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Someone shared this article from bariatriceating.com that I wanted to share here: Don’t eat bread! That latte has 35g sugar! No macaroni salad. NO tortillas. No rice. It won’t last without change There is no delicate way to say this. We have always set ourselves apart from other bariatric groups in that we don’t look the other way while post ops continue to eat the bad carbs. We try and bring them back to the bariatric reality. We coax you to knock off the Pasta, rice, tortillas or bread and often people get mad or try and justify it. For years we’ve watched people blow through this surgery and they all have the same story. Everyone thinks they are ‘Different’, that they can handle the bad carbs and the sugar (they don’t get sick!) and ‘because they have lost 100 pounds in 7 months they must be doing something right’. The first hundred pounds is the surgery Hate to keep making the same point, but your surgery did it, not you. Remember that you are not driving the car for the first year. Eating the same foods that grew you to 300 pounds, but in smaller amounts is not a good long term plan as eventually you will be able to eat larger portions. Ask yourself why eating the same bad carbs would be a good plan. No doctor has advised you to eat the same way post op as you did pre op. Post ops pick this up somewhere, latch on to it and defend it, often to the bitter end of a total regain. No one fights for broccoli carbs! It’s not that the bagel will kill you, it’s that these carbs make you hungry. They rapidly turn to glucose and burn… poof, gone, #Lookingformore. They don’t give you any nutrients. They don’t create a feeling of satiety or lasting fullness. The empty carbs work against what you are trying to achieve. If you were arguing for eating salad or green bean carbs, more power to you… but people are trying to hang on to foods without value. If this big argument was for VEGETABLES… well it wouldn’t be a debate as vegetables didn’t make us fat, it was those ‘other’ carbs. Did you ever meet an obese vegetarian and wonder ‘HUH?’… how’d they get obese if they are vegetarian? Same deal… its not the vegetables, its the other stuff… the carbs… the potatoes, bread, macaroni, rice, tortillas and sugar! Square peg… round hole Stop looking for slightly better substitutes for bad choices and find new healthier foods to love instead. We keep trying to force that square peg into that round hole. Stop EATING crackers and chips… don’t find ones that you can justify because they have fewer carbs. Enough with the terrible fishy shirataki tofu noodles. Learn to live without bread and pasta so it will not call your name. We aren’t changing the behavior or trend if we continue eating them, just slightly shifting it. Before long you’ve got your hand back in the Doritos bag & fork in the Mac and cheese. Look It’s Protein Cheesecake! Don’t add protein to muffins and convince yourself they’re good for you. Stop with the Starbucks Creme Brûlée Lattes because ‘they’re your one indulgence'; they have 500 calories and thin people don’t even drink them. Stay the heck out of Wendy’s. I read an article the other day touting all the ‘good choices’ in fast food restaurants. How about stay out of them. That’s the best choice of all! Why go to the place where you know there is danger. Before you know it, oops… there are fries in your bag! You know people gain back weight, right? In our first month of new Facebook Support group I have cried for new members who have gained back all their weight. I am not immune either after fourteen years, three bariatric books and knowing better. When life hit the fan, I comforted my bruises in the way I knew best and it has taken me ten months to lose fifty pounds of it. People are having revisions, a lovely sounding word for a second serious body damaging operation. What will change? Unless there is major change along with that new surgery, won’t it have the same result? Step away from the bagel! Own that there was and maybe still is something wrong with your food picker! Use surgery as an opportunity to change, not cheat. I used be bothered by the ‘word on the street’ that we were the carb or food police, but am now proud of it. If you want to promote the virtues of Everything in Moderation while eating half a Subway, there are plenty of groups that will help you do it. If you want to eat right and learn new behaviors to make the feeling of slipping on those skinny jeans last… we have a support group that’s a healthier fit. Bariatric Surgery IS the easy way out It’s a personal food cop that is always with us, that helps us push away from the table. We make it hard when we don’t live by the bariatric rules we’ve been given. There is nothing harder then gaining weight back after surgery. There is nothing better than losing it a second time. Control is empowering. If you need to pick up and start losing again… If you need to work off a regain… it’s not too late and your pouch works just fine if you choose the right foods. Clean those lethal carbs from your life and go back to Bariatric Eating – protein first and lots of fresh salad and vegetables. We’ve got the support for you to make that change!

I'm only 3 weeks out and I feel great! I know everyone's experience is so different and you never know where you will fall on that scale. I had read both extreme's before surgery and because I'm in my mid 50's I was worried I would not bounce back as quick as some of the younger ones. But I have been blessed. The worst pain was the headaches in the hospital that first night after surgery. I assume it was from the anesthesia or caffeine withdrawal, or both! I never even took any of the morphine they offered because I was afraid it would make me nauseous and I had not had any nausea. I still haven't. Not once. I am just starting soft foods and I've not had any trouble tolerating any thing I've tried. I've eaten Beans and shrimp and stewed tomatoes. I've always drank a ton of tea and coffee and I continue to do so. I drink 24 oz of coffee in the morning then switch to earl grey tea for the rest of the day. Most days I will have another 12 oz cup of coffee after dinner also. No it's not decaf. No it doesn't keep me up at night and no it doesn't bother my stomach. I take no PPI. Like I said, I've been truly blessed. I had a lapband put in 2.5 years ago and went from 233 to 183, then slowly started gaining it back as the band was either too loose or too tight. My doctor recommended revision to sleeve which he did all in one surgery. This is usually a little more in depth and so he did leave me with a drain for a week after surgery. The drain caused some discomfort when I walked. I wasn't sure what it was until he removed it. It wasn't painful, just kind of a weird tugging feeling. Kinda worrisome until I knew what it was! But the drain and the pain are all gone. I don't have the sluggishness described by others after the first week or so. I've been meeting all my Fluid and Protein goals from about day 3. Will this be your experience? I have no idea. But I do think it's true that most of the posts on the forum are people looking for answers to questions or people having problems. The rest of the people having no problems and no current questions are off living and enjoying their new lives. For me, I think this was the right move. I hope you are as happy with whatever your decision, as I am with mine.

I figured I'd follow up on my post. I got the call today that the revision is covered. The only things I need to do are the Nutritional Counseling, Psych Eval and get a letter of medical necessity and medical clearance from my PCP. I do still have to have a BMI of 35+ with a co-morbidity or just a BMI of 40. Which means I technically need to gain 8 lbs. But someone on another page recommended that I just wear some 10lb ankle weights to my weigh in appt. lol. I'm starting college on Monday so I'll be shooting for mid March, during my spring break from school, to get the surgery done. Just wanted to let ya'll know what happened with it.

While specific insurance policies may differ, typically the industry standards of 40BMI (or 35 with co-morbidities such as hypertension or sleep apnea) still apply. I have seen some that cover the revision with lower BMI if there was a mechanical problem with the band - slippage, erosion, etc. Any chance that you have developed any of those co-morbidities since your last surgery? It would be a shame and counterproductive to have to gain weight to qualify to lose weight, but that is sometimes how the game has to be played (ankle weights, anyone?) The psych evaluation is pretty much a standard provision, though the requirements for nutritional and exercise programs vary widely. Somebody in the process (the hospital or surgeon's practice typically) will usually want the deductible up front and sometimes an estimate of the copay as well.

I am 13 months post revision band to bypass and lately nothing seems to taste right. Meat in particular tastes weird. I don’t have an issue eating it, it doesn’t get stuck or make me sick but it tastes and often smells weird. For example the lamb mince we ate tonight tasted very gamey. I used to love pork and would often order it when we went out but the last couple of times that hasn’t tasted right either! At this rate I am going to end up vegetarian which could be a problem as there are a heap of veggies I hate ( the bitter ones) , don’t really like eggs ( I can do the yolks so long as they are runny) and only eat small quantities of cheese. On top of that if I try to turn my hubby veggie he will rebel! I can’t live on yogurt nuts and seeds! Has anyone else been through this and how did you deal with it?

I was revised to mini gastric bypass on 2/23. I had to have it do to developing Barrett’s Esophagus from my sleeve which I had 12/20/15. This was the hardest surgery I have ever had. I am home one week as if today and finally feel human again. Looking for someone to share ideas, recipes, goals and ups and downs. Preferably someone who had surgery around same time as me.

I am having a little issue with my port site, of course, I am a nurse and have been uh, treating myself, ahem. :lovechoc: Anyway last week the scab was catching on my clothes, so I revised it, trimmed it back some ect. Then I got a tiny amount of pus, no big, maybe didn't dry well from the shower, right? Dried it moved on... Last night scab catching again, sigh, I was revising it again and it came up, 1 cm open area at the end of my insicion, scant amount of pus, cleaned with saline, dabbed dry and secured with a butterfly. My follow up is on the 16th. Anyone else had a problem with the larger incisions healing? The three smallest are good.

Thank you for sharing your story. I am not sure that the plication is showing very good results so far overall, no matter who does it or what country. You know this, but I am saying this for any newbies that may be reading this - the plication is a totally unrelated and different surgery then the gastric sleeve. I hope your revision goes very well. I am a band to sleeve revision patient... it is disappointing when your first surgery doesn't work as advertised.

My husband had a fundoplication in 1980 and revision surgery 3 years ago. He has to watch his portions, chew food really well and avoid anything 'gummy,' like cheesy mashed potatoes or soft bread. Sound familiar?

I first had a hiatal hernia repair 5yrs ago due to the fact insurance wouldn't pay for it if I did it in conjunction with a lap band. So, I had the hernia repair then the lap band. After the lap band, my lung collapsed after discharged home. Spent nine days in ICU. No problems for another yr and lost 80 lbs 20 lbs from goal. Began having severe reflux. nothing helped. Dr claims my band didn't slip per xray. Went back to OR for either a lap band revision or nissen/fundoplication. He was to decide based on his expertise. I woke up to find I lost the band but had fundoplication. I was devastated. He said the band severely slipped so he took it off instead of putting it back in place. I did not want to lose the band. The moron left the port in place for unk reasons. Said he couldn't get the band back on and couldnt completely wrap the stomach around like he wanted for the nissen. I have not had any more reflux and have gained all my wgt back! I am so upset with myself. I want the band back. I am trying to find a dr who will do it. If Ihave to undo the nissen I would. I am afraid of Barrets esophagus if I reflux again. I dont want bypass. If anyone knows of surgeon in Texas who will do the lapband with nissen already done please let me know. I am desperate! I loved the band until it slipped. I dont think I needed the nissen to start with just a revision of the slipped band!

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

Wow, except for the slip your story sounds just like mine. I was banded 12/06, never tolerated fills, had so many fills and unfills I knew the radiology staff well. ;o) Had my band removed in June, revised to a sleeve at the same time and I'm here to tell you that the sleeve is FANTASTIC! OMG I love the sleeve! MUCH easier than banding! __________________ Originally posted at www.lapbandtalk.com

Hi MsMook I am a revision from lap band to plication with lap band. The reason I chose plication with lap band was due to insurance, they paid for my procedure. I started at 283 and am currently at 219. I have a blog in my signature, please feel free to browse through it if you have any more questions. I am extremely happy with the plication and hope to reach my goal in about 1 year. Good luck to you in whichever procedure you decide.

I am 5 days post revision lap to bypass surgery. I was up, walking and had zero pain in the hospital. But I had an IV so that likely had some pain meds. I was released after one night I took one Tylenol for the long ride home. They gave me a prescription for Oxy which I filled "just in case" but I have had zero pain, just a little tightness. My surgery was laparoscopic and I have 7 little stab wounds (?) with steri strips with little soreness. I think being on the liquid diet pre op really helped. It gives a new meaning to the term No Pain, No Gain. I wish you the same pain free experience.

re: "I asked my doctor and he said that I could have the surgery on a Friday and go back that Monday. But the more I read on the internet I'm seeing that people take anywhere from 2-6 weeks!" My bet is the doctor estimate is right.... At 58 my surgery went so well I was headed home the same day, had a couple days recovery & by day 3 was (somewhat feebly, given) carrying a few bits of firewood in for the stove. I gladly returned to modified work by day 5. I've heard of a few folks needing as much as a week, but we are all different. IIRC, it was near the 3rd week postOp I went on a solo road trip of 4 or 5 days. Learning how to eat in mushie stage in a non-protected envionment was a challenge. Certainly read up on all options to your situation and explore any questions before you consent. Sleeve wasn't an option when I had my Band done in 2004....yet given a bit of hassle and annoyance at times, I'm satisfied it saved my life, and consider myself a Happy Bandster. Should the time come for revision, replacement or repair, certainly I would hope further advanatages were obtainable. As it is, the worst day of my PostOp Band life has been better than the Best day of the last 5 years PreBand. If anyone asks about the (small) port bulge, I tell them that's my Alien Implant. Good luck in your journey.

Dr Abkin in Florham Park is doing my revision from the band (he also put my band in) he is great!

It's crazy, I think no matter the surgical route, we all seem to have those potholes and detours reaching our weight goals. (I'm certainly no exception and I still have yet to reach my goal. I'll touch on that in a moment.) I haven't had any issue with my band... no leaking, no slipping, and I seem to still be in my sweet spot. I don't overeat like I did pre-band. However, I was eating more than I should for my band. My hiccup was my knee surgeries. I had been in such a groove and rhythm too! I was no stranger to knee issues... one knee underwent numerous outpatient surgeries from an accident at 9 years old. Fast forward to age 39, then I had a microfracture on what was the good knee. Six weeks later I had a knee replacement on what was the bad knee. Bring on the complications from a surgeon that made an error in placing the implant... fast forward two years to a knee replacement on the good knee (dubbed Robot Knee) and then a revision on the bad knee (dubbed FrankenKnee). Prior to the surgeries I was nearly a gym rat and worked out so much. I felt great and the weight was flying off... I had lost 164 pounds. After the surgeries, it took all my energy just achieving the most mundane daily tasks. I had such bad swelling in FrankenKnee it was shutting my muscles down and I now have some atrophy in that leg. Yay. Here I am, 2 years later and finally in a groove. I still can't ride my road or mountain bike and probably never will because I don't have enough flex for the rotation. But, you know how the saying goes... when life gives you lemon make lemonade. Now that I've learned to adapt to what I can do and stopped feeling sorry for myself, I'm back in my groove. I've got 54 pounds that I'd gained to shed... and then it's back to where I left off on my journey prior to my "detour". (I started out the year 74 pounds heavier... so 20 pound loss in 2 1/2 months is something I'm happy with!) Wouldn't it be nice if it was just a straight shot from surgery to goal? We're all strong and resilient and we can do this!!!

I was not successful with the band but have done well since revising to the sleeve in 2011. I do not agree with the implications that "you can't fail " with the sleeve. Yes you can, you can fail with any WLS. For many of us the sleeve is more effective and less "fussy" in terms of getting it just right. I was one of those banded people who still had hunger but experienced pain when eating dense Protein. Sleeve has felt alot more normal...just a smaller tummy. My feeling is that the sleeve and bypass are effective procedures, each with pros and cons. Education on what to expect with each, and your own situation is the way to make the decision! Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using the BariatricPal App

Jacksonville North Florida Surgeons (904) 399-5678 twilliamsom@nflsurgeons.com The above surgery group was listed in the original post but I thought I would add the pricing information. When I called they said they will do the fills and revisions etc that are needed even if you got the Lap Band somewhere out of the country. The program fee is $350.00 and just $49.00 for each fill!

She says in the title of the post that she was sleeved, I am not sure if this is a revision from a previous band or not?

Hello everyone! I haven't been revised to RNY yet and I've stated so in an earlier response. I was banded b/c I was soooo afraid of having RNY. At that time I weighed 246. I have diabetes and it runs in my family. I am still a diabetic and after losing 44 lbs and regaining 15 lbs back, I now weigh 217. Afraid or not, I've started my RNY process. I should have done it before but hind sight is 20-20. I've had so many family members that were tragedies to this decease including my mother and a couple of siblings. How many of you have diabetes running in your family or a parent. I think that having RNY at 217 lbs is worth the chance of getting rid of diabetes.

Jade, There is no easy solution. It's a misperception to believe wls does the job for you. No matter what surgery you get, you will have to abide by the rules 100% to reap the benefits. Revisions are great when you are suffering true complications and one surgery is not working out for you. But I know my doc wouldn't qualify someone who just doesn't want to put the work in. They'll predict it'll be the same scenario under another procedure which requires just as much diligence and compliance. Getting wls and getting results takes dedication and work. The difference between pre and post op is that these procedures can help you with things like hunger management, portion control which in the long run will be critical for maintenance. Also, counting calories and understanding how much you are putting into your body allows you to get an understanding of what it means to be on target or to overindulge. It took me years of counting to finally get to a place that I can estimate with accuracy and no longer count. But the reality is, if I consume more than my allotment, I will stall or gain. Weight loss has a very simple formula that cannot by bypassed- weight loss= calories consumed - calories burned. You either workout or you limit intake. No wls changes that.

I've had my band for five years this month I've already had it revised a year ago I lost 105 pounds which was goal for me in a two year period. Maintained for a year. I gained back 50 in the last two years with my complications from my band slipping I don't regret getting it but it's frustrating going through the issues. I feel that I have had to start over but the restriction now is way different than when I had my band the first time around. I have the same band but it was repositioned from the slip. My doctor said that there's a 50% chance that my band will slip again. Frustrating.

You know, I am hearing more and more stories like this. It's downright scary. I have no band problems most of the time, but sometimes I feel like I have a time bomb inside me. I have a good friend who is a nurse who had her band removed because of all the problems it was causing her. She had the revision surgery to a sleeve too. She said there are a lot of people that can't even have the sleeve because the band did too much damage to their stomach. I am glad you were able to get the sleeve. I may end up with one someday too. Sometimes I think it's just a matter of time until people start having band problems. There just aren't enough people around who have had it for a number of years to tell if it's going to be okay long term.

Loved eating out before and after my sleeve (was also banded for almost 4 yrs prior to revision). I may get blasted for this but I eat whatever I want. Anything and everything. The only thing I've found is a no no is ice cream. Im a slow learner so I've tried it 5x and every single time I get stomach cramps. The last time I was begging God to get me thru it and Id never eat ice cream again. I still eat burgers Iabout 1/3 of an In and Out Burger), pizza (1/2 normal slice), tacos (3/4 of a Del Taco chicken taco), sandwiches (1/3 of a small Quiznos sub), and buffets (yes, I said it, a buffet). Thank God I can only eat a small amt of food (maybe 6-8 bites of any given meal) so I'm slowly losing. That was my goal of wls, to never diet again. Not eating certain foods seems like dieting to me. Every restaurant (even greasy spoons) has something on there u can eat. I just noticed that ur only 4 weeks out. That changes everything. Forget what I just said (not really, otherwise I would've edited it ) I was still on full liquids at 4 weeks. While I did eat out a few times during this time, it wasn't as easy as it is now (4 mths post). Any restaurant will blend a soup for u (Red Robins clam chowder is yummy thru a blender) and if ur really adventurous, u can ask for anything put thru the blender. They may not recommend pizza in the blender but if ur willing, why not? Like I said, I luv eating out. I eat out 4-7 times a week. Brunch is my fav meal out. Good luck to u