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Hi! All I can tell you dr. A is the most caring Dr you will find, but besides that he is also a trauma surgeon which is very important in case of an emergency. In or group there are several patients that had revision done by dr. A Join our group....you will love it! ! Good luck Oh Dr. A does 2-3 surgeries a day.....

Oh the lapband, the first year was great. I was mostly compliant and lost 65 lbs. Then, in one weekend, I thought I was going to die. Turns out I had a slippage with 2 little pouches. So I went in for a revision. I tried my best to hold onto that band. I didn't want to gain the weight back. You know the deal, vomiting all the time, but worst than that, trapped gas. So after another year of all that, it had to come out. Now, 3 yrs later, I'm heavier than ever at 343. In this year I have been down to 313 and back up to this weight. I can drop and gain the same 7/lbs over and over. Water weight. So now I want to thoroughly investigate the sleeve. My concerns are #1: excessive Scar tissue as that was to blame for band removal, #2 do you get trapped gas with sleeve, heck I still have it, and #3: I have Dercum's Disease. Does anyone else have Dercum's and WLS? So can some of you help me make a decision? I'm not doing good on my own. I have severe osteoarthritis and this weight is dragging me down. I thought I had done my investigating with the band but no, I didn't do enough. Really, mostly concerned about Scar tissue... Please give me your thoughts.

When I was banded, I told just my immediate family and my best friends. With my band removal, I told a few more people. With my revision to bypass....I am still trying to decide. I am a nurse and work with other nurses. My coworker who is really overweight, and has diabetes was told by her Dr. that he recommends bypass to help resolve her diabetes. She spent about 30 minutes bashing all WLS surgeries. So, I will most likely keep this revision surgery to bypass a secret until I hit goal and then let them know if they ask how.

I am going for revision surgery with Dr Zavalza on September 4th. I believe I had picked him as he does revision surgeries and has trained under Dr Ponce De Leon. I bet either Dr would be great!

Dr. Altamirana has a FB page with lots of his former, current and future patients on it. He allows full honesty in his group. (one of the reasons I like his group so much, it's not just rainbows and unicorns) Very personable and interacts with us almost daily. I am having revision surgery with him on Sept. 7th. Here is the link if you are interested in checking it out. https://www.facebook.com/groups/dr.altamirano/ We would love to have you join us.

Well, your surgeon is right about 1 thing....Bypass is usually recommended surgery for banded patients. Banded pts tend to have bad reflux issues and if revised by sleeve, it would make that worse due to the high pressure it causes. But for her to leave the band in is ridiculous, plus puts you at risk for future surgery for removal. I would suggest you have it removed at the time of your surgery. I don't know about you, but if I can avoid multiple surgeries, I will. I am sure you will decide on what is right for you. Get a second opinion or 3rd until you feel you have the information that you need to proceed with whichever you choose. Best of luck to you

Hello everyone, I'm new here and I have a question. I just did a revision to Gastric Bypass two weeks ago and now I'm on the puréed diet. The problem I'm having is that, I can not tell if I'm hungry or full. I'm not getting any type of signal. How am I suppose to know when I'm hungry? I asked the dietitian and she said it will come back but right now I just need help finding ways that I can know if I'm hungry or full. It's kind of frustrating because I don't want to over eat or drink more than I'm suppose to and get dumping syndrome or something. Any advice will be helpful. Thanks!

I had the band for 2 years and had problems the last year with it. I had a revised sleeve surgery. The surgery was a breeze, no real pain to speak of. I have been having real hunger pains every two hours. I was eating small amounts every two hours. My doctor told me not to do that it will not help me in losing the weight. I lost 15 lbs. since the surgery which was this past march. What is the amount of protein that should be eaten in a meal? I can eat a 5oz. Yogurt without a problem. But when I eat say chicken I can't even eat any more than 2oz. However I still get hungry at the two hour mark. I have added protein through out the day added to my water. I thought this would help but it does not do what I thought it would do. Should I just work through the hunger pains until my next meal and hope my system will get used to it. What does a meal consist of. Just need some advise. Thanks

When I had my lapband the psychiatrist they sent me to was the most annoying person on the face of the planet. He was totally full of himself and drove me nuts. When I had my revision they tried to send me to him again and I said no way. So they sent me to a different person. Some of them seem like they are in the wrong profession.

I had my revision on June 1st. I do not miss that band at all and I am very happy with the sleeve. I don't miss throwing up every time I eat or drink. I don't miss having that port slide across a nerve and give me a sharp, stabbing pain. I don't miss the giant needles going into my stomach with no numbing first. I don't miss having to go every six weeks for fill adjustments. I had no issues with my revision surgery. I've lost 36.6 lbs in not quite 3 months and my goal is 10 lbs a month. And I can eat chicken again! After my band surgery I could not eat any part of the chicken no matter how you cooked it without it coming right back up.

I had an ablation and my husband had a vasectomy and they still made me take a pregnancy test. I had to take one before and one right the morning of surgery. When I had my revision in June I had to have one the morning of surgery again. I thought it was rather funny. And menopause has been around since 2006.

HI! Having my Revisions surgery, band to sleeve September 2, 2015 in Boston, but I live in Northern RI. Anyone in my area going through this or has recently gone through it? Looking for someone for support and to be supportive to. Thanks and good luck to you!

Having my revision surgery 9/2. Can someone explain about the gas pains please? Is it due to the surgery or something else, and does it go away? How about heartburn? Any issues with that? Thanks and good luck to everyone!!

@@Mojo56 spoke with Dr Bruce and currently BCBSNC doesn't cover the SIPS procedure any longer....so it's plan B for me!!! Which is more research and then a decision on whether to have the revision or not if its not a DS related procedure which through research is successful after a RNY!!

I have only told a few people. My husband, parents, sister, and a few friends. I am normally an open book and will talk about anything but this is my own private issue. I have fought the weight loss battle for so long and don't feel i need to tell anyone else that is not in my circle. I also have family that is very judgemental, and has critized others for having the surgery. I'm nervous enough about going through revision surgery, lap band to sleeve, that I really don't want other peoples opinions on what I have choosen to do to ensure I live a healthier life.

Up until last week I was all set in pursuing a revision to a sleeve.Its new I saw a couple of celebrities Graham Elliot,Lisa Lampanelli and Rosie O Donnell to note.All are first time procedures for them. Ok I felt the same way back in 2004 when I saw Sharon Osbourne and a few other stars opt for the "newest"surgery in WLS at the time the lapband.I was approved for both but decided that the less invasive.Lapband was the way to go.Had the best surgeon who performed bypasses on Al Roker,Star Jones etc...,she and Dr.Roslyn are pioneers of WLS in NY.She offered me the Up until last week I was all set in pursuing a revision to a sleeve.Its new I saw a couple of celebrities Graham Elliot,Lisa Lampanelli and Rosie O Donnell to note.All are first time procedures for them.Back in 2004 I had the option between bypass and the lapband.I immediately opted for the lapband ....not taking into account the fills/u fills and slippage.The procedure was new and long term data was not available such as RNY. Big mistake!!!!I lost about 40 pounds initially and the fills and unfills were not wonderful and I never achieved the right fill.I started to not be able to handle several types of foods so I developed involuntary bulimia.One day I could eat a salad the next day I would violently throw up.Going to restaurants were a nightmare...a secret nightmare ...I would have dinner and have to go to the ladies room because I would need to throw up.Years of acid reflux and just fighting with my weight was a losing battle.....I developed PCOS,insulin resistance...pre diabetic...gall bladder attacks,had it removed,high cholesterol returned,developed breast cancer in 2012 And the chemo had steroids and oh boy ...gained all the weight back.Indigestion and chronic acid reflux plus port pain and stomach aches and bloating.I am miserable. My friend who is extremely obese just had sleeve surgery as well as her daughter.It is there first WLS.It seems to be working for them.(2 months)She has lost a good amount of weight but has a long way to go.She feels great so I was all in...I spoke to her last week and she told me that one day she wasn't able to eat one of her small scheduled meals because she was very busy at work....she got home famished and had egg salad she ate a bit to quickly and felt like throwing up but said that slime and bile came up.AHHHHHH....by the way she doesn't know I have the band....she experienced what I go through almost every day. My stomach is lap band abused I have all kind of gastro tests because my esophagus and stomach is a mess...The reflux rules out the sleeve for me.I would hate to make that mistake.It is not reversible,long term data is not available and on a lot of other sites I am seeing people who have had the sleeve complain of increased acid reflux...its .worse with revisions,ulcerative sleeves,leakage which can cause infections and inadequate weight loss.Some are seeking yet another revision to RNY.I am not going to put myself through this with my lapband abused stomach.Cutting out 85% of my stomach which can't be reversed is not appealing to me.I will opt for the Good Standard once and for all the bypass....the data is there and it is the Gold Standard.No more fad procedures for me.

Hey toler48 Up until last week I was all set in pursuing a revision to a sleeve.Its new I saw a couple of celebrities Graham Elliot,Lisa Lampanelli and Rosie O Donnell to note.All are first time procedures for them. Ok I felt the same way back in 2004 when I saw Sharon Osbourne and a few other stars opt for the "newest"surgery in WLS at the time the lapband.I was approved for both but decided that the less invasive.Lapband was the way to go.Had the best surgeon who performed bypasses on Al Roker,Star Jones etc...,she and Dr.Roslyn are pioneers of WLS in NY.She offered me the Up until last week I was all set in pursuing a revision to a sleeve.Its new I saw a couple of celebrities Graham Elliot,Lisa Lampanelli and Rosie O Donnell to note.All are first time procedures for them.Back in 2004 I had the option between bypass and the lapband.I immediately opted for the lapband ....not taking into account the fills/u fills and slippage.The procedure was new and long term data was not available such as RNY. Big mistake!!!!I lost about 40 pounds initially and the fills and unfills were not wonderful and I never achieved the right fill.I started to not be able to handle several types of foods so I developed involuntary bulimia.One day I could eat a salad the next day I would violently throw up.Going to restaurants were a nightmare...a secret nightmare ...I would have dinner and have to go to the ladies room because I would need to throw up.Years of acid reflux and just fighting with my weight was a losing battle.....I developed PCOS,insulin resistance...pre diabetic...gall bladder attacks,had it removed,high cholesterol returned,developed breast cancer in 2012 And the chemo had steroids and oh boy ...gained all the weight back.Indigestion and chronic acid reflux plus port pain and stomach aches and bloating.I am miserable. My friend who is extremely obese just had sleeve surgery as well as her daughter.It is there first WLS.it seems to be working for them.She has lost a good amount of weight but has a long way to go.She feels great so I was all in...I spoke to her last week and she told me that one day she wasn't able to eat one of her small scheduled meals because she was very busy at work....she got home famished and had egg salad she ate a bit to quickly and felt like throwing up but said that slime and bile came up.AHHHHHH....by the way she doesn't know I have the band....she experienced what I go through almost every day. My stomach is lap band abused I have all kind of gastro tests because my esophagus and stomach is a mess...The acid reflux and damage it caused to my esophagus rules out the sleeve for me.I would hate to make that mistake of not choosing the right procedure for me.The sleev is not reversible,long term data is not available and on a lot of other sites I am seeing People who have had the sleeve complain of acid reflux....worse with revisions,Ulcerative sleeves,leakage which can cause infections and inadequate weight loss.Some are seeking yet another revision to RNY.I am not going to put myself through this with my lapband abused stomach.Cutting out 85% of my stomach which can't be reversed is not appealing to me.I will opt for the Gold Standard once and for all the bypass....the data is there and it is the Gold Standard.No more fad procedures for me.

I am so nervous about my surgery, tomorrow. I have been on clear liquids since Wednesday (5 days total). The only part that has been bad is that nothing but liquid comes out and there is so much rumbling (not the hunger kind the intestinal kind) and you never know if its just gas or you have to go to the bathroom. I had heard about this post op but I didn't know it happened pre op. Plus, the weakness from not having any nutrients. I can't understand why I can't have protein shakes - it's clear liquid only. I have made a few different broths, but that seems to be what gets my intestines in an uproar, so today I won't have any broth - just water, Powerade and ginger ale. Ginger ale has been a life saver. I'm even drinking the regular - not diet. So, I think it's the sugar thats helping. I wish I could drink it post op. I hear a lot of you complaining about the drain - my Mom had hers n for 3 months! She originally had the sleeve and everything went great with that surgery. But, she had been having horrible Acid Reflux and even throwing up from it. So, in April they revised it to RNY and repaired a Hiatel Hernia. Well, she had every complication that they warn you about. First a staple slipped - it wouldn't stay in the old scar tissue. So she needed complete digestive rest to heal the leak, so they inserted a pic line to giver her nutrients (TPN). The Pic line cause infection and her stomach was filled with abscesses. She had to wear the drain until the infection all drained out. She was in and out of the hospital during that 3 months and was staying with me in between hospital stays because someone had to hook up her TPN everynight. She finally, was taking off the TPN and put on soft foods and went home at the end of July. But, she still gets tired and is still working on getting her strength and stamina back.

Up until last week I was all set in pursuing a revision to a sleeve.Its new I saw a couple of celebrities Graham Elliot,Lisa Lampanelli and Rosie O Donnell to note.All are first time procedures for them. Ok I felt the same way back in 2004 when I saw Sharon Osbourne and a few other stars opt for the "newest"surgery in WLS at the time the lapband.I was approved for both but decided that the less invasive.Lapband was the way to go.Had the best surgeon who performed bypasses on Al Roker,Star Jones etc...,she and Dr.Roslyn are pioneers of WLS in NY.She offered me the Up until last week I was all set in pursuing a revision to a sleeve.Its new I saw a couple of celebrities Graham Elliot,Lisa Lampanelli and Rosie O Donnell to note.All are first time procedures for them.Back in 2004 I had the option between bypass and the lapband.I immediately opted for the lapband ....not taking into account the fills/u fills and slippage.The procedure was new and long term data was not available such as RNY. Big mistake!!!!I lost about 40 pounds initially and the fills and u fills were not wonderful and I never achieved the right fill.I started to not be able to handle several types of foods so I developed involuntary bulimia.One day I could eat a salad the next day I would violently throw up.Going to restaurants were a nightmare...a secret nightmare ...I would have dinner and have to go to the ladies room because I would need to throw up.Years of acid reflux and just fighting with my weight was a losing battle.....I developed PCOS,insulin resistance...pre diabetic...gall bladder attacks,had it removed,high cholesterol returned,developed breast cancer in 2012 And the chemo had steroids and oh boy ...gained all the weight back.Indigestion and chronic acid reflux plus port pain and stomach aches and bloating.I am miserable. My friend who is extremely obese just had sleev surgery as well as her daughter.It is there first WLS.it seems to be working for them.She has lost a good amount of weight but has a long way to go.She feels great so I was all in...I spoke to her last week and she told me that one day she wasn't able to eat one of her small scheduled meals because she was very busy at work....she got home famished and had egg salad she ate a bit to quickly and felt like throwing up but said that slime and bile came up.AHHHHHH....by the way she doesn't know I have the band....she experienced what I go through almost every day. My stomach is lap band abused I have all kind of gastro tests because my esophagus and stomach is a mess...The reflux rules out the sleeve for me.I would hate to make that mistake.It is not reversible,long term data is not available and on a lot of other sites I am seeing People who have had the sleeve complain of acid reflux....worse with revisions,Ulcerative sleeves,leakage which can cause infections and inadequate weight loss.Some are seeking yet another revision to RNY.I am not going to put myself through this with my lapband abused stomach.Cutting out 85% of my stomach which can't be reversed is not appealing to me.I will opt for the Good Standard once and for all the bypass....the data is there and it is the Gold Standard.No more fad procedures for me.

Technical failure would be a slip, erosion, pouch dilation, etc., for the band. If you've got Cigna, that's the insurance I have, and I eventually won my appeals after my surgeon did a peer-to-peer with their medical director. Like I said, even though my insurance required a technical failure of the band, I was still able to get my revision approved without one. It just required more work to get it approved.

I have had the band since 2004... Miserable and fat again...want a revision to bypass.This band is awful.

First, you have to look at your insurance requirements, to see if there are any restrictions regarding a second WLS. Then, visit a surgeon (look for one that is highly experienced with revisions) to find out the status of your band, whether it has slipped, etc. Make a note of all possible complications that you've experienced. In my case, I had severe GERD because of the band and couldn't tolerate any Fluid in the band at all. I was also on my second band because my first one had slipped badly and had to be replaced. Make a note of any obesity-related comorbidities that you may still have or that have developed since having the lap-band. I'm not going to lie to you, it can be an uphill battle to get a revision, unless you're experiencing something urgent like a slip or erosion. Generally, even if your insurance allows it, you'll have to meet all of their requirements for WLS again, and even then, you might have a fight. I'm having my revision to RNY tomorrow, and it took almost 8 months for me to get approved by my insurance, since I had to meet all the requirements again AND fight them for 3 months for approval, since they were trying to deny me because there wasn't a "technical malfunction" of my band.

Veronda I am 7 weeks out from my revision and I feel exactly the same as you!!! It must be band related, because I feel amazing since having it removed. No food intolerance issues and I can actually eat healthy foods without trying to work around the band and reflux issues. I can sleep without choking and my cough is just about gone, from my years of reflux.

I am beyond miserable! The band was the worst thing I ever did to myself!

I am miserable with this band....I want a revision to bypass.I have Horizon NJ Health.What is the process for approval..I have gained all the weight back,acid reflux,hiatal hernia,PCOS,post breast cancer,pre diabetes,high cholesterol...lithe list continues....I have Horizon NJ Health mercy. Sorry I meant band to RNY!!!!!