mila1013

mri and security via airport detect ferrous metal, the permanent staples used in the sleeve are titanium and would not set them off. (the port band is also titanium).....

I was just curious at how people reached their decision to switch. I am feeling a little bummed (and judged) because of the failure of my lapband. I am freaking out about another surgery, but I can't live with the pain of my band anymore. I always feel lifted when I hear others journeys.

Becca,

It sounds like you are in a bad place. Remember to stay strong in what you desire, cause no one walks in your shoes. I had the band for 8 years, it had to be removed due to late term complications. I am currently attempting to find someone who will take me as a revision patient as some of my complications are permanent and severe directly from the band. I am not sure of your issues as you didnt post them. You did say that you can't live with the pain of your band anymore....you should not have to suffer like that, whatever that is. I really had no choice the band had to be removed or more potential permanent damage would occur.

No surgery is best for all, there are many things to take into consideration. There is a place for the band, sleeve, rny and ds, just not for everyone. get educated on all surgery types before you pick the next kind you want, make sure it is for you. Dont go to a dr that only does one or 2 of those as you will be swayed in that direction. Again I am waiting to be sleeved that is the revision from band I have picked, it is a personal choice and one that is best for me at this point in my life. Do you research ask questions and ask again, try to do the best you can for yourself. keep asking questions till you are comfortable....

Mila

congrats, you will be at goal in no time......

congrats!!! sounds like you pulled through with flying colors!!! you will continue to feel better everyday and within a short amount of time this will seem very far in the past....

Mila

endoscope is easy, they knock you out so you won't remember anything. real easy, you may be tired that day that is about it....

Mila

hi congrats on your surgery, (missed the post yesterday) please let us know how you are doing? who was your surgeon? and how long were you in the hospital? rest up and you are on the road to better health.

Mila

it is ok to have the feeling you have now, it is normal. you have been through a lot, you are in an emotional tornado, it will get better. you are not stupid you chose to take charge of your life, and do what you know is best to get healthy. we will never have all the answers, to what ifs, don't waste your time on what ifs, we know what we know now, you made the best decision on what you know now, you cant live your life by the fear of what can happen 5 years from now. just know now you did what is best, those feeling will get better, everyday it will get better, one step forward maybe 2 back, then 2 forward and 1 back. there will be a point that you will make a turning point.... you will get better and feel better....healing takes time and i don't mean physical....best wishes for a speedy recovery....physical and emotional...

Mila

this is really up to the surgeon and your specific policy, so no two people will have the same answer...

Hi all. I was banded in Aug '06 and just found out my band needs to come out. I feel like I have very little restriction, however I have horrible reflux and am waking up vomitting at night. Gross. The upper gi showed the band is very tight, which my surgeon says makes no sense since I don't feel restriction. He's going to submit to insurance, saying it's medically neccesary to remove the band and to convert to sleeve. I'm just hoping they approve it! I have Anthem Blue Cross. I was self pay for the original band surgery though.

Did your insurance pay for any of the surgery? Either removing the band or the conversion? If they paid for the removal but not the sleeve, how much was the sleeve part?

Thanks for sharing your stories! I've been pouring over these boards since I found out I might have to get the band out. The sleeve really appeals to me. Hopefully I'll be able to finally get to goal! I lost 75 pounds with the band, but to get to my "ideal" weight (according to the weight charts) I need to lose at least 70 more. My BMI is still 35.

i am sure that if you "have no restriction" and you have horrible reflux you have megaesophogus and potentially dysmotility. what did the barium swallow state about your anatomy? was your surgeon present at the swallow? you should have your band completley deflated immediately as to not cause more esopohogeal complications. it is obvious that your band is too tight and your esophagus will pay the price. depending on what is going on in your anatomy -you will need a barium swallow and endosocope to prove this, for the insurance co. band removal is considered a "medical emergency" and pre approval is not necessary. now converting to a sleeve that is a different story that is a pre cert requirement. depending on your insurance policy they will deny the sleeve as investigational, appeal it always....good luck

Mila

I had my band removed yeserday -- doc gave me 30% chance he could do the sleeve. He said if their were an adhesions, etc he would not do it -- to risky given the top staple line is right where the band is removed.

Well I woke up with no sleeve ---- I am so sad.......:001_tt1:

i know it stinks and as a band to sleeve it is always a potential for removal and no sleeve. your surgeon is only doing what is best for you, a band to sleeve revision is a 5-10X higher leak rate and esophogeal leaks are very difficult to treat....take you time and heal in the meantime, the adhesions will "soften" somewhat over time, making the subsequent surgery better......it is for your safety.

Mila

I have a lap band and it is slipping and I need it removed. My doc is talking to me about the sleeve and. I am only about twenty found heavier then I should be. Here is my question. Is there anyone out there that could talk to me about going from one to the other that really liked their band. I could get a new band put back in or have the sleeve and I am not sure what to so.

this is a very difficult decision. i loved my band and would have kept the band if it was an option for me (severe complications) you really need to do your research, search pubmed for complications to both surgeries, take your complications and how long you had your band into consideration. keep researching and don't do anything till you have decided....good luck

Mila

Hi, I am new to this board. I was banded in July of 09. I have had a lot of problems with my band. It seems that as soon as my band gets tight enough to give me a little restricion, I get terrible acid reflux. I can't eat or drink anything for about 3-4 hours before going to bed. I need to sleep sitting in a chair and I often wake up choking on acid. I choke so violently that I end up puking. This in turn irratates my band and I get so tight that I can't keep any food down. Even liquids become a problem for me. I have been in for unfill after unfill. I have had 2 complete unfills. Currently I'm unfilled and my doctor said that it looks as if my band may have slipped. I am waiting a month for him to check it again and then start to fill me again. He said this is the last time he will try to fill me because I have had so many problems. He is talking about converting me to the sleeve.

My question is: for those of you who experienced acid reflux with the band, do you have problems with acid reflux with the sleeve? That is my biggest fear. I certainly don't want to get the sleeve and have the same problems with acid reflux. I am on a daily dose of prilosec (generic) and when the reflux gets bad, I also take malox to help with the symptoms. I am afraid to loose my band but I can't live like this.

Shelli

Shelli, this is a very real concern and something you need to speak to your surgeon about with band to sleeve. (i have the same problem) depending on the severity of your band reflux the sleeve could potentially be worse even with PPI keep doing research, ask your surgeon, consult a GI specialist, get a second opinion with a seasoned bariatric band to sleeve dr. talk to those patients that had gerd, reflux, hiatal hernias etc with band and who were revised and how the reflux is at 1-3 yrs post sleeve.

Mila

hey des, welcome and it is normal to be scared, etc before surgery, keep asking questions here you will feel at ease.....

Mila

i am so happy for you!!!! you are going to do great with the sleeve--oh my gosh it came so fast, can't wait till you get back and start recovering, rest up, have a nice drive back, drop a line when home.....

no surgery works for all, including the DS. the question you asked, well this really depends on many factors, first it is not as simple as will the sleeve work after the band? depedning on how long you had the band and depending on your complications the sleeve will not be a great choice (if you have megaesophagus and dysmotility) and you will struggle to lose any weight even if you did superb with the band. those 2 complications have the potential to permanently change the esophogeal arquitecte, making a restrictive procedure only, one that does not have a malabsorption attached, one that will not provide weight loss. after 8 years i had my band completley deflated and subsequently removed. it has been 7 months, the last barium swallow is still abnormal, potentially my anatomy is permanently damaged due to the band. keep in mind band complications increase linearly, and i had mine for some time. i am due to have a another barium swallow a week from today and an abdominal cat scan on the 27th. it seems patients like me can not get restriction with the sleeve due to the abnormal changes in the esophogus. it seems like you had the band for a short time, the long term complications (the band eroding is not considered a long term complication as it can happen any time and once healed the anatomy is normal) in question for the success of the sleeve are really not seen before 5+ years or so and almost always by 7 years. (permanent esophogeal injuries) hope that helps-good luck in your search....wishing all the success...

congrats on your approval!!

hi sweetlover

I am in the process of revising to a sleeve but i can answer your question. I had the lap band for about 8 years (lost it this year to severe complications) for me I wanted to eat less, I consumed an average of 750 cals a day (yes 750) i wanted something that would help me eat less, that is why I got the band, never once ever did I wish to eat more, not once. For me I was grateful to not have the constant "calling" to eat, those thoughts didn't consume me, they do now as I no longer have the band. Think about your weight, your volume of food, your relationship with food, etc that should help you, give you some peace in deciding...

Mila

I am supposed to have my surgery later this month. My husband is totally opposed. He thinks I will struggle to live with the changes I will need to make to my lifestyle. He also questions what the long term effects of the surgery may be. I wonder if people who have been post op for more than a year hate the fact that they can no longer eat more than one piece of pizza or a Christmas turkey dinner (even if the portions are very small it would be impossible to have a taste of everything including dessert). Do you have regrets? If you had it to do over would you still do it? Is it worth the many sacrifices you have to make? I am flip flopping a dozen times a day - should I or should I not have the surgery!! I have about 50 lbs to lose. Would appreciate any help you can give me. Thanks very much.

I guess I did not read the original post that this refers to.

What happened?

ya Daisy I must have missed it too?

Lynn,

congrats on your surgery, before you knowit you will be coming home and recovering from surgery...be well

Mila

Dr Jossart,

For clarification a fundoplication would have to be reversed (taken down, or the correct terminology) before a sleeve could be performed? Is there any instance in which a fundoplication would not be reversed prior to a sleeve? Is this reversal a difficult process, (location, procedure etc) and requires a high level of revisionary skills in order to be successful? Thank you in advance for your time.

Mila

how great to have family that is supportive of you!!!

great job you must feel great!!

hi,

welcome, you want to make sure you are as well nourished before surgery as possible including consuming good quality Protein, you can get this with chix, fish, etc and a multi-Vitamin, deficiencies in certain nutrients/vitamins will interfer with recovery, all surgery has the potential for complications, you have to weigh your pros and cons, you have to know your physical well being too, is there something that makes you a high risk for a certain surgery etc. what is worse, living with morbid obesity or the complications if they arise, that is the only question. no one can make this decision but you....

congrats on your surgery and subsequent excellent weight loss, you will be at goal in no time...

this really depends on many factors some are how long your were banded, what complications you have and the experience of the surgeon with revisions. it can include issues of scar tissue, adhesions, etc so yes band to sleeve revision increases complications and mortality rates, how high those are depends on your specific complications with the band, unfortunelty my complication rate is much higher as I have severe complications post banding

for example, if your band eroded into the tissues, that is a condition that cannot be band to sleeve in one operation but requires 2...