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I just had my sleeve done on Tuesday December 9. They are making me stay here for 2 reasons. First I am vomiting up Water which is all I've had thus far. I had to take the swallow test 2x because I was too swollen for it to go through on Wednesday. Today I passed it. I'll mention that I am a band to sleeve revision Second, I am now in atrial fibrillation. I have the kind that comes rarely. I'm not typically in a fib. The last time I had a fib episode was in October of 2013. This current time was because they dropped the ball on my meds. I did bring them with me but they wouldn't let me take them. I guess in this part I'm just venting because now tomorrow morning they want to shock me back into normal rhythm. I'm kind of upset because I was asking them for meds to the point I was getting very aggravated. I began to get a bit irate and asked them. Don't you know I could have a stroke? It was very unsettling and I am going to make a formal complaint. They all just sat around saying "ok ok we'll call your doctor." Ok enough of that. So my main advise I want to give is to make sure the hospital you are going to has something in place for you even if it's not the exact meds you take just so you won't have to go through what I am going through. It was horrifying. Yes I'm still in a fib today but yesterday I was reaching almost 200 beats a minute. Today it's still very irregular. But much slower. I was finally able to insist on my meds which my doc said I could swallow with 1 sip of water. It's a slippery slope because an hour or so after I take them I vomit. Just hope some of them are going into my bloodstream. Now for my main question. Did anyone else vomit even after passing the swallow test? I'm drinking tiny sips and about an hour later it comes up. Other than that I have not much pain or gas. This has been happening all day today

Currently had a port revision due to a flipped port. I have had the band 3 years in july. I am 15 days post op. I am still sore and I apparently have fluid between my port and skin. I look deformed. Didnt know if this was a common thing. I have my post op appt on Thursday. I had to go to the er a week after surgery and thats when they found the fluid but it seems to have gotten worsr and all I was told was that it will go away. Anyone else experience this? Thanks

When I had port revision, my Dr also said there was fluid around port and it would go away.It did.

GIRL!!!!!!!!! you worry to much about what others think of you... you have to let it go. think about what you accomplished and how far you gotten. no one helped you you did this all on your own. its better that you excerise instead of sitting at home eating your life away and watching people get thin on tv. people that dont excerise sometimes dont understand the benefits of it. i had to get a port revision because i was excerising and my ab muscles popped out the stitches for my port. i remember asking the doctor so i wouldnt have to have surgery if i didnt excerise? and am i doing to much. and he said no way. your doing great and to much excerise is never to much. they had a dietian there that i spoke with since my journey began and he said i look way better then the ones that lost 100lbs and look sick because they didnt excerise. so my advice to you is stop stressing about the negative feedback and start looking to your goals your almost there and you would be surprised how much better you look then the ones that are knocking you. REMEMBER POSTIVE PEOPLE MAKE POSTIVE OUTCOMES!!!!!

I was just thinking the same thing the other day!! I'm also a band to sleeve revision and have always had soft brittle nails. This is certainly a side effect I am enjoying!!

No, I wasn't hungry at all. I had my sleeve done 7 years ago. Just did the revision to modified DS this year. The liquid diet reset my stomach and I was surprised to feel full with such small portions.

I am having a revision from a band to a bypass on July 8. I am curious also.

If you do a search, you will find complications, because this is usually always listed in the title. If you search positive results, hardly anything comes up because we post it in all types of ways like: NSV (non-scale victories), before and after, 4 mos post op, halfway to goal, got my life back, etc. Additionally, you won't see many of us bragging about no complications as there are some (not a lot) that do. My point is, the majority of us never had complications, but you'd never know otherwise unless you asked like you did with this post. This is why this forum is so important. It's here to support, motivate, encourage and answer each others questions. So, having said all this I'm glad you asked and here is my answer: I've had zero complications and I was a band to sleeve revision all done in one procedure. I had more scar tissue and more of a chance of complications. I've had none. I'm 4 mos post op today and have lost 52 lbs. (48 to goal) and like the others have already said, my only complaint is that I didn't do it sooner. Be sure to research your surgeon thoroughly. You may find others on this site who have used him/her. This would be another great search or new thread to start to find out from someone else who actually used your surgeon. If you don't have one, ask for recommendations for the area you live in. This site is full of information, but don't just read the bad stuff. There are a lot of great things on this site to learn and be encouraged by. Good luck with your decision!

From what I've read and experienced, there's no BMI requirement for revision due to complications such as GERD. Some have been able to get a revision based on BMI alone, but I think that's rare. Sent from my Z6201V using BariatricPal mobile app

@, thank you for your encouragement. I lost about 60 pounds with band and gained it all back. My surgeon actually said I would be a good candidate for the sleeve. When we discussed today, his concern was a small site of what might be Barrett's cells in the esophagus - so he didn't want to risk the sleeve related reflux. I want to give myself the best chance to be successful and he said that is definitely bypass, especially for a revision, so - bypass it is!

Hi Monica... I am also in Dallas and had my revision ( Gastric Bypass to Sleeve) done on 2/10/14 by Dr. John Alexander. My approval was very quick as well about 2 days actually...and just like you I was approved so quick it's like I didn't even have an opportunity to think very long about "NOT" doing it. I was a bit nervous..( hate being put to sleep) and excited all at the same time. I came home around 5 pm on the 12th so my stay was about 2 1/2 days. My procedure was done at Forest Park Medical center... and my stay was very nice..the staff was great. I can tell you now..that I am SO glad I went through with the revision. Everything has been going extremely well. Today marks 1 month since having surgery and so far I have lost about 25 lbs (pre-post/surgery combined). I love the fact that I can no longer stuff myself..or over eat. I only eat now...because I need to eat..not because I want to. The restriction is great.. still getting use to eating and sipping slow. When they say chew your food 22 times before swallowing.. they mean it. You can not eat or drink at the same time and you really have to space out your bites. I try to wait at least 3-5 minutes between bites and sips. Other than making those adjusts while eating everything else has been great!

The PA was right to have you drink your Water that way. Almost anyone can sip water even if they're too tight. It sounds like you're judging the efficacy of your band by restriction and not satiety. IMO, that's not how this is supposed to work. I can eat anything too but I watch for the satiety signals. Waiting to see if I get stuck or throw up is not how this is supposed to work. I've seen far too many people post here who have lived their band lives as you do, and now their bands have slipped, pouches dilated or have their bands removed or revised to sleeve. jmo tmf

Lol, I did keep my lapband when I revised to the sleeve. I still have it in a little plastic bag in my closet, trying to determine an appropriate burial for it.

Congrats!!! I myself am just going through all of the preop testing and just praying my ins. goes through with no problems and hoping to get through the process quick and easily! I will be a band revision due to band complications so I am very nervous...I am very happy for you and hope you have a very speedy recovery and things go very smoothly for you and you have as little pain as possible I have a cpl of friends that have had this done and they are all doing pretty awesome! Good luck on your journey and your new life!!! Feel better

I lost a lot of hair after my lap band surgery...now that I am trying to get the sleeve revision I am a little scared of losing more hair!! Anesthesia also sometimes causes hair loss. I am beginning to use natural oils for hair growth...such as argan oil, almond oil, castor oil, coconut oil, rosemary oil and lavender oil, it seems to be helping. Look it up online there are several different mixtures u can make.

If you’ve been married as long as I have (we just celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary), you’ll probably know what I mean when I say that at times, my relationship with my husband is a love-hate thing. The hate is provoked by stupid little things, like: why must an adult male in good health and in possession of all his faculties spit toothpaste on the bathroom mirror every single day of his life? Ten minutes after wanting to throttle him for that, I catch a glimpse of him cuddling a tiny kitten and my heart melts. He has truly been there for me through thick and thin (more thick than thin) and I can’t imagine life without him, but the next time I walk into the bathroom and see the Colgate version of a Jackson Pollock painting on the mirror, my husband’s life will hang by a thread, at least for a few moments. I also have a love-hate relationship with my band at times. I resent it because it prevents me from eating mindlessly. I love it for the very same reason, but when I’m tired or hurried or distracted, the effort to eat carefully seems enormous. Why can’t my band just do its job and leave me the heck alone? I’m by no means a lazy person but there are days when living with an adjustable gastric band is a lot of work. It’s certainly not a spectator sport – to win this game, you have to jump right in and get busy, and it’s not over when the cheers fade away…it starts all over again the next day, and the next day, for the rest of your life. Like me and the stupid bathroom mirror. Happily Ever After? I think that many people have bariatric surgery believing or hoping that it will solve everything, that they’ll never have to struggle with their food or eating again. Most of the time, that’s not the happy ending to their story. Their story has a different ending that could be happier if they adjust their thinking to it. Is the burden of good eating choices too heavy? If surgery helps you lose all the excess weight, shouldn’t it help you maintain that weight loss without another thought for the rest of your life? Dream on. I’ve seen a lot of bandsters (including the short blonde one in that bathroom mirror) crash into the Forever Wall, kind of like hitting the “seven-year itch” in a marriage. We prepare for band surgery with all the hope and care of a bride and groom planning a wedding – what we’ll wear, what we’ll eat, what music we’ll dance to. We enjoy a romantic honeymoon with the band, things go great for a while, and then things get harder and harder. At that point, you can fall in love with another bariatric procedure, believing that a revision to gastric bypass or whatever will hand you the key to happily-ever-after. Or you can stick with the partner you’ve already got, survive some tough times, and come out of it all the stronger. My friend Tami send me these wise comments: “Your comparison of WLS to marriage made me chuckle. One time my daughter asked me whether I’d ever divorce her dad (sometimes he can be such an ass!). I said, “Absolutely not. He’s family. You sometimes can’t stand your brother, but you can’t divorce him.” Now, if there was a serious “complication” in my marriage, like abuse, I’d have to reconsider my options. And that’s exactly how I feel about my band. It’s part of me, and as long as it doesn’t abuse me with serious complications, we’ll stick together. And just like my husband, I have to respect my band, take care of it, and learn from mistakes.” To Have & To Hold – til it’s no fun any more? I’ve survived some complications with my band that I suppose you could classify as on the low side of serious: a band slip, and a flipped port. Since the actions my surgeon and I took in response to these complications were swift (in the case of the slip) and sensible (in the case of the port flip), neither one of them ever endangered me – not in terms of my health, and not in terms of my quality of life. In fact, they seemed quite minor to me compared to other problems that my fellow humans face every day – a terminal cancer diagnosis; a fatal automobile accident; a crippling disease; the loss of a partner; parent or child – that except for the occasional moment of frustration or angry, “Why me, God?”, I just kept trudging onward. Perhaps another person with a different world-view and/or different expectations would consider a band slip grounds for divorce. I can’t criticize people who choose divorce, whether it involves their spouse or their band. Only I can decide what’s acceptable and tolerable for me, and others must decide that for themselves. But if you walk down the church aisle three minutes before your wedding begins thinking, “If I don’t like marriage, I can always get a divorce,” perhaps you don’t belong in the church in that fancy get-up in front of all your family and friends after all. At this (fairly advanced) stage of my life, I’m convinced that God or the universe throws nails on the road before me as a way to get my attention, make me stop and get my bearings, make me enjoy the scenery and make me appreciate how far I’ve traveled so far. So I do my best to learn what I can from each challenging situation with the gastric band that’s complaining or my husband who’s vigorously brushing his teeth or the dog who’s chewing on a chair leg. For all I know, my greatest goal in life is to be a champion cleaner of bathroom mirrors!

Revision to what?

I had a very interesting chat with my EX sig other yesterday. He knows me well and I was complaining that I am so excited about getting my plastics, not overly scared of it (worked through my fears pretty well) and yet my anxiety and restlessness has been a real issue. He gave me a little speech that really resonated and might with some of you too. He told me that I have been wrestling with this whole weight things for DECADES; I tend to think of this journey as starting two years ago with the sleeve. He is right, it took me two years of doubts, trying everything etc BEFORE I was sleeved to committ to it. I had the lapband in 2001 and to say that my weight loss dreams were shattered was an understatement. It was a devastation, at the time I thought i was the only person who ever failed with the band. Then, I had lost 85# on WW in the mid 2000s decade, but regained 50 of it over time... and of course never really left the obese catagory. His point was that I never got under 200# pounds and frankly spent most of my adult life between 220-300# - morbidly obese for sure. I never gave up trying and it was a central issue in my life for a very very very long time. He mentioned that I seem to have it whipped now, with the help of the sleeve. When I get stressed, I no longer turn to food. Not to say it is all smooth sailing, I still have to maintain of course - but in his eyes, I have the tools and know how to use them. He also knows that if for some reason I can't maintain a healthy weight with the sleeve, I WILL revise to the DS - I am NEVER going back to being morbidly obese, it is just not an option for me. So, he went through all the reasons that I NEED to have these plastics in his mind.... but ended it by saying that it is like a milestone, or the end of a certain chapter. It is the throwing away the "fat pants". It is the really committing to maintaining in some sort of healthy weight range. What my real anxiety is about is now that the obesity dragon ... well is maybe not slayed, but is beaten back deep into it's cave and has armed guards posted at the entrance - NOW WHAT??? I had been having some of those thoughts myself even before he mentioned this. I am a goal driven person, I am persistent beyond reason when I really want something in my life (an attribute that makes me hard to live with at times I hear...haha) He talked to me about considering changing my career and refocusing my energy on that. He reminded me of the personal characteristic that I have that makes me successful at my job (besides bullheaded persistence...lol) and told me I will be so much happier with a career that centers around that characteristic. you know what, my anxiety level dropped about 1000% after that conversation because it rang so true. Like I can finally name the beast that has been stressing me which gives me a more meaningful context for my emotions. Don't get me wrong, plastics are scary, but I have a proportionate level of "nerves" over that. What is really getting at me is what the heck am I going to do? My kids are grown, my body is finally at the level of health I want, my career is boring... so, truly - what next? I post like mad on VST, but frankly that is not how i want to spend my life.Yes, I have tons of friends, my horse hobby keeps me busy, I go out to movies and other fun stuff with friends - I am not bored, but, I do feel a little aimless at times. I am not asking for suggestions - i am putting this out there to find out if any of this resonates with others? I think it might be a middle age crisis thing too... I turn the BIG 50 in 2014....

I had my band revision on December 3rd and also had hernia repair. It sounds crazy but get up and do some walking. Friday - Banded, Saturday - released from hospital, Sunday - did housework to get some of this gas out, Today - drove to grocery store and did a little Xmas shopping. Move and you will keep moving..... No pain meds today, I will take it to help me sleep. This is my second time at this so I knew what to expect and this time was easier. I feel like I have a mild stomach ache all day and everyday gets better, I promise.

I was banded in 2008 lost 121 lbs, had a baby in 2011 then all my problems started. In the ended emptied my band is the only thing that would allow me to keep food down and no acid reflux but between the pregnancy and open band I out back on 100lbs. So on 6/18 I got revision to sleeve and boy these last 2 weeks have been awesome. I'm able to eat and drink with no issues and keep it down. No acid reflux issues either. I wish I did this back in Oct when my Dr first suggested it but I put it off till now. My biggest worry was if the band caused to much scar tissue my Dr wouldn't. It have been able to do the sleeve but thank god there was little and he was able to clean it all out. Eating and drinking is the same small bites, chew well, no drinking while eating. My dr has no soda ( no issue here since I've been off them since 2008 )no straws. Since I'm still on soft foods I can't say if food that caused issues with the band are good now but I sure hope so and can't wait to find out.

Sorry, but I can't find any way to say this that doesn't sound mean - cause it's not meant to be. It's only a reality check. Buuuuut, Really?????????? Two weeks post op and already stalling? You might want to consider having a sleeve revision.

Hey Paul, Gotcha!:Banane30: I wish you lots of luck on your trip to Mexico to be banded. Is the cost of banding too high in the land of the long white cloud also?:eek: If you have private health insurance you only have to pay $3,500 dollars out of pocket here in Australia, and that covers lifetime fills and maintenance ie revision surgery etc. Susannah

Does anyone know the process? Do I need to jump through all the hoops? I was very successful and lost 100% of weight I needed with band before it failed after 2 kids. I regained most of it. Anyone have similar situation?

I had my port moved into a better place..sliding up under my ribs wasn't a good place for it at all. To me, it feels like it was back in the place where it originally was in Nov 2007. Just hope it stays in place. Truthfully, this surgery hurts almost as bad (almost) as getting banded. Doc gave me a fill too. I hope this fill works. It has been six months since I have lost any weight. Well, it's been 24 hrs since I came home from the hospital and so far, I feel sore. Very sore. I'll get through this. Tommorrow's another day....:eek:

Hi Everyone, I came across this on a google search this morning. Apparently, the Department of Defense has finally ruled to not disqualify particular types of weight loss surgery, but just requires it to be medically necessary and particularly points to using BMI as a determination (but doesn't specify exactly how) Here's the link to the Federal Register for TODAY - FEB 14, 2011 Federal Register http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2011-02-14/pdf/2011-3207.pdf Looks like it is effective March 2011 I cut and pasted here also in case the link doesn't work. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary 32 CFR Part 199 [DOD–2008–HA–0057] RIN 0720–AB24 TRICARE Program; Surgery for Morbid Obesity AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DoD. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This final rule adds a definition of Bariatric Surgery, amends the definition of Morbid Obesity, and revises the language relating to the treatment of morbid obesity to allow benefit consideration for newer bariatric surgical procedures that are considered appropriate medical care. The final rule removes language that specifically limits the types of surgical procedures to treat co-morbid conditions associated with morbid obesity and retains the TRICARE Program exclusion of nonsurgical interventions related to morbid obesity, obesity and/or weight reduction. This final rule is necessary to allow coverage for other surgical procedures that reduce or resolve comorbid conditions associated with morbid obesity and the use of the Body Mass Index (BMI), which is the more accurate measure for excess weight to estimate relative risk of disease. As new technologies or procedures evolve from investigational into generally accepted norms for medical practice, the statutes and regulations governing the TRICARE Program allow the Department to offer beneficiaries these new benefits. These changes are required in order to allow the Department to provide these newer technologies and procedures for the treatment of morbid obesity as they evolve. DATES: Effective Date: This rule is effective March 16, 2011. ADDRESSES: TRICARE Management Activity, Medical Benefits and Reimbursement Branch, 16401 East Centretech Parkway, Aurora, CO 80011– 9066. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gail L. Jones, Medical Benefits and Reimbursement Branch, TRICARE Management Activity, telephone (303) 676–3401. VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:08 Feb 11, 2011 Jkt 223001 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\14FER1.SGM 14FER1 WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with RULES Federal Register /Vol. 76, No. 30 /Monday, February 14, 2011 /Rules and Regulations 8295 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background On December 27, 1982, the Department of Defense (DoD) published a final rule in the Federal Register (47 FR 57491–57493) that restricted surgical intervention for morbid obesity to gastric bypass, gastric stapling, or gastroplasty method (excluding all other types) when the primary purpose of surgery is to treat a severe related medical illness or medical condition. The severe medical conditions or illness associated with morbid obesity included diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cholecystitis, narcolepsy, Pickwickian Syndrome (and other severe respiratory disease), hypothalamic disorders, and severe arthritis of the weight-bearing joints. The DoD also limited program payments to two categories of patients: (1) Those who weighed 100 pounds over their ideal weight with a specific severe medical condition; and (2) those who were 200 percent or more over their ideal weight with no medical complications required. Program payment was made available as well in cases in which a patient, who originally met the criteria, received an intestinal bypass, or other surgery for obesity and, because of complications, required a second surgery. Payment was allowed even though the patient’s condition may not have technically met the definition of morbid obesity because of the weight that was already lost following the initial surgery. All other surgeries including non-surgical treatment related to morbid obesity, obesity, and/or weight reduction were excluded. The DoD used the definition of morbid obesity, which was based on the Metropolitan Life Table and used then by other major health care plans, as well as reflected the 1982 general opinion regarding which cases justify surgical intervention. The DoD decided, at the time, that it was necessary to be very specific in benefit parameters due to fiscal responsibility and to ensure that Program beneficiaries were not being exposed to less than fully developed medical technology or procedures. At the time the current regulation was written in 1982, gastric bypass, gastric stapling, and gastroplasty methods were the recognized surgeries for morbid obesity. However, in recent years, other bariatric surgical procedures have evolved and some have a substantial body of literature to support their safety and efficacy. Unlike the original rule that listed the specific surgical procedures and the clinical conditions for which coverage may be extended; this final rule authorizes benefit consideration for those bariatric surgical procedures that have moved from the unproven status to the position of nationally accepted medical practice, as determined by the Program standard of reliable evidence. Also in 1982 during development of the current regulation for morbid obesity, overweight and obesity were typically measured with height-weight tables (such as the Metropolitan Life Table). The 1982 regulation restricted eligibility for bariatric surgery to individuals who exceed their ideal weight for height by 100 pounds with an associated severe medical condition, or 200 percent or more over their ideal body weight with no associated medical condition required. This final rule changes the Program definition of morbid obesity to reflect the current nationally accepted medical use of the BMI, rather than the typical assessed height-weight table (i.e., the Metropolitan Life Table), to determine an individual’s eligibility for bariatric surgical treatment. The BMI is the more accurate measure for excess weight to estimate relative risk of disease. Since there now are more than 30 major diseases associated with obesity, the final rule requires the Director, TMA, to issue specific criteria for co-morbid conditions exacerbated or caused by (morbid) obesity, as determined by the Program standard of reliable evidence. This final rule does not expand the TRICARE benefit for morbid obesity surgery. However, it does make the specific procedures that are covered, as well as the clinical conditions for which coverage may be extended, a matter of policy. In other words, new bariatric surgery procedures may be added to the TRICARE benefit structure as such procedures are proven safe and effective and are established as nationally accepted medical practice as determined by the Program standard of reliable evidence.