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I don't know if that is normal or not honestly, but I just wanted to say I am so sorry you had such a bad experience. I did have some pain on my left side and I didn't have revision, just first time bypass. Hope it gets better for you soon!

Hi there, i'd like to know this too. Might self pay but revising and complications will insurance cover it?

Hi. I just had a revision from band to bypass this past Wednesday the 17th at a local hospital. My emotions were running high, as my Dad passed on the 10th, but running uber high because I was doing the bypass. I have two artificial knees, so I know a bit about major surgery and recovery. My experience was THE most painful, dehumanizing, frustrating exp's I've ever, ever had. I had done massive amounts of research for the RNY, and the revision exp. I saw here how so many of you had positive exp's. as well as the negative. But way more positive. I eventually came to the decision to have this surgery. My surgeon and the clinic he runs within our hospital is extremely well run, trustworthy and knowledgeable, but the actual hospital area that aids in recovery was PROFOUNDLY inept and rude. I'm home now, with a drainage bag in my side, doing everything by my surgeons book. My left ribcage feels like it was kicked by a mule and when not on pain meds (which is rare) I find breathing painful. I'm bloated like crazy, and am quite tired. I also have a short window off opportunity come pee time. I just can't hold it in till ready! Can anyone tell me if this is a 'normal' bad experience? (I left SO much out!) Are these normal feelings? Physically. Remember, it was a revision, who, btw, the surgeon said was an excellent process and completion. I just need feedback. Please?

Im right behind you with my revision from band to bypass on June 23...next tuesday! You are making me feel so much better. Thanks so much for posting. I feel like taking out this band is going to give me so much more pain. Anyways ill be following your journey. Please keep us updated

Dealing with the "you can't have" is just part of the process as you prepare your mind. I cited those 2 things specifically for several years as the reason I would never have WLS, but I have finally come to terms with it. As you can see from above, all drs are different and as a general rule it probably just isn't the best choices you can make. I don't drink coffee but had to give up a bad Diet Dr Pepper habit. I think maybe someday I will likely try a soda, but so far, I haven't missed it as much as I thought I would. I am more scared of the pain carbonation would cause me than anything right now. 3 months from now may be a different story, but my therapist keeps reminding me to stay in the present and don't worry about 3 months away for now. Re the alcohol, I do plan to have an occasional drink eventually; however, I do have 2 friends who ended up as alcoholics following surgery -1 of them still drinking even after a revision. The risk of transferring addiction to alcohol is very very real, so I think for most this has to be approached very carefully. Don't let these 2 things scare you off. Once you get there, these 2 items will likely be the least of your concerns.

Had appointment with Surgery Center and final appointment with Doctor this am. Revision surgery is at 7 am Tuesday and I was told it would last about 45 minutes to an hour. I am more excited than nervous.

A small number of people with the sleeve end up revising to RNY due to acid reflux problems, also.

My understanding from talking to revision patients is that "restriction" feels very different with a sleeve. I am nervous about this too.. keep us updated.

I am a revision. I have been able to drink any fluids very very easily since about 3-4 days post-op. That is no indication of restriction. You probably won't really feel true restriction until you are on softs or solids, because liquids go through pretty fast. While I can drink a bottle of Water pretty much "normal", I am just now (at 3 months) able to eat more than 2 oz of dense solids at a time... I have noticed this past week or two that I can eat about 2.5 oz of chicken or meat. I cant imagine why the restriction would be any less on a revision... that tiny tummy is still made just as tiny as a "virgin" tummy.

I was banded in 2008.... Band removed in 2012.... And sleeved June 1 2015. I am still on liquids but can get water no protein down no problem. From others experiences it seems that they are restricted even in the liquid phase. I have heard that revision patients often do not experience as much restriction..... Anyone experienced this?? Does it change when you get to solids?

I am an analytical type. I reasearched things alot before revising to sleeve from a failed band. I am glad I understood that I might not have as good of results, based on the statistics. That gave me a chance, both preop and in the early months post revision to ask alot of "why" questions. Surgeon, nutritionalist, other revisionistas - anybody I could glean this from. I learned that many people with the band have learned to "eat alot of sliders", graze and most importantly, ignore that "full feeling". It is crazy, that sometimes your body really adapts. So, since I was armed with knowledge, I was able to be very diligent about those underlying things and i believe it made a difference.

This is very hard - it manifests differently for different people but just know it really is hard. Having said that - get back on track. You can't take back the past but you CAN follow the plan today, tomorrow and the day after that. It is doubtful that you damaged yourself but I do want to say something about "eating until really full" - this habit must be broken ASAP or you risk not being a successful loser. I asked my NUT early on what the main things I should do to maximize results (I was very high BMI, post menopausal and band to sleeve revision so I needed all the help I could get!). Her answer was that two key things make the most difference: 1. Not grazing 2. Don't seek "full" - seek absence of hunger. Item #2 was a HUGE mindset change for me. This wasn't about the early weeks post op, this was about forever. The very idea of not eating until I couldn't eat anymore... wow. So, when I read about people who feel like they are worried about how much they can eat i think about this. For some reason, different people experience restriction differently. I KNOW that I can stuff a lot of food in me if I go for sliders, pace my eating etc etc. I have to consciously choose to eat in a way that makes me feel satiated (Protein first) and NOT seek out that full feeling. During the liquid and semi solid phases this is really hard because you often doing get a feeling of satiety. I consider those phases the "eat by the clock and measuring spoon phase" because I could not trust my body to give me proper feedback. Sometimes that meant consuming a Protein Drink when I didn't feel hungry. Sometimes it meant not eating when I felt hungry-ish (or at least thought I was) finally, be sure you are on a good PPI as an acidy tummy can feel like hunger. Thirst can feel like hunger. Boredom and emotional states can mimic hunger...

I am not new to weight loss struggles. I had a band in 2004. Lost 100lb. Kept it off for 11 years. I did not have any support and it was a hard journey. My band slipped and I had revision to sleeve. I for one am grateful to any one who has been there done that for me to relate to. This sleeve is a whole new way for me and it helps to talk to people that have been through the whole struggle. I know when I finally do get to goal I will still need support. Thanks for being here. Stick around there are some of us that need you.

Hi, I'm having my surgery next Tuesday on the 23rd of June and I am so extremely nervous. I have had gastric plication and lap band, which were both removed. Now I'm revising to the sleeve, but I feel like something is going to go wrong or that I will have a complication. Don't get me wrong, I am so excited and prepared, but I just don't know how to calm my nerves! How did you guys deal with nervousness and anxiety before your surgery? Thanks!

I loved my band the first 4 yrs that love slowly turned to hatred. I had slips, reflux, fills and eventually a cracked tube. I had surgery in december to repair the tubing hoping to regain my original love... only to find out the darn port flipped before I could have my next fill. At this point I was done w the band. On May 26 I had a revision from band to sleeve. I have BCBS and didn't have too many necessary hoops to jump through. It has only been a few wks since my surgery but I already know I will never regret removing the band.

So totally happy for you! Still waiting for my appeal to be overturned so I can have the revision from band to bypass. I'm so discouraged! Hate the waiting! Had to hire Walter Lindstrom to handle my appeal with UHC. Don't know how much longer I can go on!!!

I had RNY may 1, 2009. The smallest I ever got was 147.5 and that was only for a short time. I'm 5'7". Upon graduating from my masters program j moved back home to Indiana and since jan 2012 I've steadily watched the scale move up and up. Now I weigh 190 plus or minus .5 pounds depending on the time of the month. I'm ready to take back my life! My family is loving and supports me but my mom who also had RNY and a revision is a good pusher. I'm single and feel like I'll never be loved by anyone until I love myself. And I don't think I will live myself until I get back on track. I just don't know where to start. I need support from a community that understands all that I've been through and I'm hoping to find that here.

Hello, I find this site very helpful. My revision surgery from lap band to gastric bypass. I'm excited and nervous at the same time. I forgot to mention that my surgery is tomorrow June 19, 2015. I wasn't this nervous when I had the lap band, why is that? Only a few people know about my surgery my boss, one coworker and, some of my close family members. I didn't want to hear the negative comments from others about me doing the gastric bypass. Since, I had the band slippage and chose the gastric route. I know I have a journey ahead of me but, the way I look at it as getting healthy and being there for my daughter. I could really use all the support I can get right now.

Date should be mid to end August approved just waiting on letter with date xx slight delay as I am on Holiday last 2 weeks in July band to by pass revision what surgery are you having? It's exciting x

@@AvalonNeeCee So because you say your surgeon doesn't do lapband anymore, you think that's a reason not to get one?????? Who is your surgeon? Why doesn't he/she do them? I find it almost comical you would post such a reply to someone who is asking for advice on HOW WE. ...THOSE OF US WHO HAVE IT, selected our surgeons. Some of us are very successful and HAPPY with our lapband results. I have had a band for several years and had to have it removed and am waiting to do my revision, sleeve. I am not talking out my A**, I have been there. I am one of THOSE OF US WHO HAVE IT.

The lapband is "no walk in the park" It takes months to get the fills to the point where you have any real restriction. I had the most fill allowed before I could feel restriction. After a couple of years I finally lost weight and got to where I wanted to be 110 on 5ft frame. Happy happy...until....lap band slipped and I had to have it removed...lots of quick weight return.. I have read so many comments from so many people on the sleeve as it is my next surgery. I think if you read the lapband to sleeve revision forum you will better be able to decide if you want to waste time on the lapband first. Many doctors do not even do the lapband anymore due to its failure rates which are becoming more and more apparent as more people are having to do revisions. At the time I wanted the less permanent option because that feels safer, but in the end you may have to deal with a revision, have slippage, have indigestion, have erosion, and many other things that can go wrong with the band. If I can spare you that I would because I have been there and done that. I read that the weight loss with the sleeve is much more immediate and you really start to see results quickly. In my experience with the band I lost during my pre surgery diet, then the first couple of weeks after surgery because swollen and sore, but then I could eat and I did. It took over a year for the fills to be tight enough to restrict my eating and finally stop gaining and start loosing. They only can put so much in each time they fill you. When I finally was at a point that I loved my weight I had the vomiting issues. I put up with that for months because I didn't want to gain. Had regurgitation, indigestion etc. Finally had to get band loosened as I couldn't keep anything down...turns out band had slipped...removal...... You will read of many people that still love their band and have been successful, as there are many. But please consider that this is something that they may have to have removed at some point and there are complications with removal of bands, especially that have been in the body for a long time. Please take the time to read up on revisions, check statistics, and talk to people that have had the band and both love it and hate it. Cause even those that love their band as I did have to admit it took awhile to work, and they may have other issues such as the reflux and regurgitation. whatever you decide I wish you the best. Just please do your research, as you seem to be doing, so you can feel what you choose was best for you with no regrets, even if you end up doing a revision later on. And you will if that becomes your option, because you are going to love being smaller and healthier. Best of luck to you and always happy to chat about my experience.

I was extremely happy with my lapband results...until it slipped and had to be removed. I just think the person who wrote the post should read some of the lapband to sleeve stories and see the many many reasons why people had to switch. If they find that they still want the lapband that is up to them. My surgeon doesn't put in lap bands anymore because of the plethora of problems with them and the constantly having to do revisions. The statistics on lapbands are getting worse, not better. It may save them some money and aggravation, and time if they just go with a different procedure to begin with, as I wish I had done. My Dr. is among the best and by the best I mean he doesn't lose patients and is safe and cautious with his procedures. I selected my Dr because he has many years of experience, over 20 of those my friend worked for him and knows the statistics for him and for the different procedures. I choose the lap band at the time because I thought of it as not as invasive, easy to adjust (not) and not as permanent of a choice. Well now I am years down the road, had to have the band removed due to slip (as I was warned), lots of $$$ gone, and gaining fast while I wait to have my sleeve done. I spent hours researching the sleeve and I see both good and bad results, but mostly good. I suggested she go to that forum and read because there are many opinions about the band and the sleeve in addition to mine and I know that my surgery experience is not the only experience that someone should consider. Considering not just my Dr but many Dr's are no longer doing the lap band should also be a warning sign of things to come. Additionally the lap band is not permanent and even with the best success with it eventually it will have to be removed. It is costly to have fills after fill and takes a great deal of time to get it to the sweet spot...and then your body changes and you have to fill it up or down again. Many of us suffered vomiting, phlem balls, indigestion to the point you sleep sitting up, things getting stuck in the band, pain at the port site, etc etc. You may not want to even choose a doctor that still chooses to do lapbands after looking through the forum and doing research on the success and failure of the band. So that is why I responded as I did. It is important to do research on your procedure choice and look at both the success and failures of your option before you spend money and risk your body. The band was great when I was able to hit my sweet spot, but I threw up almost every day during that time and then discovered it had slipped which required removal of the band. It was my choice at the time, but now there is so much more information, so many more people have lapbands, and more statistics to show the issues with the band. I am sure she/he will make the best choice for their own situation if they do research. As far as finding a doctor do your research, check their statistics, talk to people that had surgery done by that Doctor, google the Dr. How long have they been doing each procedure that you are considering. Talk to people that had that procedure done and done by him/her. Talk to people that had different procedures done by the Dr you are considering. What are their statistics for losing patients (this is reality, not always Dr fault, but still don't you want to know?) How many times have they performed each procedure? What hospital is used? What is the cost to use that provider? Check the bariatricpal forums for the procedure you want, read both success and failures. Check the forums for having revisions from the surgeries you are considering in case it doesn't work out for you (lapband to sleeve revision forum). Choosing your Dr often times is a matter of what insurance you have and the providers that take that insurance. Advocate for yourself and research everything. And just to be clear I do not regret having the band. It was my choice at the time, but it didn't end as well as I had hoped. @@catfish87

Hi all! I'm in the process of choosing my facility for band to sleeve revision. Looking for some fellow Bostonians to guide me on where they got the best care & who their surgeon was. I originally had my band done at Beth Israel Medical Center- I was disappointed with the after care, and hoping I get some great suggestions! Thanks a bunch!

Honestly I wouldn't go for the plication or POSE. The plication was a total waste of money, not to mention the constant nausea. I revised to the band from the plication after a year with only 20 pounds lost. The band pressed on a nerve on my diaphragm (rare and random complication). Save yourself the time and heartache and go for the sleeve the first time. no reason to waste years of your life as well as your hard earned money, on something that isn't going to give you results. The doctor that invented the gastric plication no longer performs it because it simply didn't produce results.

You might have to rethink skipping puréed foods. I tried that and my tummy said NO! I revised my plan and stuck to my surgeon's schedule. I was just able to start soft food with tiny chunks and have tolerated everything I've tried so far this week. We're all different so maybe you can pull it off! Good luck to you!