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I am having a band to bypass revision tomorrow. I chose bypass over sleeve because it is a non restrictive procedure and I had serious issues with reflux due to the band. Because of that my doc recommended bypass rather than the sleeve.

SO my journey with lab band started in 2009..I then weighted 255 lbs and am now 125. ANYWAY I had two revisions since and finally yesterday had it taken out also learned this thing cut into my stomach and created a hole that thankfully got fixed. Am I thankful even though it was a sick and very painful journey? its sick but i am. Even though I wasn't able to eat much mostly lived on Ensure had a hard time with holding liquids down also.I now have to learn all over again how to live a normal life. I got used to vomiting pains acid reflux low energy etc. But am super excited to start over with fresh veggies in my hand and gym membership. Not yet but in a few weeks once I recover: -)

Nope. There was one tonight too and a newbie named Cindy asked me about them and I was telling her that they provide aftercare. How if u have any sleeve-related issues or revisions and come back they'll fix it and gave their Facebook page link.

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

Hi all. 9 years ago I had a gastric sleeve done by Dr Ariel Ortiz in Tijuana. I have since stretched out my sleeve and am looking into a revision. Has anyone had a revision through Dr Ortiz? Was it successful? Cost? Or if you used another Dr, would you recommend them? Was it successful? Cost?

Hi my name is JAMES I ad a revision from sleeve to bypass nearly two weeks ago. Would like to talk with others who have had it done, as I have some concerns that I wish to talk about. I don't feel any different after the revision like I did after the sleeve. Eg feel no restriction and never had any real pain after the op. looking forward to hearing fom you. Sorry about missing spelling in heading should have been people. Edit won't let me get back to and change it. Lol

Thanks for sharing that story, Donali. What a drag! But it could have been a lot worse--once again showing that most of even dramatic lap-band complications really aren't all that dramatic. I'm so glad they were able to repair it easily, but sorry it cost you so much moola. Please let us know if your dent evens out and when feeling returns (which I'm absolutely sure it will). Now: Watch yourself! Don't be doing any calisthenics until this is well and truly healed in place. No more port revisions!! :D

Hi All - For those of you who are new or don't remember, I tore one of my port sutures at the end of July. I was stretching for something that was just out of reach, and kind-of did a lunge. I immediately felt a sharp sting, and as the next couple of days went by I was in severe pain. Of course, I was on vacation... lol Far, far from my band doc, so I toughed it out with liquid Tylenol. Did you know that stuff was made by saints? lol Anyway, after two weeks the pain was bearable, but I was uncomfortable and I had a big bulge where my port was. When I went in for my last fill, the doc manually turned the port back upside right, and I was able to get a successful fill, but unfortunately the corrected position did not last. Saturday I finally went in to have it battened back down. I was put under full anesthesia (it had been my understanding that this would be a quick/simple fix done with a local, but whatever). Dr. Lopez used the same port incision from before. Apparently of the four possible places on the port to use to suture, it is his practice to only do two sutures. So I had indeed torn one free, but the port was still attached on the other suture. He removed that suture as well, and reattached the port with two new sutures. He assures me it is now in the "perfect" position. So far I feel like I am able to breathe deeply without any pulling, which was not the case prior to my tearing the suture, so I am happy. A little sore, but happy. I have a big dent under where the port incision is (that was there before the repair), which looks kind of weird. I don't know if that will eventually level out or not. I am still numb in the area, so don't know if the feeling will return - I don't recall being numb anywhere after my first surgery. I am much more comfortable now than I was when my port was turned. My shoulders, neck and jaw are extremely stiff and sore, but that seems to be working out and lessening each day. So the fix was a bigger deal than I expected (all together I spent about 6 hours there for the 25 minute surgery), but pain-wise not terrible. The worst part was the expense - $1821. OUCH! But worth it to once again be pain-free. Moral of the story: Don't tear your port sutures! lol

Hi everyone. My name is Margaret. I am a mother, wife, friend, employee advocate, and a lover of dogs. I live with my husband and Chug (Chihuahua/pug) in Colorado. I just had my revision surgery on June 30th from lap band to sleeve. I am at Bariatric Stage IV - eating pureed foods and drinking Protein drinks. I am limited to five foods: egg whites, plain yogurt, refried Beans, cottage cheese and pudding. I am also taking liquid Vitamins and getting B-12 monthly injections. My daily goals are to continue to drink 64 oz of Fluid each day; eat/drink 65 grams of protein, walk 30 minutes (if not more), and continue to protect my surgery incisions and stomach by not lifting, pulling, pushing anything over 15 lbs.I am glad that the doctor limits his patients to five foods because I think it's really easy at this point to overdue it on other soft foods that may not be so healthy for you. The weight is coming off slowly which I think is good. I feel pretty good except last night, I had a side ache next to the incision where my port use to be. Other than that, I feel really good. I think this surgery was much easier than the lap band. I still get hungry and the food that my husband is eating looks tempting. However, I try to remind myself that this is just head hunger. I don't think I am really hungry. I am no longer a coffee drinker since we were told to stop drinking it. I was totally addicted to coffee mostly because of the liquid creamers. I feel so much better and I no longer have to have coffee first thing in the morning I am just beginning this journey and I am still learning to listen to my body. I am not in a support group at this time but I would love to connect with others who are on a similar journey.

I had the sleeve in 2012. I was perfect sleeve candidate. I did not have GERD and no comorbities. I got pregnant post sleeve and I regained all my weight back. I have developed GERD and my sleeve is twisted. I also developed a hiatal hernia which I do not attribute to my sleeve. I am having revision surgery to RNY in October 3 years almost to the date of my sleeve surgery. Should have, would have, could have RNY to begin with. I never wanted to have a 2nd surgery. I do believe drs often times do not like performing sleeve on those with bad GERD to begin with. There are many successful sleevers and lapband to sleevers. Good luck in your decision.

FighterGirl, Wow, 170 lost! That is amazing! Congrats to YOU! That is very impressive. Can you tell me a little about why you had to have revision surgery? Sometimes I wonder if my band is too tight when I'm holding Fluid. Will you be going to the meeting in St. Clair Shores on Wednesday? I thought I might try it.

Sounds a lot like I was before I revised to a different procedure. In my case it was band intolerance. I wish I had a magical cure for you but I don't. :smile2:( There is always revision?

There's a revision board on here and at least 1 thread full of sleeve to RNY revisions. I was a band to RNY and I'll tell ya what I've told everyone else. After the misery I had with my band I wasn't having anything but RNY, the success rates are the highest and I wanted nothing but the best. I had HORRID reflux with my band and absolutely wouldn't risk having similar misery with a sleeve. Sorry it's been such a long road for you! Good luck!!!!

Where to begin. Well much like most of you we are all chasing that dream. I was always the fat girl in my crew cute for a fat girl and never really felt like I was confident or cute enough to hang with my mom and skinny sisters. In 2009 I decided at 327 pounds that enough was enough. I researched the band and at the time it was relatively new. I save up and went down to Mexico so very I'll prepared but no one could talk me out of it. So there I was on a plane like no turning back now. So I had the surgery returned home and actually from 2009 to 2013 I never had a fill... bad I know my band helped me lose 127 ponds but I was miserable couldn't eat lived off of snacks that was my life for years but it became a health issue. I went to a US doctor we will call him dr asshole, because we were to do a band to Sleeve revision. At that time I had alot of a car tissue so he removed my band and I woke up totally unprepared to go payout life without a tool in place to help me, since I never really learned discipline with the band. As soon as I could eat again I went in and gained 60-70 pounds in a year or less. I was super depressed as all my cute clothes I could no longer fit almost like I was being teased. So I started to research the sleeve and almost went back to Mexico but I have insurance so I decided to take the 4 month route after Tons of appointments I finally was sleeved on 03/17/2015. Since my pre op I was 267 and as of today my one week follow up I've lost 21 pounds. What an emotional ride. I can't lie I had a breakdown like shoot will i regret this but it's to late so I have to now work it to the best of my abilities. At my follow up my doctors told me that normal to feel this way and to continue to push forward and I will see progress. So here is to the new me and us and any encouragements questions comments are greatly appreciated.

I've had a Band for six years. Weight wise, I'm pregnant with my third Bandster baby and unfilled. The biggest issues I've had is in trying to refill the Band following pregnancies. It just hasn't worked the same. However, up until this pregnancy, I'd maintained 65 out of a 95 pound weight loss with no fills. So... not too shabby. I haven't experienced any reflux, errosion, etc. The biggest issues I've had are cost-related. It sucks to still have to pay for fills and unfills six years down the line. As a stay-at-home Mom now, it's a much bigger impact on me financially then when I was working in corporate America. The Band was the right surgery for me at the time. I don't regret it at all... even though , at the time, it wasn't even FDA approved and I traveled to Mexico for surgery. I would not have been comfortable going through three pregnancies with any other WLS. Having said that, if I were to look at surgery today (not wanting any more kids), I'd probably go for a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. The fill-factor gets old... fast. It took me five or six fills to get good restriction the first time. I've had numerous fills and unfills... and each has cost me on average $350. I'm going to try refilling again after this pregnancy (due any day now)... and see how it goes. If I still can't manage any restriction, I will probably have a revision.

Does anyone know any surgeons in Temecula/murrieta area or even in riverside that they would recommend? I'm looking into a arm lift revision due to my scars being very noticeable and thick. Thank u

I paid for a band out of pocket over ten years ago. It functioned for ... three or four months. That's it. No restriction at all after that. I have confirmation that my band is defective (it "balloons" up on one side when filled rather than equally around the stomach), but as a self-pay there wasn't much I could do about it because I had spent all the money I had on getting the band. Now I'm hoping to be able to do a revision to the sleeve in one procedure. I may need two procedures (one to take the band out, another for the sleeve). As a self-pay this is all very frustrating. Do your research. There are people that are very happy with the band, but there are lots that are not. In the end, it's your decision. Whatever you decide, just make sure you are fully educated and you know what awaits you.

No need to worry, just pulling myself out of the fog..... My surgery was Monday, 10/3 with Dr. Aceves. Since my surgery was the 2nd of the day, I was given a sedative to relax. The rest of the day is a blur. I remember people coming in to get me....blur........I remember looking up at the ceiling as I was being wheeled to surgery......blur.........I remember someone telling me to turn on my side and bend my knees for the spinal block....blur.....and OUT. I don't remember recovery at all. The next thing I remember is being back in my room, thinking it must be over and then falling back asleep again. I was in and out of sleep for the rest of the night, knowing that nurses came in and out, taking my temp and blood pressure, but not really ever becoming fully alert. Sometime early Tuesday morning, I told one of the nurses I needed to use the bathroom. Although I stumbled a bit, I made the trip successfully and immediately fell back asleep. Later that morning, they brought me those infamous 4 little cups of blue "apple juice." They weren't good, but they were tolerable. I sipped and slept, sipped and slept, sipped and slept for hours. Several times that day, Dr. Aceves, Dr. Campos and the nurses came in and told me to try to get up and walk. I'd answer "Sure, ok." with every good intention of doing it, but I'd always fall back asleep. I really had a tough time coming out of all that med-induced sleepiness. By late afternoon Tuesday, I finally got up and walked the halls. I was completely pain-free (yes, really.....it must have been the spinal block), but I felt unsteady on my feet and climbed back into bed about 5 minutes later. Tuesday night was pretty much the same as Monday night, but I woke up Wednesday morning feeling alert and energetic. I took a shower and even put on a little make-up! Wednesday, I walked several times, visited my neighbors, sipped tea and finally got a bowl of that wonderful chicken broth everybody raves about. Yes, it IS that good. By the time I left on Thursday morning, I felt pretty good - minimal pain and absolutely no nausea. It may have been this sense of well-being that caused me to completely overdo it on Friday. BIG Mistake! I met up with a friend Friday afternoon to do a "little" shopping that turned into a 5-hour shopping spree. I thought I was listening to my body.......I sipped Isopure all day........I took sitting breaks pretty often, but by the time I got home, I felt awful. My abdomen was completely swollen with Fluid and gas. I looked 9 months pregnant and felt equally uncomfortable. That was the first time all week I broke down emotionally. I remembered reading somewhere that Day 4 after surgery was the worst..........and that was definitely true for me! So, I sobbed myself to sleep Friday night and woke up Saturday with renewed energy and renewed resolve. I really took it easy that day. I stayed in all morning, sipping Protein and napping. By 3:00 pm, I felt good enough to take my son to a birthday party. It was a huge event, and EVERY single person there must have told me to eat......twice! But I politely told them I had eaten before I came and continued to sip on my bottled Water. The party lasted about two hours and I was definitely ready to come home by then. I went to bed about 7:30 pm, slept pretty soundly, and here I am at 5:00 am on Sunday, finally getting on the Internet for the first time since surgery. To sum up, I've really had a fairly easy recovery. Considering the mess my Band had made of my stomach and liver (Dr. Aceves told me it was NOT and easy revision) I've had very little pain except for the incision sights. I've experienced none of the shoulder "gas" pain I had with the Band surgery. I've had no nausea or stomach pain......just a lot of gas and gurgling. No doubt about it, those first four days kicked my butt, however, I think I'm over the "hump" now. I have one more week of recovery before I have to go back to work and I'm sooooo glad I didn't try to rush it and go back any sooner. I hope all my fellow October sleevers are well, whether you are just home from surgery or about to have it. Take it easy and follow the rules........you'll do great!

Hello All, I'm sorry I've not been too active on the board. It is true that after you've lost all your weight, you suddenly have much less free time. This is a good thing I think. Anyway, my revision surgery is Thursday with Dr Ortiz in TJ Mexico. I leave Wednesday morning at 6am (yikes) for pre-op. I am so glad to be getting it done. This last month I've been surprised at how much I've suffered with "last meal" syndrome. Things like fried pickles (my FAVORITE) I have a difficult time eating once I'm fully restricted, so I totally pigged out this last month. I've enjoyed the food, but I will enjoy having my 123lb body back much more. Its amazing how much more ten pounds does when you're at this weight. I figure the ten pound will easily come off during the month on liquids. I went and bought a huge variety of liguid foods today so I'll have all sorts of things to choose from - which is VERY important. Liquids get old fast as it is - if you only have Slim Fast it'll get old even faster. Mae

You have the same date as me but I am revising from band to bypass. This time around I haven’t got to do the liquid diet, I have just been told to stick with “ clean” eating.

Day 3 or 4, I felt really good with the exception of stomach muscular pain (like overworked ab muscles). After 7 years lap band, I had the band to sleeve revision which may be why for my speedy recovery. Decided to add this: I did have trouble feeling hungry and that bothered me, but after day 16 when my stomach swelling went down, the fake hunger feelings dropped off. Sent from my SM-N910V using the BariatricPal App

Am 64 and am having revision - lap band to gastric bypass- on Aug 20. I know several folks who had bypass at or after 65 since Medicare covers it. I am very thrilled to be having the RNY as the lap vans caused such reflux that u have had repeated aspiration pneumonias for years winding up with a staph infection in my lungs. It took 5 years for them to figure it out! Looking for other 60 ers whomsy be having surgery in July/ Aug to buddy up with!

I agree with what other folks have said. I also would say, as someone who is revising from the lapband, that you should not base your decisions on that. There are lots of band complications and the sleeve seems to be much better technically and far more effective.

I'm curious, as to what the rules were with insurance companies that paid for revisions?

Depends on a couple of major things: 1. Your insurance company's policies. 2. Whether or not your doctor will do a revision all at once, or will require you to do it in two, separate surgeries. My insurance covered my band removal in March, and my doctor wanted me to wait 3 months before sleeving so that my stomach would heal - I had massive scarring and a heavily distorted stomach from living with a severe slip for 2+ years (long story as to why!). As soon as the band was removed, we began the process of getting insurance approval for the sleeve - at that point, I was considered a "new patient" in that I had to meet all of the WLS requirements as if I'd never had the LapBand. Luckily, the process was QUICK and didn't require too many hoops - I was sleeved exactly 11 weeks after my band was removed.