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@@Dallas Powell What really rubs my ass the wrong way is the way your surgeon keeps giving you at a minimum bad advice, at worst he is blatantly lying to you. I guess the whole "Do no harm" thing means little to this guy. It's possible he was trained in some third world shite hole and knows the bare minimum about surgery. I chose my surgeon as he was a 14 year Navy combat surgeon. He did four combat tours, combat surgery is about the most intense training a surgeon can get. I have a good friend of mine in NY who is a GP. We used to golf together, have dinner and just sort of hung out. I have no idea why but we just clicked. Anyway, I was going on one night at dinner about how residents are treated horribly and work for near slave labor wages. He became VERY upset! He explained the whole process of being a resident is to work in the absolute worst possible conditions, and make the right choice every single time. He said the harder the residency the better the doctor. I had never thought of it like that, but he is right. If you can make split second decisions with imperfect information and save lives, the complete control and relaxed atmosphere of an surgical suite must seem like a vacation. This brings me back to your surgeon, he made a decision or several when he was operating on you. Those choices were obviously not the right ones. It's time for him to man up and explain to you what he did wrong and pay the piper. What he is putting you through is ridiculous. I am a big guy and have no problems intimidating people. You are even bigger than I am. You must be very calm, if it were me, he would be scared shiteless when I saw him. Not that I advocate kicking his ass (although the personal satisfaction is hard to deny) but learning everything you can about the surgical procedure, and asking him technical questions. For example, "Doctor, what was the port size of my antistomosis?" "How long a Roux did you use" "Which surgical procedure did you use to route the alimentary limb?" Answers should be, 10mm, 150 cm and there are a number of routing techniques used to route the interior plumbing. Another interesting question, "How many staples did you use?" I personally have 3400 of them. I nearly fainted when my surgeon told me that. But he explained the logic and it made sense, he went way out of his way to seal off my old stomach to prevent a fissure. If you get some general, I have no idea how many staples I used answer, I would be alarmed. My surgeon, did not even think about it. It is his SOP. Get out of town find a reputable Doctor at a reputable Center of Excellence and have him scope you and see what is going on inside. Revisions are becoming very common, why? Numbers. RNY GB was the most popular surgery for so long, millions of people have had it done now. Many are 20 even 30 years out, and need a bit of tightening up. It makes sense. Read the history of the RNY GB it is an amazing read, remember this started in the 1960's! Granted a lot of people died, but the surgery is so well known now, there are no variables. Every single one should yield the exact same results simply because of the level of refinement the procedure has gone through. Lastly consider this, my surgeon explained to me that a RNY GB is, as far as severity, about a major a surgery as open heart surgery. It's major. Very major. Time to get answers, then a lawyer and sue. Sue him for two reasons, one to get money, that is how the legal system dishes out 'justice' second, if his insurance lets this get to court, you stand a good chance of ruining his career, not out of malice, but to save the countless future victims this tool is going to mess up. If you have the means to get to Long Island, North Shore University Hospital is as good as it gets. Further, if there is ANY complications, some of the best hospitals in the world are within a 40 minute drive. North Shore is NY's ONLY Tier 1 trauma center, well fully ranked, they are tier 1 from neonatal, through all age/sex groups through very old people. Best of luck to you my friend, please post back and let us know what your next move is.

Before I met with my surgeon, I was leaning toward the sleeve. One reason is I have a friend whose husband was very successful with sleeve. The second was I felt it was less complicated and therefore safer. Then I decided I would let the surgeon decide because of my high BMI and well the doctor was surely smarter than I about the various surgeries. So when I met with him he recommended Roux NY gastric bypass because of my really high BMI, my admitted outrageous sweet tooth, and because bypass is actually safer than the sleeve. He explained that with the sleeve a large part of the stomach is completely removed with lots of staples holding together the new stomach. It's a smaller but long stomach so there is more area for possible leaks, infection. He also explained the high incidence of gastric reflux with the sleeve. I have just over the past year (before surgery) developed GERD. That is one of the most unpleasant experiences of my life. The surgeon said that with gastric bypass, no GERD. If you had it before surgery you would have it no more. Immediately. I liked that. So we agreed on gastric bypass all the way around. Remember the friend who had the success with the sleeve. Well I called his wife to tell her I was having gastric bypass and she started warning me of changes I would face and said, did they tell you will get acid reflux? I heard her husband in the background say no, that only happens with the sleeve and he is thinking about a revision to gastric bypass. So that is my long story. I had surgery on October 26, 2015 and I feel better each week. I feel better about myself than I have in decades. I'm so glad I did this. Oh no more GERD. Not ever. My blood pressure is back to normal. This is really a fine thing to do!

Hi all , Just registered on here , I am having Band to Mini bypass revision on Friday after 5 years of the hideous band and an absolute nightmare! I am SO worried after reading some of the posts that the surgeon will say when I wake up that he couldn't do it due to scar tissue :-( Is it more common than not for that to happen does anyone know ? Or not that often? Thank you in advance :-)

Hi all , Just registered on here , I am having Band to Mini bypass revision on Friday after 5 years of the hideous band and an absolute nightmare! I am SO worried after reading some of the posts that the surgeon will say when I wake up that he couldn't do it due to scar tissue :-( Is it more common than not for that to happen does anyone know ? Or not that often? Thank you in advance :-)

This is a good video that explains why revisions might be necessary. Posting what you eat in a day, if you track, the macros might help. How much Protein, carbs, fat? If you go on liquids protein and meat for 2 weeks, do you lose weight? I would never lose weight if I followed what my Dr office has on the list of foods I can eat. There are too many carb items included. I eat low carb/high fat. It is hard to get the fat in because my protein intake is so high, but I lean towards fats over carbs. I'm not suggesting you eat how I eat, but most plans include a lot of carb items, that you can easily avoid, especially if you want faster weight loss. So tell us how you are eating and maybe people can make suggestions.

So you talked about some follow up appointments early out. Have you been following plan since? Excercising? Tracking Protein,calories and carbs? Or did you just give up when you were losing too slowly? Speaking from experience as a slow loser, you gotta just keep at it. When things aren't working, then you change them up until you see progress. I dunno. Maybe you have been doing everything by the book. Can you honestly say you have? If so, I would definitely look into a revision to a bypass or DS. Good luck!

Ladies you are awesome! Seriously I feel so blessed to have found you here, I feel like I am finally understood and I am not alone who has gone through it. Pinkgirl, I am the same way, I only had 3 people in my family that knew about the band, I want to keep it this way for the revision.... I will have to come up with some excuse for work, maybe I will just say I have to take care of some medial issues and just have my dr give me note etc. not sure yet how to handle it yet but I will deal with it once I will have it scheduled. How are you doing today? And wow 80+ lbs? That is awesome! Great job! I am preparing myself that it may be a mess in there with scar tissue as well, when I had lap band surgery I also had hiatal hernia repair so I am sure my dr is going to have a hard time as well, but hope it will be worth it to go through it all... I've suffered with lap band for so long and it was all for nothing.

I'm only down 77lbs from surgery....started at 297. Not doing nearly as good as some of you. But I am band to sleeve revision so that might make a difference idk....

Same here...had my revision from lapband to bypass and hernia repair on December 28.....rough...so many scars,swelling and soreness...but no regrets...at all....better days are ahead!!!

Hello I'm in Weirton Wv but was sleeved in Pittsburgh at West Penn it was revision from band

Hello MommyT01 Had my band revised to sleeve there Nov 16 15 any ? send me a message glad to help if I can I'm in Weirton Wv Are you in Pittsburgh area?

Good Morning. I really lost my way and would love any and all advice on getting back on track. I had one thing after another, all great excuses, for the fact that I ate and ate and ate. What I need to know is how to knock it off and really get back on track with proper nutrition, water, following my plan and exercising. I just can't seem to stop myself from eating what I want when I want. I really don't want to gain any more weight and I don't want to be a failure. Please if you have some good and kind advice I would appreciate it. Telling me to just stop eating isn't helping either. I really need to learn self control, but how? I am up to 159. I am a revision to sleeve from lap band. With lap band I got down to 110, which I loved!! But the band slipped and had to be removed. In the time between removal and sleeve I gained up to 155lbs. Then after surgery I was down to 145lbs. Now I am 159 and eating myself to death. I really need to find a way to wrap my mind around things and not feel like I am missing out if I can't eat, that I am going to starve if I am not constantly eating, that I don't need to eat if I am bored or upset or happy, that I don't need to eat because later there might not be food. I really want and need to lose this weight for my health issues. I am out of control and I can't seem to stop myself even though I know how great it is to be 110-120 lbs. How much healthier I am and how good I feel at that weight. Please kind advice as I am emotional and don't need to be chastised. Any tricks that work for you? Any meal plans or exercise plans that are easy to incorporate? We don't have gym on the island where I live so it is home exercises in a small place with no equipment, or walking when weather allows. I definitely use food as comfort and the holidays were tough this year. But I think that part is behind me and I need a plan. If you can help me please...

I didnt have it, but I am on my surgeons patient's Facebook page. I guess you already know that lipo is for many people the most painful procedure. Thighs are tough, I got the small lift which took care of the worst of if, but I thought about revision. It turns out that fat cells are prone to returning to thighs so surgeons said not likely worth it for me. It's ok, I will just never have a real thigh gap is all....

I did a revision from a bad lap band to the sleeve. This has been going on for over 2 months, so I've ruled out a virus and I am 200% sure that I am not pregnant. I have another health issue that causes pregnancy to be very dangerous, so we take serious precautions. I'm starting to wonder if it's from stomach acid?

87 pounds???!!!!wow ...fantastic.Congratulations!!!I need tips please.... I am exactly a week post op....sore as hell...tough revision surgery exactly as yours ...that band really did a job on me!Will try to go to work tomorrow....yes a week out....work....will play it by ear... Ugh a flashback...remember how hungry you would get from the band....I was so obsessed...with food....ravenous...Trying to cheat puke ups....those days are definitely behind me...My poor tortured esophagus will hopefully heal....

The lapband is dangerous....where are the class action lawsuits? This is by far the best decision to revise...definitely no regrets....l'll deal with this pain....minor to that lapband drama... I would not over push....walk as best you can....

Hello, UserName (I LOVE your handle!!!), my name is Sheri and I have also had revision surgery and I had a hard course. I got my band in 2007 as well, and I got mine in Mexico, basically shutting me out of aftercare everywhere. The closest band doctor to me was 50 miles away and he had a real problem seeing patients who had their surgery elsewhere, so he charged us $350 a visit, even if there was no fill performed, and that was after a $950 initial visit fee. My insurance didn't cover a single thing related to bariatrics, so that was not an option for me for years. I found a fill nurse who charged $75 a fill but they were just done in any ol' location that would allow them and they traveled, so if I got a fill that was too tight I had to wait until they were back in the vicinity to get an unfill. Nothing was ever done under fluoro. Needless to say, things did not go well for me post-op. The only reason I lost weight during the first year was because I couldn't keep anything down. Everything hurt when I ate except for tortilla chips with salsa and sour cream (no idea why!) and cream of chicken soup. After the first year I learned what soft carbs I could eat to make the hunger pangs stop but I dealt with my issues for 7 years before I finally got some insurance that would cover a revision surgery. By that time my radiographs were showing a tortuous esophagus and a slipped band. What my surgeon actually found, however, was that not only was my band out of place, it was actually slammed right up against my diaphragm and all of my dilated pouch was in my throat, not below my diaphragm. Things were so bunched up I apparently had nothing more than a pinhole for my "food" to go through, which is why everything hurt to eat. I had to have my surgery done in 2 phases; band removal last December and bypass in April. Although my course was rough, I do not regret it for a single second. I am not ravenously hungry any more, ever. I do get hungry if I don't eat, but it is not that out-of-control hunger I was having with the band. I was told that my weight loss would be slower due to being a revision patient, but so far I have lost 87 pounds since I started the pre-op diet 13 months ago and I feel amazing. I so wish I had just done bypass in 2007. If I had had any idea what a nightmare my life would become with the band I definitely would have gone that route, but no one knew back then just how high the failure rate would become. If you do decide to go through with revision surgery, you will be amazed at just how different bypass is. For me it has been as different as night and day from the band, and I really do feel like I can live this new lifestyle for the rest of my life! Good luck to you in your journey. This community is the best resource I have found for information and support!

Need more info...just had my revision 12/28/15....lapband to RNY...lots of scar tissue.

Hi Natalie, I had a hell of a hard surgery....The surgeon said there was so much scar tissue around the band....Not only did it flip it was pulling my stomach up so I have a new 2" scar about an 1 1/2" from the original...so much for them removing it with a keyhole..,.throuugh the original site...I was cut.My stomach has about 10 stitch/scar points.My stomach is still swollen...distended and so sore! I was released the next day...they wanted me to stay an extra night but I convinced them I could do it.I went home.It is not easy A lot of pain...I feel as though I was in a bad car accident.The first 3 days were hard....I used the Toridol pain killer pills they prescribed as well as the anti nausea medication.They want you to walk,walk,walk....please ...it is very hard...pain and sleepiness....very tired. Today is my first day off of Clear liquids onto full liquids...I am cautious....had tomato Soup diluted with chicken broth and now the unjury unflavored Protein I added.I also had some coconut Water and finally a small Greek plain yogurt.I am still deficient in my Vitamin and water... As I write I have just had a heating pad on my left side (back).Is that a kidney issue? I have gotta sit here a sip more water.....I went to the grocery store and got some progreso pea Soups and tomato soups .Its hard walking in the grocery store in pain ,looking like a zombie....but that is a way to walk.... I need to drink more clear fluids.... No regrets.... I can't take weeks off from work that is why the holiday saved me ....Tomorrow (Monday) will be a full week since I had surgery .I can't make it tomorrow...no way so I just have to call in.I don't have the finances or seniority to take many days off so I definitely will have to brave it on Tuesday or Wednesday. I am so angry with myself for allowing the failed lapband to just go on and on....I had it in 2004 and from the beginning It failed me....I only lost 35 pounds initially.I struggled for years trying to make it work...It has ruined my insides.I am an involuntary bulimic because.I was constantly thinking about food....what could I eat without throwing up???Hunger like hell and my weight was creeping unsteadily.The worse acid reflux you could imagine....Ugh there were days that I would be so hungry ,ravenous....full of air trying to figure out what I could eat and not slime or puke....chocolate,bread,Pasta,muffins and bagels always went down easy...chicken.vegetables,fruits or anything could set off a puke session...I was soooo hungry 24/7.......my eophagus I was diagnosed as torturous...because endoscopy indicated the root problem.. I am so glad to get this revision to bypass...all though some discomfort..,each day gets better..... You gotta get a revision!They make you jump through hoops but do it!!!! Sandy

Pink girl, How are you doing now? I am new here, had my band since 2007, reading your post was like you were reading my mind. I am currently in the process fulfilling my requirements before surgeon's office can submit to insurance for my revision. All these years I was so scared to go this route but was finally fed up after gaining a lot of weight back I decided I have to face my fear and go through it. At that time I had no idea that there have been so many revisions lately, I was glad to learn I was not alone and wasn't the only one that failed! How is your hunger ? My main problem is that I am always so hungry (not head hungry), I am hoping RNY will help me with this. How long did it take for you to recover? I can't really take few weeks off from work so trying to figure things out, I know each person is different though... Thanks! Natalie

I'm getting the sleeve with a moderate hernia repair. I've had issues with gerd.. Thought I was having a heart attack once or twice. My doctor said there is a slight chance for a revision but will probably be on a acid reducer forever.

Your story is my story ...had my revision surgery December 28.I was in lapband misery since 2004....total failure...revision to bypass and getting that crap out of me is the biggest and best thing I have done for myself in years.The years of torture ,sliming,vomiting,slippage,weight gain....was back fat as ever...Gerd....High chloresterol,PCOS,fatty liver,fear of reoccurrence of breast cancer,joint and muscle pain....flipped ,eroding painful port area...just so many problems....I HAD TO DO IT!Get it done!!!!Take back your body and your health.....do it fast!

4 hours. Scar tissue...revision from lapband to bypass.....problems....

The pain is crazy.The incisions areas all hurt.My insides hurts.I went to a supermarket in my neighborhood that is never crowded so that I could walk.BAD IDEA....in one of the aisles I was bent over in pain....thank goodness my father drove me to and from....I am no longer gonna try to be a super woman! I can't even wear a bra ...every incision hurts.My stomach is so puffy and sore and discolored.I am currently lounging in my adjustable temperpedic bed watching SVU reruns.I am in a lot of pain to say the least. Look at my stomach!!!!!!! Revision surgery all in one is tougher than any other procedure.

@@pink22 you're already on the treadmill at two weeks after a revision?