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Wow. I haven't been on this forum since it was "Lapbandtalk.com" I've had my lapband since June 2008. Went from 265 to 175 and then gradually gained and settled in at 240 for the last couple of years. In 2010 I had reconstructive surgery to remove my panis (-16 lbs in that surgery alone). My lapband complications include Barrett's esophagus, infections, and finally it has slipped. All Fluid was removed last December. I'm having revision surgery to sleeve next month. A little nervous about it but am resigned to the the fact it has to happen. My skeletal structure cannot bear any weight gain. So this is going to happen. I'm trying to get excited about it and get in the pre-change-in-life mood. So far it's not happening.

@@NJ Mom some people might develop really bad heartburn even if they didn't have earlier problems pre-op i never experienced heartburn pre-op or post op (only had it a few times in my life) docs prescribe meds like prilosec to many (me) this usually helps the problem but not for everyone if you never had heartburn - it might "appear" after you are sleeved if you do have heartburn, strong chances that you will have heartburn PO some people have had revision surgery from sleeve to gastric bypass heartburn was unbearable glad you have done your homework/research common but true comment - "talk to your doc" i have read many docs will wisely advice OP on different WLS than sleeve do to the heartburn issue 5 years PO, i never had heartburn i luv my sleeve to pieces!!! very happy good luck next month kathy

You can do this! I'm on day 10 of my pre op diet and if I can get through this without a "cheat", you sure can! I also a revision patient.Just keep reminding yourself that it's not worth it. You want to set yourself up for success and you don't succeed if you start out by finding ways to sneak around the rules. It hasn't been easy, but when my stomach is growling, I remember why I am doing it. Drinking lots of extra fluids help fool an empty stomach too. Good luck! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App thank you @! Yes, that's what I'm focusing on...the end result. I've already awakened once "sleeveless" because the surgeon felt my scar tissue was too excessive to get around. He told me to wait a year or two for new techniques to become available. I was beyond devastated! So, this go round will be by the "book" to the best of my ability... Thanks for the good wishes. Heading to get my Protein Shake now Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

You can do this! I'm on day 10 of my pre op diet and if I can get through this without a "cheat", you sure can! I also a revision patient. Just keep reminding yourself that it's not worth it. You want to set yourself up for success and you don't succeed if you start out by finding ways to sneak around the rules. It hasn't been easy, but when my stomach is growling, I remember why I am doing it. Drinking lots of extra fluids help fool an empty stomach too. Good luck! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Today begins my two week liquid diet. I was excited until I woke up this morning hungry lol! I'm going to do my best to stick to the program and not cheat. My liver really needs to shrink because I am a revision (band to sleeve) patient and my liver and stomach are stuck together from scar tissue... I'm nervous and excited at the same time. I'm hoping for the best! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I was told just the opposite. I had the sleeve in 2013 and rny was not an option by this particular surgeon. After going through the sleeve I had gerd so bad never had it before the sleeve. My sleeve failed and I went to a new Dr, was going to have a revision done to it but once the new Dr explained that a sleeve only guarantees you to lose 60-90 pounds and rny is for 90 and over, I chose to revision to an rny. I had my rny 2 weeks ago and it's been great so far. Sent from my XT1585 using the BariatricPal App

I'm wondering if anyone has had any denials through Molina or Medicaid insurances for REVISION surgery???? If so please let me know the outcome of it??? I am waiting for my approval and I am apprehensive about this!!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

roger star, My hubby also went to Mexico but we went to Jurarez. I'm happy that your trip went so well. We did hear great thinks about Tijuana. Our experience wasn't good. But it is what it is. Due to so many problems with his Lap Band and a failed Revision to the RNY they had to do the Sleeve, I had a RNY on July 2, 2013 and have had excellent results. His Sleeve was on June 3, 2016 and he is losing his weight pretty slow. But his mind hunger is getting him in trouble!! Good Luck on your results!!

Hello! I had a revision from lapband to sleeve in August. Now that I'm on solids. I can't keep some food's down. I run back to my Protein shakes and pureed foods. LadieT

I'm revising from band to sleeve in two weeks.If you didn't have the band, please don't make broad statements about why I need this revision. I didn't "abuse the band". It injured me and continues to do so. I had my band for more than six years- I thought it would be in place forever. Unfortunately, my body has decided that enough is enough. My esophagus is worn out from working hard to get food through the restriction. It has nothing to do with eating around the band or drinking milkshakes. I did what was asked-I continued care with my surgeon, I saw the dietitian and exercise physiologist, and ate as required for six years. I lost a lot of weight but once things started going bad, none of that mattered. I did my due diligence and researched before I was banded in 2010. I resent your implication that I did this to myself. You have your theories about why the band doesn't work, but you need to be careful when you make blanket statements. Yes, it's dropped in usage but it isn't just because everyone abused it or ate around it-the problem is with the device itself. OP-I'm revising because I can no longer eat food and have it go through without sitting in the back of my throat. My last upper GI showed that the barium didn't clear the band for almost five minutes. My band now sits empty, ready for revision. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Amen. I love your reply. I had lapband surgery back in 2011, when i weight over 500lbs. The band was great and I lost over 240lbs. Life was great. I was running, exercising everyday, staying up on ally support doctors, dieticians, fills etc. Back in 2014 after a fill the band eroded into my stomach. I was not drinking milkshakes, overeating, or finding ways to overeat. Long story short I spent a week in the hospital on two of the best anitibiotics known to man and required emergency surgery to removed the band. I then spent the next two months out of work on hardcore oral antibiotics treating a staph infection that nearly killed me. Do not ever make assumptions or accusations that you know everything about what some of us went through. If you are just starting trouble because of your own insecurities take it somewhere else because some of us actually use this site as a portion of our continued support. Sorry for the rant but I could not keep that in. I went forward with bypass surgery andbhad it oct 3rd 2016. I will keep you all posted on how it goes. Sent from my SM-G360T1 using the BariatricPal App BTW - I just wanna point out that the orginal poster did not say or make a broad statement about abusing the band... she said her Surgeon did. Anyhow, I revised because I stopped losing weight with the band - I was stuck at 270 for 8 years, I didn't gain any though. I did lose about 60 - 70lbs with it, and believe me I'm happy I started with it as the only other option I had back then was the gastric bypass... and I wasn't and am still not to thrilled with the idea of rerouting my internal organs. lopping part of one off though, obviously not that big of a deal to me. I need the restriction, I found that out during my brief 6 month stint of having no fill and sadly no willpower to say no to my wants. I've worked at saying no more often and learning to figure out the difference between mouth wants and stomach wants/needs. Its easier when your not running to the bathroom after every bite.

I'm lucky in a couple of ways. I am following a 4+1 plan-4 shakes and one very controlled meal. Im grateful that I get one time per day to eat food. Even so, I'm still very hungry. Second, I currently have a LapBand in place. Even though it's empty, it still causes restriction. I'm having revision because of swallowing issues-I got stuck on a shake the other day! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I would say my band failure is 25/75. I'd say 25% the band's fault because it has never been right after having it deflated while I was pregnant. I had a complete unfill and I had hyperemesis. I threw up all day every day. I have and EGD friday, but my guess is it slipped. I thinks it's 75% my fault because instead of coming here for support earlier (where I realized what had likely happened) I just learned to eat around my band so that I could eat. I ate whatever I could get down, even if it was ice cream or chips or whatever. In any case, I'm still glad I had my band. I lost 65 pounds I would never have lost otherwise. I have a child I wouldn't have otherwise. Also, even though I have failed long term, I feel I can take what I've learned from this and apply it when I have my revision. I won't wait to get help when I have trouble, and if the scale starts to find its way upward, I will regroup and buckle back down. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App

Hi, I had lap band 4 years ago ( FYI...This is just my experience and doesn't reflect on what others have went thru or what you might) The first year was ok, however I never found my sweet spot or "Green Zone" I have had complications for almost the whole time I have had the band such as throwing up, food intolerance, band to tight to loose lots of maintaining and additional cost meaning the fills etc. I have had heartburn and can fill the band inside of my stomach. I will say this has hindered my weight loss as eating a regulated diet has been hard and inconsistent because I really can only eat what my band allows me to eat. The reason I went with the band was because I was self pay and that's what I could afford and also the doctors office manipulated it that way because I originally had been in the process to have sleeve because I thought my insurance was going to cover it however two months in it turned out that was not the case and I was desperate for anything to help get my weight off and to live a healthy life. Now, present day I will be having revision surgery to take the band out and have the sleeve done { do to complications} My band has slipped from the years of the food getting trapped constant throwing up and also I again have a hernia. I think the sleeve is the best way to go for me. I like that it is permanent and they also cut out the hunger hormone which will make you not have an appetite although it will start reproducing itself, but not for almost a year. With the band I am still always hungry and always have been.. Yes, both hungry hungry and head hungry that's the biggest fight the gnawing head hunger lol.....You have get yourself as mentally prepared as possible and know there has to be a lifestyle change in order to be a healthy you. We are all humans and make mistakes my biggest fault is I am to hard on myself and i give up and give into addition which is food i know and am aware of that, I am no longer in denial about it no more excuses for me this time will be different I am fingers crossed picking the right surgery that won't have all the complications such as the band did and will go to support groups as well as go to counseling. You still have time research your options and find resources to help with your addition... if you have weighed out the pro and cons and are sure the band is what you want go for it!!!!! but if you haven't please do more research there is time to change your mind on what surgery will be best.....I wish I would of and I didn't this time I have weighed out all options pro and cons and have ask many questions to make sure the sleeve will help be the best tool in order for me to be the best me. Like I said this is my personal experience and thoughts, I don't in anyway want you to back out of having the surgery because of it!!!!! Everything happends for a reason and I am more mentally prepared than I ever was;) Sent from my SM-N910V using the BariatricPal App

Well it's been long journey...i had lapband for a little over 2 years and had trouble with it, I thought i was going to have revision 6 months ago,but insurance changed rule to 12. With the help of my awesome doctor, I am approved. I have friends that are trying to talk me out of it, some even saying I just need to be disciples on diet and exercise. But I still choose to do this...i am happy with my decision,and can't wait for next step Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-J320A using the BariatricPal App

Is anyone else as tired as I am of throwing up, shoulder pain and the loss/gain of weight? I've had my band for quite some time and I have litterly had to start the whole process over again and again. When I first was banded I lost almost 80 lbs. I was super excited and felt amazing. Then life kicked me in the a$$. Husband lost his job, lost our insurance and daughter got pregnant all in about 6 mo. With in that time Stress took over my life and I gained almost all my weight back. STRESS EATING around the band is what did me in. Maintained my weight gain for 2 years. Went back to dr after we got insurance again and started from scratch. Fill, Pre op diet. 1100 cal diet. Started losing again. Lost almost all I regained until I hit a stopping point. Wasn't losing for anything. And boom. Got hit with the worse stress ever. Lost my dad on January 7 of 14, lost my father in law January 9 of 14, and found out I was gonna be a Nana again. So the weight was slowly comn back. Yep u guessed it. Constantly getting sick, the shoulder pain from drinking, gaining weight and getting tight. Finally I had them take all but 3cc out of my band. I've gained all my weight back and at 1 point I didn't care. I was able to eat and not get sick, able to drink and not get the pain. I was being selfish. Well now I'm having the"fat girl panic attacks" at night. Those dreaded ones about having a heart attack and not surviving. I'm now to the point of having this out and doing a revision. I just want to feel normal. Sent from my SM-N900V using the BariatricPal App

I don't know if my esophagus will ever completely recover but I'm revising to sleeve next week. Right now my band is empty in preparation for surgery but yesterday I got "stuck" on a Protein shake so that shows me that I'm making the right decision. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm sorry that your Dr. never told you that VSG may make reflux/GERD worse. Before my surgery, my surgeon questioned me extensively about whether I suffered from GERD. If I had, he likely would not have approved me for a sleeve. I can't say if your reflux will get better with time. I can only tell you that mine did not. It began 8 months after my initial surgery and I revised at the 2 year 2 month mark. In between I tried every medication combination possible, omeprazole, protonix, dexilant, zantac. Nothing worked Revision to RNY was the only thing that cured my GERD. I'm 3 months post revision and haven't had any problems with acid since I woke up from surgery. In my opinion, your surgeon was incorrect. VSG has a history of making reflux/GERD worse, however, since you've had surgery, that point is irrelevant now. I wish you luck and hope you find some relief.

@@James Marusek excellent paper James. I've had a adjustable gastric lapband for eight years I went from 305 to 172. I learned it cold. Fill it a half cc and lose a few pounds. Take out a few and gain a few pounds. I never realized that due to complications the party would end I just revised to RNY last month. although I was use to working with restriction there were major differences. Your post and paper helped in the transition Thanks again.

So 7 days out from revision. Had a hiccup a day and half later with a kink in my bowels causing everything, basically water and jello, to not go through me and coming back up. It was scary but I wasn't sure if I was overreacting.. was it just dumping? Almost same symptoms but after hours with no relief went to the ER. The tubed me, running it down my nose to the top of the bypass getting the acid and water out hoping it would unkink on its own. The tube friggin suckeddddd. But it worked not perfect but after another day and a half I was home again. I'm hungry or head hungry, which sucks and can't wait to get to soft food stages. Definitely more intense than the sleeve in everything, pain, recovery. Still hoping and aiming for the best, only time will tell.

As someone who has had both VSG and RNY, I can tell you from my experience, your capacity will be about the same with either surgery. Prior to my revision, I could eat about 4-4.5 oz of dense Protein (I was 2 years post surgery). I'm now 3 months post conversion to RNY and I can eat between 2.5 and 3 oz of dense protein. You should not base your decision on what your capacity is or how much loose skin you may end up with (and there shouldn't be that much difference in the skin dept. between the two surgeries. You may lose slightly faster with RNY, but at the two year mark, the loss is comparable. If you're going to have loose skin, you're going to have loose skin.) As someone who dealt with severe GERD/Reflux after my VSG (but not before) I would NEVER pick VSG if I had a history of heartburn, GERD, reflux or whatever you want to call it. I spent a year of my life, coughing up acid, sleeping sitting up, restricting certain foods and generally being miserable. So, knowing now what I know, if I were in your shoes, I would select RNY

I find myself typing responses and then deleting what I've typed. I agree with you, Bufflehead. I don't think like I have anything to add at this point, and these questions have been asked and answered to death. I'm going to go a step further (and this is just me). Reading posts here lately pushes me over the edge. I think for my own sanity, I'm going to have to take a step back. I am upset at myself for this since I feel I actually have some information to contribute, given that I lived with VSG for 2 years and then had to revise to RNY to treat my severe GERD. Unlike you, Bufflehead, I am a bit annoyed at the fact that some who post haven't read the past posts on the site or done any research about the surgery. Anyway, I'll keep my feelings about some of the questions to myself.

I have only lost 134 pounds with sleeve.. surgery date 1/17/12 My surgeon wants to revise me to bypass .. but here are some before and afters of my VSG Journey. Pics are taken between 2011 and 2013 Sent from my HTCD100LVWPP using the BariatricPal App

I am almost 5 months out and I think because of a revision, I have no real volume limit either, if I allow it. BUT, I know we can never allow it and so we have to closely watch what and qty we eat, to meet our requirements. The good thing is I do feel satisfied at smaller qty, so eating slow, and stopping, I really have no hunger to shovel in more. Our lot is to be more self managed, and less depending on the pouch to control us.

If you have Gerd in any capacity Roux En Y is the way to go. VSG is proven to worsen GERD! Also I noted that you have diabetes in your discussion. Roux En Y would almost eliminate it. Due to the re-route of the intestines. Trust your surgeon - You would hate to get VSG only for your GERD to be exacerbated and have to revise to Roux En Y- Hence increasing your risk for PE. Good luck!

@@PorkChopExpress Don't be frightened. There are risks associated with any surgery, but botched plastics can mostly be avoided if you do your research, and look at photos and talk to real live past patients. Not that I am blaming the victim in this case at all! I am appalled by her results and very glad she was able to successfully sue. No one should have to go through something like that. I can't even really figure out what the surgeon in that case was TRYING to do to get results that bad! Anyway, like @@AvaFern said, the worst "disfiguring" you could expect with a reputable surgeon is scarring from infection or necrosis, which a surgeon has little control over. It's usually minor and can be surgically revised once you are healed up.