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Good luck everyone with your upcoming surgeries! May God bless you with fast recoveries and smooth sailing. My revision from lap band to sleeve is Nov. 5 and can't wait yo get this lap band out. The lap band was a nightmare. I can't wait to get the sleeve!

Thank you all for great suggestions, reminders and a few firm kicks in the butt. Much needed! I am so glad to be a part of this wonderful support group! Combining all the suggestions and applying my logical Project Manager mind to it, I jotted down the sequence of events that led to this sudden onset of insanity. I just came back from, staying away from home for 4 weeks, 2 big family weddings and said no to almost ALL the food while I was there. I am proud of that! Being human, I think I had said "No" enough times in the last few weeks. My brain was rebelling! A few weeks outside my environment with EVERYONE pushing rich, yummy food at me was not easy! And I could not get my exercise. Exercise and the resulting soreness keeps me motivated and happy. Slipping into old habits is easy when the guard is down. I guess I was tired of saying NO! So, last evening, I gave myself this pep talk in front of the mirror (felt a little silly but how cares?) Pep talk begin: In the last week, I started to slip a little. Started testing the waters. NOT GOOD!! I over-indulge, weigh myself daily and find out that I had not gained. So, what do I do? Keep repeating the behavior thinking I am invincible! Until the weight gain actually occurs? Who am I kidding? I know it will come and come quickly, without the warning. The habits will be back before I can say “habit”. I cannot go back to thinking that I can fix it without taking drastic action! I WILL NOT be able to just stop eating!! When has that ever worked in the past? Create a plan. Revise it! Pep talk end. So, I created a plan. Organized the house. Threw away the Snacks. Passed a hard test: A boy from the neighborhood brought a cheesecake my husband had ordered from him while I was out. I threw it in the back of the freezer right away! I went to the gym this morning. I tried on my size 6 clothes and let myself feel the wonderful feeling. I drank 120 oz of Water and am chugging away today! I looked at my before and after pictures and I tried to remember all the wonderful compliments and attention I got at the weddings! Here is what I learnt from this small slip up: - I will not be cured! I am an addict and always need to have a plan. - Desperate times call for desperate measures! Get help quickly! Do not think you can do it by having the same thinking that you had before the surgery. Your tummy was cut, not your brain! It stills thinks the same way! - I did not have this big surgery to fail. I will adjust my habits and create as many plans I have to and be successful! For those here that posted about going through the same thing, create a list of things you can make better today and then act on it. DON'T WAIT! Thank you all!

Mooki, Thank you for the thoughtful support and positive feedback. I appreciate you and everyone else on BP. As a private sleever myself, this site allows me to share discreetly with my peers while obtaining valuable information. This site along with a sleeved now revised to rny friend, my son (Resting in Heaven) helped me to make this life changing decision. We are all right on track with questioning our vsg surgeries and wondering if it worked, hydration and or stage consumptions, feeling lethargic and etc. I'm also dealing with insomnia, hate it so much. I think the full liquids have ran its course and I need pureed food before Tuesday. I'm going to see how I feel after a few errands tomorrow. Question for all of us, who else in oit group didi tell others or limited pp about their wls?

Even though I didn't have a revision or anything I was denied because I hadn't taken prescribed meds for weight loss. I appealed then I was approved within four days. I think it all comes down to the people at the office if they really push for you they will jump through to make it happen

Insurance denied my 1st attempt for revision; band showed no malfunction (although I was vomiting & food was getting stuck. I was hoping for band to sleeve; however latest upper GI says I have a paraesophageal hiatal hernia...reflux is bad. Sleeve is no longer an option. Now my doctors office is going to send an appeal letter for revision to RNY. Bariatric coordinator says it may not be approved just because it is a hernia & may not be band related. Of course, I'm hoping she is wrong. I sit here thinking should have done RNY in the 1st place instead of the band. I am 30 lbs away from gaining my weight back i lost with the band; which was 90 lbs. I'm just frustrated with the negative thoughts of the coordinator.

One thing I've learned is that if someone has been successful with their own personal results with a particular surgery, that is the one they will praise. Your PCP isn't really unbiased in this situation. Of course he/she thinks it is THE BEST! But one size doesn't fit all. There are lots of things to consider. Do you have problems with GERD - the sleeve can make that much worse in some people. Do you have any conditions that might make having a "blind stomach" left in you a risk? Those are just a couple, there are lots of other things your surgeon will explore with you. Of course not all surgeons are unbiased either, so at the end of the day, you have to go with your best judgement considering all the information you have. I was in a similar situation - my PCP thought the sleeve was the greatest new thing ever and thought I should do that. My surgeon told me either one would give me great results and it was up to me. I went back & forth for a while, and finally decided that I really needed the malabsorption to help insure I won't be able to gain weight back quickly as I always have in the past. GERD was also an issue, as well as the relative newness of the sleeve. I didn't want to have a revision somewhere down the road because of unforeseen complications with the sleeve - I wanted more of a sure thing (as much as anything like this can be.) Yes, it is more drastic and will require more changes in my life, but I am in a place mentally and emotionally where I believe I can handle those well. So for me, these things tipped the scale. Only you know what your circumstances, health issues, mental/emotional abilities are, etc. Just keep gathering information and at some point, you will see the scales tipping more in one direction than the other and you will know what is right for you.

I had a band to sleeve revision last week....and went to Mexicali alone and back. Couple of things: Call your airline now and tell them you will need a wheelchair. It's easier to have it in your record then to do it at the last minute. If you don't need it....no problem. I totally agree- PACK LIGHT Say hello to other patients on the floor...I made a couple of great new pals while I was there. Lots of folks had laptops with them...find out if your hospital has wireless.... Pack a book. Be totally willing to ask for help and remember that most people are willing to be helpful if they know what you need... Have a safe and healthy journey....will keep you in my prayers. Adios!!

Hi All, I had revision surgery on June 11th, 2014 from Lap Band to Gastric Bypass. My first couple of weeks went well until I developed a stricture my fourth week out. I had the stricture fixed with an EGD but leading up to then was horrible. It got to the point where I couldn't get Water down. Not less than two weeks later I developed another stricture and again had it stretched last Friday. My surgeon said he wouldn't be surprised if I develop a third stricture. I'm so depressed, sick, and sick of being sick. I'm also extremely tired of the soft food diet. Has anyone else out there had to go through three strictures? Each time the size had been reduced to 4mm and is stretched to 12mm. I'm so down and really regretting ever having the procedure done. I've lost 35 lbs since surgery, but it's been the most miserable weight loss I've ever had. Debbie Downer

I was reading a brilliant blog on here the other day (I don't remember the author) and she said something like.."I am going to Mexico and having most of my stomach cut out...who does that??" I am having my band to sleeve revision in 10 days and I keep asking myself if I am crazy. I am going to Dr Aceves and of course, have heard nothing but great things about him and his staff. Honestly, I am terrified!!! I have mine and my hubbie's tix to San Diego purchased, we have the time off work, I have the inlaws coming over to watch my kids. However, I am still in denial. I keep saying to others and myself the word "IF." IF I go to Mexico and do this....IF I actually go through w/this. For some reason I can't quite say "I AM DOING THIS." I seem to always be THAT person that has complications. I have had a DVT (over 2 ft long blood clot) in my leg w/blood clots in my lungs.. I am overall healthy...but am a nurse and feel like I have the dreaded "nurse curse." I am also still wrestling w/the whole idea of removing most of my stomach. I have been researching the sleeve for over a year now ( I am a band to sleeve revision). I have desparately wanted to revise, but now when it comes down to it..I am a chicken...they tell us that the LapBand is reversible and that was a huge selling point to me. Well, it's removable, I don't know about reversible- it has caused quite a bit of damage The sleeve is permanent and I just don't want to make another mistake. Thank you everyone SO much....I have LOVED reading all your stories and sharing in your struggles. Much Love, Erika

What insurance do you have? (If you don't mind sharing, or you can PM if you don't want it public.) I was under 40 BMI when my insurance was submitted. My first request was denied, but not because of BMI. My appeal was approved, but long story short I'd changed providers by then. Still under 40 when we submitted to the 2nd company, and I was approved first time around. My father was approved for his WLS revision with a BMI around 30! (He'd been through some serious misery with food intolerance and gastroparesis, and was ridiculously thin). Can you share your insurance company's requirements? I can't promise that I'll be able to help, but I can try to give you some suggestions.

I had a band to sleeve revision on 6/15/10. I started at 237 and I am now 197. That's only 40lbs in 6 months . I only had about 60% of my stomach removed and it was not made into the shape of a sleeve, and the doctor told me I would not lose all of my excess weight if I didn't work for it. I do not exercise as much as should and I can eat more than I should be able to. What should I do. I experience head hunger quite often and I snack all day. I really want to turn things around and lose 20 lbs by New Years Day. I know that sounds like a lot, but it's a reachable goal. I do have a hypothyroidism and I take meds for that as well. Any advice you all can offer is greatly appreciated.

I originally went with sleeve for the same reasons many have posted here - I didn't like the idea of my intestines being rerouted, I didn't want the vitamin regimen for the rest of my life, and it just seemed more extreme than what I needed. However, I'm now less than a month away from getting a revision to gastric bypass, and I try not to feel angry that I didn't do that from the start (mostly because I've paid for 2 surgeries). Unfortunately I had to self-pay in Mexico, and my experience with that is that the doctors will basically agree with what you want and rarely take the time to consider your own personal needs. I live in Japan and there really isn't any doctor or program for me to use here, so I was stuck. The reality was even though I didn't have any co-morbidities, I had 150 pounds to lose and was a sugar addict. Bypass was probably the option I should have gone with from the beginning. But now I'm getting my surgery done in Tallinn (Estonia) from a very reputable place, and one of the reasons why I chose it is because the surgeon had a very specific plan for ME, as opposed to himself, like so many other surgeons. One thing I know from my failed sleeve is that being (or having been) obese is like being an alcoholic - once one, always one (your fat cells never disappear, they just shrink, waiting to be filled again). You have to be vigilant about what your triggers are and how to avoid them. There will never be a time in the future when you can go back to how you were - it's just too easy to fall off the wagon. I know now that it's normal to always feel a little bit hungry, that if I feel full then I've eaten too much, and that I can never eat sweet things - once I start it's hard to stop. It's just better if I never start.

I thought lap band at first but my PC doc said that she had patients with issues with that but bypass was successful (she didn't know about sleeve). I thought lap band because reversible because I had breast cancer and maybe I would need it out. but then I saw my oncologist and she also told me not to do lapband. so I did the sleeve. everyone is different. but I see so many doctors and I didn't want to have more visits for adjustments. that was a big driver for me. I also didn't want to have future surgeries and lab band usually have to come out at some point and get revised. like maybe 10 years my surgical office said. good luck whatever you choose. after all is said and done it's your choice and his you work it that will decide success. lapband may need a bit more work and maintenance but as seem on here many are successful.

Many folks that select VSG either don’t reach goal, do not get resolution of diabetes long term, or develop GERD and end up revising to gastric bypass. I recommend RNY so you don’t have to have a second WLS down the road. Good luck!

I did the revision of band to bypass on 1/18/19 & so far I’m down 30lbs.

I revised from the sleeve to the gastric bypass; having said that I suggest you go with the DS. It is not hard to take vitamins everyday actually I enjoy it. I had looked into the DS instead of GB but do to the cost went with the GB and am very happy I did. My stomach is now 1/3 size of my sleeve stomach. Having that much weight to lose you will probably be more successful with the DS than the sleeve; in my opinion.

Thx I am having a revision done and looks like DS may be best option. Right now I am just starting the process, so will look to the Dr. for best options. I had Vertical banding 20 yrs. ago and went from 410 to 170 but started bouncing back within a couple years after that. Since then, I have I bounced between 200 and 300 several times, never being able to keep it off without severe diet and exercise that I could not maintain.

A few random thoughts on the DS vs. VSG, but first my relevant background - my wife and I have been in this game for about twelve years now, from when we first went to one of the support group/seminars and started the common insurance mandated six month diet/exercise roadblock to approval deal. It took us close to two years to get her on the table after the serial insurance denials (DS was still "investigational/experimental" then) and getting our ducks in a row to self pay the job. Her history since has been boringly normal, losing 200+ (350 into the 140s) and regaining about 20 from her (too) low - not uncommon to overshoot the mark some with any of these procedures. In the meantime, I lost about 50 over that first 6-8 months or so from basic diet clean-up (wanted it to be sustainable, no fad diets, just what I could change a do for the long term - cut out/down the junk food, more fruits/veg started tracking and monitoring calories/nutrition, etc.); kept tweaking and trying different things and lost a bit more here and there, but overall simply maintained that original 50lb loss and fundamentally worked into a WLS maintenance life along with my wife (but without the WLS on my side.) Maintained that state for 5-6 years, not comfortable with the DS if I could maintain what I had lost, so was in a holding pattern until finding that the VSG was then being covered by insurance, so went ahead with it. Four and a half years out on it and so far, so good. To the random thoughts: supplements, Vitamins, etc. - you should be taking some with any procedure, or even no WLS at all given the state of our food chain, so at least a Multivitamin and probably more as we age. Calcium is likely with the sleeve just from our overall lower intake of food - I take one dose a day to keep my total intake including food in the 1500-2000 range, so that is no great inconvenience (I take it with my normal evening pills.) The DS will typically require more due to the malabsorption: Iron will probably need to be supplemented with the DS and the other "typical" DS supplement is an ADEKs tablet (for the fat soluble vitamins A,E,D &K in a "dry" or Water soluble form as the normal fat soluble forms are not well absorbed due to the fat malabsorption of the DS) or some subset of that group depending upon your labs. Supplementation with the DS is moderately more complex (or PITA) than with the sleeve, but periodic (annual typically) lab testing is critical as things can skew out control much more easily if not watched. Most of the DSers that I know are healthier than the general population, in good part because they become amateur nutritionists and are much more aware of their body's needs than average people (and often better than their family doctors - some keep spreadsheets of their lab results to watch trends more closely than their PCP.) One of the common problems with the sleeve is the prospect of reflux or GERD - it's a function of a small stomach with potential acid production that is not proportionately reduced along with the stomach size coupled with the pyloric valve closing things off at the bottom. PPI medications like Prilosec or Nexium usually keep things in check, but are not desirable long term as they can impair absorption of minerals like calcium and iron (so there is potential malabsorption there without the intestinal work.) The DS is less prone to this problem as they typically use a larger sleeve with the DS (though some surgeons these days like to use smaller, VSG sized sleeves with their DS's). This is a point to ponder when considering the "VSG and revise to the DS if I need to" approach. This is a subject to discuss with your surgeon. When we were first getting into the DS world 10-12 years ago, our doc's figures for needed revisions was around 5%, roughly split between adjustments needed for inadequate weight loss and those needed for excessive weight loss that couldn't be resolved with diet and enzyme supplements; since then, the DS world has gotten much better a tailoring the DS for individual needs rather than the one-size-fits-all that it used to be, so the uncontrolled losers are much less common now. I understand your surgeon's concerns about metabolic issues stemming from your previous loss/regain history - yoyo dieting can really screw up our metabolism (though if it was only one cycle as you indicate, it may not be as big a deal as those who have been serial yoyo dieters.) Have you, or are you now, tracking your intake with My Fitness Pal or some similar app or program? Tracking, beyond being a good tool for controlling our weight and understanding our dietary needs, is one of the best means of getting a handle on your metabolic rate (given that the calculators are useless, most particularly for us fatties/former fatties, and even the active VOx tests are suspect for us.) If you have decent idea of where your metabolism is, that is a good guide toward deciding on a procedure. For instance, if you are keeping yourself under 2000 calories (as a guy) and still gaining, then a DS is a good bet as it will allow your long term diet to be more "normal" and easier to maintain. With a sleeve, you would likely be maintaining in the 1200 or so calorie range which is hard for most guys to stick with long term. OTH, if you are stable in the mid to upper 2000's, then a sleeve can be a good fit. Before surgery, I was maintaining my weight in the 26-2800 calorie range, and now do so in the 2000-2200 range (it just takes less energy to move <200lb around than it does 300+.) The prospect of doing a DS as a back-up if the VSG is a tricky one. Beyond what I mentioned above about the prospect of using a larger sleeve with a "virgin" DS, there are some other considerations or risks that I discussed with the doc. It is generally considered that a virgin DS works better than a 2 step or revision DS. Like your doc, his experience has been that the second stage should come fairly soon after the first, but certainly before any significant regain occurs - it works much better to allow the "switch" part do mostly the maintenance job rather than depending upon it to get significant weight off. So, if one is starting to lose control and regain, when does one pull the trigger - 10lb up? 20? 30?... Adding to the conundrum is that insurance typically doesn't cover the revision unless one has regained back up to the normal 35-40 BMI level, which reduces the effectiveness of the revision. In my case, with the weight stability that I had been experiencing, I thought it was worth the risk. YMMV I'm sure there are more points I can think of, but this is enough bytes for now (and it's time to get the steaks on the fire,) but good luck with the decision and hopefully I have not obfuscated things too much.

Have any revisionists had trouble getting motivation to lose more weight? I am going from lapband to sleeve on 2/20/19 and I feel like even though I have plenty to lose, I’m not feeling like I am going to, or that I am not as motivated to. Maybe it’s a defense mechanism? I am hoping it’s like when a woman has a baby and their “maternal instincts” kick in that I will feel more motivated after surgury to make weight loss a goal rather than just getting my lapband out... any one else struggle with this and if so, did that change after surgery? Thanks ahead of time.

I went to the seminar on December 6 and turned in my information packet. I got a call to schedule my intake appointment and couldn’t get in until February 5. Naturally, on February 2 me and my 7 month old came down with the flu. I’ve felt like complete garbage, but I thought I might be ok to go tomorrow. Then this morning my 5 year old woke up with a fever, chills, and cough. I had to reschedule and my new appointment is March 19. It’s really not that long, but I was really looking forward to this appointment and getting the ball rolling and now I had to restart my countdown app on my phone. I’m feeling very sorry for myself. Just needed to whine a bit. I guess I’ll spend the next 42 days revising my questions for the surgeon/psych/nutritionist and pinning my aspirational wardrobe on Pinterest.

I feel your pain on overeating and being sick for 2 hrs and not being able to vomit. ITS HORRIBLE !! Glad you are doing well with your revision.

This was my list vs. RNY. My reasons for the LB: - Safer surgery (no cutting other than the Laproscopic incisions, and fat tissue around where the band will go) - Unfill at any point needed and Reversible if needed for other health reasons - Less complications (dumping, hair loss, etc.) - Slower weight loss (easy to explain when you're not 'telling' everyone. I’m a lower BMI without severe comorbidities, so I don’t need to get healthy FAST). - Easy to get proper nutrition- I don't EVER have to drink a protein shake. - Continued interaction/accountability to the surgeon (ie. I had to sign that I would continue seeing my surgeon for 5 yrs. post-op, he covers 6 fills as part of the package so it's not for more $, he really wants you to be successful long-term) - Continued adjustments to stoma for life (RNY/some others- can stretch the stoma, some need revision surgery to retighten this.) - I'm more interested in a slow significant weight loss and keeping it off than a huge weight loss...in other words, if I don't lose all 100 pounds as long as I get to healthy and stay there that's OK with me. It's the keeping it off I'm most interested in. - I need portion control, not reactions to bad foods. I already know I can diet pretty successfully (I'm a professional dieter, just can't keep it off and I feel like I'm starving) so I'm not worried about counting calories etc. (I don't think I need the malabsorption).

Hi all! I'm going in on the 4/9 to set my date for revision to RNY. There may not be a surgery, after all this work, if I can't resolve the financial issues around it. Protein. How many tubs will I need to buy in the medium run? And what could be the cost. I'm thinking powders?utm_source=BariatricPal&utm_medium=Affiliate&utm_campaign=CommentLink" target="_ad" data-id="1" >unjury (get my samples tomorrow). The pre-op Vitamins, Calcium Citrate and chewable multi are expensive when added to the script list I'm on already. WHAT FINANCIAL OBLIGATION TO pills AND PROTEIN AM I LOOKING AT??!! I'm frightened that I'll be putting the surgery off forever, not knowing my RNY related budget. Can you help me? I'm feeling very frightened and doomed, and I don't want to feel this way if I don't need to. Just need to realistically know the budget.

The revision that you are contemplating, a RNY to DS is a very complex procedure, so tread very carefully and research, research, research. I haven't been as up on the DS world as I used to be (my wife is 12+ years out on hers,) but 4-5 years ago there were only about a half dozen surgeons in North America that one would trust to do this revision, none of whom were in Mexico. A virgin DS is already a step up in complexity to an RNY or VSG, which is why there are relatively few bariatric surgeons that offer it; the revision from an RNY is another step up from there. The Mx doc with the longest DS experience that I;m aware of is Dr. Gilberto Ungston (he was the only doc doing them reliably in MX 4-5 years ago, and had been working on training others to do the DS. Whether he is tackling the RNY/DS revision, I don't know, but he would be a good place to start if you want to keep it in Mx. You need to find people who have had that specific procedure done by surgeons that you can consider. I have run into a few people who have had it done, as I have dealt with a couple of the Calif surgeons who do the procedure, and it has been very worthwhile, at least if done by the right surgeon. You can't depend on advertising or online profiles of surgeons, as many will say they do this or that procedure and then sell you on what they actually can do once they get you in their office (something like a distal RNY is sometimes offered as "DS-like" revision that doesn't work nearly as well). It gets even trickier when you are self-pay as you don't have an insurance company on your side as an enforcer - a doc saying that he is doing one procedure and billing insurance for it and then doing a different procedure is guilty of insurance fraud, and the companies take a dim view of such things. So, you need to be extra careful when you are self pay, whether in Mx or the US. Good luck in your search....

I didn't have any gas pain. He also fixed my hernia when he was in there. I had revision band to sleeve at the new CER surgery facility. It is super clean and state of the art. Dr Garcia is very caring so don't be afraid. He and his staff do this all the time so everything moves along like a well tuned machine. Just trust in the process and things will go as planned. Honestly the hardest part was doing the barium swallow. They make you down 3oz at once NO SIPPING and after sip, sip, sipping water in the hospital it is super scary downing 3oz and the taste almost made me gag. So if that is the hardest part YOU GOT THIS VERONIKA