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Hi All, My name is Rick and I am 46yrs old. Here is my nightmare situation. Suggestions or help welcomed! After hearing the 1 800 Get-Slim commercials, I signed up in late 2010 and eventually had my surgery in April of 2011 with "Dr. T" in Beverly Hills. For the first 2yrs I was the model patient....Dr. T even asked me to take part in their advertisements (I declined). I started at almost 300lbs and made it down to 218lbs with my highest fill being 10cc (14cc band). Like many, I slowly put on 15lbs and then stayed pretty flat. I was totally happy, active, and doing pretty well with the lifestyle. The only odd bit was that fills were getting harder and harder to do as they suddenly could not find the fact of my port (where the needle penetrates). I eventually had to do them under x-ray while drinking barium....yum. Fast forward... In February 2014 I woke up one night and was physically sick....blood coming out both ends and I was not able to function...my wife rushed me to ER when I started fainting. It turns out that I had 5 ulcers, including one 2cm bleeder on the base of my stomach. The doc who did my endoscopy said my band looked fine and was not the culprit, but I should have it emptied so I can recover 100% (eat foods that will give my tummy a break....however may be tough with the band). He was also nervous about erosion. Anyway, that was a 6 day hospital stay! As directed I retuned to my doctors. Dr. T had actually left the practice so was now being seen by Dr. Sedrak. Doctor Sedrak agreed to drain it to 2cm and we would re-visit fills in a month or two. After two broken needles and a few others bent, plus another go with the x-ray, he finally found his way in and drained it accordingly. I was bruised and felt like a pin cushion, but on my way to recovery. Fast forward... I eventually returned (a few months later) for a fill as the weight was coming back on! This time it was yet another doc as Sedrak was off busy that day. After reading up on my history, we went straight to the x-ray....no need to break more needles. Even with the x-ray, the new doc could not get into my port and even called Dr. Sedrak on the phone and explained the my port appeared to be unattached from my rib muscle! We watched it dance around on the screen every time the needle pushed against it! Both agreed that given my medical history and the fact the port was unserviceable, I would be a great candidate for the sleeve. Fast forward...... It get's better.....as of today, the same above mentioned office (in Pomona CA) no longer has a surgeon on staff and has been in trouble countless times! Dr. Sedrak has left the company and I cannot find him. My insurance carrier changed so I'm having to jump through the same loops again, just like I'd never had surgery. In my opinion, I should be considered a "warranty repair" and not a new client! They already charged my insurance over 120k!!! To compound issues, I moved from CA to Austin TX and I have not had any luck finding a doc to look at me "because they did not perform the surgery". Really? This is silly. I am super depressed here. I've gain all of my weight...even with a decent exercise regime etc. My metabolism doesn't know which was is up! I'm stuck with a useless band and not getting anywhere. The Pomona office offered a port revision, but it appears that nobody else will service the fills (here in TX) since they did not do the work. Just a sad deal all around! Thoughts or suggestions?!?! Sincerely, big and pissed (Rick)

I was scheduled to have RNY surgey back in October and days before surgery it was cancelled due to some unusual test results. I have severe GERD and therefore RNY was presented as my only option. I am now seeing a new surgeon and at my first apt he suggested that the sleeve might be a possibility but he wanted to consult with my GI specialist and he said we could always revise to RNY if needed. I really do not want to have surgery twice so I am curious to hear from those who have had revisions from sleeve to bypass what the reason was.

Hi all. I'd like to share my story as to how I even knew of the sleeve as a Bariatric Choice plus how I got to this point of my surgery scheduled now for March 30. I was at a resort in Honduras for New Years 2013/14 with a group of people. Somehow one of the couples with us mentioned the husband had been quite heavy a couple of years back, had the gastric sleeve done which is why he watches what he eats and runs every morning. I was starving for knowledge so he explained it to me a bit. I filed it away. I have gained 60 pounds in the past 14 years, HATE it, don't even recognize myself plus my back hurts, knees hurt, blood pressure rising, snoring like a lumber jack and more. I have tried every diet at least once if not twice: weight watchers, hcg, Ideal Protein, clean eating, fasting 2/5 diet, boot camps, on and on, you get the picture. So, in October of last year in a fit of desperation I remembered the sleeve procedure the guy had and called a friend who had has the by-pass and shared my woes, curiosity, etc. with her (she's in the health care field). She suggested I see a physician who has had the sleeve by the way and see if I was a candidate for surgery. I met with her and while my BMI and other markers weren't high enough but given the fact that my weight has steadily risen over a period of years in spite of dieting and exercise plans she put put my name forward. I also saw another doctor who I heard runs a bariatric protocol program at our local hospital who put me in the program. I see the nutritionist, psychologist, physical therapist and attend the monthly group sessions plus physician visits. The groups is amazing and filled with pre, just out of surgery and post people up to 2-3 years out of having had surgery. It is so interesting to hear their journey, experience and tips. There are also people who are back in the programe for revision surgery. That made me go hmmmmm?! Anyway, it's now March, I had all my bloodwork done, submitted a stool sample and had an upper GI. So, I have my surgery date on the 30th of this month (YIKES) and began the pre-surgery diet protocol. I have 2 high protein, no sugar shakes a day, loads of Water, 1 small meal of fish/meat and veg, I have to have a no fat broth each day for the sodium. I am doing fine, detoxing my body, shrinking my liver and preparing my brain to accept less amounts of food. So far so good. I have had to stop my HRT which is not pleasant and I hope I don't hurt anyone!!!. I have my anesthesia appointment on Monday where I believe I will have an ECG and surgical discussion. On Monday I weighed 224 lbs and today I am 217 (due to this pre diet), feel great, blessed, hopeful and ready. I am 60 years old and my height is 5'6". My knees and back hurt, I stop breathing 19 times a minute while sleeping and my blood pressure is in the 150's and sometimes higher (top # of course). The thought of eliminating these health conditions are making it all worth any early unpleasant symptoms I may have post surgery. Also the vain side of me wants to enjoy buying clothes again, cross my legs without pain, walk briskly without wheezing and getting thigh chafe, feel confident again, not worry about running into people I haven't seen in years (they knew me thin) and more. I know you all will wish me luck and I certainly do for all of you in your journey.

I am new to the forum. I am looking for information for a good revision surgeon in or near AL. Most the doctors in Alabama do not perform revision surgery. However, they will take your money for consult and then tell when you're in the office, "oh we don't do revision surgery" . I have travelled as far as ATL and have a surgeon. However, because constant trips and not the ability to accommodate out of town patients, this was not a successful path. I know there is a listed Bariatric Surgeon who specialize in revision and are able to accommodate out of town patients. I just need the list so I can begin again. Thank u for any help.

I revised to the sleeve. Before I had the band in 2008, I had horrible reflux!! During band surgery , the surgeon told me I had a hiatal hernia which he repaired and reflux was gone. In my 5th year with the band I started getting a throbbing in my chest - after X-rays etc. I had reflux again so he removed some of my saline and I felt fine again but was already gaining my weight back. I was sleeved 2/4 - he repaired another hiatal hernia during surgery but this time I was getting reflux after the surgery. I bought an over the counter antacid, took it every night before bedtime and I was fine. Only did it for the first month. Now I only need it occasionally.

@@twittymilk are you a revision? Pomp did my first surgery and is doing my revision this summer. He is great!

I'm going through the process now @NYP-Weill Cornell. Both Drs Pomp and Dakin have excellent reps when it comes to the band revisions. One girl I meet in a support group meeting said Dr. Pomp pretty much saved her life, that's how bad her lap band was.

Well, I was very open to either sleeve or bypass. My surgeon recommended the sleeve because I have a personal and family history of autoimmune disorders, and the sleeve lets you take a broader array of medications after surgery. But I have nothing against bypass -- it is considered the gold standard of weight loss surgery for a reason! My niece had bypass and some other people I know did as well. They have all lost pretty much all their excess weight and maintained well, all look great and healthy. I haven't noticed them having any digestive problems. There are also a bunch of people in my wls support group with bypass and they are all doing great. If your practice runs a support group, you may want to go and talk to people who have had both surgeries and see for yourself, in the flesh, how folks are doing and what they have to say. Good luck! eta: I am not a band revision patient, hope it is okay that I chimed in!

According to the surgeons I've talked to the revision is pretty easy, they just need to do the malabsorption part and maybe tighten the sleeve. As far as my sleeve, I was a band patient and did amazing! I lost over 100 lbs and maintained that for a long time, i revised to the sleeve and my surgeon used a 42 bougie and went liberal with that. Due to that and the damage that was already done by my band I was left with a large distorted sleeve that I never felt restriction with and never lost a bit of hunger. I've actually gained 10lbs since my sleeve surgery and the only reason it's not more is because I work like crazy to keep it off but unfortunately it's turning into a losing battle. I've had the sleeve since September 2013, I revised because I was sick of feeling stuck all the time and concerned what could come if I left it in long term, that and everyone said how amazing the sleeve was.

If someone has severe GERD and/or Barrett's esophagus, needs to take NSAIDS for a medical condition - these can all be reasons to recommend the by pass over the sleeve. How do you revise from the sleeve to a mini bypass?

I revised to the sleeve and it has never worked for me at all, I however had great success with the band. I'm now seeing a lot of information that says because of the damage the band can do to the stomach and because a lot of band patients are already adapted to reduced calorie lifestyles that the mini gastric bypass may be a better option. I'm considering revising to this myself. I'm reading great things about it!

I had a revision as well. I'm 45 down in 8 weeks. Keep up the good work!!

@@JamieLogical I have a prescription for the heartburn. @@downsizingdiva I am on nausea meds as well. I am at the point where I am tired, I had the lapband originally and I had to have a revision to the sleeve and I am in suffer mode

I received my band in 2009 and after struggling with constant indigestion and losing weight and gaining weight, I will get a revision on Thursday March 26! Insurance won't pay so that leaves it up to us, to pay out of pocket. I am on my liquid diet and struggling but trying to stick with it. Here's to another new beginning.

I have a disorder (diabetes insipidus) that puts me at significantly more risk for death due to electrolyte imbalance and/or dehydration than your average person (it is quite rare). I didn't know I had the disorder until I had the surgery (the post recovery fluid intake restrictions brought it to light, I was diagnosed 18 hours after the surgery) and I'm still glad I did it. I had a lap-band that did nothing for me - NOTHING. I decided to go for the revision, but deep in my heart I feared that it would be the same thing with the sleeve, up through and right after the surgery. But it wasn't the crap shoot the lap band was. Despite how work it was to manage the kidney disorder in the first few weeks, it turned out to be the right call. The initial paranoia about protein intake and fluid intake is no longer - listening to my body and adding a few vitamins to my routine provides all of the nutritional content I need. Other than being a little low on iron, I really don't have to think about it much. I lost a lot of weight quickly, but then I leveled out to a few pounds per week, and now at almost 4 months I'm about halfway to my goal weight. I had a very, very rough time of it after my surgery, but I got through it, and all the hard work was worth it. I would do it again in a heartbeat. Don't let the band discourage you - the sleeve actually works!

I am still on the fence too. You will find no shortage of stories on here about remarkable progress with the sleeve and how people just love it. Co-morbidities reversed or gone, being able to do things they couldn't do before. Being healthy. However, and here is the caveat: WLS is a crap shoot. You don't know what your results will be until after you have it. Will you be a successful one? One who can eat most any food but just smaller quantities or the one who is in pain for 2 hours from a crouton? One who will have to drink most meals and eat mostly Protein - with few carbs - fruits and veggies (based on your surgeons recommendation). I have read all this on here and everything in between while I make my decision. Also be aware - this might not matter to you now if you're young - but most surgeons don't allow NSAIDS for life - and when you get older and develop conditions like arthritis you won't be able to take NSAIDS for it. GERD can be problematic with the sleeve. It got worse for some who had it prior to surgery or developed in some who didn't. Again, many will be taking medication for this for life. Most posts on here talk about the amount of Water and protein that is required daily for success. Plus Vitamins and minerals. All WLS requires a great deal of compliance. But like I said it's a crap shoot. I know, I went through all this with the band and I hate it. It has never done one thing it was promoted as doing. Now I have it and it is unfilled. Not sure of the revision surgery, though. Good luck in making your decision. There is no shortage of information on here. Look over all of it - good and bad - to help you decide.

I also had horrible scarring and adhesions. My surgeon was going to do a revision but once he got in there he felt it would be better to let my stomach heal and return to a semi-normal shape. I had to weight four months for the Sleeve surgery. I had the band for 9 years though, and apparently the damage was extensive. I am also surprised they still do the Lap-Bands, and surprised anyone would want it.

I had revision surgery 6 weeks ago and have lost 25lbs. My doctor said to expect slower weight loss after revision. He said to expect 1 to 2 pounds a week. So congratulations your doing great!

Hello Blondie311, I had a sleeve to bypass on Feb. 3. I had my revision to help with my reflux and it has taken it away. That being said please call your doctor your reflux should not be getting worst.

When I read the postings from those that had bypass, they seem very happy. And the same is said for those that had the sleeve. I choose to revise to the sleeve because it seemed more natural for me, I didn't want any re-routing of my organs. I would just read both forums so you can see the different views from people. And talk to your surgeon about the pros & cons of each Oops , just realized your surgeon recommends the sleeve.

My surgeon (one of the top) recommended the sleeve for me. Brief story : I was banded in 2007 and very successful 100% loss of excessive weight. 8 years and 2 kids later the band no longer working and hard to adjust, esophagus mildly enlarged but returns to normal with unfill. I love the sound of the sleeve but worry when I read that bypass is a better revision from band. Do not want to make the wrong choice! I trust my surgeon who knows my history. What do you all think? Also important- I regained most of the weight!

I'm not having a revision, I'm actually having my first surgery. I'm going to have the sleeve done. But my surgery date is March 31st. Maybe we could be sleeve buddies. Haha

I've been doing a lot of research and I feel that I've really narrowed it down to what I feel are the best surgoens in Mexico, however I can't seem to find much in regards to sleeve revisions or resleeving. The surgeons I've consulted with say they do them and have said that I'm a good candidate given my situation but I would love to hear form other patients who have had this done...are there any out there and if so, what surgeon did you choose?

Hi all! Any band to sleeve revision people out there? I had the band in 2009 and it never really worked. I decided to go and get the sleeve after gaining some weight. I'm on day 3 of my all liquid pre-op diet and I guess it's getting easier?! Anyone out there band to sleeve revision with a great success story they want to share? Anyone else having surgery March 31?

Swizz, Denise is on the mend. I am sure she will post. I feel for what she has been through. Michigan chic and bethinpa have both been dealing with post plastics complications for months and will likely need revisions. It is odd that i feel a bit of guilt. I did the crazy ass go to Mexico and have jumbo procedures done at once. Recovery was hard but I was horseback riding and skiing at 3 months post op. Michigan has an open wound....and I think its been half a year. If I had had that I would have blamed my wreckless decision...and those ladies did the USA based staged surgeries. Not sure my point really but it does make me reflect on luck of the draw....and maybe post op rest? The new beau met more of my friends. It was supposed to be just Mary but word got out and 2 more showed up. Scott was perfect and I think enjoyed the henfest haha. He passed. I am going to share a very personal issue. I saw Steven several months ago. We never ended things..I just let it fade to background because he has a big business related crisis and it stresses me to be around him when he has drama. Anyway I know I need to tell him to not call me again, regardless of what happens with Scott but I feel stress over the idea. It's like I am fine not seeing him (even before I met Scott I was not seeing him) but the IDEA of never seeing him gives me angst. I think it is because he was so influential in shaping how I see mself (I mean that very positively) . I think in some crazy ass way he has been a father figure who actually treated me like I matter when mine didn't. Maybe I am blowing smoke- I don't know why I feel this draw actually. I need to separate permanently but it stresses me to visualize it. I decided I will face it after costa rica because I wonder if I will go through a funk as a result. If I feel like crap I'd rather be where my support network is. Life is great overall but works sucks right now and one of my best pals is severely depressed and another is losing her mind during a bad divorce. It drains me to be there for them but I am managing and balancing my needs too. I realize I am much stronger than I was and those two friends were there for me when I needed it.