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If your head isn't in the right place, there is no amount of sleeving, bypassing, banding, revising to bypass, or re sleeving that will do a damn bit of good. Period.

Hi there. I'm scheduled for December to have my band removed and a revision to the sleeve. Most days I'm 100% sure this is the right choice. But some days I'm not so sure. I guess I'm mostly scared of the recovery. I've had so many issues with the band as well, and I'm afraid of having complications with the sleeve. Please tell me others are going through this as well. Are there any post ops that had these feelings?

I am intrested in getting a revision from vsg to mgb. Do you get to choose how long the dr should make your bypass? How small do they make your stomach, the size of vsg stomach or the size of full gastric by pass? Are you guys happy with the results? Do you get less hungry with the mgb as opposed to the vsg or lapband? Sent from my SM-N950U using BariatricPal mobile app

Anyone have vsg after lap band removal? I had my band removed 9 months ago and am slowly gaining. BMI 27. Considering Dr. Pompa in Mexico. Any advice welcome!

I understand, Julie. I am three months out from a band-to-bypass revision and I can eat more than I thought I would be able to. I ordered an entree salad with grilled chicken the other night and was able to eat the whole thing....but I read others who say they can take a few bites and be full. Part of me thinks my stomach pouch is very stretchy from years of the band below that area, but I can't be sure. My surgeon says he isn't too concerned about it, people are different. I'm not the best at following the diet rules. I try to make the best decisions I can but stray some....like I get a broth-based chicken Soup at a Mexican restaurant but will splurge on some chips. I'm just not willing to do zero carbs, but I try to make the best decisions I can without fully sabotaging myself. Changing is HARD, and it's no secret that even trim people enjoy eating. You can do it!

I think it's almost a right of passage for sleevers to go through this. However I believe it will or should only happen once to most of us. I barely went through my first episode a month ago and I'm 8 months out now. I had a little inclination though because I was banded for almost 3 years during my revision. I know my limits - but sometimes its not even about that. It was more WHAT I ate rather than how much or how fast because I neither had a lot nor did I eat it too fast. Next time I'll know the warning signs if something just isn't working for my sleeve!! That is one thing I'll never ever forget!!

My doctors here in Maine are just dragging me along for almost a year now I have been trying to get a revision done as my band is no longer functional and they keep telling me to do more dietitian appointments (already have over 15 done) they just say I am to anxious to have the revision done but gosh who wouldn't be. I have started looking into going to Mexico to have this done instead of waiting for who knows how long from my current doctors. Has anyone had a revision done in Mexico? If so where did you have it done and what was your experience like? I am super nervous about going to a different country to have surgery.

I'm not sure if you're still looking for info as I see you posted about this in March. I can relate to your situation. I had the sleeve almost two years ago. I have PCOS, which didn't present symptoms until after a pregnancy. I was very fit prior to the pregnancy. After pregnancy, I just couldn't lose the weight regardless of my clean meal plan and 5 day per week exercise routine. I actually just started gaining without changing anything! Doctors did blood work and other tests, said it was PCOS and my best hope for losing was wls. I had a consult, was recommended to go with the sleeve. July 15, 2015 I was sleeved. I quickly lost down to 195 but it stalled by month 4!! I was working out, eating correctly, nada! It was very depressing. In June of 2016 I started slowly gaining, again without having changed anything. By January 2017, I was up to 216. I went back to my surgeon who sent me for tests and to the medical weight loss doctor. Tests revealed that I had become Insulin Resistant AND I had developed a Hiatal Hernia. I followed a Keto diet from January-April. I lost 16 pounds the first two weeks putting me back to 200 BUT my weight would not budge. I also had severe reflux during this entire time. So, my surgeon suggested that we fix the hernia and revise to a bypass because that is the only way to resolve the gerd. He also stated that with the malabsorption and my endocrine issues, he hopes I will lose another 40-50 pounds. He had to do a peer to peer with my insurance but got it approved!! I had my revision surgery June 14th and am doing very well...it was easier and less painful than the sleeve!! I'm almost 2 weeks out and down 12 pounds. The weight loss may be slower this time but the scale is moving! I'm praying it continues to move because I can't imagine going through this entire process and not getting to a healthy weight. I wish I had gone with the bypass originally but there's no way we could have known I would be one of the few that the sleeve wouldn't be successful for.

Sleeve revision on July 15th, pre surgery weight 208 as of today 183, probably a couple pounds less if it weren't for that time of month! The first couple weeks you are so tired, but don't feel discouraged! By week 4 you will feel a lot better. Being able to eat regular foods really does help. I noticed someone said they couldn't do the protein, I couldn't either. I got so tired of them when I had the band that they just make me sick now! I would suggest focusing on staying hydrated more than anything because that is actually more important anyways. If you can do that and then get to your purée stage, you should be good

CONGRATS, Ninejuan1, on getting set up with a new doctor and back on track! I'm afraid my own "return to the office" has turned out a little different, but it's important that I went. The doctor withdrew Fluid to make sure my band wasn't leaking, and I immediately had a sharp, burning pain traveling up my esophagus. That's not supposed to happen, so they set me up for an upper GI. The upper GI led to an endoscopy this past Wednesday. It turns out that my pouch is seriously dilated, and my band needs to be removed. I go in next Tuesday, and presumably will schedule surgery ASAP. It's a serious issue, and needs to be taken care of---it's good that I didn't continue to shy away from the office due to my embarassment, etc. Things will work out okay. The doctor would like to revise me to a gastric bypass, but I think I'm going to try some other approaches before getting another WLS.

So in 2012 I had the sleeve done in Mexico and was pretty successful initially. At that time my highest weight was 270 and with the sleeve I lost almost all of my excess weight. However, after 2 years I ended up getting pregnant again and not long after giving birth separated from my husband. So, long story short, I battled a severe depression and not only regained all of my weight but added another hundred pounds to it! My highest weight was 361, and about 7 months ago I began looking into revising to a bypass. I was put on a 6 month doctor supervised diet, and lost about 20 pounds, and am currently waiting to meet with my surgeon. My insurance approved me so far, and I get positive feedback from my doctor I see for weight loss. My main issue is that I am so scared of failing at this AGAIN. I was one of those people that was like "I will NEVER go back to my old eating habits" and I looked down on others who had regained after wls, not knowing that there really is so much more to it than the surgery. I still feel like I dont know how I am supposed to be eating, the dietician I was seeing really didnt go over that, believe it or not. I feel ashamed to admit this but I do not know how to eat like a "normal. healthy person". Quantity is not so much an issue for me but quality is, I wish I had so much more knowledge about not only hoq to eat healthy but how to prepare meals for a family also. I have 5 children, and they really aren't picky, its just that I dont feel like I am equipped for long term success. If there is any links anyone wants to share or anything I would really appreciate it! I am so embarrassed, I feel like I should already know this stuff, so I am honestly scared to ask people at this point. Sorry for such a pathetic post, but I just CANNOT afford to fail at this again. My kids need their mommy back and I know that with the right "tools" I can be successful, so what did you all do to get your menu ideas?

I had a revision from band to sleeve 3/23 of this year and I feel like it is my chance for a do over! I have lost all the weight that I had gained and it has already slowed but due to a stall and from what I have read, no different from anyone who has had the sleeve. I couldn't be happier

I wonder if this is the original, non-adjustable band they started off with many years ago. They would staple off the majority of the stomach and put a band that was non adjustable and that was all the restriction someone would get, period. I don't know what the name of that band was but I can certainly see how that particular band would make a revision procedure quite difficult. Bands today are not too tricky to remove. The difficulty is with revisions from one procedure to another depending on scar tissue, type of procedure, etc.

My goal was 2000 before I had my first tightening. I normally was 1600-1800. Since the port revision and filling, my goal is 1500.. I get between 1300-1600 regularly. My IDEAL goal would be 1200, but I don't see that happening for me right now.

My sticks out like an egg also...I am still wearing tops that are too big because I am self conscious of the "lump". I will need a revision after I lose the rest of my weight. I am down almost 40 with about 10 more to go. I am self pay...anyone know what it will cost to fix?

I just finished day 3 of my 14 day pre-op liquid diet. I have lost 7 pounds the first 3 days. I won't be able to get my Optifast until tomorrow. I've been drinking Boost Protien and Muscle Milk. The Optifast is so expensive, but that's what my surgeon requires. I will have a revision from band to sleeve on May 14, 2013.

This was her original surgery done without abdominal incisions. There is a similar procedure where they can do a revision with no incisions, but this woman had it done as an original surgery.

When you go back to work is a very individual thing. I went back 1 week post surgery, but for me, going to work is very much like staying home in that I'm in a home environment with access to my fluids, soups, etc. No strenous lifting or anything. I could even take a nap if I needed to while my patient napped. However, I still had days where I came home and could have taken a two hour nap! Fatigue is the surprising side affect of the surgery because with laproscopic surgery you tend to heal pretty fast, and you don't expect "tiredness" to affect you. As for being in the hospital one night. I had my revision from lapband to sleeve with Dr. Aceves in Mexicali, Mexico. He keeps his sleeve patients 3 nights in the hospital and checks for leaks with a different test each day. I felt very secure traveling on the fourth day knowing I had passed all my leak tests. I know I wouldn't have wanted to go home after only one night in the hospital but I guess everyone is different.

Hi Samie! I don't have any words of wisdom on a revision. I am a sleevester from the start. But I love my sleeve and love my quality of life with it. When I first started researching WLS - LapBand specifically, I was amazed at all the "do's and don'ts" of LapBand. What I have today with the sleeve is exactly what I was interested in having before I had even heard of VSG - I love that I have no real restrictions on food but just can't eat much of it at any one time and I rarely feel hungry. I have always known what to do to lose weight, it was the doing it that I found difficult - I just got hungry and needed a lot of food to feel full. VSG was perfect. Good luck and welcome to VST.

Sorry to hear about your complications. In a way, it's good this is happening now and your doc is giving you the option of revision. It must be hard to have the band anyways, being afraid of needles (all those fill/unfills!!) I'm sure the revision will go smoothly, as your band was not in for too long. I wish you luck and keep us posted on your decision/revision date.

Hello Brandon, Your story isn't far off from my own. I hit an "unofficial" 370 lbs at my largest, and I'm only 5 foot 9. I grew up in a large Italian family where eating was just what you did, all the time. If you didn't have seconds then the food must not have been good enough. I've had my band for 5 years, 6 months and 7 days now. I lost 60 lbs total, and that's it. I'm currently working with my insurance and surgeon to get a revision to the bypass. The band just isn't your best option, in fact a lot of places won't even do it anymore at this point. Even lap band companies are selling off product, selling whole sections of their company and a few, won't make new parts at all. Overall, it wasn't the worst decision I made. But I do wish, in retrospect, that I went with the Bypass first. (Didn't have the option for a sleeve when I had my band installed) I would recommend not doing the band. For your height and weight and eating situation, you'll see more benefits from gastric sleeve surgery. With less issues as well. If you are still hard up on getting the band. 1. I personally do still feel hunger, no different than pre-band. 2. I eat about 1/3 to 1/2 as much as I used to before being "full" 3. The band can erode your stomach lining and penetrate into your stomach wall. You will get stuck on foods, I get stuck on most of the foods that are supposed to be good for me. Leafy greens suck, lean meats are tough, fibrous fruits and vegetables hurt. If you can't keep water down, then the band is WAY too tight and needs to be adjusted. I can't take a good portion of pills or vitamins because they are just too big and will not pass through my band opening. Something to take into account. The band can slip too. 4. Pain before surgery? whatever you are feeling right now. Pain after surgery. Wasn't horrible. I had a tough time for a week or 2, you don't realize how much of your upper core you use for basic things. But put 4 one inch holes and a 3 inch hole in there and you'll feel it. Band adjustments weren't all that bad either. They will put a special needle that has the opening on the side into your abdomen and then into the port itself to insert or remove fluid as needed. 5. My opinion. It doesn't sound like the band is "for you". You'll get more out of a sleeve without having to deal with intestinal changes. But you won't see as much weight loss as with the bypass. Hunger, it's going to still be there, so far only the sleeve and bypass change your hunger sensitivity. Binge eating, dude, doing anything too much or too quickly with the band only leads to throwing up, and I will tell you, throwing up with an object around your stomach pouch preventing things from the lower area getting into the upper area, sucks bad. It's hard to describe, but I get afraid I'm going to pass out when I do have to vomit, the pressure in my head caused by the band is scary when actually vomiting. Purging from being stuck isn't that bad if you can control your gag reflex and not let it turn into full on vomiting. I've gotten good at that part, still sucks but not as bad as a uncontrollable vomiting situation. So all said and done. The band is MUCH better than nothing at all. But at this point, it's not the best option for weight loss surgery either. Hopefully this helps. Feel free to message me if you have any other questions.

I had the sleeve in 2011 .Due to severe gerd,I had revision to bypass done Nov 2016.I wish I would of had that done first.I feel great and no issues.

Hello Everyone!! Today makes a week since I had my Revision surgery from lap band to VSG! When I started my weight loss surgery I weighed 250 lbs. The day of my revision I weighed 208.6 lbs. Today one week after surgery I weigh 199.0 lbs!! That means I lost 9.6 lbs on the first week and made it to Onederland!!!! Yay!! I go to see the surgeon Tomorrow and really hope he could take out this drain. I feel so restricted with it!! Anyway, hope everyone has a great week! Stay safe & be healthy Cris

Optasia - here are some thoughts. To be fair, I want to make it very clear that I do not have a sleeve. I do, however, have an AGB and have submitted paperwork for a revision to a sleeve (I wish they'd call me back...) Please take my thoughts as general to obese people & WLS in general, not sleeve specific. What I know: I do know I simply don't want to have the surgery. I do know that I need to lose 100pnds. I do know that I have to lose the weight, count calories and exercise whether I do the surgery or not. I was in a similar state of mind before my AGB surgery. I hated that it came down to an operation to fix something I felt I should be able to fix on my own. I also hated that it was surgery, period (my first surgery, nonetheless). I needed to lose 200+ lbs. Had I needed to lose 100 lbs, it may have been a different story - though I suspect not (the theory of realtivity applies to fat, I'm sure!) I do know that I lost 80pnds before (ok, fine. And gained some back). I do know that I have currently lost 20+pnds with little effort. I do know I need to do this for myself and my family Most people who have had WLS have lost significant amounts of weight on their own. Virtually no one can maintain that loss. I once lost about 85 lbs, once about 120 lbs, and once about 80 lbs. Never once could I maintain the loss at all, really. I was in a continous "gain/lose" cycle that, at the very least, absolutely crushed my self-esteem and confidence in my ability to see a goal through (I'm not known for failing, I usually acheive what I'm after... my weight being one of the only exceptions, so I didn't understand why I could accomplish everything else, but not this...) I mentioned earlier that most people who lose significant anoutsn of weight cannot maintain it. I'm not talking about people who lose 5 lbs. When people are morbidly obese, there is almost always an addiction in effect, and almost always depression in effect. And almost always, there is some perceived "gain" from being fat. People hate that I say it, but it's true. There's something being gained from it - usually related to control issues. Those are dangerous partners. Of those few who can maintain their weightloss, it's almost always because they have "hopped addictions" - taken their addictive behavior from one subject to another. Think of people who quit smoking and begin to overeat. Also, you will find eating disorders in most of them (e.g. only eat one meal a day, only eat 3 days of the week, etc.) I'm not saying you can't do it on your own. All of us would have liked to do it on our own. I'm saying that it's not realistic to expect that you can in a moderated & healthy way, and it's not healthy to beat yourself up because you've been unable to. What I don't know: I don't know if I can be consistent and keep going (weight loss wise) on my own. I don't know that I can commit to such a stringent diet following the surgery (well, I would for fear of hurting my stomach, but I may not be a happy or nice person and that scares me). The AGB (at least on paper) requires a similar diet. Opposite, but similar. WIth AGB, as time goes on, our diet becomes more and more limited. With most other WLS surgeries, as time goes on, your diet expands. I think mots people doubt their ability to stay with food group & portion guidelines, but keep in mind that you aren't usually trying to do that while hungry or with instatiable cravings or while battling a food volume monster. I didn't think 4 oz of food sounded like much, until I tried to eat 4 oz of food and about halfway through felt like I had just walked away from a pre-op Thanksgiving dinner. You will be happy & nice, as long as you are now -- and even if you aren't, you may still end up that way. I couldn't imagine being happy without my food to look forward to, but as soon as I started seeing my fat rolls go away and buying smaller clothes -- was I happy!!! I don't know how to react to people who don't understand the surgery (if I had the surgery). I don't know how I'd handle eating in front of people. It's your choice whether to tell them or not. I tell people. I don't advertise it, but if someone asks I tell them, and if it's relevant to what's being discussed I will mention it. I've had my AGB for going on 6 years and I've run into a handful of people who didn't understand it (the technical info, as well as how "surgery" was a valid option for me). And the end of the day - don't react. If someone doesn't understand but wants to, educate them. If they don't understand and don't care to, smile and walk away. Eating in front of people - if they know you've had WLS, be prepared for a lot of questions and scrutiny. How does it feel? Are you really full? Does it taste the same? Are you full yet? How come you ate more than that yesterday? Etc. If they don't know, and you don't want them to know, you can stick to some basics such as, "I'm not very hungry" or "Just want a snack." I do this sometimes when we eat out. It's easier to explain, "Not that hungry" than go through the story. And wait staff can be concerned if you aren't eating much of your meal. I ask for a to-go box at the same time as when I order, and just say "I know I'm going to need it." I don't know how I'd feel about myself if I did do it. I felt such great pride when I lost it on my own before. YES, I know wls is just a tool and it requires just as much work. It is a greatm prideful feeling to lose weight on your own and "win." But how have you felt when the weight has come back, plus? For me, the defining thought about my WLS wasn't that I would lose weight, or eat less. It was that I would KEEP IT OFF. As I said earlier, I could lose weight. I could not maintain. I've maintained for about 3 years now, without any real effort. That feeling beats all others. I don't know how well I'll recover or if there will be complications (duh. no one knows, but I had to write this) I don't know how much of this weight loss thing is in my head. I CAN lose weight by eating in moderation. It's not a physical thing FOR ME. So, if it's more in my head (for whatever reason), then maybe I should go at it from that angle. What do you mean, it's not a physical thing for you? Eating is always a physical thing. It's ac activity, and therefore it's physical. There are two primary drivers behind overeating: emotions and behavior. Fat people are typically emotional overeatersor they are behavioral overeaters. Or they are emotional and behavioral overeaters. Emotional overeaters display tendencies such as -- eating when stressed, eating when sad, eating when bored, eating for comfort, etc. Behavioral overeaters -- you snack on something when you watch a movie even though you aren't hungry, because that's what you should do when you watch a movie. You eat around 7 even if you aren't hungry because that's dinner time. You eat while working on a hard project because thats the activity that helps you focus your thoughts. Either way, with WLS there's still a mental change that has to happen. This is what your program's therapist should help you out with. Many people experience a period of mourning -- mourning their foods, or food quantities, as they would ourn a friend. I had times where I missed being able to eat a whole plate of something, but I had more times where I felt pride in being able to leave 80% of my plate untouched.

No issues directly with my band. I loved that little thing. About a year ago, I started having problems with esophageal motility (motility is the function that moves food through the esophagus into the stomach). My surgeon and gastro doc strongly recommended removing my band because it could be aggravating the problem. I had it removed in April 2012 and revised to the sleeve in August 2012. Last year I talked with my surgeon, local gastro doc, and a gastro doc that my surgeon insisted I consult. The consensus is that my esophagus was damaged from decades of "silent" reflux. In other words, I had reflux with symptoms that I didn't recognize as having a gastrointestinal source. I can remember going to an ear-nose-throat specialist in the mid 1980's because of a persistent cough. He told me it was probably from reflux, but I didn't believe him and didn't pursue any treatment for it (of course, back then, there weren't a lot of good treatment options). So the reflux had almost 30 years to make a mess of my esophagus.