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EKG/ECG is a standard test pre-op. Had to have one back in 2011 for my band and had to have another one for my revision this past March.

This is the only post I found on here mentioning Daily Harvest. I've just ordered from them yesterday — highly recommended by a coworker, and I'm really excited to try so many foods I would not normally eat. I am being considered for revision surgery (VSG to RNY) to resolve my GERD. I'm "nutritionally crippled" according to my doctor and need to improve my iron (getting an infusion again soon) and several other macronutrients before I can be operated on. Stalls/plateaus happen all the time! With my sleeve, even though I did not have as much to lose, I remember being stuck at the same weight several times, and sometimes for up to 3 weeks, which I agree with you, can be frustrating and disheartening when you're doing all the right things! But you're probably losing inches, and that's where non-scale victories come in. Your body just needs time to adjust to the changes happening. Dealing with our psychological food issues/addictions, in my opinion, is a great indicator of success long term. It's something I did not take seriously before, to be honest. Even though my doctor used an incorrect technique that has caused my sleeve to look like an hourglass instead of a banana, I've definitely made mistakes that contributed to my weight regain. I have started Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), reading (currently: Bariatric Mindset Success), listing to podcasts (found on here), and joined a support group. I think mapping my thoughts and reading about combating food addiction will help me gain deeper introspection to modify my behavior. I hope you're in a much better place now with your goals. Good luck to you!

Everyone is different. Not all foods that bother one will bother another. I had the revision 7 months ago and I am able to tolerate every food I have tried under the sun. Dairy bothers me sometimes but only straight milk. The revision for me was fine, no complications. I lost weight at a faster rate but now I have stalled for quite some weeks. But I am also working out more and weight lifting.

Wow - I need to get my a$$ in gear! I took the last few days off - tired on day, the other two days (spent all day at the hospital with my mom waiting for surgery). At any rate - no excuses...gotta get my butt moving today. Heading over to the gym right now. I have to do another 25 miles this month for my original goal and 30 for my revised! I dug myself a hole!

Trying really hard to ignore the f*&^ing scale and just stay on track! Just got back from the gym and walked faster and varied the incline more than previous workouts. If you were at the gym, I was the fat angry girl on one of the middle treadmills. I'm not seeing the scale go down and I'm constipated - yeah, stay out of my way. Anywho, I'm at 33 miles to my (revised) goal of 54 miles. Gave a great day everyone!

Welcome. Most of us are "champeen" losers. Most of us have lost hundreds of pounds countless times in our lives. And clearly most of us suck at maintaining. Not only are we fighting our internal habits of a lifetime with food (addictions, using food as a drug, disordered eating behaviors, etc), but we also battle our metabolism and the neurohormones and gut hormones and insulin/glucagon, derangement that happens once obesity has set in. So we are walking time bombs. I would encourage you to spend time doing the head work. I would encourage working with a counselor and an RD. Please don't wing it. You only get one golden shot. After that, revisions become dicier and weight loss is usually slower plus you'll be out a lot of money. Please consider what kind of surgery you need. Do you need malabsorption in addition to restriction? Only you know this. Hope you post often.

Revision

I would agree. I'd revise to a DS. You probably need that surgery. I don't think you will be happy with the RNY and think you will likely not get to your goal weight with it. I can say this because I have RNY (virgin surgery) and have a larger capacity. So I do not feel a whole lot of restriction. And food goes through my stoma very easily. So I have to be extremely careful of what goes in my mouth, calorie, volume count and limit food in the face of hunger. And I got to my goal. But it took iron balls to do it. And not everyone can put that kind of limit on themselves. If you haven't already, you need to have your sleeve evaluated to see if they left too much of the fundus in tact, or if it can be revised to make the sleeve smaller in a re-surgery. If it's surgeon error, they should have to fix it. If it's your error through overeating or eating around restriction, then a new surgery won't necessary fix your head and you will need to consider counseling along with a new anatomy if you want to avoid having this same discussion in the future.

Actually, you're wrong. It IS 100% reversible. If the band is removed your stomach simply goes back to the way it was pre-surgery. If you have damage due to a slip or prolapse, you may have some scarring, but it doesn't remove any portion of your stomach or re-route your digestive system in any way. Not so with the Sleeve, you can't replace a huge portion of your stomach that's been cut out. As for the Sleeve, people don't go in for reversions because they can't. More than half of their stomach is removed, there's nothing to revise. If you look at the long term statistics, people gain back weight with the Sleeve and Gastric Bypass just as often as with the Band, the difference being, a Band patient can always go back in and get a fill to start over. A Sleeve patient will have likely stretched out what's left of their stomach and pretty much be screwed. ...not to mention there's FAR less chance of major complications and/or death with the band. And the recovery time is half of that of the Sleeve. I respect your decision to go with the Sleeve and wish you much success, but your information isn't exactly accurate.

I was sleeved (revised from band) on Oct 20. Down 17lbs but have stalled this week. I was also low bmi to start.

I went back to work 10 days after my sleeve surgery (no revision). I work in an office setting and did fine at work. I will say that although I was back to work 9 hours each day, for the first 6-8 weeks after surgery I was extremely tired and in bed by about 7pm each night!

that's the usual fix for it, yes. You don't want to mess around with unmanageable GERD. It could progress into Barrett's esophagus, which in turn could progress into esophageal cancer. Sometimes it can can be managed via meds - but your surgeon may be thinking this is a case for revision. Like the person above said, they can't force you to have surgery, but on the other hand, if you have dangerous GERD, I'd be inclined to at least listen to the surgeon. If you're really doubting it, you could always get a second opinion.

Thanks so much! revision is due to non stop horrible reflux. I also have gained back 40 of the 107 lbs I lost

Just got the call yesterday my revision to RNY has been approved! Im super excited, my coordinator called and gave me a surgery date of July 17th!

If someone has severe GERD and/or Barrett's esophagus, needs to take NSAIDS for a medical condition - these can all be reasons to recommend the by pass over the sleeve. How do you revise from the sleeve to a mini bypass?

@Bri_Guy Thank you so much! I am very happy! Good luck to you in your surgery! @Jen727BF Thanks! @ckfaith Thank you!! @Pea523 Thank you! Insurance has approved it! The revision extra skin surgery I might need when I get to goal will not be covered though. @Pazza Aww! Thank you so much! @melskee55 Thank you so much!! @beege Thank you! I can't wait to get to goal! @Sweet as peaches Aww! I'm glad I could share my story with you! It is so hard to be so big! I wish you the best of luck in your journey! For reference I am 5'10!

I chose rny because it's been around longer with long term outcomes available. I sat thru two seminars at two hospitals with two different surgeons and while they both stated they see similar weight loss in both surgeries, neither had long term studies for sleeve and could only guess at the long term success of the Sleeve. Also, I know there are no guarantees of dumping, however, both recommended RNY for sugar addicts as the negative effect helps keep you honest. Sugar, candy, sweets, ice cream, all my downfall. Also, I have 5 RNY friends who all are successful and a great built in resource and compelled me to do the same. Finally, I know the sleeve can be revised to RNY, but for me it's one and done. I can't see going thru it twice and I'm lucky to have it covered by insurance, might not have that luxury again. That's pretty much it. I do recommend sitting thru a 2nd seminar with different surgeons/hospitals, this 100% helped with my decision as I too was very torn. Good luck!! I never felt better after I finally decided. 41 days til surgery but whose counting, lol.

YEAH! I got more answers - I am so gratefull All your inputs really helps me! In Denmark this procedure is almost unknown - it is only used very seldom. Most of sleeve-procedures on danes is done abroad Thank you for your respond, Tiffany! "RNY just wasn't an option because of the regain stats" The statistics shows that weight regain RNY is more likely to happen? That is very interesting - if I have understood it correct? That was the main reason why, I would consider a Bypass. I know that there is a lot complications already now. How will it look in 30 years? :-( "I can tell you that studies show only 30% of RNY patients "dump" on sugar meaning that it's no guarantee that you'll get sick if you eat sweets." That is an important argument for not believing, that this will "cure" your cravings. So it is not as beneficial in this way - only the malabsorbtion works "better". But unfortunately also on important Vitamins and minerals. "and all of them have either gained back 75% of their weight" WHAT? Thats a lot!!! The surgery sites claims, that only 20-30% will have the weight regain. "and are now seeking revisions, or have had major complications with vitamin/nutrient deficiencies, bowel obstructions, strictures, pouch and esophageal dilation, and a whole slew of other issues." That really helps with my decision. I think that we perhaps are not so up to date in Denmark, because the boom in operations startet only 2 years ago. So we havent seen all the difficulties yet. Well a lot of people is writing about Hernia - does anyone know, if hernia is less common in VSG-operations? "Least amount of long term complications" As far as I can read in the journals, they do not have enough results yet to know how it will work on long term? But it is so LOGICAL to me that it will have far less complications "no rerouting" Yes, I am not religious - but it is easier for me to have my stomach reduced instead of changing the way the digestive system works. I can better accept the "halfway-just-as-before-procedure-with-a-small-stomach" "no blind stomach left behind that can't be easily scoped yet can still develop cancer and ulcers." Are the taking the rest of the stomach out of the body in a VSG? Some say that they just staple it? I wanted to ask my surgeon this. If it is left in the body, will it still produce Ghrelin? I feel a little stupid, but I have treally tried to find as many informations - so I am so glad, I found this site. "None of the surgeries cure cravings, head hunger, or emotional eating." No, you need to have gotten the brain in order first. I almost have - but I know, that when I am stressed or sad, it could trick this, if I am not cafeful and monitor my feelings and hunger for the rest of my life. But I have worked with this a lot more than others. (I am also writing these things to myself, to be "aware" - thinking out loud) "I've done extremely well with the sleeve, and live a perfectly normal little life" I am so glad to hear that! It really makes me believe that it can help me too. Just enough to get into the healthy section "We have to form new habits, and work on our own issues." I am speculating - how many have had their cognitive emotional in check before an operation - and how many are working along with the issues - after the operation. THANK YOU SO MUCH! ------------------------------------------------------------- And thank you Stacy160 - if you are thinking the same as Tiffany, it just backs up, what she is saying . And with my "low" BMI, the risk of bypass is not worth it. As far as I have read, the mortality-risk of a bypass is 5 times higher than a sleeve. Thank you. You are backing me up! ------------------------------------------------------------------ Thank you for your message, Cheri :-) "if you don't have as much weight to lose, why risk the lifelong nutritional deficiencies of the bypass?" That is just what I am thinking. But in the danish forum everyone is supporting the bypass-thinking Because it is the thing, that works. And because 95% of them had that operation. So I needed to read other stories, to make my desicion. But a lot of new reseach has shown, that the two operation, have almost the same results. But I can not seem to find the medical documentation... "The portion of the stomach they leave behind is the least stretchy part of the stomach and is far less likely to stretch than the bypass pouch. It will stretch a little over time, but not anywhere near what it was prior to surgery." That I didnt know - I am so glad to read this! That calms me a lot. Not that I will try to strech it. But I didnt wanted to waste money and health on an operation, that didnt work much. "If you wouldn't mind posting information about your potential surgeons on a new thread, it would be very helpful to some of us living overseas. I'm currently in Germany and flew all the way to Mexico for my surgery because I couldn't find a surgeon very experienced with VSG in my area. If you're in contact with a few that do VSG in Europe, you should post their names and information so that other folks can have them as an option as well." Mexico is a long way from home.... I would be happy to do that. I found two surgeons i Belgium, but they mostly recommend and perform Bypass, but have experience in Sleeve as well. There is also a center in Northern Germany wch are very popular in Denmark, they perform a lot of sleeve operations as well. And I found a great (I think) surgeon in Grecce. He is educated i Denmark, where I am from, and have worked in Sweden for many years. There is also a center in Stockholm, who have a fantastic 3 year follow up with psychologist, dieticians, hotline, and a workshop - all included in the price. But I will try to find the right place to post the operation. But what is "Experienced"? How many operations is that. Thank you Cheri

For me, RNY just wasn't an option because of the regain stats, and long term complications from friends that I know in real life. I can tell you that studies show only 30% of RNY patients "dump" on sugar meaning that it's no guarantee that you'll get sick if you eat sweets. Out of the 8 friends I have that have had RNY, only 2 of them dump on sugars/fats, and all of them have either gained back 75% of their weight, and are now seeking revisions, or have had major complications with vitamin/nutrient deficiencies, bowel obstructions, strictures, pouch and esophageal dilation, and a whole slew of other issues. Are some of the complications directly related to their compliance level, YES, but some of them have struggled from the beginning. For me, I chose the sleeve because it made the most sense. Least amount of long term complications, no rerouting, zero food or medication restrictions, no blind stomach left behind that can't be easily scoped yet can still develop cancer and ulcers. None of the surgeries cure cravings, head hunger, or emotional eating. That part of the journey is all on you, and you have to be willing to battle those issues along with the assistance of whichever surgery you choose. I've done extremely well with the sleeve, and live a perfectly normal little life eating anything and everything I choose, I enjoy a balanced diet, and really enjoy not worrying about foods that might make me sick, or if I've taken all my Vitamins. I do take a high quality adult mulit-Vitamin and a sublingual b12. I took multis before surgery because it's recommended for women my age. You'll be able to "eat" around any of the surgeries. They operate on our stomachs, not our brains. We have to form new habits, and work on our own issues.

Oh man tig, so sorry to hear that...but you've got a great attitude, it's a good thing that you found out now and then you'll get good restriction. I wish I remembered what it's called, not sure if it's barium or fluro or something else, but anyway, they can inject something into your port and then look at it on a scan and it will show up where the leak is. I'd certainly ask about that as there was someone here recently (self-pay) that paid for a port revision only to find out it was a defective band. I've also heard of docs putting a blue die into the saline so when they draw it back out they know they're in the port and not just pulling fluid from your tissues...doesn't sound like that would help though if he's not getting anything out of the port at all. Well, at least it sounds like a short easy procedure. Good luck next week and keep us posted! -BG

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 was banded Sept. 2010 and I am in the process of getting an RNY revision approved. I hate this band and it is time for it to come out. I had no success in losing weight and I am back up to where I was when I had surgery. I’m nervous but excited to be healthier. Good luck!

I would love to hear what hoops you had to jump through to get insurance to approve a revision. My daughter had the band a year and a half ago. She lost 60 lbs right away, but stalled. We haven't been back for a band check/fill in a year. She still can't eat much at each sitting and only eats maybe twice a day. She also has PCOS. Had we known, we would have pursued sleeve or RNY. Advice?

Well nothing similar but wanted to say that after having my band for 5 years, with no complications, I had a revision this past September. I don't think that you can have the band in forever and that is why I had it removed. It was the best decision I could have made to be band free. IMO it doesn't sound to me like it is band related, your husband's issue. What did he eat? Did he over eat?

My dr told me my new stomach was only 2oz, but could stretch to 4 oz over a year or so. Don't want it any smaller than it already is. Plus thats adding a whole new set of problems (was a lapband patient, had complications and was revised). I'd defintely do my homework on that before having it done. Sounds scary to me... You need to be able to eat something...