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Meliwriter, That is the best post I've seen in a while. I am fed up with my band. I got banded at 202 lbs (5'2") in October of 2008. At first I starved myself and lost 30 lbs effortlessly. But, my hair was falling out, I was exhausted, and my anxiety was through the roof. Psychologically, I was a mess. Then, I gained and gained and got up to 206. At 206, I said, this has got to stop! I got back down to 174 by again starving myself. I was so hungry and I just would starve and be miserable and hungry all the time. This time I had more energy and my hair stayed. I was doing a strict vegan diet and that took the weight off, but put my triglycerides and cholesterol through the roof, caused me to have blood sugar crashes, and caused high blood pressure. I would have stayed starving myself, but I hurt my back pretty badly and moved back in with my parents. Food is plentiful here. I have gone back up to 206 again! I spent three months doing the Paleo diet. I corrected my triglycerides and blood pressure, although my LDL is still a tiny bit high. I did not lose any weight eating Paleo. But, my blood sugar didn't crash out the whole time and I was feeling better than I ever had. My sleep was good, my body felt good. Slowly, I fell off the wagon with Paleo and that is how I ended up gaining back up to 206. Now, at this weight, I have quit menstruating (I'm only 32) and my sleep apnea is at a record high. I am not convinced that my band has helped me at all. What seems to have worked is not eating to the point of being hungry all the time. Being poor and not being able to afford food was the most effective diet I've ever been on! I do believe my band is adjusted correctly. I have some restriction and do throw up a few times a week, but am not too tight that I can't eat solid food. I have made some significant life changes since I injured my back and moved back in with my parents last spring. I have changed career paths, am doing much better with my depression/anxiety which can get severe, and my back is completely rehabilitated. I feel like I am in a good place in life to address my weight problem. Right now I just want to have the band removed and have gastric bypass or gastric sleeve. I hate this band! All it makes me do is throw up! I do want an easier way. But, I haven't been doing right by my band. I have been eating whatever I want, lots of sugar and carbs. I have only been walking for 45 minutes about 3 times a week. I haven't been doing yoga, lifting weights, or jogging lately. I get intense sugar cravings in the middle of the night. I wake up and eat sweets and then go back to sleep again. Sometimes this will happen twice in a night. I am not wearing my CPAP (which I also hate). I drink liquids with meals. I drink carbonated diet soda. I drink through straws. I do only eat about 1 cup of food at a meal, but at times have more, up to 1.5 cups at dinner if I am really enjoying the veggie or meat I've cooked. I think I will give my band one last shot before I contact a surgeon about revision surgery. Tomorrow I'm starting the 5 Day Pouch Test, and after that I am going to immediately do The Whole 30. I'm going to continue walking and also go to yoga twice a week (Christmas present from my mom). After those 35 days I will see where my weight is. If I have lost nothing or have continued to gain, I will be seeing the surgeon. Any thoughts or words of advice would be much appreciated! Best, Hilary

This is why I told no one prior to my sleeve surgery. Best thing i couldve done. After the surgery, I did tell some close friends when i went on a girls trip and boy did the judgements flow!! Now that I'm considering sleeve to bypass revision, i told my mom i was "considering" it and she called me a few days later and told me i was gonna die on the table, yada,yada,etc. Told my boyfriend i was "considering" the revision surgery, he flipped and went on a "join the gym" rant. So back to dont ask, dont tell for me. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using the BariatricPal App

I was banded By Dr. Cobourn a year ago at the Surgical Weight Loss Centre and it is a fantastic place! I have also met patients (some who are now friends) who have been banded by Dr. Mumford who is Dr. Cobourn's partner. I have only heard wonderful things about him too and when one of my friend's was in recovery Dr. Mumford phoned me to give me her update he was easy to talk to. I highly recommend becoming a member on the Surgical Weight Loss Centre's messageboard and chatroom at www.obesitysurgery.ca which is for pre-op and post-op patients of Dr. Cobourn and Mumford. Oh yes I know bandsters who have stayed at all 3 of those hotels and liked them and I have visited 2 patients in their hotel rooms at the Holiday Inn and it seemed older but fine also. Best Wishes, Donna VBG/87 Revised To Lapband/06 By Dr. Cobourn 251/162/125 goal

I had my band in 01/05 and to me it was very painful the first 4 days. I have a very low tolerance for pain. I had my revision on 12/20/13 and it was painless, hardly any pain, I was a little tender on left side for abt two to three days. I was really nervous abt the pAin w the sleeve. I had watch several u tube videos..some said no pain and others said worst pain in their life. So I wasn't really sure what to think. I was really scared but went ahead with it. When I came to I couldn't believe that it didn't hurt. I was pleasantly surprised and oh so relieved. No my only problems was EXTREME nausea and Diarrhea... My diarrhea has stop and the nausea not quiet as bad. Good luck in your venture

I think you should show him this forum and have him read the sucess stories in the band to sleeve revision section. There are so many people who shared your struggles with the band who had outstanding success with VSG. I think if he understands the differences, he will be much more on board. You will still have your crazy, stressful schedule and will have to find ways to eat right within that. That will take some additional planning and organization on your part. But, not being hungry will allow you to make better choices because you will not feel the need to just grab something at the fast food drive thru. Good luck!

I didn't have any choice in location, and never thought to ask. Allergan has two ports, a regular one and a low profile. My surgeon uses the standard port in original op, but will do a revision if the patient wants one later. He did tell me in a conversation after my op that he's found surgeons have a wide range of port locations, all due to personal preference. He likes his location (to the left of the belly button) because it doesn't have a lot of tubing running to it, and it has some fat to cushion it. I don't like it because some pants bother me along the waistband. But it cannot be seen, even if I were to wear a two-piece bathing suit. Unlikely at my age.

Seriously, I know what I need to do but I’ve lost my umph. Maybe it’s the holidays but I just can’t seem to get back into my groove of low carb, controlled eating. I know I’m eating too much food and not the best choices and I can honestly say it’s having that addictive affect on me. That can’t stop eating, all day grazing, late night snacking. Old habits are tormenting me. I know if I could just get back on track that would go away for the most part but I’m in a rut. Haven’t lost anything in 3 months. Haven’t gained either though. Losing and gaining the same 3 lbs over and over again. Just needed to vent. I know I can do this. Just feeling disappointed in my self. Banded 3/2010 Revised to sleeve 4/2017 Total loss since pre op 38lbs [emoji22]

Revision 8/14. Apparently my body was allergic to my lapband because I always had so much gunk in my throat and nose I could barely eat and when I did it came right back out. I’m 2 weeks post-op and I haven’t had sinus issues AT ALL..... until the Texas wind blew in and now I am throwing everything up. UGH!!!! And this is the week I could finally move to purée foods DANG IT!!

Wow, I was kept for 2 nights after the surgery. I was told that they're more cautious with revision patients. I was up and out of bed walking the halls about 4 hours after surgery. I kept getting up and walking. That really helped move the gas. Gas pain was the only real pain I had!

Looking to chat with anyone who had revision surgery from lapband to gastric sleeve surgery? I had my band removed two years ago. June 14 is sleeve surgery. Wondering about the difference. With the band I was always getting stuck, couldn’t eat bread or anything doughy. My stomach gurgled on occasion. How will it be with the sleeve? What is the difference?

Cowgirl, what did you do to have a port revision? How did you push yourself too hard?

Dave, Tricare won't cover VSG outside a MTF. Honestly, I was faced with the same dilemma, and as luck would have it, the MTF near us had 2 surgeons that had performed enough VSGs for my standards, and one of them had removed bands, and converted to RNY so I jumped through the hoops to have my revision at the MTF even though I see a civilian for everything else, and my band surgeon was a civilian with Tricare Prime. Tricare will not cover the sleeve outside a MTF until Medicare starts fully covering the sleeve. They did the same thing with bands. They will not overturn a denial, they will not do anything to cover the sleeve outside a MTF. I've been through it myself, and I've walked 4 friends through the process from Florida, DC, and Cali. I was hellbent on getting the sleeve, and I would have self-paid with Dr. Aceves in Mexicali or Dr. Nicholson in Dallas if Tricare would have not approved my revision. If I would not have been able to have VSG and self pay was an absolute no go, I would have had my band removed and stayed fat. I wouldn't get RNY if you paid me, and I refused to have another band placed even though both of those options were immediately approved without hesitation by Tricare. I'm sorry to be the bearer of more bad news. BUT, it's been "hinted" that Medicare "might" start covering VSG around 1/1/2011, we "heard" the same thing in 2009, but I have hope that Medicare will get on the ball, and Tricare will follow suit. If there is an MTF near you, check them out. I'll help you in any possible way I can with the Tricare situation. I'm an insurance agent as well, and umm pretty much know how to work the system. Keep all your paperwork from your current appointments, keep getting your PCP to weigh you, keep doing everything you have been doing. Do not settle for a surgery you are not 100% about.

Ah, makes sense then. I have GERD too, have you tried Prilosec? The generic form is Omeprazole, I've had a prescription for a few years so all I pay are co-pays. Re: The revision - have you looked into some type of support group or counseling to work on underlying issues? If you "went back to old habits" after the sleeve, the same might unfortunately happen after a revision. I know a few people personally who have had bypass surgery, lost a ton of weight, and put it all back on a few years later.

@@bearhugs1975 I had a band placed in 2006, slipped within 24 hours, have had constant problems. gained all weight back and then some. Now considering revision to sleeve. with the sleeve do you feel full or in pain like with the band? Did they have any trouble getting the band out? I'm concerned that I will have a lot of scare tissue over my band because of the slip and 2 surgeries to repair it. Having had so many problems with the band and my age 63, I'm scared. But have to do something.

I had a bit of pain, but nothing that wasn't tolerable. I remember the days in the bathroom. Stuck is the worst feeling! I am feeling so free with my sleeve. I know I said this before, but it just feels so natural. No fear of going out with people and rushing to the bathroom hoping and praying that someone wasn't in there already. My husband always referred to that as the deer in the headlights look. Good luck with your revision. I was very fortunate as insurance covered my revision. They had a medical policy specifically for revisions to get people to get rid of the band.

It just so happens I was doing a bit of light reading this week on the ASMBS.org website. I discovered stats on bariatric surgeries including revisions. Check out this link to the ASMBS site: https://asmbs.org/resources/estimate-of-bariatric-surgery-numbers When you take in the numbers holistically. Revision rates are climbing rapidly.

Best of luck! I'm 4 weeks out from revision. It's very different this time around. My recovery was honestly much better for this procedure, not sure why. I feel so much better having that darn port out of me, too!!

I had revision from band to RNY on January 23, 2015. I stayed 2 days in the hospital. I was off heavy pain medicine the next morning. I walked right way and kept walking. I sipped water every 15 minutes. I know I am very lucky and thank god for a relatively easy recovery. I had very little pain, quick recovery and I'm down 26 lbs. already. I have been following my doctors orders to a "T". I wish I had done the RNY the first time, but I was too scared. This has been one of the best decisions I've made! I wish you the best of luck!

Thank you! The time will go by super fast, before you know it you’ll be at 3 months. I feel like I’m a rather slow loser which is usually the case as a revision vs a first time wls patient. But as long as it’s still coming off it then it’s all good. Good luck to you, I’m sure you’ll hit 180-190 in no time [emoji4]

Im in Utah and looking to have the DS as my revision to my original bypass 16 years ago, who and where did you go if you do not mind me asking

As a scientist I have read the published papers of those bariatric surgeons who pioneered VSG. About 5 years ago there were only about 15 surgeons who did VSG. Let me pass on some of the history of this operation. Around 2000, some surgeons who were performing the Duodenal Switch Operation began to do VSG as a first-stage for poor-risk patients. They intended to do the rest of the Duodenal Switch Operation about one year later. The thinking was that a two-stage operation would lower mortality and complication rates for the Duodenal Switch procedure. Of the patients operated on in 2000, when the year was up, many of the patients had lost sufficient weight so that the second state was unnecessary. Thus, the first VSGs were performed in 2000. By 2002, a handful of physicians worldwide began to do VSG as a stand-alone procedure. Between 2002 and 2007 surgeons performing this operation gradually revised the VSG procedure to what it is today, publishing their findings as they learned how to improve the operation. In 2007, The First International Consensus Summit for Sleeve Gastrectomy as held in New York City. The first day consisted of live surgery by experts performing VSG for the 250 attendees wishing to learn the procedure. Afterwards, presentations were given by the experts. The presenters (experts) at this conference were: Gagner of New York, NY Dakin of Cornell, NY Parikh of New York Pomp of New York Jossart of San Francisco Crookes of Los Angeles Elariny of Virginia Schauer of the Cleveland Clinic Florida Rosenthal of the Cleveland Clinic Florida Assalia of Israel Langer of Austria Himpens of Belgium Kotidis of Greece Melissas of Greece Basso of Italy Baltasar of Spain Lacy of Spain Mognol of France Krawczykowski of France Weiner of Germany Won Woo Kim of Korea Boza of Chile De Paula of Brazil So, here is your list of those considered "experts" in this field by their peers as of 2007. So, I think the discussion of who has a lot of experience and who does not has already been established by the medical community itself. The list is above. The procedings of the conference were published in Obesity Surgery 18:487-496 2008. See for yourself. Best wishes,

Hi Bandpal, Thank you for replying so quickly!! WOW :-) I'm glad to hear that you are feeling well and losing weight 4 months into the banding process. I also underwent revision surgery at Assuta Hospital in TA a couple of days ago. Dr. Subhi Abu Abeid banded me and treated my hiatal hernia. Am still a bit sore but am not taking anything because it is bearable. I live in Kiryat Bialik, north of Haifa. I also visited and joined the tapuz forum but find this site more informative and feel more comfy in my mother tongue, English. In any case, do keep in touch. Will be glad to trade recipes, share experiences and to support of course. Best, Nava

I'm 5 days post-op from a band to sleeve revision in Mexico. We flew to San Diego, they picked us up at the airport and went straight to the hospital for blood work and EKG. Then they took us to a really nice hotel and had broth and jello for me. The next morning we went back for surgery. I stayed 2 nights. My husband had to stay at the hotel though. After discharge they took me back to his hotel for 1 night...with broth and jello. The next morning they took us back over the border to the airport and we flew home. We got to San Diego on Wednesday June 7. Surgery on June 8 and we flew home on Sunday June 11. I have no complaints. I was exhausted traveling home but not in pain. I had asked fir wheelchair assistance between gates. The hospital had everything down perfectly and I had no issues at all. No pain, vomiting, nausea, etc. I used Dr Gutierrez with Mexico Bariatric Center. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using BariatricPal mobile app

Yes, there is a whole Band-to-Sleeve revision board on here. Congrats to you! It's a good feeling isn't it? I had my revision almost 1 month ago. I still struggle with the fluids like you. I didn't have much pain and felt ready to go to work after about a week. What kind of work do you do? It might actually be fine to go back. One caution though, my NP scolded me for going back soon not because I was harming anything but because I work in an environment where it is difficult to get fluids (I work in the OR) so she wanted me to have more time getting my hydration back up before going back. But beyond that, if you don't have a lot of lifting to do and you can drink throughout the day, you are probably ok to go back to work if you want. I still find it weird not having a port anymore. I had my band for almost 6 years. Good luck and welcome!

4 days post surgery and I do feel better today. I actually slept about 6 hours straight! Ingesting 64-ounces of fluids is quite difficult for me. I managed 42 ounces yesterday and this was tough. Focused on getting proteins and vitamins first then other fluids. More pain than I had anticipated, but I was comparing it to my lap band surgery 5 years ago. As for not having my Lap-Band - it is odd not feeling the port and always feeling the actual Lap-Band tight on my stomach. Anybody else have a Lap-Band / Sleeve revision? I am actually contemplating going back to work tomorrow - probably not a good idea.