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I saw that you have band to sleeve revision. Do you think some of your complications might have been still part of the hard time you had with the band? I have heard bunches of horror stories about lapbands now. Wow.

Hi mama Lisa, Yea well I'm a revision from band to bypass so I would figure mine is a higher risk. Surgery weight was at 332lbs. I pray and hope I don't have issues along the way. And this nausea is killing me. I get headaches ever now and then but dizziness and nausea is killing me bad!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Hi mama Lisa, Yea well I'm a revision from band to bypass so I would figure mine is a higher risk. Surgery weight was at 332lbs. I pray and hope I don't have issues along the way. And this nausea is killing me. I get headaches ever now and then but dizziness and nausea is killing me bad!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

My friend who has a band is three years out and you can see her port sticks out a little bit. Its not real noticible, but if you look for it, you can see the bump. She said it got worse after she lost more weight. She is thinking about getting a revision surgery to place it in a new spot. She's waiting on her tummy tuck though so that she can do it at the same time.

@@Pea523 No polyps that they could see. Just a little inflammation. In other words, they don't really know why I regurgitate my food. I've done it all my life. Maybe someday I'll have them delve a little deeper, or look into a revision if it starts causing problems with my esophagus.

I had lap band surgery 2 yrs ago. Currently, I weigh about 10lbs less than I did before I had the surgery. I never had any restriction. If my band had been made any tighter, eventually I would have damaged my esophagus. I went back to my doctor, and she says I can do a revision to bypass surgery. I took the nutrition classes, but have not yet gone to the doctors for my clearances. I had no fear when I had the lap band surgery done, it just didn't work. I am so unhappy that I am not losing weight. Should I go ahead with the revision surgery, or just be sad for a lifetime?

I thank you for posting this. I am due to have my revision to sleeve on Jan 28th. I had the band out in September. I have been so scared waiting to get it over with. I am glad to hear it wasn't that bad for you. Do you have any advise on what makes it go easier?

Here are some points made by Dr. Weiner in his revision video: 1. Conversion from sleeve to bypass: only 10-25 pound weight loss, usually reserved for patients with severe acid reflex 2. Gastric Band over sleeve is experimental 3. Skilled surgeons can convert sleeve to duodenal switch, if you choose this route please research the surgeon carefully and make sure he has performed this kind of revision successfully for a large number of patients 4. Some surgeons can switch from sleeve to SADI, but is not done often in US yet (refer to video for more details)

First of all, I am sorry you are having this problem. Even after losing 140 pounds and making it to a healthy weight, I still have hypothyroidism. In fact, its just as bad as before surgery and I still take the same medication at the same dose. Surgery does nothing to help thyroid problems, unlike diabetes and hypertension. Although I’m still in my honeymoon phase (9 months post op), I haven’t been one of the lucky ones that can eat anything they want and still lose weight. Nor am I one of those patients that are full after three bites. I realized this after 6 months and decided to put more of a rigid eating structure in place. Fortunately, I’ve learned that your rate of success is not determined by the size of your sleeve or even choice of procedure. The quantity of food you eat is not near as important as the actual food choice. When I learned this, it finally became clear to me why I had lost more weight than others in my clinic support group that were boasting extreme restriction. My strategy now is to focus on food that will never cause re-gain despite quantity (green leafy vegetables). I've gained much insight about how to be successful from Dr. Matthew Weiner, a reputable bariatric surgeon that has many YouTube videos that are extremely helpful. Bariatric Surgery Revisions-Do they help or not? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiWd9stWnu0 **How to prevent your stomach from stretching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_aahPETzH0 How to lower your set point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1M1OUvHM_D4 Preventing Weight Regain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uy31fEgrrZA **this video was an eye opener for me

Yes I had my band placed 02/2012 and will be having revision to rny tomorrow. I regret the band and should have done the rny go begin with...

Yes, my band caused my esophagus to become seriously enlarged. Didn't lose all the weight. Also hernia issues and lots of throwing up. Will have it removed and everything repaired and cleaned up and the RNY done on the 17 th. insurance approved on first time but depends on the policy not just the company. My surgeon said this has become a common problem and they are doing a lot of revisions so insurance companies are familiar with it.

Another reason was my age... at age 65 most doctors are very leery about doing elective surgery. I saw a lot of articles that questioned how long bands would last in the body before the band failed, or caused health problems. At age 65 I figure the track record for the band just about matches my expected lifespan, so that became a non issue. The newer bands have a better track record. Hopefully I will not have to under surgery to correct a slippage or for removal or a revision surgery... but that is the chance we take when opting for any WLS. Yeah, the band is reversible, but do I really want to have an emergency removal 15 years down the road? On the other hand, I have read and seen horror stories for the other WLS surgery options. We all do what gives us the best odds of beating our weight problems.

Thanks to all for your replies. I want to switch from the lapband to the sleeve but I am very concerned about the potential complications from the scaring from the lapband. I have experienced pain from esophagus spasms and I envision alot of scaring (I don't know for sure). I wish I had not waited so long to do something else because I think that has added to the scaring and thus complications for the revision to the sleeve. My doctor says the revision is "doable" (his words). Now that I have finally realized I do not want to continue to deal with the lapband for the rest of my life, I need to make a decision of what to do next. :smile:

I'm right behind you for my revision and I had dilation too! I was banded in 2003 for the first time, then after a really bad slip and erosion, I had to have my band removed in 2005... but lucky me? They punctured my stomach during surgery! I was in the hospital for 10 days and had a pretty tough recovery, but was eventually rebanded as a self pay in 2006. My insurance changed during that year, so what started as a "she's too thin to be approved for another band" turned into "we don't cover any bariatric, even if it would prevent eminent death" after the new year's plan was activated. After eventually paying out of pocket for my second band, I just never had near the success with it as I did my first band. I had put back on the 100# that I lost, plus another 20 in that unbanded year. After almost 7 years with that second band, I'm only down the additional 20lbs, leaving me with 100# to lose again (still lol). I did at one point lose almost 50 of the 120 with the second band, but after 2 pregnancies, all but 20 of that is back and no matter how many adjustments, I just can't keep losing. Since I'm pre-op, I don't have much sleeve advice to offer, other than what I've learned with success and failure with my band over the last 10 years. I think surgery itself can be a very easy recovery if you follow all of the pre-op and post-op instructions. After talking to tons of revision patients, and just sleeve patients in general... Walk walk walk after surgery!! The mantra is sip sip sip, walk walk walk, repeat!! As far as eating post op and long term success, the people with the most success are the people that stuck to their surgeons plan. If it's liquids for two weeks, stay on liquids for two weeks, even if other patients can eat soft foods 7 days out. Don't negotiate your plan, just stick to it. And keep up with the exercise. It sounds like you're already ahead of most of us in that department! lol But as far as pain, I wouldn't worry about that. I know it's a legitimate fear, and one that I've spent some time on myself, but most people say it's mostly pain free, just uncomfortable. The first day or so when it actually hurts, you'll be medicated in the hospital! And most people attribute any actual "pain" to gas, which will be minimal if you walk walk walk!! Otherwise, the patients that have surgery in Mexico (like I am doing) actually aren't even sent home with narcotics, just a anti-inflammatory pain reliever, and they have all said that it's been more than enough to control their pain! Good luck! Let us know how surgery goes!

I have no idea why anybody is still doing lapbands as their main surgery. It was the only alternative to the bypass 10 years ago, but now that we have the sleeve, I think it is really a much lesser choice. I speaketh from experience - I was banded in 2001; revised to sleeve in 2011. The long terms stats for the band are TERRIBLE. I don't mean just weight loss, I mean complication and removal rates.

HI madunx - I'm a fellow Scot I'm getting a band to sleeve revision on Tues in Glasgow. Where did you have your op? Great to know of a bandster nearby. Gilx

I was the same as you. My mom was obese and so was I. I got the lapband in 2008 and it was great for the first two years and then I had a lot of serious issues from the band. I ended up with intestibal metaplasia which is a precursor to stomach cancer. I was diagnosed with that in january 2013 and made my decision to have the band removed and revised to rny thst same month. My revision was june 2013 and I am now 145 and 15 lbs from my goal. Unfortunately my mom just died on wednesday from complications from a lifetime of obesity and I vowed back in 2008 I would d I whatever it took to not go through the humilistion sadness and embarrassment of obesity any longer. Even at the end when we decided to bring my mom home with hospice it was a battle because of bed sizes. ny mother was 6 foot tall and weigh 330 lbs but because of chf she haf 60 lbs of fluid on by the time she died. People are cruel and not understanding of large people and our healthcare system is broken beyond belief. Sorry to prattle on but I want you to weigh all of your options. The band is a phenomenal tool but dont go into it just because it can be 'reversed'. There are repercussions to anything we do to a body. So make sure you understand the maintenance and signs of issues. I loved my band but now that it is gone I realize how thankful I am that they caught the intestinal metaplasia early and I listened to my body to tell my dr something was wrong. And yes, fills are expensive. Expect several a year barring issues. PM me if I can provide further insight

I've heard the same thing. I know a bandster who revised to the bypass for that exact reason. The revision resolved her reflux but also introduced a whole new set of problems. I sure wish there were a risk-free, effective WLS surgery. Or a cure for obesity.

Losing, I hope your visit went well today! Please let us know how things went. I'm a little over two months post-op from revision and still "new to the game", but will answer any questions you may have the best I can

Havn't you seen all the Atkins Labled products flooding the market with carbs?!?! Where have you been? Atkins revised his diet several years ago and added carbs. Mostly fresh fruit and vegetables but also Whole Wheat carb products like bread, ceral, almost anything you can think of. They(Atkins) simply advise that you concentrate mostly on protein. Get the new books or watch the video. I known theres been a lot of confusion so I hope this helps. I also known that when he died they found that he did have high cholesterol but remember sometimes it's inherited and theres not much your diet will do for that. I used a protein/carb diet years ago which was a little twist. It was 4oz protein and fruit for breakfast. 4oz protein with a salad for lunch. 4oz pro and 1/2c higher sugar veggies and a salad for dinner. You only used dressings that the sugar was 5 or lower on the ingredients list. Same with your mayonaise etc. Once past the 1st month I going to try this again with small veggie portions. It's the 1st month that scares me. By the way lots of good receipes on the threads. I've just taken the tortillas out and made them into more of a casserole. Here's to success!

I've never been sent home from any surgery with antibiotics. I hate that this is happening to you, but it really is best to remove your band and port now. As your doctor said, infection at the port site is often due to bacteria traveling down the tubing from the band to the port, and that may be due to band erosion. If that turns out to be the case with you, I wouldn't have another band placed. I'd consider revising to a different surgery after your stomach has healed from the band removal.

Hey, Angie hang in there I've been through this emotional rollercoaster you're going through about two years ago and since I've had to be revised I'm experiencing the same issues all over again and I believe it's worst this time around but I'm determined to get through it and you will too... Good luck

Everyone: thanks for your good wishes. They mean so much to me! Jack - to answer your questions: same surgeon doing it or someone different? I switched surgeon's after my revision surgery because my original surgeon was charging $900 for fills. My fills aren't covered by insurance. So, someone different. Are you going to keep your band or will they send it back? I'd like to keep it since I paid for it. I have heard of others keeping it and there's a thread I started awhile back on this topic if you want to search. I'll ask and see what they say. But, the hazardous waste thing makes sense to me. How is the insurance managing this if you don't mind telling? Oy vay. Who knows? Original surgery was denied after I already had it due to incompetence of insurance coordinator at surgeon's office. Revision was covered as diagnostic abdominal laprascopic. Insurance denied this upcoming one as bariatric surgery, but left a loophole in the denial. I've paid the surgeon up-front and hopefully will get reimbursed. Hospital will bill insurance. I will fight tooth and nail if denied. Who made the 'final call'.....and how long would they have let this continue? I kept pushing for it to be removed. My surgeon was just cautious about my options in the event what I was experiencing was unrelated to the band. In other words, if I had it out and symptoms continue. Seems to me, if we, the patient want the thing out for whatever reason, we have that option. Anyone think there's pressure from Inamed to keep these things place so the FDA doesn't catch on? I don't think they (doctors) ever "got" my misery -- partly my fault because one day I'll feel great and the next I'm in band-hell. That's probably because my band moves -- at least it did with the first slip. Sometimes, they'd do a barium swallow and it would be in place. I'd go get a fill -- and whoops, it's slipped. No fill. They didn't "call it" until surgeon saw evidence of a slip in an x-ray. If the delay had continued, I would have gone to Dr. Jamie Ponce in Dalton, GA -- who has probably placed more bands than anyone in the U.S. One look at a barium swallow and I would have been scheduled. (He was a second opinion Dr. on my first slip). Amanda makes a good point (would have been dead by then) which is: TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR OWN HEALTH!!! More updates as they're available! Elizabeth

Today is one month since my revision surgery and I'm down 18 lbs. and feeling good. I start with a personal trainer on 7/1. Hoping to keep up with the cardio part, wish me luck. Surgery Date: 5/28/13 SW 180.4 CW 161.7

What was revision like. I had my surgery in 2003 at 304 now I'm 239. Approved for surgery again in a different state Sent from my LG-H634 using the BariatricPal App

Do a search at the top of the forum in the box and type in food Funeral, or look for topics that have that as a title. It's common. I didn't have a strict pre-op, liquids only diet. All I had to do was low carb/high Protein the week before surgery. The only problem with over-indulging right before surgery is the slimy/slippery fat deposits on the liver can make it difficult for the surgeon to move it out of the way so he/she can get to the stomach. Low carb/high protein pre-op diets resolve this issue. My BMI at my revision was 49, and my liver looked stellar.