Search the Community

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR THE WORDS OF SUPPORT! I really do appreciate all of you. I welcome and look forward to any and all information regarding a gastric sleeve leak, good or bad. I want to learn all I can. So any of you that are or have gone through it (or know someone who has) please share with me the information. UPDATE: I was in Seattle yesterday for my 2 week check up. I had a consult with a surgeon because my gastroenterologist wants me to have a feeding tube put into my stomach as opposed to this PICC line that is giving me my nutrition. It is better to feed the gut than put calories, Vitamins, etc through my veins. Also, a picc line (it's like an IV that goes into my arm advanced towards the heart) has a higher rate of infection. So, I will have that put in at the end of the month. He is also the surgeon that would do the revision surgery (or fix my leak surgery). One of the ways to potentially fix this gastric sleeve leak is to turn it into a Gasrtic BiPass so we discussed that too. They tell me its a big surgery and a long recovery, about 6 weeks. Also, the risk of complications is higher for me because we are fixing something as opposed to a stomach that has not been touched yet. However, it is so TEMPTING to just do now because I would at least know I was on the road to recovery and I could see light at the end of the tunnel. It's been 8 months and i'm still just as bad as I was in the beginning. I have a PICC line, a drain tube out my back that is draining what my stomach is leaking out of my body, I have not eaten in a month, in fact in over 2 months I have only eaten a few bites of Beans a few times. I'm sooooo hungry! We have to drive to Seattle every few weeks and we are barely getting by financially. My husband is running out of paid time off at work because he has taken off 6 weeks already taking me back and forth and sometimes staying with me in the hospital when he can. So I want this to end more than I have wanted anything in my life. But again the complications of another surgery scare me, look what happened the first time. I think i will hold out a few more months, my gastro doc really wants me too. He says Virginia Mason has the best outcome of gastric leak fixes on the planet!? After I saw the surgeon, I then had a CT and then a tube check. It it showing lots of air in the cavity that was created from when my stomach leaked into the outside area of my stomach. It caused a collection of Fluid around my left lung and spleen. That is what we are using that drain for, to get the infection and fluid out so the cavity will get smaller and eventually heal over. It has been especially painful the last 2 days and is draining out pure blood now. So they changed the type of drain to help with getting the air out. My gastro doc came to see me and said keep taking antibiotics, keep the drain, and change the picc to a stomach feeding tube and come back in a few weeks again. So, I am still very depressed and unsure of my future. I guess I can only take it day by day. I can't even imagine anymore what it was like to be well without tubes coming out of me. My boss has given me another chance to work, but its so hard to work with tubes and pain, but I have to make some money to keep us a float. Again, Thanks to all of you. It's nice to have people to talk to that are familiar with what I am going through. I hope one day I will be able to report good news. I just want to live and work again and have hopes and dreams like I used to. I did this for my health in the first place and am now sicker than I could have ever imagined. Also, if I can answer any questions to anyone else I would be more than happy. I have gone through this for 8 months now. Talk to you later!

@@losinghope15 Everything you are going through sounds so rough. I am sorry you are enduring this. Hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel at this point. If revision to bypass with permanently correct this leak issue, I really think you should pursue it. I can definitely understand your hesitation to undergo another surgery, but it really does seem like that may be the only way to fix the problem and get back to a more normal life. Good luck in whatever you choose!

19 days post op today. Down 19.5 lbs since surgery. Saw surgeon today, he said everything looked great, continue on puréed foods & follow with nutritionist. See him again in December! Unless problems arise. Only bummer of the day was he wants me to stay off work for full 6 weeks, since I was revised from lap band and do excessive lifting, bending, reaching etc for my job. I was hoping for return after 4 weeks, my bank account is shrinking faster than I am :/

I also had the lapband about 5 1/2 years ago. I started having problems about 2 years ago. Finally, on 9/12 I got it out with a sleeve revision. I cant really help you in the area of insurance because I was self pay with the band and because I was having problems, Kaiser took mine out and did the sleeve revision. I too returned to work quickly after the band. I think on about day 6 or 7. No way could I do it this time. Remember this is a more extensive surgery. I am 2 weeks out and almost feel normal, but feel fatigued and no stamina. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the liquid diet. I get to start soft foods tomorrow! YAY. Anyhow, Im an RN and I do a lot of lifting, bending, pushing, walking for 12 hours straight. NO WAY could I do that at this point. I don't return to work till 10/14. Good luck to you and don't rush your recovery.

Well ladies I'm all finished! I had my breast lift. Size changed altogether as my back size somehow increased and my cup size reduced. Initially I ended up as a 32f but one breast after just the lift was a cup size bigger than the other. My areola pulled a little out of shape due to the stitches on the same side but my surgeon agreed to a free revision and reduction of the right breast after all swelling had gone. It took 6 months but I got done under local in January and I have perfect and equal 32e's now. Had my tum and legs done at the same time as my 1st surgery and it's all healing well. Went on my first summer holiday since the surgery 3weeks ago. It was amazing to turn a few heads in my teeny weeny bikini at the age of 40! Should have experienced that at 20 but I don't care, at least I've experienced in my lifetime. I love my new body. My band is empty and my life is wonderful. I'm maintaining all by myself as I have no restriction and I'm so so happy. Good luck to you all xxx

Jan. 15 revision with Dr. Ortiz in MX. SO READY!

I am having my revision on Jan. 7

I'm set for Jan 15th. Revision!!

Hi there I will try to answer your questions but remember all doctors seem to vary in these thoughts so you really do need to ask your doctor to be sure of how he wants you to proceed!!!!! Will the connection for refills stick out? MY DOCTOR USES A LOW PROFILE BUT DEPENDING ON YOUR WEIGHT LOSS YOU MIGHT NEED A REVISION Do they have to cut you again when they refill? NO, IT IS DONE BY USING AN ULTRASOUND TO LOCATE YOUR PORT AND THEY USE A NEEDLE WITH SALINE TO INJECT IT THROUGH THE PORT How soon is a refill? DEPENDS ON YOUR DOCTOR MINE IS 6 -8 WEEKS AFTER SURGERY How long after surgery can you have sex? MY DOCTOR SAYS 4 WEEKS AND THEN A LESS STRESSFUL POSITION FOR THE BANDED PATIENT I did not know that I would be restricted on driving. How long? ONE WEEK OR AS LONG AS YOU ARE ON PRESCRIPTION PAIN MEDICINE ( I STARTED DRIVING YESTERDAY A LITTLE BIT BUT, I STOPPED PAIN MEDS 3 DAYS POST OP)

I am at my goal weight of 175~180. I have to revise to RNY due to intractable GERD. Has anyone else reviewed at their goal weight? What I really want to know is how much weight loss should I expect. If you have revised, how many pounds did you lose. Thanks in advance for your answers!

Good luck to everyone who has surgery tomorrow!! You all are going to do great! Remember to sip, sip, sip your water! My surgery was two weeks ago and I’m only down 10 lbs so far but it’s a marathon; not a race. I had a revision from VSG to RNY. No acid reflux! Hurray!!!😁🎉

Hi all.. I started at 255 lbs at pre-op. In March 2014 I stopped losing weight when I hit 191 lbs and I have remained here ever since. Its debilitating. I follow all the rules. I do have some food off plan but as my surgeon said, what I eat should not be making me stop losing weight. I am always hungry. Can eat anything and everything. Sugar makes me dump so I stay away from it. I struggle with my appetite just as I did prior to surgery. I am forever grateful I have not gained any weight back. In October my surgeon is sending me for a barium swallow test to see if structurally there is any reason I have stopped losing weight. It seems pointless as he also explained there is nothing to be done anyway. He is not keen on endoscopic revision to make the stoma smallet (if thats the issue). He did tell me not to worry and that I may continue to lose further. My goal weight was 170. Im so happy to see everyone's success. .I do wish I was experiencing the same thou!

Karey - One thing you might want to ask your doctor about when it comes to your revision is a reverse tummy tuck. Instead of a vertical incision it is a horizontal incsions that falls just at your bra line. Then they pull the skin UP instead of down. That is what she will be doing whenever I decide to go in and get a breast lift. She said that was the best thing to do when you have extra skin up top. The reason I had to have the vertical incision was because I had so much extra skin on the sides. Just thought I would give you that info! Thanks for all your support on my thread!

I've been banded for 9 years and I can't wait until April 1st to get it out! My I have been unfilled for 7 years as my stomach wouldn't tolerate them and my port site always hurts! I am having my revision done in Mexico as my insurance will not cover a revision to the sleeve. I had to refinance my house to pay for it but I think it will be worth every dollar I pay to get rid of this band and have a tool I can actually work with!

I had surgery on 3/1 and had a few complications but still got to go home after about 24 hours. I had a band to sleeve revision and my band had slipped and was doing some damage to my liver - so I have a lovely drain on my side for another few days. Thankfully very little nausea or pain. The worst has been the gas pain that is near the drain site - it is stabbing. Showering has been difficult but I still get up and (slowly) walk as much as I can. Staying hydrated too. Looking forward to getting the drain removed next week which I think will make me feel 1000% better.

When I had my band I had to follow the sugar busters plan. It was a high Protein low carb diet but food was allowed. Now that I'm getting ready for a revision to a DS I'm on one week of two shakes a day, two snack bars a day, and one lean protein with veggies meal per day. Next week is five shakes per day. Total of two week pre-op diet. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hey you all my surgery in June 6th. It was supposed to be January 19th. I was going for a band revision but I had too much scar tissue so now 5 months later here I am again doing another pre-op and time of work.

I think because I was a revision from band to bypass. I had two drains. They took one out today and the other will stay un until my month follow up. It helps with the gas and bloating.

I'm still so confused. Why do you keep posting pics of Ed Burns? But serious proppahs dude!!!!! Congrats and so happy you shared! Can you believe you are the same guy that started your journey or even your revision journey? And don't you think IF has been a game changer on the loose skin front? (and yet, part of me is still saying...and STILL no di*k pics all up in heah for us...I just don't get it...)

OK I get the intermittent fasting method burns better than regular eating. My problem is I’m confused on whether to do the fasting during the day or at night. So confused I don’t know what to do. I am 10 weeks out from a revision from sleeve to bypass should I be trying this fasting right now or is it only during maintenance?

Don't think there's any revision tracking as the sheet is set to allow editing without login. Basically any anonymous user could click on the link and make changes. My record was mucked up yesterday too and I was fortunately able to rebuild it from my weight loss ticker history. Good luck.

wednesday is my day..so caught up in all this as this is a revision lap band from a 2000 gastric bypass and of course the last resort...this is it...no room for failure or anything...not that I feel that I did anything to fail..one of those bypass people whose pouch stretched with time just because it did soooooo here I am after gaining almost 60 pounds back and nothing woulde remedy it..just like before the bypass...non existent metabolism...thyroid on a respirator..lol...oh well..please dear G-d let this be it....fills and healthy food...scared of the pain you all are talking about as I was told it was nominal for the most part...anyone banded who didnt have too many difficulties? Yeah...Wednesday...my future...my life.....

Maybe I missed something somewhere but if you're at permanent goal, why are you having the revision?

this is a major decision. Cutting a body part out...cost is factoring in somewhat, don't want to cheap out and get an infection. gonna call a few local MD and see what the price is I'm thinking twice Mex price for a revision. Since I had the band placed in Mex I'm over the concern of "going to Mex yikes!" HATE this band it is coming out no matter what my final decision. Having a total unfill done soon (tommorow if I can talk the surgeon I am seeing into doing it...-I could do it myself for that matter!!!) Don't freak out :scared0:if you are reading this I am an RN and would make sure it was a sterile procedure!-still I wouldn't do it ethics..)

Thanks puppypaws and icunurse for your comments. I want to have my eyes open when I do this. I have a pre-op discussion with my surgeon on August 10. Plan to ask his experiences with putting in a second band. My only choices are to 1) do nothing, 2) have band removed, 3) have it removed and replaced, or 4) pay the full tab and revise to a sleeve. Before I opt for #4, I would like to see what king of results I have with a second band. puppypaws and icunurse, how are you doing with weight loss since the second band? If there is anyone else out there with a second band experience, please chime in.