Notinks

I had just turned 50 when I had mine revised. I would definitely do it. It will be harder to carry the extra weight around as you age. Why not do what you can to stay active as long as you can. Also, if you leave the crap band in, you may end up HAVING to have it out later on when you are even older. Best of luck to you!

I had a Crap Band for 11 years, revised to bypass 26 months ago. I am thrilled with my choice. I don't think I dump at all. i have had a couple of weird sweating incidents, but that could be hot flashes. I eat chocolate nearly every day (carry dark chocolate in my purse and have a small piece for "dessert"). I did lose hair and that went on for about a year, but then it stopped and my hair has returned to its former glory. Among the things I can now do: Sitting with crossed legs, fitting into an airplane seat comfortably, sitting in the backseat of a van between two car seats , shopping for "regular" clothes, wearing skinny jeans and boots, wearing yoga pants in public without looking like one of the "people of Walmart". If I could do it on my own, I wouldn't have regained the 90 lbs I lost with the band. I lost 107 within 14 months after the bypass. Have gained 10 back in a year but I am so much more able to keep that from snowballing!

I was banded for nearly 11 years before converting to bypass in Sept 2014. My experience with the band was very much like yours. I can tell you that for me, the bypass is night and day compared to the band. Here are my answers to your questions? Can you eat in a restaurant? Absolutely! I remember one of the first times eating out with my hubby post bypass, I got up in the middle of the meal to use the restroom and had to tell him it wasn't so I could puke! I do have a lot of leftovers, though! What does it feel like when you reach restriction? I just get full and satisfied. If I push it, I feel sick. Can you eat almost anything just very small portions? Yes! And nearly two years out the portions aren't miniscule. Just smaller than before. How common is it to fail at weight loss after a bypass? I know people who have and that does frighten me a bit. I am struggling a little myself because I vowed to not let myself gain more than 3 lbs without hitting it hard again and I am up 7 after vacation. I feel like that is what "normal" people experience, though, and I have a tool to help me lose it again. I think it is vital to remain physically active. I know I will need to work at it forever but will bypass make my struggle easier? For me, absolutely, so far.

Night and day for me!

I know! When i did my nutrition education, it was in a group setting and there were a couple of people in there getting Crap Bands and it was all i could do to not take them aside after and tell them! What my dr says is that he thinks it is okay for people who don't have a lot to lose, but that doesn't make sense to me because I don't think the amount to lose has any correlation to whether it works or erodes or causes reflux, etc.

My insurance process was very easy. I received same day approval! My band was removed at the same time. I was on pain killers longer than some people are, but I was back to work 1/2 days after 1 1/2 week and full days at 2 weeks.

How much have you lost with the bypass if you don't mind me asking? And how long did it take? I am on process of fulfilling insurance requirements in order to get revision to RNY and I am nervous I won't lose will even with bypass. I have extremely slow metabolism, I hit a plateau 2nd week after lap band surgery, hearing that the weight loss is slower after revision makes me very nervous. I have about 120 lbs I want to lose to be at goal. Guess I need some emotional pick me up here I have lost 107 lbs with the bypass. I had gained back the 90 I lost with the band. It took me a year. That was quick enough for me. You'll be fine. This surgery works!

My story as well! Except I am a little further along. I had my band for nearly 12 years. Banded in 04. Lost 90 lbs. Trouble began. I converted to bypass on 9/15/15 and have been at my goal weight of 165 for 6 months. Life is good! This surgery is night and day from the band. My dr. still places bands and I scold him about it all the time. Success rate is much too low. Good luck!

I am band to bypass and have lost 107 lbs. If you follow weight charts, I haven't lost quite 100% of my excess weight; however, I am at my personal goal of 165, wearing a size 10 and thinner than I have been since middle school!

Congratulations! You are about to begin your new life!

I don't even know where to begin....it is really completely different for me. With the band, i felt like I lost weight because I struggled to eat. I couldn't eat because things got stuck. It was like being "choked off." I wasn't satisfied, so I found ways to eat around the band and ultimately had to have it unfilled and removed due to reflux. With the bypass, I lost weight simply because I have a small stomach that fills up quickly and I am satisfied sooner. That is what the band was supposed to do as well, but never did for me. I can eat anything, don't dump (not certain that is such a good thing!) and honestly enjoy eating even more than before any WLS. I enjoy good food in small quantities. Keeping my fingers crossed it works this time! Remember - you didn't fail the surgery. It failed you!

Ditto. Banded nearly 11 years. I enjoy eating now more than maybe even before the band. I am satisfied, full and can eat anything.

I chose to revise from band to bypass because 1) I had reflux from the band and that is also a more common complication of the sleeve 2) because I chose the latest/greatest with the band and didn't want to make that mistake again and 3) I liked the added malabsorption component of the bypass. If you are diligent about taking vitamins, you shouldn't have any issues with malnutrition. When I first went to see my dr., it was his nurse who was talking sleeve, sleeve, sleeve. My dr. probably does more sleeves than bypass now too, but I am thrilled to have done the bypass instead.

Yay! Are you having the bypass done at the same time? I had my lap band from 1-5-04 to 9-12-14. The bypass is SOOOO much better! I probably like eating now more than even before the band....hard to explain but I am not a slave to food but can just enjoy it and I can eat anything, unlike life with the band. I've lost 107 lbs and am at goal. Welcome to your new life!

I had my band for nearly 11 years when I had it removed and converted to bypass in September 2014. I am at goal weight now for the first time in my life. The bypass has been absolutely fantastic for me and sooooo much different and better than the band. I guess it doesn't work for everyone, but overall is much more successful than the band. Good luck. It was a great decision for me!