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I'm currently waiting for a phone call to schedule my surgery date. I'll be getting a revision from sleeve to bypass for severe GERD at Kaiser Richmond. Look me up on Instagram if you all want to keep in touch there. I have a personal and a WLS account, here's both: bubbz333 (personal) & vsgbubbz (WLS). I'm much more nervous about the surgery this time around so it would help to have some people to talk to that are going through the same thing.

I know Tricare Prime covers the lap band and also the gastric bypass...don't think they cover the sleeve...best wishes talkalot1981

I’m one week post op today and so tired of drinking. I can’t wait to chew on something again. I have my one week follow up tmrw morning With my surgeon and hoping he will put me on full liquids. I was actually hungry yesterday and tried some 1% milk with my protein powder instead of water and I got nauseated, fast heart rate, hot flashes and sweaty. It really scared me but I jumped in here and discovered I was having dumping syndrome symptoms. I loved milk prior to the sleeve and we’re not really supposed to have dumping syndrome like the bypass peeps, allegedly from what I’ve read on the net. So that kinda sucks.

I'm on the gastric bypass Facebook page daily - here not so much, maybe once a week to change my weight ticker lol

Mine did not heal correctly. I had an infection and was told after the infection was treated to let it heal on its own- it was an open wound. Totally gross ... After it looked like it healed, I found out my port flipped. I wasn't crazy about having another surgery and they were able to manipulate it to still give me a fill so no big deal. Then my incision got really red and they thought my band was eroding. Did an EGD and they found nothing... It was all fine. Then I slipped on ice and fell really hard. The tubing broke through and tried to come out of that port incision. I had no choice but to have revision surgery. They moved my port to the other side and re-opened the original incision. They found dead tissue where the port incision did not heal correctly. Removed the dead tissue and left the old port incision open. I now have to pack it with gauze everyday to make sure it heals right this time. You should not ignore this. Get another opinion and get that thing healed or it can lead to major compilations.

I would love to join a group. I'm from Lockport and considering the VSG tho MD is pushing the bypass. Anyone else interested?

So I logged in to see what's going on with my insurance claims & referrals today. I saw that there were four separate requests for surgeries rather than just one. So, do they have to spell out what they're asking for & cast a wide net by specifically requesting "bypass, v-band, rny, & LAP-BAND®"? Is that the way they do it? I really hope that's how it's s'posta go & one of 'em "sticks", although I really do not want one of the procedures that actually rearrange your guts - I just want my guts to be "belted" :scared2: As of a few minutes ago the status of all of 'em was "pending review". Crossing my fingers (and toes) that I'll get the thumbs-up...quickly! I hate the ups & downs of waiting, being hopeful, disappointed, frustrated, excited, etc. Guess I swapped out yo-yo dieting for yo-yo emotions Gotta *try* to stay positive & keep telling myself my new, healthy life *will* begin, and soon!

I'd love more details too because in my experience with friends and coworkers I've seen more people gain back their weight a year out from bypass and still maintaining with the sleeve. What do you think caused your weight regain? Do you feel you can still lose it? Do u still feel restriction? I'm sorry this happened to you but be strong and determined!

If you find any studies, please share. I'm interested also. Having my revision at once on July 16th (if my stomach isn't too damaged). Hope I'm making the right decision. I wasn't really offered a choice. My dr just said he was gunna do it that way

I went into my surgery with the understanding that if my stomach was not too damaged from the removal of the band, my Surgeon would proceed with the Sleeve. I am fortunate to say that the revision took place during one Surgery.

My only other advice is to be ready to have significant hunger until you have had some fills. Restriction seems to happen for people at different rates. I have had a lot more hunger then I thought. Looking back, I may have choosen bypass surgery. However after a second fill I am feeling less hungry. You'll just need to be patient.

I had mine done by Dr. Ortiz. It cost me $5,200.00. The sleeve was $4,400.00 and the revision was $800.00. I'm down 25 pounds so far and feel fine.

Long time member but i haven't posted anywhere in ages, but I used to be on the Lapband board. I was a long time very successful band patient i was orginally banded in Jan 02 (in Canada, pre FDC approval) lost weight at a great rate. My first band (Innamed) slipped a total of 3 times before it came out for six months, I also had surgeries to move my port and another because my tubing disconnect. Next we went to the J&J band and it was great until it slipped badly, I had it for about 6-7 years and it worked like a charm, restriction was great most of the time, lost to my goal size and then it self tightened and i left it there because of travel, personal stress etc and i thought it would release on its own when i went for a defill it completely slipped around my esophagus and it was horrible. With the J&J I had a port revision surgery in there too. Then we tried a 3rd band it never worked right, I couldn't get restriction because if we did more than i had instant reflux etc. I revised to the sleeve last week with a new surgeon in Philadelphia who told me the band was basically around my esophagus and i had no pouch which is why I had no restriction and why I could not be tightened any more. But I lost about 150 lbs in 12-16 months and maintained that loss for 10 years plus, with little to no effort. In the meantime because of the band with no restriction, some prescribed evil steroids that I had to take that put 30lbs on me in a matter of 8 days... (they change your brain chemistry in weird ways) hashimoto's disease (hypo thyroid) fluctuations for the last few years and a few other things I gained about 70-80 lbs that I could not lose weight I tried. I went gluten free and dairy free, nada, I tried the HCG diet lost 20 lbs gained it back and generally I don't eat more than 1500-1700 calories per day including when I am drinking wine, eating out 3 meals a day etc. I hired a trainer, almost went paleo not quite. Now in talking to my surgeon he has said there are new studies showing band patients 9-12 years out who suddenly gain weight they can't lose for love nor money. They try everything and it won't come off more restriction, calories restriction etc. So we made a joint strategic decision to go to the sleeve since I knew the risk, what type of lifestyle change I was in for, portion control etc. wouldn't be a problem since i had it already. In our conversations we talked a lot about Ghrelin which is produced in the stomach and it makes you hungry, when you are feeling that craving to overeat or binge typically it is ghrelin and obese people produce more ghrelin than non obese people typically with some exceptions. We also talked about leptin which makes you feel satiated and is produced in the brain. With the sleeve, about 70-90% of the ghrelin produced is surgically removed with the part of the stomach they remove. i am curious have you noticed a difference in how hungry you get, cravings and the satiation of cravings ie: I can eat two bites of cake vs. I want the whole cake now? Have you also noticed the full feelings getting different than before from the leptin. My surgeon has said in his conversations with his patients they noticed their cravings reduced which helps them with portion control and in making better choices which helps a number of other things. In other words the brain and stomach don't conspire to make cheetos seem like a great dinner choice or ben and jerry your best friend. Overall I eat very healthy without a ton of junk food in my life we cook at home, we make our own stocks and Soups etc. to help get me through the liquids phase. But we do eat well and drink wine, we might be foodies (we are told we are, I just like trying new things). I have never eaten out of control even with the last band and no restriction just trying to lose weight has been terrible, depressing and frustrating. Especially after my first experiences which was I lost well, ate well, exercised and it worked like it was supposed too. I am a consultant and I travel for my job excessively so hence the eat out three meals a day most of the time I don't have a choice in that, but you can make healthy choices even in eating out and I do. I look at fats and calories along with Proteins and make good choices. Any thoughts you have I would appreciate and any advice you have I would love to read. Thanks for reading and good luck

TRUE STORY: weight 5 years ago: 294 banded 5 years ago weigh in 4 years ago: 178 more than 100 pound lost in 1 year! first slipped band 3 years ago 2nd slipped band 2 years ago new 14 cc band 2 years ago 8 ccs in band for 2 years new weight: 294 Well if I don't feel like a complete failure. Failure of wasting $$$$$, time and effort to lose the 1st year and money on revisions and new band. This band is not helping me at all. I am going to the surgeon this Friday for a fill I hope and if it doesn't help restrict the way the 1st band did, I want to rip this thing out. HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!

That's going to be super individualized and no one can predict what it will be like until after.(But I personally don't dump often because I'm careful- sidenote I was revised from VSG to RNY for GERD) Ask about the statistics on GERD remission/recurrence after VSG from your Surgeon or research it yourself But really It will all come down to what the surgeon (and you) determine is the best course of action Good Luck 💙

I'm not sure where you're located but Dr. Ayoola (pronounced Eye Ola) is located in the Dallas area. I have a friend who had a sleeve to DS revision. She loves this doctor, and trust him completely. She's very happy with her revision. Now Offering Telehealth Visits | Weight Loss Specialists of North Texas: Weight Loss Specialists: Denton, TX & Flower Mound, TX (drayoola.com)

Well, you could always do an RNY to DS (Duodenal Switch) revision. You'd have to see if your insurance would cover the revision though because not all insurances do.

I didn't have a revision. Just the sleeve. I was sleeved Sept 27, 2013 in Mexico by Dr. Alvarez. Best care ever. I'm down 121 pounds.

It totally will depend on how your surgeon explains the need for the revision during the insurance submission and if your insurance requires the waiting period matter what. Call your insurance a d ask where you can find the information on Bariatric revision surgery. If possible ask for it in writing. Also find out if that particular revision procedure is covered. Good Luck ❤️

Hi- I had gastric bypass in 2016. Lost 100lbs. Since then, I’ve gained 60 of that weight. I have an appt in couple of weeks for a revision. From what I’ve looked, they do an endoscopic revision and it’s a 15 min procedure. My question is- do we have to wait the 6 months that we did for the original gastric (per insurance) or will this not be that long of a wait? How much have you lost since the revision? Thanks everyone!

I am hoping to have either a Gastric bypass or Gastric Sleeve in the near future. I had a gastric band approx 10 years ago. I have 2 questions that I really hope some kind souls may be able to advise me with or share an opinion. Question 1: Which in your opinion is the best option Gastric Bypass or Gastic sleeve.? Question 2: As I've had a gastric band before are both of these options avaiilable to me. Many thanks in advance for any help or support. I really appreciate it. Lou

Seriously, that is what someone asked me today in a restaurant -- very, very loudly. Today was the first day someone really "tried" to call me out on having surgery. I have an acquaintance who works in a restaurant and when I walked in she was shocked at how much weight I have lost. I dont see her very often, so she hadn't seen the progression. And I don't eat out very often, either, so I doubt I'll be bumping into her too much. Anyways, first she was a little loud and a little rude while she was literally standing at another table and asked: "So, what, have you lost like 150 pounds or something?" I said, no, I've lost 60 (while thinking to myself that it's none of her business, but whatever). Then she comes over to my table and asks me if I had gastric bypass -- quite loudly so that other diners could hear. I was shocked. I mean, I answered no (cuz I haven't -- LOL), but when she asked me my "secret" I told her that I've just been working out like a madwoman and really, really watching what I eat. Then she asked me if my husband was happy. Seriously. I felt like telling her that my husband loves me just as much now as he did back then -- but I just sheepishly said yes, he was happy. I don't know. I'm sure I could have handled the whole thing better, but I was so taken aback. I haven't kept my surgery a total secret, but I sure as hell wasn't going to tell a mouthy loud nosey person like that any of my business. UGH! What would you have done? Thanks for letting me vent!

Can somebody please help me….I’m reading so many different things on revision wls and I’m so confused! I know weight- loss is slower, but it’s been coming off pretty good for me so far (55lbs dwn) since Nov.8th. I’m stalling now for the 2nd week! (Frustrating, but expected). Where the confusing part is how much weight I should expect to loose, my doctor told me I should loose a 100lbs, but my research is stating something in the area of about 60-70lbs, but it’s also stating something about my weight-loss from my previous surgery(btw it was the sleeve). So if I’m to understand correctly I’m only going to loose a total of 100lbs ,including my weight-loss from previous wls? I’m so confused…

I will be having surgery soon and I chose gastric bypass (RNY) because I was just diagnosed with T2 diabetes and the remission rates for T2 are better with RNY than sleeve. Also, I did not want to risk GERD with the sleeve and have to go through a corrective surgery later.

I'm scheduled for my VSG in September and have only come out and told one co-worker who is actually very supportive and was sleeved years ago. The others (inluding one who is having a band to VSG revision in Oct) have pretty much guessed that I am either deep in the contemplation phase or am scheduled and they are being a bit catty, saying amongst themselves "She won't be able to do it, she eats all the time", ""She thinks it will be easy but it isn't", "She's going to Mexico because she doesn't really need the surgery" and the like. I know, blow it off and chalk it up to people just being catty -- which is what I plan to do. But, why does it seem that weight loss surgery is a topic people can be just so darn vicious about? I've heard more stories about cattiness in regard to WLS than breast augmentation!