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So here I am, today makes 3 months exactly post op and I am down 42 lbs. I am finally in Onederland. I am so amazed at how easy this journey has been in comparison to the Lap Band that I had placed in 2006. I am so happy that I went through the revision surgery 3 months ago. The sleeve is everything that the band was promised to be and more. Thank God I have not had one complication and I feel fantastic. As of now I have no regrets and I feel healthier than I have felt in years. I want to send out a special thanks to my surgeon Dr. Aceves for changing my life.

Me too! I'm in the process of having the revision, the lapband just didn't work for me after I had my son and I'm back in my 200s I'm always hungry and crave all the bad stuff but before my baby I was well on my way to my goal weight, I'm hoping this will be a new start for me!! Good luck!!

Hi,thank you for your input. I revised from the lapband, and understand that this is a lifestyle change. I have no problem with carbs, never been a big carb eater. More of a drinker, so I will look for low cal drinks. I will count calories if I have to up them, but they are so little now, maybe further out I will become a calorie nazi.

... I'm going to get my revision. I scheduled everything today. Hiatoplastic, gastropexia and a change to RNY anastomosis. Dammit... I don't really want to do it...

@@jazzyjay I'm very conscious of my BP b/c I've had issues for many years & high BP & heart disease runs in both sides of my family. You are new to the high BP family so you aren't as aware of the numbers, lots of people aren't. I bet your Dr will be able to get the insurance to revise the decision after the talk. Try not to stress about it. ❤️ Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

@@NYC1992 i have seen similar situations on the board why not try something like DOS May 06 2013 - lapband SW weight #s loss 150 DOS Augusts 24, 2016 revision to gastric sleeve SW 209 (i think i messed up #s somewhere ) #s loss GW make 2 tickers first could show # lbs lost with lapband 2nd ticker showing SW with gastric sleeve i wrote this tooo long but you can figure out what i meant (i hope) you had an amazing successful run with the lap band 150 lbs down!!!!!!! you are aces!!!! you'll do great now too good luck kathy congrats

My lapband failed and I had a revision to the RNY. It's not a step in the process. Talk with your doc and have a open honest conversation so you and he/she can make the best choice for you! Best Wishes

Ad band to sleeve revision 7 days ago. Still have lot of pain n one of my incisions is a little red around it. Is this normal??? Sent from my iPhone using VST

Hi, I'm new here and just wanted to introduce myself. I'm Tatiana or Ty. I got a Lapband in June 2008 and lost 50lbs. But I could never get in that green zone and my band was always too loose or too tight and I got sick A LOT. I ended up gaining all my weight back plus some and started getting chest pain and nose bleeds from vomiting so much. After 4 years of struggling with the band I finally made that phone call that I hope will change my life forever. Right now I am 3 days away from getting my Lapband revised to a RNY gastric bypass and I'm not gonna lie, I'm terrified. I want to do this, I need to, but the risks scare me and permanency of it scares me as well. I'm taking something that's working perfectly fine and choosing rip it up. I just want to know that I'll still be me after surgery. That I won't feel like I've had my insides rearranged. I don't know, I just want to know if I'll feel "normal" after surgery. That's the scary part for me. All the changes in diet and excercise and vitamins I can handle, I feel like I've been there before but I've just got to amp it up this time around. From what I understand the pain will be worse this time, and recovery will be longer, but the success rate is greater. Anyway, just wanted to express my thoughts as I sit here trying to mentally and physically prepare myself for Tuesday. Thanks.

Getting my first fill on Friday after nearly three years banded. It can't come soon enough. I seem to be able to make good choices one day and then the next, I'm not. I went back for a handful of pretzels three...no...four times last night. I couldn't stop myself. So for punishment, I got on the scale this morning and saw that I was above 125. I swore I'd never put the weight back on but it's now more than 12 pounds from my lowest. I'm learning such a good lesson over this struggle to keep the weight off. I will always have the disease of obesity. I may have it under control at times, but I'll never be free of it. If my band isn't working, I'm going to put the weight back on. Simple as that. I've seen plenty of people post about running into trouble at some point but stupidly felt that I would somehow be immune as my head is/was so in the game. It's hard to admit I'm not Superwoman and I struggle like everyone else when my tool is not working the way it should. If I ever find myself having to remove the band, I won't hesitate to revise the surgery to another procedure. I won't fool myself into thinking I'm doing this on my own because I'm not. I told my sister on Sunday that I am gaining weight back because I need a fill. She is obese and I'm hoping she comes to the realization that WLS might help her as well. She has maintained that my success is about what's in my head, and not around my stomach and that I lost all that weight because I was in the right frame of mind. I'm hoping this shows her that it's not my will power alone that helped me but a combination of making good choices, along with a tool to tamp down the hunger so I could make those good choices. So...today is a new day and again I make the pledge to make the right choices. Here's hoping I can stick to it.

Hey All... I'm Jacee and this is my story. I am 23, female and living in Australia. In 2008 I underwent Lapband surgery and went from (127kgs) 275lbs to (70kgs) 150lbs. I was initially very successful and I loved my band. In early 2010 I started suffering for undiagnosed gallstones, which meant that in turn my Lapband had to be loosened from unrelentless vomiting. My gallbladder was removed in December 2010 and by then I'd gained back (20kgs) 45lbs. In early 2011 I suffered from a Lapband slip and my surgeon recommended I undergo RNY Bypass. At first it was a very daunting decision that I wasn't ready to make, but within a month I changed my mind. My codependency to food had returned due to a constant feeling of hunger and an urge to eat after being so severely restricted for 3yrs. Our health system in Australia is very different to the US. We do have public health provided by our tax dollars, but it is a VERY LONG wait for elective surgery. When I was 20 and got my Lapband I didn't have private health, so I had 2 options - wait on the public waiting list - 3-5yrs or pay for outright. So I took the second option and $12,000 later I had a Lapband. When my Lapband slipped in 2011 I didn't have private health cover available to cover the RNY bypass, and my surgeon told me without private health he could only put me on his public wait list for revised surgery. It's been 10months wait now and I go in for surgery in under 4 weeks. I currently weigh close to 140kgs which is over 300lbs. My BMI is 49, nearly 50. The last 10months of my life have been devastating emotionally and physically. I have felt and lived success, but here I am now, bigger than I've ever been, ready to start all over. I'm literally terrified, but at the same time, I am extremely eager to get my "restriction" back. To feel healthy, happy and confident again. I'd love for my husband to know thin me, to feel beautiful for him. I also want him to know that in the next few years I'm going to be healthy enough to give him the family he so eagerly desires. I can't wait to fit into my AU size 12 - US size 8 - clothes again that are piled in boxes in my cupboard. I have so much to strive towards because I've been there, I've felt success, and now I want in more than ever. I wish you all luck and plenty of love on your journeys, I'd love to hear other stories. My surgery is in Brisbane Australia on the 25th of May 2012. All the best, Jacee

I'm very sorry for your struggles. Let me preface this by saying I am not a doctor. This is strictly based on my own research and experience. Being as you were banded in 2005, that would mean you have the older 4cc band. It's extremely unfortunate but problems such as you're experiencing aren't uncommon with the older 4cc bands. In fact, they're no longer used in the US because of it. We see a lot of people with the 4cc bands getting them removed, replaced with a newer model, or switching to another WLS entirely. It is very unlikely your reflux will improve In fact, I fear it will only worsen as time goes on. I can't tell you what you should do only what I would do in your shoes. If it were me, I'd talk to my surgeon about getting the 4cc band replaced with a newer (bigger one). I would also ask if it's even an option with the ulcers and other damage. If it wasn't an option, I'd probably revise to the Sleeve. Again, just my opinion and what I've learned. Best wishes to you. I truly hope you can work it out for your best interest.

I've said before that I'm not great with numbers so if I'm a bit off from previous posts, please forgive me. I'm not trying to revise history, just not that observant on numbers. But I'm just now starting my 2nd year in this life and thought I'd share the markers. In mid-October 2010 I started my pre-op diet. I think was was right about 326. Strict program requires loss prior to surgery. In mid-April I started my pre-diet liquid fast. I was at 309. I was 100% faithful and it wasn't as difficult as I thought it would be. 10 day fast and I ever skipped two packets. I think my mind was on the future by that time but I was also going a bit numb. I knew I had to do it so I sort of went into denial which worked for me. I was actually sleeved the last week of April 2011. As of today, I am at 235. That's a loss of 92 pounds. It's not tearing up the track. I've seen others who have lost tons more but that's the main reason for this post and something I want people to understand. You body, if you stay within reason and safety in eating, will lose. It just might pace itself differently than others so try not to judge yourself by others. I lost horribly when I was in the 400 calorie a day range. When I moved to the 800 calories, it wasn't much better. But now, in these past several months, with being able to take 1200 calories a day and having the energy and strenth to pick up more exercise (and with almost 100 pounds less stress on my knees) my weight loss has become steady and consistant. As I've added more calories, and 1200 is very reasonable to live with, I am not stopping weight loss. My surgeon preached that if you didn't lose in the first year in his program you were not going to lose with the sleeve. He was 100% wrong with me. This is now my new normal and the key to that is that I no longer fight it because I've accepted it as my normal. It's no longer something that was forced on me to save my health but something I'm thrilled to have done to have saved my life. It feels like I was born this way. I stopped counting every bit of food about 3 weeks ago. I just got sick of it. I concentrate on Protein and take a good multi every day as well as my Calcium. In that 3 weeks I have become far less obcessed with food. I think of it so much less, eat only when I am really hungry (and I do still experience hunger). But now I'm just a human being who has a small stomach. Most days I love it. It's a relief. I had had a bout of depression but I'm also going through menopause, lost 2 brothers (both under 60) and my Mom is now terminal and these things are the tip of the ice berg.. I have never turned to food in stress. My stomach actually gets tight and hard to eat so I don't think the sleeve contributed any to the depression. But I'm not being a hero and getting the depression treated so I'm thinking I'll be better by year end. And at least 10 pounds lighter. Oh, and one more thing. One year ago rolling my trash can to the end of the drive was a challenge. The last several days I've walked a 1/2 mile trail behind my house. And I have very bad knees. So plan for the best. It's right around the corner for you.

awesome thanks!.. yeah, i'm trying to look at the actual policy online now. I'm going to try and push it hard so I can get it done quick. I don't want to wait.... I think with him not being able to access the port to my lap band, he told me that I can either have surgery to go in and replace that or he can see about doing the revision (he has to look at my xrays of the band first)... I'll know more on the 27th. I'm thinking since I have gained weight.... He can't even access the port.... and lap band slippage...it may make it a lot easier for him to get the approval from the insurance just do the revision. I just hope they don't make me go through all the hoopla. I can't see having all these complications and then having to turn around and do the 3 month doctor supervised diet.

So I have had my band in since 2011, about 6 years. Nothing is wrong with it, I had an upper GI and all was fine. I have gained all but about 20 lbs of the weight back, and I never lost as much as I wanted to from the beginning. My doctor won't give me a fill as food gets stuck all the time and he says my band is at the correct restriction. He wants to do a revision to a sleeve, but I am worried about the long term complications of having over half of my stomach cut out. I haven't heard of anyone with the sleeve for 20-30-40 years or even longer. I am 37 so I would have to live with this for a long time. I made the wrong decision before and I don't want to make it again and end up on the operating table again in 5 years. Anyone out there who has had the sleeve for a long time, or anyone who had a band to sleeve revision longer than just a few months ago?

Here is my 2 cents worth: I work out 6 days a week, 3 days 1 hr. cardio (HIIT and Medium mixed), and 3 days weights with 30 min moderate cardio. I eat about 1900 cals a day and it breaks out to about 30% carbs, 50% carbs and 20% fats. I found that this is a 40% deficit in cals, based on my activity levels, and have been at same scale weight for 30+ days. I have seen lower fat levels and slow muscle growth, so I am not too concerned. I have 15 lbs. of fat left to lose, and plan on cycling my calories/carbs soon and I feel my scale stall is partially associated to some metabolism slowing. (Been in big calorie deficit for 9 months now) My revision seems to be much looser and allows me to eat much more than many with RNY do, so getting this much food in is only a little challenging with 5 meals a day. I mostly focus on getting in proper protein, and making carbs fibrous, except right after training, so I am not too concerned with the totals values. My fats come from clean sources only, mostly coconut, flax and olive oils, and lean meats, and I feel high fat levels of the right fats is OK, if we can handle it. It has taken me a while to get to this point and a lot of trial and error to get the right fit, and I am sure you will need to do the same. I suggest tracking your diet and any changes and measure the affect every week or so and adjust again as needed. No trainer know you like you. Best on your journey. . .

Sounds Great, I have been struggling with the Lap Band three and a half years, I did lose about 70 lbs from my highest weight, 300 down to 235, my doctors got all upset because I want a revision. I am going to be 55 yrs old any advice or experience you can share with me?

I've done all my requirements for the bypass revision, due to hiatal hernia and problems with reflux my dr. says I need to get revised from the sleeve to bypass. Anyone else having trouble with insurance company getting this approved.? I'm really suffering over here and they just tell me my appeal is pending. Anyone know how I can push this forward? Help! Sent from my SM-J337P using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm getting my revision done the 1st week of October. I have confidence that I will lose, but once I'm at goal I'm scared I will regain and the whole thing will be pointless....this thought just keeps entering my mind and I can't shake it. I don't want to be a failure again like I was with my band...

I have not had this done, but from what I have read about the band, you did not fail at it, rather it failed you. I know people who have the band, and they can eat alot, to include sodas, I can only fit 1/8 to 1/3 cups of food in my belly. Good luck at the revision!

Welcome! I too had my heart originally set on the Sleeve. However, my insurance and my doctor wouldn't approve it. My surgeon knew I had a history of heartburn and gerd - said that if you have that the sleeve may complicate it. In addition I was a revision to RNY from the band and it had higher complication rates.... I had my surgery back in August (revision) and original band surgery in April 2008. I honestly wish I would have had RNY originally I was scared of the malaborption as well as "re-routing'. However, I neded up with many complications from the band and ended up going through a tough revision surgery due to my fears. My original surgeon always pointed out that "band was reversable". Hindsight, why would I want to be fat again? and removing the band would do that. Iended up gaining back all of my weight plus some after band surgery. I'm down 47 pounds in two months (today is my anniversary - woot) and couldn't be happier! Good luck with your decision...let me know if you have any questions.

I started with a gastric sleeve surgery done in July 2019 weighing just shy of 350lbs. I had a lot of issues and tough recovery and it required a revision to a gastric bypass at the end of February 2020. I do not own a scale in my home as I would obsess over the number and with the whole Covid situation I was not going to in person dr appointments but today finally I was able to go and I weighed in at 187lbs!!!! That number seems crazy to me. I was over 200 at the age of 12 and I’m now 46. I want to laugh and cry at the same time. This last year was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever been through and I am not back to being 100% healthy yet but I am so excited to finally be under the 200lb mark.

Maribelle, I wish I could say something to help inspire you but I've been there and have been told "it's only a tool". And I say why did I pay $30,000 for a tool that requires me to have the same amount of willpower "now" that I didn't have prior to getting the lap band. So before I got the band I was under the impression that solids were solids and they'd fill me up in my new small pouch and I would only be able to eat a certain amount be it healthy or non-healthy foods. Wrong, the junk food that I crave, especially during TOM still goes through the band without a problem. To me that's not the right tool and not worth the $30,000 and whatever else I'm paying this Friday to have it removed, thank God to be "normal" again! Plus if you're only able to eat a bit of Protein and you're still craving "food" you'll get it in. Maybe only a small amount of people behave that way once banded but they need to be aware it can be very difficult. So maybe you'll be able to get the "secret" of how the band is supposed to work for everyone and you'll be able to start losing the weight and won't be in the same position I'm in a little over a year later getting it taken out. I do wish you luck and don't mean to scare you but I was in the same position back in March when I joined this site to find out why I wasn't losing and that was seven months after I was banded. So I feel people need to know that there are certain people that will always have issues with losing weight even if banded. If that weren't true then Obesity Help - Weight Loss Surgery, Obesity Support Groups, Obesity Forums, Surgical Procedures wouldn't have their own revision section and plenty of bandsters are there! Good luck I wish you well and hope you find the answer you need, Nancy:smile:

Thanks Janett. That is encouraging. especially for us newbies who have yet to have surgery. My band failed me too. I'm set for revision surgery on 02/0912 and I'm so scared I will have a panic attack or chicken out. Your post means more than you know.

Same here. Also although the sleeve seems to be a good option I still think I would be quite hesitant to revise to one . The surgical and post surgical risks and complications sound so scary compared to a band. If something went wrong with my band I would be hoping that they could replace it. If they couldn't then I would probably go for a sleeve but I imagine it would take a lot of work to convince my DH that it was an option.