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So I Had My Gastric Sleeve Done IN June Of 2013 I STARTED Out At 327 An Got Down To 244 AS Of March 2014. I was hitting many obstacles an had a injury at work which made it to were i couldn't work out. I had many stalls an no longer loose weight an actually started gaining an now up to 271. After talking to my husband i sometimes think i never got the sleeve done the reason being is comparing everything to his. I never had the dye test done an wasn't loosing weight good. I was pretty much starving myself an was hungry all the time an even now when i eat i can eat a normal meal like someone that hasn't had it done. I emailed the doctors office that performed it because i now want some type of proof it was done. If it was done i wanna no why he left my sleeve big enough for me to not be able to get great weight loss like others an why did i not have the dye test done or they never called me for follow ups. Has anyone had anything simular like this happen to them an reconsidering a revision?

Hi, I have my appointment to see the surgeon's LPN, or maybe even my Doc as well, IDK, on 4/9. I've given them all the necessary paperwork, test results, etc. They know me from my Banding in 07. Here's the thing. As educated as I am, I am feeling scared to death! I don't know what this appointment is for. I'm freaking out about having someone go in and tear my insides apart. I'm scared I'm not prepared. It's just such a major event! Doc wanted me to lose weight before surgery, I lost 33. I am for the most part, chair bound, except when I go to my desk job. (I use a Rollator to help me walk, and hold my oxygen.) How long will I be out of work? Oh this all is driving me crazy! Is this normal?

The type of surgery that you had will also affect how quickly you lose weight. Sleeve patients seem to lose weight slower than RNY. And then there are several other types of gastric bypass surgeries. Also many people gain weight immediately after surgery because they pump your body full of fluids. It takes a little while to lose this extra surgery weight. Also your body is still recovering from major trauma. So all-in-all a loss of 35 pounds in the first month is great.

Congrats on your revision......I was very fortunate not to have a drain. Healing will take some time but in the process, you will be dropping a lot of weight! Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!

Hi everyone, I've been a frequent lurker, but I have not interacted on the boards. I now find myself in a position that I'm unsure about and could use some feedback. I was banded in 2008. I haven't had any problems until semi recently. Two weeks ago all of the fluid was taken out of my band because I started having bad heartburn while I was sick with a summer cold. Oddly enough, this was just a little over a week after seeing my Lap Band doc and being advised to consider revision to either sleeve or gastric bypass due to not really seeing much in results. My surgery weight was 258. My lowest weight was 221. Current weight is 247. Anyway, since having all of the fluid removed, my body is all kinds of messed up. I can actually eat LESS than I could with the band. I eat, I get heartburn. I get too hungry, I get heartburn. I eat solid foods too close to bedtime, I get heartburn. I'm also experiencing lots of gas and some bloating almost every time I eat something, Yesterday, it happened with water. Now, I'm on Prilosec per my doctor. I have an EGD scheduled for Thursday of next week as well as a barium swallow the day after. They've already done an x-ray and they say that my band is in the correct position. So, I'll have some answers soon, but I want to know if anyone has any kind of experiences that might give some clue as to what's happening. Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

There is a revision specialist by the name of Dr. Husted. He was writing on another board that the latest studies show that if you surgically reposition or replace a band, you have a 70% chance of another slip in the first five years. He was also referring to a conference he went to in FL and this was discussed a great deal and most at this conference will not be surgically repositioning or replacing bands anymore, they have had very low success with this. Is there any chance that a malabsorptive procedure might serve you a little better? You've been struggling for a long time, three years and not at goal yet... maybe you just need a bit more help?

The sleeve can still give u acid reflux issues and the bypass usually doesnt... i do not think u are selfish at all.. u and only u know what u want and need .. i too wanted bypass as i have diabetes and wantes to ensure eating sweets would make me sick so i would stay away from them more and. I have already made the mistake of having a wls i was unsure about when i had the lapband 9 years back. My reflux worsened and i did lose but couldnt get fills any longer due to the reflux complications.. eneded up having gastric bypass on july 29th and so far 44 lbs. Plus my diabetes is under control and i feel womderful. You do what is best for you!!

Mamamia86, you have described me physically to a T, except add 20 plus years and I have had high blood pressure and sleep apnea for years, and was diagnosed with diabetes this spring. I am 4'11 and started this latest weight loss journey at 225. My highest weight ever was 235. I was able to lose 46 pounds before surgery, the diabetes scared the heck out of me, but I want to make it stick this time. I also have had a hiatal hernia for 20 plus years. My surgeon would only agree to do the bypass, I went in wanting the sleeve, thinking it would not be as drastic. Also I have researched and seems that weight loss can be a lot slower with the sleeve. I only wanna do this once, and with the research I did, I agree with my surgeon, the bypass is the best option for me. If I had the opportunity to do this 20 years ago, I would like to think I would make the same choice, instead of rationalizing the less drastic surgery, so I could still have sweets, though I had thought the same thing myself before meeting with the surgeon. I would think with the info you gave that as long as you follow your doctors plan, (not everyone else's doctor, since they are so varied), you should do very well.

Hi, I'm considering the lap band and am favoring it over the gastric bypass. Hopefully I won't have a problem but I've been wondering about this scenario: I lose a bunch of weight and then there's a problem with the band (erodes into stomach or whatever) and I need a revision to say the gastric bypass. Would the insurance pay even though I now have lost most of the weight? Would they require me to regain it first? I hope this doesn't happen but just trying to prepare...I have BCBS federal employees plan (FEP).

Hello everyone! Haven't ever posted on here so I might be a little shy or nervous! Lol Just getting back on YouTube (where I first documented my journey) and saw all the rough stuff everyone has been through.. I had a slip and they were able to fix it by just removing saline. A couple of months went by and the same thing happened. I ended up having revision Surgery on Dec 2nd. The doctor wanted to do it in 2 steps but my insurance company wouldn't go for it. After he got it approved for me to get a sleeve he ended up doing 3 surgeries in one. I had my band removed, a sleeve, and a huge hiatal hernia fixed/removed. It was the most painful thing I have ever felt in my life!! Today I am 5 days post op and dying for some food that I could chew!! I snuck two saltines and chewed, chewed, chewed... Anyone ever had a problem with this? I'm gonna try to keep posting regularly! Thanks for reading!! Stay strong and healthy!! Cris

I'm currently in the process of jumping through all the hoops to get revised from band to bypass. I was dead set on getting the sleeve until I saw that many people needed to be revised from the sleeve to bypass because of GERD issues. My GERD issues were so awful with the band, I would wake up with acid choking me and coming out of my nose. So I'm not taking any chances this time.

I felt that during certain periods early on that my body was not sending the "full message" early enough. I suspect it was lapband caused espophagus dialation. Like you have similiar capacity to other sleevers, but your body doesn't send the "enough" signal as early. According to my NUT, this is the reason they theorize that some revision patients don't lose as well as "virgin sleevers". My solution was to use the itty bitty dishes and silverware. Focus on eating slow. When I would eat my 2-3 oz portion, but didn't feel satiated, I would wait at least 15-20 minutes before deciding I needed more food. Pretty much always, I was actually satiated, it just took time for the brain to catch up. Then, I went through several months of just having very little interest in food - the forgetting to eat type thing. Now, I am having more hunger and just wanting to eat more. I think this is a fairly typical pattern. I stil use a little 4oz dessert dish as my bowl, and a tiny salad plate as my "plate" and even though I am hungrier/wanting more now, it is still pretty small portions!

I just wanted to say that I think your weight loss is fantastic! I am going for revision on the 10th and I can only hope to have such a great weight loss, congratulations!

Hi all, I had my band done in June 2010. I did well for the first 2 years lost 85lbs. All of a sudden I started having problems with my band, not being able to keep food down, not able to get the nutrients I needed. My doctor ended up taking out most of my fill and I was fine for a while. I started gaining my weight back slowly but surely. Currently I have gained most of my weight back. I have been miserable with my band not being able to find my "sweet spot", fluctuation of my weight, and not able to keep my food down. I am meeting with my doctor next Friday to discuss having a revision done to the sleeve. my main concern now is I dont want to make a wrong decision with the revision. I'm newly married and my husband and I also want to start a family someday. Im worried about those future pregnancies and how the sleeve will effect my baby. Any advice or experiences are appreciated. Thank you!

I thought I better start writing about this journey now so I don't forget. I had lap band surgery November 3, 2007. I actually lost about 60 pounds with the lapband at one point but gained most of the weight back. For the first four years of the lap band I was in constant flux. I dieted more in that four years than in the rest of my life. In December 2011 I was back up to 255 pounds. At that point I realized the lap band had failed me and I needed to consider other options. Through a long drawn out process I was accepted by my insurance company to get a revision to the Sleeve. On December 27 I decided to make a radical change in my lifestyle and eating. After confirming with my bariatric surgeon that I qualified for the revision I decided to become a raw foodist for the next five months. It was a very positive experience and I learned a great deal about health and nutrition. I have to say I read everything I could get my hands on regarding raw foodism, veganism, and the like. I finally understood what it is to make a very real lifestyle change. Understanding that eating processed, boxed, bagged food was not the answer, it finally dawned on me that what I was missing was the live enzymes of fresh fruits and vegetables that no one seems to think are important, or simply don't know that they're absolutely necessary and needed in the body. I watched quite a few documentaries and I'd like to recommend that you also consider watching these few. Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead was the first documentary I watched; that became life-changing. Foodmatters, Food Inc., The Gerson Miracle, Burzynski, Forks over Knives, and The Beautiful Truth. Sorry more than I thought... Anyway I guess what I'm trying to elude to is that we've all had an eating problem to the point where we've had to have surgery once or twice and for some of us it is still escaping us as to how we can actually make a real change that will ultimately save us. So many times I have heard people say I could never give up sugar, coffee, meat, wheat, bacon, soda, etc... When I hear this I think then a lifestyle change for you is probably not something that is going to happen for you. How much do you truly want good health? Maybe it's time to start pushing yourself in new and different directions, maybe there is new and exciting information to be gleaned that will help you to a better and healthier you. For me being a 80-10-10 raw foodist wasn't for me. But I did adopt eating a high fresh fruit and raw vegetable diet into my new lifestyle. I have decided to include cold blooded sea creatures in my diet as well as cooked Beans and rice in moderation, but also to maintain a balanced healthful diet for me. Please understand I am writing this as much to myself for my own remembrance as I am sharing my experience with you. The day of surgery I weighed 204 lbs. Two days after surgery I weighed 213 lbs. that was disappointing but the Water weight gain from th IV was to be expected. Today is 7/1/2012 and I am at 202. So from December 27th 2011 to June 25th 2012 I lost 56 lbs. I am so excited about where I am going... God bless us and keep us! Mardee

45 years old and doing this again. My 1st surgery had developed a fistula "whole" they need to repair/redo surgery . Anyone having problems with drain tube? It has been a week and I am still draing 3oz a day.

I'm looking for a revision buddy I'm sleeve to Rny but lost like a band so that's why I'm doing Rny I'm 37 5'6 mother of 3 I go up and down from 206/210. My date is first week of June So anyone want to be buddy's

I live in central Il, but my surgeon is Dr. Prachand at the U. of Chicago Medical Center. He says that there are no pretests to ascertain the condition of the stomach except to go back in and see if the stomach is in better condition after 1 yr. I could end up having a second procedure without ending up with a bypass again. I have not gotten a second opinion since I feel my Dr. has been hesitant, in order to protect me from possible complications and is erring on the side of caution, where some Drs. may just go ahead and do it. He said there is a 60 % chance the stomach may not be smoothed enough to do the bypass, so I am just looking for others who may have had this problem. Thanks for replying.

Ok hi all I'm wanting to Touch base with the light weights and revision RNY's. I myself am a lightweight and a so to be revision. Sleeve to Rny . I had the sleeve 6 months ago and only lost 35lb after 12 weeks if no weight loss and 14 weeks of no inches lost It was suggested to me to get a revision . I'm getting the RNY for its metabolic reset value and to loss the rest of my 60lbs. I was 244 the day I was sleeved and 209 today 5"6. So how was your weight loss? Did you loss slow? How many lbs a week did you loss? Are you a first time lightweight or are you a revision light weight?

Hi Everyone, I ended up in the ER a few weeks ago after a routine fill on my band, unable to swallow even liquid. My body thought I was choking so it kept sending saliva to my espophagus, with no way for it to go down (completely swollen shut). It was horrible. Radiologist said I need to get it out asap. Primary care doc is not familiar with bands at all and wasn't sure what to write. So I offered to write the letter of request to Cigna for her to put on her letterhead. I've searched everywhere online for a letter that outlines the dangers of leaving the band in, as well as the benefits of replacing it with the sleeve. To no avail. There are plenty of letters about bariatric surgery, but none dealing with the dangers of a failed band. Can anyone direct me? We need to submit something asap. Thanks so much.

Aloha, I am in San Diego tomorrow and going to Mexico tomorrow for my sleeve. I've had the lapband for 6 years now. I was told that I have to do a test in the morning first to make sure my band hasn't eroded. If it has they won't do the revision. I am very nervous. I had an upper GI endoscopy 2 months ago and my GI doctor from Utah didn't see that my band was eroded. Has anyone else had this problem? If so, was there symptoms?

Had you dilated your pouch? Congrats on the revision..

I have to agree with the others, banding doesn't seem as drastic as the bypass. I have friends who have done both, with the bypass ones I see major hair loss, which I didn't want, and losing weight way too fast and then major surgeries to get rid of the excess skin. Banding seems to be just as effective as long as you follow what your doctor says. I'm pre surgery and looking forward to moving ahead with my journey. My doctor felt bypass was a better option for me because I like sweets, but I know once I set my mind to it I will leave them alone and I am determined to be a success! Just research and ask lots of questions, this site is great for learning all kind of things. Good luck!

Gastric bypass patients get stuck, also. So don't let that be a deciding factor for you! Go to the info seminar and listen. Talk it over with your surgeon. Pick a surgeon who does all three procedures. Hear what he or she recommends and why. Read on all the forums around about the different types of WLS. I chose the band because I mainly needed portion control, and it seemed far less drastic than gastric bypass. Although the qualifications for both were the same, bypass just seemed too extreme for someone in my medical condition. I was a lower BMI, I was not yet diabetic, but heading that way. I just didn't think the risk of Vitamin deficiencies/malabsorption/malnutrition was worth the benefits I'd get from bypass. I can't speak intellectually about the sleeve other than to say that most of the risk of it is immediately pre-op. The risk of a leak on the staple line is significant, but it seems that if you come through that period, then further complications are very rare. Best wishes on your decision!

I liked that I didn't have to alter my anatomy. Either way I would be self pay because none is really covered in Canada (maybe bypass if you have health issues also, but I didn't/don't). If there is an issue it can be removed and your stomach is still there. I have had issues with being stuck, and obviously the first time is the worst. Now I feel I am old hat at it, it's not the end of the world, and it's usually my fault (because I'm not paying attention to how I am supposed to be eating). Do your research, talk to doctors (see multiple docs if you feel the need)....when you have your information you will be able to make an informed decision!