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I am no doctor, nor am I a nurse, but it could have very well been that u had some sort of obstruction. I have had 16 abdominal surgeries in the last 7 yrs like, and most were hernia repairs and bowel obstructions, and i'll tell ya, there is noooo pain in this worldddddd like an obstruction. I have had partial and full blown obstructions, and its like someone is stabbing u in cold blood, with a knife constantly....major pain and very uncomfortable feeling, and u cant go to the bathroom, so it sounds to me like thats probably what u experienced. that is what they give u for the pain....morphein In any event, im glad ur feeling better now, and hope ur'll never have to experience anything like that again!!! I have every ailment under the sun. In addition, recently diagnosed with lupus, and after all the bypass surgeons told me im nooo candidate for the bypass, now,....cause my intestines r hanging way below my pelic area, and its like an emergency sort of, they wanna do the sleeve on me and repair the intestines/hernia at the same time. Good luck to u keep up the good work!!!

Hi italianlady13, I am not a seasoned sleever yet but I am a seasoned bander, LOL. I am having a revision from a band to sleeve on 06/23/11. The more I am reading it seems as though I am one of the MANY people having a revision from band to sleeve. I know there have been many people who have been successful with the band but from my experience I do regret it. I did initially lose 60 lbs. with the band but that was only because I could not keep any food down and I pretty much lived off of Soup. When they would loosen the band then there was no restriction at all. I guess they never really found that happy in-between. I have been having the band since 2006 and in 2010 I got pregnant. My doctor loosened the band just a little but I gained a whopping 80lbs for ny pregnancy. My baby is now 7 months old and of the 80 lbs I gained for the pregnancy I have been able to lose 20lbs. This puts me right back where I was before I got Lap Band. I went to have an upper GI X-Ray done 2 weeks ago and find out that my band has partially slipped and it can slip completely at any time which if that were to happen it would be an emergency surgery. So now I am scheduled to have this band out and a revision to the sleeve. I always thought that somewhere maybe 25-30 years down the road the band would have to come out, I just never thought that it would be 5 years later. I will be more than happy to have this band out and to hopefully be able to eat a small amount of food and be full without throwing up every single meal. Anyhow, I am sure that you will choose the best choice for you and again everyone is different. I just wanted to share my story with you. Best of luck to you!

I've read many reports of consistent restriction from VSG vs. tha random restriction I had from AGB. Is your restriction consistent? Is it consistent both in terms of times of day you can eat and types of food you can eat? Does VSG seem to be effected by the same variables as AGB? (e.g. flying, stress, humidity, PMS/water retention...) My restriction is consistent except that I do notice that right before my period, I seem to be able to eat a little bit more (or maybe it is that I want to due to hormones). With AGB "stuck" foods caused me discomfort or pain, often quite a bit of pain, and often for a fairly long time. Does food stick with VSG? I've read about people brining stuff up, but is this because of failure to pass through some stoma, or is it because of eating more than you can hold? Or both? Does it hurt like it did with your band? When it comes up, is it "saliva + stuck bits" like with the band, or is it actual vomit? I hated being stuck with the band! I have never had anything get stuck with the sleeve. Sometimes, when I eat out, I may take that one bite too many and I feel extremely full. So full that I don't even want to think about food or be around it. That is what has allowed my great success though! I can only eat at small amount at a time~ I know some dumping can occur with VSG - do you dump? Is it on specific foods, or random? The only time I get that feeling is if I eat Cereal with milk. I am not sure if it is the the milk or that the cereal swells in my stomach, but I feel sick and like I need to lay down. I don't usually eat cereal becasue of this. If I drink milk alone or in something, I am fine. What period is the greatest risk for developing a leak? I see references to 2 weeks, 2 months...I am not sure but my doctor did say to follow the post op diet closely to avoid putting stress on the staple line and which can cause a leak. Is leak the (currently known) most likely complication of VSG? I see people talking about leaks, and pOuch stretching, but that's about it. Surely there's something else out there...You can have issues with Calcium absorption which can cause problems with your bones and teeth. You have to take calcium citirate regularly. WIthout the need for fills, what does your post-op care look like? Do you have periodoc leak tests as a bandster might have period fluoro or xray? I have just had blood tests and check ups. So easy and nice! I hated getting fills. What do you like best about your VSG? It works! I feel amazing. I can't sabotoge myself anymore with food. Food doesn't control me. What do you like least about your VSG? Maybe the scars, but I love the sleeve itself. I really feel it is one of the best decisions of my life! What did you not know going in, that you wish you did? I wish I had asked for the morphine pump for when I woke up after surgery. I didn't discuss it with my doctor because I just thought everyone got one. OUCH! I was fine once they started giving me pain meds through my IV though. I keep reading "recovery is a lot harder than with the band," but no one really elaborates. Can someone please share their comparison of recovery? I actually thought they were about the same. I didn't have a drain with my band and I did with the sleeve. I did not like the drain, but it is there to detect leaks. I would do it again in a heartbeat! How hard did you find the transition in terns of behavior? I'm assuming there are shared rules such as chewing to goo, small bites, waiting between bites, etc. My band never really worked right, so it is hard to compare. I know I always had to worry about getting stuck at the most inconvient times, like at a restaurant. I would have to run to the bathroom and pray no one else was in there when I slimed. With the sleeve I have restriction all the time. I do have to focus on Protein first, but I really can eat anything, just smaller amounts. Do you have a "soft stop" with VSG? (I never had one with AGB, but I'm wondering if it exists with VSG) I just have to stop at the first sign of fullness. Just one bite over my sleeve capacity and I am miserable from fullness. Did anyone out thyere have a difficult revision due to scar tissue/etc. with the band?I had some soreness where the port was, but that is gone now. Any bathroom problems? (e.g. the terrible stinkies DSers are known for) Nope It seems like most people encounter significant heartburn. Is reflux an issue with VSG? Is the heartburn long term, or does it resolve after a while? I get hearburn with certain foods (spicy usually). I had it a little the first three months after surgery and took my prescription. Now it is just on an as need basis. I rarely get heartburn. Are your food intolerances (if any) the same as with your AGB?For some reason, hamburger meat in the patty form does not agree with my sleeve. I have thrown up three times trying to eat it. I just avoid it now! I can eat it if it is ground up like taco meat. The three times I tried hamburger patties are the only times I have thrown up with the sleeve. Otherwise, nothing else has caused this issued. I LOVE the sleeve! Good luck with your revision~

Since it's similar to the ROSE procedure for failed RNY patients, you might want to post on the obesityhelp.com Revision forum.

I have my revision from band to sleeve scheduled on June 23rd (Next Thursday). I have had the band for 5 years and during that 5 years I threw up almost every meal. If I ate to much I would get a horrible pain in my side or in port area. I went a few weeks back for an Upper GI X-Ray to check on the band and found out that it has partially slipped. It can slip completely at any given moment and then I would have to have an emergency surgery. I cannot wait until next week to have this band out and be DONE with it. I have lived 5 years of misery, not be able to eat healthy, throwing up meals, and just feeling like crap. I so wish that the sleeve would have been an option at the time that I got my band so I could have saved myself another surgery down the road. Ask your doctor to do an upper GI on you to check the placement of your band. I really do wish you all the best and I am sure you will make the best decision for yourself. Feel free to message me after next Thursday if you'd like and I'd be more than happy to share my experience with you. I am bringing a laptop to the hospital with me to pass time. Good luck

My surgeon not the severe erosion on the inside of my stomach but on the outside, I don't know if that makes sense. But, my port had flipped early out, and my douchebag band doctor ignored my complaints of pain for months, it got to where the port migrated, and the tubing was pulling on my band that was wrapped around my stomach. 3.5 months for me to resume normal activity. I actually didn't have a pre-op liquid diet. I just had to low carb it, and then fast the night before surgery after midnight. I don't know many revision patients that have to do a prolonged liquid diet unless they are having major issues with their band and even then I've never read more than 2 weeks of Protein shakes and other liquids including yogurt, sugar free popsicles, pudding and Jello. My leak was directly where the band was wrapped around my stomach. I did lose additional stomach tissue from that area, but it was not at the esophagus/stomach connection. My leak was discovered on my 3rd and final leak test with contrast fluid(gastrographin Fluid should be used since barium is not Water soluble).

The band causes nothing but problems. That's why there are so many band to sleeve revisions and it has it own section! you are not alone. Do whatever you have to and get that band out before it damages your esophagus and stomach.

Marissa, it is true that the lapband is more difficult to lose than the bypass. You need to know this. I'm only down 37 lbs in 8 months. My surgeon told me that 30% of your total weight loss is expected in the first year. I am moving along fine but you need to know this. That is why he is trying to persuade you. Everyone is different. You may be a fast loser. I have seen people lose 70 lbs in the same amount of time it took me to lose 40. I hope it goes smoothly for you. Good luck.

Yeah it's coming quick and I will keep you in my prayers to. I pray that God be the surgeon on our surgery days and that all goes well and we recover fully and quickly without ANY COMPLICATIONS and we lose the weight and keep if off. In Jesus Name. AMEN! See you on the Bypass side. Until then later.

Going through process to get approved for Bypass after Sleeve. Sleeved in 2012 and have regained the 70 lbs lost. Acid reflux is returning, though it never fully went away. Just turned 55 and wondering about process and healing now that I've gotten older. I was a nervous wreck prior to getting gastric sleeve and once again find myself in that space. Same surgeon so that makes me feel better. He is one of the top bariatric surgeons in country but surgery is surgery. Woke up this morning thinking about bowel obstruction, and long term issues. Anyone over 50 have any issues post conversion?

My surgery for gastric bypass is Dec 1. Im ready but also freaking out.

I am also Type II diabetic. I went in asking for sleeve but was experiencing painful bout of acid reflux at the time. While she didn't say she wouldn't do the sleeve on me, she thought I was a better candidate for bypass. She said that bypass is a better solution for acid reflux. She ordered a barium swallow upper GI and they found a small hiatal hernia. Nurse said it shouldn't prevent me from sleeve but as a diabetic, bypass is always a good choice. She said the weight loss is faster and often times diabetes goes in to remission fairly quickly. I was (and kind of still am) worried about the malabsorbtion also, and I am still not 100% sold on the bypass, but after processing and researching for 6 weeks, I am getting closer to accepting bypass. I want to get my endocrinologist's opinion but ultimately I will likely trust my surgeon's opinion for what she feels best option for me is for long term success. As far as the meds, you may not even need insulin after the surgery and could be switched to oral meds if you need anything at all. There are chewable glucose tabs but again, hopefully you won't need those. (By the way, I have read a lot of people on here say swallowing pills wasn't an issue for their dr especially if small - M&M candy size or smaller.) Will be anxious to see what you decide and will keep you posted on if I find any other information also and maybe we can make a firm decision together.

I'm a type 1 Diabetic with an Insulin pump, I had bypass in January and am really pleased with the results so far have lost 33 pounds, I will always be a diabetic on Insulin that never goes away , but I take half the amount I did previously and stopped taking Metformin. My blood sugar levels have never been so good!! When I do have low blood sugars I sip Apple juice slowly and I don't get any dumping, I have also tried dextrose that works fine, as it dissolves in my mouth, good luck with your decision ????

Hi, I have a Band that I've had for 7 years. Time went by and I slowly stopped changing my eating habits and I gained weight. Pretty stable for most of the time, but recently I've gained a LOT of weight. I'm strongly focused on my food addiction. You know, "I HAVE to have this or that so I don't go crazy.!" behaviours. .And I'm doing surprisingly well. I have a LCSW-R that I work with, she's a huge help. Anyway, I "think" my pouch has shrunk because I find I cannot eatan average person's full meal, like I used to. I'm losing weight, and respecting the Band again. I'm changing Surgeons, and will be discussing with him about having the RNY. I've been a member of Bariatric Pal for a few years, and have been studying, learning and changing due to all the great people on here. I bought Alex's book on RNY, it's fascinating! I read that some people , when they have the RNY, they revision to the band as well as contnuing with their RNY life. Has anybody ever heard of this in face to face world? I mean, I'll ask my future surgeon, but I was just seeking some info here, from you guys. It kind of makes sense to me, but I've never heard of it. I was looking into having the band removed and having the RNY. But now I hear of this. What do YOU think?

A lot of WLS patients find their tastes change after WLS. Sometimes it’s too bad, like not liking healthy foods like chicken or salad anymore. Sometimes it’s a good thing, like when you don’t like greasy foods anymore. Sometimes it’s a direct result of surgery, like being intolerant to super sweet foods after gastric bypass or not liking the taste of Water anymore after the sleeve. Sometimes it’s the result of getting used to a new set of foods that you first FORCE yourself to eat, and later actually enjoy more than the junk food you used to eat. Like many lap-band patients, I didn’t notice any immediate changes in my tastes post-op, but my tastes have definitely changed in the years since surgery! Now, I like healthy foods, and don’t automatically prefer high-calorie sugary or fried foods. I like yogurt, and oatmeal, and fruit, and vegetables, and prefer unprocessed foods. What about you? Have your tastes changed since surgery? In which ways?

I was sleeved 12/27/13 I'm down roughly 40 lbs and need to get rid of 60 more. My sleeve is not stretched due to scar tissue distorting the shape of the sleeve. My options : Re sleeve Or Bypass Totally confused! Please any words of wisdom appreciated! When I went for the sleeve it was easy to find many positive stories. The bypass procedure seems riskier. Help!

If you are a Low carb person --- the 5 day pouch is the way to go. I have also done it 2x and it works like a charm. I understand what you said about gaining weight with all the stress and changes. I guess that's how we all developed our weight problem in the first place --- by emotional eating. However, you also have to remember how good you were in losing the weight. It took a LOT of work and focus on your part to pull that off. You have proved to yourself that you CAN do it. It's also really important that you try not to yo-yo. My fear for you is that you could hurt your body or risk losing your band. The only thing I can advise is that you try to use the 5-day pouch to get back on the track. If you do and you lose it all and you are able to stay within a good range then you will be doing really good. If you find that you can not lose the weight or if you do a major regain again after losing again, it may be that the bypass would be a better choice for you. But --- I do think you should try making the band work for you before going that route. Best of luck to you. Don't beat-up on yourself. That will only make it worse. The most important thing is that we keep learning and keep trying until we succeed.

i had a partial knee replacement in 2007 . my luck it didnt work out because it came loose or didnt really hole ( the bone glue they used ) so i just had the partial revised to a total knee in october 2012.. I LOVE IT ... ITS TOTALLY PAIN FREE AS FAR AS THE ACTUAL KNE GOES . its just the long term of my nerves & muscles healing. i am really hopeful that this knee replacement is going to work out . i hope your knee replacement works out well . keep me posted

I'm going for my revision May 5th Lapband to sleeve! I'm scared but excited!!! Wish you the best! Hopefully we will be ok and love our sleeve, the band worked phenomenal for me until December 2014 I started developing GERD, so let's sleeve up!

There are far too many of us from "band to bypass" I did have the band but had it removed 5 yrs ago because for 3 years my body was rejecting it. I had RNY a little over 5 weeks ago and doing great. No regrets. (Well, except not going with the bypass from the very get-go) Good luck to you and hope all goes well!

I am revising to bypass. I ha e already had my band removed 3 months ago and scheduled for bypass 11/30. I sending you PM

Depends on what you call "dumping". From what I understand dumping is the stomach pushing food out into the small intestine when it's not properly treated with acid and begun to break down, the result is the small intestine spasming and objecting to the raw food, typically either accompanied by a severe nausea or diarrhea. It is MORE common in those getting RNY bypass surgeries as they no linger have a functioning pyloric valve in their functioning digestive tract. The typical reason for dumping is eating too much, too fast or eating too rich a food. Truth be told ANYONE regardless of WLS or not, and if you think back you probably have had it before too, you remember that meal that just made you sick right away and had diarrhea soon afterward? That was probably dumping. It is casued by the pyloric valve opening up before the food was ready to be passed to the small intestine. Perhaps it WAS eating to fast and a mechanical misfunction or somehow the valve got the wrong signal and opened too soon, or a food that sat wrong with you and made it open. IF you do experience it it seems to lessen after 6 months or so poast-op, in a year you may never have it again, then again get a case of stupids and eat too much too fast and you could most definatly have it many years post-op.

I was just approved for a revision to a sleeve and my current BMI is 31. Of course, every patient and insurance is different. I have now had 2 slips, each a year apart, and my surgery is scheduled for 2 June. Wishing you the best of luck.

Hello, has anyone had revision from sleeve to bypass? Was it hard to get insurance to cover it?

Statistically, this is the time when regain happens. The ability to eat a lot more at this point is also common. The hard reality is that it's really up to us, at this point. I am also coming to the same realization. I am going to need to increase my diligence and really watch it, or I'm going to gain. I also have not gotten all the way goal (within 5-10 pounds and had plastics) so I don't have any wiggle room. My surgeon does not do revisions for regain. His coordinator openly said that at the last support meeting, stating that if you didn't do what you needed to do to keep weight off, a second surgery probably isn't the answer. He had also told me previously that they are finding areas of ballooning in sleeves which is probably the reason capacity increases, though there is no evidence to support that it causes gain, and the risk is higher, so not worth an unknown benefit. I always knew regain was possible. What I didn't know is how EASY it would be. I thought you'd have to really be going out of your way to eat wrong, way too much, etc. My harsh truth is that it only takes a little indiscretion, for a very short time, or those pounds pack on. Every veteran sleever I know who has regained says it's harder to get it off the second time, also a disappointing thought. However, I do know what it takes to lose the weight and maintain it, so that's what I've got to do. I saw some statistics @AlexBrecher posted, and I think it said revisions accounted for about 11% of all WLS. It didn't say what the revisions were. So while my surgeon doesn't support that, obviously, it is being done. I suspect some of those numbers are band to sleeve, or sleeve to RNY for complications. To answer your question - I'd be trying to go back to basics before I would undertake another major risky surgery to combat a regain of 20 pounds. You know what to do, you've done it before. Good luck to you.