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Wow - I need to get my a$$ in gear! I took the last few days off - tired on day, the other two days (spent all day at the hospital with my mom waiting for surgery). At any rate - no excuses...gotta get my butt moving today. Heading over to the gym right now. I have to do another 25 miles this month for my original goal and 30 for my revised! I dug myself a hole!

I can relate to everyones feelings, I'm having a revision from LB to GB on May 24th as well. I'm 54; 5'5'' ; 235lbs. I'm very excited & blessed to be getting a second opportunity - to embark on a healthy lifestyle again. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Thanks for this thread. I found it during a search as I too have Kaiser. I'm waiting for a revision from Lap Band to Vertical Gastric Sleeve, and my tentative date is April 3rd, 2012. Kaiser has been great insurance for me and my husband. We pay out of pocket for our insurance, and our Primary Care Physician is probably the most caring physician that I've ever had.

I had the lapband done 2 years ago. I had success for the first 6 months, dropping almost 50 pounds. I didn't realize the problems associated with and things that could affect the band. I started waking up with fluid coming up and coughing and choking, as well as the heartburn. After putting up with this for a while and getting no relief, I went to my doctor. At first they gave me pills to relieve severe heartburn, stating I had some sort of gastro itis (???) problem. With still no relief, I went back and they took some fluid out, stating that the change in weather can affect the band. I had immediate relief. I went back 2 weeks later and had the fluid put back in. Within a couple of weeks, the same thing started all over again. This was the beginning of a long battle. Over the course of the next year and a half, it was take some fluid out; put some back in; take it all out; put some back in a couple of times; take a little out; take it all out.....I just couldn't get back to that perfect "sweet spot" I'd had before after my initial 3rd fill. I ended up stretching the pouch (a couple of times) and after the "in and out fill" rollercoaster, I had a revision surgery where they took out the old band and put in a new one. So I've essentially started over. That was 3 months ago and I'm scared to death to go get a fill now, for fear I will screw it up and stretch the pouch! But yet, I'm gaining weight and am desperately looking for help! Can anyone help me? I feel like such a failure.:thumbup:

Funny u should mention barf. 30 minutes ago I just vomited a chicken salad (leftovers from dinner last nite). Not sure why. I can usually eat everything.Vomiting was a normal part of my eating when I was banded (sleeve revision 10 mths ago) but in the last 10 mths, this was like my 3rd time vomiting. It's usually a long, drawn out, painful process since being sleeved, but tonite was like in remembrance of band days. Hope this isn't my future. I'm now drinking chamomile tea to calm my tummy...And I LUV cobb salads...

Ok, I myself am two weeks from being sleeved, so this is secondhand knowledge. One of the gals in my support group is 4 weeks out and she was just telling us how she drinks 1 beer at bowling and a glass of wine after work on occasion. My first instinct was, is she nuts? However, she is a well educated, successful woman who has had great success with her sleeve, so who am I to judge? My doctor and physiologist said they recommend waiting a year to reintroduce alcohol, simply because they want you to reach goal and too many times, we waste calories on drinks. Also, you metabolize alcohol differently after surgery. I am a revision so I do know this from having the lap band. I would be drinking a glass of wine, it went down fine, so I had another and BAM!!! I was hammered, and throwing up... Not good!! I will probably get backlash, and I am NO expert, but I think if you can handle it, use in moderation, and are getting your water and protein first, then have a drink:) cheers????

BCBS won't pay for my band removal even though I have a lot of port site pain. Of course the surgeon wants to do a revision, but they've denied it twice. I plan to appeal. Sent from my SM-N920P using the BariatricPal App

I had no problems getting approval for the band removal and revision to sleeve or bypass. I have Blue Cross. Good luck, hopefully it will come through for you shortly!

HI there. I am considering a revision form SVG to RNY. What all are you required to do pre-op? You have to do everything before you know if insurance will cover your procedure? DO you have any concerns/reservations?

Okay, so I have a better idea now. It is not that she can only eat mushy, but just in general she has major food intolerances. There are probably people here who have much more experience with this, but about a year ago (which would have been 2 years post revision to sleeve) I went through a time when I couldn't eat due to no appetite. I didn't puke, it was just that everything made me naseaus. I thought it was a physical problem, but it actually turned out to be more emotional in nature, and once I STOPPED eating, getting restarted was a challenge. It is like once the tummy is used to undereating, you become prone to eating less and less. It is ironically much like overeating.... so what started as an emotional upset became a physical issue for me. Since I didn't have a mecanical reason for my issue, i had to "work at it" and did recover and and am doing awesome now. Okay, DGL Licorice is a soothing herbal remedy you can buy at Vitamin Shoppe etc for about 10 bucks. They are these big tablets that you bite into a couple of pieces (meaning, a few crunches) and then tuck between your lip and gum and just slowly let it melt. It coats your throat, and tummy in a soothing way. It doesn't instantly fix things, but it just calms things down... I used them 1-2 a day when i was feeling naseaus. over time, it made a huge difference and I keep them on hand even now. the other thing I did was find the circumstances/food that I could tolerate and started by carefully eating those. In my case, the key to the root cause of my problems were that I could eat fairly well if I was out with friends, it was being home alone when I simply could not eat. Well, I started going out more so I could get some food in every day. In your wife's case, perhaps just very gently eating the things that seem more appealing. If toasted waffles work i will speculate that crackers perhaps with a bit of cheese or Peanut Butter might work? I think toasted bread, crackers and stuff has a texture that is likely easier than raw bread type products. I suspect raw veggies are hard to eat. Maybe soft fish is edible? I would also seriously try to find a palatable Protein drink or make homemade smoothies. sometimes people can drink more nutrition and calories than they can eat. Example might be a greek yogurt, fruit based drink with perhaps a bit of unflavored Protein powder in. If she can tolerate peanut butter, that adds fats and calories too. Warning: in my early months peanut butter made me sick because it is so rich, so go easy at first. Has she tried Protein Bars? i avoid them in general because for me they go down too easy (but they helped me when i was struggling with eating). I wonder if she finds a wonderful tasting one she can kind of slowly munch on them? They often are very dense in calories and carbs in addition to the protein. I hope others with food intolerances pipe in with ideas!

I agree with you, There is not a lot of information and support for people maintaining or have weight gain. Most vets disappear from the forums because it's mostly new people. It's hard to see people struggle with a major weight gain. I know this is not easy from my own experience. You may not want to hear some of this. But, I'm saying it because I care. The work does not end after goal. Don't let this gain become 100+ pounds back. Are you willing to change, work and do things that are not convenient or comfortable? Suffer the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. (1) As you progress out from sleeve surgery your restriction is less. You will be able to eat more food. (2) Stretching is rare. Very few revisions are done. You can make an appointment with your surgeon to see if you stretched your sleeve. Ask your dietician/surgeons office for help getting your diet back on track. (3) Many people confuse stretching for the the ability to eat more and grazing food throughout the day (combinations of health and unhealthy foods) Any of us can eat around our surgery. Eating more calories is causing the weight gain. (4) Pouch reset is a fancy way of saying getting back on track. Pouch reset is the old diet progression (liquid ,soft foods then real food stage) If you find this too restrictive try a different approach that is realistically sustainable for you long term. Contact your dietician or research diet options. (5) . Portion control/surgery restriction will only take you so far. To set your body back into weight loss mode is to know how many calories you are eating. You can use a food app. It makes it easier. Click the link below. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.myfitnesspal.android&hl=en

I am 57 having revision from band to rny tomorrow. Hope to have some healthy years in this second half of my life.

Hi. I am 57 thinking about revision to bypass from band. Many probs. how are you doing?

Another point to consider is if your insurance limits you to one bariatric surgery per lifetime. If that’s the case, you should consider RNY over VSG, cut once, as there are a number of people that are requiring revision surgery after VSG and you would hate to have to self-pay for a 2nd surgery. As well, weight loss is typically better with an original surgery than a revision surgery. Long term use of PPIs is also not recomneded as they cause risks for serious health issues/diseases.

I have banding from 22 years ago and been struggling with it, and constant weight gain and loss from just after 3 years after getting it. Until the end of last year I was told I had to put up with this, or only have band removed, but learned I can have revision to bypass and in process of having it done now. A new spring of hope has arrived, and thanks to all hear for your input.

I have PCOS and slow metabolism but I wanted something that had better stats in the long run and RYN has that. Not to say sleeve doesn't since many have been successful on it as well. But personally given my medical history and plethora of PCOS related side effects, I opted for bypass. Plus chances of revision is also high with sleeve because of reflux issue. And I didn't want take the route of having to have a second surgery if revision was needed. "ONE surgery and that should be the end of it" was my thought process. Hence even after being confused, I finally opted for bypass. I know many prefer sleeve because of less chances of dumping and malnutrition, so it depends if those look tempting for you. Though there are 70% of by-passers who also don't dump, myself including. I always wanted a weight loss route that didn't restrict my diet (reason why I hated Keto and other carbs restrictive diets, my binge eating always worsened with them). Even then I took my chance with bypass thinking I shall see when I cross the bridge. And fortunately, I don't dump (at least with some of the sugary and fatty foods I have tried till now). So give consideration to your medical history, your metabolism, stats and pros and cons of each and go with your gut feeling. That's what I did and so far I haven't regretted it *fingers crossed*

Hello all! I'm getting my lap band removed on April 14 (after having it for almost 8 years). No revision surgery. Any of you who had the same, could you please share your recovery experiences? I was planning on going back to work on the 20th. Thanks!!

First off my heart goes out to you with such an extensive medical history, and chronic extreme pain. I can't imagine how agonizing it must be on a daily basis. There are so many contributing factors to your symptoms that's it's hard to say if a revision to a RNY would bring about the results you're hoping for. It's going to be a blind risk either way, with no guarantee of improvement. But I will say this. There are some who chose the sleeve and then started suffering severe GERD/reflux issues afterwards, who then revised to the RNY and experienced a marked improvement. I had never even known it was a possibility myself until reading the posts here. It's part of the reason why I switched my decision from sleeve to RNY myself. Which I'll be getting in a short while. Let me stress that GERD doesn't happen to everyone, but when it's *you*, I know you'd do anything to get away from its devastating effects. It is not a pleasant way to live. I hope whatever you decide in the end that it brings you the answer you are seeking. Good luck!

I was banded 10/09 in USA with insurance. No problems good restriction without fills for the first 3 months. The next month my gall bladder had to come out no problems with surgery ok. I then felt no restriction at all.( my theory is that the surgical proceedure(gall bladder caused the shift of my port) I was then set up for first fill under fluroscope but port turned and was told I d have to get a revision before I could have my first fill.That went ok no complications they filled to 4 cc at revision surgery.One day later I can't eat a thing,so I was unfilled to 2 cc. I now feel great restriction just right. So............even in America ports can have issues......Hopefully mine are now over. I am still happy with my band decision

Hello All, I am new to BariatricPal. I was sleeved in 2015 (Jan) and ever since that day I have been nauseous, I've had heartburn and little to no appetite. I am in the process of possibly getting a revision, if that will help with all of the afformentioned. I barely eat or drink and I am hoping my surgeon will order tests to better understand my situation. I have searched for what I was experiencing and the only thing I learned was that others are or were having the same complications, but received no explanation from their doctors. At this point I am wondering if my complications are serious enough for my insurance to cover the costs.

It sounds a whole lot like a slipped band, but odd that the swallow didn't show it. Perhaps the unfill triggered a full on slip somehow if something has changed more since then? If it were me, I'd be going back and wanting more answers or a revision to another procedure. Do you have one of the older 4cc bands?

I am almost 4yrs out and started gaining at 2.5 years out. DOS I was 346 my lowest 210 never even got to goal. On September 30,2013 I was back to 257. I had a revision done on September 30,2013. I hope with the revision I can make it to goal. You have to really want to change forever and I didn't. After 2 years I could eat everything. I tried to get back on track but my pouch was so stretched it was hard. I will keep you I'my prayers.

When you pick a doctor, definately ask about their experiences with patients having acid issues after sleeve. How often does it happen to their patients? What treatments do they pursue? How many of them need surgical revision? Some doctors will have a better handle on this than others. Also ask...how have you modified your technique to avoid acid issues with sleeve? Do you have fewer patients with post surgical acid issues now? Have you done any recent continuing education on patients who experience acid with sleeve? Go to someone who is part of the conversation for the newest ideas in surgery. It's not a guarantee you won't have problems, but it increases your odds for success.

Hey!!! I have been poking around this site for over a year now and it's amazing to me how quiet us Minnesotans are! I am in the Golden Valley/Crystal/New Hope Area. I would love to know if there is anybody out there near me. A by-weekly get together would be amazing. I haven't told anyone except my husband that I have a lapband so just having "partners in crime":cool2: would be really cool. I have really struggled. I lost a lot fast and then stopped losing over the summer. I was having absolutely no restriction....well a port revision and two fills later, I am FINALLY starting to understand about the sweet spot and how I am getting closer! So to those struggling it will get better! For a little bit there I was really questioning what I had done to myself. I had my surgery in St. Louis Park with Dr. Wetherill. I really like him.:thumbup: ~A

Hi everyone! I was originally sleeved in March of 2016. I had an annoying burping thing pretty much from the beginning, but I lost about 90lbs in 6 months...and have held pretty steady since. Then the extreme reflux started! Fast forward to yesterday....I spoke with my surgeon and it has been decided that I need to be revised to an rny. Definitely not happy about it, but I’ve been taking 3 nexium a day and still having reflux and regurgitation. The newest issue appears to be an ulcer. This is really the last thing I wanted to do, but I’m very worried about the damage that’s being done to my esophagus. I have developed a raspy voice and scratchy throat, so I know it’s becoming a problem. It looks like I’ll have surgery either in March or April....I’ll probably know in a week or so. Anyone else here a revision from VSG to RNY??