Search the Community

Tina, Hi haven't spoken with you in a while! Yes, things are going well now that I've revised to the RNY. I know that it was just too hard for me to lose with the lap band and am glad that I decided to switch, plus it was covered. I kind of feel like I need to hang around here in case there are others that have similar problems like I had and can't figure out why they're not losing too. Not everyone can lose with the lap band. So far the weight is coming off at a normal pace, I think and hasn't stopped. There is a honeymoon period that lasts about six months and I'm still in that period and am very thankful it's still working!!! Anyway take care and know there's still hope!!! Nancy.

I can relate to all of you and it's very frustrating especially when you see it appears to work really well for some but not for you. Eventually after you've done all you can do to work the band it's left to you and your doctor to decide what the next step should be. I had mine for 14 months and after surgery the only time lbs dropped on the scale were right after surgery my first post-op appt. I was in the right frame of mind but something was keeping me from being successful. It wasn't until I was trying to figure out "why me" that I found this forum. I wasn't dropping after that initial appt. and eventually started to gain weight. Every time I gained they just put in another fill to the point where I had so much restriction healthy foods would not go through and I couldn't help but eat around the band or starve! It was a very depressing thing for me and I lost faith in myself and WLS. After having problems with GERD and being put in the hospital for it my surgeon removed my band. I did not want to revise, I thought nothing would work for me! Then after my band was removed I started putting weight on very quickly. My old size stomach was back. My cravings had never left. My daughter had previously had RNY and dropped 150 lbs so I decided to give myself one more shot because I couldn't live this way anymore. So eight months after the removal I revised to RNY and it was covered by my insurance. So far so good, I'm not going to say RNY is easy as pie as it's very hard at first and much more painful and a longer recovery but for someone who had lost all hope before and was pretty much devestated after her first weight loss surgery failure it's worth it in the end. It's working and I feel like I was a tough case, maybe I just picked the wrong surgery in the first place who knows? Good luck to all of you and be up front and proactive with your doctors about this. We all had the same goal in the beginning and that was to get healthier by losing the exess weight. Take care, Nancy.

I agree that you would have to check with them. I have Anthem BCBS and my band to sleeve revision was covered just like my original band was. My surgeon just put on the forms that my band malfunctioned.

I am one pound away from my revised final goal. I thought I wanted to get to 140 but here at 151 I'm getting boney. I'm a farm girl, big boned and curvy so what sounds like a lot of weight never looks like much on me. I'm happy here. I feel good. And, my suspicions were confirmed when I went to see a plastic surgeon about a chin lift I'm having and he told me I really shouldn't lose any more weight. In fact, he said I had a beautiful, youthful look and if I lost more I'd begin to look haggard and older than my almost 54 years. Problem is, at only three months out, I'm having trouble getting to 700-800 calories a day. I just can't handle a second shake and a second protein bar as well as my food (and I'm sure as heck not going to eat crap to load calories). Plus, I am barely allowed to MOVE for the next 6-8 weeks after my neck/facelift! Any suggestions for maintenance this early on?

Mac, Thank you for your encouragement. WASA, I can't believe I'm here. So far, everyone has been great. We parked in the AA parking lot and we were picked up and taken to the hospital. I met Yolanda who seems very nice. I also met the nurse who will be taking care of me. Her name is Karen. I had all the tests done and was taken to the hotel. We will be picked up at 7:00 tomorrow morning. I was told somewhere that the revision patients are taken last because he wants to have as much time as he needs. Did you find this to be true? If so, what did you do all day waiting to be taken in for surgery? How much weight did you lose the 1st month? Did you take the sleeping pill the night before surgery? I feel very confident, so am thinking I may not. I asked about the spinal, as you suggested. As long as they can do the spinal when I'm in 'twilight sleep', I'll do that. That's what I had when I had my TT. Thanks for the suggestion. They said I could eat whatever I want today. I had a great tasting shrimp dish at the hotel restruant last night. Their soup was great. I wanted a caesar salad but my husband was afraid for me to eat the lettuce. Did you have salad while here? They asked how I heard about them and I told them that I heard from a previous patient. I told them your name, but didn't know your last name. Just in case there is some 'special' thing you get for referring a patient. Honestly, without your help and encouraging posts, I would not be here right now! You have been so good and patient about answering questions. I really appreciate it. Thank you. I will try and post on Tuesday. Cheryl

I arrived in Mexicali, Mexico this afternoon. I will be having my Lap Band to Sleeve surgery on Monday morning. Dr. Aceves will be doing the surgery for me. I had all the pretests done today. My husband and I will enjoy the pool and walk the city tomorrow. I'm excited to be having this done!!

I have a lap-band (since 2009) and I know all there is to know about that BUT, now that I am moving towards revision to bypass I feel a little overwhelmed with all that I don't know. What is the best piece of advice you can give me? Perhaps something you wish you knew about before or something you wish you did differently. ANYTHING!

Good luck. I just had my revision 2 weeks ago. I feel fantastic! I am so glad to have the band out.

Thank u so much. Yes thank goodness no revision. I took me awhile to get it done lol my mind wasn't ready.

There seem to be a fair amount of revisions from sleeve to RNY because of the same issues?

Hello, I just had a conversion from band to sleeve September 21st. I was banded in 2010 and loved it and did really well until a few years ago when the GERD became unbearable. They removed the fluid from my band first and I had to wait about 6 months to get the surgery and I gained 40 pounds, the result of no restriction and not being able to work out because my gym closed due to Covid. Yes, I know I could have worked out on my own but I'm not good at that at all LOL. I've been doing fitness boot camp for years and it's the only thing that works for me. I need a coach to crack the whip, otherwise I tend to just stay on the couch. The surgery was much easier than I thought it would be and GERD has not been a problem, but I am still on Omeprazole. It's too bad you can't have the revision all at once rather than having two surgeries, but it sounds like you're doing the right thing. I think this is pretty common now and most people do really well. My weight loss has been slow, partly because of my age (60) and because I still haven't been back to the gym, it's open again but I still don't think it's safe to go. Unfortunately for me if I don't work out every day I just don't lose weight. It's always been that way for me. I am glad I had the revision though and I'm trying to figure out a way to get my workouts in on my own. I'll get there! I wish you luck on your journey, I'm sure you'll do well and I'm sure you're making the right decision!

@Barbwired & @toytoy Our stories are so similar..... I to was banded 11/10/2009. Did great till 2017 when i was going through a divorce (25-26 years) and then i got a stomach virus and couldn't stop throwing up..... slipped band and ER removal 3/23/2017... Worse day EVER. I lost my beloved band Tina. At the time i lost her i had not gained any weight and was at my steady 143lbs. Because it was ER i was not giving the option to wait or revise. Looking back on it i wish i had been given the choice.... But because i didn't gain, my dr said i didn't weigh enough anyway. And that's what i heard from every dr after that. Fast forward a little... i started with a few lbs here and there and no matter what i did i could not get the scale to go back the other way. I was starting to get depressed and then the beginning of 2019 i started menopause (50). When May-June came around i was up to 173lbs. (30lbs). Planning a wedding for Sept and i was steady gaining..... so i upped my search and found a dr. here that agreed to do the revision. I really wanted the MGB, but he doesn't do that.... so the sleeve it was. It went quickly as i told the dr i wanted to go as fast a possible, all other appointments went... bam bam.. Done. He noted in my chart that i was a "revision" (2.5 years later) and what my BMI was back in 2009 was 44, how well i did and that in 2.5 years i had only gained 30lbs. Handed over 14k and was sleeved 8/28/19..... Married 9/26/19 20lbs lighter. As of today i'm at 120lbs and have been since Juneishhhh.... (-53lbs) Barb.. i'm the same way, i like the gym but i have to go straight from work, do not stop anywhere, do not pass GO... hehe.... if i do, i'll go home and that's where i stay. I have not exercised a day since Covid started. I did for the months of Aug-Jan...(crossfit). But nothing since. Honestly, the sleeve sx was one of the easiest i ever had.... sx on Wednesday and back to work on Monday he even fixed a HH. @toytoy Is there a reason they can't do the removal and revision at the same time? The weight loss has for me been pretty easy and no complications. No vomiting, no getting stuck, no fills... I went see the dr every 3 months and now i'm on maintenance and only have to go once a year (unless i have issues). Personally, i think us Band-members that did well with the band do well with the sleeve. I know the band taught me how to eat better and it has made a huge difference. People that didn't do well with the sleeve i see them having more of their same issues.

I'm a revisioner...had the lapband for 8 years, then revised to the sleeve in JUne 2012...Dr. Sherman Yu did my revision, I would recommend him..

I'd like to revise from Lap Band to sleeve. I have excellent health insurance but I can't find a surgeon that will see me. The staff always tells me, since we didn't place your initial band we won't be able to see you. What the heck? Can anyone recommend a good revision doctor in the Houston area??

Congrats on the Revision! Just remember that us revision typically lose weight at a slower rate than those that haven't had any WLS to begin with, I knew that and the speed of loss is still really frustrating to me.

Hi all, I'll add my band to sleeve experience with all the others. I had my lap band for seven years, I lost 150lbs. Went from 291lbs to 140lbs. No problems or issues, I was very lucky. January of this year, I noticed that my weight started climbing. I went in for a fill and after a few days, I noticed that I didn't have any restrictions. Went back for another fill a few weeks later. The NP pulled out my fluids to check my levels and noticed that my CC's weren't matching with what was in the computers. Long story short, after several months and a fluoroscopy, it was discovered that my band was leaking in an area that couldn't be fixed. Talked with the surgeon and I decided to revise to the sleeve. I was was revised on October 29th. I had gained 60lbs with my band leaking. Since being sleeved almost 6 weeks ago, I have lost almost 35lbs. My surgeon told me that revision patients generally tend to lose weight slower than virgin WLS patients, then he said since I had lost so much weight and don't have much to lose to get back to goal, I'm going to lose even slower, BUT I will get there. Apparently, I was one of the few people in the WLS department at my hospital that lost that much weight with the band, as he put it "you rocked that band and you're going to rock the sleeve, it's just going to take a bit longer to get there". I'm fine with that, slow and steady is okay be me. I'm just happy to have been able to get sleeved, we are switching insurance companies in January and my company dropped bariatric surgery coverage, so having my band leak was a blessing in disguise. I got in just under the wire. I'll get back to goal, no doubt in my mind.

Just reading this is giving me hope. I currently have lap band and want revision surgery to the sleeve. I have had severe heart burn even on Rx meds for it for over three years. One of my biggest fears is that it will be worse after I have my surgery. My doctor is aware of the heart burn, did an endoscopy and said I was still a viable candidate. Now I just need a surgery date.

I was initially scheduled for RNY because of my reflux although I wanted the sleeve. My reflux was horrible. I chickened out of my RNY two days before surgery and met with my surgeon. We talked a lot about the sleeve and he told me there was a chance my reflux would worsen but that it was not guaranteed. I have been sleeved now for three months and my reflux is actually better. I still have it and I do still have to take my PPI everyday but if I do that and avoid eating right before lying down it is very manageable. I think the hernia they repaired during my sleeve surgery may have had something to do with it as well. My surgeon told me that if my reflux was worse after sleeve it could be revised to an RNY although I really didn't want anymore surgeries. It's a hard decision and I wish you the best of luck! I still have the RNY talk app on my phone and still check in with the group I would have been with from time to time

Its not an appeal . i got the insurance i have because they cover the revision . The insurance coordinator did not knwo what she's talking about which is what pissed me off. PCOS is a nasty thing. i WILL gain back the weight with out another surgery . since i cant eat anything right now its difficult to main tain any calorie count.

So here is an update w/ my situation I decided to go to a doctor here in Austin , the doc in Dallas I just could not do . I could not handle the coordinator.. Forgive me i'll post updates from my facebook page .. but this is what has happened over the last couple weeks... Just got home from my doctors appt. Really loved the doc, he was very nice and very caring . He sat down and went over everything with me . Told me that he would submit the removal AND Revision for approval for insurance ASAP that the revision is just as important as the removal to him .. He told me to Be prepared I MAY wake up with out a sleeve( the weight loss surgery part ) IF My stomach is in too bad of shape or is not healthy enough to tolerate both procedures .. He said do not worry if that happens in 3-6 months he WILL do the revision ! He said he was very sorry no one found this important enough to them to fight for it and he would fight " tooth and nail" to get this approved no matter what ! Once approved i have to see a nutritionist he told me to prepare to take Vitamins for the rest of my life .. mainly because i have been mal nourished ( Yes its possible to be malnurished and fat LOL ) for the past several years because of not being able to eat anything . I also have to do an EKG and Blood work , but that's it. He was going to request a rush approval .. SO HOPEFULLY I can get this done before the end of the year still ! So here is my update on my band/ revision surgery . earlier this week I got an email from my doctor saying they had all they needed to submit for insurance EXCEPT my latest Upper GI .. I asked them if this was from the band doc in Dallas ( the doc I saw once Or my original band doc ) Before I got an answer from her I called my original band doc and asked her If my records were ever sent to the new doc . Her response ( the receptionists i should say ) was " I requested them from storage yes " I said " that was nearly 3 WEEKS AGO have you gotten them to the new doc yet " her response " I Have requested them from storage that is all i can do " I then said " why dont you go a step further and CALL STORAGE and ask them where the hell my records are after 3 weeks of not getting them . " She obv iously had no intnetion of going the extra mile, I told her " I spent nearly $20,000 there PLUS refered over a dozen patients who actually HAD Surgery you and this is how you treat me " She said ' what do you want me to do " I was FURIOUS . SO then i find out they just needed the Upper GI report from the last doc visit in Dallas, I call them and ask them if they can send it over .. The office manager said , well i think it was sent over let me look , it was sent over and it says your band was NORMAL " WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT its NORMAL she said ' they band placement is normal " I told her " there is NO WAY you can put the band is " normal " On that report I cant freaking eat ... " So i call the new doc she said " We cant submit this report to insurance , they will deny it " So they decided to submit it with out the Upper GI and IF they ask for one I'll go in and do one in their office and he will state band placement is normal but function is NOT . I have NEVER been so angry in my life So FYI Make SURE your upper GI's do NOT say normal ..... the paper work was submitted Thursday I believe I should hear something , most likely , we need an upper GI next week . and OH BTW I can no longer eat solids or mushy foods in any form .. Only liquids, my meds wont go down either. GRRR I should hear something from the insurance this week .... I fully expect them to tell me I need an Upper GI which I am ok with but I secretly hope they just approve me ! Thanks for listening !

Hi Brenda, and welcome to VST. I agree with the above poster about the band. I had one as well, but it only took a few months for me to develop severe complications. Life with the sleeve is fabulous. I'm just over 9 months out, and am loving life. I weighed 270lbs pre-op, and had zero health issues as well, but knew they would be creeping up on me in a few years. Today, I'm weighing in at 130lbs, and that's only the physical improvements. The mental and emotional improvements are astronomical. If my insurance would have not paid for my revision, I would have found a way to finance a trip to see Dr. Aceves. The facilities alone, and accommodations that are provided helped me make my choice when I was waiting on insurance approval. I wanted a full service hospital with a full ICU, blood bank, and emergency services in the event of a complication. I have high standards in care, and outpatient or surgical center is not enough for me. Best wishes in your research. Keep us posted as things progress for you ! ! !

I'm 2 1/2 months post op from a revision to the sleeve, and no complication what so ever!! I feel good, look good and can eat normally!! I was self pay, and I don't know if my insurance would cover any problems, and I hope I never have to find out! Good luck!

Well done to all of you for juggling study with your already too-full lives. When I was at uni, I was a hopeless last minute crammer. But one of my friends used to do 1 hour revision every night - where she made up summary notes etc. She did this right from the very first day of class, and always had High Distinctions and the very best marks. Maybe if I had copied her tactics I'd remember more of what it is I'm supposed to be doing now... Good luck, and enjoy!

Today is the first day that I am going to start documenting what is going on until I find out if I can secure funding for the lap band revision to VSG. I want the results, but feel some pull not to put myself physically and financially at risk.:sad0: Not that I am not risk now, I get that.:biggrin0: I want to read what others are saying, and I want to know if I am somehow going into this as if it were magic and I will after a period of time become someone that I have never been, even at the ripe old age of 50. If not now, when?

Hi everyone, hoping to find people who are going through the same as me or havta already had their revision done. I had RNY back in 2009... I founght for every pound lost ..one month after my surgery I had shattered my foot n was wheelchair bound for over three months... The pain meds they gave me started to ulcers on my stoma ...which in turn helped slightly enlarge my stoma and pouch... I only lost about 90lbs... Most of wich is because I only frankford protein shakes for two months straight to help my weight which when I went back to food,..I started over eating ... I now have problems with my sugars..I'm hypoglycemic. I am almost don't all my tests to have my surgeon submit to my insurance for a rny to DS revision I'm so nervous n afraid my insurance will deny it. I am so close to 300 lbs again and fight to not gain, I can eat like I used to. need advise ... Have BCBS of PA anybody have their revision approved my BCBS ??? Thanks.