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Thank you Dasha for your kind response I am a worry wart by nature, but he is 65, diabetic and has other complications. He has never had major surgery, unlike me. So I worry that this will be a really tough surgery for him. Four hours is still a lot of time in the operating room! Yikes! How is your pain level right now? I was just submitted for a band-to-sleeve revision yesterday. I'm scared of everything. Scared of being denied. Scared that when/if my surgeon goes in, he won't sleeve me in the same operation, which is what he does 95% of the time. He is super conservative and likes to do it in two sessions. Ugh, that means two hospital stays, two sets of expenses, two times under general, two times in pain etc. NOT interested in that. I watched so many videos yesterday where the surgeons were doing both in same surgery. These surgeons obviously felt it was safe enough!

Today I am 1 week out on a revision after 2 failed lap bands. My journey started in 2008 with my first band placed in March 2009 and slipped December that year. This past April I had another slip and had to have it removed. I had a few more surgeries in between in joint replacements but finally got my by pass last week. I have been dealing with nausea and had to make a trip into ER for IV fluids. All is well so far and I am looking forward to finally making progress on permanent weight loss without all hassle that comes with the band. Thank you so much for your post, it came at just the right time to know that I have made the best decision possible and that I too will be successful. Congratulations on your achievement, that is a wonderful gift.

I got to 140 and it pretty much stopped. Down to 138 after 2 months. I think my body likes this weight. I am pretty thin at size 6, but not a skinny minnie size 0. I am very stable here 10 months out. guess I will just revise my uberthin fantasies. At 53 I don't look so bad

Hi Everyone I just wanted to give you all a quick update on my progress. I'm 31 days post-op from my VSG to MGB revision. I'm down 23 pounds since surgery & 29 pounds since pre-op diet(3 day plain yogurt &water). I think I'm making excellent progress considering I'm a revision patient. In speaking with dr. Ponce de leon before surgery, he decided that a 300cm bypass would work best for me considering my lifelong battle with Obesity and my previous WLS failure. I'm so glad that he did a longer bypass! After years of struggle, I feel like I'm finally going to reach my goal weight. I also started back working out last week. I would like to do it first thing in the morning, but my daily bowel movements start at 6am. I make multiple trips to the restroom. It's usually over by 730am. I'm usually safe to go the gym around 9am. BM's don't hurt(no cramping), but they do stink bad and they have the potential to travel to other rooms and linger in the air is you don't contain it with some Poo pourri. Thanks to another poster, I was able to make my own poo pourri. It works just as great! Other than that, I'm doing fine. I get lethargic from time to time, but that's normal for me. The only thing I miss is being able to gulp down Water. I truly love water. I will try to keep you all updated on my progress from time to time. I've been a part of different WLS forums for years and I hate it when people disappear after their surgery. I hope my story helps someone in their 1st surgery or Revision surgery journey.

I had all the liquid removed from my band and had the removal and revision done in the same surgical procedure 4 weeks later. All went off with out a hitch and I am down 25 lbs in the last 6 weeks. Im very happy with my decision. Good luck.

I'm having a revision from sleeve to bypass due to ulcers. I had revision from lapband to sleeve in 2014 due to my band ulcerating completely through my stomach. I lost 23lbs with the band, gained 70, lost 127 with the sleeve, have gained 30. So, maybe I'll lose the 80lbs total I need to lose this time.

Had my surgery on july 8, 2014. I was a lapband to sleeve revise. (No issues with the band....simply tired of the inconsistencies) Highest weight before band: 334 Lowest weight with band: 243 Sleeve surgery day: 230 Not trying to focus on all negatives here because i am only 8 days out. Just providing insight to those pre-sleeved and looking to find similar stories like mine so far. --Ask for pain and nausea meds per IV PRIOR to waking up from surgery. I had a horrible experience because they failed to do this. --Take liquid meds if possible. Crushing pills are not tasteful in the least no matter what u mix them in. Don't learn the hard way and get a pill lodged the same day you come home and have to return to the ER!!!!!! Very painful and unpleasant. --Gas pains are real. Be prepared. I am 8 days out and still feel the aftermath of those bastards. --Don't get so discouraged if you feel hunger after surgery. I am one of the ones who doesn't feel hunger at all and i am having a horrible time getting in any amount of nutrition. In turn, i have absolutely NO ENERGY. And constantly out of breath. (keep in mind i am usually fairly active and can keep up with most anyone) this is very emotionally and physically draining. I don't want food and if i think i do...i am a half a bite in and i hate it and waste EVERYTHING put in front of me!!!!!! --Unless you have a desk job.... Take the time needed off of work. There is no way possible i would be able to return to work 8 days out. My job is fairly active and labor driven. I wouldn't make it an hour at this point. I would recommend 2-3 weeks minimal to those who are on their feet and moving a lot. --Have plenty of pillows for comfort. They are your friend. --Do not overload yourself with Protein powders before hand. I cant even stand the smell of protein much less the taste at this point. Buy it as needed and variety is key. --keep faith despite every hardship. Its a journey...... U can cry if you want to. Nothing worth having is ever easy. Good luck to all sleevers and revises!!!!!!!!

This is interesting, I had a revision from lap band to RNY on December 6, 2017 and I am waking up the same way. I hadn’t thought nothing about it. [emoji102]

I’m sorry to hear you’re having such bad reflux now. I hope all goes well with your revision. Of course I still have to talk to my surgeon but I’m definitely leaning towards bypass. The thought of my reflux getting worse really worries me. And congratulations on your weight loss - it looks like you’re doing great with that part of it. It’s so encouraging to see people’s post-surgery stats.

Has anyone had the band revised to a sleeve in one surgery? I am considering this but am worried about recovery from 2 surgeries with young kids at home.

I went to my first seminar in May 2012, I was done with the process and approved by my doc and insurance by July but had to put off surgery due to work. I had my surgery September 25, I starred at 364lbs and I am down to 300. I lost 40lbs before surgery and have lost 24 after. Mine was not a revision, I havent had any other weight loss surgery besides the bypass. I am sure you will do great, just stick to the diet and try not to get upset if something makes you sick.....I got upset the first time because I was doing everything right, my doc was awesome though telling me how our body is adjusting and that it might not like something right away but to try again later.

I too had anthem BCBS and I was approved on Friday. The approval process took about three weeks and they did ask for some more paperwork in the middle. But really I think it went very well. And if all the info from all my docs had been sent in the first time it would have been even faster. So hopefully tomorrow I will get a surgery date I have had my lap band for seven years and revising to the RNY. I have no horror stories about my lap band it just didn't help me lose all the weight I needed and even when losing weight the diabetes and asthma did not improve. I am kinda putting all my eggs in the RNY basket and hoping I am one of the 80% that the RNY drastically changes the diabetes. Wishing you the very best.

I too are having revision from band to sleeve. Had the band done in 2006 too many problems. Insurance was very good and approved the revision less than 30 days. My revision is scheduled oct 20th. Feeling nervous. I just don't want the hunger pains that i had prior to the band.

I have my revision surgery scheduled and will be having it in a single operation too , I do not see the reason of having to go through 2 surgeries which will need more time off, recovery, etc when you can have it at once.

I have watched a lot of sleeves, in my work, and seen the increase in one stage revisions, and finally, I decided to go from Band to sleeve, on the 15 th September, so I texted the surgeon and made appointment with him, made gastroscopy appointment to check hiatal hernia and oesophagus, and spoke to surgeons rooms to book surgery. I was operated on last Tuesday 14th, and was home on the Wednesday.. Shoulder tip and back pain were my main issues but managed fine. I am still on free fluids, and have no hunger what so ever. I am managing on around 80 grams of protein, added to either soup or yoghurt and thinned down with skim milk.. Otherwise a lot of herbal teas, and one black coffee per day. And water.. So far so good.. I see surgeon on Wednesday.. I was a maladapted eater for over 18 months, and it had also given up smoking, had shocking reflux and heartburn, and basically bloody miserable with 40 pounds weight gain and as slipped band..so I feel so released, so relaxed, so new, happy.. I have been given an opportunity to do this the right way. The band was a Dream come true in 2007 for me, and I lost 65 pounds with it, but life wasn't always good.. Work lunches were a moment of panic, breakfast was hit and miss, and the reflux was a killer, sleeping with 3 pillows. Going out to dinner meant scouring the menu for a risotto or a mashed potato side dish with fish, and long haul flights meant I could not eat after for 24 hours due to restriction..plus hit and miss with travel insurance coverage on each trip.. Sometimes they would cover me, other times, not, which is scary , going to the USA, and being technically uninsured..(live in Australia) Now? One pillow..no gaviscon, so blockage, no cravings, no more weight gain, and I was a 10 coffees a day person, and now no coffee or cigarette cravings.. Weird, really weird.. But, yes, very very very happy with my decision..

I've had the band since 27 Feb 2003. I've done alright with it - went from 133 kg to about 47 kg and then back up to current 70 kg. Throughout this time, I've had 3 or 4 hospital admissions due to total blockage of the band, even with relatively small amounts of saline in the band. The last admission was in Sept 05. Then they realised that there was slight slippage. I've not had a fill since then and have steadily put on a fair bit of weight. Barium Study done in May 2005 shown grouse dilation of the proximal pouch as well as further slippage of the band. Am scheduled for revision surgery at the end of the month. Anybody had that? Can tell me more? By the way, I'm from Singapore. A tiny island out in South East Asia.

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!

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!

My situation was different as I was a revision from band to sleeve, but my revision cost was $5000. Plus I had my gall bladder removed at the same time, which my insurance paid for, so the OR and anesthesia costs were covered by insurance. Dr. Barker also did my lap band, and I did NOT have to have a sleep study or psych evaluation before it. I did have to have a cardaic clearance from a cardiologist though before both surgeries. I know you need to get an idea of the cost, but please don't base your decision solely on price. Dr. Barker is an excellent surgeon and VERY experienced with all types of weight loss surgeries. We're lucky in the Dallas area that we have quite a few experienced bariatric surgeons to choose from. There is no reason to go to someone that hasn't done hundreds or even thousands of procedures if you live in our area. Be very choosy and ask lots of questions when making your choice.

I haven't done my revision yet, but am 90% ready to book my appointment for November. Why am I switching? Because I hate my band. Right now I have acid in my throat and just finished yacking up a some pizza (I took 3 bites of a pizza). While last night, I was able to enjoy dinner (lots of it) at my parent's with out any problem. I also have a leak. My band is just so unpredictable and I'm afraid of the damage it is doing to me.

The band made me constantly sick. It was an easy decision as soon as I found out about the sleeve that I wanted that thing out of me as soon as possible and to have revision surgery to the sleeve. The sleeve is everything the band was supposed to be-small portions and no hunger. The band can completely ruin your stomach and esohagus so I wanted it out before it did so much damage that it could not be repaired.

Two things are up with my band. Number one..I may not have been receiving fills when I was told I was receiving fills. The paperwork does not show the I received the last two fills that I was told I received. There is no way to tell if I received them or not because my port has flipped and is not accessible. I am 13 months out from surgery and already have to have a revision. Hopefully after the revision/during the revision my band can be filled to where I need it. I am hungry, looking for food and finding everywhere I drive or walk in this city and gaining the weight back faster than I lost it. Really disappointed. At this the lap band and the whole process seems to be another failure.

Once in San Diego my Phone decided to crash and I lost David’s number in which I was to call once reaching San Diego. Fortunately I knew his email and knew that he is always online and would answer right away. Once he did he informed me that Big Robert was on his way but stuck at the border and would get there as soon as possible. Robert and I found each other and he swiftly loaded my luggage and we were on our way toward the Mexico Border. To say the least I was nervous getting in the car with a stranger but after just a few moments he had me at ease and we were talking about family and cooking and I had forgotten I had just met him moments ago. Just as I was Settling in for the drive, we pulled up to the Recovery house. Robert grabbed my luggage like the gentlemen he was and walked me in to the gated community of duplexes. That is when I met Juanito,who is the guy that lives in the duplex next to the recovery condo. He is there for the patients before and after surgery. He is a great guy and will be that shoulder that you need to have if coming to Mexico alone.He showed me to my room offered to show my how the TV worked and asked if there was anything he could do for me.That is how I met Penny in passing Big Robert dropped me off and picked her up to whisked her away,and back across the border,after stopping at the coach outlet.That night I met David Lopez the coordinator for bariatricpal whom was sleeping most of the day because he had been at one of the hospitals with a patient that needed him. The next day I waited knowing that at any time they could tell me it was time to leave to go to the Hospital. Not sure why I was taken by bariatricpal’s main plastic surgeon and his wife to the hospital but I’m sure it was because Big Robert was picking someone else up or needed a day off. Once we arrived, it was as like clock work, an ekg was done,and Consuela came in to prepare me for surgery.Not to mention Little Robert was brought into the picture to keep me company also during my stay at Santa Fe Medical Center. Later that day I awoke to Consuela in my room putting antibiotics and pain meds in my IV,and Lillte Robert sitting on the couch in my room. Consuela tried very hard in broken english to tell me I was fine and to go back to sleep, but in most cases Robert would tell me what she was saying.Many times during that day she came in to check on me and to make sure I didn't need for anything.Then as the night came to a close she came in one last time,after Robert left to let me know she was heading home. Not to be unfair but the other nurses at the Santa Fe Medical Center were nice but not as mothering as Consuela. There was also many interpreters wandering the hall if needed. My favorites were Salvador or Edwin.Awaking the next day I was told to take a shower they would change the bandages and then it was time to walk.That is how I met my neighbors in the next room also going through the same procedure. With every walk I tried to push a little further and knew the gas would dissipate with more movement.Soon enough the Plastic surgeon and his wife were back and I was packed up and taken to a near by to a x-ray lab. The swallow test was done and we were headed back to the recovery house. This is where I met Kim my roommate, for the first time. we had both had surgery yet hers had been a revision. we talked and watched TV and Robert took us walking through the neighborhood. Juanito also has the most wonderful chicken broth he can get you. It is about 3 dollars US when he arrives with it but WELL worth it. That night I started my period, from Hell!!! Both Kim and I were visited by our surgeons and video taped our journeys.That is when I met Kim’s doctor, and she met mine.Dr. Lopez was very kind and did a great job on my surgery and came highly rated by my new pen pal and his education, yet lacked bedside manner and english to communicate. Though I had been warned of this before choosing him as my doctor.Though Dr. Zavalta was just the opposite of Dr. Lopez and was very comfortable talking to his patients in english. David was asked to print up Dr. Zavalta’s nutritional guide lines for healing for Kim,who in turn gave them to me since my doctor gave me nothing for followup but medication. Dr. Zalvalta also sat down with me and discussed everything and explained and answered questions. While my surgeon sat arguing with David over combining Nuts for all the Doctors.He also disagreed with me getting a copy of Dr. Zavalta’s guidelines(too late) .The next day Kim and I were saying goodbye and dropped off to start our journeys home.

not many surgeons will place lapbands anymore - too many people have had complications with them years after surgery and had to revise to sleeve or bypass. So I agree revising to something else is a better option for you.

Mine is June 22nd. Up until last week I was set on the sleeve but due to my EGD it may be changed to bypass. I have my pre-op Thursday and will make a decision then. Trying to avoid getting the sleeve and then having to have a revision due to acid reflux later. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App