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Thanks so much for the responses. I am learning from everyone. I need to let everyone know why I had the sleeve. I was looking at my second port change and my insurance wouldn't pay. It was going to be 7000. So I went to Mexico and had the revision plus sleeve for that amount. I didn't get enough information. I am a NP and my patients did well that is basically all I knew. I honestly not sure what I would have done if I had all my facts. I am losing weight. I have lost 20 pounds. My surgery is two months tomorrow. I am still hungry. I stopped my PPI and that was a mistake. I have restarted taking to see if that will help. I am feeling a restriction now but feel like I have I have eaten too much. Do you know a food diary that include protein, carbs and calories? My facilitator want to see where I may be going wrong.

DG, you may not know this but reading your post has brought me peace being a former lapbander soon to be revised. Knowing ahead of time about the blahs will help me when that stage comes around. Congrats on your sucess too.

Shoot, today I have a tiny red patch below the incision and just a little itchy as if I'm allergic to the tube. Me and my friends are keeping eagle-eyes on it. If it gets any redder or warm, I have an emergency round of antibiotics at home (thanks, Donali!) I know my own body better than any doctor, and it feels exactly like an allergy. I'm taking two Benedryl tablets right now, and my friend is going to track the time and incision to see if the redness goes away. But why have I gone 6 months with no redness or irritaton? And isn't it strange/odd/coincidental that the wound closed up for 2 days with no leaking, and during that time it got red? As if the liquid needs to come out or the tube gets pissed? Sonia, none of my posts are meant to scare anyone. I live on this board for answers. These people have saved my life. I'm actually glad to go through all these problems if it means someone else won't have to suffer one day. I don't mind being an experiment! We're all glad you're researching beforehand. It's important to know that there are risks involved. But please know that even after all I've been through, I'd be banded again in a heartbeat. As far as my problem being unusual, yes, that's true. But even so, you have to add my possible "rejection" into the list of potential problems. Maybe erosion is only 1% nationwide, but if you add up all the infections, slippages, port revisions, rejections, etc., that risk goes up. But lots of stuff can be corrected without removing the band. I didn't know who Lindsey Lohan was, so I checked her out. That's a total compliment! She's hot! I better post a new pic of me soon, cuz my avatar is that one special pic that is really cute but doesn't look like me. That's why I keep it there! And NO, I'm not kidding about my port being missing. I need to call Dr. Kuri's office and see if they know what happened to it. Maybe Inamed received it but here's why I say it's lost: Craig Arthur at Inamed needed the serial number, so he called Lopez's office since the serial number should be in my medical file. Inamed was unable to get the information from Lopez (scary, huh?) I didn't chase it any further though. Then when Kuri took out my port, I was under the impression he had to send it to Inamed. But if Kuri sent it to Inamed, then why is Craig Arthur having trouble getting the serial number? Hmmm.... I've heard "rumors" that Mexican doctors use cheaper ports, and that issue was addressed to Inamed just recently. They stand firm by Lopez. As far as I'm aware, I have an Inamed band. Even if China or Japan made a new band, how would one tell the difference between the the fake and the real one? All valid concerns. Shelly, I always get so excited when you jump in. Thanks for showing up!

My surgeon's range, for my height, is lower than most ranges from other sources: 99-121. (Weight Watchers' range is 109-137). My goal is 109. My doctor's goal for me is 127--it's a level where I've maintained long-term in the past. I'd like to get to 109 because of back and ortho issues that just feel better the less I carry. I will reassess as I get closer, though--if it's not realistic, I'll revise.

Hi Cathy, First off congrats on your smooth recovery from your sleeve surgery. I've heard lots if revision patients say that it's such an easy transition that they almost feel nothing had been done. But the feeling of blah can get us all in the first month. Oh and I moved this thread to the "band to sleeve revision" section so it can be seen and answered by fellow former lap-banders

What was your approval process like with Aetna? I'm just starting my journey to get rid of this awful band giving me reflux and only lost 25lbs since 2008. Were u made to do a 3 month diet again? I would love to hear your approval stories and how long it took you!

Yeah I found one surgeon who does the DS or the revised BPD DS and that was 500 miles away. He said that is reserved for the Super morbidly OBESE or people who failed with previous surgerys. So yeah not very common anymore very severe malabsorption issues

It's not much of a revision. The sleeve was first done as a pre surgery for the super obese to loose enough weight to get the RNY safely. Just picture the anatomy of an RNY with part of the stomach already removed.

My surgeon confirmed I was an ideal candidate for band and sleeve and allowed me to make the ultimate decision. I spoke to the nutrition "off record" and ask which group she identified as most problematic. She stated 75% of band patients come back within 5 yrs for revision opting for sleeve. I decided on sleeve. My final step is my psy eval this Friday. I'm soooo ready!

I figured I'd follow up on my post. I got the call today that the revision is covered. The only things I need to do are the Nutritional Counseling, Psych Eval and get a letter of medical necessity and medical clearance from my PCP. I do still have to have a BMI of 35+ with a co-morbidity or just a BMI of 40. Which means I technically need to gain 8 lbs. But someone on another page recommended that I just wear some 10lb ankle weights to my weigh in appt. lol. I'm starting college on Monday so I'll be shooting for mid March, during my spring break from school, to get the surgery done. Just wanted to let ya'll know what happened with it.

Hello everyone! I haven't been revised to RNY yet and I've stated so in an earlier response. I was banded b/c I was soooo afraid of having RNY. At that time I weighed 246. I have diabetes and it runs in my family. I am still a diabetic and after losing 44 lbs and regaining 15 lbs back, I now weigh 217. Afraid or not, I've started my RNY process. I should have done it before but hind sight is 20-20. I've had so many family members that were tragedies to this decease including my mother and a couple of siblings. How many of you have diabetes running in your family or a parent. I think that having RNY at 217 lbs is worth the chance of getting rid of diabetes.

While specific insurance policies may differ, typically the industry standards of 40BMI (or 35 with co-morbidities such as hypertension or sleep apnea) still apply. I have seen some that cover the revision with lower BMI if there was a mechanical problem with the band - slippage, erosion, etc. Any chance that you have developed any of those co-morbidities since your last surgery? It would be a shame and counterproductive to have to gain weight to qualify to lose weight, but that is sometimes how the game has to be played (ankle weights, anyone?) The psych evaluation is pretty much a standard provision, though the requirements for nutritional and exercise programs vary widely. Somebody in the process (the hospital or surgeon's practice typically) will usually want the deductible up front and sometimes an estimate of the copay as well.

Hey there- I'm so sorry to hear you don't feel good right now. I had a revision from a brand to a sleeve (had sleeve for 6 years) and am doing great almost 6 weeks out. Other than the restriction and the small scars I never would have known I had surgery. I can promise you this does get much better!!! Remember you just had major surgery so go easy right now. The gas pains are the worst but the sooner you can get up and move around the better. Read some of the veteran posts here for inspiration and to see what you have to look forward to. This part is the worst but every day you will heal and every day you will feel a bit better. In a few weeks you will shake your head when you think of saying you regret this- because you won't. Follow your teams directions, take care and keep us posted. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Thank you for the inspiring post. Sent from my SM-N920T using the BariatricPal App

You may want to look around on the forum for answers. From what I have read the process to get a revision does not take anywhere near as long as original surgery. Good luck to you

I brought: Chapstick Deodorant (didn't use) Phone charger + extension cord Magazines (didn't even take them out) Non-slip flip flops Extra clothes (didn't use, went home in what I came in) Hair ties Band to Vsg revision: 5/23/17 HW: 315+ Starting weight: 294 Surgery Day: 281 Current: 235 Goal 170

I am scheduled for a sleeve revision on Dec 6 with Dr Ortiz.

No. Sleeves don't really stretch. The stretchy part, or fundus, was removed during surgery. It would take years of grossly overeating to the point of vomiting to actually stretch it enough to where you're eating significantly enough to cause weight gain. Can the sleeve relax and complete healing over time allowing more food to be eaten? Absolutely.That's why it's important for us not to just count on sleeve restriction and pay more attention to what we are eating for when that time comes. And to the OP: You can have 10 different weight loss surgeries, but the fact of the matter is if your head isn't in the game, NONE of them will work. Like Ann said, look inside and try to figure out what caused you to not succeed before, and then figure out the steps it will take to help you become successful whether you decide on revision surgery or give this one antother go. Your sleeve hasn't changed, it's just waiting for you to.

It is perfectly to be nervous this close to surgery. You are anxious to have it done since it is so close, and also nervous because it is an unknown for you at this point. You know your life is about to change and it will be forever. I wrote down the exact reasons I had the surgery in case afterwards I was having a case of regret. Putting it all in writing also helped put my mind at ease that I was making the right choice. I was a revision lap band to sleeve on 10/25/13 and I have not had any problems at all including pain from the CO2 gas and nausea. Good luck to all with your upcoming surgeries.

I think it is ridiculous that if you need to have a revision to a bariatric procedure from a failed initial one that you have to wait to regain all your weight before you can get another! If you met the criteria for the first procedure and had surgery and now need another the insurance company should be satified that the patient is still a candidate. Most of us had our first surgery because of health considerations and to expect us to regain all that weight to have the revision surgery is unhealthy and a waste (waist!) of time. I have to have a lap band removed and fortunately (or unfortunately) I have already regained enough weight and have two new comorbidities so I don't have to gain even more to get my revision.

aloudwhisper Are you revising to a sleeve? or just removing it? Good luck either way seems like you will be happy to get rid of your band. Embrace not what I want to hear weeks before my revision from band to sleeve but I will be prepared.

I have Cigna and have been approved. I think all you have to have is medical necessity. I did not have to do the psyche eval or much else. My band had slipped and I have gastritis and esophagitis. Pain etc. Wt gain due to fluid removed from band. It took longer to get the Dr. office to send the info to the ins. co than it did for Cigna approval. So far Cigna rocks. I called to see if they had my paper work and I was told they review the request within a day or 2. Revision is totally different from a new surgery because you had to have all that stuff for a lapband and there is really no need to do it all again. Waste of everyone's time and money. Good luck to you. Hopefully you can get approved right away.

I was wondering if anyone knew does Cigna require a revision to do a Psych. Eval. before approving? When I read the policy requirements for revision it did not say anything about it . The patient advocate told me I needed that before she could file but after reviewing the requirements for revision that is not mentioned? I made an appointment but can't get in until July 30th so long what a drag. Anyway is it really required?

Anyone ever post on the lapband talk forum in the lapband complications section? Is it just me or do you get rudeness from people when you post about complications? Almost like whatever reason you are having problems it's your own fault? I have kept my mouth shut and not responded to the rude ones but its getting old and I'm finding that each time it happens I want to get downright nasty back!

Lap Band: Yes (obvious, as I did go back and do a different surgery). Sleeve: No. I have no desire to revise to any other WLS any further at this point. Depends on how my health is doing in the future. As for now, me and my sleeve are doing quite well together.

I don't know if ur on solids yet but this site is a really good suppor system and we do look at each others reciepes if ur on mushies still then I know I loved drinking the premixed musle milk I especially liked the banana flavored and someone posted a protein drink that they said tasted like a butterfinger just without the crunch and I mixed one it was so good also I love non fat or sugar free frozen yougurt but I went from a large to a small one with fruit , sometimes nuts but it helps if u have a sweet tooth so every once in a while that's what I get I'm going to the doc for my 3rd fill tomorrow , oh I wanted to let u know go to lapband reciepes and scroll on spark people receipes then u can scroll to whatever I know my son revised some holiday foods and they tasted normal so that was good k ttyl good luck