Search the Community

I think you are starting in right place. I am glad I didn't wait longer. My symptoms are worse everyday. It is still a process due to my insurance requirements. I started in April and hope to have revision surgery by late Sept, early Oct.

I'm still suffering so bad with GERD and my diabetes is way out of CONTROL. Is there anyone that could give me any advice as to how get start the process of getting a revision surgery I can't take this anymore.

I hate to be the one to tell you this but if you have band erosion, your band will have to come out and you won't be able to get another one. I strongly suggest taking it out sooner rather than later before it causes any more damage. It won't stop eroding and will only get worse. Your surgeon will likely advise you to wait at least 6 months for your stomach to heal - depends on the damage done - before getting a revision to RNY or VSG, or try to go it on your own. My surgeon made me wait a year and by then my insurance no longer covered any bariatrics. I was banded in Oct 2007 and my band had completely eroded into my stomach by year 4. It was removed Sep 2011. My surgeon suspected erosion year 2 but took a wait and see approach. 2 years later I ended up in the hospital for 10 days and nearly died. By then the band had completely eroded into my stomach. There are a few reasons why erosion happens but most of the time, it's nothing you did wrong. Your body is likely rejecting the foreign object in your body. They say it happens in 2% of band patients but I think that statistic is old and a lot higher now.

am am 3 weeks out. I have yogurt, blueberries, well chewed chicken (roasted), scrambled egg well chewed, protein shakes and protein puddings. I don't get in all my water but at least 48 ounces (not counting any shakes). I have started to avoid the shakes and eat more of the foods mentioned because I am getting my protein 60g+ that way and feeling fuller than on shakes. I also eat alot of sugar free popcicles and jello when I want to snack (head hunger) so that I am getting few calories and filling up. I feel like I can eat more than alot of you guys mention but I think maybe that is because I am smaller in general pre surgery 166 and surgery 155 (but I was a revision from a slipped lap band). I am really concentrating on protein protein protein and chew chew chew and sip sip sip. Doing pretty great I think as far as following that and staying low in calories and carbs. I just want this stall to end so I can feel some progress in the flesh. But I went through too much to give up. I also feel I need to walk more but that is difficult with my time and schedule. I get 7000 steps (whatever that means) generally each day.

I lived in Colombia when I got my sleeve. I am being revised to RNY due to complications. New surgery in VA. Colombia the country

I too have struggled with my weight my whole life. I had lap band in 2011 and never was able to lose much. I'm having a revision to sleeve in the next few months.

I'm having band to sleeve revision surgery on Tuesday. It will be done in one surgery along with a hiatal hernia repair. I am on week two of liquids and feel ready for surgery. I am wondering if surgery is more painful when you have it all done at once? Any post surgery tips?

Whoa Nelly!! That's a lot of Zantac! Lol What does your surgeon say? I've read if people start getting a lot of heart burn there more likely to have a revision of some sort? Not sure, it's just what I heard

Getting my lap-band revised to RNY was one of the best decisions that I have ever made! There have been ups and downs since my surgery in May but it has all been worth it. I have lost more weight in these last 3 months than I ever did with the band. I am just 3 lbs away from this fabled place I hear of called "one-derland", I can't wait to see 199 on that scale!! I wish you luck on your new journey, you truly deserve some things to go your way after such a long struggle.

Hi Everyone, I would really like to see this thread get up and running again. To all of you original, earlier posters out there - where are you?? I think I have just "ignored" the fact that I'm banded. I have stopped working it, stopped thinking about it (except when I can't eat, which is rare anymore as I'm not filled), stopped seeing it as a tool for weight loss, and have even stopped mentioning it unless medically necessary. I don't even consider myself as a real WLS patient anymore. However, I am just fooling myself. I have joined and quit weight watchers 3 times since I've been banded (February, 2008) and have not lost a pound, been on numerous reduced calorie diets and have not lost any weight, seen a dietitian for years and even currently have a trainer and my weight has even been slightly increasing. Been told my metabolism is shot. I'm trying (again) for a revision with my insurance company. I was denied last October. I remember what happened when I was approved for the band back then - my confidence, motivation and self esteem returned. My drive grew and I found it easier to make better decisions about what I ate. It was a new day! Calling fellow banders for support and camaraderie! Where are you?

I'm doing a revision on Aug 18th. My band has been a struggle for 7 years, and I'm now 30 lbs from my highest weight. Can't wait for the sleeve.

Did anyone have the sleeve to RYN at a normal BMI? I developed Barrett's and severe acid and bile reflux and am revising sometime in December. I'm only a year out of sleeve surgery and will probably be around 140lbs (currently 150) at surgery and am 5"5'. I just remember how hard it was to eat anything for so long and I'm having a hard time figuring out what having bypass is going to be like at a normal weight.

Hi! I am a former lap-bander who revised to the sleeve in April. I had my LB for 9 years and at the end of the day i lost 26 pounds total with it. I did a revision and I am very happy with it. Id do it again in a heartbeat!

Hi Dub - I didn't have my before and after posted because even though I was successful at losing the weight with the Lap Band, I had to have it removed due to erosion. It's now 4 years later and I have regained most of the weight. I am working on getting revision to VSG later this year. But I keep this picture around for inspiration - I WILL get there again!

OMG are we the same person?? Lol. I was banded in 2010 again in 2013 and revised to bypass 7/31. I am having no issues either and am nervous. I have even eaten eggs already with no problems. I am hoping because I had sooooo many issues with the band reflux sticking always hungry could never eat without vomiting it up..... This just works better for me.

My surgery was Oct 3 2014. I am 5'7" and I weighed 338.3 lbs when I started my pre surgery diet. As of today I am 205, less than a year out. I had the band and I do not exercise (bad I know). Everybody is different but this is my story so you know that it's not slow for everyone. I do not regret my band to bypass revision one bit!! Even with my complication and paying for it out of pocket.

I had lapband on 5/29/2013. did great first year. lost 81 lbs. but last july the band slipped a tiny bit which caused constant reflux. the reflux killed my esophagus. the final year I was unfilled and every attempt to put some fill in caused my esophagus to spasm. my doctor decided on the revision and I was certainly up for it. post op I have done remarkably well. no complications at all. not even the gas. I am able to drink without problem and take in enough Protein. it's sorta scary that everything is good. I feel like the shoe is going to drop. I look forward to interacting with everyone. I was pretty active on the lapband forum. does anyone know how to change my surgery type on my profile? I have tried everything. thanks

It is just a pipe dream at this point, anyway, because the insurance company specifically said that I had to be at a 40 BMI for 5 years. I've been reading that the mini gastric bypass is not as expensive in Mexico. That might be the (only) option if I want a revision.

I had the revision in April 6. And I've lost 44lbs in 4 months. Nothing is happening so fast

Were you at goal weight for your revision?

OMG! I found out last week that I was finally approved for my band-to-RNY revision, but I wasn't able to get my surgery date immediately. Well, I called a few minutes ago, and I'm going to have my RNY on Monday, August 24th! Holy crap! Now I'm officially freaking out, because I have to get all of my medical clearances done ASAP, and I have to buy my mom a plane ticket so she can come stay with me!

I am sorry to hear about all your problems with your lap band. One individual in our bariatric support group had a lap band to RNY revision. His band began eroding into his stomach. So it had to go. When they did a RNY, his pouch was slightly smaller than most RNY patients because of the scarring. It meant he had to eat a little less than most. He lost a lot of weight and was very pleased with his revision.

Wow that is quite a story you have shared! I was originally interested in a band, but my doctors at the Mayo Clinic no longer do that surgery. My next choice was a sleeve, with possible revision to a biliopancreatic diversion and duodenum switch. Then they told me they like to do that in one fell swoop, so I decided to go for it. A month before my surgery, I met with the surgery team again, and they strongly recommended a bypass. I was not too tickled with this, yet I chose to put myself in their hands. They did well and I am very pleased with the results. The first day I was up and walking I was still a bit sore, and I felt so powerful! Since then, I no longer have high fasting blood glucose levels (no more diabetes) and have dropped 19 pounds.

Hello everyone, my name is Mona. If you look at my profile and history, you will see that I was active here since 2007, when I had the band placed and thought it was the answer to my prayers. I WAS WRONG, SO WRONG! I included my story below, long story short, I am getting the band removed and revised to the RNY. I would love to have some support as I take the plunge into this very important and life-changing "revision decision." I wanted to get the band removed and have the gastric bypass done all in one surgery but my bariatric doctor, Dr. Daniel Fang in Phoenix, wanted to do an endoscopy first to make sure I did not have erosion before planning the 1-step procedure. Although I did not have any erosion, (Thank God!) unfortunately, he found that my band has somewhat slipped, so I have to get the revision done in 2 surgeries, the first of which will be done next Tuesday, the 11th of August. He will remove my band and my gallbladder, since I have developed gallstones since my band was placed, then we have to wait 3 months to do the gastric bypass portion of the surgery. I had no idea that my band had slipped, I haven’t had any symptoms at all, so it was a very big surprise when he told me about the slip. For those interested, here is my back story: I had the Lap-Band (AP Large, 14 CC Band) installed in December of 2007. I was so insistent upon having the Lap-Band and did not even want to hear about or entertain the idea of any other form of surgery or option. I was convinced that it was the safest and only way to go for me. Hindsight is 20/20! It was the worst decision I have ever made and nearly cost me my life. I was a cash pay patient and found a doctor in Denver, CO that would do the band for just under $10k, so I drove from Phoenix, AZ to Denver, CO and had the band placed. I was only in the hospital for 5 hours and back in my hotel room that same night. Two days later we travelled back to Phoenix and I thought all was well. A few days later, I developed a fever and just was not feeling well. I went to the ER and they admitted me. They called several bariatric doctors but none of them wanted to get involved because they were not the doctor that did the surgery. Thankfully, Dr. Fang, who is now going to do my revision surgery, agreed to take care of me, admitted me, and did an endoscopy to see what was going on. He discovered that I had a micro-perforation in my stomach from the band surgery. One of the stitches was pulled too tight and had caused a micro-tear in my stomach tissue. He told me it was very serious and if they had to go in to repair it, I had a 50/50 chance of survival! I was petrified. He said he was going to put me on nothing by mouth plus a Protonix drip and other IV meds for 2 weeks and see if the tissue would heal on its own. Thank God it healed, so they did not have to go in to repair it. I should have been more cautious of my own health and red flags should have went up when I realized that the doctor that did my Lap-Band surgery did not even require me to have ANY pre-op testing or clearances AT ALL, before doing the surgery. Again, hindsight is 20/20 and I was determined and stubborn. After I was released from the hospital, I gradually went back to regular foods and then started getting my fills. Since I did not have an aftercare program, I was basically on my own and had to find a place to do my fills. I started doing fills and initially, I lost a little over 100 pounds and went from 375 to 265 in a little less than 2 years, but I will admit that I did not do it the healthy way. I was overfilled most of the time, barely able to hold down Water and I used this time to starve myself to lose the weight. I slimed and threw up all day long, it was a hot mess and I was miserable. As time went by, the weight loss slowed and I was able to eat more and more so I kept getting more and more fills done, thinking I was losing restriction but that was not the case. Unfortunately, the reason I could eat so much more was because my esophagus was stretching and turning into a stomach!!!!! When this was confirmed, the doctor took all the Fluid out and told me to wait for 6 months to have it filled again, but I had to have an endoscopy to make sure the esophagus was back to normal first. I did not have insurance and had started to develop a major illness, so I could not afford to get the endoscopy, and was unable to fill the band again at that time. Within 2 years, I gained back every ounce I had lost, plus another 35 pounds and ballooned up to 410 pounds by the end of 2011. I hovered around the 400 pound mark from 2011 to 2013 and then decided to give the band one more try but “this time” I would do it the right way. I had the endoscopy done, got the all-clear, and started to do fills again. I lost about 40 pounds over 6 months, but the the stretching started again and the GERD was so bad this time around that I just could not take it anymore and I had the fluid removed again. So long story short, here I sit, nearly 8 years after having the Lap-Band installed and I am currently 402 pounds, that is 27 pounds more than I was before I had the band placed, and I AM MISERABLE!!!!!!! Since 2007 when I had the Lap-Band installed, I have developed multiple sclerosis, diabetes, severe chronic back pain from 5 herniated discs that won’t heal because of my weight, arthritis in my spine, and because I weigh so much, the MS complications have been exasperated exponentially and has caused me to be in a wheel chair because I can no longer walk due to my legs going numb from the constant pressure of my weight on my spinal cord and the loss of balance. I am in no way blaming these issues on the band, I do not believe the band had anything to do with my developing MS or any of the other issues I have developed subsequent to the band being placed. I am only 46 years old and I am too young to just give up! My PCP and neurologist have told me that if I can get under 200 pounds, I will very likely walk again, although it would be with a walker, it is still a far better scenario than where I am right now. I am excited and scared, all at the same time, as I hate the thought of surgery, especially at my weight and BMI, but I am determined to do it! I go for my band and gallbladder removal on Tuesday, August 11th and then will be on a very strict low-carb diet for the 3 months following the band removal so I can get my BMI as low as possible for the gastric bypass procedure. My doctor said I did not need to be on a pre-op diet, so that is a little concerning to me because I am worried about the size of my liver, but he said I don’t need to be on any special pre-op diet for the band removal, just for the gastric bypass portion of the surgery. I am still going to do a 7-day liquid diet, starting today, so I can feel better about it myself. I am planning to have 3 Protein shakes a day and plenty of water and Crystal Light. I would love to hear from others who have underwent similar circumstances. I am going to try a whole different approach this time around. I am normally not one to share my life or feelings, but I need the support and I believe I also have plenty to share that may help others to make a better decision. I really hurt myself by not following the rules and not using the support systems that are in place, such as this site, to help me through. I was a cash pay patient and after travelling to Denver, CO to have the Lap-Band placed, I was on my own when I returned to Phoenix and tried to be my own doctor, which as you can see from my preceding story, did NOT work out to my advantage. This time, I am going to a local doctor, with insurance (Medicare and Mercy Care) and will be following the rules and using every bit of support that I can possibly get. I look forward to getting to know all of you and to your stories as well.

There is a high lap band failure rate...insurance should be glad to cover the sleeve revision...it's easier for them.They save money in the long run