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Had my revision surgery on 10/18/16 from LapBand to sleeve due to esophagus issues from the band. I was banded in 2010. If I can answer any questions, just ask away. Recovery wasn't easy, but it wasn't terrible either. I haven't had any problems with drinking or getting my Protein in. Still off work but that's only because I want to make sure I've got a good handle on food before I return to my job. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm having the revision surgery cuz I've had nothing but complications with my band i have it for about 4 years I never could find my sweet spot is either over filled under-filled I just thought I would go about my business and deal with it! sometimes I can eat and sometimes I cant eat most the time I am vomiting because my food gets stuck I finally made an appointment with a new bariatric surgeon and found out that it slipped and is at the top of my stomach and bottom of my esophagus which means I don't have a pouch anymore so when I am able to eat without any problems I totally over it because I never know when I'm going to be able to eat again which sucks!!!!also I have a hiatal hernia I gained all my weight back plus a couple pounds and I also have slowly and gradually been getting heartburn more frequently I believe that is due to the hernia I was just approved by my insurance and hopefully get a call today to get my surgery date.. for the revision. I wish I would have went in a couple of years ago and caught it in time but I didnt there is no way that I would want to be re banded just to go through all of this again I want the damn thing out and I want a permanent change it is definitely scary though but in the end I'm sure it'll be well worth it!!! In facts my surgeon and a lot of Surgeons are not doing the Lap Band anymore because of the complication rates I'm happy for the people that have not had any problems or complications:) Sent from my SM-N910V using the BariatricPal App

Try getting at least some, if not all, of your fill out of your band and see what happens. It might resolve some of that acid reflux and regurgitation. My band is totally unfilled. You can always start the process of looking into whether your insurance will pay for your revision and what their criteria is.

I had the same regurgitation issues you mentioned. I got my band in 2010 and was revised to sleeve this past October. The sleeve has been a breeze. I really enjoy not having that port. As for insurance, my revision was covered due to the acid reflux problems without meeting BMI requirements. Each insurance is different though. I do not regret my decision at all. I liked my band, but had extreme anxiety about eating around others for fear of getting stuck. The sleeve has opened a new world.

I had my open RNY in 2001. Lost 140lbs , then gained 80 lbs back. I am interested in revision surgery. What options do I have? Who was your doctor ? I would appreciate sharing your information with me. I was told by my original surgeon that there is nothing he can do!

I had my lapband 10/09 and a port revision 12/10/09. I started passing bloodclots at my job and I have since had the band removed. I now have Crohn's Disease and I am deathly sick. Two doctor's told me that it must have been lying inactive in my system and the lapband brought it to life. Has anyone else had a similar incident? I am on a chemo drug and will be starting IV therapy to try to get my colon healed. I have huge ulcersin my colon.

I would try your insurance first. I had an exclusion and went to Mexico three years ago only to have my band fail me and the aftercare is horrible for Mexican patients in the U.S. (I did receive excellent care while having my surgery, though. The doctors really know their stuff. I just can't afford to fly down there everytime I need something.) I know the sleeve doesn't really require aftercare, but if something does go wrong, at least you have a doctor here. They treat you like the plague when you say you had surgery in Mexico! I now have insurance to cover my revision, thankfully. Don't give up! Hang in there! :thumbup1:

When I think the weight may start to slow down, I go back to the basics, maybe have liquids or soft foods and drop a few calories. If I can walk, I’ll do something to burn off the fat. I eat so much less fat,and I’m burning my own body fat. I’m not able to hit the gym for a full throttle workout, so I make sure I get the proteins, vitamins, supplements in, and go a little lower in the calories. This is my second time around, but the pouch wasn’t reduced...too much scar tissue. I have to do this with my own self, and I do document what I consume within a 24 hour period, and eat or drink according to my schedule. I’m up all hours, but I’m older, and this is supposed to make me lose less. Not true for me. I lost 20 lbs in 4 weeks. I never look at the scale, but document so that I don’t go overboard. I’ll eat diet gum...more than a few pieces, because it satisfies my need to chew, plus it’s sweet. But, this is just what I do. When I plateau, I’ll switch some foods to keep the body changing. I can’t afford expensive Bariatric foods, but I do the best I can. I used to be a slave to the scale. Now; I’m dedicated to the process. It’s label reading, serving sizes, and, my dr wants me to eat a certain amount of calories. Although the revision failed due to scar tissue, I realized that my stomach won’t be the help I need. I’m the help I need. Anyhow, I hope this was somewhat useful.

Great to see such positive responses; thank you all! After 2 LB friends have successfully revised to a sleeve, I am more and more interested in revising! Hate my band! Do sleevers PB like banders do? Man that's horrible!

With the sleeve you can eat whatever you want after the post op diet. I do have trouble telling when I am full. I have to stop eating by looking at the portion and knowing how much I can eat. If I eat until I am full at the table, I am too full and uncomfortable 15 min. later. There are a lot of us who are band to sleeve revisions and we are all thrilled to be rid of the band. As far as I know, there are only a couple of people who have trouble eating early in the day. I have been able to eat and drink right away from day 2 of surgery. I had to force myself to slow down when I was in the hospital, because I was supposed to only drink 2 oz every 15 min. I could have easily drank whatever they put in front of me. Feel free to ask anything. We are all glad to help. I revised to the sleeve after I gained 15 lbs back from having my band unfilled. I was a self pay though.

As someone who self paid for the band, and self paid for the sleeve, I can tell you getting the sleeve was the best money I ever spent. I am so glad my band is sitting on my dresser. Feel free to ask any of us anything. There is also a band to sleeve revision thread.

Looks like youre not getting in enough Protein.....the mashed taters and stuff seem easy to get down...and taste good....I did the same thing at times......but the carbs are only going to make you more hungry....try adding yogurt...which many have good protein content......cottage cheese well mashed....so many alternatives.... As for the fill.....you wont really know if you need a fill until you are past the mush stage....and on more solid foods.....because the mushy stuff and soft stuff quickly passes thru the stoma....I have 2ccs in right now....that was my first fill at week 6...and at times I can still eat quite a bit if the food is mushy or soft...my fill was placed during a port revision......i went for my first fill at 5 weeks....only to find that my port was completely flipped.....think my dog tore my stitches when she jumped on me....naughty girl..... Good luck....and listen to your doc.....he/she is there for advice and listen......after all its what we pay them for.... Becca 8-6-03 Dr. Chua, Milwaukee WI 340/298/170ish.......will weigh next week.....will be 3 weeks no weighing at that point....hope to be suprised!!!:cheeky

Hi All I am hardly a newbie to the lap band but have only had 2 fills in the entire time I have had it and both were within 3 months post op. I was banded in Jan 04 and have lost around 140 pounds but my weight has been pretty much the same for the last 18 months or so because I haven't been as committed as I should be eating the right foods and I get hungry quite often ......... so this brings me to my question. I get full on small amounts of food still so I don't think I have an issue with my pouch being stretched (which previously I have had) or with slippage. The problem is I am hungry again within an hour or two of eating so I am snacking all day because I am never satisfied for long. I eat small amounts each time but it's SEVERAL times during the day, not just 3 or 4 times. Do you think this is indicative of needing a fill? My band has been entirely empty for just over 18 months (No coincidence really is it that my weight loss came to a screaming halt around the same time??!!) so I probably could do with a fill. I had port revision surgery in Dec 06 and have not had a fill since then. I am scared it is something more serious even though I can only eat small amounts and have no pain or anything else unusual going on. I have an appt with my surgeon next week and they want to do a fluoroscopy first just to make sure everything is ok because it has been so long. I guess it is just a precaution to make sure its all ok before they fill me. I know you guys arent doctors but hearing your opinion would calm me down a little if you just think a fill is all that is needed. I'm a bit scared. :crying:

Unless you qualify for medicaid the only other option would be self pay! In the US it can range from $9-25k. You can pay cash or take out a loan, some providers offer payment plans through companies such as care credit. You can apply online for them & find out if you're approved in minutes. The credit line is given based on your credit score (I know they use experian as their source). If you know you have a few dings you may still be approved but maybe not for the full amount. A co-signer would help increase your credit line in that case. Be warned though that unless you pay in 18mts or less for their promotional offer their interest rates run high but again this varies based on your credit. So you can visit their website & search for local approved providers & go directly through your surgeon or you can first find a surgeon you're comfortable with & then find out if he accepts finance plans such as this. With a 5yr plan (in cali they offer only up to 60mts but I've heard other states are longer plans) your payments for an average priced sef pay procedure of say 16k could be about $300/mt. For me when I added up the cost of meds, gyms & jenny craig not to mention the dining out & other weight related bills I would no longer have it seemed like nothing!! There's also the route of having it done in a diff country such as Mexico for as little as $4500- I honestly couldn't tell you what, if any, payment plans they use. Some say ofcourse foreign countries offer lower quality & can have more complications but that's something you'd have to research. With the band though you're required to have follow up care for life & many US surgeons want nothing to do with a foreign placed band- liability! Without the fills your band is useless so if you go that route locate a local fill doc that's willing to work with you first! Also my surgeon told me the company that produces the lap band in the states (Allargan) does not sell its product to places like mexico because they are not certified so the band many people receive there is a swedish band that's an older, cheaper model of less quality subject to leaks & erosion. Ofcourse these are unresearched statements from my bias surgeon. So take them with a grain of salt! It is true the mexico did perform the first lap band & austrialia & europe have also been doing it for years longer than the US who didn't approve it until 2001. So something can be said for their experience. But again in a foreign country you have no recourse if something goes wrong. =/ As a self payer you'd just want to keep in mind that your insurance typically will not cover any part of the wls -in some cases this includes any complications related to it. And remember the cost of follow up/fills that in yr 1 are every 4-6wks or as needed & can vary from $50-350/ visit depending on your provider so shop around for the best program package! Many include 6mts to a yr of follow ups & some practices also offer revision insurance for a yr which cover leaks, slips, erosions & port flips. Be diligent in your price comparisons & research! There's a thread in self payers forum here where ppl have listed what they paid in diff states you could inquire there also! Best of luck!

I started out with the LAP-BAND®. What a mistake if money is an issue. I have ended up spending about $50,000 out of pocket for problems associated with the LAP-BAND®. I even had insurance that paid for the initial implantation of the band. I can honestly say, the band nearly killed me. In December, I self paid for the gastric sleeve. Believe it or not, my insurance would not pay to have the revision. They even stated in the letter they sent that I needed to have the band removed immediately due to all the problems. They would not however, pay for revision to something else. I ended up going to Mexico. I am Director of Nursing at an outpatient surgery center. I have been a nursing supervisor in hospitals all over the world. I can honestly say that the surgeon and care that I received in Mexico was better than any care I have ever received in the U.S. or in Europe. The surgeon I used has a world wide reputation for excellent work. I paid $12,500 for my revision from band to sleeve. This included everything. Please, before deciding to get the Band, go to the sleeve forum on Obesity Help and read how happy people are with the sleeve. There is also a section there dealing with revisions. Many of the revisions are those who are having problems with the band. I will say that the sleeve has been wonderful for me. Once you get the sleeve, that is it. No shelling out money for fills, etc. They have been doing the sleeve for years. It is the same thing that they have been using to treat stomach issues for years. It is the same thing as a gastrectomy. I know people who are years post op gastrectromy and the only thing they are is "skinny". Just want you to be aware that there are other options available besides the band. Good luck in your journey.

Hi all; I had my band out last wednesday. Before the band removal, my doc said that in 1-2 months after the band removal that we could do the sleeve revision. I went back in for a post-op check up today, and now he is talking 2 months! He didnt give any emperical evidence about why we need to wait 2 months, he just said that this was just a post-op visit, and that we needed to start the bariatric surgery back from the beginning about getting me qualified, etc. I brought out the big guns and told him my company was talking about layoffs(what else is new, right?, but they really ar), the time frame is may-june, and that since I know I have coverage with my current insurance, I wanted to make sure it was done before that happened. He didnt appear particularly moved with my argument. I am BUMMED. I was hoping to come away with a date today since we both went in knowing I was getting the revision and not just the band removed. Sigh.... Another trip back to him on Monday with the packet for the bariatric work up. I was hoping to finish the summer with most of my weight gone, not sure where it stands now. blech Lisa

i had surgery on the 28th...believe it or not on my birthday. i was a revision from a band. im doing pretty good, having a hard time getting fluids in, but i had the same problem with the band

Hi there, When I had my band, I only had one bad episode of reflux, after a fill. Had it for a day or so and went right back to get un-filled. That was the beginning of the end for me anyway and I never really was filled up too high again. Otherwise, I had the band for almost 4 years with no reflux issues. That said, I do have reflux with the sleeve occassionally. My doctor's orders were to be on Nexium or Prilosec for 6 months - that is the instruction for everyone, regardless of whether or not they have symptoms. I will say that there have been a few days where I actually took double dose (one in the AM, on in the PM) but I have scaled back down to one a day in the morning and I am doing fine. I have a jar of Tums by the bed just in case I feel a little funny before I go to sleep. I wouldn't dare go off the prilosec yet, as I am not quite 2 months out. I am going to wait, per dr's instructions and try to wean off in another 4 months or so. The prilosec/nexium is a way of life for a lot of us. The good thing is that I am rid of all the other problems that I had with the band. Make sure your doctor checks everything out thoroughly and you may want to stay unfilled. You don't want to do too much damage if you are thinking about having a revision to the sleeve. Get healed and good luck with your decision. Lara

My experience is similar to yours. I had my lap band put in six years ago. Did great for three years then hit a plateau. The photo of me here is at my lowest weight after having lost 98 pounds with my band. I never could get the two pounds I needed for 100 pounds off ...and I wanted to lose around 25 - 20 more. Over time I started gaining weight and having problems with food getting stuck, reflux, etc. Doc took some fluid out of my band. Still had bloating and abdominal pain. This has been going on for more than six months. After having a barium swallow, 2 endoscopies, a CAT scan, MRI, and colonoscopy we have pretty much determined that there is nothing else wrong so the band is most likely the culprit. I will be having surgery to remove it on Wed, July 31. Hopefully that will end the abdominal pain and I will be able to have revision to another weight loss surgery in a couple of months. I am still down 40 pounds from where I started which means I gained back 58 that I need to lose again and still want to lose that additional 15 - 20 pounds to get to my goal. I wish we could do it all in one surgery but my doc wants to make sure the removal of the band solves the problems I've been having instead of doing additional surgery now only to find that the pain issues are still there. I'm 99% sure the problem is the band so I'm researching other surgical options now while I wait. ****For those of you who have had their bands removed , did you have internal soreness from the surgery or just the soreness from the incisions ? Did you have to follow any special diet while healing from the removal of the lap band ?

I had issues with the band. Emergency surgery to remove it. One year later revised to bypass. No issues what so ever. Best decision.

Holy smokes!!! The leak test, for me, was done while I was still in the OR. By the time I woke up in my room, I was allowed water. And I was definitely allowed to get up as soon as I felt able. The catheter and keeping you in bed part really threw me. It's required that you get up and walk around, so them forcing you to stay in bed was super weird to me. With my sleeve, I was kept on the IV the entire time because I hard a hard time drinking more than 2oz of water at any given time. With my revision to bypass, they took me off the IV the same day as the surgery because I was able to drink an entire 20 oz of water in an hour. I did that twice and they said "yep, you're good, the IV can come out". And I was able to go to the bathroom in the toilet from the jump because they wanted to be able to measure how much urine output there was.

I was banded 12/3 and was rockin my band until they realized my band wasn't working properly due to a kink in the line. I had surgery again to revise the port 2/8. The problem is the incision where the port is happens to be much larger now and slower healing. It's really difficult to wear a bra due to it rubbing right on it. I work at a hospital and we have try a few things to make it more comfortable but it continues to pull the glue off the incision. Any suggestions on something else to use. Thanks in advance!

1. My insurance covers either procedure as long as I'm approved for wls. 2. At only 27 I am concerned that lapband is not permanent enough since I would have to rely on a foreign body lasting inside me for hopefully 60+ years. - Even the manufacturers and FDA knows that the band will not last a lifetime. It's only listed for 10 years, I'll try to find the specific links for you. 3. The sleeve is totally permanent (scary). In my humble opinion, the band is not reversible. It can be removed, or unfilled, but once that thing is suture around your stomach, your anatomy is forever changed. 4. One of my biggest factors is that I plan on having more kids and I'm worried that the sleeve will not be compatible with pregnancy. There are successful pregnancy patients on Obesityhelp that have had the VSG, and have delivered healthy babies. Once you hit goal, your surgeon will help you determine when you can TTC. 5. I am a huge puke-a-phobe (this is a concern with both surgeries). Puking with the band is horrific and so uncomfortable. Puking with the sleeve isn't the same, it's like this creeper piece of food coming my esophagus, and I spit it out. That hasn't happened in months because I've learned how to eat with my sleeve. With the band, things get stuck and you never know when or what is going to cause you to puke. It's especially an unpleasant experience when eating in public and you have to rush to the bathroom because on that particular day, mashed potatoes didn't go down, and then you can't eat anything else because the stomach tissue swells. 6. I am totally ok with eating tiny portions, but the lapband seems way more restrictive on the kinds of food you can eat. With the band, some days I could stuff, and the next Water wouldn't go down right. meat always had to be slathered in a condiment or gravy of some sorts because my band didn't like meat, and it didn't matter how it was cooked or prepared. I could not eat any bread products with the band that was total trainwreck with my band. With my sleeve, I can have about 1/2 of a fajita size tortilla with cheese on it, or the inside of a super light yeast roll. I'm not a sandwich person so I don't eat sandwich bread. I do enjoy pita bread, but it's about 1/4 of a pita pocket with cream cheese and deli meat sometimes. Some other information about the band vs. sleeve. With my band once I lost restriction (the initial swelling with the band surgery), I never felt full, I was always hungry, but couldn't eat things some days so I ate slider foods which is completely counterproductive, but I had to eat. I had a flipped port, and could only get 2 fills post op, and then in February, my surgeon could not access my port. I was miserable, and in constant pain with band because the flipped port caused the tubing to actually tug on my stomach which in turn damaged my stomach. You won't get restriction with band until you get enough fills, and that could take months. Not to mention the unfills you may have to endure to find the "sweet spot". It's a lot of maintenance. With the sleeve, it's instant restriction, plus with ghrelin hormone out of the equation, the ravenous hunger is gone. I'm 8 months out and still have zero hunger. I still have to remind myself to eat. The risks with the sleeve are more common immediately following surgery such as leaks. But, with the band, the list of complications is long and can occur fairly early out, or a couple of years post-op flipped ports, esophageal dialation, stretched pouches, erosion, slippage, and those are the most common. Some have asked me why did I have the band. It was approved by my insurance, my mom has a band since Nov 2007 (and now she pukes 2-4 times weekly), I really thought I would be one of the lucky ones (so not the case), I needed surgical intervention, and I was so against RNY. I knew all the complications, but honestly thought I could be successful. Luckily, when I decided to revise, I found out that a military base close to us did indeed perform the VSG. I left my civilian band surgeon and transferred all my stuff to a military surgeon. My insurance (Tricare Prime) approved my revision immediately. I am not the type of person to really regret anything I've done in my life. I don't regret my decision to get the band. It taught me a lot about myself, and I did pick up some good habits with it. I do wish that I would not had of complications, and I wish I would of known that the VSG was approved at our neighboring base. But, I see a civilian PCM, so I get kicked to civilians for all of my referrals. Just my ramble. I hope that helps.

It's been quite a journey so far successful band surgery 2012 then problems with my band and weight regain all bar 30lb. I am on the pre op diet of lean protein and no more than 40g of carbs. Surgery is 11 days away feeling nervous and excited. Have lost 10 on pre op diet so far. Have pdh diet protein for post op in strawberry and mint choc chip. Any other revision people out there how are you all doing x

Yes I'm from Chicago, my doctor is dr.lufti, he did my lapband so I consulted with him may 1st about revision surgery, I had my hopes on the gastric bypass, but he wants to do the sleeve. I have a day long appt at his office on next Wednesday to get a trans nasal endoscopy, psych and nutritionist. I hope that I will not be much longer than that! I'm ready to do this surgery.