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Hi Patty Sue, You will be leaving the day I get there, my revision is scheduled on the 18th. Good luck.

As I've not had either surgery (I am trying to revise to another procedure from lap-band due to a slip, though, so I'm doing a lot of research), the only advice I can give is to take predictions of how good the sleeve is going to be with a grain of salt. After all, researchers were saying the same thing about the lap-band back when I was first banded. It was supposed to be the wave of the future and it had a predicted long-term success rate that rivaled or exceeded that of the bypass. We all know how that turned out. I can't tell you which procedure is best for you, that's up to you and your surgeon to determine. I can share a few things that I've found while researching: Malabsorbtion of calories with RNY lasts for 12-24 months, Vitamin malabsorbtion lasts forever. There are new transdermal vitamin Patches on the market that mean you don't have to worry about malabsorbtion of those nutrients since they aren't passing through your digestive tract. "Dumping" is not a guarantee with RNY. VSG can cause severe GERD, so if you already have GERD, it's not recommended that you have that surgery. You can succeed or fail with either procedure. Success with either one depends on your particular food issues, on how successful you are at resolving those issues, and how you've changed your lifestyle. There are a lot of people out there that are trying to revise from sleeve to bypass and from bypass to DS or band-over-bypass.

I only told my husband and my best friend when I had my lap band. I had to tell more people when I had the revision because it was not planned and we had to accomodate kids, job, and etc. So I ended up having to tell my manager and my mother and another friend. You will find out that this is NOT the easy way out and in time you might be comfortable telling people you had weight loss surgery. The truth is that you will be losing the weight from diet and exercise. As far a not working out until 6 weeks that is not what my surgeon had me do. I was expected to be up walking the day I got home. I was up walking the hospital the entire 5 days I was in post op (mostly my choice because I was paranoid about getting blood clots). I wasn't allowed to lift weight for 4 weeks but I bet you will be exercising right away. It is your journey so do it how you feel comfortable. I even told a few people that I decided to follow a bariatric diet to support my friend having a lap band (my friend was having the lap band so it was partially true and that explained all the protein shakes. LOL

I have personal feelings on this - I totally believe its the American approach to banded life and the American culture surrounding what is healthy and what is not, which is SO different to the Australian viewpoint, that is at the root of the high levels of band problem and failure. I think that the way its approached there, leads to levels of restriction that our approach here just doesnt require and hence the problems. I too know many banded people, some have had problems such as slippage and revision, and not surprisingly some of those people have been rather disordered eaters/dieters who've tried to rely on very tight restriction. But I know plenty of people who've had bands in the 3 to 8 year range, lost all their weight, kept it off, never had a problem. I'd choose it 1000 times over here, rather than removing half of an organ. However, if I were moving to the US for the rest of my life, I'd be sleeved in a heartbeat. Totally situational, totally personal. The arguments with this start, I believe, because people who are sleeved are trying valiantly to encourage people to make an informed decision. They're not rubbishing the band, but the ADVERTISING of the band. It is pushed as an easy, trouble free surgery and its just not. Bands work best for people who are not too ill, who can control their food intake, their exercise habits etc and will work with a tool that's 90% about user choices. It is not advertised that way and many many people are misled into believing its easy weight loss. Its just the way it comes across is very anti band and is equally as misleading in suggesting the band's totally useless and obsolete. Stats dont change my opinion either, nor do peer mediated reviews or any of it. Its all just flavour of the month stuff, here today, disproved or debunked tomorrow. I couldnt choose a sleeve when I got banded, there wasnt the option, it wasnt done then. So what's the point worrying about THAT? If I ever have to have my band removed, then I've got more options to consider. Its the same as the whole low carb/high carb debate. People push all these studies "proving" that high protein's better, and that high carb was all a conspiracy. Idiots. Werent there a million "peer mediated" studies PROVING the low fat, high carb lifestyle was best back in the 80's. Of course there were. Just as there were supporting a high protein approach back in the 60's and 70's. Its been dubunked once, replaced with another lifestyle and its back again. Are people honestly stupid enough to swallow it all hook line and sinker again? Do they really think something newer and better wont be on the scene in a few years? That's what I think of studies and stats and scientific proof. I make my own choice based on my gut feel (pardon the pun) and I try to do things in a moderate way, not swinging towards any extreme, rather sitting on the fence or taking the middle path. That's why I ahve no particular feeling about having an "obsolete" surgery (hey, I'm thin, who the f-ck cares anyway?) or thinking that the sleeve will be absolutely problem free.

Yeah, vacation may be a little bland without the martini, but I bet you'll not even be in the mood for drinking by that time. I had 3 abscesses develop 6 weeks after my revision that landed me in the hospital again for 7 days. I had drains, and antibiotics and all that fun stuff all over again. They think little microscopic bacteria was stuck in my abdomen from the leak, and they formed pockets. It was a pain in the butt, and very exhausting. I was my surgeon's first leak. Not really proud of it, but he did an amazing job saving my life. I know in my heart of hearts (after reviewing pics/xrays/video from surgery) that my stomach was damaged by the band. It really wasn't my surgeon's lack of experience or "fault".

Hi Danielle! I could have written your story as mine...three years ago banded - same problems with gerd and esophagas problems! wow...I'm 34 and had revision surgery to RNY in August. I had a tough recovery due to my surgeon did my revision as mini-open rather than lap...I'm finally feeling like me. I had gained all my weight back within three years of beingbanded plus some...I'm now down almost 50 pounds and had no pre-op diet. It is such a relief not to get that "stuck" feeling...never thought the feeling of an elephant sitting on my chest was a good thing! Now I don't have that...I've gotten sick some post op...mainly learning what I can and can't tolerate and moving from food stages as I advanced in my diet. No more foamies either! I hope you continue to write here...I'd love all of us to have a place to talk and make some new friends

Thank you for your posts. I am having surgery with him on June 12th And its good to hear of others experiences. He did my band 10 years ago and is now doing my revision. I am also an RN so I loved hearing your point of view. I do speak Spanish though so I will be asking for those guantes!! LoL please keep us posted on your progress.

Wheetsin! Welcome, and good luck with your sleeve. I have not once regretted getting the revision, it was the best thing to ever happen to me!

Dr. L did my lap band 4 years ago I wish I would have looked into other options because I was scheduled to do the sleeve but then they told me my insurance was not covering the surgery about 2 months into the process therefore my options were limited and I had to cash pay so I did the Lap-Band it has now slipped and caused major complications! I am going to Blossom Bariatric and having a revision to sleeve l. I liked Dr. L I just think I had other options to pick from but was vulnerable and desperate for anything kind of my fault I guess ..lap band was 9 grand and I was able to make payments with no interest and the sleeve was 17,000 cash no payments. Blossom is 12,500. Everyone has a different story they weren't to bad at oband center just felt alittle cheated. I wish you the best of luck and I am sure you will be in great hands! Sent from my SM-N910V using the BariatricPal App

Good morning......panda, so sorry for the ice cream disaster last night. Today is a new day and hopefully will be a good one for you. I know you said that you don't have a Meijer's by you, but you probably can still order the Pure Protein shakes on line from somewhere. Honestly, they are pretty descent. As for my weight loss, please remember that I started with a band and then had it revised to the sleeve. With that being said, my so-called pre-op weight will be a little less than most. Pre-op for me was 205 lbs. Post op day #9 is 197 Total weight loss is 8 lbs Just curious what you and GeeeWhy consider a "meal" versus a "snack" versus "regular Fluid intake". Talk to ulu later!

Help! Haha I'm leaving for a 10 day vacation and I'm 4 months out from surgery. Down 73ish lbs from preop and feeling great! I'm so worried about how I'm going to stay on track in Europe. I don't know what the food will be like and how I will get in all my protein. Thinking about packing 10 protein drinks but that's silly right? Not sure. Thought about 100 calorie nuts packets and protein bars. Any suggestions for what I can bring with me or any suggestions from anyone that has been to Paris/Loire Valley or Barcelona while on track and seen or know of any good ideas or options so I don't come back 10 lbs heavier. My weight loss journey has been a battle and I fight the demons every day. I haven't had an easy, not hungry time of it and I really don't want to lose now! Thanks in advance for your help! Band to sleeve revision surgery 1/16/17 HW: 283 CW: 210 GW: 160

Have you checked out the board here for band to sleeve revisions? LOTS of positive info on the process and the outcome. http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/forum/13-band-to-gastric-sleeve-revisions/

Hi Theresa! Do you guys go to the support group? So funny story. First time I went in there was a woman in the waiting room with me, we started talking and she said she was having a revision. I told her I had started at Des Peres but I hated it and she said "well this is Des Peres." I just looked at her and thought "wait what???" And then I said "no this is DePaul!" And she said "oh yeah. Well I have ADHD too." Lol

I have a doctor in mine This is a revision surgery I have a sleeve I want to get gastric bypass

Thank you to all who have written me back. This has really helped. I also have been going to a support group here in town and one of the women I met had had revision from band to sleeve. She was quite happy with it. Now to just choose a Dr. Deb

So, there were a handful of "vets" that I credit toward helping me. Tiffykins was the main one - I was a band to sleeve revision and was so sure I would 1. fail again and 2. have horrible life threatening complications in the process. Tiff did have bad complications but she was one who helped me "believe" that this is possible and worth the risk. I can't begin to thank her in the time she took to answer mine (and a million other scared newbies) questions in a personal way. I am not sure I would have had the courage to believe and try again without her counsel. I try to give that back, but it is exhausting and I am admittedly quite selective. I do tend to focus on the revisionistas because I am telling you, there is not a whole lot more discouraging then failing with a WLS and then steeling yourself to try again... Anyway, I keep telling myself I need to write up everything - the fears, the experiments, the ups and downs, all of it - and put it on a webpage. I think that would help alot of people, but I just can't seem to get around to it...lol... to busy living my thin life! I guess there are also a few things I don't necessarily want to share with the whole freaking world, but are important points in my journey so that is a balancing act.

Our @Matt Z is, unfortunately, very knowledgeable about this complication. "The Band had become totally encapsulated in scar tissue, it took my surgeon and her team more than 3 times longer to remove the band than what's normal. My 3-4 hour surgery, lasted over 6 hours. Who knows what would have happened if I didn't revise. The band is gone. My insides have been rearranged. And I'm working my way down to my goal. One day at a time. " --https://www.bariatricpal.com/profile/120901-matt-z/

I'm only 4'11 and my HW was 233, I received the lap-band in 12/03/03. I received my revision on 5/28/13. SW: 180.4 CW: 161.7

Would like to revise from band to sleeve but am concerned about this reflux issue. Even before having the band I had issues with acid reflux. I have it well under control now by taking omeprazol daily, but am concerned that with the sleeve the omeprazol won't be effective. Has anyone been ableto control their reflux succesfully by taking a ppi after VSG? Thnaks!

Hearburn/reflux is a very well-documented side effect of sleeve surgery, whether you are having a revision from lap band or this is a first bariatric procedure. If you have a hiatal hernia, see if your surgeon can repair it during your sleeve surgery. This is a very common cause of GERD and having it repaired can make a huge difference. I had occasional GERD prior to my sleeve surgery, my surgeon fixed it during my sleeve surgery and no GERD since. Many sleevers take a PPI such as omeprazole or Protonix for several months after surgery -- talk to your surgeon about this. If you already have GERD and it is not caused by a hernia or some other repairable deformity, then gastric bypass may be something you want to consider. Sleeve surgeries can cause or worsen GERD but bypass cures it something like 98% of the time.

I am a band to vsg revision 2 years ago. The acid remains to the point I take 40mg nexium daily and still have break through. Dr has told me recently that I may have to revise to rny to fix the problem. He also told me that he no longer revises band to sleeve only band to bypass because of the acid issue. Good luck. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Surgeon gave me choice and I picked separate surgeries. It was a good decision for me because it removed all doubt...I needed the sleeve! He said my band slipped but I think he was being kind to me. Surgeon who did the sleeve said it was more like I had massively dialated the pouch. Anyway, I saw photos of the stomach shape and scar tissue. They cut a bunch of scarring away with the band removal. Let me tell you my images looked nothing like the lapband brochure. Who knew. I have had life changing success since revision....but I was and remain uber committed.

Any advice on how calm my husband's anxiety? My DS (revision from rny 2012) is already scheduled for early Monday Jan 7. He didn't show any sign's of anxiety until literally last night. Tossed and turned leaving both of us restless. He didn't have any anxiety the first time around for me. And it is too late for any dr visit for prescription meds. I think he tried to hold out as much as possible thinking his feelings would pass. But as the day gets nearer it got to be much.I've tried to reassure him I am in great hands and I am doing everything I need to do to prepare preop. He understands I'm doing this (again) for my health, but since there is more risk involved, he can't help but feel overwhelmed. He's worried about the procedure, my recovery in the hospital and at home. My mother has taken time off from work to stay with us at home and help as well as be with me in my hospital stay. I am naturally nervous and excited, but at this point I'm more worried about him than my own nervousness!! I need some encouraging words for hubby. Sent from my SM-N960U using BariatricPal mobile app

I'm having a revision from VBG to RNY on 3/28. If anyone has a close date and would like to buddy up please private message me or text me at (405) 626-8884 and we can follow each other's progress!

I had a port revision because my port bonked against my ribs continuously, I couldn't get comfortable no matter how I slept or sat, I tried to adjust myself all the time - lean to the side LOL, but it just wasn't working. The new port is a low profile port that is smaller and thinner (this is what the Doc says) it was placed inside using the same incision site and they moved it slightly further away from my ribs. Feels great now! No pain at all