Search the Community

That's great. I had Medicare for my sleeve surgery a year ago and had no trouble with approval. Good luck with your revision surgery.

Hi I am new to VST and so thankful for ALL OF YOU! I feel like you've helped me avoid landmines (especially those who have had revision surges - thanks so much for sharing!!) I want to find out everything I can about Gastric Plication Surgery. 1) Where & when did it originate? 2) Approximately how many people have had this surgery worldwide/US? 3) Please tell me your experience if you had it.. 4) Any links to articles I can research? (Found a few, but hungry for more..) 5) Anything about PRE & POST OP diet I would love to know.. THANK YOU SO MUCH! I am 34 with BMI of 32, got about 60lbs to lose. My parents are obese and I've been told another 20lbs=diabetes most likely for me. I have tried to eat way less and make my stomach smaller..it is helping, but I am realistic that it definitely isn't the same as surgery. This new procedure sounds perfect and like a decision made much easier! I've been considering WLS for about a month now.. How long does the average person take to think about it and then schedule?

Never did I ever think when I got banded in 2010 I would be getting my band out and revising to the sleeve...Everything went so well. For 2 1/2 years everything was wonderful. I did my homework, I did what was expected of me and dropped about 70 pounds.. Talk about a new me. I still had like 50 pounds to go but I was on a roll and wasn't going to stop. I was on top of the world. Went back to school and found that confident person I once was before becoming obese. Unfortunetally after an unsuccessful fill due to the port twisting, everything went to crap. I had my port fixed and never found my green zone again. I am a 46 year old woman that knows her body and when something is wrong, something is wrong....after numerous attempts ( seven long months of trying to convince my doc something was wrong, like weight gain, starving all the time and horrible pain after my fills) he finally listened and sure enough I had a leak and my port lies right where my pant belt lies. Why would you put a port there in the first place? So not only did I go through physical and emotional pain. I went through a lot of financial pain. All those fills that never worked and the horrible pain I faced. I just never understood why a doctor would let a patient continue to feel this way...and yes, I have gained all my weight back and more. Talk about ashamed and feeling like a failure for the millionth time....The good news is..I fired my doctor and hired a new one (same practice, awkward, but its my body!. He is awesome, kind, very sensitive to your needs, caring and listens to you, Not like the doctors that ask you the question that you just answered to him. One time I had the doctor ask me the same question three times that I had answered. Talk about wanting to get up and walk out...So I have been blessed for a second chance per insurance. They are paying for the band removal and the sleeve. I am scared right now, but I have faith in my doctor and staff. My life will be for the better and I have much support. I have three young boys and wonderful husband supporting me and believing in me. I am not bashing the band, I am bashing the doctor that would not listen to me. He should have never let it get this bad. If I won the lottery, I would help set up a foundation for those that could not afford this surgery. It is life changing and I would want everyone to have that opportunity....obesity is just an awful disease to live with..So my new journey begins MAY 1 and I am so blessed. I think about a year from now how much healthier I will be. Plus I will finish up my schooling and be ready to conquer the world. Best wishes to everyone for whatever choice of surgery you chose...I commend all of you for taking that step. Surely a life long journey.

Sounds a lot like me, I was ecstatic and I still am. I’m just so happy and grateful for my little pouch. From my approval all the way to surgery and even right now as I heal I stayed away from people and social media. I just needed to organize myself and time to be in my head. I didn’t go out or do much of anything. Buying the things I needed pre and post op and getting myself together was all I focused on. I also did a lot of cleaning to have my place ready when I got back from the hospital. I don’t have much clothes to donate because I literally lived off 2 pair of jeans and a few “just my size” shirts with and without sleeves. I refused to be buying clothes for my size. Are you having a revision because of GERD or do you feel like the sleeve isn’t the right tool for you? Today my goal will be to drink more water 🤢 Yo-Yo Girl from New York City

I am scheduled to have a revision from VSG to bypass on Jan 5. Keep wondering if I am doing the right thing. But I have been having horrible reflux and heartburn even on Protonix so I keep thinking I have to do something. I hope Deezjeanz that everything goes well for you - you will have to let me know how it goes.

Hi debH. Please keep my informed of your weight loss. My story is exactly yours! I am having a revision in a month but so scared it won't work, like the band

My revision took about 3 hours.

I feel your pain! I had Lap Bad revision to RNY surgery November 11 and have only lost 12 pounds. I am very careful about what I eat and try to get my water in. I was a slow loser with the band and even slower with RNY. I try not to dwell on it at least I am not gaining!

Then I would review both the sleeve and bypass forums and formulate my own opinions base on the information garnered about each particular procedure. I would even browse the "Band revision" forum as well. It is unrealistic to rely on someone's evaluation of the benefits or negative aspects of a procedure they did not have. The two procedures are inherently different and you need to make an unbiased decision on which one will meet your expectations and capabilities. Not base it on what someones prejudicial views are due to their choice or the particular forum that is being represented. In other words. Just simply ask why someone chose their procedure in the bypass forum and again in the sleeve forum and not to compare the two procedures. They've already chosen or had the procedure.......exactly what do you think they'll say. Good luck.

Yes thankyou. I took 3 weeks off, but you are right. I may have pushed myself too much coming right back with so many hours. I will take it easy this week. I work weekends mostly and that is where I do tons of walking, sometimes I get to work from home during the week so I don't have to walk anywhere. I started the treadmill very slowly after surgery and have worked up to about 45 minutes at a good pace, but maybe the constant walking of being up and down aggravated the area for more than what I am used to. What has been your symptoms of your body's rejection of the band? What is really crazy, is that I still have some restriction. I am getting between 1000 and 1500 calories a day which is great as I am trying to lose a few pounds before my revision. I have lost 8 since surgery and am going up and down 1 pound variation. I am sorry to hear that you had a rough time with your band, but I am glad that you feel better now. It seems as though there are more problems with the band nowadays and that surgeons are moving away from it. Thank you for you support I placed call to surgeon, just waiting to hear back.

Set for sleeve on the 25th. Pre-op on the 23rd and scope on 24th. Doing hiachial repair too. Had the band taken out 2 years ago due to slippage. Lost 80 pounds with band and kept it off for 7 years. Have gained 90 pounds back in last 2 years. Any other revision people here or former banders?

Good Morning. I am about 6 weeks out from my revision from Band to Sleeve. Doing well but really need a Coach/buddy/pal to keep me accountable. I am following the Beck Diet Solution (Judith Beck) and one of the things I need and want to do is have someone that I can Communicate with at least weekly, before key events, and daily as needed for support and accountability. I want to share weekly changes in weight, successes, receive positive reinforcements, and talk about struggles or setbacks. I also want to be able to talk before high risk situations and discuss strategies for success in these situations (the holidays are coming soon). And I want to be able to reach out to someone if I struggle on a given day. I would in turn be most happy to be your coach/buddy/pal/mentor and help you with the same. I want accountability, trust, and support even when I struggle. Bonus if you are doing the Beck Diet Solution or are willing to, but that is not of course mandatory. Thank you for listening.

no. It has to do with the shape of the sleeve - it causes a high pressure system, or something like that. If you're one of the unfortunate ones this happens to and it's severe, prescription meds may help - or some go for a revision to RNY.

I had GERD since 2010 and took omeprazole daily. 2016 I got the sleeve, didn't affect the GERD one way or the other. 2021 revised to bypass and my Doctor had me take the meds for 30 days post-surgery and then stop - my side-effects after I stopped and the GERD is gone.

After 14 years, I had my lap band removed. I feel good, no post op issues, concerned that I will gain weight. My goal is to eat as if I had my lap band in place. About 6-8 months ago, I began experiencing an increase in acid reflux and symptoms related to GERDs. Two endoscopic exams showed tissue damage due to acid reflux, indications of Barrett's Esophagus, and band slippage. After a daily dose of Prilosec, the second exam six weeks after the first, eliminated Barrett's Esophagus concerns, but confirmed band slippage. Post Op of the lap band in 2005, I lost 105 lbs. Within three years, I gained about 20 lbs and maintained +/- 5 lbs for approximately 9 years to 2014. Leading up to retirement and after, I began the yo-yo weight loss-gain cycle, mostly gain. I am still down 65 lbs post op from 2005, but it has been a struggle. I think the acid reflux and early stages of GERDs was a turning point. I had been considering revision to a Gastric Sleeve for sometime, the removal of the band brought the decision to a head. However, due to the restrictive elements of a sleeve and my recent acid reflux and GERDs symptoms, my surgeon is recommending gastric by-pass over gastric sleeve. After several discussions and a lot of research, we are working toward gastric by-pass surgery possibly in March 2020. I am working on checking all the boxes for Medicare approval. The psych evaluation is complete and passed, in month 3 of the physician monitored nutrition and weight loss program, meetings with surgeon and staff, physical evaluation and recommendation from pcp is in the works. Without the restriction of my lap band, I am concerned about overeating and gaining weight during the transition while my lap band sites heals and Medicare approval.

It's totally normal (it happens to almost all of us) to stall between weeks 3 and 5 post-op. I'm also seeing a trend of stalling again around month 5. Most of the March 2017 sleevers I know report stalling about 5 months out. It's true that revision patients lose slower -- I made a very conscious decision to throw everything I have at losing wait in the first six months. I started exercising (walking) 2 weeks post-op. At month 5, I'm doing cardio (elliptical) 4x a week, weight training 4x a week and doing yoga 2x a week. My calories are hovering between 800 and 1000 a day. As my weight loss has started to slow a bit, I've just started experimenting with Intermittent Fasting. I figure the harder I work during the "honeymoon" phase, the more likely it is that I'll have good habits to sustain me as I approach goal and maintenance.

I'm in KY too. Lexington area. Working on having revision from lap-band to sleeve. I have my lap-band out on Feb 5th....then I have to wait 3 or 6 months for revision. I'm a little confused about what the Surgeons office said about it but I'll hopefully get more clear information soon.

Anyone else a revision of sleeve to bypass like me? Bands to sleeve are everywhere. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@UsernameTaken, I am over a year post-op from revision surgery and overall it has been a good experience. I have not experienced slow weight loss but I think that's a relative term. I have lost about 135 pounds since having surgery the end of 2014 and just stopped losing earlier in February hopefully to maintain where I am. (I wanted to stop losing). I don't regret the decision even though some days have been difficult. I'm not missing the band at all and RNY is much better. I hope the best for you.

I had a soft lift with Dr. So 4 days after I got a sleeve revision. I got Botox on forehead sides of brows crows feet and absorbable juvederm(comes with lidacaine ) in marionette lines ans nasal labia folds for 475.00. It just got home and my friend says wow your skin looks really good. I wanted to see if she would notice... Now she wants to go to Mexico ... Haha

I just got a revision from a failed lap band to a RNY bypass with Medicare insurance and a supplement like you. The doctor's office assured me that I had met the criteria (BMI of 35 with co-morbidity and a three month diet). However, Medicare doesn't do a pre-approval process--you just get the surgery and the office submits the bill and you hope they are going to pay for it! I just got it three weeks ago and the office said no one had been denied as long as they met the criteria, but I'm sweating bullets here..,

Dear all, I had a lapband in 2010, and it did massively kickstart my weightloss and I did get all the way from 364 lbs to 180 lbs. I remember that I was not really explained the refill process and did not know I would have no restriction following the operation, and it took about 5 fills to have restriction. At one point, even yoghurts were difficult to drink quickly. At some points I had to unfill slightly when waterbrash (like reflux, but just water) stopped me sleeping, but I think that was due to too much fluid in the band. I didn't enjoy the process last time - I didn't like vomiting so much, and maybe the band only did half my weightloss and then I started having things to eat I knew would not be caught by the band, i.e. less solid food (ice cream, soup, etc) and calorie-counting. So the second half of my weightloss was pure diet -- but the band did get me over the hump. Now after years of being unfilled, I have allowed myself to go back up to 280 lbs. There are reasons/excuses for this. I had a broken arm all last year and couldn't go to the gym. Finally today I've got an appointment for a refill. As long as it works, I can take the parts of the process I don't like (like vomiting or like suddenly realising you've eaten too much or having a problem when visiting people in their house and finding you're having to spew up in the toilet and the hosts know). And at least this time I know what to expect. So I've read a lot of posts by people who have had to revise the surgery, but I'm looking forward to my refill today and hoping it will work for at least a year to put me right. I can hardly believe what has happened to this forum. I remember before it was bariatricpal and most people were on LapBands and there was a generally positive vibe.

I also had my band put in in 2010. After a year (exactly a year a week) and abysmal weight loss (@25lbs) my doctor discovered my tubing had kinked. He said he needed to go back in to fix it but it happened right after the bliss insurance expired (it is only for 12 months) and I was a cash purchase becuase my insurance doesn’t cover it. He could some how massage my abdominal wall and manipulate tube and get it to fill, but it was always a chance it wouldn’t work. And he wouldn’t fill too much because he was worried he wouldn’t be able to go in and let some out if the kink got worse. Then one day I noticed I would choke/vomit up everything solid, mushy and liquid. I even tried just sucking on ice cubes to stay hydrated. Nothing worked. Ended up at emergency room, doctor was called and greatly reduced band fill. Told me to get upper gi to check for damage and see him in three weeks. He forgot to leave script, came in mail about week later. When I called to schedule my appointment for upper gi a few days later (I was in no hurry since he wouldn’t refill for at least 6 weeks) I was told there was a problem with the script and to call doctor back for correction. When I called back I found out my surgeon had left for a tour with doctors w/o borders to Sudan. WTH. Went to a new recommended doc for a fill in a couple months after and she couldn’t fill it because of the kink. so here I am 8 years later and ready to start again with fills not even knowing if it will work. I called a new surgeon to make an appointment yesterday. I of course haven’t told them about the kinks or my upper gi appointment. That never came to pass. I would prefer a revision, but Medicare will not pay for revision unless there is a problem. Best case scenario is the kink worked it’s self out, it with additional weight gain I doubt it. Or next best for me is there is a band problem and Medicare will pay for revision. It’s kind of sad that my second best option is hoping for problems. Sorry for the length. I just know this is one group of people who understand the frustration. Sorry this was so long.

Long story short: 2010: Band...minimal loss 2011: band slipped, repair surgery past two years...several small slips, reflux, and constant daily vomiting. I did lose weight! ha. but at what cost. Five weeks ago...band slipped, all Fluid removed GAINED 25 lbs. I went out of control. My own fault. Going to Mexico FRIDAY for revision with dr. jaime Ponce de leon He has been very honest...saying he won't know until he gets in there if he can do both procedures (removal of band/sleeve) in one surgery. IF you have had band to sleeve in one procedure...please share. And all good thoughts are welcome! Laura

Thanks for the responses. I am planning on having the revision surgery. Right now, I am just doing the all the preop testing the insurance requires. I have serious problems with my band, so my doctor is pretty certain I will be approved. What I meant by being judged is people asking, "Why don't you just take your band out and do Weight Watchers, Quick Weight Loss, or get a personal trainer?" Ummmm....if that worked I wouldn't have had the band to begin with! They don't understand the battle I have had with my weight since Kindergarten. Any time I have lost the weight, I never kept it off. I have even regained 25 pounds with the band that I lost the first year. It just helps to hear what others have experienced, as I don't know anyone personally who has been through this. The only friend I know with a lapband did very well and has kept her restriction. I am so happy for her, but I know that will never happen for me with the band. Thanks again everyone! I really do love this forum!