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Hi everyone Was great to stumble across this forum and find out that Aussies visit too! I was banded on the 3rd of April (so 13 days today) at Bethesta Hospital (by Mr Kierath) in Perth. Im 6.5kg's down as I type, but have started to notice that my weight is starting to fluctuate (Im a scale junkie unfortunately!) and the last few days have seen me go from 99.9kg - 98.5kg then right back up again. Is this normal whilst you are still on liquids? I have my first appt with my surgeon since the "borg" was put in on the 24th of April - and boy I am filled with questions! My port is definitely noticable (which Im not happy about) and even my DH can see it sticking up through my tummy, just under my ribs. I am having nightmares that it has flipped or turned on an angle, and can see myself having some type of revision surgery. Has anybody had their port turn/flip - and if so whats the general action taken? Revision surgery? Sometimes I feel as though mine is floating around - or maybe Im just freaking myself out here! Lucylee - I had that tightness in the chest area that you talked about, and ended up ringing the hospital (because I was concerned) and they told me it was all perfectly normal. They reminded me that even though I had keyhole surgery, (and yes, it is less invasive) its still major surgery and that my internal organs were basically not settled and that the discomfort was caused by swelling of the organs and the gas that they use to pump you up to see what they are doing. Mine has only recently let up the last few days, so give yourself a good couple of weeks to let everything settle. However, if it doesnt feel right to you, the best advice I can give would be to ring your surgeon! Anyhow, enough of my blather.. I appreciate finding Aussies on the board, and look forward in getting to know you all better

@@k95 You are justified in feeling the way you do about your experience with surgery. I wonder is the sleeve was the correct procedure for you. This is an option to think about. You could try to get a second opinion on a possible revision. During my first lecture from my surgeons office. He explained the sleeve surgery first was designed for the super morbidly obese. The sleeve was the first stage until their weight was low enough for a malabsorption procedure. (Duodenal switch or roux en Y Bypass.) I can never walk in your shoes to know exactly what you are going through with this. I wish you the best. Jenn

I'm having revision to RNY as well (plus hiatoplastic and gastropexia). I'm going in on February 25th. I was satisfied with the MGB for over three years until my hernia came back.

BarryW, Christinamo7, 2GoldenGirl, all your reccomendations and suggestions are much appreciated. The complications from the hip revision surgery have left my range of mobility diminishing rather than improving and advancing. Thank you for the information, I will discuss this matter further with my Physical Therapist and my Doctor. As far as the protein mentioned by 2Goldengirl, I have a whey liquid protein(42g) in the am and my whey protein shake at night. The Optimum Nutrition Salted Caramel flavor is my favorite and it acts as a "sweet treat" at night. May I congratulate all of you are your weight losses!

I’m revising from sleeve to SIPS and was told by my doctor that I need 6 months medically supervised diet psych evaluation and all the other fun stuff. I called my insurance today and they told me there’s no requirement except I have to go through a different dept. which basically guides you through and make sure you are ready for surgery. I’ve had WLS twice. From band to sleeve and I’ve never heard this before. I have UHC. Has anyone else ever been told that??

After some Google Fu, it doesn't seem possible to "re sleeve" unless the sleeve was too large to begin with or has stretched considerably (although I don't see how that is possible). Seems the doctors either revise to an RNY or a DS, both of which also effect the absorption of nutrients by re routing things.

I was approved through Anthem BCBS. My coverage required a 6 month supervised diet, but since I was a revision the requirement was waived (as would my BMI have been, but unfortunately I was unbanded long enough that my BMI went back up.) Psych approval was also required. If you're anxious, just get a copy of the rider from your employer. They will have contract changes (riders) on file, surely. You can also compare it to your SPD. ETA: I also had to do the nutritional class, which for my surgeon is a combo of pre-op education, nutrition, and physical therapy - with a test at the end. So given that I was a revision, psy approval and education class were my only real requirements. Oh, and my surgery had to be done at a full blown hospital (vs. a surgery clinic), and required an overnight stay (which my surgeon does anyway).

That's one of my favorites! Lol Most people in my life know about my lap band and upcoming revision, but in the rare occasions where I would have to explain scars to someone new (like maybe a new boyfriend) that I wasn't ready to spill my secrets too, I always went with "Tijuana knife fight." Got a giggle and ended the discussion!

I was wondering the same thing! My lap band surgery was my only surgery experience and it was AWFUL! I've read that alot of people say that about lap band vs the sleeve revision. Maybe its because you know kind of what to expect. Anyhow, I am super excited and lets see what happens!!!!!! Hugs to you all! xoxoxoxo

I'm hoping to schedule with him in April for a revision from sleeve to MGB, so good to hear your experience went so well !

I have met a few people that have gotten revisions but most people i've met that got the sleeve are happy with it (but so are pretty much most of the people that have gotten the bypass too).

I am a VSG to RnY revision but not because my VSG failed me, because of GERD. I didn’t hit my weight goal but I lost 47% of my excessive weight and maintained until my revision. I do know I learned a lot between surgery 1 & 2 and my biggest take away is my surgery didn’t fail me but I definitely failed my surgery. Your tool, or whatever you call it, doesn’t decide what you eat or when you eat. It doesn’t choose to drink while eating or to graze. You get out of it what you put into it.

Some doctors are not able to do the procedure. You'd want an actual revision surgeon for it. It's not that it can't be done, it's that they can't do it. ;o)

Well you two it took me a bit to google and translate kilos into pounds lol, but I think I got the gist of the weight gains and losses. Like Chilo said there are many band to sleeve revisions on this site and they will be able to give you the low down on that idea. I was just curious though, I heard the port and metal on the bands were titanium like the staples used for the sleeve. If this is so you may need to go with a physician that uses threaded sutures and glue vs the staples if this is possible or maybe go with the gastric plication which is not excising the stomach only folding it within itself and suturing it up, to avoid the titanium. Hmmm

My restriction is still there and working after 4 years. Statistics I've seen say revisions are rare. I have compassion for anyone who has had a large weight gain or complications. The sleeve stretching scenario leaves me baffled. Are the mental health evaluations identifying eating disorders pre surgery? Are surgeons offices/medical community intervening if someone is binge eating past capacity repeatedly?(stretching their sleeve) Do people confuse stretching their sleeve with grazing? It's not that the sleeve has stretched. Grazing is not eating past the feeling of restriction. Grazing: Consuming poor food choices and/or excessive calories in many meals over, over and over throughout the day. The amount of calories would be as if you never had surgery. The weight would come right back. any thoughts?

I am interested in finding about an experienced veritical sleeve doctor in the US that would convert or do a plication revision to regular sleeve. I have maintained weightloss due to strick calorie counting, but I live a unsatifying life of deprevation/hunger and live on veggies since a bigger stomach - although GPS worked for awhile. However most should know that my results probably aren't typical and GPS does work for other people. Does anyone know a doctor that would consider plication revision to regular vertical sleeve? I hope I don't have to gain all my weight back if I am self paying for revision surgery. If a stomach has stretched out or stitches have come undone, I really don't understand why it is a big deal to convert to regular sleeve since they would be cutting that part out anyway.

Hi Lucy, I am scheduled for April 3rd myself. Getting nervous and excited. I had the band done 3.5 years ago and have had issues with since. They are to remove and do the revision at the same time. I am very excite to have someone scheduled the same day. Jennie

Stacie, I'm so sorry you are having to endure a leak. I had one as well, and it was a very long road to a full recovery, BUT, I can tell you once you get passed these speed bumps, life with the sleeve is awesome. I had a leak 2 days post-op my band to sleeve revision. I had leak repair surgery, where they sutured the leaked area with heavy sutures. My lungs would not recover after the 2nd surgery so I landed in ICU on a ventilator, in a medically induced coma for 5 days with a grave prognosis for survival. Once my vitals stabilized I was woken up, and then released a couple of days later with a central line in my arm and force fed 1800 calories a day through a TPN bag and sent home with drains and an in-home health care nurse. I was only 32 at the time, with an 11 year old son, and my husband was deployed to Afghanistan and was not allowed to come home. I completely empathize with you, but what got me through all of the trials of the complications, was my sheer determination to recover and beat the odds. My mother drove to FL from TX to get my son. I was alone for over 3 weeks and not able to eat or drink anything for 22 days. Nothing passed my lips from June 2 to the 25th with the exception of 2oz of contrast Fluid used for the leak tests. I won't deny being scared, and wondering what the heck was I thinking, but I have zero regrets because I survived, and learned about myself, and my strength to endure pure hell. I know it's not everyone's mentality, but I honestly believe that a positive attitude will help you overcome these obstacles through your journey. I was hospitalized for a week, 6 weeks post-op for abscesses in my abdomen and pelvic cavity. I was dehydrated, and once again came home with drains in my abdomen for a 2-3 weeks. But, I am stronger because of it. It's been researched, and documented that positive mental status will help you recover. You can and will "WIN" if you want to. You can and will "RECOVER" if you can will yourself to believe it. That's the only thing that got me through my recovery. I had to resign from my job, and now can not find another one. My husband went through severe emotional distress due to my condition/complications while being in a war zone. BUT, here I am almost 8 months out, and firmly believe that I endured all of it, and I've won. I'm healthy, happy, and my life is full of joy because of the trials and tribulations I endured, I cherish every day more than the last. If you need to talk, vent, or cry, please feel free to contact me via Private Message feature here.

Congratulations! Lots of us revisions here! See you on the sleeved side :-).

((((((((((Oh Babs! )))))))))) I am so sorry you got this news. Yeah, "medically neccessary" is quite the quandry, especially when viagra, et. al, get approved, but birth control is another matter entirely.... It took a long time to get my second skin graph after my motorcycle accident. I cannot tell you the number of Dr.s who said I just needed to baby the original site. Baby it hell! I had to sleep with a wet cloth on my leg just to help control the uncontrolable itching. In warm weather I would have to spend all day with my leg elevated to held reduce the seepage. And they kept telling me that I just needed to baby it an to quit whining about it. The insureance company kept turning the revision down bacause it wasn't "necessary." Fight this Bab! Fight! Fight! Fight! You know that we are all here for you. We all send you such wave of positive energy, we remember you in our prayers, no matter whom we pray to. If you need help with your letters, I know we have some very eloquent writers here who would jump at the chance to help you. You said the skin on your thighs is breaking down, are you bleeding? I should think at the very least you are suseptable to skin infections similar to celulitus. You might think about that angle when you write your letters. (((((((((( Babs! ))))))))))

As I have posted last week, I do indeed have band slippage (by the way with no apparent symptoms except vomiting/spitting up nightly) and was able to eat normal, solid foods so I must say you can have slippage and still be able to eat and drink and food go down fine. Scary that there are no symptoms I know.... I am supposed to hear from my insurance today on approval for revision and surgery for fixing of the slipped band. Please pray they do cover. If so I am to be scheduled for surgery either tomorrow morning or Feb 14th. I will keep you posted. I have faith in God that he will help me on this... Thanks for your prayers and concerns....

Praying everything goes well.. I'm 5 days post op revision. No problems, just soreness which improves daily,,,

I have not seen a real difference in my diabetic medicine but to date I have not really lost much. Immediately after surgery I had a very stable sugar at 115 or so and as I started to eat more ( types ) of food I saw it go up slightly, but maintain my pills the same. I go for my first fill on Thursday 3/6 and am excited, although I have had only one episode of "hunger" to date since 1/31. Did receive notice that my doctor and the center I go to will not take Medicare Patients unless on a cash basis after 4/1/08. So now I will have to decide what to do about the remainder of fills. All in all I am recovering nicely from my lapband, pacemaker revision and too long on taking it easy. Thanks for you caring and take care of yourself!

Well I had my surgery with Dr. Alejandro Lopez....Dr. Ortiz assisted but I think it's a different Ortiz. My coordinators are through Alighterme. I'm happy with my results. Now it's up to me to use this tool in the right way. It's definitely not a quick fix but this is a proces....a continuous process. I think I worry mor about food now than before. But no complains. Btw, when I had my revision surgery in NJ I was treated like crap.at MI Doctor in MX I was treated well and it was very clean

I had lapband to sleeve revision and sorry to rain on your parade, but I am complication free. I have had NO problems and only wish I had done this last year. getting sleeved was one of the best things I could have ever done. EVER.