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Sounds like GERD. One of the big components of it too is having the feeling like you're going to burp but it winds up being regurgitated food/drink. Definitely get the assessment from your doctor though, they might order other tests too. I have moderate GERD/reflux going into a sleeve next month and crossing my fingers it doesn't make this any worse or I could be facing a revision too.

None of the procedures really "cures" the diabetes, but they can knock it into remission; if you regain the weight, there is a good chance that the diabetes will follow it. When my wife and I started looking at WLS almost ten years ago, it was thought that the intestinal rerouting done in the RNY and DS was responsible for the metabolic changes that drove the diabetes into remission; since then, as the sleeve has become more popular as a stand alone procedure, it has been found that it, too, has a metabolic influence on diabetes and many leave the hospital without need of meds or insulin, so it isn't strictly a function of the weightloss as previously thought, and the remission rate for the sleeve is similar to that of the RNY, typically in the 80-85% range. If treating diabetes is ones' primary concern, then one should look seriously at the DS as well as that procedure has a diabetes remission rate of around 98%. This should not come as a surprise as the DS started as an intestinal rerouting procedure targeting diabetes to which the sleeve was added to make it a weight loss procedure as well. The DS is a longer and more technically challenging procedure for the surgeon which is why many don't offer it (but those that do tend to be from the top of the class, so those are guys who are well worth investigating no matter which procedure one chooses.) It will also usually be the more expensive procedure, but its also the most powerful in terms of weight loss and regain resistance. I was talking to a woman at our support group a few months ago who had an RNY 25 years ago and by all measures has been very successful with it, maintaining her normal weight range - up until just a few years ago when some of life's stresses brought back some of her long lose weight (not the 100+% regain we sometimes read of, but maybe 50-60%) and with it her long lost diabetes. Her weight is not overly excessive (at least these days in the western world!) but it is the diabetes that has her concerned, so she is pursuing a revision to the DS to knock it out. Deciding on what WLS procedure to pursue is not easy - for me starting as a relative lightweight with around 100lb to lose and reasonable dietary discipline developed over these past few years of working to avoid WLS (but no diabetes,) the VSG was the choice for me; for my wife with her diabetes and 200+ to lose, the DS was the better choice, and she still maintains after eight years that she could not have been successful with just the VSG (or the RNY.) A great presentation on the different characters of WLS procedures is here - http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/amos/4416773/quotDoes-the-Patient-Fail-the-Procedure-or-Does-the/action,replies/topic_id,4416773/page,1/ I fully understand the cost concerns, and the interest in only going through this once. We self paid for my wife's DS and it was definitely the way to go for us. Some at a similar starting point can get by with the RNY or VSG, but it takes a somewhat different character to do so. In the close to ten years that I have been in this world (only the past 20 months or so on my VSG,) we have seen a few three time WLS patients - band revised to RNY revised to DS to get what they needed, so it is well worth the time to research the heck out of this to get the best fit for your needs. One final bit of perspective on my VSG and why the RNY was never a serious consideration for us (beyond the basic differences that are usually brought out in threads about the RNY vs. VSG like no NSAID use, possible dumping, and misc. nutritional issue after the RNY,) is that should the RNY fail us and needs revising to something else like the DS, that is a very complex revision for which only a very few surgeons (on the order of a half dozen in North America) are qualified to do, while the VSG is an integral part of the DS so a future revision is fairly straightforward should it be necessary. Good luck on something that is not an easy decision,

I'm 2 years out, I screwed up and gained almost 40lbs back so I had the overstitch revision procedure a few days ago to get myself back on track! So far, so good!!!

I also have Cigna my paperwork was submitted and one week later denied. This was last month. The denial letter stated I had not met their requirement for three month supervised program which was true. I thought n was told by surgeons office they would accept weight watchers. Well they do put if supervised by dietician or doctor. Also they stated I hadn't submitted letter from another doctor recommending surgery, Ian's giving clearance. I did have letter from PCP but apparently it was not good enough. I contacted my PCP n she I hope will call cigna to see what is needed. I had originally started a three month supervised program because I thought I had too so this was actually a good thing I will finish that on 18jan. Have to see behavioral, get revised ltr and hopefully will get approved!! I hope so I'm starting g to eat everything in site n at the rate I'm going ill be 20 pounds by end of January !!!

I understand the feelings of jealousy. I was banded in 2009. It was horrible because most times I was hungry and the only food I could tolerate were slider foods, that put the weight on. in 2011 my DIL had a sleeve, she was a little heavier than I was and less than a year after her surgery she looked great. She could eat what she wanted, but less of it and seemed so happy with her WLS choice. I couldn't believe that I had made such a mistake, but felt it was too late to do anything about it. I stuck with the band for many months later, while she continued to lose weight, I either gained it or would be vomiting most of the time. The worse thing .. most people don't think I eat a lot of food anyway, but I gain weight with no problem. I recently revised on 12/26 so my "new" weight loss journey is just beginning. I am praying that I will be more sucessful with the sleeve. Right now I am feeling a little hungry, but not able to eat more than a few sips of this or that at a time.

did they you lose more weight after you graduated from the options program? I have 4 more classes, and only lost about 7lbs. Also, I had the lapband removed in Dec.8 last year and im awaiting a revision.

Typing this post from the gym this morning. Literally one year ago this morning, I was on the way to the hospital for the band-to-bypass revision... Today, I'm going to run 5 miles on the elliptical... Life has changed and I am so thankful for friends, family, and this community for the support and encouragement along this journey. As I often tell folks, I may have reached my weight loss goal, but the war of the scale and heart remains...always need to focus on maintaining a healthy weight and living life. Moderation is my friend. Binges are no more and emotional eating is always on my mind...... Reflection is key. It's not easy, but the surgery wasn't a magic pill -- just a tool among other tools to help me along the way. Maybe my new birthday will be Jan 21, 2013 instead of my actual birthday

I had surgery 4 years ago and everything seemed to be going well. I got a revision 2 years later due to a slip of the band, and now the band doesn't work...and now I randomly pass out. I have gained about 80 percent of the weight back. When i try to get an appointment at the doctor, conveniently they aren't available. I have read every nutrition book and even tried to work with a trainer for 6 months and no help. I also get fills that only last 2 days and then back to the same result. I also had multiple xrays to prove the band hadn't slipped and no leakage due to the amount of cc's in the band. It makes me wonder just what happened in my surgery that is now making me pass out. I just want to be well... the exact reason i had a weight loss surgery in the first place.

There was an interesting article in the New York Times about a young woman who had a Lap-Band weight loss surgery after years of suffering the emotional journey of an overweight kid. The story was very honest about what to expect with this type of surgery, and it also tracked the journey of the young woman. The story is of interest to many as more and more teens and adults are turning toward the option of weight loss surgery. The latest number of weight loss surgeries performed in the United States is 220,000 per year. That is a seven-fold increase over the past 10 years according to the New York Times article. Weight loss surgeries do save lives and also improve quality of lives for sure, but they aren’t for everyone. The surgeons do the surgery and are skilled at centers of excellence, but unless the patients come back, join support groups and stay in contact with dieticians, falling off track is way too easy and, unfortunately, many of them do, including the young woman in the NYT story. I run several food addiction groups in Houston, and was featured as the psychotherapist for TLC’s show “Big Medicine.” On the show, I worked closely with Drs. Robert and Garth Davis. We tried to give the viewer an honest look at what happened with the weight loss surgery and the journey after. My work now is primarily with revisions. Revisions are the surgery done when the first weight loss surgery failed. My office is full, as are my support groups. What happened to the patients that so eagerly came into our offices feeling empowered and ready to give up their morbid obesity forever? They are replaced with patients who hang their head feeling like they failed. Even though they feel defeated, the ones I see are the fortunate ones who were able to step out of their shame cycle, call their insurance company and ask for a second chance. They need a second chance because neither they nor we (the health team) had a full picture of what was underneath their weight. They couldn’t see it prior to surgery, and since they are their own historians telling us their story, we are blinded also. I believe in weight loss surgery, but I believe more in the knowledge we impart to the patient prior to and after the surgery. Performing an alteration, such as a weight loss surgery, is a huge decision, but in the case of a minor I think the whole bariatric medicine team must be on board. There has to be a built-in safety net to handle the transformation of the child as well as their family. Everyone who loves the patient must change when someone they love has weight loss surgery. The counselor, dietician, and surgeon must know all of the family members. We must know who is sabotaging and enabling that patient on an emotional level. Enablers are the people still giving the patient food as a source of love. Our bariatric treatment teams must also understand if simply making better food and lifestyle choices worked, it would have worked 20 diets ago. It did not. Obesity has an addictive component, and addictions are kept in place by denial. Most patients will tell you they are not addicted to food exactly the same as an alcoholic will tell you they aren’t addicted to alcohol. The question is: “Do you use food to comfort yourself?” If the patient says “YES,” then treat them for a food addiction. Do this because they are telling you they have a relationship with food that is emotionally based and most likely they are choosing food with high fat or high carbohydrates (not one of my patients has ever had an addiction/emotional relationship to steamed or raw vegetables). Whenever a patient feels like a failure after going through the process of weight loss surgery and everything it entails, it is heart wrenching not only to them, but to me and anyone working in this field. If insurance companies won’t cover patient care for years to come after the surgery, then we in the field are going to have to put these measures in place and make them affordable to the patients. We cannot tell a patient they need to continue in groups and follow-ups if they can no longer afford the cost. Whoever said, “Weight loss surgery is a quick fix” truly never had weight loss surgery or worked with my patients. There is nothing quick about it. Obesity is a disease and once you have it, losing the weight is the easy part, managing that loss is a life long journey.

Have you already had your band removed, or are they doing the removal and revision at the same time? I am having my band removed and sleeve revision in one surgery (that's the plan anyway!) Aiming for the end of July! Good luck!! Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App I had my band removed in 2013! I had a terrible slip and was very very sick! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App I got mine in October 2008. I also had a slippage in August 2013 and had it repaired. Should have had the revision done then. Grrrrr!! Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

I lost 50 lbs on medifast eating 3 brownies a day, i still have some in my cupboard and plan on using them as my rewards after I'm on real food again. They are delicious. Revision 1/31/13 by Dr Cabrera and Venezuela in MX

I'm considering revision surgery from band to sleeve. I just haven't had much success and I've been banded for 4 years. I initially lost 40lbs but I've gained back 20 and haven't really changed eating habits. I'll be 45 this month. I have some problems with my foot and knee and back that have been preventing me from working out as much as I used to. I can't really do the treadmill anymore, but I use the eliptical and bike 3-4 days per week. Anyway. I'm just really frustrated. I've not had any issues with the band like slippage or reflux, etc. So I'm not sure if revision is going to be the way to go. But I don't know what else to do. I've been playing with the same 5-10 pounds for a year now almost. I stick to 1200 calories a day and that is not helping me lose weight. I eat less and that doesn't work. I eat more and I lose a few but then the next week I gain it back. It seems like no matter what I do nothing works. I go back to the doctor on June 11 so I guess I'll ask about it. It makes me nervous too because my friend who got the sleeve was in and out of the hospital multiple times with a leak and had a feeding tube for about a year and couldn't eat anything. Then again, she had other health problems as well before the surgery (lupus, fibro). I guess we will see..

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

Three years ago, I had my band surgery at almost the same time I'm having VSG next week. My first day of "real food" literally landed on Thanksgiving Day, 2008. It was actually one of the most special holidays ever. I ate one bite of EVERYTHING, including the pumpkin pie! I left feeling wonderfully satisfied and absolutely convinced I would have no problem eating like that forever. And I probably wouldn't have, if this stupid band hadn't sprung a leak.:cursing: Although I'm excited to have the revision and get back on track again, I'm entering this surgery with a little less confidence than last time. With the band, I lost 100 pounds in 1-1/2 years..... and then gained back 65 pounds in 8 months! I hate that I'm having to "start over" and terrified that I may not be so successful this time. I just can't go through this disappointment again.:crying: So.........the point is.........Thanksgiving and Christmas will be absolutely wonderful for all of us. We will feel and look so much better by then and we won't feel the least bit deprived of our favorite foods!

Hi! I'm working with Dr. Kim's office in hopes of doing a revision to sleeve. I've had my initial visit, my EGD, a follow up, and am now waiting on insurance approval. I'm wondering if anyone out there who sees Dr. Kim or his associate has had trouble getting things done? I was seen initially in November. I called the sleep study place the first week of December because they had not called me like Dr. Kim's office stated they would. The sleep study place told me they would have to pre-cert my insurance and they would get back to me. Okay, that's reasonable. I waited patiently through the holidays as I know how that can slow things up. I finally called them the first week of January and they told me they had no record of me. Ugh! So when I followed up with Dr. Kim's office for my EGD results they faxed everything back over. I still have not heard from them. I was told that everyone who comes to Dr. Kim must have a sleep study. I had my EGD on 1/4/13. No issues were evident, so that's positive. While at the hospital, everyone kept asking me if I was coming back next week for my sleeve. It seems everyone who was getting an EGD was already approved and scheduled. And from what I overheard (those curtains hold nothing back), they all still had the band, same as me. Hmmm... So, my questions for you who have been to this practice are these.... Did you have to have a sleep study? Did you have issues with the clinic where the studies take place? Did you have the EGD right before before surgery or was your surgery date dependent upon the EGD? Did you have to have a cardio workup? I'm really not trying to be ugly or anything. I'm just wondering what other's experiences have been like. I'm a nurse so I get that things have to be done according to policy, etc etc. It just seems that it's not going so smoothly for me. When I was banded I had everything done, boom boom boom. (I have the same insurance and I feel confident they will approve the revision. My insurance is pretty good.) However, this experience is much more chaotic. If you have story, please share as I'm just curious. Thanks!

Buttrfli - Congrats on your revision. Believe me, I am almost 12 weeks out and it get easier and easier. I felt a little hungry in the beginning also, but once you start eating more substaintial foods that too shall ease up. Welcome to the revisionisa club!

thank you for your comment. i thought i knew why i was doing this, and up until this week i was happy about it, despite some warnings and misgivings from others, i have a friend right now in kidney failure who was supposed to have revision surgery but the leak wasnt caught in time and he is now on dialysis. i know most wls stories are ones of success and happy outcomes. some arent. i just have been feeling depressed thinking others see me as a failure because i am overweight, and if i choose not to have surgery they are also going to see me as a failure, so either way i am feeling bad about which decision i make.

Hi Aivey! Congrats on your baby. Well the band looks like it's more hazardous to your health, most insurances will not hesitate to revise you from band to whatever so if you choose which is most likely the VSG or the RNY. I doubt that you will have to wait a six-month diet prior to surgery. It all depends on your insurance too. I suggest to go ahead and speak to your surgeon and get the ball rolling Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I went in thinking I'd be banded for life. That was my plan. However, I have been nauseated and vomiting off and on throughout the year which has made my band slip. Even though I have no saline for the past 8 months, I'm still nauseous. I'm not as big as I was when I was first banded. I don't have acid reflux, my esophagus is fine, however, last year, it was slightly swollen. I am currently prepping my body for this revision surgery I'm having next week. Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

I need a little help from others that have been approved with CIGNA. THIS Is the most up to date policy (see below). They actually update their policy on the 15th of July so it was revised and updated today. No changes were really made. Anyways, I do meet the requirements but my question is regarding Cigna coverage. Most plans require a monitored 3, 6 or 12 month diet/nutrition/weight loss management through PCP or somewhere similar. Cigna's policy says NOTHING about this, only that "a statement from a physician other than the surgeon, that the individual has failed previous attempts to achieve and maintain weight loss by medical management" - it gives no other requirements or indicators. I called Cigna and two different reps confirmed that it is not required. Although when I went to my Drs appointment they told me they thought it was six months worth of supervised diet! I think they are confused bc of the “within the last six months” part. SIGH! They said they will look into it more So, for those of you that have been approved in the past few months, do I have to have a letter from my primary that recommends bariatric surgery? Would this be the same letter or separate from the on where they state I have made several attempts and failed? And what did you submit/have your PCP write to say that you had failed previous attempts? Thanks in advance for your help! Sorry I just know Insurance’s are so picky! below is link to coverage https://static.cigna.com/assets/chcp/pdf/coveragePolicies/medical/mm_0051_coveragepositioncriteria_bariatric_surgery.pdf

Hi there, I recently had my band removed due to several issues since placement in sept 2008. My insurance company revised there policy on their revision surgeries. I had appealed it all the way to the state level in 2012 and denied, they said not medically/clinically necessar . Gained all my weight back since the after having 2 babies. Made an appointment to see my surgeon in July after I found Priority Health's revised policy on a fluke.fHe mentioned the BPD with DS is an option for the "super obese". I had to decide after my appt on Tuesday so they can submit for approval. I went for long term success over safety. With 2 little girls at home, I hope I chose right! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

These are my two. Daryl and Carol. My mutant fattie, Carol (the grey one) eats just about anything. I like to play this game called, "What will Carol eat?" Katy W- Louisburg, NC Lapband revision to VSG with DS HW- 297 Weight at Surgery-279 CW- will update at two week appt

Sorrynametaken, I could have written your post. My story is exactly the same. Mine is also 10 years old, and even with no fill in it I'm struggling to get food down. The barium swallow doesn't show any problems with dilation or slippage, but I still slime and vomit every other meal. I thought it was going to last a lifetime but it's so stressful being hungry but dreading that next meal, and my surgeon thinks the stoma will eventually totally close off so even water can't pass, so I'm having it removed with a revision to a RNY. I know I'll never eat an average size meal again but I'm OK with that as long as I can do so without dread!

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 had my band for 4 years after having issues and problems( toxic silicone syndrome) my doctor suggested I remove it and revise to gastric sleeve. The day of surgery I backed out on the sleeve because it's irreversible and I was afraid I would have the same symptoms of the band. I removed the band 3 weeks ago and can't eat much I have been in liquids and mostly protein diet. I keep getting stuck with regular food. I lost around 13 pounds. But I have been so depressed and been having panic attacks with anxiety attacks. Don't know why this is happening it just comes on uncontrollably. My body is reacting so weird. Had this happened to anyone? If so, please give me insight will it go away or what's causing this?