Search the Community

My surgeon has revised Protein goals to 80 plus (used to be 60). My personal experience was I had to go really low carb and high intensity interval training to get the last stubborn pounds off

I didn't realize the hospital in Mac had a support group. I had surgery 7/1/15 which was revision from band to sleeve. Surgery was done at Legacy Good Sam in Portland but hard to get back to in the evening from the Forest Grove area. I am gonna have to check out the support group dates and times. How are you all doing after surgery?

I was like you no comorbities. I was a great sleeve candidate. I was a terribly slow loser which I learned to live with. I have since had some complications post pregnancy and will be revised to bypass soon. I have developed terrible GERD with my sleeve. Also, some sleeve drs still do not advise taking NSAIDS. I took them after my c-section and thought I was gonna have a heart attack. Since then my surgeon had told me to stop using them. I think this is an area that is still conflicting amongst the sleeve community. People have success with both and there can be complications with both.

I hope you feel better. I am revising from sleeve to bypass. W ould love to hear more about your process.I sure will share so far I just in pain... but I had a lot of scar tissue taking out I felt sick earlier and bad cramps Has the pain improved? I am leaving towards sleeve to bypass revision because of bad GERD/Barrett's and I am worried about the recovery. Why did you have your revision done?

I'm really interested in this too. I am actually going to be a sleeve to bypass revision because of GERD/Barrett's, and am wondering if the recovery is any easier than your initial surgery if you now how a normal BMI. I'm also sort of nervous about losing too much too quickly.

Hi Everyone! I’m a newbie and this is my first post. I’m 63y/o and probably one of the oldest living that still has a Molina Band in place. The surgery was in 1985 and that sucker has been useless since about 1988. It did work for the first couple of years or so….I lost about 75lbs. I went back to Molina in 1988 to see if anything could be done and he just humiliated me. He made it all out to be my fault and insisted I had abused the band and not followed the instructions. He said I needed to have a revision and a new band put in place. I declined, left his office in tears, felt I had failed and it was all my fault. From that day forward, I worked like crazy from one diet to another and managed to keep most of the weigh off until I hit menopause………. slowly all the weight came back and more. I never had the serious medical issues with the Molina Band like many others had. For me, it just stopped working and in some ways, I was relieved. I was so tired of all the “stuck” episodes, the pain, staying up all night, pacing the floor and trying to throw up….I never ever want anything like that, again. Back in 2002 I was considering the “stomach stapling” weight loss procedure. My primary doc sent me for a upper GI…no restrictions, at all and it appeared the Molina Band was probably held on by adhesions. The radiologist said I was one of the lucky ones because so many Molina Bands were removed by emergency surgery. The surgeon “freaked out” about the Molina Band and would only consider it by doing two separate “open” surgical procedures. I was not willing to be “cut open” twice so I gave up on having any type of revision surgery, until now. Back in 1985 I had the Molina Band surgery because I wanted to be skinny, now…….. things are very different. My reasons for surgery, now are all health related. I have very high blood pressure that has been difficult to control, chronic sleep apnea, high cholesterol, joint aches and pre-diabetic. I’m on so much blood pressure medicine I can barely function. I retired early, last year because I just didn’t have the energy to keep working. I’ve changed blood pressure meds several times during the past year and the awful side effects have just about turned me into an invalid. I want off all the meds and I just want my life back. Do I have a chance for a revision to a gastric sleeve? I’m told maybe……. because my band was done in 1985 when Molina was using a material that is much easier to remove than the mesh band he used in the 90’s and I haven’t had the complications that many others had....I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I’m very grateful for this website. I appreciate all the info and I love the success stories and before & after pics. I really need that now because I’m very scared, nervous and anxious. I get so happy and feel so hopeful after reading all the success the posters are having and then I end up in tears because I’m so afraid it will not happen for me. My emotions are just all over the place. Thanks for being here…… Texy

I have my band to sleeve revision on Aug 11. I would love a friend or someone to chat with that I can give and get moral support, share ideas, etc. My family is supporting me but I want somebody who really understands what I am going thru.

I'm revising to RNY on Monday at 33BMI. No clue how my surgeon got it through--she was awesome! ...but I knew this Band needed to come OUT and I was not doing it without a revision! Good luck!

I was banded 9 years ago this month. The band has been empty for the last 8 years because I had such reflux and was unable to eat solid food. So, now I'm going through the process of slowly filling the band over time to get to a working level of restriction. If the reflux comes back it's coming out. I don't think I will consider any revisions. I'm pretty sure there's complications with every form of WLS and now I'm feeling pretty nervous.

§ Start getting in better shape. I walked, lifted, and did as much as I could 5 times a week getting ready for surgery. § Started practicing eating slower for lunch. § Watched many videos, talked to people who had been through it. § Oh, but best work was preparing for the mental changes with my therapist and worked through this book: http://www.amazon.co...=bariatric book § I drank a great deal of alcohol so I weaned myself off and slowly cut the caffeine. § Followed the pre-op diet to the letter § Shopped two weeks before surgery for the foods I would need for the first two weeks. § Revised my will and power of attorney just in case something went wrong § Tried pureed meal ideas and Protein drinks before surgery so I had some meal plans. Things I took that I liked: Laptop, earbuds, slip on shoes, pants with elastic, iPod with audio books, shorts. Oh, gas-x dissolving strips - take those. Wish I had brought my favorite Isopure drinks, but found a GNC near the hospital. Keep the bag light.

Some of you already know my name. I first went into surgery 2 years ago for a bypass but came out of surgery with a lapband. For one year I did really well and lost from 296 to 215. but problems started and for the past year I have had no Fluid in my band. On july 31,2015 I am going in for the bypass again. I am praying that my surgeon will be able to do the surgery but scar tissue and adhesions stopped the last surgeon and that's why the lapband. I started today the pre-diet of 3 Protein shakes, 1 lean cuisine or wt. watcher and a cup of vegetables. I am truly excited to join ranks with all of you and continue my trip to wellness and health.

There is a lot going on with your post so I am only going to try to touch on a few points. First, I am only an expert in ME and I realize that my comments do not apply to everyone so take it with a grain of salt. My background: Second, I was overweight (but not obese) as a teen, got to about 220 by my late 20s (I remember because I was pregnant and strictly ordered to gain NO weight during pregnancy. Back in those days 220 was considered HUGE for a 5'5" woman, times have changed a bit on that). My weight stayed in the mid 200s for most of the decade of my 30s. I had a lapband when I was 37 - I weighed 272 - my lifetime high at that point. I lost some weight, but didn't do well overall. I got to my lifetime high weight of about 350 with a lapband and no fill Band was removed in 2011; revised to sleeve in December of 2011 at 308 pounds I got to my goal of 158 by Feb 2013 and maintaining... During my overweight, obese and morbidly obese years I tried every diet under the sun, went to YEARS of counseling as the thinking at that time that overweight was essentially a mental or character flaw. Counseling helped with some stuff, but I clearly just got heavier and heavier...I was diagnosed with a zillion medical conditions: fibermyalgia, depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, fatty liver and according to my family, a less happy personality. Oh, PCOS was thrown out there too, but i was never formerly diagnosed. Fears: I was terrified of gastric bypass in 2001 which is why i picked the band. I can admit now, but didn't then that I had huge denial. Somehow in my mind, the band wasn't really bariatric surgery.. it was just this little thing I did to try to lose weight. I was deeply committed, but did not have the support and frankly picked the wrong procedure for me based on that fear and denial. I really didn't understand the SHIFT required from me for long term success. I was a basket case over my decision to revise to the sleeve. I think my list looked alot like yours... but I think i can summarize the fear like this: "what if i go through hell and I fail AGAIN and am still obese? i don't know if I can go through that again..." by the time I was sleeved, i was so "over" food as entertainment because my over indulgence was literally KILLING me. When I was banded, i was in complete denial on that point. I highly recommend that you face your worries over not enjoying food in your presurgery timeframe as this is a very tough topic - even for those of us that were relatively speaking "over it" Truth of the matter is that years out, you can eat pretty normally... but the first year or so, you really do eat tiny portions and a sensitive person won't like that in social settings. And in the years out, just because you "can" eat normally doesn't mean you "should" in order to maintain your losses. Education on obesity: This is a huge topic but obesity is a disease state and i think it is really important to understand the grip it has on you physically. There is a good reason that for people who have gotten quite heavy, the chances of maintaining a significant weight loss without surgery is about 2%. That isn't because we are all neurotic messes - it is because your body changes! I saw a "weight loss" expert counselor who was convinced I had deep dark secrets I was repressing - I had a crappy childhood and there were no secrets there! After years and years of counseling there were no secrets left but she thought I was lying. It was this forum here that made me realize there was something else - like I was FREAKING HUNGRY 24/7 - this is related to understanding the disease process of obesity. Other health stuff: At some point presleeve i decided that alot of my diagnosis were irrelevant (especially the ones that couldn't be treated like fibermyalgia). I decided to focus on the primary problem which was my weight. It was a good call because most (not all) my health problems disappeared when i lost weight and became very active. sometimes i think all those medical diagnosis can be ... paralyzing. It is almost like focusing on the leaf on a tree instead of the bigger forest fire heading my way... Age: On the one hand, your youth is a real advantage in the weight loss world. I could lose weight pretty easily in my 20s/30s, just could keep it off. By my late 40s, I couldn't even lose weight anymore on all sorts of crazy diets and programs.... in the end, that is what forced my hand to getting the sleeve actually. On the downside, one advantage i had in my late 40s was to be more selfish/focused on myself. My kids were older, they could buy their own Snacks and keep them hidden from me etc. When kids were little and wanted to do normal things like go to restaurants, have treats and stuff - it was killer for me as that junk food stuff is like a sirens call... BTW, I never put my one "heavier" (not obese) kid on a diet. He did slim down over the last several years. i feel a great deal of shame realizing that it was ME providing the diet and lifestyle that was making him chunky. I thank the stars everyday that i was able to model these changes for him while it was still time for him to learn from it. I should also share that he confided that he never "feels full" which is exactly how I was pre sleeve so I do wonder if there is some sort of imbalance genetically in some of us! I think you should go for it, but i highly recommend a strong support system (both professional help like nutritionalist and in your personal life), get really educated on life post surgery, seek counseling and support for your fears. You can do this and I hope you get a chance to enjoy your 30s, 40s and many decades to follow without carrying around essentially the weight of a grown man around on your body! It is hard for me to imagine how I even functioned at 300-350# when I look back. It takes a lot of strength both physically and emotionally to do that. i should also share that i am 51 and looking at hip replacement probably 20-30 years before is typical. Cause? Most likely the DECADES of being morbidly obese. I want you to avoid those kind of problems that can show up even after you lose the weight.

For the lap band surgery it was 2 months. For the revision to the sleeve it was 2 weeks.

It makes me very sad to read this and know that your daughter is suffering. That alone should be reason enough to have the surgery. I would go to the hospital and have them x-ray and show that there is trauma going on in there and that this needs to be removed before more than pain is the issue. It is abdominal surgery but no longer bariatric since she is not having WLS. She is not revising to another surgery she is simply having a foreign body that is causing a danger to her organs removed. A general surgeon and/or a gastric surgeon should be able to do this procedure without issue and the insurance company should not dispute it. I would contact and visit a gastroenterologist and see if they can be of help with the insurance company. Please let us know how things work out.

I have my "tentative" surgery date and they just submitted for approval. Keeping my Fingers crossed for the revision approval! Good Luck!

Was it denied specifically because you had your procedure in Mexico? That doesn't seem fair! I am on prilosec, I think my concern is that I developed Barrett's in under 11 months without any history of acid reflux. They think part of it is that I had my gallbladder removed a month after my sleeve and that it led to bad bile reflux too. If you had Barrett's do you think you'd have the bypass (if your insurance wasn't an issue)? I am trying to assess whether the revision is something that I should take very seriously or if I should hold off. Because of my job I'll be back in the States for a couple of months this winter to sort out a visa issue, so I feel like I need to make a plan to prepare for having surgery then if I decide I need to.

I am definitely worried about having bypass. The primary reason (besides all of the other normal ones about complications and recovery) is that I work in South Africa and there is both little medical support for this type of surgery, and I also know it is going to make eating much more difficult. I travel very frequently to other African countries for work which means eating out, sometimes with co-workers and sometimes solo. It has been quite the challenge even navigating this with my fully healed sleeve because portion sizes are massive and it's more frowned upon not to finish your food here than in the States. I end up getting take away boxes and throwing food out which is less than ideal. I also just worry because I'm so far from family if something goes wrong in those initial few months that I would be back. I can't decide what to do. My Barrett's developed so quickly (I had no reflux pre surgery) and I feel like having the revision is so drastic, but I also feel extremely alarmed by how rapidly I developed these symptoms. I have Cigna insurance which fortunately seems to cover Bariatric surgery and revisions. I'm in the process of trying to speak to a surgeon where my parents live, but it's challenging because I would need to coordinate most of this from abroad so that when I return I could have the surgery quickly so I wasn't away from my job for too long. Sorry for the long response it's just a lot to think about and I can't tell if I'm doing the right thing.

Ok, it has been along time since I last posted. My revision was denied by my insurance so I never had the surgery! Still living with reflux but able to eat a little more. Still taking Prilosec in am & pm, just trying to enjoy my life! Also the reason My insurance denied the surgery was because I didn't go thru their "rules" when I had the sleeve surgery in Mexico.. I do worry about getting Barrett's but had an EGD last year & all was good. Hope you all are doing good!

@@chimboree26 if you dont mind me asking why are you getting a revision to the band, i had originally planned to have the band but my doc said it would be beneficial as i would not lose enough weight

I can understand you concern with the Barrett's Esophagus. I was worried that I would have damage as well. I hope you can come to a quick solution. I am currently working on meeting all the insurance requirements. My best guess is that I will have surgery in late Sept, early October. I actually lived abroad for my first surgery. My surgery team was great. Follow-up care great. For me, I think bypass would have been the best option initially. Are you nervous about having the bypass? There are several posts about people revising due to GERD and/or Barrett's. What insurance due u have?

My revision from band to sleeve is Aug 11. I haven't had an unfill and doctor hasn't said anything about it. What have other people experienced? Did you have fluid in your band up until surgery?

Thanks so much for your answer. It sounds like you have had some more challenging complications than I have- my concern is the amount of damage in such a short time and developing Barrett's. I'm 26 and I feel like there are a lot of years ahead of me for that damage to continue and possibly lead to cancer. I just can't figure out the right thing to do. An added issue is that I'm currently working out of the country and I will have to return to the US with a solid plan of being scheduled for bypass if I go through it. It really is helpful to hear from you. Do you have an idea of when you're doing the revision? Have you tackled the insurance element yet? Wishing you the best!

I am in the process of a revision from sleeve to RNY. I too have GERD and it has not yet had a major impact on my esophagus. I also have a large hiatel hernia and my sleeve is twisted. I loss very slow with sleeve and plateaued right before I got pregnant 11 months out. My sleeve is a bit stretched not much but he is worried that even resleeving and fixing hernia may not resolve my GERD , as well as, since I had such a difficult time losing with the sleeve that I may not reach a desired weight 2nd go round. I had my original surgery with a different surgeon. I must admit, I was overwhelmed by it all. The decision, the process, another surgery, the emotional part of it. I am okay with it now after speaking with counselor and honestly I just want to feel better. I really hope the bypass is the answer to my GERD.

Hi all, Sorry to anyone who has seen this cross-posted. I haven't gotten much response on the sleeve forum. Long story short my surgeon has asked me to consider revising my sleeve (that I had a year ago) to bypass because of severe bile/acid reflux and newly developed Barrett's Esophagus. Has anyone on here gone through this? I'm feeling overwhelmed with a lot of decisions surrounding this. Thanks in advance!