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My name is Jamie and I started my weight loss journey many years ago but my surgery journey started in February 2010. I was 330 pounds at 27 years old. I was always a healthy person but after 4 knee surgeries I gained over 100 pounds and tried EVERYTHING to try to loose the weight. When I hit 330 I knew it would end up being life or death. I attended a bariatric surgery meeting at my mothers suggestion. After meeting with my surgeon and discussing all options with my husband we decided on the lap band. (Man was that a mistake) I had the lap band surgery in May 2010 and it only took me 3 weeks to recover!! I thought I had done enough research to prepare my self but I was very wrong. Eating was hard and I was seeing the Dr almost every 4 to 6 weeks for 3 years trying to figure out where the perfect fill was. After 3 frustrating years of throwing up and learning how to cheat with the band we decided it was time to revise the band. I decided to do the a sleeve, it seemed like a safer and less invasive surgery. I was very excited to start this new journey after seeing co workers have great success with it. I had my revision to the sleeve May 2013. The recovery was much harder then the recovery from the band and I think it was due to doing the band removal and the sleeve revision at the same time. After 6 weeks I was as good as new and dropping weight at a nice pace. I was very excited to eat right and exercise because I was actually loosing weight!!! After the first 3 months I began to get really painful chest pains. Being a person that never had to deal with acid reflux, GERD or heartburn I didn't know what the pain was from. I went back to my Dr and he began seeing me every 2 - 4 weeks and we tried every acid reflux, hernia, heartburn and GERD medication we could. By the time I was 10 months out I was in such bad pain and no medication would help my Dr decided we needed to revise my sleeve to the full bypass to eliminate the acid from being created in my stomach. I am very unhappy with this decision so I went to 3 other doctors that specialize in acid reflux and weight loss surgery and sadly they all agreed with my surgeons prognosis. We began the insurance approval process and it was a little harder to get the bypass surgery approved this time since I am 178 pounds and they didn't see a reason for the surgery. Last Tuesday the pain got so bad I ended up in the ER for 6 hours as they tried to figure out how to make the pain stop. The prognosis was esophagus spasms so I had to be put on a liquid diet since eating hurt. Finally my insurance approved the surgery and my doctor is rushing the surgery date due to the severity of this issue. My revision to bypass is scheduled for May 13 2014 and I am completely freaking out!!!! This is not a surgery I want and I am concerned that I am going to have all the bypass side effects I really never wanted to have! I know the surgery is inevitable and the only way to get rid of this intolerable pain for good! I am coming top grips with it and feel more assured that this will work since I did seek other opinions from multiple specialists. I am telling my story because I really need help from others out there that may gave went thru the same issues I am and what did you do to resolve it? What should I expect to be different from the sleeve to the bypass? Please help! I am really scared and really don't want to have to go thru this again!!

Sorry to hear about your weight gain after pregnancy! That is something I fear when my husband and I discuss starting a family. As for the bypass after the sleeve... I was still loosing weight with the sleeve when I had to be revised to the bypass. I am still losing weight but since I'm 200 pounds down and 8 pounds to go to hit my goal it not coming off as fast as it did when I had more to loose. I lost over 40 pounds in the last 5 months since my bypass surgery so I shouldn't be complaining but I really want to hit my goal!!! I was very scared of getting the bypass and having my intense moved around. Very against it and tried everything I could to avoid it but honestly it's not as scary as I thought and really helped with my acid reflux. It dosnt feel much different then having the sleeve except for the dumping syndrome. Haha sounds worse then it is but when I tried drinking orange juice I had horrible stomach cramps and diarrhea for about 15 to 20 minutes. But I'm thankful because now I know oj has a lot of sugar and to stay away!!! It's really just a friendly reminder to stay away from all sugar. Not as scary as it sounds and is the best weight loss option out there. Wish I would have just went for the bypass to begin with!! Let me know what happens and if you do have the bypass! Sending prayers your way!!

I am sorry some are feeling so bad and don't seem to know what to do. I will be 4 years from sleeve (revision from lapband) and can share the encouragement that it gets way way better. You won't die from not eating much the early weeks/months Criminy, treat the excess acid! It is an expected event from sleeve and other WLS. Stay hydrated! Dehydration is an awful feeling and if you can't sip sip sip enough to prevent it...get IV fluids! Before you know it, all this will be a distant memory. Keep your eye on the prize!!

I just had this surgery along with hernia repair after sleeve. I was not at my goal weight at the time of revision but, @GreenTealael may be able to chime in here with info. Good luck!!

Hi - I was a lap-band revision, so my weight at VSG surgery was low compared to others who have the VSG surgery. My BMI was 31.5 when I got the revision done. 2 weeks out and so far, so good. Good luck! Lara

1 day shy of 12 weeks.....this is after a shower and a 5 mile run so the scar is always a little more red than flesh colored. Still wearing the Oleeva silicone scar strips, you can see them in the foreground of the picture. He (the surgeon) said to keep wearing them. Also, he said the binder helps the scar heal. I have still been wearing it a good bit. Not ALL the time, in a strange way it's comforting. Can't really explain it. Saw my surgeon on Tuesday and he was very pleased with the progress. He did point out that on both of my hips the scar was a little wider. He said he pulled so tight that as it healed it spread a bit. We are going to look at it at my next visit and he said something about a short revision surgery if it bothered me. We didn't talk about it any further at this meeting. My assumption is that it is more a cosmetic thing than to tighten me up further. Till next time....good luck. Keep moving and losing (or maintaining). Lol

Correct You don't remove a pacemaker, prosthetic knee, hip, heart valve etc etc. They are put in to do a job that the body cannot do itself. If something goes wrong with one of them they are replaced not removed. The same is true of the band - it is there to do a job that the body does not do well itself. i.e control hunger. If something goes wrong with it then normally they would replace it or revise it to another surgery as without it the person is not "cured" and the illness (obesity) is likely to recur.

I have 5 kids, ages 10,9,4,2&1, the help from my mom and dad while my husband was working was wonderful. I was exhausted and had to focus on getting Water in, my kids needed more attention then I could give for the first week home. I didn't need help taking care of me, just my brood Revision 1/31/13 by Dr Cabrera and Venezuela in MX

My revision fro lap and to bypass is scheduled for Deceber 28.I am going to try Injury.I also hate sugary protein drinks.

I was always hopeful that it would pass. Only in the last month before I had the band removed was reflux an issue for me. Mostly it was just constant inflammation going on inside as my body kept trying to reject the band. I would have gone right for the bypass or the sleeve at the same time if it was an option for me, but like you I am also fearful to a degree of what to expect after. My body does not seem to take well to outside interference, didn't like the band being in there, and it even started pushing out the internal sutures that were used in the surgery to remove the band! So I wonder how it will adapt to rerouting and changing the internal process....I just want to be healthy and happy. I'm not so focused on the "weight" of the issue...though so many doctors blame weight as the reason for everything that ales you that it becomes the focus. I have been having issues with my heart since I was 17 years old and I was at a normal weight and post pregnancy is when the issues started after a heart attack during child birth. So today at 46 I have an arrhythmia that causes tachycardia in my pulse rate all the time with a normal sinus rhythm which is a good thing it means I'm not actually having a heart attack at the moment, but having a heart racing all day as if I were doing sprints makes one quite tired. Mostly they happen at night and keep or wake me up so that's not fun either. Of course the Dr.'s all say well if you lose weight this will get better...but will it? It hasn't in all these years...and I am getting older not younger...so forgive me if I don't think weight is all to blame for my health. I'm thinking of putting some questions together for the Dr. and see what kind of feed back they can provide. One question is: 1. Why would you recommend the sleeve over the bypass for me? 2. I have heard that those revising from band to sleeve do not lose as effectively as those who have never had a bariatric procedure because they are not able to make the sleeve small enough due to scar tissue. Do you find this to be a valid insight? What has your experience with patient revisions been? 3. Have you seen patients who have rejected being sleeved after the surgery? What type of rejection symptoms have been displayed? Food intolerance? (to be expected?) Inflammation of stomach/other organs? (what could be done to prevent and/or remedy this?) What other questions do you think....? It might help us both with our decision

I also had sleeve surgery in 2014 and then revised to RYN in September of this year. I had severe GERD and it was causing regular vomiting. I was close to goal when I had my revision and so weight loss wasn't my primary goal, but I have lost some weight since my revision and anticipate being at goal in the next couple of months. I feel so much better without the GERD and am so happy I had a revision!

5 days & and counting... I started this journey at my highest weight of 245 pounds. I got my lap band in Aug of 2012 & have lost about 90-95 pounds since then. My current weight is about 155-156. It's gone up since my band only has 1cc in it right now. I started experiencing discomfort with my band in April of last year. They took fluid out, then put it back in a month later. Then in August & October, same thing. The last straw was when I was on a mini vacation in NYC in Dec. I wound up in the ER for 15 hours. I'll spare you the details but it was confirmed that my band had a partial slip. They gave me morphine 3 times then dilaudid (something like that) for the pain. It finally worked many hours into my stay there. I had my band placed by a reputable surgeon in Aug of 2012, but am now under a different insurance, Kaiser Permanente of CO, and will have my revision done through them. As it stands right now, since the sleeve is being considered "elective" I will be paying about $12K - $15K out of pocket. Don't get me started because my husband is unemployed & no longer receiving unemployment benefits. Not sure how we'll handle this, but we will. No point in getting upset, though it does rather suck. Have to keep our head up & move forward staying positive. So, after my appointment last week, I found out on Friday that my revision date will be Thursday, the 16th, done as a rush surgery because of the pain that I have with the slipped band. It's not severe but constant. Dr gave me liquid vicodin, which I take once or twice a day, only as needed. My band will be removed at the same time as the sleeve is done. While I was anxious about getting the band back in 2012, I'm even more nervous about getting the revision to the sleeve. Would appreciate any feedback from previous banders to sleevers. I'm trying to read up as much as possible on what to expect so I'm ready. I hope to post on here the day of surgery then a few days later. My goal is to document this journey & potentially help any way headed on the same path. Talk to me people. How did your revision go? What did you drink the first few weeks? Sounds like I"ll be on liquids longer than I was with the band. Oh, I'm definitely anxious. Could use your support. Thanks! Fran

My surgeon broke his foot and does not have the stamina to do a long revision surgery so I am rescheduled for Sept 17. I really love my surgeon & want him to be at his best! So.. Looking for Sept. Bypass buddies, esp revision!

Many people far younger than 40 are having other WL surgeries, and I don't agree that in 5 years you will regain the weight (unless you aren't planning on following the plan for after the surgery). You will have to work to keep the weight off, that's no surprise. But there is also the revision to RNY after the sleeve surgery if the sleeve isn't working. So there are alternatives to the band, but if you will follow the after-plan after the sleeve surgery, I don't see why it wouldn't be a success. I agree with LeeRN, see other surgeons about this. I, too, think your dr. may have ulterior motives. It can't hurt to ask other doctors, and you may get it covered by insurance.

I agree with Beaglelover. Since bypass statistically has better weightloss results than either Lapband or plication, what is your doctor expecting to accomplish by giving you a "less successful" revision (no offense to banders or plication patients, I'm just speaking statistically). In the end, it's your lifestyle choices that make or break any WLS. Have you been able to assess what caused your weight regain? Is there an actual medical or physiological reason or is it more due to eating habits, lack of exercise, etc.? Whatever it is, that's what you need to focus on changing, not necessarily another surgery. As for plication, there is a plication forum on here you could check out. But it has only been performed in the US for a couple years, so you will not find any long term success/complication rates.

Here's a link to an article about a recent study done on bypass revisions to the band: http://slimband.com/gastric-banding-achieves-weight-loss

No one is doing lap band anymore... Because it isn't a successful tool, I don't think there are even studies on someone having Gastric Bypass, gaining back then doing Lap band. I agree with the other posts about looking aft the root cause for the right gain. I am sorry you have gone through this. I had Lap Band and was successful with weight Loss when I followed the plan, however I experienced ongoing reflux and regurgitation of mucus and recurrent nausea. I gained 3/4 of my weight loss back in the next year because I could not tolerate most vegetables, fruit & meat. My revision with Gastric bypass has not been w/o complications, same symptoms this time, able to eat a couple small bites of chicken, another meal a half a cup of refried beans, and about 4 tortilla chips. I was able to eat a 1/2 c. Of mashed potatoes mixed with stuffing, a small piece of Turkey white meat, eaten over an hour. It takes me all morning to get my 8 oz protein drink down. It has now been 11 weeks. I've had 2 endoscope which were normal. I've now gone from 246# to 182, back up to 226, back to 212 prior to revision and now 169.6. Every weight loss method takes work. Unfortunately!

Thanks for all of the support...I am going with the Bypass...I have a hiatal hernia,dial aged duct at the tail of my pancreas due to difficulty with my removed gallstones and the reflux in my stomach is out of control....No one is cutting my stomach after what I have put it through with the band....Next week is my endoscopy.I am building a case for a revision ...hopefully insurance will pay.

I am still undecided because this band is making my life a living hell...revision must happen either way.

Hello, my name is Tonika and I had my sleeve done September 26 2012. I originally had the lap band In 2003 and I was 374 pounds. I got down to 176 pounds nevertheless I started having problems with the band and I creeped back up to 288 pounds. I went In for a revision on my birthday January 26 2012, my liver and my stomach were merged together. The surgeon said he's good but not that good so once he freed the band and liver and stomach he aborted the revision. I woke up to disbelief he said I had too much scar tissue and would never be able to have any weight loss surgery again. I was depressed for 8 months till one day I said God please heal my insides I'm not meant to be heavy. I went online researched everyone told me no till West Lake Hospital came up I called and the rest is history. I went in on a Monday in August and three weeks later I had my surgery... Scar tissue completely healed. What a mighty God we serve, I was nervous the nigh before so I prayed and God whispered trust me your stomach is ok and I just believed and was ok after that.. FYI MY NURSES NAME WAS JESUS AND I HAVE A ROSARY BEAD TATTOO AND SHE PRAYED ON IT... [ATTACH]5271[/ATTACH] Order My Steps Dear Lord...

Have you tried asking the OCC if they can recommend a doctor/practice in your area for after care? I had my band surgery at the OCC (great experience) and they connected me with my surgeon in NY who did my follow ups and who ended up doing my band revision and then sleeve revision. I hope they can help.

I am getting a revision from the band to the bypass in three weeks.

Don't worry about it. Many of us battle depression and continue to take anti-depressants before, during and after surgery. The psych appointment is just to check that you understand the surgery and all of the implications of the post-op lifestyle changes, assess your level of commitment as it impacts your potential success, determine if you have an appropriate support system in place or have the coping tools to manage on your own and things like that. They are trying to ensure your success, not screen you out since they get paid for surgery and the accompanying program. Some meds may need to be changed depending on the type of surgery you have. Are you really considering lap band? Many surgeons no longer perform lap band surgery due to the rate of complications and the high failure rate. They are not permanent, you know that, right? Many lap band patients are revised with sleeve surgery or RNY. You might read about their experiences on this forum and others like it before you make a final decision. Good luck!

Keep notes on everything for your visit to the dr.Start building your case for revision.

My surgery is also tomorrow and I’m feeling a lot of this too. I’m revising a band to gastric bypass so I feel like, I’ve dive this before, so why the heck am I so nervous?! I think for sure a lot of it is the Covid stuff, and for me it doesn’t help that my family pretty much ignored Mother’s Day yesterday, so I’m feeling sad and sorry for myself today which certainly isn’t the best head space to be in. I hope you will post again after surgery! I’m interested to know how it goes! I know we’ll be just fine and we can compare notes as we heal and get through it!