Search the Community

I think the most appalling thing to me was the last bit about surgery being the easy way out. It certainly makes weight loss easier, but it's definitely not the easy way out. Best example I have is that my sort-of Sister also had the Gastric Sleeve a year ago, and she ate around her sleeve and maintained roughly the same weight she'd been at pre-op, and is now having a revision done. Meanwhile, I'm sticking with it and my weight loss is still dropping. She'd veered off her path as early as one week post-op, and kept at it. So you can definitely eat around the surgery if that's your goal. Meaning it can't be the 'easy' way out, because it takes so many lifestyle and diet changes to maintain proper weight loss and really take advantage of the surgery. That's a really bad message to give to post and pre-op people who want to have/have had this done. If they underestimate the changes necessary for these types of things to be really effective, they're going to go to their doctors thinking it's a quick fix, and it isn't. It really isn't. That said, there are a lot of valid points in the article about eating, and types of foods, but it feels like, especially two of the points up there really undermines the achievements and hard work that post-oppers put into losing weight and keeping it off, and all of the work we go through before and after the surgery. Especially the emotional/mental stuff that factors into our weight loss. I just can't agree with those bits.

I currently have a band and now I am seeking a revision to the RNY. I wish you the best of luck!!! p.s. listen to the doc

These pictures are the start of my journey, they were taken 8/28/17 the night prior to my surgery. Currently this is my second bariatric surgery prior I was banded 8/4/07 I went from 350 to my lowest point was 185. I maintained that weight for a good 5 years and slowly started to regain weight when my lap band started to fail me. I began aspirating in my sleep, couldn't eat unless I was standing etc. My surgeon decided it was time to revise and go with something more economical and less possibility for other health issues.

Hi Veritas! Like you, I wanted to lap band, but had some reservations. I started this journey last year. My doctor told me it was my decision, but... he did tell me how many revision surgeries he's done in the past two or so years - these are patients who had the band, and ended up - for various reasons - getting the RNY surgery. I didn't want to end up having two separate surgeries, especially since he's old school and said I'd have to wait another 6-9months and go through the whole insurance drama again if I needed to get the second surgery. I researched the RNY to the ground and decided to go through with it. I'm only 2 weeks post-op and feeling pretty good so far! I'd say get a second opinion if it would make you feel comfortable with whatever choice you end up making. We all know it's a long road to get us even to contemplate and to go through with surgery, so I wish you the best!

Your story sounds sooooooo much like mine! I was convinced I was only going to do the band! My hubby wasn't thrilled but was ok with just the band...then after hours upon hours obsessively researching my options I decided the bands success rate and limitations were NOT for me! I have decided to make a life changing decision about my health ,happiness,&the way I view who I am..the band while I'm sure works for some...has a VERY high failure rate & complications...if you will really look @ different post on here I think you will see that many people are having revisions from band to RNY...I will finish my 6 month diet in April & should have surgery in the spring (God willing!) I was terrified of the thought of RNY now I cannot wait!!! I have prayed that Gods will be done where this surgery is concerned for me.i have total peace now & am confident it is the right decision for me !Also you will receive so much support here ...it's almost like a extended family ..everyone is supportive and truely can relate to you...if you ever need to vent or ask questions people are always here...I hope that you will find peace in your decision !!! hugs

lap band has taken what little butt and legs I had. But now I have to revise to another surgery and have no earthly idea as to what in the world I'm going to do. this is one of my biggest fears. I can't help but I'll heed all of the advice that others here are giving you. Therefore, I suppose Me and my bad knees will be trying to squat. I don't think my tooth pick legs can lose any more, Lord I hope not. Good luck to ya!

Following! I was banded in 08 and just started looking into revision!

Hiya all! I’m after some advice please, if you’ve got any pearls of wisdom then they’d be greatly appreciated! ;0) i had a lap band put in situ 4 years ago and lost just over 6 stone.. and I felt fabulous!! Sadly though a year ago I had a car accident that left me with lots of issues.. one of the these being vomiting after eating food. i had a barium meal which showed I had a slipped band and esophegeal motility issues which was likely caused by the slip. they removed all of the fill in the band and since then I am still sick when I eat ‘good’ food but I am also hungry all the time because there is no trigger to the brain to stop any more. As a result I have put on over 3 stone due to eating crap because it’s the only thing that stays down... and to be honest, it also cheers me up for all of 30 seconds. As all of the above clearly spells out, I have not conquered my food demons at all and need something to stop me from putting back on everything I have lost. This is why I am considering revision surgery for a sleeve instead, but I’d like to know if they are as good as they appear to be. Does anyone have any advice please? oh, also my BMI is only 30.2 at the moment and so anyone had the surgery done at this BMI as I know they won’t do it under 30. thanks for reading my essay ;0)

I just had band revision on monday, as my band had slipped. interestingly though I didnt have reflux. I simple had significant discomfort when I ate food and it progressed to pain even when i drank liquids. I was shocked that I really slipped because I had no reflux at all. So I guess you can have a band slip without reflux. :phanvan

I had a band for 7 and a half years... started having a lot of trouble with reflux and vomiting at about year 4 but put up with it because i was scared to have it taken out (i had lost nearly 40 kilos).... but then i started gaining weight anyway because it always had to be unfilled to try and settle the reflux. So last year i decided to revise to a sleeve. I had the band removed in November - lucky i did too because it had slipped and 'was a mess' (the words of my surgeon that removed it). Ive been waiting since then for my stomach to heal and will be sleeved in just over 2 weeks. Ive regained a lot of weight but let me tell you - having that band out was like a huge sigh of relief! My doc seems confident that the healing time will reduce the risks significantly, considering how mangled my stomach was, but maybe thats just his process - I see lots of people on here that do the revision in one step and have great recovery and results. Im scared still but excited at the same time. Best of luck

I had mine for exactly 6 years before revision. My story is of band failure also. One year after placement and many attempts at the sweet spot I never found it. I was under and overfilled for a year and then no one could penetrate the port for adjustment. I lived with an un serviced band for 5 years and had revision about a year ago with no -complications or scar tissue. It was 1 day outpatient surgery.

Hi, I had mine done on November 14th, I used Dr. Marza and he was great. Thanks for the reply. I hope you do great with your revision.

I was self pay for my revision....so my price was more than the typical VSG.....but Dr. Yu has self pay packages as well, his office is very helpful in telling you up front what you will be responsible for before surgery....

Thanks for the tip. It finally feels like it is making its way down. It has taken all day. It made for an uncomfortable day. Wishing you the best! I agree with you. This no easy journey. I feel that way with going in for revision after having complications. I have finally gotten to the point of not caring what others think. Yes, I had surgery and I am still obese for many reasons. The insurance coordinator is not very welcoming and treats me like I failed not really understanding why... This whole journey is filled with humbling experiences, realities and some tears...oh and swallowing cherry pits!

I am having revision surgery with Dr. Barkan at Winthrop University. Currently waiting on insurance approval.

§ Start getting in better shape. I walked, lifted, and did as much as I could 5 times a week getting ready for surgery. § Started practicing eating slower for lunch. § Watched many videos, talked to people who had been through it. § Oh, but best work was preparing for the mental changes with my therapist and worked through this book: http://www.amazon.co...=bariatric book § I drank a great deal of alcohol so I weaned myself off and slowly cut the caffeine. § Followed the pre-op diet to the letter § Shopped two weeks before surgery for the foods I would need for the first two weeks. § Revised my will and power of attorney just in case something went wrong § Tried pureed meal ideas before surgery so I had some meal plans.

Hi,thank you for your input. I revised from the lapband, and understand that this is a lifestyle change. I have no problem with carbs, never been a big carb eater. More of a drinker, so I will look for low cal drinks. I will count calories if I have to up them, but they are so little now, maybe further out I will become a calorie nazi.

My revision is scheduled for june 28th. The removal and sleeve are being done at the same time. When is your surgery scheduled?

My revision was 12/29/12. I was banded in march 2007, lost 70 lbs. had a baby in late 2010, and the band never worked after delivery. Imaging was "normal". I tried to get it working again but when it became obvious that it just wasn't, I pursued revision. After surgery, my surgeon told my the band had somehow become unclasped and was just loose. I believe this happened when I was in labor. I asked him about scarring, and he said all band revisions have scarring, some more than others. Mine wasn't terrible because the original surgeon didn't sew my stomach over my band. Anyway, my sleeve is working, and other than post op nausea I have had no troubles so far. Very minimal post op pain, never even filled my rx for oxycodone. I spent 1 night in the hospital. My revision was all in one surgery. Hope this helps, good luck!

I had my band out 8/27 and since then everyday is a constant struggle. I don't go in for a recheck to discuss the next surgery until the end of November. I am trying, struggling, succeeding, failing then repeating it all over on a weekly basis. I workout out but I am so tired of this battle with my weight, with my health. My guess is I won't be able to revise to the bypass till early 2013. That is 3-5 months of dealing with this and I am unsure of how I can. I have never lost this much weight and then had to battle with not gaining it all back. If I could loose 20lbs and maintain I would be fine. If I could maintain without fear that everything I eat will end up on my midsection I'd be okay. I am hating food, hunger and the depression that goes with it. Someone say it will be okay.

I hadn’t heard of it either & it wasn’t an option with my surgeon. Is it a Sydney thing?? I wonder if stomach stretching after sleeve was either an old wives tale or to scare patients to encourage them to eat correctly (portion size, frequency, etc.) so that wouldn’t happen. I do recall Dr Nowzaradan operating again on one of his patients saying they had stretched their tummy again but they had been eating exactly the same way as they always had: huge portions, many times a day every day for a long time. So they deliberately worked to stretch it again. No surgery would have helped them. As others have said it sounds similar to lapband (gastric banding) which are not performed as often because of higher risk of complications. There are a lot of people here who have had to have a revision to sleeve or more commonly to bypass because of issues with their band. On googling I noticed that some weight loss clinics don’t identify the possible side effects of the minimiser but did discover one (Perth) clinic that did: … placing a ring around the top of the sleeve can cause obstructive symptoms much like adjustable gastric banding resulting in difficulty swallowing and food intolerance. It can cause dilatation of the top of the sleeve which we consider to be the most critical part. It may also increase the risk of reflux, volume regurgitation and possible aspiration. But if you’ve done your research, weighed the pros & cons, and you know yourself & your challenges with eating best, & your surgeon supports you, it is ultimately your decision. All the best.

Well I am 5 days post op and tho it's true everyday gets a little better than the day before, I am so scared. I fear that I have made a mistake, I fear that something really bad is going to happen and I am selfish for subjecting my babies to this. Let me give y'all a little background....surgery was Monday 1/14, starting weight when I began pre-op diet was 278 at surgery 260....however I had a revision surgery from a lap band which had been already removed 11/2011 d/t slippage during pregnancy, but with it my weight dropped to 175. So Monday I check in for surgery and I am nervous, mainly because I was scared of the impending post surgical gas pain :-/ the docs came in and reassured me, slipped me something to relax me and I'm off to the operating room. Next thing I know I'm waking up, pain in my belly and shoulders pretty bad but mostly because they had me flat. Next thing I see is my surgeon telling me that I have had complications d/t old scar tissue and I bled out during surgery which required me to have several blood transfusions, I had a central line and was being whisked to ICU...oh and I would need to have another surgery on Wednesday to repair my hiatal hernia that was "wide open". It hurt to cry but I did, my husband was home with my babies so I was alone. Too weak to pick up my phone and call or text anyone. I've never been that weak before. The ICU nurses wouldn't let me get out of bed which I heard helps profoundly with the trapped gas pain...& I swear my pca pump wasn't working ( idk really lol) and I kept having to pee!! Every movement to lift up on the Bedpan was agonizing & tbh I didn't even care that some dribbled up my back. Then the respiratory therapist kept coming and giving me breathing treatments that force my lungs open...and I know the reasoning behind this but to do this while hurting and with an already dry mouth is nothing to right home about. The next the day they got me out of bed...and told me my blood pressure drops really low when I stand, understandable with blood loss...and they put me in a wheelchair for my swallow test. Let me tell u...omg horrible. The gastrograffin they make u drink is simply horrendous...and they had me standing in pain, dizzy trying to drink this stuff and in my mind I'm saying..."this is going to hurt to chug this". Don't worry it didnt it just taste retched and the dry heaves aren't the funnest. So yay I passed my swallow test! Back to ICU to start drinking...I took one tiny sip when I got back just to moisten my mouth and I was done. After several more blood draws I was told I would be moved to a regular room. Soo off to my room I went, the nurses and cnas there were very pleasant...they kept trying to push me to drink but it was hard cause I had no desire to do so, all I wanted to do was sleep. I promise I have never been so weak before in my life. I drank maybe 1/10 of a 20oz water bottle and started to feel my heart race, began breathing hard like I had come from the gym and passes back out. Around 4am the nurse came in and asked me...did u know you were having surgery today..I started to cry again, I had hoped they forgot :-(. I guess I was so scared of hurting more than I already did. Later on they came and got me for surgery...I was crying and the nurses kept asking what was wrong. Finally the surgeon came told me don't worry "anything bad would have already happened", then back to surgery I went. This time when I woke tho I didn't feel quite so miserable. :-). After another swallow study I was cleared to drink and began clear liquids. For the first time in a very long time I don't automatically reflux what I drink. Amen!! They kept me another night in the hospital to watch me, gave me several iron transfusions and calcium transfusions thru my central line....so many more lab tests. I got up and walked when I could because I was still so weak. They also came and did a venous ultrasound to make sure I didn't have any blood clots. The next day I was able to eat a Popsicle and my broth....baby steps:-) I'm not physically hungry at all but the mental hunger makes my belly growl whenever I see Joe's Crab Shack commercials:-). So I was finally released Thursday night, I have my jp drain in place which is causing ALOT of anxiety to me over it's removal. I will cross that bridge when I get there. Friday I rested, tried to play with my baby as much as I could before I got tired. I tried a protein shake and only got about 20grams in...but I did take my vitamins and tried to sip water all day. However....I have been running low grade fevers still, this was present in the hospital also but they told me as long as it doesn't go over 101 or I have other symptoms of infection that it is ok...I constantly feel my heart beating in my chest...my normal hr is about 45 and now it's in the 90's could be pain related. I'm still weak, and weirdest of all is whenever I fall asleep I keep having crazy vivid dreams....and in some of them I am like stealing French fries or other madness lol...I know how silly it must sound but it is what it is. I have been sleeping in my recliner because it hurts to lay flat, I tried this evening but no go. I'm hopeful for the future, but scared of being that small percent that all the bad stuff happens to. I sit here now praying for a better tommorow, for energy & health. Sent from my iPhone using VST

Hello MsMook, welcome to VST!! I'm a revision patient as well. There's a lot to know, so it would be more helpful if you might give us a little background on your situation. Don't be shy - when it comes to the band there is bound to be someone here who has lived what you're going through, in all kinds of complications scenarios. Ask lots of questions... we are always willing to either lend an ear or help out.

I'm the opposite. It feels like I have hit the ground running and it is coming so stinking fast. I suspect the week of surgery will go really slow, but then again I have a ton of appointments that week, so it may go just as fast. @april042019 I'm afraid to ask about the catheter!! It completely freaks me out too. I'm a revision, so my surgery is going to be a bit longer than standard, so I'm just so sure they will say yes and I just don't think I want to know! 🤣 I haven't even met my surgeon because my original surgeon was booked out way into November and my insurance won't cover surgery starting November 1, so I had to switch to the other doctor in the practice. So naturally, most of my questions are about him or things about my pre-op testing. My x-ray showed I have a kidney stone just hanging around and no one told me, so I'd like to ask about that. My new doctor does robotic surgeries, so I want to know if mine is going to be robotic. And of course the important questions like, "Can I wear toenail polish?" I also want to know if I'll have an incision in my bellybutton, I can't stand the thought of that, it weirds me out so much. Whenever anything pops in my mind, I just write it down to take with me. Just do that and you'll surely have a good list of things to ask!

My 2 week pre-op diet was 3-4 shakes a day with no more than 200 calories each and minimum 15g of protein, celery and cucumbers, and 1-2 cups of chicken or beef broth a day. Absolutely NO popsicles or sugar free jello. I would constantly be shaving celery with a peeler into “noodles” and then adding it to the broth for a soup of sorts. AND I was super lucky enough to do it twice in an 8 month period. 😂 (needed a hernia repair surgery that was coupled with a VSG to RNY revision to reduce chances of future hernias.)