back. I am 5'0 and 197. Has anyone ever revised to the mini? Can you please give me feedback. Good and bad is all welcome. Thanks so much.