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You should go to the section of the board where people tell their stories. There are so many of us who have had revision surgery because there is no other way to put it. The band sucks. There is nothing good about it. Feel free to ask me anything.

Tricare is about to start approving the sleeve, and my revision from band to sleeve was covered 100% by Tricare. Our MTF/Hospital here is doing sleeves all the time and they are covered by Tricare as long as you meet the eligibility requirements. BMI, co-morbidities, and so forth. There are several MTF/Military Hospitals across the nation that are performing the sleeve and they are being approved and covered. Don't give up ! ! !

Thank you all for your replies. I have decided against getting the fill back as I do not want the same issues to reoccur at some point and run the risk of either having a bigger unfill or losing the band all together. I cannot afford the cost of a revision surgery (I was a self-pay). The band is at a much healthier place today than a year ago with it on the loser side. I feel healthier, eat healthier. If this means I have to accept myself at 199lb instead of 190 or even my lowest weight ever of 180 lb, so be it. I was 270 lb six years ago. I would have been tipping the scale at +320 lb today if it wasn't for the band. I have to keep reminding myself that the enemy of good is better.

Hello All, I have been a long-time lurker of those boards but am posting for the first time in need of some advice and support. I have been banded for about 5.5 years now. I have originally lost about 90 pounds from an all-time high of 270 lb and had gone down to 180 lb by the end of the second year before slowly settling for 190 lb for a couple more years after that. The issue started last year. I hadn’t gotten a fill in over a year and a half at that time and that last fill (only 0.05 cc) helped stabilize my weight at 190 lb and prevent further weight gain. I was starting though in the last few months to feel really tight, pbing on a regular basis because I was eating in a hurry, not chewing enough, etc…, had mild heartburn occasionally, etc… As I was feeling uncomfortable with the constant PBing and the “tight” feeling in my chest and stomach, I had a tiny unfill of 0.05 cc for fear of doing permanent damage to the band and losing it. This settled all my band and stomach problems right away. 14 months later, I no longer struggle with PBing, heartburn or the uncomfortable tight chest feeling, feel great and all around healthier (I am able to eat more and better). On the negative side, I found myself gaining another 15 pounds over those 14 months, 6 of which I was able to lose through good eating and exercise, putting me at around +- 199 lb. I am posting because I have been thinking for a couple of months about getting that small fill (0.05 cc) back. This is a big decision for me, not only because of my past issues with that last fill, but also because I live 2,000 km away from where I had my surgery so getting a fill/ unfill costs me a good +$500 to fly back and forth. I have tried for many years to have a WL centre here do my fills/ unfills but they won’t see me because I had my surgery done elsewhere. I am also not sure I want someone other than my regular doctor do my fills/ unfills. So my question to you all: is should I go for this tiny fill back or not? I know that at my current fill level, I will not have any issues with my band for many years to come as I am on the loser side of things (though still have good restriction but can eat around the band more that I was able to with the tiny fill in). I am struggling with weight gain though and need to be very careful with every bite I eat to prevent any further weight gain. On the other hand, with that tiny fill back, I am confident I can get back to 190 lb and stay there effortlessly, but will have to suffer more eating wise. I also worry that in the longer term, I would do permanent damage to the band and thus either have to have a much larger unfill for things to settle down or revision surgery like I see happen to many long-term bansters. And this is a risk I cannot tolerate at this point as I live far away from my surgeon and have no money for any revision surgery (I was self-pay). Any words of advice/ support would be most appreciated. Thanks, Seldom

Revised from the Lap Band (ugh) to the Sleeve on 4/22/13... total loss since surgery 29lbs... Dr says I'm doing great, I thought I was going slow... I finally came to the realization, that I didn't put on all this weight in one day & I can't expect for it to come off over night... Even if it takes me a year, I know I will do it

Though I have not traveled for that length of time post op, a few suggestions that helped me on my relatively short sojourns were to plan ahead. I always travel with a few bottles of Water to stay properly hydrated and to help stave off hunger if it's too soon to have my next meal. Keep healthy Snacks with you in the event that you are delayed with having your next meal. Nuts travel well and don't need refrigeration. Be careful to continue to watch your portion sizes, and get some exercise as often as it is possible. The most important thing, as Cheryl shared is to revise your thinking about food; yes you will be traveling to exotic places...but is the local food really the main reason you are there? How about looking at the local customs and scenery your priorities, along with your research the priorities... Safe travels...

Didn't your doc send you home with enough pain meds? I'd try and continue with what he prescribed until you can eat normal foods. Like FatToPhat said, I'd act as though I'd had the full plication again foodwise. Long term NSAIDs are fine after plication. You can't have them after RNY ever. I had sublingual painkillers for the first few weeks post op, so I'd check with your surgeon if they're OK before you're allowed solids (you don't wanna mess up your revision).

I had a band in 2006. Lost about 40 pounds and was doing ok with it. Bnad slipped in 2014. Was removed and rebanded Jan 2014. I Ive had nothing but misery with 2nd band! Gained almost 15 pounds since 2014. Nausea, food getting stuck, port pinching. Im going for consult to revise from band to sleeve. My current BMI is only 31 though. Wondering if insurance will decline? Im now pre-diabetic, along with severe sleep apnea and other comorbidities that qualified me for the band to begin with. Did you experience any problems with approval?

Ditto - 3 WLS first a band in 2013 lost all the weight but complications set in and could not eat or drink and the band came out in May 2015. Gained 30lbs and different surgeon did sleeve on 21 December 2015. Complications and blockage due to scar tissue from the very start, never moved from clear liquid stage. Weight 46kgs but had revision to bypass on 9th May as could not eat or drink. Think I will make the Guinness book for bypass at the lowest weight ever (lol)

Revision VSG to RNY due to Gerd. From the beginning of the revision process, I've lost 78 lbs in 7 months, and it is much faster & easier than before revision. I'm currently losing steadily 6.5 to 9 lbs a month. I've passed goal and slowly trying to work up to maintenance calories.

I did SIPS on 12/11 as my only surgery not a revision in the Chicago area. Very pleased with weight loss. Off insulin pump and only on 2 pills a day for diabetes. Lost 50% of excess weight in 2 mos. very pleased with my results so far! SIPS procedure 12/11/17 SW 307 CW 214 GW 160

((hugs)) Sorry about your miscarriage and happy about your 2 children. If it were me, I would do 2 things now. 1. Go see my WLsurgeon and get them to send me to a nutritionist and a therapist in that order. Start the 6 month documentation with the therapist now. Get to finally working on the eating behaviors that are keeping me heavy and down. Get all of my blood work done to r/o thyroid, endocrine issues and/or underlying medical conditions. 2. Start working on getting an approval for revision to DS and find a surgeon in my network that can do that revision surgery--not all surgeons will or can do revisions to DS or RNY. Honestly, at this present weight and with the problems you had losing to goal with the VSG and if it was me, I'd go nuclear on my weight. DS is THEEEEEEEE most effective wl tool from a malabsorption standpoint--especially given what I think may also be the emotional/psychological eating issues associated with the regain and present weight. BTW, no judgement here. We all deal with emotional/behavioral issues with food relationships that simply MUST be fixed if we want to have any hope of losing and keeping the weight off long term.

I'm a revision gal. Banded in Mar of '07, revised in May 2013. BEST decision I've made. I'm down 52 lbs and am in a size I've not seen in 30 yrs. I feel like my revision results are what I hoped for when I chose the lapband. I will say that I think the thing that has had the most impact on my results for me is the change I had made by having the band. Completing the lifestyle change hasn't been as difficult as I was expecting. I still have some struggles, but the 'grieving' of food hasn't been as bad I thought it would be because of the many changes made by having the band. Best of luck to all of those revisionists. Work the plan, love the plan, BE the plan.

Had my surgery on july 8, 2014. I was a lapband to sleeve revise. (No issues with the band....simply tired of the inconsistencies) Highest weight before band: 334 Lowest weight with band: 243 Sleeve surgery day: 230 Not trying to focus on all negatives here because i am only 8 days out. Just providing insight to those pre-sleeved and looking to find similar stories like mine so far. --Ask for pain and nausea meds per IV PRIOR to waking up from surgery. I had a horrible experience because they failed to do this. --Take liquid meds if possible. Crushing pills are not tasteful in the least no matter what u mix them in. Don't learn the hard way and get a pill lodged the same day you come home and have to return to the ER!!!!!! Very painful and unpleasant. --Gas pains are real. Be prepared. I am 8 days out and still feel the aftermath of those bastards. --Don't get so discouraged if you feel hunger after surgery. I am one of the ones who doesn't feel hunger at all and i am having a horrible time getting in any amount of nutrition. In turn, i have absolutely NO ENERGY. And constantly out of breath. (keep in mind i am usually fairly active and can keep up with most anyone) this is very emotionally and physically draining. I don't want food and if i think i do...i am a half a bite in and i hate it and waste EVERYTHING put in front of me!!!!!! --Unless you have a desk job.... Take the time needed off of work. There is no way possible i would be able to return to work 8 days out. My job is fairly active and labor driven. I wouldn't make it an hour at this point. I would recommend 2-3 weeks minimal to those who are on their feet and moving a lot. --Have plenty of pillows for comfort. They are your friend. --Do not overload yourself with Protein powders before hand. I cant even stand the smell of protein much less the taste at this point. Buy it as needed and variety is key. --keep faith despite every hardship. Its a journey...... U can cry if you want to. Nothing worth having is ever easy. Good luck to all sleevers and revises!!!!!!!!

I had band to bypass revision on 12/22. I was fine by the next day and went home from the hospital. Had no problems with liquids. Was walking around. Only needed pain meds at night before bed and the occasional Tylenol. Was off pain meds by the first week post-op. I had a little soreness but nothing too bad. No nausea. Gas pain was gone by about day 3. I took off 3 weeks from work bc I do 12 hour shifts that require physical activity. I could have gone back at 2 weeks. The first week, the main problem was fatigue and weakness. I took a nap every day. Once I could start eating more real food, I had more energy. I have young children and was able to take care of them the first week. Recovery from this has been better than the band for me.

Ok, I am revising the Mexico v US problems poll so we can evaluate people who have been banded for 2 years or more.

Hello Straber, I'm happy you are doing well now. It's sad to hear of stories such as yours. More so when the complications occur and the surgery happened to be performed abroad or outside of the US. I understand what you mean about not having a local doctor to help you. I, on the other hand did have my procedure performed in Monterrey, Mexico by a great surgeon. A patient that I met on the day of pre-ops had complications after her surgery, which was performed right after mine. She had breathing problems coming out of anesthesia, she vomitted alot, had horrible gas pains and went home in excruciating pain, weeks later discovered an infection at her port site. Her infection remained for a few months. She phoned our doc. He sent a prescription to her for antibiotics and followed up with her weekly. She finally healed. Recently, she made an appt with a local doc to have her first fill. To her dismay, the doc discovered that her port flipped. They tried an "L" shaped needle to get to the port, but to no avail. After spending $299.00 for an eval with no fill, she contacted the doctor about her flipped port. The doc was more than happy to revise or correct the flipped port at no extra charge. She only had to pay for the flight. Since then she's alive and well and with a fill. She's still losing. She's happy and her problems were addressed by a doctor who cared. So yes I do understand that complications can occur but we have to do our research on our docs before we use them.

Anyone here been revised from a band and had Aetna insurance? Is it hard to get approved?

Jas Lap band in 2012, revision will be December. Diet 1st time around involved counting protein, eating protein first, a lot a protein shakes... Had my nutrition "class" and they did not once mention protein. No joke. They believe it is an old school way of thinking. That as long as you eat real food, measured out, you will be fine. No shakes after week 2. No eating every 4 hours. Eat 3 meals per day, no snacking. I'm confused. I thought I knew what to do. Now I don't. What have you found to be the recommended plan? Sent from my SM-G920T using BariatricPal mobile app

I had mine on a Wednesday and went back to work on the following Monday. My surgery was 7 hours due to revision but I do have a desk job. Was just feeling tired and still feeling effects of anesthesia. Take as much time off as you can. A week is pretty good.

Congrats on being sleeved and it sounds like you are beginning to feel pretty good. Glad your revision went well and was a success! Kelly

Your incisions are looking good! Totally different places that mine though. Of course mine was a revision from sleeve. I have one directly inside my belly button and one on the right side of belly. The others are all below my belly button. mine was also done robotically. I see another little cutie back behind Bruno. Did he get to go for a walk too? actually the more I look I think your incisions are about the same as mine were for sleeve.

I'm very happy with my sleeve. My sister in law had the GB (and two revision surgeries) and has regained all her weight, despite have horrible malabsorption and dumping issues. She's given me some great advice on how to avoid sliming and vomiting, unfortunately she's knowledgeable about it because she has such tough issues of her own! I'd do the sleeve again in a heartbeat, but I'd rather be fat than have GB or RNY. I know that because I waiting years for a new procedure that wasn't GB or RNY to appear on the horizon. After learning about the sleeve, I feel like angels are singing and the sun is shining! Yes, I'd do the sleeve again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So many of us feel the same way. I was banded in 2006 and was scheduled for a revision to the sleeve in May 2016. I woke up bandless and sleeveless due to adhesions. I have a new surgeon who will be doing my sleeve on Oct 2016. I'm so very scared but more scared not to... It's normal...ask as many questions about HIS mortality rate, research online what you can about him and most importantly compliance is key... I told myself the same things I'm saying to you All the best! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

What you're feeling is perfectly normal. I'm feeling it too. I was banded in 2009, was successful, but this year I went in for a fill and they suggested for me to have a revision to sleeve instead. I think that's the new way doctors are handling band patients these days, regardless whether they are having problems or stalls. They unfilled it and of course, I gained about 20 lbs. while waiting for my revision surgery. I had Dr. Martinez for my band but have since moved, and am going to have my revision on Sept. 2, 2016 with another doctor. I wish it was with Dr. Martinez as I always had faith in his capabilities and judgment... I guess it's just a long way of saying "I'm scared too." *big hugs* You will do just fine, and so will I, let's just keep reminding each other hehe.