Search the Community

Well I survived a 3 hour revision surgery and feel like my inners may come out-but I haven't had heartburn or burping everything up. Time will heal-my worst fear was to lose the band toatlly and I didn't do that, so I'm happy once I feel better that is. Small sips and pain medication are my friends right now!

OK so I am just about 1 month out from revision. tummy looks great, I am happy with it finally. Breasts well I wish I wouldn't have done the lift this time as I'm not liking the way the nipples feel, kinda like a button I guess on a couch sewed on... PS says it will get better and back to normal, I sure hope so.... This time around I have awful swelling, the first time, I didn't swell much at all, but this time, swell hell!!!!!! OK well I am off to go buy some bikini panties at Victorias!! WOHOOOOOOOOOOO

I'm sorry to hear about this, it sounds very painful I don't have any experience with this, so can't help much. Would it be possible to just undo this surgery, let you heal and gain a few pounds back, and revise to a bypass later if you needed it?

From a strictly weight loss perspective, there is a lot of overlap between the two, with the DS being better for those starting in the higher BMI ranges. The sleeve works well in the moderate BMI ranges (35-50) and also works well above that with somewhat more intensive dieting and greater discipline needed in the long term. The DS is stronger in regain resistance than any of the other mainstream procedures, so is particularly good for those with long term yo yo dieting patterns. From a diabetes perspective, the sleeve is similar to the bypass, with remission/resolution rates of around 85%, while the DS typically sees 98-99% rates. This should not be overly surprising as the DS started as a procedure specifically targeting diabetes, to which the VSG was added to make it a WLS procedure. Longer term, the sleeve is still relatively new with only some five year data available for any kind of significant patient populations. There are some indications of somewhat significant recurrance after five years, though it is not clear how well correlated that may be with whatever regain problems some may be having. The DS does seem to show more significant staying power in the face of regain, which in itself is less of a problem due to the long term malabsorption, compared to the VSG or RNY Note that this only applies to the "classic" DS and not the newer SIPS/SADI/"loop DS" which is a different procedure for which there is little long term data. There is a fair bit of experience that indicates that the longer one has been diabetic, the longer it takes to knock it out even with the DS. My wife had been under treatment for it for some twenty years when she had her DS and it took the better part of a year for her to be off of all meds for it. Others, even long termers, will walk out of the hospital free of meds with either the sleeve or the DS - YMMV. She is still off of all diabetes meds after twelve years. My feeling is that for a younger patient, particularly one whose obesity problem is only "moderate" in WLS terms can do very well with just the sleeve, particularly if they concentrate on learning long term weight control. If necessary in the future, a move to completing the DS (which is based upon the VSG so one is half way there already,) if the diabetes comes back again can be done. Last year at one of our support group meetings i was chatting with a gal who was some 25 years out on a RNY and by all measures has been successful in her weight maintenance until some of life's stresses hit a few years ago and brought on some regain (not the total regain we sometimes read about,) - enough to bring her diabetes out of remission, so she was lining up to get that revised to a DS to knock it out again (she would have done the DS originally had it been available then.) All of these procedures can give you something of a "do over" and let you start relatively fresh, but one has to take that opportunity to learn how to manage oneself in the long term and not go back to whatever got us here in the first place. Good luck on whatever path you choose.

I was sleeved last Oct 25th I can relate to your issues, I have terrible heartburn, reflux, and nausea. I originally though that it would go away but has only stayed the same and is worse at times. I have been following up with my doctor and it was determined after an endoscopy that I have Bile Reflux. The only believed to correct it is to have RNY. RNY will cause the bile to not be so close to the stomach and having RNY relieves the pressure that is in your stomach that can contribute to GERD or reflux. I am schedule for surgery Oct 31 to have a revision to RNY. I hope that this will be it for surgeries. I like the sleeve and it has done well with a total loss of 106lbs. I hate to get rid of it but need to have RNY done to prevent further issues.

Thanks for sharing that article. I haven't really considered the plication but I do like to learn all I can about the various procedures. I was looking into the band at first as well, but decided against it after seeing so many people getting it removed and revised to sleeve or rny, and so many people having trouble eating healthy foods like meat and vegetables. I decided on the sleeve because while it is not reversible I believe that it is safe and it does away with part of the stomach that produces ghrelin. That sounds wonderful to me. With the band, rny or plication that part is still there producing ghrelin. The sleeve is the only one that gets rid of it. But it is an individual choice. It's just good that we have resources like this board where we can see the good, the bad and the ugly then make our choice.

He just did my revision 1/22/15

I was at NWWLS for my band but I'm not impressed with their doctors. Srikanth will do the whole thing in one day ( I'm having band to sleeve revision). I wish my band surgeon was still doing bariatric surgery....he was the best.

I'm new here and live over on the Kitsap Penisula in Bremerton. Yeah, I'm a navy wife. LOL!! I just had the Lapband Removal and Sleeve Revision, and an Incision Hernia Repair on 3-19-13 at Madigan Army Medical Center. I "was" scheduled with Dr Sebesta, but he had to go out of town. Dr Hague stepped in and did my surgery. Feeling fine a week out and just want to say hello!!

My sleeve is on the 10th at the hospital, I wi be a revision from band. I got my band at the bariatrics center, however the insurance I have now covers sleeve if preformed at a blue distinction and that's the hospital my bariatric surgeon does surgeries at the hospital every other monday so idk if they will have them there but my endo is at the bariatrics office.

I am 7 1/2 years into my band and it is being removed and revised to the sleeve in about 2 weeks. It was great the first 2 years. I lost 90 pounds of the 110 I wanted to lose. Then came the GERD and vomiting, then issues with dilation of the upper pouch (which I of course am likely responsible for, too), which causes food waste to be trapped in the upper pouch, and then recently a gastric bleed from the band slipping down and causing a blood vessel inside the stomach to pop (likely from a violent vomit from food stuck), which caused me to lose half my blood and spend a week in the hospital. I got so paranoid about vomiting after the blood loss incident, that I was just eating mushy food that was high calorie and most of the weight is back. After 2 endoscopies, CT Scans with contrast and Pillcam video of my entire upper bowel, my gastroenterologist said he wanted it out of me asap due to the risk of another bleeding episode. I have been advised by doctors involved that it just seems like everyone who has the band will need to have it out at some point. My gastro doctor is a very respected guy in his field and sees no issues in a revision in same surgery since there's no evidence of erosion. But of course, every one is different. My insurance will not cover bariatric so I am off to Mexico.

Your goal weight should be whatever you and your physician agree upon as healthy. My screen name is wannabe21bmi. I've since revised this goal to wanting to be 140 pounds. That's a BMI of 24.8. I will see how I look at 140 pounds (I'm 5'3" as well) and I may go lower. When I tell people that I want to lose at least another 20 pounds they tell me I'm going to be too skinny. I tell them that's only because they are not used to seeing me skinny. My experience in life has been that people who feel good about themselves spend time building others up instead of tearing others down. Be proud of your loss and aim "low" if that is what would make you happy and healthy.

A concern with RNY is that malabsorption of calories only lasts about 2-3 years post op. This is why so many regain a significant amount of weight with RNY. The malabsorption of nutrients (Vitamins and minerals) continues even when calories are absorbed, so raking vitamins and supplements must be continued. With sleeve, there is about a six month post op window when reflux happens. It's thought that the stomach needs about this much time to reduce the amount of acid it produces. Most sleevers take a ppi for the first six months and them taper off. A virgin sleeve is much different than a revision sleeve....if someone is wavering between band and sleeve, I will recommend sleeve, since many with bands revise to sleeve...why not get it first? I was on a ppi for 10 years pre band for gerd, went off of it for about a year post band, but the gerd returned with a vengeance. Almost a year post removal and I'm still on it. I cannot revise, but hope the info helps in making your decision. Best of luck to you!

Ok. I'm 1.5 yrs out from removal of my lapband. I am having revision on may 5th and I still can't decide which one. I've read all the statistics and complications. Below are my fears with each one Please tell me your stories, to help me make the best decision Sleeve fears 1. Reflux. I don't have it now but had it so badly with my band. It was horrible. 2. Potential for another surgery Bypass fears 1. I have rheumatoid arthritis I don't take NSAIDs now...but what if I need them one day 2. Malabsorption/anemia 3. Antidepressants. I have had severe depression in the past and am now stable with extended release Wellbutrin. Don't want to acre that up Any thoughts?

I am having a revision too. My date is February 19 and hopefully I can have everything done at one time. My band had a malfunction and must be removed. I had a CT scan done and I don't think the band did any damage to my stomach. The insurance company approved the surgery. Sent from my SM-T820 using BariatricPal mobile app

Chasinadream - thanks for your kind note..I am doing OK although still quite sore around the naval and waist area. The plication is doing it's thing, but I do miss my band. Since I always had BOTH I am not sure who was doing all the work. At this point, I am 2 pounds down (in 3 weeks) since revision surgery. I am hungry every 3-4 hours no matter what I eat. I will see my doctor in a couple of weeks and I have a visit with the NUT too so I will know more then. He did tell me that my band had formed scar tissue around the top of my stomach so I would "feel like" I still had my band for awhile...Take care and thanks for asking. Melinda in Florida

GERD is even if it's not listed. At least that is what my NUT told me. I am being revised because of it

I was going to go with the sleeve but got RNY ....first longer history with the rny, sleeve is still considered a newer procedure as far as long term results... revisions, in my year of classes and research I have talked to a lot of people who got the band or sleeve and still ended up getting RNY including the friend that told me about the sleeve. I only wanted to have it done once... I am a food addict and wanted the most restrictions and limitations on my eating as possible, I have sleeved friends on my fitness pal that eat junk, yes it's their choice not to change their food habits but I didn't want that option of being able to eat a lot of greasy, sugary foods and although many of them have lost great they are very strict on themselves as not to backslide...I am 5 months out and I haven't dumped, I have had no issues with any foods, my blood work is good. I am down 78 lbs and feel great... if you have no medical issues that require one over the other the choice is up to you. Recommended reading The Big Book of Gastric Bypass and there is also one for the Sleeve and Band very detailed pre op, the surgery itself and first few months post... good luck!!

I went with the gastric bypass due to my diabetes. And it so far has worked to that affect. I am 3 weeks post op and have not had a single shot of insulin since 2 days post op. I had originally asked about band to sleeve revision but if you're diabetic, bypass is the way to go. If not it's probably a personal choice but any of these are just tools and we have to stick with them or they're all able to be defeated if the wrong habits return.

Hi Terri, I'm new here as well, but not new to WLS. I think you will find lots of support here. Just remember it is ok to be a little scared. It's surgery. I'm sure you will do great! I can tell you having had my band since November 2009 that you get use to drinking your liquid away from food. I always feel that I am too full to put one more thing down. Have faith. It takes some getting use to. Good Luck! Let me know if I can be of any help. Nichole Waiting to be sleeved as a revision!

I suggest researching the Bariatric Centers of Excellence near you and finding a good doctor there. Plenty of doctors have done revisions / converted to a sleeve or gastric bypass!

Welcome to Week Three. Wondering what it was all about and why. I am only down 9-10 pounds, but I have been on this journey for awhile. Quick update: I had the lapband put in March of 2012, then removed after a 6 month stall on March 19 of this year. It had slipped. I had a revision to the GVS. So, I had already lost weight the first time. Down 34 pounds. Found someone who posted this link: http://www.dsfacts.com/weight-loss-stall-or-plateau.html . It completely explains why you stop losing the weight. It does make sense to me though. So, as my body stores water to make more Glycogen, I am planning on reviewing my complete plan. I know for a fact that I haven't been able to consume enough food and water. I know that I haven't really been working out and walking enough. I know for a fact that I haven't been taking the correct amount of vitamins. Baby steps. But, if I just take a look and tweak it, I think I should be good to go.

Good afternoon sleeve community. I will have lap band to sleeve revision on May 14, 2013. I am happy, but you know I'm thinking about it. I asked the surgeon yesterday would I have a lot of pain, and he basically said it depends on the individual. I also asked about taking lovenox shots when I get home. I have never had issues with blood clots and I've have partial hysterectomy, tuba-ligation, lap band, and surgery for bone spurs on both feet. I was told at one of my classes that if anyone in my immediate family has had blood clots that I would have to have lovenox shots for 30 days. I told him one of my sisters had them in her lungs and the first thing he asked was if sher had taken birth control pills. I said yes, for over 15 years straight and she smoked. He said her clots were probably due to the pills and smoking. I told him I still wanted to take shots as a precaution and he put a note in for surgeon. I can't believe it's almost here. This Friday I'm going to get the Optifast, and Tuesday, I start my 2 weeks of protein shakes. HELP! I know I can do it. I'll keep you all updated. BTW, anyone know where I download the weight loss tickers? Until next time. Deb

I'd call the company and ask. Even if that insurance company covers more than one weight loss surgery per lifetime (and some don't...), your employer may not have wanted that coverage included in the policy they offer their employees. Also, even when places approve revisions, some of them will only approve them if there's a medical reason for it - something like severe GERD or some kind of malfunction. But I'd ask - you never know.

Coming to a VSG board, you're probably not going to get many unbiased answers. With that being said, see below in blue. Obviously this needs to be 100% your decision, but knowing what I know now, if I were paying out of pocket, I would go with the VSG or DS. I would not self-pay for a lap-band. I have 0% confidence in its integrity as a long-term solution. If it had worked the way it was marketed it could've been the perfect solution, but people just don't seem to be able to keep it in, and functioning properly, for very long. If I'd self-paid for my band, I'd be pissed. My complication was considered a "mechanical failure" and the different band manufacturers do nothing. I'm amazed it's still as sought out as it is. BTW, having had both is called a "revision" (one proedure revised to another). There's an entire forum here for band -> sleeve revisions. Check it out if you want a comparison. But to be fair, also check out www.lapbandtalk.com. There's a complications forum there, you can see what's going on.