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I'm having a band to sleeve revision and Dr Roshek at Nicholson Clinic says it will be day surgery. I'm a little worried about the car ride home. Sent from my SM-N920P using the BariatricPal App

I'm post op 4 weeks today also! This was a revision for me. Original RNY was in 2004. To date I've lost 17lbs. I still have mental cravings but I'm bound and determined to get this weight off and keep it off for a lifetime!! Congratulations on your success!!

I am a revised lap-band. I've learned a couple of lessons, being banded first! I was sleeved on Feb. 3rd. This time around, when at a restaurant, I will NOT continue to eat until I'm not able to do anything but vomit. And I will NOT drink while I'm eating. I've decided that when the time comes to go to a restaurant, when I order my food, and no drink, I will also ask for a to-go box. When my food and my box arrive, I will leave the appropriate amount of food on my plate and the rest will go into the box, not to be seen again until the following day. I've never had a problem with leftovers. My son, who was sleeved 3 years ago, and his wife, still split an entre. He can only eat about 8oz and unless you're eating French, there's plenty on your plate to share! When I was banded, sometimes I would go the appetizer route. Usually Protein, but stay away from the fried stuff! NOT a good choice!!! Well, feel free to make other eating out suggestions! Good luck to everyone!!!

Hi everyone! First, I want to thank you all for your input and posts, it really means a lot to hear thoughts from friends that have been down this road:) I did have my appointment yesterday and all my questions were answered. Fortunately, the hospital system where I had my surgery has an online portal where you can look up any report, blood work, etc. I had a cop of my OR report with me. Ok, first, the round pouch was due to the lab band that was removed in September. The shape is different and I'm glad there are others out there like me!! Eating pizza was stupid and the look on my surgeons face was not a good one! He told me that since I only had a small amount of weight to loose, it would go slower but do not loose focus. He said he knows how easy it is to get discouraged, but do not loose focus, told me to ever push the envelope or sleeve again and DO NOT LOOSE FOCUS!!! I was also told that wording was a factor due to insurance...I was denied the revision because I was not heavy enough. It is not a plication and my stomach is at 15%....however the OR report does not indicate any percentage of stomach...should it?? I had my lab band removed in September. I went in for a simple replacement of my port and woke up to hear they had to take it out due to infection underneath the tubing. I was shocked and upset however I look at is as a blessing. I was very thin, sallow, tired and malnourished. I gained 50 lbs in 4 months and was miserable but everyone told me my eyes looked brighter and I looked healthier. I was so focused on the weight gain I did not notice it at the time but I look at pictures and realize it was true. Even today, 20 lbs thinner, I feel so incredibly healthier. It has been a long haul and the last thing I want to do is to have issues with my sleeve...etc leak!! Pizza was not good and will never again for a looooong time...lol. It is completely different from the band and I lived with that for 7 years so I got real used to being able to cheat it if I wanted. It's a totally different feeling and one that I'm trying to get used to and I will. With all the wonderful insight you all have to offer its amazing and I thank you all again for your posts. I hope what my dr told me makes sense, if not please let me know your thoughts and anything else I may need to look into????

I have my band to sleeve revision on Aug 11. I would love a friend or someone to chat with that I can give and get moral support, share ideas, etc. My family is supporting me but I want somebody who really understands what I am going thru.

I had been obese since I had my first son at the age of 18. I would lose weight and then gain it. When I was 24 years old I wanted to get RNY but then I got really scared and didn't go through with it. 2001 I lost my mother to Breast CANCER. she was only 40 years old. She left 5 kids behind 2 were under age. I was able to get custody of one of my brothers but the youngest one his father sent him to Dominican Republic. We lost contact with him. I was depressed I was 22 years old with 2 kids of my own and my brother. Living at my in laws house. I just started to eat so much.. My weight just started to go up.. 2005 I decided to try to lose weight. I was eating right and exercising. I lost weight but not what I needed to lose. a year later i got pregnant with my 3 baby. Of course I gain all the weight and more. I was so depress but I couldn't stop myself I just kept on eating the wrong food. On 2011 around September or October I started researching weight loss surgery. I wasn't sure if my insurance would cover it. Somehow I got to the website of the New York bariatric group. I asked some questions. They answered me right away. He asked me questions and said I was a good candidate for weight loss surgery. He asked me if I wanted to go in to speak to a surgeon. I said sure they gave me an appointment for November. I meet my surgeon and they did a couple of test. He told me that I can get surgery. He explained to me the 3 different one that the insurance covers. I decided to get sleeved. By feb. 2012 I had seen all the doctors and got clearance from all. I went to see the surgeon and decided to get surgery March 6, 2012. I had my sleeve it was a little rough the first month but it was the best decision. In a year and 8 months after I was able to renew my vows. Before surgery I wore a size 22-24 the day of my wedding my wedding dress was a size 4. I went from weighing 278-123. I was really thin I asked my surgeon if I can gain 15-20 pounds. He said to becareful but we kept tracking everything to make sure my weight gain wouldn't get out of control. While tracking that I was having a lot acid reflux problems since 3 months after I was sleeved. My surgeon did a hiatal hernia repair 02/2013 to see if I would get some relief but it didn't work. So January 26, 2015 my surgeon decide to revised my sleeve to a RNY. Now I am recovering from my RNY. I feel so much better. I got immediate relief of acid after RNY also lost 12 pounds from the 20 i gained. I feel great

From time to time, a bandster will comment (sometimes in the context of a complaint, sometimes just in surprise or confusion) that weight loss with the band is basically the same as weight loss with a diet. They’re disappointed by this. They expected WLS to make weight loss easier than it is with dieting, and while that's true, it's only part of weight loss success. They may hold the mistaken belief that the band itself is what causes weight loss, but that’s not true either. The band is just a piece of plastic. Although it’s inside the patient’s body, it does not directly affect the way nutrients from food are ingested or metabolized. It releases no weight loss instructions into the patient’s bloodstream, nervous system, or endocrine system. It doesn’t directly affect the patient’s eating behavior or exercise habits. It doesn’t compel the patient to make good food choices, limit portion sizes, eat slowly, or resist the urge to graze or binge because of boredom, stress, cravings, etc. After reading that long list of what the band doesn’t do, you may be thinking that it’s a mighty expensive and not very helpful weight loss tool. Why go through the risk, trouble and expense of WLS when you could achieve the same results with plain old dieting? HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL? Here’s some news that may shock you: I lost 100% of my excess weight by dieting after my band surgery. My dietitian gave me a food plan to follow, and I followed it. It never occurred to me to do otherwise or to complain about that because my bariatric team had made it clear that I, not my band, was going to have to make some significant lifestyle changes in order to succeed. It wasn’t until after the excess weight was gone, after a big unfill to treat an irritated esophagus and stoma (after swallowing a large, corrosive antibiotic capsule), that I realized how much my band had been helping me by reducing my appetite and giving me early (if not always prolonged) satiety. I had been taking my band for granted – out of sight, out of mind. I suppose it’s possible that I had been experiencing a placebo effect; that my band worked for me simply because I believed it would. If so, it was a remarkable and long-lived placebo effect. It wasn’t until my band was being refilled after a complete unfill (to treat a band slip) when I was 3 years post-op that I experienced a stunning, “Oh, so this is what it’s all about!” aha moment. My experience of restriction then was quite different than it had been the first time around, because I understood more about my band’s effects and how to optimize those effects, and because my body had changed so drastically since my surgery. Whether your 8-ounce water glass is half empty or half full, it still contains 4 ounces. Getting the most out of those 4 ounces is largely a matter of attitude adjustment. You can accept that you have 4 ounces, then make the best of it, or you can give up all together and spend your life in wistful regret. You can find another way to fill your WLS glass – complain to your surgeon, or the band manufacturer, revise to a different WLS procedure – or give up altogether and spend your life in angry regret. Taking the “half full” viewpoint may be easier for me than for others because I’m an opportunist who actually enjoys making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. Webster defines “opportunist” as one who uses the art, policy, or practice of taking advantage of opportunities or circumstances, often with little regard for principles or consequences. Since I do have immense regard for principles and consequences, perhaps I’m not a classic opportunist. But I see nothing wrong with taking advantage of opportunities and circumstances when my own careful plans aren’t working or have led me into unknown territory. Resourcefulness has been a handy life skill for me. BUT I WANT IT TO BE RIGHT THE FIRST TIME I do know what it’s like to be disappointed with a purchase, though, be it a band, a blouse, or a bicycle. I want the item I purchase to be suitable, if not perfect, for its intended use. During a shift at my retail “day job” the other day, I helped a customer whose garment size wasn’t in stock. She didn’t want to order that garment – she wanted it now, so much so that she considered buying the wrong size and having it altered to fit her. Before I could volunteer an opinion, this woman uttered the very words I was thinking: “I hate to pay good money for something new and have to alter it. I just want to buy it and wear it.” If I were a better (or pushier) salesperson, she might have bought that garment, but I’m not and she didn’t. If your adjustable gastric band hasn’t (yet) lived up to your expectations, you do have my sympathy. It’s not easy – if even possible – to return a disappointing medical implant, and it’s maddening to have to “alter” it (by dieting, for example) to make it work for you. I could tell you (unhelpfully) that your expectations were not realistic, but it’s also possible that your surgeon educated you well, you’re a “compliant” patient, and yet your band just isn’t up to snuff. According to Doctors Jerome Groopman and Pamela Hartzband, authors of Your Medical Mind, “Medicine is an uncertain science.” No one, not even your doctor, can say with certainty what impact a condition “will have on an individual’s life or how someone will experience the side effects from a particular treatment. Each of us is unique in the interplay of genetic makeup and environment. The path to maintaining or regaining health is not the same for everyone.” Doctors Groopman and Hartzband go on to describe what they call the ‘focusing illusion’. “In trying to forecast the future, all of us tend to focus on a particular aspect of our lives that would be negatively affected by a proposed treatment. This then becomes the overriding element in decision making. The focusing illusion neglects our extraordinary capacity to adapt, to enjoy life with less than ‘perfect’ health. Imagining life with a colostomy, after a mastectomy, or following prostate surgery can all be skewed by the focusing illusion. We cannot see how the remaining parts of our lives expand to fill the gaps created by the illness and its treatment.” Despite carefully-devised formulas and scoring systems (intended to direct resources and money to those most likely to survive) for calculating a patient’s chances of surviving a treatment or illness, doctors are lousy at predicting outcomes. A study in England found that one out of 20 ICU patients who doctors predicted would die actually lived, and most of those who survived had a good quality of life. I don’t think that’s a sign of medical incompetence. I think it’s a sign of the unquenchable human spirit and its enduring will to survive and even thrive against all odds. One of my life goals is to survive and thrive, no matter what. That’s an ambition you can’t get from a medical device or bottle of medicine. It comes from within you, and if you think you don’t have it, or not enough of it, I suggest that you look again. You might be pleasantly surprised.

I get it! I am currently trying the second time for a revision after a rejection last year. Just remember that its a journey. Because of your acid reflux you might not be a good fit for the sleeve.

I am curious if anyone had the revision from the band to sleeve and have United Healthcare. If so, what requirements did you have with them and did they cover the cost? Thanks for any input. In AZ and needing help with questions!

Had all my fluid removed from my band last week and had an upper GI done today. Although its not official, the tech did show me I had reflux which is why food seems to be stuck. It was rough trying to swallow the barium. I'll have to wait for the doctor's official report. I'm hoping & praying that will now be enough proof for approval for the revision.

I was in the same position as you and decided on the sleeve. My surgeon says that alot his previous lapband patients are revising to the sleeve. If you want to check out the forum on here for band to sleeve patients to get an idea of why they switched. Also the puking/stuck episodes with the band was the deciding factor for me with the sleeve. Ill have no foreign object in me or any rearranged intestines...just a smaller tummy. Its ultimatly up to you though!

While I found my surgery buddy here, you can also post in the Bariatric Pal Team MX Facebook group if you are looking for someone to buddy up with. You are still in good hands even if you have to go it alone, and they will attend to your every need while you are there, but it is nice to have someone to go through the experience with you. Hi Ms. SHerry , how are you feeling i see its been about 2 months now? Im so excited and nervous at the same time so you can imagine how my tummy feels. i'm flying to Mexico by myself i didn't want to post that publicly . i hope i didn't in the midst of my excitement. lolol can you give me an update are you in pain did you experience anything that required a visit to doctor or hospital when you came back home. i was reading i think MOEJOE said that she found a doctor that will see her for aftercare if need be . well i asked my doctors coordinator if he will because he did my lapband 10 years ago and SHE said he doesn't see patients that had surgery in MEXICO. did you have one or need one. my primary care know im getting procedure done (revision) but i have not told her that im going to mexico now. should i ? Thanks for posting information up i have found this forum to be the most helpful i want to stay away from negative thinking people because reality is anything can happen anywhere. Right ? you can reply pm some pm things i like to keep the forum for fun.. im flying from NY and i havent seen anyone from there coming on the 15th if you know of any please let me know. actually my surgery is the 15th im flying in on the 14th i couldn't find a flight to get me in san diego by 11:00 am that would allow me to have the surgery as soon as i got off plane. so bill is going to put me up in a hotel close by that i can pay as a little as 65 dollars for that day and he would pick me up first thing in the morning for surgery. Is Dr. Illan as young as he looks or is that an old picture. did you feel safe at all times did you go shopping one lady showed MK bags ohhhh i want one too lolol ok any information i appreciate. thank you

I had same thing... Came home from hospital got to a point where I was feeling good started doing things and BAM! Felt like I got worse, went back on pain meds and started to take it easy and today finally seem to be doing better. I have to tell this to myself all the time but you do have to rest... Plus we are still weak after surgery and get tired fast. The pulling is your body healing... I actually had very bad episode yesterday where I had horrible pain where my port used to be (I am revision from bypass). I got up to get something and just burst we into tears it was that painful. Talked to the dr today they said it's the healing process and I got local pain meds patch to apply to that area. I don't like taking pain meds either but plz take it if you are in pain, it will help...

Hello everyone, I'm new to bp I'm having lap band to bypass revision on Monday I'm so excited but nervous just found out that my surgeon will be using the Davinci Robot anyone ever had it done with the robot??

I did it because I was always able to lose weight but always put it back on and then some. I was tired of the yoyo and it is devastating to your metabolism. I would probably been better off never dieting. I had the band 11 years and it worked well for 4 years and then it didn't and I would never recommend it to anyone. I revised to rny 2 months ago and I love it!!!i only wish I had done it to begin with. I have always had pms cravings too. I have not noticed it as much now post bypass. Though I am feeling like I need more calories to keep my energy up. I'm 10 weeks post op and following a ketogenic diet during my loss phase.

Yes, approved as a revision which means I don't have to meet any of the usual criteria. Typically, they would require six months supervised diet, BMI requirements, etc.

I had my band 2 years ago -and my insurance covered it - we have since changed insurances and now my new insurance says it will cover nothing that has anything to do with wls or complications from it - I guess my worry it now what happens if I should ever have any complications and require more surgery or band removal? I really don't have enough money to cover thousands of dollars if I would need emergency surgery or even something small like a port revision - should this be a consideration for everyone who is getting the band - even when it is covered by insurance - that one day your insurance may change and anything arising from the band would not be covered? I guess I had never considered this - and wanted to be sure that everyone else does - I mean I knew I would have to pay for fills and such - but never considered the possibility that I may have to pay for a revision surgery. I don't as of now - and hopefully never would -but I have thought and worried about it.

10 months to a normal BMI, I forget exactly how long until I got from a 24.9BMI to a 20BMI. A few months. After I got to a normal BMI I kept it up for the most part but would give myself days where I increased calories. Now I am sleeved (revision at goal) and today I have to eat 4 meals a day to maintain. I like to eat so it's not a problem. ;o) My doc was not supportive of 600 calories a day, he wanted 800. *I* wanted the fat chapter closed quickly. Thank you.

I'm going down on Sunday to the hotel so I don't have to drive down at the wrong side of dawn. Surgery Monday and actually doing a chemical peel on Wednesday while you're having your surgery. Won't go home until Saturday since I'm sleeve revision.

I was sleeved 3/27 with a revision 3/29 and am down 20 lbs but the scale has stopped moving over the last couple of days! Hoping for movement soon.....

Band to sleeve revision date is Tuesday, August 19. I can't believe how quickly this went. I had my initial appointment to ask for an upper gi in mid June. Two upper GIs, an EGD, blood work, psych eval and PCP clearance all done within 6 weeks. My doc submitted to my insurance on Thursday, they approved today and I'm on the schedule for next week. Amazing! Pre-op appointments on Wednesday. Here we go!

WOW - me too! A couple bites and that is all I can eat and I get hungry. I can drink OK. I was banded Dec. 13. Actually, it was a revision (i think that is right). First time thru the tube wasn't connected or came undone, so he removed that band and gave me another one. If all I am eating is a few bites, shouldn't the weight be just falling off?? I have lost 23 lbs and I do eat healthy. I can only eat so much. 2 or 3 bites of cottage cheese, yogurt, whatever. I thought this was how it was supposed to be.

I had poor weight loss with the band as well as many side effects so on 11/21/11 I had a revision done by one of the top surgeons in Mexico. I weighed in at 298 before the preop diet. At surgery I was 293. After the 3 week liquid diet post op I got to 282 and was overjoyed. I started darting food again and went to 285. I emailed the nutritionist who gave me a diet to follow. I was unable to eat all that she expected me to eat and got to 290!!!!! She emailed me back and said it must be metabolic as there was no logical reason based upon my weight. Surgery and diet this should happen. I made an appt with my family doc to get a referral to an endo. I had already explained that my thyroid tests were normal. Part of me thinks I should see the endo, but I must admit that I don't know what else can be done if my thyroid is normal. I know I am fine on the diet . One other thing is that I have bipolar disorder and take several meds that have weight gain as side effects. I can't cut back on them because I will end up living on the street without them. Anyone else having a similar problem?

Nikki- I was given the choice, too, and I think I'm going to go with the Realise one. I've not been given the 'secret code' to get onto the larger part of the website, but so far, it looks promising. If you do a search for it here (as well as "Swedish Band") you'll find lots of threads about it. Denise- First, the biggest thing is that my surgeon seemed to be happy about was Johnson and Johnson's reputation about standing behind their products (they're the ones distributing Realise). The band is entirely 'low pressure' versus the Inamed that becomes high pressure after 4cc (?? -- I think that was the number he gave me). Meaning, if you go in to do a fill at a certain point with the Inamed, the pressure load of the saline will be high enough that it would push back the plunger on the syringe ... or shoot out if there was a leak. With the Realise one, it's low pressure throughout. And I was told that would be beneficial in terms of keeping food from getting stuck. Because the band is wider (and somewhat softer by extension), it can kind of mold to a larger chunk of food to help it move through the stoma rather than having it lodged there for however long it would take to either get displaced or digested. My surgeon also told me that the interior of the band gets inflated all the way around (as opposed to the sections that Nikki described, leaving less of a chance of erosion/rubbing in one spot. Also, all Realise bands come with a low profile port (Inameds don't - or didn't until recently come with that option). There's also that whole online support thing that comes with the band where you can track exercise, food, calories, etc. You can also have it set up so your doctor can link in to your personal page and follow your progress. There was, however, a pretty big issue with it only being offered to US patients (Patients in Canada and those who had the surgery done in Mexico apparently weren't eligible for the web program. Dunno if they revised that or not). That's all I'm remembering off the top of my head for now. I'm sure there's probably more. I have the little book the doctor gave me floating around here somewhere...If I think of anymore, I'll come back and edit. -m