Band sleeve revision Revision journey

[mich 74]

Hi everyone. Just a post to share my story. I was banded in 2008 and have had a love/hate relationship with this band ever since. It took a year and a half, and a dozen fills to get it right. I did lose just over 50 lbs and have kept it off. But my eating for the last few years seems terrible to me. So many healthy foods I can't tolerate. Eating out is miserable. Travel is the pits. The fickleness of this band boggles the mind! Sometimes I can eat my portion fine, the rest of the time I'm stuck and vomiting on two bites. The constant tightness in my chest and pressure when I eat. And don't get me started on the heartburn! I never had it pre band. and it has been constant these last 5 years. I am so grateful for these years of weight loss, but I am so ready to try the sleeve.

We took a family trip to Disney in April and I ended up in the bathroom vomiting at almost every meal. I think our flight went up to a very high altitude, and the band was mad at me for the whole trip. I knew I had been having more vomiting episodes, but this just made it very clear in my mind that I needed to do something. When I got home I immediately went to my hospital website to see if they are doing sleeve now, they are, and I made an appointment that day. I was very interested in the sleeve back in 2008, but it was not performed at my hospital then, and no insurance coverage either.

I did spend some time considering having the band removed and not doing another surgery. When the band was put in I was told it was for life, now it's a very different story. Based on that I can't help thinking that 5 years from now there may be a different story with the sleeve too. But in the end, I can't go back to 255 (at only 5'2"), and I'm pretty sure that is what would happen.

So far I have met with my surgeons assistant who recommended me for revision. The psychiatrist and the nutritionist. I now have an appointment on July 18 with my surgeon. I am thinking there are tests he will want to do. And I am nervous about getting insurance approval. But one step at a time. I am hoping to have the revision in the next few months. We'll see.

LapBandTalk and this site have been so amazingly helpful through all these years. It's been great to be able to read all the stories of other people going through this revision process. So a big thanks to all of you!!

[Kami63 215]

Hi everyone. Just a post to share my story. I was banded in 2008 and have had a love/hate relationship with this band ever since. It took a year and a half, and a dozen fills to get it right. I did lose just over 50 lbs and have kept it off. But my eating for the last few years seems terrible to me. So many healthy foods I can't tolerate. Eating out is miserable. Travel is the pits. The fickleness of this band boggles the mind! Sometimes I can eat my portion fine, the rest of the time I'm stuck and vomiting on two bites. The constant tightness in my chest and pressure when I eat. And don't get me started on the heartburn! I never had it pre band. and it has been constant these last 5 years. I am so grateful for these years of weight loss, but I am so ready to try the sleeve.

We took a family trip to Disney in April and I ended up in the bathroom vomiting at almost every meal. I think our flight went up to a very high altitude, and the band was mad at me for the whole trip. I knew I had been having more vomiting episodes, but this just made it very clear in my mind that I needed to do something. When I got home I immediately went to my hospital website to see if they are doing sleeve now, they are, and I made an appointment that day. I was very interested in the sleeve back in 2008, but it was not performed at my hospital then, and no insurance coverage either.

I did spend some time considering having the band removed and not doing another surgery. When the band was put in I was told it was for life, now it's a very different story. Based on that I can't help thinking that 5 years from now there may be a different story with the sleeve too. But in the end, I can't go back to 255 (at only 5'2"), and I'm pretty sure that is what would happen.

So far I have met with my surgeons assistant who recommended me for revision. The psychiatrist and the nutritionist. I now have an appointment on July 18 with my surgeon. I am thinking there are tests he will want to do. And I am nervous about getting insurance approval. But one step at a time. I am hoping to have the revision in the next few months. We'll see.

LapBandTalk and this site have been so amazingly helpful through all these years. It's been great to be able to read all the stories of other people going through this revision process. So a big thanks to all of you!!

Sounds like you are on your way! You have support here. I just had my revision Tuesday so I am still navigating the sleeve...lol no regrets just tired as hell. The Band surgery was worse for me in the way of pain , but this surgery is worse on being tired bc it is difficult a first to get your liquids and Protein in. Good luck on your journey

[mich 74]

Thank you! Congratulations on your surgury. My instructions for post op are 4oz every hour (alternating clears and Protein supplement), from 8 am- 10 pm. If yours are similar, I can see why it's a struggle to get it all in. It must be constant drinking! My memory must be fuzzy, because I don't remember that with the band.

Glad to hear the pain is less. Good luck with your continuing recovery.

[mich 74]

I wanted to update my post. I had revision surgery on August 19. My surgeon submitting papers to my insurance, Unicare, in July and they approved in just a couple days. My doctor stated band intolerance as the reason. He did seem a bit surprised though that they approved so quickly.

Surgery as much harder than I expected. I am 8 days post-op now and starting to feel better. I was told that the band was encapsulated in the stomach and that they had to do a lot of heavy stitching in my upper stomach area. That is why I was having so much pain in that area post-op. I am sipping constantly and walking better. I still have to sleep on my back and don't see that changing anytime soon. I can't bend over yet and still need help around the house. I'm taking one day at a time, and looking forward to a full recovery.

Let me know if you have any questions. Good luck to everyone on a band to sleeve journey.

[livelyterry 55]

Glad to hear your story. I am going to Mexico next month for my revision. I have not had the issues you had with your band, simply because about 4 years ago I had all the Fluid taken out. After fighting with fills, vomiting, etc. for 3 years, I just gave up. It sounds like you have been through hell.

Hoping I don't have the thing embedded in my stomach. I have no pain or anything, so we'll see.

Please keep updating your progress. I have a month to go, and am interested in your journey. I am taking a month off work (I'm self employed), so hoping that will be enough to heal before working again.

[sherrypep 91]

I had my band done in 2011 and had my revision on May 6th of this year. I was 206 when I went in for the band and lost 45 pounds in the 16 months but vomited constantly had a slow leak with tons of fills and was just miserable. I have lost about 25 pounds in the 4 months since my revision but feel 100 times better. The first few weeks of recovery are tough but now I have no regrets. I can eat almost anything in small amounts but do tend to stay away from the carbs because they fill me up quickly and get me bloated. Besides from some severe nausea for a few weeks and a few dumping episodes when I started real food I have been living so much healthier and happier than I was with the band. Best of luck!

[prestons_nana 8]

I just had revision surgery August 21, from lap band to the sleeve. I am NOT loosing weight!! Fluids go down without any trouble. I walk every day. Any suggestions??? Also have a baseball size lump where they removed the port and it is sooo sore!

[livelyterry 55]

I just had revision surgery August 21, from lap band to the sleeve. I am NOT loosing weight!! Fluids go down without any trouble. I walk every day. Any suggestions??? Also have a baseball size lump where they removed the port and it is sooo sore!

I was just reading about this this weekend. In one of the "sleeve" books, she says that while in the hospital they fill you full of IV fluids because they know you are going to have a challenge getting fluids down for a week or so after surgery. These IV Fluid have some salt in them, make you retain Water.

She recommends that you don't even weigh yourself for 2 weeks after surgery, because it can be frustrating. It will all eventually work out..