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Hello. My name is Jenny and I have posted on here around the time of my surgery back in August of 2010. I'm not really sure where to post this but I'm guessing that the "General Lap Band Support is the right place because I do need support but I also want to share my story. I was banded on August 24, 2010 by Dr. Luis Reyes. On my pre-op diet I had lost around 10 pounds and on the day of my surgery I weighed 220 pounds. I recovered quickly and an appointment was set up to see Dr. Reyes in 1 week's time after my surgery. During that first week I drank nothing but pain medication in liquid form, chicken broth, and Water and could only drink all these liquids from a 30 ml medicine cup and it would take me about 45 minutes to get it down. I thought all this would surely drop a few pounds and it did. I went from 220 pounds to 217 pounds in about 3 days, but when the 7 days were up and I was set to go to my appointment I was 224 pounds. While in the doctor's lobby there were other patient's that either had lap band or gastric bypass and they were all excited and I found out that they were also there for their 1 week check in and they were all on cloud 9 saying "I already lost 10 pounds. I have lost 15 pounds. I have lost 20 pounds in a week!" some of these were lap band patients saying this. They seemed so ecstatic about the weight loss and I was happy for them but then I thought about my reality of gaining 7 pounds when these people had lost all this weight in 1 week after surgery. I got called in and was weighed and I was so embarrassed when I saw 224 pounds and I had to fight to keep the tears in. I was sent to a waiting room and when Dr. Reyes came in he discussed my weight and I guess at this point he mentally pinned me as a patient that was going to be noncompliant with the surgery's rules and the diet. He regarded me with suspicion because of my weight gain and I told him I was doing everything the rules stated and he told me that the gain was probably due to swelling. I went on my way and made an appointment to return in 1 month. In the middle of that month I was given the thumbs up to start exercising lightly so I chose Walking off the Pounds with Leslie Sansone and did it about 4 days a week for 40 minutes. I was still in the stage 1 of the eating menu and was slowly making my way to stage 2 and was feeling good. I got down to 212 and I surprised that I had because I was also in the middle of finishing up my last year of nursing school and it was pretty hectic. I was so excited that I was 212 because it was the first time I had hit that number in about 12 years.....but it didn't last. I kept with the same exercise regimen and transitioned fully to mushy food when I got the okay to do so by the doctor's office and the weight began to stagnate at 212 pounds and then slowly crept up all the way up to 224 pounds again. By the time my 1 month appointment came around I was furious and annoyed by all the happy people in the lobby proclaiming that they lost this amount of weight and that amount of weight. I was almost in tears when I saw the 224 pounds on the scale and thought "don't cry. the doctor will know what is wrong with me. he'll know why I'm not losing weight." I had my mother with me at the time and even she wanted to cry because of the anguish I was going through and she was also frustrated that the weight loss was not happening. The doctor came in and shook our hands and asked me how everything was going and I blurted out. "I don't know what's happening. I don't think it's working" and I think he took it as a personal attack on him and his work which I didn't mean it to be. It was out of my desperation. I told him what had been happening. That I got down to 212 then all of a sudden I was 224 despite the dieting and despite the exercise. He proceeded to cut me off mid sentence and told me "It's your fault. You must not be following rules. You have to change your eating habits or it's not going to work." and I furrowed my brow in disbelief and just stared at him and finally said, "No. I'm following the rules. I'm eating nothing but liquids and soft mushy foods. I stop when I get full. I try everyday to get in 60 oz of water a day. I'm exercising as much as my surgery allows me to at this moment. I'm following the rules but I keep on gaining!" He talked over me and told me, "Stop drinking the sugary drinks. Stop eating the candy. Stop drinking the cokes. Stop eating the chips. Stop eating the pizza because this is why you're gaining." And I looked at my mother for help because there was no point in telling him again that he must be talking to the wrong person because I am not cheating and I'm following the rules that he set for me. My mother told him "Look doctor. Before she had the surgery and when she was little I let her eat whatever she wanted, but this surgery was big and I don't think she would throw this all away to cheat. I live with her. When she's cooking her food I'm there in the kitchen as well cooking for the rest of the family. I watch her. She does not cheat because we both want this to work." and it was the God honest truth. I wasn't cheating. I did have cravings when she was cooking for other people I would resist tasting and leave the kitchen immediately and would be successful in doing so. So he told my mother "Does she have her own room?" my mother said yes. "Does she go to sleep after you go to sleep or does she stay up late?" and my mom said she stays up as long as she wants to stay up. And mind you I'm 26 years old and a nurse and he still treated me as if I was a child. then he told my mother "well, ma'am. that's it. there's the problem. She's sneaking in food late at night while everyone else is asleep. The candy, the Cookies, the sodas." At that point, I zoned out and was unresponsive to anything else he said after that. I hated him for accusing me of behaviors that I was not exhibiting. After that he decided that what I needed was a fill. It was my first fill and he told me I have a 7 cc band and he put 2 CCs in that day. He made me left my own feet so band can protrude out making it easy for him to eye the port underneath my skin. It was hard holding up my legs especially as an obese person. He saw me struggle. Then he poke and prodded me with the needle and hurt my with each stick. and that was that. He sent me out, I went home, drank some Powerade, couldn't keep it down, couldn't keep my own saliva down, and ended up having to have a cup with me for more than 24 hours to puke my bile into. I called the office and told them that I needed an unfill and they told me I couldn't come in right away that I had to wait til 2 pm and I had called around 10 am. I was miserable. I went in and they weight me again after a day and I had gone down to 217 pounds and the lady that weighed me was all "OMG! 2 pounds in 1 day! that is awesome!!" if only she knew the hell I was going through in that 1 day. I was told that Dr. Reyes wasn't in because he was busy at the hospital and I would have to see his colleague Dr. Garza. When I began talking to Dr. Garza. He actually sat there and listened to me and didn't interrupt me while I was talking. I told him that it wasn't working and that I was having more difficulty trying to lose weight than when I was trying to lose it on my own without the lap band. I told him I was following at the rules and he told me "well, it's different for everyone. but I don't want you to give up. Keep trying and if nothing helps then come in and we'll try to figure out what's wrong." So then he got me ready to removed 1/2 cc from my band and he actually had one of the ladies come in and hold up my feet for me which was so much more comfortable and when he stuck me with the needle his hand was steady and gentle and it didn't hurt. But what surprised me the most was how after I got unfilled he sat me down and gave me a a tiny cup of water and told me to take my time drinking it and if it goes down without any complications I was free to go and if it didn't then I'll come back in and I'll readjust you again. I wanted to cry because Dr. Reyes didn't even care enough to do this for me. He just told me bye without testing if I could drink and keep down the liquids after having my band filled. So I went home and I could drink and eat but less which was how the band is supposed to work. I lost about 2 pounds and ended up going back to see Dr. Reyes. He told me he didn't know what was going on but not to blame the lap band because it's the patient's job to to work with it. So I went to my main doctor and there was this new PA there and she diagnosed me with hypothyrodism because of my symptoms of not being able to lose weight and stuff and I went back to Dr. Reyes and told him I had hypothyroidism and I guess to him this was the reason I wasn't losing weight and he seemed to become nicer after I told him that. So then the PA calls me to tell me to buy some potassium pills to take with the thyroid medication she gave me and I did because I finally thought that the reason for not being able to lose weight was finally revealed. A couple of days later my doctor called me and told me to come in and when I did he told me that he had fired the PA because she was diagnosing multiple people with diseases they didn't even have and prescribing medications for these "diseases" so he told me that I don't even have hypothyroidism and told me to stop taking the pills that the PA gave me. So I was at square 1 again. Around this time my enthusiasm started to dwindle. I didn't care about losing the weight anymore. I didn't care about exercising. I didn't care what I ate. I thought what for? I'm a failure. I've been doing everything right. I followed the rules and maybe it just wasn't meant to be. I stopped going to Dr. Reyes' office and now weigh 230 pounds and have weighed this much for months. I recently went to the my main doctor for a 3 month check up and saw my weight at it was 232 pounds and something just clicked...that I need to continue losing weight and get rid of all the negativity and let go of the past. There was a time when I thought of revision to gastric bypass or gastric sleeve but I don't think that I could do this all over again. So, I'm trying to become more positive and I feel like this is my time to really lose the weight this time. Without the band. The band means nothing to me anymore. And one day I want it removed. I'm not focused on it anymore. I'm just focused on eating healthy and exercising. I'm currently doing the 17 day diet by Dr. Moreno and doing turbo jam and/or zumba 6 days a week and I have lost 10 pounds so far and contribute nothing to band anymore. It's all me! and will only be me. I would still like to come here on these boards for support on my weight loss journey though. I find that music really helps in situations and I just wanted to share a song that resonates with me and relates to my lap band situation with my doctor and everything and wanted to share it here. You can look for it on youtube. It's Called Monarch by Natalie Walker.

Hello, I'm Kim Harris and I've had the band since early 2010. Althouh I loat weight, I've had nothing but problems from the get-go. A year and a half ago I was diagnosed with a Sjogrens, an autoimmune disease similar to lupus, which causes joint pain and fatigue 24/7. I just received word today from my surgeon that insurance has approved the removal of my band. I am praying that removing the band improve my health with respect to my autoimmune condition. I considered having a revision to a gastrectomy but metal staples would be yet another foreign object permanently placed in my body for my body to reject and continue the autoimmune response. When I saw your poat about how you had just had your band removed and you feel so much better (and weight loss on top of it) I had to ask what you were feeling and problems you were having that prompted the removal of your band? And did you have any revision surgery? I'm wanting to know if there are others who developed autoimmune conditions after lapband placement, and if they chose to have the band removed, did it improve their autoimmune symptoms/conditions? Thank you for sharing your post-op improvement; it gives me hope that I haven't had for many months now. I wish you continued improvement in your health. I am interested in knowing what problems yiu experienced with the band and what has improved thus far. I'm new to this site, so if you have posted this info elsewhere, I would appreciate a link. And by the way, my daughter in law works for an attorney and we were juat discussing this very topic yesterday of lap band compllications and how they are so hard to prove for a jury to actually have enough concrete information to find in favor of a patient. Her attorneys won't even look at medical cases unless there has been loss of limb or life. So, don't be too optimistic on finding an attorney for lap band complications (I have no idea what your situation is; you may have something an attorney would consider.) Kim

Wow! It is like we are twins. I had everything you have had except the spleen. Its been 4 weeks since my band removal and revision to bypass. The weirdest thing is that my inflammation in my hands is almost gone. My reflux is gone as well thank God. The surgery wasnt bad at all. Its really a week of uncomfortableness. My pain level never over a level 4. Im working my new pouch. There is restriction. I dont have much stamina. That should come back in a few weeks. I have lost 33 pounds so im thrilled. I was off of work 3 weeks. I really cant wait to do my blood work again and see where i stand with my lupus and RA. Good luck and you are going to feel so much better soon

Hello, I'm Kim Harris and I've had the band since early 2010. Althouh I loat weight, I've had nothing but problems from the get-go. A year and a half ago I was diagnosed with a Sjogrens, an autoimmune disease similar to lupus, which causes joint pain and fatigue 24/7. I just received word today from my surgeon that insurance has approved the removal of my band. I am praying that removing the band improve my health with respect to my autoimmune condition. I considered having a revision to a gastrectomy but metal staples would be yet another foreign object permanently placed in my body for my body to reject and continue the autoimmune response. When I saw your poat about how you had just had your band removed and you feel so much better (and weight loss on top of it) I had to ask what you were feeling and problems you were having that prompted the removal of your band? And did you have any revision surgery? I'm wanting to know if there are others who developed autoimmune conditions after lapband placement, and if they chose to have the band removed, did it improve their autoimmune symptoms/conditions? Thank you for sharing your post-op improvement; it gives me hope that I haven't had for many months now. I wish you continued improvement in your health. I am interested in knowing what problems yiu experienced with the band and what has improved thus far. I'm new to this site, so if you have posted this info elsewhere, I would appreciate a link. And by the way, my daughter in law works for an attorney and we were juat discussing this very topic yesterday of lap band compllications and how they are so hard to prove for a jury to actually have enough concrete information to find in favor of a patient. Her attorneys won't even look at medical cases unless there has been loss of limb or life. So, don't be too optimistic on finding an attorney for lap band complications (I have no idea what your situation is; you may have something an attorney would consider.) Kim

@Chel1 How did your revision go?!

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.

Lucky Me I was lucky enough to be on my cycle in 2005 the day of Lapband and also in 2014 the day of Lapband revision to Sleeve My cycles since surgery 2014 have been really weird I have a cycle for ONE DAY.

I am just the day before. I had my band out 2 years ago but my dr is still calling in a band to sleeve revision. Good luck! Good luck to you as well!!!

I read this thread from start to finish over the course of two days. I am so impressed by you ladies. You have worked so incredibly hard and you are an inspiration. Thanks for being open and honest because I have found it so good to know that not everyone just drops to goal effortlessly. I am just beginning my journey but I have subscribed to this thread for inspiration. I promise not to post here until/unless I become a slow loser ( except for this one). I also read the regain article one of you posted a couple pages back. It talked about how some people need a revision from their first surgery to get to a healthy BMI. I am already trying to be open to that possibility. Have any of you considered a revision to get you there, if you have worked so hard for 2 or 3 years and are still having trouble? I know for me, I hope the sleeve works on its own, but I am trying to be open to the idea that I might need to revise it to DS if I eat pretty much perfectly for a couple years and still don't get there. I tried on my own to keep weight off for so long, and finally decided i need medical intervention. I suppose more medical intervention would not be the easy way out, just the same that getting the sleeve isn't the easy way out. What do y'all think about it?

Just an update. I had my band removed on April 6 and revised to a Gastric Bypass at the same time. This was the best thing I ever did for myself. I am so happy with the results and realize now that I should have done this a year ago. I had trouble with the band since day 1. I had a lot of scar tissue built up around the band and it was rubbing against my liver. I am enjoying life so much right now. I am sleeping through the night which I haven't done in over a year with the reflux and pb'ing every night. It even gave me pneumonia once. And I can EAT. I am having to be careful because I am od'ing on fruits and vegetables which I could not eat the entire time with the band with the exception of bananas and pureed veggies. I have been able to eat everything I have tired without any issues. I love my bypass. I haven't lost much since surgery (20 pounds) but I am near the end of my journey. It's been a long 3+ years but so worth it.

Kiki -- Welcome , I'm pretty new here myself. There's loads of info and support! Please stick around! And congrats on your success! Denise -- The caramel nut chews are in the snack/treat category. I haven't tried any of the Atkins protein bars, yet. I'll have to try the nougat for sure, thanks! I, too, have a problem with constipation. As a matter of fact, I've not been quite right since being banded May 9th. But it definitely worse since I began low carb. I tried some Miralax today, so I'm playing the waiting game for now. I mixed shook it to death in a bottle of Diet Green Tea and it dissolved into nothing! (Which is great because I have a huge texture-phobia and the slightest hint of grain on my tongue would have had me heaving!) Sure hope this stuff works. That could drop off a pound or two! Renewed -- the nutritional content I gave you earlier for the Caramel nut chews are a bit different from the box i just picked up at walmart. And the price was MUCH cheaper.The one I ate earlier was sold as a single at CVS and almost twice the cost per bar. Maybe the pack I just bought is the new revised version? The calories are a bit lower, everything else a bit higher, net carbs are the same. Go figure.

Hi London! I'm in East Orlando too! what kind of revision are you having done? Who is your surgeon?

Hi guys! I am in East Orlando and I had my surgery with Dr. Teixeira in March 2015, I'm having an endoscopic suturing revision done with him on March 1 to combat some weight gain from a stretched sleeve (my fault [emoji21]) I highly recommend Dr Teixeira and would love to get to know some local sleevers for support this time for sure, as I think it may have impacted my success to try and go it alone last time! SW-293 Low- 192 CW-218 Goal-150

Looking to have band to sleeve revision, will be self pay. Would love to find a surgeon in the Huntsville, AL area. Any suggestions would be helpful! How long will it take from first appointment to surgery date, what is required for self pay as far as preop tests, psych evaluation, preop supervised diet etc

I thank you for this. I have given it more time. I’ve been eating healthy and exercising. This has only gotten me to maintain my current weight. I would do the reset as you suggested but it was extremely difficult when I did it preop and trying it now, although somewhat easier after the ESG, is still a struggle. I’m honestly kind of stuck in limbo here. I have looked into a very reputable surgeon in Mexico who is highly skilled at performing revisions. I wanted to achieve greater weight loss and believed that ESG would do that. The only benefit I’ve experienced was the initial 10 pound loss and then maintenance. The trama you mentioned is more mental trama. I feel like such a failure and it’s because I didn’t get anywhere near my goal. I hope that getting a gastric sleeve the results will be a greater weight loss. It will come with hard work and more pain and discomfort, I’m prepared for that if it means I will finally feel comfortable in my skin. For me, the physical pain would have been worth the weight loss. I would have traded having more pain and discomfort with the ESG for a losing more weight any day! Thank you so much for kind words of concern. I hope to find continued support here with whatever decision I make. I’m leaning towards getting sleeved though. I’m tired of the mental struggle.

I had the RNY, poop smell depends on what I've eaten, some days it's normal, other's... it's down right foul. I keep a bottle of Poop-purri in my desk for work poops. I'm using PatchMD patchs, my Vitamin D is low, but it was low before surgery (the joys of living in the north) so I take extra Vitamin D supplements, but all other blood levels were within normal ranges. For me, I was revised from the Band to RNY, I didn't have the choice for the mini. But between the 2, if the mini has more complications than the RNY... I would have chosen the RNY if I had the options.

Kat817, I have a very very similar story. It was nice to read a familiar tale. When my hair grew back after chemo, at least I knew what was happening. Nobody mentioned the possibility with the band. Thats what made me so angry. Not to mention that there still is no definitive professional explanation for it. Like you, I did EVERYTHING I was supposed to do. I took every suppliment known to man. I drank the disgusting tea, I rubbed on the lotions and potions, etc! Made me crazy! I am having revision surgery next week and will just expect it to fall out again. Oh well. Maybe its time for a change. Warmly, Christine:)

Hi. I am getting ready for replacement or revision due to being left overfilled for several years. At this point I am completely unfilled in order to settle things down but the daily throwing up (not full vomiting but more than just PB) really took a toll on my stomach, esophogous, and nutrient levels. I'm just chiming in to wish you luck in getting this resolved and urge you not to wait too long like I did because other problems will result. Be persistent about someone figuring out what the cause is and listening to you. I have been unfilled now for a month and have maintained with just a three pound weight gain. It is worth it to feel like a normal person again and I am looking forward to moving forward this Thursday with a replacement band or revsion.

Hi ladies, its been awhile since I last posted. I seen the doc. today and decided to have my band removed. I was scheduled for port revision in april and the week of surgery changed my mind. I should be having surgery in the next few weeks. I feel its the best choice. The past year and a half have been difficult, I was vomiting, burping excessively, coughing and basically unhappy with the whole thing. I'm still taking my Water aerobics class and have lost 10 pds. I'm getting stronger and now taking classes on saturday. they can vary from kickboxing, zumba, ect. ladies keep up the good work. Sandy

Hi All, I'm not near you but Spokane isn't super duper duper far away. I've been known to drive there once or twice! I'm in Olympia, WA and I was sleeved on October 7, 2013. It was a lapband removal--revision to a sleeve. I'm feeling really great. So great that I don't even believe I got my sleeve! I wish, wish, wish there was a support group here for sleevsters because I just don't know what I'm doing with this thing. I'm still on liquids until November 20, 2013 so that part isn't so fun but I'm back at work and doing my workouts and the incisions are all but gone. I really do feel good. Michelle Olympia, WA 43 yrs old HW 372 CW 188 GW 143

Sorry Jane13. My profile had a few errors - never paid too much attention to it. I was not a lap band revision. My first and only surgery was the sleeve. I think it took me about six months to lose 120 lbs.

I had an MGB in Tijuana with low BMI and am now below goal weight. Yeah! But I recently developed bile reflux, which is quite serious, so I will be revising to an RNY next month. If I had to do it all over again, I would go to Dr. Esquerra at Mexicali Bariatric Center for an RNY. I encourage you to contact him for a consult to hear what he recommends for you post-ESG. Even if you chose another MX surgeon, it is helpful to talk to 2-3 to ensure you make the right choice of procedure for you and your situation. Please remember that WLS is just a tool. It is a great way to reset your metabolic rate but all of the surgeries can be eaten around, leading to regain. You need to get your head on straight for long term success; you may find therapy a useful tool to help you address your emotional eating tendencies. Good luck.

I am a year out from my revision to RNY and can only eat half a slice. I ate a full slice once that sent me down for 2 hours🤢🙁. I do however make pizza bowls and they are delicious !!! ( all the toppings sauce and cheese oven baked)

no. The RNY is the stronger of the two surgeries, so I'm not sure why anyone would do that. there are people who revise from RNY to DS, though - and the DS features a sleeved stomach. So in that sense, yet. But just to a standalone sleeve, no. I've never heard that.

I am wondering how common it is to have a revision from bypass to sleeve? I see a lot of the opposite.. I had my bypass done 7 years ago and lost 125lbs, got down to 145lbs, then got pregnant within the 1st year. I am now up to 215lbs and the dr said my stomach is still the right size but the opening into the stomach is very large now. They have suggested and scheduled this revision from bypass to sleeve for Oct 14th. Hoping to find others who have had this type of revision.