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I have a question...I am 3 yrs out from getting my band. I have lost 60lbs and now gained 16 back. I just went to talk with my Dr today about doing a revision to Gastric Bypass. Has anyone with Medicare had a revision?

I went to my shrink appt on wednesday and she advised me that I was a great candidate for revision surgery and thinks that I would do so much better with gb! They surgeon team and my counselor will go into a meeting on Tuesday and make a decision! I feel very confident about this!

XRay Chic - how are you doing? Who did you end up going to for your revision? DId they do it all in one day?

Hello all - I will be having revision to RNY from band in two weeks. I go for my pre-op on 7/18. I'm full of all types of emotions right now. I'm excited, scared, hopeful and anxious all at once! I found out a few months back I was having complications with my band (esophogus) and some erosion. My port has also flipped (for the 2nd time). I changed doctors when I moved from Georgia to Florida a year ago. My new doctor told me the band had to go - was causing too many complications and with my GERD issues I should never have had the band to begin with. I had a consult with with my new doctor, Dr Nye in Pensacola, this past week after discussing RNY. They filed for the insurance last week and I talked to them today and I was told insurance had approved me :-) So a new journey begins - wasn't the one I thought I'd be taking three years ago. I was banded thinking I'd have it forever and had no idea the problems that I would have nor that I would regain all of the hard lost pounds. I'm looking to this with glass half empty - I know it is going to be hard, perhaps harder than when i was banded. I jus thope the glass fills up in the end...just trying to prepare as much as I can.

Can someone tell me a sucess story? I am two years out from the Band... I get stuck.. I have a difficult time eating.. but I have only lost 25 pounds. I am very discouraged to the point of not trying anymore. I was watching so carefully and when it stopped coming off... for months and months... I just started to eat ... I gained about 7 pounds.... I don't think I am a "band Person" Has anyone had a similar experience and had a revision that was succesful in weight loss? Or am I just doomed!.... So sad,,, so upset with myself... and so discouraged... I have never felt the "stop hunger" feeling they told me I would have.... its is hell.

I am have revision on May 20th. only lost maybe 30 lbs in two years with the band. follow therules and then started having problems with my band and the Dr wanted it out. The INS would only cover removal if I decided to do the RNY. at first I was unsure but after researching I am at the point I wish I would have had it in the first place...Still nervous but ready!

Same here. Also although the sleeve seems to be a good option I still think I would be quite hesitant to revise to one . The surgical and post surgical risks and complications sound so scary compared to a band. If something went wrong with my band I would be hoping that they could replace it. If they couldn't then I would probably go for a sleeve but I imagine it would take a lot of work to convince my DH that it was an option.

Hey all! Total bp newbie here I already love it, enough that I felt like signing up as a VIP was well worth it. My psych was the one who recommended it to me and then I saw another post about it on a WLS reddit...and here I am. I'm 39, married to my best friend for 10 years now, mommy to the greatest little boy ever. I'm originally from IL/WI but we migrated south a few years ago to escape the snow We're geeky types...we were both in IT until I took leave to stay home with our son. I'm looking forward to returning to the working world once he starts kindergarten. In the meantime I've built a small part-time business selling my artwork, which is a great creative outlet for me. I was banded 10 years ago and I'm working towards a revision to an RNY early next year (just waiting to hear back from the insurance company at this point). There's a lengthy story to go with how I ended up heavy in the first place, and my initial WLS journey....but that's what the 'my story' section is for so I won't go into it here. Anyways, I hope to chit-chat with everyone around the forums, I'd post a picture but I haven't quite gotten the hang of where to upload my media yet....I'll find it eventually *Edit* - hey look, by george I think she's got it! Cheers!

I am having my band removed and I am switching to a sleeve. I have had problems with my band but mostly just not having the results I need. Other than my band not being eroded my surgeon says I can have the revision done in one step and the surgery I choose really. The band failed a lot of us, I can honestly say I did my best to work with it and it should have helped more. I do not minimize my part in the process on the contrary this is why I feel it failed me. I gave it my all and it worked for a while but them it stopped, the reflux, too tight, too lose, not being able to eat healthy food,etc Most people with a band know the drill. It took a while to decide on the revision because i do not want another disappointment but I talked to so many successful band to sleeve revisions that I am ready and feeling positive about my outcome once more.

Update! I appealed the denial, appeal was denied again, took the next step which was an external review from a 3rd party company, and they deemed the revision medically necessary so now my insurance is legally bound to uphold that decision and cover it 100%. It took a while, but I won! More excited about winning the insurance battle than I even am about the surgery, but I know it will sink in soon.

Jersey City area here. Currently have the lap band but will be revised to bypass by dec2013/ jan 2014. My surgery was done at Lourdes Medical Center in Burlington NJ by Dr. Samuel Wasser. Same Dr. and hospital for bypass in the future.

@@UsernameTaken yay so happy for you. I'm also revision from band to bypass. My surgery is May 6th so you aren't too far behind me. We should definitely keep in touch since we are going through the same exact thing. Please let me know how everything goes and message me anytime if you want to talk more. Heather

I told my surgeon that bypass was what I wanted and that's it.They like to do the sleeve because it's easier.I have a lot of weight to lose and the band was the "IT" procedure at the time and it was a failure and messed up my stomach and other organs.I developed Gerd and Esophagus torture.I had the revision to the "Gold Standard" RNY on December 28,2015.I have not dumped once and my acid reflux is gone.I feel great.I take my vitamins and although I am a slow loser because of my PCOS and sluggish thyroid issues I have lost 40 pounds so far....and feel great.I made the right decision .Once the cut out 80% of your stomach.Thats it....By the way my friend had the sleeve and she has complications...vomiting and bad indigestion.Do what you know works.You don't want to have regrets later down the road.

I am 3 months into my 6 month pre-op period. I met with the surgeon on Tuesday because I currently have a lapband I want revised. Given my diabetes (diagnosed 10/1/2015), my severe obstructive sleep apnea and being morbidly obese (361 lbs on Tuesday), I've been focused on gastric bypass (RNY). I thought for sure my doctor would recommend that as well. But I could tell from our meeting that he advocates for the sleeve. He says nearly 90% of the surgeries he'll do this year will be sleeve and that sleeve patients are less likely to have future complications and that their labs are "boring" because they don't have nutrient malabsorption issues like bypass patients. Now I'm torn. He says it's up to me - that he'll do the bypass surgery. But I'm wondering if I'm being a polyanna in thinking I won't be one of the ones that has complications. I just feel like the sleeve is a fad - it's what everyone is doing now. But there are only 5 years of available data whereas bypass has been around for 20+. Anyone else have a similar issue? I'm also concerned because I'm a revision patient. I lost about 30+ lbs with the lapband and have kept it off (which the surgeon says is actually successful!!) and I really don't want to do the sleeve and then find myself losing only a fraction of what I need to lose. Any other revision folks out there?

Interesting...I wonder if this is a long-term outcome that was unanticipated. I had a Lap-Band that slipped within 2 months and I waited almost 1 year until insurance would pay to fix it. It was ridiculous-I had to lie down to eat without throwing up. I had the sleeve revision on 12/27/11. It was actually pretty good for the first 2-3 years although I am now 100% reliant on Prevacid daily. It is AWFUL if I am even a few hours later with the dosage. Some days the 1 Prevacid won't cut it and I need to chew on Tums or something because it feels like a heart attack. Fast forward 7 years out. The GERD is over the top ridiculous and I find myself eating things to just keep my tummy from throwing up the food I eat. Last year I started having huge problems with malabsorption. My surgeon told me I was crazy because the sleeve doesn't cause that. My typical "blame it on myself" alongside my "I am embarrassed I have gained weight back" self just went quietly on while watching my blood chemistry get all jacked up. When I had to get IV transfusions of iron I knew I had to get answers. I have bounced from specialist to specialist. I do not have a disease based issue. It has to be anatomical. I am seeking an opinion from a new surgeon to get a new point of view. Hope she is worth her salt because I am truly sick and tired of being sick and tired. I am starving nutritionally even though the sleeve isn't supposed to do that. I can only pray that answers are found and insurance will pay for a revision. I have been reading quite a few peer-reviewed journal articles about this phenomena. They correlate what I am finding and say what I am claiming is indeed real and a duodenal switch or RNY is my answer. I avoided bypass due to malabsorption but I think I need to stop crying over spilled milk because I am indeed here and the issues need to be addressed. I am currently 33.8 BMI so "obese" but nowhere near where I started. I have read that RNY is a better bet than the switch for my situation. The duodenal switch promises permanent weight loss but GERD is still prevalent in those revisions. All I can say is: NOOOOO! Bad road! Long post to ask if anyone has had similar issues and found success with RNY revision from their sleeve? Is anyone in the same place I am and just trying to find answers? I feel so dumb that all of my initial research was worthless because here I am with basically a self-inflicted life long problem. Add in the "I failed" thoughts and psychologically I have regressed to the blame game stage. Ugh! Would love to hear from you if you can relate to this posting. Please tell me if you are RNY patient and love it. I really fear it for the exact reason I am seeking help-the malabsorption and GERD. Teachkdz0507

Kiko1970. Just go to your doctor and get a referral to have it removed. I know lots of people who’ve had removal and revision to bypass through ohip (bariatric network). I paid to have mine revised, privately , because I couldn’t wait (was aspirating in my sleep). But former banders make up a significant number of the patients in the Ontario bariatric network.

as of Jan 1, 2019 I weigh 140lbs from my revision on Apr 11, 2018. My weight loss has slowed but I work out 3-4 days/week and run a 3mi almost daily

I lost band and had revision April 19th, feel great! Good luck Sent from my XT1254 using the BariatricPal App thank you so much!!! I'm so excited!!! Glad you are doing good, makes me feel so much better about this!!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi LabCop, All the best for your revision surgery hope all go well Michael. Sent from my SM-G920F using the BariatricPal App

In my opinion, I'd wait a while longer. I had my band placed in march of 07, and we have had a love/hate relationship until recently. I can't put my finger on exactly what changed, my mental attitude towards the band, different attitude, body adjusting to banding? if that's even possible, etc... Whatever the case, I've lost over 40lbs since February. I lost 40lbs from 2007 - 2010 and felt like a complete band failure. I still check this thread out all the time, because I thought for such a long time I would have to have a revision. A few relatives of mine had RNY and did so great with it, but I think I'm actually catching up. You also have to wonder why you think your band is not working for you... Or are you not working with your band. I think all of us getting any kind of weight loss surgery knows that we will have some kind of issue with eating, drinking, etc after surgery, but I also think we just get sick of it. Like, stop... I am so sick of PB'ing... But not wondering why you are PB'ing in the first place. Sometimes it's just an out of the blue thing for me, othertimes, it's my own fault... Also, not to punish yourself, but keep a food diary. Just to see your intake actually is. If its more than 1600 calories, you're eating to much. Under 800, way to few. Maybe its the food you are eating. Too much of a good thing is still too much... I learned that the hard way. Maybe not enough exercise? Maybe you've given up so there is only ice cream and no exercise. Its ok, I've been there. But just be honest with yourself. You can take some time off from the band. The best thing I ever did was join weight watchers for 1 month. That was all I needed. Learning to eat proper foods, with the proper portions. Also, getting back to my original BAND rules helped. Slow down while eating, no drinking, limiting liquid cals, Protein first, veggies second, etc... and keep posting on here. There are so many people in you situation... Just remember, the science of losing weight is sooooo simple. Calories in versus calories out, but it is one long, painful, emotional roller coaster! We're all on the ride together!

Absolutely! I am currently 4 months post Revision. I'm down a total of 65 pounds and feeling great! I have developed a motility issue with my bowels, but that's minor now that we have it figured out. Was extremely frustrating when it first started. I'm in the 197 range. Seriously slowed down weight loss at month 3 and 4. Haven't been able to be as active as I want/need to be. Bad back. Teri

Our stories are very similar. I was sleeved in 2016 and similar weight. Lost 90 lbs, my surgeon wanted me to lose 100. Had 2 additional babies 2 & 3years later, then covid. I’ve been offered Topomax & Lomaira after starting a weight loss program, but not very effective. I lost 15 lbs at the most. I have a date 6 weeks out for DS revision with my same surgeon. How has healing been the last 2 months, and have you seen progress? How long was your hospital stay?

The DS as a virgin procedure is more challenging to perform than a VSG or RNY, which is why relatively few bariatric surgeons offer it, despite its' demonstrably better performance (the RNY is "good enough" for most patients...) That's your first challenge - finding a reliable DS surgeon. Converting a VSG to a DS is straightforward for any DS surgeon, as the DS uses the VSG as its basis, so it's mainly a matter of adding the "switch" part - the malabsorptive part - to the VSG. Revising an RNY to a DS is another, much more complicated matter, and surgeons who can do that are few and far between. It used to be, a few years ago, that there was maybe a half dozen surgeons in the US that reliably did them, and I have seen references to a few more have joined the ranks in recent years. Rabkin and Keshishian in CA have both done them for many years, as has Roslin in NYC. I've heard that someone in Salt Lake has done some, along with some docs at Duke University in NC, possibly Kemmeter in MI. Some surgeons who don't do the DS will offer to revise to a distal RNY instead - that is a "long limb" RNY that has malabsorption more akin to the DS. However, it does not have a great reputation, and is usually not approved by US insurance as a primary procedure (but often will as a revision under the right circumstances.) My take on why it seems to be more problematic than the DS is that it is rarely done, and the surgeons and their practices aren't all that in tune with its' long term requirements. A DS, and by association the distal RNY, has a quite different nutritional and supplement requirement to the standard proximal RNY, which is well known to those in the DS world, but not all that well appreciated by those in the RNY world. Like with the RNY, and much more important with the DS, is to commit to having annual labs and follow ups for life - with the altered absorption and nutrition/supplement requirements, things can go askew in sometimes if you don't stay on top of them. Those who do stay on top of things typically have minimal long term problems. I would not go to MX for a procedure like this, as you really don't know what you will end up with. Historically, there has only been one reliable DS surgeon in MX - Gilberto Ungston - who, if not retired, is heading that way. He has trained a couple of others to do the DS, but I haven't heard of him doing the RNY to DS revision. There are, of course, the various horror stories of MX surgeries gone wrong, and in particular of those seeking a DS and getting "something else" (who knows what.) There are great, reputable surgeons down there for the VSG and RNY, but I wouldn't go there for something more complicated like a DS, unless it was someone well vetted in that procedure (such as Ungston,) - the differing legal systems leave one with no recourse is something doesn't go right (and the chances of that happening with something as complex and an RNY/DS revision are high there.) Good luck - it is a long search for what you need, and be prepared to travel. Being in CA myself, and my wife is a Rabkin DS, we have seen several successful revisions like this from both Rabkin and Keshishian, so it is viable when done by someone experienced with it. It, also, is not a simple outpatient procedure, and Rabkin's standard practice for travelling patients is to remain in town until at least the 10 day post op follow up. Most everything else can be done remotely (and they are set up for doing so.) Keshishian is similar in this regard.

I have to agree with CGJ, I had a lapband 5 yrs ago and only lost 60 lbs. It was extremely hard and very painful and the vomitting and reflux problems almost scarred me internally. I had to fight to get my sleeve, I wanted to give up but I knew inside that I was worth fighting for. When i finally got approved for my sleeve I knew it was the 2nd chance and I need to make it work for me. Yes, I have hit stalls just like others but it wont keep me down. Dont let the small stalls get you down push on towards your own victory. Many here have had revisions and it may take a little longer but you can do it!!

Thank you for sharing, my surgery is scheduled May 5th I can't believe it's happening I already have a Lapband, it has given me some problems so going in to revision to sleeve, I am panicking, Lapband surgery was much easier, I guess the fact of getting my stomach cut escalates the panic to another level. I'm praying for strength to not chicken out, my Wheight is currently out of control due to the Lapband had to be unfilled, gain 20 pounds in 5 month... Trying hard not to and working out a lot I still gained them! Reading this thread made me realize my feelings & fears are more common than what I thought, I am fearful to have a nervous breakdown this Tuesday and not follow through with the surgery, but if I do I will never forgive myself! I am finding comfort in prayers and positive thoughts! Thank you again for sharing and being supportive through your own experiences.