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With our history or losing and gaining multiple times, of course it's normal to feel some terpidation. And you can help yourself by knowing tha you probably will gain back at least some of what you lost. There are statistics out there the can help you understand the percentages. I put back so much, that I opted for a revision. I have no regrets. But no, this is not a cure. For me, I feel my weight has always been, and WILL always be , an issue. But the decision to do this has been one wild rider and I only wish I had done it sooner!

I'm considering revision fro band to bypass and you just sparked a question in my brain....so, if your pouch is a certain size and only hold between 1/4 to 1/2 to 1cup of food....how does one gain weight? Is it the choice of food or is it eating past when one is full? Don't mean to hijack...just figuring it all out...thanks! Marieze

I was banded 8 years ago by a very prominent bariatric surgeon here in Oregon. I started out at 376 pounds. I have ALWAYS had ban issues that mostly centered on vomiting, sliming etc. long story short, in 2014 I started having such reflux problems that I was awakened every night with vomit coming out of my nose. I was terrified I was going to aspirate on my vomit and die. I had 2 endoscopes which proved the band was fine....2 upper GI's which showed some backing up.....and numerous other tests. Finally in Sept. my bariatric surgeon had me do a cats an which determined I had gallstones! I was thrilled she finally figured out what the problem was. She took out my gallbladder which was a piece of cake surgery, but two days later I almost choked on my vomit again! Un-flipping believable! When I told her she said the band has to come out. I hadn't had any Fluid in the band for some time so 10 days after my gallbladder coming out my lapband came out. For me, just like the gallbladder surgery, it was a no-brainer. I went back to work (I'm a field sales trainer) two days later. So here it is Febuary and I haven't been back to see her until TOMORROW! I've blown her off because I was ticked thinking that my gallbladder didn't really have to come out. That said, everything with the band did check out and I DID have gallstones...... Anyway, I still believe she is the best around. I know that she won't revise to a sleeve as she mentioned in the past she won't due to scar tissue. She will revise to bypass though which I'm seriously considering. I REALLY NEED Y'ALLS HELP....since the band came out 4 month ago I have gained between 40-50 pounds if you can believe it.....I AM SO EMBARRASSED to even write that. So here are my questions/concerns..... A. Do I have to jump through all the hoops again with the psychologist, nutritionist etc. if I do this? I want to move quickly if I do this. B. Having just had 2 surgeries in October do I have to get all new blood work etc? C. Do most bypass patients spend 2 night in the hospital D. In revision, how long did you have to do all liquids? E. Post-op....how long liquids until puree's then finally solids? F. Do you find it daunting Vitamins for the rest of your life? Are they expensive? G. If you need 60-80 grams of Protein per day yet can only intake 1/4 to 1/2 cup of food, how am I reading that people eat apples etc. doesn't almost all food need to be protein? Any way around drinking the shakes? H. How do fats work? I try to eat a low carb diet yet I do enjoy my salad dressings, butter and olive oil? I. It freaks me out that one can gain weight and stretch out their pouch....hence landing up where they started. This surgery is so final but it would be worth it if I keep my weight off. My main problem is my appetite! J. Is it like the band in that you can really eat pretty much anything but just smaller portions...like really small? I am so grateful for any and all information you can share with me. I find the best way to get educated it to ask those who have walked before me! Oh, one more thing....my new insurance which is Blue Shield of Calif. Isn't as good as my previous insurance. I have a $1,000 deductible and I have to pay 20% of everything else. So I really have no idea what I'm looking at financially. As a single mom this may be a problem. I know they cover bariatric surgery but that's all I know. Again....I appreciate everyone's feedback! Marieze

Just an update - Cigna approved and 1 week post-op from revision surgery!!

I had a lapband from 2001 to 2011. I honestly had problems from practically the very beginning, but when I moved back to the USA in 2002 and couldn't find a good doctor to take me on, I went into shame mode. My #1 advice for someone who has "failed" at weight loss surgery is to seek help like you are doing. You do feel ashamed, failed and all that stuff - but that is wrong thinking. Right thinking is that you have a life threatening condition (obesity) and the treatment path you started down is not working right now. What can be done? It removes alot of the guilt, blame and other useless thoughts around this. If I had not been so ashamed, I would have looked for someone to help me figure out what to do many many many years earlier. Who knows what would have happened, but I promised myself when I revised to the sleeve that I would not accept this self blame again. If I have problems with my sleeve... I run, not walk, back to my bariatric center. That only happened once in the last 3 years and it wasn't really sleeve related but it was good to know they were so supportive of me.

I had a lap band in 2008 that has been a tremendous failure. I have been so sick with it that I had to have all the fluid removed from it. My doctor suggests a revision from the lap band to a RNY. I need to lose 10 lbs before I can meet with the surgeon. Any suggestions on how to lose 10 lbs fast?

@ Im sorry to hear about your friend. She must be going through a bit of sadness and envy. I know that many lap banders have gone to revision for sleeve because they did not have as much luck. i was interested in the lap band for a long time and decided that the sleeve made more sense for me. I am sure over time she will come around and just understand that she is fighting with her own insecurities and sometimes in life we put our insecurities above other people accomplishments. it is sad but true and completely normal. Just let her know you are there for her when she is ready and that she is very important to you and your life. Dont give up on her. She may need you more than you need her right now.

Can I join your little group . If not i understand . I was banded June 2013 started at 289 and lost about 50 . Had to have a revision cause my tubing disconnected from the port had a hysterectomy and up and down losing the same weight over and over . Was 255 yesterday and feel so awful . I need to get back on track !!

My surgery was about 2 1/2 hours with a revision. Went under at 11 in recover by 1: 30 or so.

I had my consult yesterday and I will just spend one night with revision. The surgeon said it's not difficult removing the band and doesn't even charge extra to do it. Told me his most satisfied sleeve patients are the ones who had bands. He told me that sometimes with revisions there is a little more nausea than just a regular sleeve.

Hi everyone!! Well I was doing awesome till I got home I had my surgery for the sleeve on Thursday feb 5.. No pain other then gas. Haven't been sick etc. I had me sleeve done in Mexico. It was a 5 hr flight back. Brutal!! Anyway as of last night I started having very loose bowels. Some I didn't even make it to the washroom . It wasn't a big concern. However today I'm experiencing waves of pain above the pubic area . Taking my breath away. I'm currently waiting for a call from my surgeon but I'm scared to death. Being in Canada I'm afraid .. I'm hoping others have experienced this and it's normal total of 7 movements!!Any input to put my mind at peace would be great! On that not I will revise this and I did talk to the surgeon he didn't seem concerned. I went to my family dr and she said wounds were great but told me to get some pedialite to help with staying hydrated.. The pain gets so intense I have to breath thru it like labour pains

First, congratulations on surviving breast cancer! Secondly, I was sleeved December 4th, no dumping for me however I do have terrible GERD. There's no malabsortion srestriction but I do keep up on my Vitamins, vitamins are important!! Its a "tool" I still make the daily decisions however best choise I ever made. Im on ppi for gerd, I think if that doesn't correct itself I'll probably have to have the revision to bypass. I don't know the waiting period, does anyone else know? Good luck!!! Thank you in advance :-)

How far out were u when u revised? I am only two weeks out, but I've dealt with reflux for the last ten years and what I'm experiencing now is unreal. I wake up in the middle of the night with acid in my throat and mouth. Ears, nose, and eyes on fire. My teeth feel as if the enamel is being eaten off. I've been told that it's too early to stress, but I can't help but to be worried. I am currently taking Omeprazole 20mg in the AM and PM and I chew tums during the day. I will see the nurse tomorrow and talk about stronger options.

Cleo's mom- I just had the revision because what bothered me about the band is that when food did get stuck - I rarely threw up but would dry heave. Then I would go finish my meal. Or in a restaurant- I couldn't eat the whole meal because I was getting stuck but as soon as I got home I would finish it because I was still hungry. I'm still in the liquid phase but what I want is that if I take leftovers home- I won't eat them until the next day because I'm satisfied for the night. I'm praying that this works but right now I'm focused on my body healing & following the doctors instructions.

I am 3+ years from revision and it was the best decision EVER. I am maintaining at half my former weight!

I wish I would have know about how the sleeve can increase reflux before I had surgery but sadly I did not connect the dots. I'm not exactly sure if I didn't highlight my existing reflux problem with everything else going on trying to get approved. My Doctors didn't think it was an issue. However the pain got to a uncontrollably point where revision was my only option. I a week out from revision and I'm so glad I did it. Don't be afraid of revision most sleeve patients who have reflux can keep it under control without issues.

I met with my doctor today (this is not the doctor who placed the band) and she said she could do the removal of the band and revision to sleeve at the same time. I am required by my insurance to do the 6 months pre-op diet along with all the other testing required (psych eval; chest x-ray, sleep study, etc..). I feel a bit overwhelmed at this point. I mean I am 64 years old. Having lost around 75 pounds on the lap band journey (60 lbs. from 6 month dieting and 2 week liquid pre and 2 week liquid post op dieting) with only 15 pounds from the band. And I always felt hungry even though I couldn't eat more. It was like the bottom part of my stomach was saying - hey I'm empty - I need food in me. And indeed that is how a normal stomach works - when it is filled with food it stretches and sends the message to the brain - I'm full/satisfied. I NEVER got that with the band. Anyway, I have gained 30 lbs back and am at a BMI of 35. I am less inclined to be doing this for medical reasons as none of my medical conditions improved with my weight loss - particularly my severe back problems where all those doctors urged me to lose weight to help. It didn't. So, now I want to do it look thinner and look better and feel better. I guess I am just looking for words of encouragement that this is the right choice at my age. After all, this is elective surgery. Thanks! I also posted this under the other thread about the band removal and sleeve revision being done at the same time.

I met with my doctor today (this is not the doctor who placed the band) and she said she could do the removal of the band and revision to sleeve at the same time. I am required by my insurance to do the 6 months pre-op diet along with all the other testing required (psych eval; chest x-ray, sleep study, etc..). I feel a bit overwhelmed at this point. I mean I am 64 years old. Having lost around 75 pounds on the lap band journey (60 lbs. from 6 month dieting and 2 week liquid pre and 2 week liquid post op dieting) with only 15 pounds from the band. And I always felt hungry even though I couldn't eat more. It was like the bottom part of my stomach was saying - hey I'm empty - I need food in me. And indeed that is how a normal stomach works - when it is filled with food it stretches and sends the message to the brain - I'm full/satisfied. I NEVER got that with the band. Anyway, I have gained 30 lbs back and am at a BMI of 35. I am less inclined to be doing this for medical reasons as none of my medical conditions improved with my weight loss - particularly my severe back problems where all those doctors urged me to lose weight to help. It didn't. So, now I want to do it look thinner and look better and feel better. I guess I am just looking for words of encouragement that this is the right choice at my age. After all, this is elective surgery. Thanks!

Swampdoggie-thanks for asking. I'm feeling good. The pain isn't too bad. We've been getting so much snow that I've been cooped up in the house all week. I take my dog outside when I can but don't feel strong enough to stand for a long period of time. I do get some acid reflux - have been taking tums. While I'm cooped up I've been constantly on my tablet reading the posts on Bariatric Pal. It seems like the people that had the revisions do better with the food than the first time Sleevers. I'm wondering if it's because we know when to stop like we did with the band? I can't wait to start the mushy food phase but am nervous also. Lori

I am from the Augusta area. I am getting ready to undertake a revision. Had that lap band....was extremely successful but the device failed. Grrr....so, am going back for the sleeve. Honestly...pretty nervous. Is there anyone who has had the sleeve that can give some advice?

I've had my lapband for 3 yrs (with no luck) and am getting revised to the gastric bypass but my PCP thinks it's too drastic because he thinks losing weight is easy plus I'm sick of always having to remind him that I can't take certain medications because of my band. Anybody know of a good pcp in the Tulsa area? Thanks!

I'll be joining you this summer. I'll be a revise from the lapband. I live in Broken Arrow. Nice to see another Oklahoman on here.

You will be fine!! As I read the posts from the people that are getting the sleeve the first time vs the revisions, it seems like the people with the revisions are dealing with it fine. I think because we already went through it before we kind of know what to expect. Haven't started eating food yet- that's what makes me nervous now

I've had G.E.R.D. , constant vomiting, sliming, irritated esophagus, spasms of esophagus sphincter, h-pylori and etc. My band caused all of those problems for me. That's a chance we all took to loose weight.....BITTER SWEET ......Im happy with the new me but, will be having the band to sleeve revision to continue on my weightloss journey. Who's to say the sleeve want cause problems later.....a chance I'm taking once more.

I'm currently in my 2 weeks off for revision surgery