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I would recommend to you the UT MIST group. Dr. Erik Wilson is a pioneer in revisions and overall bariatric surgeon. He is the top go to guy for bariatric at memorial hermann in the medical center.

For those of u that have been revised, how r u feeling? I came home yesterday and feel like this was much harder than band. However, that was 14 yrs ago, so might be that I just don't remember, I have all kinds of stomach pain, pain medicine makes me have hot flashes. I know this will get better, but right now I feel pretty crummy. How about u guys?

I think one you get severe reflux you may need to look at another revision.

I had RNY done 7/2014, hernia repair 9/2014, and then a revision to SIPS 3/2015. (I had a very large marginal ulcer that would not heal) I have always suffered with acid reflux/gerd. With the RNY I had no issues with it. I am currently 2 months post op of SIPS. My acid reflux has gotten horrible. I've tried 80mg of Prilosec and 60mg of Dexilant. I have been on Prilosec since 2007. One morning I spit up bile and a dab of blood. It was soo painful. I have never done that before. So I had a scope done this week. The GI doctor found my esophagus and sleeve is red and irritated. He took a biopsy as well. He suggested to keep taking my meds and to eat smaller meals through out the day. (I've been doing this) The GI doctor said that my test results will be back in 10 days and to come back in 2 weeks for a follow up. He never said if I had bile reflux. It always seems to be something... Is there a fix if I do have bile reflux???? Nicole

It's common knowledge that revision surgeries have slower weight loss then original surgery. Rude people will always be rude so when I come across a rude comment pointed at me I always say yes I'm losing weight slowly but all good things come slowly and why rush nobody's chasing me.

I was revised to sleeve from a band so I thought i had no illusiions about the effort it would take to lose. That said, I am surprised by how little it takes to go wrong. More than 50 carbs and I gain. More than 1000 calories and I gain. That has been a surprise. (It shouldnt have been i know): However I continue to learn and adjust and am very pleased with how the sleeve and I are turning out. Its not fast, but its going along.

@aviva1979: While I can't chime in on your question about revising to the sleeve, only because this wouldn't be my choice, I wanted to address your concern about keeping your weight off if you were to decide to remove the band and not proceed with another WLS. In my opinion, your concern is legitimate. I had complications with my band, not the same as what you are experiencing but complications that have me unable to have significant fill in my band ever, and may lead to me deciding to remove my band entirely. (I developed afib, with heart rate and rhythm problems related to the vagus nerve/band's influence on it). After a first year of terrific weight loss and wonderful satisfaction with my foods and band, my issues set in and I could no longer have my band at optimal fill level. I have to keep my band open so there is no vagus nerve irritation. What I now experience is the "dieter's mindset", i.e. I have returned to having to control my weight by sheer will-power. I eat a Weight-Watcher's type of diet, which means lots of "filling foods" and I practice all the tricks that dieters/maintainers use to stay full and keep cravings at bay. This is the mentality I was happy to leave behind when I chose and underwent WLS so you can imagine how depressing it is to return to this state. It really shows how effective our bands are when optimally adjusted. Yes, we do "some" of the work, but for me I'd say my band did "all" of the work...at least the important work...at helping me help myself. It was very clear that the band was responsible for my feelings of satiety and dimming of appetite because now, with a band that is basically dormant, I have neither of those. If you were to remove your band and not proceed with another WLS, my sense is that in order to maintain, you'd have to eat precisely as you are eating right now. And that is very very hard without a WL tool. You'd really want to concentrate on how very good your feel now, almost at your goal weight, and combine that mental game with a diet that does not go over what you are currently eating calorie-wise. It's this last part that is very tricky, because you will be hungry...hungrier than with your band. I have not lost any weight in over a year. The day my complications started was the day I stopped losing weight. I'm nowhere near my goal weight (I have 50 more pounds to lose) and I'd like to think I can get to my goal, or nearer to my goal, by myself. (I doubt I can, but I'll keep trying). I maintain my loss by keeping my mind on how much better I feel at this weight vs my pre-surgery weight, and I stay on a diet. It's not at all as joyful as when I had an active band, but I venture to say that it is a touch easier than when I had no band at all. The band alone provides me with a teensy bit of restriction so I can stay away from breads, Pasta, and other non-compliant foods, but it is not optimally-adjusted (so I'm hungry all the time). Lots of bandster have revised, however, so those answers would be more relevant for you to read than mine.

It's three weeks till the big RNY. I thought I had it together, perhaps not? I don't have the pre-op liquid prep that most do. I'm doing my lung function test tomorrow which I'm scared of. I had pneumonia in late April, then again in early to mid May. The pneumonia is gone, but the cough still remains, for the most part. I have gurgling in my throat, possibly from all the post-nasal drip I keep swallowing. So I PRAY I pass! Im ending my second bottle of Prednisone. And I have been SO FREAKIN hungry! I have lost little since my second NUT visit and I fear pissing off my surgeon. I WANT to eat like there's no tomorrow. Could be side effect of Prednisone? But definitely a panic response. I was SO set and educated about the lifestyle change, And did it successfully, and will continue to do so. But I'm having these panic responses. I'm a revision from Band to RNY. What can I do to fight these very different urges to eat? Can I get away with a last supper here or there, or small cheats? I'm not going to be able, by necessity and CHOICE to eat some of the cravings I'm having for years. That, too, sets me into panic mode. It's really a tough time for me. A true test of my commitment. I am 48, and am being screened for uterine cancer, tomorrow too. I'm WAY stressed out about that. My Dad, 83, has been in and out of nursing homes and the hospital from complications from Leukemia. A lot more stress to that story. I'm completely broke. But the prize at the end of the tunnel is the RNY on 6/17. IF I pass all the "tests". I will die if it gets postponed. I've been prepping for this moment for years, and now that it's three weeks away, all the stress and panic is brewing in me full force. I am in shock. I am ready. I am obviously not aware of the test of self, post surgery. My therapist told me psychologically, the shits gonna hit the fan when I can't turn to eating, and food to cope. But then, we've been working on that all along. I don't know: Were YOU scared? Did you cheat? Do you pull your crap together eventually? I love you for reading this by the way, thank you! Vent-ology.....

It has taken me 3 months to lose 30 pounds. My surgery was a band to sleeve revision. Yes my weight loss has been slow but it's been consistent with no stalls. One of my co- workers had the nerve to shove a before & after picture of her cousin who had weight loss surgery the same time as me and had already lost 65 pounds and began to tell me that I'm not dieting correctly!! Never mind that her cousin is 15 years younger than me & was heavier than me in her before picture. Plus, she wasn't sure if she had bypass or the sleeve. Sorry for such a long rant but boy did she piss me off!!

LOL. But you posted anyway. You just couldn't resist the subject matter First time I heard the phrase it was two women talking about another women on the PATH train. Found their cruelty to their own gender fascinating. Until then I thought respecting a lady's bodyimage was sacred. Mud flaps don't bother me, I find them fascinating in a medical sort of way and not in a pervert sort of way. Was asking for a man's opinion on how to successfully approach the subject of her taco's health, but instead got a reply from some lady about "Since you would benefit from that correction and it is clearly bothering you, it might make sense that you help her out." Doesn't bother me 'cause at some point they will just tickle my golf balls more. But knowing my GF, she is going to obsess about it like everything else along with her revision surgery.. Sincerely, cheap bastard

I need to revise this: according to my Drs. Visit today, the don't allow Tramadol in the first six weeks, so if you are in that timeframe you may want to stick with Tylenol. I was sent home from surgery with tramadol, works great for me. I also use Tylenol once in a great while for sinus pain.

I'm looking forward to my revision in mid June! Yayyy!!

I have the band --waiting for approval for revision to bypass. What I've experienced is food getting stuck and what is referred to as "sliming". That can also cause headache and chest pain with the sweats. It lasts as long as it takes to open the plug caused by the stuck food -- usually a few minutes. Not the same as dumping. Dumping is caused from eating fatty or sugary foods and lasts about an hour -- major diarrhea, sweats, nausea.

Congratulations. Yes, respect the band. Otherwise you might become a candidate for revision surgery and/or have to convert to something like the sleeve. As far as some doctors maybe concerned if you cannot control yourself with the band, you will probably end up hurting yourself with the sleeve. It is not that you can't get a surgeon to do it, but they do worry that you might ruin there low leak stats. Between family and friends, I see so much food cheating going on it is like a sad remake of the movie 'Fatso.' Biggest culprit is sugar and wheat. Which I can relate to since I am addicted to the stuff. So good luck.

I was asking for a guys perspective. I've been with her through many diets, revision surgery and her constant 2 AM anxiety attacks. Gotten enough advice from her girlfriends. Thanks anyway.

Thought it would be lovely to see a positive , happy post about how good bands CAN work. I am happy and healthy and wouldn't trade it for anything. Hope other banders will chime in on a great tool. Just for this forum, could we request no horror stories or revisions? I would so appreciate that... Hoping others will also. Thank you in advance ????

Hi everyone, just thought I would provide an update since Monday's revision surgery. I was happy when I awoke out of surgery and the doc said they were able to remove my band completely, I had very little scar tissue and they fixed my hiatal hernia and I got my sleeve!! Day 2 and I am really starting to feel much better. The nausea is subsiding, I haven't had to vomit and I was able to get in all my meds including my Vitamins. I must admit that it does take awhile to digest, and can actually feel it going slowly down my esophagus down into my stomach. The gas pain is better and the overall pain is getting better too. I was even able to walk to the corner of my neighborhood ???? I've been working really hard to get in my Protein, I've had about 6 ozs today. It just hurts in my chest when I swallow. Anyway, other than that, I've just been lying around today, the tramadol makes me really sleepy. Hope this posts helps someone who is looking for immediate post op expectations, although we all know that everyone is different. Sw: 232 Surgery day 220 Today 217

I went in wanting the sleeve. My surgeon asked me what my expectations were, and what my main concerns were. Each of my smaller concerns she would stop me and say... either will do that. Then I asked the big one... When I am old, which one would be better. When I am 70-80, or in a nursing home, or if I am in a horrible accident, if I needed a full time feeding tube to help keep me alive, which one would work, and which one would be a huge problem, and she said.. Get the bypass if you are concerned with 50 years from today. Feeding tubes are easy to insert in the stomach that is left inside. With a sleeve, theres nothing to put it in other than the sleeve or intestine, and quality of life would dimish. Diabetes runs in the family. I don't have it now, but I don't want it later. RNY can do that for me. She also said that in HER practice, 20% of the RNY she performs, are a revision from sleeve. She said that in her patients with sleeve, many show that after 3 years, they no longer feel ANY restriction at all... and that they are regaining weight. Long-term, she has seen much better maintenance with the bypass. Ultimately, I am very happy with my final decision of RNY. I will get it in August.

I had gastric bypass on May 11th, though it wasn't a revision, I have found that it was a fairly easy surgery to recover from. I was required to look at all the options before I made a decision on the surgery. Although sleeve looked fine, I just felt like the smaller pouch and the added malabsorption was something that would be beneficial to a person who had issues with food and overeating. It's definitely helped teach me portion control which was a HUGE thing for me! The two are very similar though, and I don't think you will have any problems with whatever you choose! I'll throw in my stats just for a lay down of how gastric bypass has affected me. My surgery date was 5.11.15 (9 days post op) HW: 330 SW: 321 CW: 304 CWL: 17 pounds And I am 21 and 6'2" tall!

My story is similar to yours. My surgeon is very conservative too. I lost 100% ewl before complications after kids. Had my band out and asked my surgeon which would be better for me after band and he said I should do sleeve. Hope he is right bc doing surgery in June! Maybe get another option? I had heard the same things as you about sleeve being less successful but there are plenty of successful revisions on this board. What complications did you have?

I really like the Premier Protein ones. They have 30g of protein and only 1g of sugar. I buy mine online direct, but they can be found at Costco. My fave is the strawberries and cream. My daughter in law likes chocolate and vanilla. (She is a band to sleeve revision and had her surgery on 5/13/15.)

After being overweight my entire life I decided to get the lap band in dec. 2012. I really wanted gastric sleeve surgery at the time, but my insurance didn't cover it and I felt bypass was "too extreme". My band never could get in the "green zone" and because I traveled for work, often times would be in horrible pain because due to cabin pressure the saline in my band would get tighter. I was miserable! After continually vomiting, uncontrollable acid reflux and weight gain I decided to switch surgical programs and seek new advice. My new doctor advised me on having a revision done and now my insurance approves the sleeve surgery. I thought about it a few months as I was hesitant with feeling like such a failure with the band. In fact I was quite open with my first surgery but people would say later "I thought you were supposed to lose lots of weight?". It just added to my feelings of failure and this round I'm being much more protective of who I talk to about it. I've not gotten a lot of support for my choice but hope by joining this group others will be able to understand my journey and share their own. I'm now going through the approval process and hope to get my sleeve at the end of June.

@@Bndtoslv I forgot to address your other question - the fear about not as good of results as a "revisionista" i asked my NUT about this and we talked at some depth about the "bad habits" I learned with the band. This is personal to me, I do not intend this as band bashing but this is what I learned from having a band and had to "guard against" post revision. 1. Sliders. Lets be honest, when I had a decent fill - all I could really eat were sliders. I couldn't eat dense Protein without pain so I learned quickly to like crackers, popcorn, chips, etc etc. 2. Sweets - pre band, I was more of a volume eater not so much into sweets. That changed overtime and I definately developed a sweet tooth. I suspect because sweets are basically sliders. 3. Snacking/grazing - seriously bad news for sleevers. enuf said. So my conclusion is that band to sleeve revisions have to be very diligent because you might have gotten used to that feeling... pouch packing, esophogus stuffing .. whatever you call it. Bottom line, you CANNOT eat until "full" (stuffed or whatever your former criteria was) - the goal is to eat until absence of hunger. Say what? A whole new concept for me but it works! I am 3.5 years post revision and i openly admit I am struggling WAY more than I have previously. Go figure... but it is never easy.

I was banded in December of 2012 and went from 275 to 255. I never got in the "green zone" and constantly suffered from overwhelming pain after I would fly (I travel for work). My surgeon later explained to me that the band tightens after flights due to the cabin pressure. I would be miserable for days... Sometimes longer depending on how much I would fly. I also would vomit and get horrible reflux from my band. In seeing a new surgeon I feel really good about my revision, and am down 12 out of 15 pounds required before surgery. My goal is to be 265 at surgery time.

I wasn't as successful with the band as i hoped I would be. I started at 272 in March 2001. It took me a YEAR to lose about 70# (30 of those was during the first 30 days as my surgeon had me do a liquid diet for 30 days!) I exercised, i really tried the best I could but I was hungry still, just in pain when I ate. My band and I did not get along well. i vomited alot. By late 2002 I was having serious problems. Who am I kidding, I was already sleeping in a sitting up position and other things to try to control the reflux. anyway, i had to have all fill removed and i regained big time. By 2004, I was well over 300#. my highest recorded was 332, but I think I weighed closer to 350 at one point. I battled it out for many years, bouncing between about 240 - 300 ish range. In 2011 I finally had the courage to revise and began the sleeve journey at 308. My lowest weight post sleeve was 140, but I am currently in the upper 150s... 3.5 years post revision.