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I agree the more & more I do my research.. I do not wanna go under the knife w revision.. my portion are already small anyway .. so I'm thinking bypass is best for me too .

I think your nutritionist is misinterpreting the data. It's not that the bypass is NECESSARILY more effective long term, only that we have more EVIDENCE of it being effective long term. The sleeve as an individual operation is a relatively new procedure, so we just don't have as much long term data either way vs the RNY. But the info we do have is very promising. I've done a lot of reading and from my (layman's) understanding, the bypass will help you lose weight faster (6mo to a year) vs the sleeve where you typically lose slowly over a period of 18 months. The typical difference between loss I think is often 10% of your weight ON AVERAGE, which may or may not be a big deal to you. (It wasn't to me, which is why I went with the sleeve.) Regain typically comes down to compliancy post-op more than what procedure you get. The average losses comes from the people who lose 150 lbs and completely overhaul their life and the people who eat around their surgery and lose less than ten or go on to gain past their original weight, so honestly I really didn't take it much into account when I was picking my procedure. I was much more concerned about the life I'd be living post op with both procedures and about my individual comfort level with the concept of the procedures themselves. Sleeve fit my vision for my future, so that's what I chose even though my surgeon was more in favour of the RNY as the "gold standard". It is true the RNY is more invasive and also produces more restriction both in terms of volume of food AND type of foods you can eat. A lot of the things I can very easily eat post-op with my sleeve could make your average RNY patient very sick. some people see this as a pro to the RNY, others a con. There are good reasons to pick either procedure, and sticking to the plan long term will bring success with EITHER procedure. After that it comes down to other factors: if you have GERD, if you have type 2 diabetes, how much weight you have to lose, how comfortable you are with malabsorption of nutrients, the speed you want the weight loss to be, whether you'd prefer the proven track record of the RNY, whether you want the ability to revise down the line, etc. There's a lot to consider here, so definitely stick around and do some reading, but don't let the nutritionist tell you that you HAVE to get the RNY just because "after 5 years the sleeve stops working" and accept that as gospel or use it as the only deciding factor in your choice. Any surgery can result in weight regain, just as any surgery can result in stunning lifelong success. The specific surgery itself isn't nearly so important as the lifestyle changes you implement alongside your chosen procedure.

I'm sorry to hear about your complications. Hopefully you will get sorted out soon. I can't speak to the issue of appropriate standard of care, but I wouldn't think they owe a refund. You paid for the surgery and got it. Complications are a risk every patient faces. The surgeon obviously made a judgement call.. and perhaps it was the wrong one in your case, hindsight being what it is. Many band to sleeve revisions are carried out at the same time, so it's not some unusual thing. Hopefully the surgeon will learn something from your case, so as to not make that error in the future (assuming the condition of your stomach was unusually bad and therefore called for a more conservative approach).

Morning all. Has anyone had any luck getting a refund from MBC after complications? I was a band to Sleeve revision and immediately developed a stricture. I was unable to eat for 2 months, was hospitalized immediately after after returning home, sent home with an NG tube, and have started the process of dilations. All 3 surgeons I've seen of the US said the standard of care would have been to stop after removing my band and seeing what bad shape my stomach was in(full of scar tissue, adhesions and ulcers) and not proceeded to Sleeve. It's so upsetting that all these problems could have been avoided! I'm trying to talk to the business office now to get some kind of refund. It has cost me over $5000 since I've been home from these complications. I understand sometimes things happen but there is also bad judgement and greed at play. Drs are to "First do no harm" Mexico or US a Drs first responsibility is to do what best for his patients. Just so frustrated.

I totally agree with your NUT, either Bypass or the Duodenal Switch (DS). I see too many people end up doing revisions to Bypass after doing the sleeve. This was one of the reasons why I changed my mind as well. This surgery is a huge deal and I didn't want to go under the knife more than once. After all the Bypass is the standard of all WLS. The sleeve only gives you restriction, but with the Bypass you get both the restriction and malabsorption (not as much as the DS though). I say do your research speak with ppl that did both.

My BMI is 40 as well and I have opted for the bypass because I also feel the long success rate will be a better option for me. I don't want to even consider the possibility of a revision and I think for me this is just the best option personally.

Hi Everyone I just wanted to give a quick update on my sleeve to mgb progress. I'm 13 weeks post-op. I'm down 50 lbs pre-op; 44 since my revision. Here's a few pics that I took recently. Even though I'm not at my goal yet, I feel so good in the skin I'm in. I feel like I got my life back 😊

Just got a call from surgical scheduling, arrival time is 6:15 am, they will start shortly thereafter. I'm the first one of the day. Please say a prayer everything goes well and doctor is able to so the revision. So excited and nervous. Thank you all!

It will vary- your body is still adjusting to the surgery and you are still on liquids at this point... I am 6 weeks out and have lost 40 since surgery but it's similar to the band- the scale moves on it's time.. I am maintaining ketogenic/low carb diet and using both the scale and measurements to track progress- I would have gone crazy now just looking at the scale... My doctor said that band revision patients lose slower~ I believe it! That said I am losing inches and able to fit back into clothes.... so hang in there... congratulations!

Well, I'm not really sure what to tell you. I absolutely can understand your worries about failing. A 100 lbs loss is definitely not "failing" though I can absolutely understand that it feels like failure if you're still very overweight after having lost these 100 lbs. Revisions can be successful but there is no guarantee for it. Many banders seems to do better with the bypass (maybe because of the GI-altering method?) but then there is the fact that revision patients often don't lose that much weight and they lose a lot slower to begin with. I fear that nobody will be able to tell if you will lose another substantial amount of weight or not.

I hope I am only in this infamous stall phase too...... I am 4 weeks out today.from band to bypass revision.... and have lost a total of 1stone 5 1/2 pounds... but of that only 1 pound this week and 1 pound last week... I have a shake for breakfast.... a small low cal high protein lunch and dinner... around 60___80 protein... not quite making my fluid target... but very disappointed the last two weeks..... recovery wise I feel fine...

I'm on 5/23 too! Band to sleeve revision. I've lost about 8 pounds as well. 5 protein shakes a day and sf jello. Can't wait for Tuesday. Good luck!

Since I started this journey I always wanted RNY. For some reason I started second guessing myself & wanting the sleeve. As soon as I got my upper endoscopy & found out I had mild reflux I stuck with RNY because I don't want to mess with GERD & have to revise later.

You look amazing!! Great job! I'm waiting to hear from my surgeon this week, I'm approved for revision, just want to see the pre cert requirements and then I get my date. At this point I'll take sleeve or bypass!

I was banded in 2011 and lost 80 pounds never quite got to my goal weight before I started having problems. Throwing up multiple times daily, bad acid reflux to the point I was needing 8 pillows to prop me up to sleep, frustrated. I was too tight at one point from the swelling from vomiting so much, that I had to get all fluid removed emergently so I could swallow my own saliva. I ended up getting all fluid removed and esophageal manometry done. I have a separate post about that experience. The manometry showed I had a slip. That was the documentation I needed in order to get a revision for mybinsurance to cover my revision. There needs to be documentation to support another surgery need. Unless you are cash pay. I initially wanted sleeve because I thought it was the best option....however after speaking with my surgeon, he told me that I would more than likely have problems with severe reflux due to the pressure from the sleeve and since I was already miserable from the severe reflux I had, I wasn't about to have to deal with any more. I also have several friends who had sleeve done and have significant regain with reflux issues. He said revising to RNY would resolve reflux and I wouldn't ever have to deal with that issue. I decided that was the best choice for me. I was revised to RNY back in 2015 and SO Happy! No reflux which is awesome! I can eat spicier foods again. I have lost a total of 125 pounds and at my goal weight of 175. I am also a Zumba Instructor and teach Zumba 4 days per week. I keep my protein first, then veggies and fruit. I take my vitamins daily and actually have not been sick as much either since revision. I have not had any issues. Love my RNY ❤ I only wished I had done RNY to start with. Do your homework, ask questions and decide what is right for you. Best of luck to you!

Can anybody tell me if the size of a sleeved stomach is a standard thing or does it vary from person to person? I had my band removed three months ago and gained back 21lbs in that time - so am worried that my sleeve will be bigger than a standard sleeve because I dont have that much weight to lose. I just dont want to be able to eat larger portion sizes than I could with the band as I know that is what kept my weight off for 10 years. I hear about everybody being happy with the conversion but if there is anybody in a similar situation to me who could tell me how much they lost after surgery and whether they actually lost more than their goal weight because they were not that overweight at the time of revision. Thank you in advance kind people. Sent from my SM-G955F using BariatricPal mobile app

My brother used to get those and he swears by hydration along with vit c, magnesium and vit b6. Lap band 2009 Sw 200/lw 161/cw 214 Sleeve revision booked 17 May

I am also 3 days out. I don't find the Protien manageable yet so I'm sticking to watered down grape juice and sugar free Gatorade and beef broth. I'm just trying to meet my liquid goals and once I master that I'll start reintroducing Protien. I'm not down either but I know I'm carrying tons of fluid weight from the iv fluids and water retention post op. It was the same with my lapband it took about a week-10 days to see the scale start to move. I'm just getting in some gentle steps and letting myself heal, the rest will come. Lap band 2009 Sw 200/lw 161/cw 214 Sleeve revision booked 17 May

I am 3 days post op and was given little 30 ml cups to sip from. I'm supppsed to take 3 sips to finish each one so that's a very tiny sip at a time. Lap band 2009 Sw 200/lw 161/cw 214 Sleeve revision booked 17 May

We should! My surgery date has been bumped up a day to June 5th!! I finally decided on RNY vs VSG because I already have GERD so I'm hoping to save myself a revision down the line. I am also new to the group sort of[emoji23] I have kinda read everyone else's posts but I don't participate much and when I do I haven't gotten that much help. Oh well! I'm glad someone that has gone through similar is on the journey as well! I was diagnosed in July of 2014, 5 months after having our one and only child. Actually the biopsy came back as inconclusive so I had surgery September 2014,and they originally decided to do a right lobectomy where I had a large nodule. The on the spot pathology during surgery came back positive for papillary carcinoma, so they ended up removing the entire thing. My lymph nodes had cancerous tissue wrapped around them so they decided it best to undergo RAI after I healed in order to kill off the remaining thyroid tissue. I have been cancer free since and just had my first real big cancer screen and there is no sign of any reoccurrence. After talking with my Endo he also said that RNY would probably be my best option. I started the process for WLS in November 2016, and was on track for surgery end of January beginning of February, but I have been having iron deficiency issues, needless to say it took forever to get fixed and now I'm on the right track so I am scheduled, scared out of my mind, and overall kind of all over the place.

It's extremely important to know if your reflux is diet induced or otherwise. If it's diet induced the sleeve still works the vast majority of the time without keeping or causing more reflux. The indications are that for diet induced reflux, with necessary dietary changes it will vastly improve. On the other hand if it's not caused by diet then I would pick bypass. Sleeve has less risk associated with the surgery itself and less issues with malnutrition post operatively. Incidence of dumping is far less with the sleeve, and won't cause potential future surgery risks if you need work in the abdominal cavity area later on for whatever reason. So pick sleeve unless you are sure your reflux isn't caused by diet. Can always revise the sleeve.

hey there, I'm in delaware county and a 13 year veteran of the band about to revise to the sleeve due to complications and multiple slips and weight gain. My doctor is at NYU so I'm really interested in connecting with people locally here and there so I'm not going at this alone again. How is everyone doing?

Scheduled for surgery June 27th. Doing a revision from Lap Band to sleeve with Dr. Ortiz at Obesity Control Center in Mexico. He did my Lap Band surgery in 2010. It's a great facility with a lovely staff.

I'm planning on band to DS revision. Doc says no overnight stay if at all possible because he believes we heal faster and have less risk of infection while at home.