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Yes, I also have Medicare (Oregon) and my insurance coordinator was going to process the paperwork afterwards and send it to them. I'm 2 1/2 weeks out now. I had to sign a form with the understanding that I had to pay the fees involved if for some reason medicare won't pay for it. She also said that she's never seen Medicare not cover a slipped band to sleeve revision, they always cover it. Guess I'm lucky! Good luck!

Hey!! I was just sleeved on Friday with Dr. Aceves and hard to believe its almost been a week! I was having revision surgery and my research took me to him. I had to pay a bit more for the revision but would do it again in a heart beat! All of his doctors took the time to meet with me before surgery and explain what their job is and how they will take care of me. I was so impressed with this! Dr. Aceves also took the time to learn Devin's name which impressed me. I do know a few others how have been with the other surgeon and they have rave reviews as well but I can tell you right from point of contact with Nina and Karla, to having Ernesto pick us up and drop us off and the nursing staff / doctors it was the best decision. Alana

He's referring to a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy... also known as a Vertical Gastrectomy. Basically, it's the first part of a DS... with no intestinal rerouting. 80% or so of the stomach is removed... and one is left with a long tube like stomach. It's a restrictive-only operation that has shown good results. Some people who are considering a Band may go for this operation, especially if getting regular fills would be a problem for them. It's also a popular revision for Bandsters who lose their Band for whatever reason, but don't want to go for a new Band, RNY, or DS.

I had gastric sleeve in 10/2013 and even with following the diet plan I still felt hungry, cravings don't go away and the sleeve allows slider foods and sweets to go down without complications and I now have GERD. I lost 63 lbs of the 100 lbs I needed to lose and have slowly been creeping back up. I am in the beginning stages of having a sleeve to bypass revision. Only you know what's best for your situation but I just wanted to share my experience. Good luck.

It's not a guarantee you won't get gerd after getting the sleeve. That being said I also had heartburn at the end stages of both my pregnancies and the occasional heartburn after eating certain foods or overeating right before bed. It never occurred when I was thin so I determined that the cause was the abdominal pressure. I have not had any reflux or heartburn since my surgery, not to say it won't happen in the future but so far so good. Talk to your Dr. in depth about your concerns and ask him/her how many revisions they've had to do because of gerd so you can make the most educated decision you can.

<br><br>Sorry MeginNOLA, perhaps try again? I revised the link after I had problems with it, you might have used it before I got it changed... When I click the link I get the abstract downloaded to my download folder.... I am also signed in to the Thinner times site, perhaps that is it....anyway, interesting info...

@@autumn23242 I keep having pains in the gallbladder area too and my pcp keeps mentioning that we may have to remove it. I never thought it may make the gastritis worse. I'm so glad I've resisted! So does the pH test just end up telling u what u should eat? I love my sleeve too but if I was told I could have a revision. To escape this pain I would in a heart beat!

So glad to see other tough baby boomers here! I'm 63 and am having band to rny revision on Monday. I went to the hospital this morning to have my pre-op tests done and to finish the paperwork. Nervous and excited! I wonder how much our age factors into complications and recovery. Any ideas? Good luck Glennr--you are just a few days after me. Vicki had her surgery yesterday. Granny, you are an inspiration and give me hope for great results--even at our age!! (don't you just love that expression...)

God bless you, Irene! You have been through an awful lot in your Quest to achieve a healthy life. My story is similar to yours, just not the sleeve part. I had the band put in 6 years ago, and went to see my dr wanting it OUT after years of trouble. The nurse asked if I had considered a revision, and here I am 3 weeks away from my bypass surgery. Like you, I suffer from reflux and heartburn, so the sleeve was not my best choice. I feel like over the years it has become more documented that the sleeve can cause heartburn or reflux to increase, but perhaps it just wasn't a common side effect when you had yours? Either way, like you said, what's done is done. I wish you success in finding relief. This board is a fantastic place for advice and stories.

I feel like my band to sleeve revision is giving me a 2nd chance. I had the band in 2008 and did really well the first year to 18 months until I got a fill that was too tight. From there I went downhill, eating slider foods and my bad habits all came back to where I gained almost all my weight back. I'm 4 weeks out and I'm back to the beginning eating healthy and small portions I know that I'm going to have to work hard but I feel like this gave me a second chance

Each person is very different. I was banded in February 2012 and only lost 25lbs and then over the next two years gained 75lbs. Had lots of issues finding the green zone, gerd etc. Finally found new doctor and ended up doing revision to Gastric sleeve July 1, 2015. I have lost 42lbs since surgery. My dad had lapband and shortly after I did in 2012 and he lost well over 100 lbs and has kept it off. I just say choose the surgery for you and not just due to one be permanent or temporary as I did originally. Each surgery will have pluses and minuses. Good luck with what you decide!

I'm scheduled for June 21st. I'm having a band revision. I just hope they can do both in the same day. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I agree with Matt. Also, as a revision surgery you are likely to not lose as quickly someone who is having a bariatric surgery for the first time. Let your body heal and follow the program and you will see results!

My biggest fears are: 1. Dying- I am the breadwinner for my family, have two young children, and two elderly parents with dementia I take care of. I need to be here because there are a lot of people counting on me for pretty much everything. 2. It not working- I feel like I hear so many horror stories of it not working, or people losing only a small amount of weight before nothing happening. I know it generally works, but you can’t help but be concerned that you might go through all this for nothing. 3. Regain. This is not my first rodeo with weight loss. Over 10 years ago I lost 150 lbs (without surgery) and had an amazing experience being “thin” for the first time in my life with all the accolades, pride, etc that comes with it. Only to gain it all back plus a lot more. I am doing everything I can to try to make this time different but I’ve done it to myself before and I’m terrified I’ll do it again. 4. My freaking insurance finding some dumb loophole to deny my surgery that they submitted for last week! Or Covid causing elective surgeries to be cancelled again and my husband losing his job that has the Bariatric coverage medical insurance before they resume surgery. Or basically some new reason that I get denied after so many years trying to make this work. 5. Complications: a leak, chronic issues, being nauseous forever, a clot, having to have the surgery revised later due to gerd, or any other issues that I can think of. So basically what are my greatest fears? Everything, it looks like. Ha!

Hi. What was your post-op/recovery like VSG versus RNY? Oddly, I am seeing more people say their recovery from RNY was easier. I went back to work 3 days after my VSG in 2012. I will be taking 4 weeks off for my revision because I am older now (lol) and because I can (have the work availability to do so) - having a six year old and husband also that I'll still need to care for. I have a desk job and work from home, so am glad I'll be able to return to work in that atmosphere at least.

I just had my revision surgery today and had the band on oct.22.2012. So no fill till today. It is uncomfortable but hoping it will get better and I start losing soon

Haven't had this problem but like BLERDgirl said, potassium could be a factor. Another big factor could be dehydration! Dehydration can cause muscle cramps as well as a whole myriad of other things. Make sure you're getting as much Fluid as possible in your newly revised stomach.

Just want to clear up a few things. 1. Having bypass does not mean you won't be able to eat regular food. I have been eating in restaurants since 4 weeks post op. I can eat whatever I want, that does not mean I should nor do I. 2. Both surgeries will ultimately achieve a high weight loss as long as you follow the plan 3. Both surgeries are invasive - with the sleeve they actually remove 85 percent of your stomach which means it cannot be reversed. With bypass they reroute your intestines so that you have malabsorption which is intended to help with weight loss 4. Both require you to take supplements and have labs checked on a regular basis do life. Adjustments to Vitamins are determined by how you are doing on those labs Most people choose bypass at the recommendation of their doctors because it cures both Reflux/Gerd and diabetes. Many times the sleeve and lap and actually make reflux/Gerd worse and in many cases those surgeries can bring it on. If reflux/Gerd gets bad enough it requires a revision to bypass anyway. Leverage your surgeon to help you decide what is best for your health history. They really are experts and can help guide you. It is definitely more than a personal decision in my opinion and requires a deep dive by experts in your health history. If you search this site for revisions to bypass you will see a lot of posts from people that have had to get s second and third surgery because they ended up with erosion and Gerd that had to be dealt with. My recommendation would be to research until you are comfortable with your choice. Good luck!

Yes I do take biotin and use a shampoo that is supposed to block dht and prevent hair loss. I had sleeve in March 2018. Started losing hair then and never stopped losing it. Praying that I don’t lose more with this revision! i meant that I don’t have to take calcium and iron separately

Do you have to get it removed? Is it currently causing problems? Would it be possible to get it completely unfilled for a while and see if that helps? There are people out there that thought their bands were not working and they have gone to a different Dr and things have been successfully sorted out. Wound site infections are relatively common but they are not a deal breaker. Generally they are easily cured. The acid reflux is a problem but is it possible that your band is too tight? Do you currently have fill in it or is it empty? I would want to ensure that I had explored every possible avenue to get my band to work before having it removed especially if I wasn't intending to have some sort of revision. I see that you are new on here - have you had any kind of support previously? If not there are lots of people here with lots of experience that might potentially be able to suggest something that helps. It would be nice if it would be possible for your esperience to be able to be turned around from a negative one to a positive one so if there is anything we can do to help or any advice that we can offer please let us know. If not and your surgery is already scheduled then all the best - I hope it goes well.

Amber- I have a revision date on 2/4 as well. Maybe we can compare notes afterwards

Congrats! So happy for you! I love my (revision to) sleeve too!

I had the band installed in 2011. I did ok with it, had lots of little problems, and in the long run I lost 70ish and that was it. I had the band removed and revised to the bypass on the 21st of March of this year. Down 69.1 lbs since starting my pre-op diet. I'm the lowest weight I've been in like 18 years. I honestly wish I went with the bypass instead of the band back in 2011. Very happy with the bypass thus far.

I'm from a little further east of Indianapolis, about halfway between Indy & Richmond. I had Dr Margaret Inman do a lap RouxNY at St V Carmel on Jan 31, 2007. All went well and I lost to my goal weight within 8-9 months or so. I maintained that weight as I struggled with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (both of which existed prior to my WLS). About six and a half years after my surgery, I began dropping below my goal weight for no apparent reason. It wasn't super long until I began vomiting nearly everything I ate or drank. I returned to Dr Inman's office where they told me they suspected that I had an ulcer. A large ulcer near the gastric outlet was confirmed with an endoscopy, and because my weight was down to 104#, I had a PICC line placed and received home therapy of TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition) a double sized IV bag containing a milky solution that infused over 24 hours. That, along with IV Protonix was just the ticket! It wasn't an overnight thing, but after 8 weeks, I was able to eat and drink without any nausea or vomiting, and I was gradually gaining weight to get back to my goal. That was the weirdest thing ever! I'd worked hard to LOSE weight my whole life, so working to GAIN it seemed crazy to me! Anyway, all of that resolved and I was doing well with my WLS issues. The Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue were rampant, tho. Any type of stressor gets that all jacked up! About 18 months ago, I started having vomiting troubles again. An endoscopy showed that the ulcer remained healed, but that the outlet was constricted. They stretched it by inflating a balloon inside it. That seemed to help for a couple of weeks, or maybe a little more. I tried altering my diet in an effort to resolve the problem, without success. Another endoscopy showed the same thing, and another dilation of the gastric outlet temporarily fixed it. This past October was the last endoscopy I had, with the same temporary stretch. In November I had an imaging study to follow the liquids & solids after I swallowed them. The radiologist said the gastric outlet was very narrow, and my pouch was "generously sized" as a result. Also, I'd gained about 40# over the last couple of years. So... the decision was made to do a revision of my RouxNY and resect the area of scar tissue that keeps tightening the outlet. I had all of the workup done and attended my pre-op nutrition class. I'm scheduled for the revision surgery 10 years to the day after the original surgery, and I'm soooo hopeful that it will be a big success! I believe my Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue were "stirred up" from the couple of major surgeries within a year or so, as well as the big weight loss and nutrient deficiencies from the ulcer! I feel like I've got a second lease on life! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi Y’all! My revision from sleeve (2014) to Duodenal Switch is set for 5/20/2019! Im on my 3rd day of preop diet. All liquids has been really hard. Hope to keep up with all the May 2019 peeps...I’m excited for this second chance! :) Melody