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Thanks Oregondaisy! I did call my surgeon and I told him everything I read online and he agreed that it was from the pouch swelling and pressing against the diaphragm. Maybe he knows he can't bullshit me because I'm a nurse. At any rate, he said it will just take time to go away =( It's still painful and this is a week and 1 day post fill. I think I might go back on liquids for a couple of days to see if I can drop some pounds and relieve this shoulder pain. Good luck with your upcoming surgery! I plan on saving for a revision somewhere down the road as well.

Had you dilated your pouch? Congrats on the revision..

Most good surgeons will suggest the more aggressive surgery (better outcomes,less revision/failure rates factors into their records) lazy ones will do what's comfortable for them. You have to ask for a lower level. I just wonder why if someone knows they have maladaptive eating practices (binging, purging, etc) , tendency to graze, very high start weight/very low goal weight why get a half measure? Why not go DS, where you have the highest rate of loss, highest level of malabsorption to combat all of the behavior? DS not available, cool RNY second best for your situation ( and of course this is all situational and hypothetical) But why with a history of binging not well controlled through meds/therapy, very high starting weight, lack of support, stressful job, would anyone go for VSG let alone band or balloon?

15 since august 15th seems pretty good to me. I was revised from band to bypass on june 12th and have lost 26 since. I would expect slower results with a revision at least that's what I was told. Good luck with everything!

Help!! I am wondering if anyone has any experience with Highmark after having a revision. I am looking to have a band to sleeve revision but I am concerned that it may possibly not be covered due to my current BMI which is 35. According to my plan coverage it states it will be covered at 35 with at least 1 co morbidity if there was failure to lose weight or complications which I fit. My concern is the co morbidities. I have had sleep apnea when I was diagnosed prior to banding 5 years ago but unsure if I do currently .. although my husband and kids say I am snoring really loud now again.. but I haven’t had and new sleep studies. I really need to get this surgery done and I don’t want to disqualify myself for insurance payment. I really don’t want to gain weight ..any suggestions or input on what I should do!!!!! HELPPPPPP!!!!!!!

He did my revisions surgery back in 2012. So sad to hear this. May his soul rest in the Lord, he was an amazing man.

Hi everyone! I just got approved to get the band out and the sleeve ASAP. I really haven’t spent a lot of time researching what to expect and it just dawned on me to come here! My band was a disaster and never was viable. The port came out after 2 revisions and I had MRSA. 12 yrs later it’s coming out. So excited for that. Did everyone have the revision to sleeve in multiple surgeries? Reading about the intolerance to artificial sweeteners has been interesting ...I’ve been trained since WW in the mid 80’s to have fake sugar. Any major advice for someone who is about to start this journey again? allison

Hello to revision from lapband to sleevers. I’m 22 days out and just wondering how everyone is doing. I’m having a lot of heartburn no matter what I eat. I’m still very fatigued if I do something for more the two hours straight, like housework. I actually feel faintish. Sometimes I’m hungry sometimes not. When I eat I have to be very careful because I don’t feel full until it’s to late then I’m sick, I’m trying to measure out food but I’m so hungry at that moment that I feel that one more tablespoon is not going to make a difference..wrongo! Otherwise I’m feeling great, no pain or soreness anymore I never took pain meds so that wasn’t and issue. Sleeping is getting better can lay on my side now without discomfort!! Just like to know how everyone else is doing and stage they are in?

Hi. I had my gastric band removed after 10 years with revision to sleeve just 3 weeks ago. How can I help?

I'm scheduled for 10/13. Just had all my pre op testing done on 9/21. I'm a revision from lap band to RNY. Also need scar tissue repair, hernia repair and my gall bladder removed. Have not received insurance approval yet. I'm getting nervous, but the doctors office told me that revision surgery approval takes longer.

I am scheduled for 1030. I am a Lapband revision. I had my Lapband for 4 years and lost 191lbs. Granted, I was sick for most of that time, but I was down to 144. I loved life. And then, BOOM! I had horrible pains. Doubled over for 2 months. Removed my lapband, didn't find a problem and 10 months later I am up 120lbs. I am miserable, I am beside myself and I am hating myself. Gastric bypass is 10/30 and seems a world away.

I switched from sleeve to bypass before surgery. I didn't want to deal with GERD. I also wanted to not feel hungry longer, two months out and I haven't had any hunger yet. While watching this board, I saw several revision posts and that factored into my decision. I want to do this right the first time. I was 292 at my highest and 256.8 at time of surgery. I liked the idea of having two mechanisms for weightloss. HW-292 • SW (6/29/17) 256.6 • CW 225.8

No. I had my surgery at a downtown hospital because of the revision specialist I used. It is too far for me to drive downtown on a weekday to their support groups. If you know of any in the area, let me know!

I'm not using the same surgeon for my sleeve revision. I'm like you, sort of angry at my band doctor....felt like I was a little mis-lead. I can't wait to get my band removed!

Hello GSPTians I am Pranjala from India. I am 27 years old married and am a mother of a 3 year old. I have been fat for as long as I can remember. Obesity runs in my family an so does diabetes. I stand 165 cm tall, weigh 100 kg and suffer from NO co-morbidities so far. I have done several successful weight loss attempts in the past, but few slacks here and there and my weight would always come back crossing the last highest point. I have always loved to exercise but now that I have grown so fat my body doesn't seem to cooperate. The only place I lack is that I am a big foodie with a huge appetite, if I control it I can conquer my battle with the flab. Before comming to this forum I've already had appointments with a couple of surgeons, what left me insecure was the fact that even before evaluating me physically or mentally properly they put me under the category of "suitable for sleeve". But as a matter of fact, I am dead scared of the fact that a part of my stomach will be taken away which has always been a part of me( I am actually sentimental about it); and that staples can (and will) cause scarring over time which may arise a condition for a revision. Anyways, I then came across GSP. And this forum is loaded with so many encouraging stories. Not many surgeons in India do this procedure, and so they tell me its a potential failure (even before it has hit the markets properly). I don't want to believe them blindly, as some doctors have a money mincing attitude(plication is definately cheaper). I just want to know how long can the sutures stay in our system ie. the sutures might give in after a certain period of time(would that require a revision too?). Staples vs sutures what is more acceptable to the body? Can there arise a condition like suture replacement in the future? Will I face any nutritional deficiencies or any food intolerance or dumping syndrome or massive hair loss or wrinkled skin(as I have seen in a lot of female sleeve cases)? Can I do stomach exercises like crunches or breathing exercises after plication? Will there be sever pain after surgery due to the peristalsis of gastric muscle, if yes then for how long? My quarries might sound funny but if you do the needful by throwing some light on them, I will be more confidant with my decision.

Hello I am going through the same thing. I had the sleeve 5 years ago and due to acid reflux and my esophagus was collapsing I had to have a revision to the bypass 14 months ago . I'm a 105lbs now and want to stop losing. I have been having issues since I had the revision. I just had a pick line in that I gained 20lbs and 3 weeks later it was gone. At first it was diarrhea and now its vomiting. I seemed to can't get a break. I felt great with the pick line in but that is dangerous walking around with a IV in your arm feeding you dripping over your heart. My gallbladder was taken out on 2/9/15. I just had my 3rd EDG on Monday since my surgery and they found nothing again. I am trying to stay positive but this is getting very hard and expensive. So I know what you are going through but because I had the sleeve and then revised to the bypass I can not have the reversal due to my stomach was thrown away. I am so malnourished and now they want to put me back on the pick line (TPN) again. I don't know what to do anymore. I am miserable.

That is one of the reasons I am getting a revision surgery from band to sleeve. Once I started having band complications, it really got expensive. My insurance pays nothing band related. Once you get a sleeve, you are done. There are no problems with restriction, no fills, no unfills. You have restriction immediately after surgery and you keep it the rest of your life. The part of the stomach that you have is not stretchy so it doesn't stretch out like it does with gastric bypass. I am very excited to get this over with and going back to eating small portions of anything I want!

I had my band to sleeve revision surgery on 5/23. I am doing well; healing, gaining some energy and progressing well with solid foods, but my weight loss seems extrememly slow, compared to others. I know "compared to others" is the problem and that we are all different and not supposed to compare, but you can't help but notice that some people seem to drop 50-60 pounds in the first few weeks. My SW was 225 and I lost 8 pounds on my two-week pre-op diet.and another 15 since my surgery date. I'm only down a total of 23 pounds. What am I doing wrong?????? Is anyone else who is a band to sleeve revision also experiencing slower-than-expected weight loss?

That's a very clear-cut list. I'm encouraged by Karen's approval for what amounts to a revision, even though her BMI is under 40, but still there's no sure thing. My doctor's office told me yesterday that they are filing an expedited appeal and expect a medical review to take place today. I asked what the experience was with this, and the answer was that she's never filed an appeal to have a band replaced. In this practice when bands have been removed it's always been for people who had been unsuccessful losing weight and therefore still qualified for replacement or revision. She didn't know if my lower BMI would completely prevent approval or not. :confused:

I am converting from the band to the sleeve. I am so nervous. I should have got the sleeve the first time around.

Research: Bariatric Surgery Revisions Carry Greater Risks Than Initial Procedure Revisional bariatric surgery appears to be associated with a higher risk of complications than the initial procedure, according to a study published in the February issue of Archives of Surgery. News - Bariatric Surgery Revisions Carry Greater Risks Than Initial Procedure <input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden">

I lost 130 lbs since 2009 but after 2 revisions and years of struggle had it removed before yesterday. The band started eroting in my stomach, created a hole which was repaired. YAY! I'm now ready for a new beginning. It'll be so strange not throwing up all the time, no stomach pains or acid reflux. I developed anemia through my journey due to lock of iron. It was difficult to even swallow a pill at times...ANYWAY even after all that I'm still thankful for the lab band, it helped me loose so much weight...I now just have to work hard at maintaining. I'm very excited to start a new healthy chapter of my life. From size 24 to size 2-4 goodluck everybody

I've read many reports of consistent restriction from VSG vs. tha random restriction I had from AGB. Is your restriction consistent? Is it consistent both in terms of times of day you can eat and types of food you can eat? Does VSG seem to be effected by the same variables as AGB? (e.g. flying, stress, humidity, PMS/water retention...) My restriction is consistent except that I do notice that right before my period, I seem to be able to eat a little bit more (or maybe it is that I want to due to hormones). With AGB "stuck" foods caused me discomfort or pain, often quite a bit of pain, and often for a fairly long time. Does food stick with VSG? I've read about people brining stuff up, but is this because of failure to pass through some stoma, or is it because of eating more than you can hold? Or both? Does it hurt like it did with your band? When it comes up, is it "saliva + stuck bits" like with the band, or is it actual vomit? I hated being stuck with the band! I have never had anything get stuck with the sleeve. Sometimes, when I eat out, I may take that one bite too many and I feel extremely full. So full that I don't even want to think about food or be around it. That is what has allowed my great success though! I can only eat at small amount at a time~ I know some dumping can occur with VSG - do you dump? Is it on specific foods, or random? The only time I get that feeling is if I eat Cereal with milk. I am not sure if it is the the milk or that the cereal swells in my stomach, but I feel sick and like I need to lay down. I don't usually eat cereal becasue of this. If I drink milk alone or in something, I am fine. What period is the greatest risk for developing a leak? I see references to 2 weeks, 2 months...I am not sure but my doctor did say to follow the post op diet closely to avoid putting stress on the staple line and which can cause a leak. Is leak the (currently known) most likely complication of VSG? I see people talking about leaks, and pOuch stretching, but that's about it. Surely there's something else out there...You can have issues with Calcium absorption which can cause problems with your bones and teeth. You have to take calcium citirate regularly. WIthout the need for fills, what does your post-op care look like? Do you have periodoc leak tests as a bandster might have period fluoro or xray? I have just had blood tests and check ups. So easy and nice! I hated getting fills. What do you like best about your VSG? It works! I feel amazing. I can't sabotoge myself anymore with food. Food doesn't control me. What do you like least about your VSG? Maybe the scars, but I love the sleeve itself. I really feel it is one of the best decisions of my life! What did you not know going in, that you wish you did? I wish I had asked for the morphine pump for when I woke up after surgery. I didn't discuss it with my doctor because I just thought everyone got one. OUCH! I was fine once they started giving me pain meds through my IV though. I keep reading "recovery is a lot harder than with the band," but no one really elaborates. Can someone please share their comparison of recovery? I actually thought they were about the same. I didn't have a drain with my band and I did with the sleeve. I did not like the drain, but it is there to detect leaks. I would do it again in a heartbeat! How hard did you find the transition in terns of behavior? I'm assuming there are shared rules such as chewing to goo, small bites, waiting between bites, etc. My band never really worked right, so it is hard to compare. I know I always had to worry about getting stuck at the most inconvient times, like at a restaurant. I would have to run to the bathroom and pray no one else was in there when I slimed. With the sleeve I have restriction all the time. I do have to focus on Protein first, but I really can eat anything, just smaller amounts. Do you have a "soft stop" with VSG? (I never had one with AGB, but I'm wondering if it exists with VSG) I just have to stop at the first sign of fullness. Just one bite over my sleeve capacity and I am miserable from fullness. Did anyone out thyere have a difficult revision due to scar tissue/etc. with the band?I had some soreness where the port was, but that is gone now. Any bathroom problems? (e.g. the terrible stinkies DSers are known for) Nope It seems like most people encounter significant heartburn. Is reflux an issue with VSG? Is the heartburn long term, or does it resolve after a while? I get hearburn with certain foods (spicy usually). I had it a little the first three months after surgery and took my prescription. Now it is just on an as need basis. I rarely get heartburn. Are your food intolerances (if any) the same as with your AGB?For some reason, hamburger meat in the patty form does not agree with my sleeve. I have thrown up three times trying to eat it. I just avoid it now! I can eat it if it is ground up like taco meat. The three times I tried hamburger patties are the only times I have thrown up with the sleeve. Otherwise, nothing else has caused this issued. I LOVE the sleeve! Good luck with your revision~

I lost 130 lbs since 2009 but after 2 revisions and years of struggle had it removed before yesterday. The band started eroting in my stomach, created a hole which was repaired. YAY! I'm now ready for a new beginning. It'll be so strange not throwing up all the time, no stomach pains or acid reflux. I developed anemia through my journey due to lock of iron. It was difficult to even swallow a pill at times...ANYWAY even after all that I'm still thankful for the lab band, it helped me loose so much weight...I now just have to work hard at maintaining. I'm very excited to start a new healthy chapter of my life. From size 24 to size 2-4 goodluck everybody

I think the tummy tuck with abdominal wall tightening is called Abdominoplasty. I saw a disscussion about this on the TV show called "The Doctors". The plastic surgeon on the program showed a drawing that explained how this surgery is different than the "old" tummy tuck. The surgeon used a criss-cross stitching that sort of looked like shoe laces. He did say the recuperation takes longer and is more painful, but the results are permanent and make for a flatter stomach. With the old type of tummy tuck the patient sometimes needed a revision sugery down the road. My last (and third) baby weighed 11lbs 5oz. so I would opt for the abdominoplasty because my abdominal muscles are shot. Here's a website with lots of pictures of plastic surgery patients: www.locateadoc.com/pictures/cosmetic-surgery.html