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I was banded in 2008, lost a bit of a weight, struggled with finding the perfect fill for me. Eventually I became so miserable with the band that I gave up, ate what was easy to get down, and gained all the weight back. Over the last 2 years or so I was getting so miserable, everything would get stuck and I was having reflux, which I never had. I kept telling the doctors I was slipped, but my X-ray showed everything was in a normal position, so I decided to start the process for a revision. I just revised to the bypass on October 24 and I certainly was slipped, my band was around my esophagus with my stomach incarcerated inside the band. They don't know how I was managing to eat anything, but I was! So far I am SO glad to have revised. The pain was approximately the same as band surgery, I did not need narcotics, my surgery was Thursday, I went back the next Thursday and likely felt good enough to go back sooner. But I can eat comfortably and that was the ultimate goal. If I don't lose another pound, I'd be sad, but I'd be fine because it's so freeing not to have that band anymore. Now, just to get back to reality, I did have complications from anesthesia, so not everything has been rainbows and sunshine, but I'd still do it all over. Your mileage may vary, but based off of my short month long experience, I'd recommend at least talking to a surgeon about revising and seeing how you feel about it after that.

There are tons of revisions from band people here as a matter of fact they even have a sub-forum here. Good luck to you http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/forum/13-band-to-gastric-sleeve-revisions/

My two cents are research, research, research. I was banded in 2010 and I would frequent all the lap band boards, I would see all the success and before and afters, and I wanted that. I wanted that so bad... What I didn't research was the complications and fail rates of the band. I did everything I was supposed to... 6 week fills, no carbonated drinks, low sugar, low carb, and it still just didn't work. After over 2 full years of vomiting, damaged esophagus, and band slippage, and extra surgeries...not to mention only a 30lb loss, I gave up. I got a complete unfill and started researching revisions. Please do the research! Most surgeons won't perform the lap band because of the fail rates and revision amounts. But best of luck to you and whatever you think is best!

@@kjkeller102 welcome, welcome, welcome you did a great job testing the waters and making your first post some peoples heartburn takes a turn for the worst PO i even know someone that had a sleeve to bypass revision due to their continuous heartburn lets not concentrate on the negatives i don't know a % of people that have heartburn problems PO people DO have those issues but.........i "think" more people (like me) don't have any gerd problems or things can be controlled with meds now that i told you the "bad" some peoples heartburn issues PO might improve a little, or are gone PO as you said everyone is different when you see the doc next month talk to him about your concerns you should have a big discussion hearing his thoughts hopefully he will assure you things will "probably" be ok/or not maybe your heartburn will be controlled by meds there are only 2 guarantees in life Death and Taxes good luck bud kathy

I'm having surgery April 1st with Dr. Aceves. I really do feel like I am getting the whole package with Dr. Aceves and his team! Yes... the money aspect was difficult...but having complications would also be financially devastating and I think that his level of skill will give me the best chance to come through without problems with my revision from band to sleeve. I'll look forward to hearing about your experience!

I'm almost 20 years older than you and probably had/have more comorbs than you do. Along with hypothyroidism I had type 2 diabetes, was peremenopausal, depression/anxiety and on meds for those, sleep apnea, HBP and high cholesterol. I was going to have the RNY in 2006 and put it off while my dad was ill and after he died went back to the surgeon and at the last minute switched to the lap band instead, partially due to the fear that most people have with it. I don't know all the "whys" because I did go to my group for fills and maintenence but I was never able to lose and only gained back the weight I lost on pre-op. Tended to eat around the band with "sliders" to fill up. Either I'm one of a kind or people aren't that willing to stay here after being that unsuccessful on the band. I also developed pain from GERD and it was removed 14 months after I had originally received it. Eight months after it's removal I revised to RNY and so far so good. I'm losing where before I couldn't and can't explain it except for the fact that the restriction is there right from the beginning, the bypass part helps also with malabsorption and also with my type 2 diabetes in "remission". Knock on wood I'm a happy camper and glad I finally decided to go with RNY. Like one of the posters mentioned above I was more a sweet eater and not a big portion eater so that maybe where the line is drawn for picking from the two procedures. Good luck with whichever one you choose and hopefully you will do well! Nancy.

I had the same problem with a massively dilated esophagus. Got the fill removed and it got better. Unfortunately I had to have a revision anyway because of ongoing reflux problems.

In 2012 I paid for my lap band out of pocket 13,000 and it was outpatient and 2 weeks ago I paid for a revision to a sleeve out of my pocket as well. My insurance doesn't cover WLS or any complications of it. While it's frustrating to have to pay, I know the money I will save on weight related medical issues will make up for it in the long run. My total for the revision was around 15,000 in the Salt Lake area. That included a 4 day stay in the hospital.

Hi Michele, I'll just cut to the chase and answer your questions: I am my son's only parent! -- Which is a perfect reason to do EVERYTHING in your power to give him the best Mom you can be. Wouldn't you like to run with him? Play with him? Feel confident around his friends? Have his little arms be able to reach all the way around you? Live as long as you possibly can, without worrying if you won't be able to see him grow up, get married, graduate college... etc.?? Sorry to be so blunt, but when I was Super Obese, I may have been ALIVE but I didn't TRULY LIVE until I took my life back, and took control of my disease. What if it doesn't work, just like the band? -- I was revised from band to sleeve on 9.15.10 and I went in wondering the same thing. I had many of the same issues you did... I simply never was able to find that sweet spot and I was constantly in pain, especially in my port area. I was banded on 2.11.08. It took me over a year to finally take that step to have a second WLS once I'd heard of the sleeve and how wonderful it was. I can say today that it DID work and the sleeve for me was EVERYTHING that I was always hoping my band could be. Shouldn't I try Medifast first? -- "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over and over again and expecting different results" ~Albert Einstein People tell me it is TOO extreme, and try to help me figure out what else I can do. -- extreme yes... but sometimes that is exactly what it takes to beat a demon. I certainly don't regret doing this extreme surgery, because today I am everything I dreamed I could be, and so much more. I wouldn't give it back for all the tea in China. Besides that, there comes a time in our lives when we have to make our own decisions, be dammed of what anyone else thinks! No one but YOU is walking in your shoes, so no one but YOU should make such a huge decision on what is right and wrong for YOU. What if it doesn't work? -- See all above Maybe there is a hormonal reason I can't lose? -- Yes there is a possibility that there is a hormonal reason you can't lose. Have them checked, BUT that doesn't mean you still shouldn't take the bull by the horns. Excuses will only keep holding you back. What if it doesn't work? -- See all above With that, I'd like to formally welcome you to VST. Take a good look around. We have an entire section of Band to Sleeve stories and most if not ALL are successful in some manner or another. I have yet to see one where they weren't glad they did it. All the best to you and please let us know how you're doing! Chime in and make yourself home.

During my initial consultation, I wanted a sleeve. My family was very anti-sleeve because it is permanent. My doctor actually agreed, saying my health was fine and that I didn't need to lose so much weight that I would need a permanent surgery like the sleeve. When I saw my doctor last, I asked about revising to the sleeve as I have concerns about the band longterm. She said again that if I was having no problems, I did not need to revise. Maybe the weight gain since then would change her mind? In the band's defense, despite not being great for actual weight loss, I did not experience many of the horrible complications I have read about online. My gallbladder actually had nothing to do with the band, but with years of extreme high protein/low carb dieting and quick weight loss. Still, I want to lose weight! Maybe I will see what she says. I don't really have time right now for a revision, but I want to be healthy and if that is what it takes... It is hard because she is so glamorous and I can really tell when she is disappointed. Well, I worked up the courage to reschedule the appointment I cancelled this week. I have one in a few weeks. Maybe by then I will have lost a couple pounds from restricting calories? Yeah, that feels right to me! I am shooting for that as I find it difficult to meet Protein requirements (and be a pleasant, functioning human person) at 600-800. If I find that I'm not losing weight, I can restrict down.

I never knew that you could get an infection so long after surgery. I too think my infection isnt from the port but from the revision and in that area. you've been thru a lot, I wish you the best!

Why not go ahead and have the sleeve and see how you do? A lot of people get to goal with the sleeve. Most insurances will cover a revision if the first surgery fails. So you could have the DS done later if it turns out you don;t lose enough with the sleeve.

well i am up for revision but was denied. i have heard of people writing letter and things like that i am just so lost as to what to do now.

I'm a bandsters also. I have been researching revision for about a year now. I have noticed that most bandsters tend to revise to VSG. Also most do extremely well with the VSG when they revise! The only reason I haven't done it yet is b/c of finances. Good luck!

I had the sleeve for 4 years. I had it revised once because it slipped out of place, and then it had a leak. The only reason I lost weight the first go around is because all I did was throw up... after i had it revised, it never was the same. I gained back the 90 lbs I had lost... Then I started having no restriction and we discovered it had a leak. I decided to have the sleeve. So far I like it, you have to eat really really slow and I still feel some times the "stuck" feeling, hopefully it will get better as the swelling goes down ( Im only one month post op) I've lost 16 lbs so far... but I am finding out that if you dont follow the rules.. it doesnt seem to come off.. I have a problem with drinking all the water I am supposed to drink and taking the vitamins and exercising ( too bad they dont tweak your mind along with your tummy!!) Hopefully my mind will get on board sooner or later!!

Now that have had my fill , and avoided a big problem like band revision I'm totally paranoid when eating. I have been on mushy food yesterday and today and I'm nervous if I'm chewing food good enough so it doesn't form another food pouch. I had a band for years and now I'm a nervous nelly with mushy food and am afraid to eat solid food. Is it even possible to form a food pouch with mushy foods like mashed potatoes or retried beans. Silly question but now I'm totally nervous to eat anything. I guess it's all in my head and I'll get over it over time

I'm 5'8" and my nutritionist told me 140. I laughed at her. So we revised it to 170 but my personal goal is 155. But truthfully anything under 200 and I'm happy. I don't ever remember a 1 in front of my weight.

I had the same concerns when I started this process, this will be revision surgery for me because the lap band did not work for me....when I was in my psy consult I told her my concerns and she agreed that my concerns were valid and I should seek therapy, so I found a therapist and she has been great...she has already helped me and I've only had 2 sessions with her....when I told my friends who have also had WLS they just told me you can get the same thing reading a book....and I told them, I need someone who will have a verbal exchange with me, and a book cant do that... I would encourage you to seek a therapist...

I think it depends on the doctor. My port flipped and I had to have revision surgery. I never saw a bill and didn't pay a dime for it. And, no, I did not have insurance, I was self-pay.

I've had delayed dumping syndrome due to too much fat from batter-fried fish. It appeared about 6 months after RNY>RNY revision. I had bloating and belly pain starting 24 hours after that meal. It lasted for several days, gradually improving. I feared bowel torsion but had bowel sounds and a BM so the clinic PA said it was delayed dumping. It happened again 3 weeks later after eating smoked fish. I had never heard of delayed dumping syndrome--it was much worse than sugar dumping and lasted longer. I've sworn off sugar so that's not a trigger and I've learned my lesson about eating excessively fatty food!

Be SUPER honest about your health issues if you have any then ask: How much weight will you need to lose prior which surgeries they believe would help you the most What is the rate of complication with each surgery what the waiting period will be with your insurance if you are using insurance What the rate of failure and revision is for the practice What types of supports are available before , during and after surgery How long is the hospital stay Will they use surgical tape, glue or stitches Will you have a drain How many incisions will you receive and their locations CONGRATS

Actually, you can revise a sleeve to bypass. They take the remaining portion of stomach and treat it as if there was no sleeve, and turn that into a pouch, and create an anastomosis to the intestine. I would imagine this might work if the leak is in the portion of stomach this sewn up and bypassed, but the surgeon can answer that question. The sleeve was originially intended to be the first surgery before a duodenal switch, not the first step of gastric bypass. They are two different procedures. To the OP, so sorry to hear this! I have heard one other person on the boards report a leak a year out, so I know it can happen. Wishing your husband a speedy recovery.

I currently have a band and I'm trying to get a revision to the bypass. The band was not the right choice for me. I would listen to the doc. It sucks to go thru the pain of the surgery for nothing, now I have to do it again. I have faith the bypass will be the right thing for me. Best Wishes

Surgery (what you'll experience) and recovery were about the same for the most part. I was also banded in 2011 and had issues, I was revised to the Bypass this past March (could not be happier!). Most def bring that pillow! All other advice is really the same as the band, with the exception of, don't buy too much before surgery to prep... more than likely you either won't use it, will have too much or won't like the taste. It was advised to me that revision patients don't lose as quickly as first timers, just something to be aware of... that said, I'm down 100 lbs since March, so, your mileage may vary. Otherwise, good luck!

How are you doing today? Lap band 2009 Sw 200/lw 161/cw 214 Sleeve revision booked 17 May