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I'm having RNY. I have severe GERD, that causes me to sleep on my couch in an upright position. I actually chose the RNY even before knowing about the sleeve. I have noticed that the sleeve is more commonly done now, but I was told that if I did a sleeve, I would most likely have to have a revision to the RNY. So, I decided to just do RNY and skip having more surgery.

I am 64 years old and started my weight loss journey over 10 years ago, when my husband was still alive (he will dead 10 years this fall). I started with the pre-op testing, etc.. but as his health failed I couldn't take part in the demanding schedule so I gave it up. Two years after he died (2007) I started the process again, but this time at a local hospital with a local surgeon because I would have to do all the driving to all the appointments and I didn't want to drive into the city at the university hospital. MISTAKE NUMBER ONE. This surgeon and his partner were new to bariatric surgery. They were general surgeons who took over the practice of a retiring surgeon. My theory is that they were going to use up the existing inventory first, which is why he put in an outdated 4cc band. MISTAKE NUMBER TWO.* I was only his 23rd patient and while his surgical skills were okay, his knowledge about the complexities of obesity as a disease were nil. MISTAKE NUMBER THREE.* I had already lost 60 pounds on my own prior to and right after surgery - 6 months of dieting and 2 weeks pre and 2 weeks post surgery - liquids only. But still he wanted me to lose 10-15 pounds in 3 weeks with no fill. MISTAKE NUMBER FOUR.* When I didn't - I got the "Come to Jesus talk". He had told me I had the 10cc band. So, when he filled me with 3cc I couldn't understand why I was having so many problems. I couldn't keep anything down. He was blaming me, telling me to do this, not do that, blah, blah, blah. I was thinking - Why would 3cc cause so many problems in a 10cc band? So he ordered an upper GI which showed not much was going through. When he got the results of the upper GI- THAT GOT HIS ATTENTION!!!! He called me in immediately and removed 1.5 cc. MISTAKE NUMBER FIVE.* It was then that I asked for all my test results and operative report that I had sent to another doctor for a second opinion. He was the one who told me I had a 4cc band, it had slightly slipped and my weight loss in 6 months was what is expected in a year. First time I heard anything positive from a doctor. However, 9 month later I had a horrible stuck episode that took me to the ER where all the fill was removed. Oh, and right after surgery I had terrible left shoulder pain that he knew NOTHING about. MISTAKE NUMBER 6*. When I found this forum - It was just the lap band forum then - THEY HAD WHOLE THREADS DEVOTED TO LEFT SHOULDER PAIN!!!! Now to the part about the band itself: I lost 75 pounds but only 15 from the band. It never did one thing it was promoted as doing. It didn't decrease hunger, it didn't provide satiety, it didn't improve any of my medical conditions. It just made it difficult to eat - pain and pressure. So, it was the worst of both worlds. Couldn't eat but still felt hungry - like my bottom stomach was saying "hey, feed me- I'm still hungry" but I couldn't. I did not fail the band, I was a very compliant patient. The band failed me. I have been over in the sleeve forum - was contemplating getting a revision but decided it wasn't for me. I don't want to be the one who has daily diarrhea 2 years out and still can't drink plain Water, or who had pain for 2 hours from a crouton. Or has increased GERD, can't take NSAIDs for life (I have arthritis) and a whole host of other reasons, not the least of which the surgeon said I could lose "as much as 45 pounds". All that for MAYBE 45 pounds?? No thanks, I am in onderland, a place many on these boards Celebrate after surgery. So, I am going to live with this thing unless it causes a complication that requires removal. So, that's my story, sorry it was so long. Hope everyone else is doing well. *CAN BE INTERCHANGED WITH "RED FLAG NUMBER TWO, ETC.."

I've had two c-sections and a hysterectomy. Has anyone been able to use this procedure as a kind of TT and had it covered by insurance? What was the surgery like? How long in hospital? How long out of work? How did it come out? Any other information would be helpful.:help: Thank you. Cheryl

Apparently dilation, once it occurs once, is of a much higher risk in replaced bands. If I had suffered a slip instead of a leak, I would have revised to a sleeve. But to get back to your question about not gaining: I gained with my leak but turned that around and starting losing again just before it was replaced. To do that I had to become super strict with cals and exercise. I never had to do that with the band (count calories) but without the band it was crucial. You only have to do it for 3 months, and that's so completely do-able. Good luck!

I'm sorry you have to go through all of this. Have you had a barium swallow done to see if the band has slipped? I had left rib pain, mostly after I ate, and extreme left shoulder pain (I've had since the moment I work up from surgery 2 years ago). I did the swallow and my band has slipped, not much, but enough to cause pain. I went in and had it un-filled (I wasn't even very full because of fear of being stuck) but I still have the shoulder pain. The rib pain is gone, but my stomach hurts every time I eat something solid. My doctor said that the shoulder pain was caused by either the diaphragm or the band pushing on the vagus nerve which makes my shoulder hurt. He said that despite being completely un-filled, I'm still having issues and it's time to take the band out. I would be opting for a revision surgery since I am just one of those people who can't have the band in but still need to lose weight, however I have to wait a year because of insurance having a rule of needing to be enrolled for 24 months prior to bariatric surgery. You might have to bite the bullet and go somewhere else and pay the money to get it taken care of. I'm guessing your insurance won't cover anything? A lot of insurance now will cover bariatrics. Might be something to look into if you haven't already. Unfortunately, places go out of business or the hospitals have to close and then you're stuck with having to find a different place. I feel for you.

I found out my insurance will cover a revision surgery; although my surgeon is out of network so I'll be footing part of the bill. I had my band removed on 4/3 at 225 pounds and am at 203 this morning. I really thought they'd deny converting me to a RNY as my BMI is on the lower end. But somehow it went through. I know it sounds crazy, but I really am not emotionally prepared for this news? I've been eating right and working out a lot. I don't ever want to see 350 pounds again. Fear has been my motivator to loose weight in the last month. Now the question on my mind is do I go ahead with the RNY.

I'm 25 days post op but I already made the decision that if any complications occur, I won't revise or replace anything. Just take it and I will use every ounce of will power to continue to eat healthy. I hope that you make the tight decision for you and your family.

Are you having a revision?

Hi there, Does anyone know if any insurance companies cover revisions.. such as a Lap Band to an RNY?? Any info would be helpful.. Thanks. M

All of this!! I agree and I am a revision of sleeve to bypass. had the GERD, hunger was there, I could eat full plates of food, lost the hair with the sleeve had the bypass and my recovery was easier, I can still tolerate sweets (the sugar free ones I have tried), never hungry (for now lol) and I have already lost more weight my revision of bypass than I ever did with my sleeve. discuss your concerns with your doctor and get feedback from him/her. Not every surgery is cookie cutter. The sleeve was part 1 of the 2 part bypass years ago and many have found the sleeve to be successful enough. The bypass is a safe surgery. again, this is MY personal opinion/feelings. You gotta do what’s best for you. Good luck in whatever you choose

Hello everyone! I'm new to this forum...I had a revision from lap band to the sleeve on June 25, 2012 and as of today Im 34 pounds lighter! I started at 279 now Im 245...I lost 16 pounds on my 2 week pre op liquid diet and 18 pounds on my 2 week post op liquid diet...I walk 30 min everyday and now I can't wait to hit up the gym! I started mushy foods yesterday and everything went well. I Wish every1 success on their journey, I can't wait to reach my goal of 160!

I just had the band to sleeve revision with Dr Garcia on the 10th. I did not have an erosion or scar tissue. He did an amazing job I am so happy that my band is out. You will not be disappointed with him. He has done so many surgeries that he really knows what he is doing.

maddie, when i started out i wore a size 24w, i had the lap band and got down to a size 14w. 3 months ago i had a revision to the sleeve and im wearing a 12 but i haveso much hanging skin in my abdomen. honestly if it wasnt for that id prob wear a 6 or 8. my clothes are so big in my butt and legs, but i have to have the bigger size due to my gut

I did not have a revision, but I did get my sleeve done march 11, it is great! Yes you can eat too fast and have the stuck feeling, yes you can eat and vomit also! The thing is that you are not starving or so hungry that you want to "shove it in" at least not me. I no longer live to eat I now eat to live! My mother has the band and she struggles daily with it, she is still hungry, because of course they do not remove the hunger hormone when they do the band, but with the sleeve a lot of those hunger hormones are removed thus for you are not hungry all the time! I do feel full after just a few bites of food and I stop. I do not feel that my stomach feels any different, just that it's sore inside from surgery, I had mine sewn done inside because of other reasons so I am just a little sore. Just don't eat too big of bites and chew your food and stop when your new tummy tells you to and you will do great! Liquids liquids liquids and then soft liquids and then eggs, tuna, cottage cheese , yogurt, cheese, some moist chicken ground turkey meat, deli meats, plus every doctor is different!! Good luck

I had the RNY in 2001. Loss 200 lbs but was still over weight. Kept the weight off for nearly a decade then gained it back. Recently I had a revision to DS. I was told by many the DS is the best for the very large to lose the weight and keep it off. So far I’ve lost 50 lbs in two and a half months. I hope this helps. I know I don’t have much info as to the revision outcome still but so far it’s been worth it.

My lapband to sleeve revision is also on Wednesday. I am confident that he sleeve is a superior weight loss tool especially when compared to the lapband. I am looking forward to successful weight loss!

Hey everyone, I got revised from a band to sleeve on Wednesday late in the afternoon. All went well. I spent one night in the hospital, had some nausea and pain that has mostly passed. Now I am just a little uncomfortable and feel well enough that I could return to work (desk job) tomorrow if I really needed to.

Hi, I'm down almost 30 since my first visit to my revision surgeon. Since my lapband surgery in 2001, I've lost 50 pounds.

Hello everyone. Im a newbie and have been lurking around for a couple of weeks. I had my band to sleeve revision 3 days ago. I feel great aside from the bouts of nausea. No gas pain at all. Down 10 pounds from 205 day of surgery.

I had lap band surgery on March 17th 2009. I lost about 20 lbs during the pre-op diet, then continued to lose weight right after surgery. For the first year I kept losing till i lost 100 lbs a year from surgery. After that i started having problems with the band. I have had a total of 27 adjustments and several ER visits due to vomiting up blood and at one point my band was in a bad position. My insurance will pay to have it removed but won't help pay for a revision to gastric bypass or the sleeve. The last upper GI showed it was in the right position so I went ahead and tried to get adjustments again. I have lost no weight and keep gaining. More frustrated than anything and have given up. I can't find the will power and disapline to go back to a liquid diet. What to do? Where do I start? Help!

I had my revision to bypass three weeks ago but did not have to do any bowel prep. In fact, I was told to eat a carb rich meal for dinner the night before surgery (which I did). Surgery went well and other than gas pain on the first day post-op, haven’t had any problems since. (Ahhh...that’s not true. Now that I’m soft foods constipation has become an issue, but that’s another topic...)

I had the same revision done just over 3 months ago. No regrets at all. My bowel prep didn’t go very well either. I told the dr in advance that miralax would not completely clean me out. He said it was fine since he only needed intestines and not colon cleaned out. surgery went fine. Try not to worry too much. You got this!

Hello All I Need Some Input and/or advice, Had Lap band in 2007 did really well on it and lost 122 Pounds 288 down to 166! Last 18 months My weight has gone up, but was unable to be adjusted, Radiology MD said I was to tight and would not adjust me. I attempted multiple adjustments and every time the Radiology MD said no Im to tight. Went to my Bariatric surgeon and he finally removed all the fill and said rest 30 days and lets try a fill. That was before Thanksgiving. From then until Mid January I packed on 30 pounds! Finally got a fill of 1.5 CC (my band holds 4CC) and... nothing. It should be noted that I have no problems with GERD, reflux or any other issues - just no weight loss. Went to a new doctor (only changed because he is closer to work/home) recommended revision to BY-Pass, but I was thinking sleeve. He says if I want to get back down to 166 by-pass is the way to go. I know some people that had By-pass started off great and then gained weight. Here are my questions: Which way to go Sleeve or By-Pass? If you converted from band to sleeve how much did you loose in total? Did you loose as much as you had with the lap band? If you chose By- pass how much did you loose in total? Im not worried about the surgery or recovery - Im just worried about living with my choice how it will affect my eating and possible weight gain - I do not want to have a third weight loss surgery. Thanks in advance for your help.

I have been having a busy time with my job not been able to post in a while. Missed being here and keeping up with you all. Latest on me.... total loss was 138.5....I was rebanded for slippage in February 2005 and had my first adjustment yesterday with 4 cc instilled. Woo Hoo! Bad news is I had gained 10 pounds between surgery date of revision until yesterday :cry so now my total loss is only 128.5 pounds. My doc was not fussy at all about it he said that it ws normal to gain before the first adjustment. I guess I was not expecting to gain as with my first band (in Feb 2004) I had a smaller band, and had immediate restriction even without an adjustment. This new band is the Vanguard and is the bigger band and I can really tell it before my adjustment. Could eat way too much. I had no restriction whatsoever so I really needed the adjustment yesterday, hope that will be enough but he told me to call in about 4 weeks if I was not losing an average of 1.5 to 2 pounds per week. I need motivation to exercise now. My job is so busy but I know I need to exercise to jumpstart my losing again. I have to get back in the groove of exercising. Please help me get motivated! Thanks for letting me vent.

Congrats on your surgery date Mim! I'm a band to sleeve revision as well, with my date looming on 9/6. I have been lucky that the only problem I've had with my band is just that it failed. My surgeon told me at my last appointment that they're finding up to 40-50% of bands are failing so at least I know now it wasn't just me. Feel free to check in any time you'd like with questions as I'll be about a month ahead of you. I can keep you in the loop as to what to expect.