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I am so sorry your surgery had complications. I had a sleeve to bypass revision for GERD on 6/29. I was unable to stand up to begin walking without becoming tachycardic and dizzy on 7/1. My hemoglobin was 7.1 and I got 2 units of packed red cells. I felt much better afterward. My drain was left in for 10 days as I continued to produce a lot of blood from the chest. My surgeon suspects I bled from several areas as I had more than one procedure done. I feel much better now. I hope you feel better soon, you have been through a lot.

@FloraBama congratulations to you and glad to hear you are doing well. I'm about less than 30 minutes from having the same revision done as well in MX!!! Sent from my LG-LS980 using the BariatricPal App

Oh yes, they approve on the first time too. Believe it or not. My case was a little different. I'm a revision: previously had a band (under UHC), had the band removed (under Cigna, first time approval) and then submitted for a sleeve (denied by Cigna first time, approved on appeal). They denied me because I didn't prove mechanical failure, and I didn't prove compliance with the post-op diet. Well -- my band had a "profound" slip. It was considered uncorrectable, and my choices were pretty much removal, or live with it slipped. Slip is a nice term for the stomach prolapsing through the band, btw, so we aren't really talking about comfortable living conditions. It was clearly visible in the xray and I had an EGD as well, and 2 years of GERD and aother slip symtoms which can cause their own complications (I had aspiration pneumonia from the GERD twice, basically inhaled vomit and it gave me pneumonia... not to mention it is gross, and hurts like a mutha). So how they figure I didn't prove that it was a mechanical failure, I have no idea. As for required diet - there isn't one with the band, so how do you prove that? Gah. That one took some work. I was only with Cigna for about 2 years, but I absolutely hated them.

I have wondered about the "limit" thing. I have a friend that currently has lapband. She was trying for revision through her new insurance. She found out that they have a "1 per lifetime" limit on bariatric surgery even though THEY didn't have anything to do with the original surgery. It would seem to me that it would be cheaper on the insurance company to go ahead and cover the surgery rather than paying for the multitude of specialists that she would have to see to deal with the affects of obesity on her body. As for recovery, it is VERY similar to getting the band. I am on lifting restrictions for 4 weeks. I work at a pretty physical job so I am actually off work on short term disability for the entire time. I have heard of people going back to work soon after surgery (like less than a week). The hardest part, to me, is getting my fluids in. It is very easy to get dehydrated post op. I struggle to get in 5 cups of Water a day. I working on it, but it can be tough. I'm in contact with a few revisioners. They still VERY happy with their decision to revise. They inspire me daily. I will admit that it was their sucess that made me finally talk to my doctor about revising.

It's understandable that you may be feeling frustrated and disappointed about your weight loss stall after your recent revision surgery. It's important to remember that weight loss can vary from person to person, and the rate of weight loss can also depend on factors such as the type of surgery, the individual's starting weight, and their adherence to post-surgery dietary and exercise guidelines. It's also important to keep in mind that weight loss is not always linear and it can be normal to experience plateaus or stalls along the way. Additionally, it is important to focus on the progress you have made so far, such as losing 26lbs, and not just the stall in your weight loss. It may be helpful to consult with your surgeon or a dietitian to review your dietary intake and ensure that you are getting enough protein, staying hydrated, and not consuming too many calories. They may also be able to provide you with strategies to help break through the stall, such as increasing your physical activity level or adjusting your dietary intake. Keep in mind that weight loss journey is not a linear one, and it may take time to see progress again. But it is important to stay consistent with your healthy habits, and not to get discouraged. Remember the reason why you decided to undergo the surgery and focus on the long-term benefits for your health.

Hey yall! This is my first post. I had a VSG in 07/2017, everything was wonderful. I went from a HW of 390 to a LW of 200. The weight came off EXTREMELY quickly. COVID came and it just completely derailed me. Due to regain and heartburn, I just had a VSG revision to Bypass on 12/13/2022. I will be 4 weeks post op tomorrow. Everything was going amazingly great post op, I felt great from day 1 and did not even need pain meds (as opposed with my sleeve). I have been at a stall for 2+weeks and it is driving me absolutely insane. I have lost a total of 26lbs since preop diet (12/01/2022), I have spent the last week walking a TON at the Disney parks and did not weigh myself all week HOPING that when I came home the stall would be broken. I thought maybe the stall was because I was not having frequent BM's but all the walking did help in that area. Much to my surprise, I actually gained a pound when I got home. I am eating well, I am hydrating but just very confused as to why I am stalling for so long. I try to not associate it with my sleeve as my VSG the weight was coming off very rapidly, I was also way heavier. My doctor did warn that I will not lose as much and as fast as the sleeve since this is a revision. I just want to be on the losing path again, has this happened to any of you specifically with a revision?

OH, second question, how far along in your weight loss journey were you when you had the revision? Is there a point where you wouldn't qualify, self pay or not, because you are too close to your goal, even if that was from the band?

In ancient times, sailors would make sure they were staying on course by referring to the location of the North Star. A constant light in an otherwise black sky, the North Star kept sailors clearly focused on which direction they were traveling and where they wanted to go. However, the skies over the ocean could become cloudy and stormy and sailors might lose sight of the North Star. Sometimes sailors lost their way and became lost at sea. The quest for weight loss and long-term weight maintenance is much like journeying a great distance over an enormous ocean under an endless black sky. Like the sailors of old, to be successful on your journey you need to be clear about where you’re going. You need to stay on course. You need to remain focused. Like sailing across the ocean, losing weight can be stormy and treacherous. Your brain, like the ocean, is not your friend. Your brain is not terribly interested in your desire to lose weight. Your brain is busy trying to maintain your current weight. Trying to lose weight is putting your brain is at war with itself. Your forebrain is the thinker who understands that you want to lose weight. It agrees that losing weight is a good idea. Your midbrain is not logical. It’s a perpetual 2-year-old who is hungry and cranky and likes potato chips, candy, hot dogs and deep fried chicken. This is going to be a very difficult journey, and one that is going to go on for a very long while. What can you do? Look for your North Star(s). In ancient times, sailors would make sure they were staying on course by referring to the location of the North Star. A constant light in an otherwise black sky, the North Star kept sailors clearly focused on which direction they were traveling and where they wanted to go. However, the skies over the ocean could become cloudy and stormy and sailors might lose sight of the North Star. Sometimes sailors lost their way and became lost at sea. The quest for weight loss and long-term weight maintenance is much like journeying a great distance over an enormous ocean under an endless black sky. Like the sailors of old, to be successful on your journey you need to be clear about where you’re going. You need to stay on course. You need to remain focused. Like sailing across the ocean, losing weight can be stormy and treacherous. Your brain, like the ocean, is not your friend. Your brain is not terribly interested in your desire to lose weight. Your brain is busy trying to maintain your current weight. Trying to lose weight is putting your brain is at war with itself. Your forebrain is the thinker who understands that you want to lose weight. It agrees that losing weight is a good idea. Your midbrain is not logical. It’s a perpetual 2-year-old who is hungry and cranky and likes potato chips, candy, hot dogs and deep fried chicken. This is going to be a very difficult journey, and one that is going to go on for a very long while. What can you do? Look for your North Star(s). It goes without saying that you know your goal, right? In fact, it seems quite simple. You want to lose weight and keep it off for good. If you’re like most people, you’ve had this goal for many years and you’ve probably had some success in pursuit of this goal. But there’s a problem with your goal. Believe it or not, weight loss is not your true goal. Your real goal is not to lose weight. Your real goal is to accomplish and experience what you believe losing weight will provide. Therefore, you actually have multiple, specific goals. These are the reasons that inspire you to keep sailing when the ocean gets stormy. These are the reasons that keep you on course. These are your North Stars. To make it across, you must keep your North Star(s) squarely in view. Here’s how to keep away the storms and stay focused: 1) Think long and hard about why you want to lose the weight. Yes, you want to lose weight…but why? What’s in it for you? Take out a piece of paper and put a line down the middle from top to bottom. On the top of the left column write: “What I will gain if I lose the weight and keep it off.” On the top of the right column write: “What I could lose if I don’t lose the weight.” Think of the left side as the “positives” of losing weight and the right side as the “negatives” of not being successful. The left side is what you want; the right side is what you don’t want. As a general rule, positives motivate us more effectively and more consistently than negatives. However, our fears (the negatives) do have a place on the list. Some examples of positives include: improved health, reduced need for specific medications, improved mobility, wearing the clothes you want, improved confidence, and pride in your accomplishment. The negatives are probably more obvious to you: specific health problems, limitations in mobility, frustration, various difficulties in your personal, social and other areas of functioning. Don’t try to write the list all at once. Write down whatever comes to mind right now, but allow other reasons to come to you over the next several days. Take your time. When a specific motivation comes to mind, write it down and add it to the list. Consider asking loved ones for their thoughts. You may never be 100% finished with the list, but you can always add more items later. You’ll know you’re truly ready to begin your weight loss journey when you read the list and deeply feel the emotional impact of each of the items. As you well know, the struggle to lose weight and keep it off is very emotional. If the items on the list don’t move you, you need to revise the list. When it’s complete, this list is your North Star. 2) Make several printed copies of the list. Make a small one to keep in your wallet or purse. Make another to keep in your car. Make another to keep in your office. Make a document containing the list on your computer and keep it on your desktop, laptop, tablet and cell phone. Put a printed or electronic copy everywhere you spend your time. 3) Read the list every day, over and over and over and over. This list needs to be etched on your brain and be in the front of your mind as often as possible. You need to read the list every morning when you wake up, multiple times per day, and before you go to sleep at night. The list needs to be as familiar as possible and as accessible as possible. Rehearse it like a speech. 4) Read the list before you eat and every time you eat. Read the list when you’re cooking or serving yourself food. Read the list just before you start to eat your meal. Read the list just before you place your order in a restaurant. Read the list when you’re about to get up from the couch and wander into the kitchen. Read the list just before you go into the mini-mart to grab a snack when you’re out running errands. If the reasons to make choices consistent with your goals are not in the front of your mind when you are about to choose what or whether or not to eat, they might as well not be in your mind at all. We always seem to know each and every reason why we shouldn’t have eaten that cookie just after we eat it. It’s only by being aware of those reasons before we eat it that can help alter our behavior. (In case you’re wondering why, it’s a forebrain-midbrain thing. Once your cranky 2-year-old midbrain gets the cookie, she’s happy and quiets down, therefore you can now clearly hear your forebrain and all of her brilliant reasons not to eat the cookie….albeit too late.) Having this list is the single most important part of your weight loss journey, and quite frankly the rest of your efforts might be pointless without the list. Here’s why: no learned behavior is ever fully unlearned. Once a particular relation occurs it never returns to zero strength so you never forget that you love donuts, candy, potato chips or chicken wings. These foods will never become completely unappealing because the brain never forgets. Therefore, you have to practice reminding your brain of what you hope to accomplish by losing weight and why eating donuts, candy, etc. is incompatible with those goals. Your brain may never forget just how yummy those foods are, but if you maintain your focus on your goals and avoid overeating those foods (or learn to eat better foods or learn to engage in new behaviors that replace eating), the impulse to eat those foods weakens and you gain habit strength and confidence in new behaviors that are consistent with your goals and avoid getting lost at sea. All weight loss efforts falter when the reasons for persevering weaken. If you have a bright, shining North Star, a setback is just a setback. You just keep on sailing and don’t become adrift. You’re still clear on where you’re going. Even if you have a donut, you can refer right back to your list, view it as an “oops” and get back on track. In fact, when your reasons for losing weight are solid and deeply personal, you might even choose to have an occasional donut, knowing that it won’t cause you to lose your way. None of what I’m suggesting in this article is intended to minimize the importance of other skills in helping you achieve your weight loss goals. You know that losing weight and keeping it off is very difficult and that your brain and body are unrelenting in trying to sabotage your best efforts. Therefore, if your specific reasons to embark on this weight loss journey are unfamiliar, vague or uninspiring, it’s very unlikely that you will make it across a very treacherous, dark ocean. Take the time to make the list and keep your North Star shining bright. My best wishes to you for smooth sailing.

I had a lot of problems with the band. It did get me to goal and then some. I worked really hard for my goal weight but after I hit goal I had complications and had to have it removed. I knew that removing my band meant weight gain so I revised to a sleeve for maintenance. I had esophageal spasms, esophageal motility issues, stoma spasms, reflux, periodic gastritis, port pain from rubbing against my jeans, etc. I finally threw in the towel and revised.

I was revised from sleeve to bypass 3 weeks ago and I have had 3 episodes of severe heartburn. Is anyone else still getting heart burn after bypass?

@@lovemyself Good luck! Glad you researched and came to a decision. I just had the sleeve (revision from band) on 5-25 and feel good. I'm very glad that I took action. Keep in touch.

I agree 100%. I'd contact them right now - today! With all the unbandings due to erosions/slips, Id be scared to do this all over again. :tired (rebanding for any reason) Have thought any about a revision to another WLS? Im gonna be praying for you. Remember, we're all on this road together.

(post revised 1-28-08) I was banded 5-23-07 and am down about 61 pounds. I am 56.

My thought would be that the stitches are probably pulling and causing that pain. I have port discomfort on and off all of the time. Sometimes I don't even know it's there... otherdays it feels sore, other days there is sharp pains kind of like what you are describing when I move a certain way or if I touch it. I actually went in for a fill after my port revision surgery and after x rays they found my port had flipped again. The doctor scheduled an adjustment under floro where he was going to try to manually flip the port and give me an adjustment... well that day my port had flipped back!! I think all you can really do is just let your doctor know the symptoms you are having. I'm a little discouraged about what can be done to fix my port issue. but I've just come to accept it. It's kind of sad. I thought that any issue could be resolved... especially after the port revision... but it just hasn't been the case for me. I would however still do it all over again at this point. I feel better than I have in years. I just recently really started missing being able to eat a burger or a whole peice of pizza:rolleyes:. But it has been worth the sacrifices. Good luck and take care ~Martina

I'm not so sure it's a bad thing .... dumping. That is exactly why many people opt for bypass, they are hoping they will be one of those that do dump. I have a friend that eats her 800 calories a day in good food and 5# of candy. Yes, daily. She has the worst true sugar addiction of anyone I have ever met. (She's banded) If she had bypass and dumped that would be a wonderful thing. The reason she isn't getting bypass is because it's not a given she will dump. When they first realized bypass could lead to dumping it was a concern. Today they don't look at it as a bad thing, they look at it as a benefit and if you talk to most bypass folks with sugar issues they hope and cross their fingers that they will dump. The issue with the person that claims one will dump with bypass isn't that it was a "potential" complication, it was that she flat out demands and insists bypass folks will have this issue and that simply isn't accurate information. And whether dumping is a complication or a benefit is ... opinion. Personally, I think it's a benefit. The reason I was banded was not because I really wanted a band, the real reason is that I did not want bypass. There were no United States long term studies on the band or the sleeve. I couldn't even find any long term studies on the sleeve anywhere in the world at the time I was banded. We had no idea what the long term results (regarding weight loss) would be. So, I got a band. That was one of the biggest mistakes in my case. I've since revised to a sleeve and it's a much MUCH easier journey. Personally, I'd never get another band. I honestly do not believe it is going to last more than 10 years at best in most people. Newbies want reversible. Once they get to goal they want permanent and forever. ;o)

I had the sleeve and then revised to RNY. I only had GERD woth the sleeve. I had rumbling noises with both surgeries but not loud enough for others to hear. And I have no GI issues with the RNY. No uncontrollable gas or poo

Hi, I've been lurking for a few months while I was trying to decide which surgery to have. I am scheduled for Lap Band surgery on May 23rd. I have my pre-op and final visit with the surgeon this Friday. I've been reading posts from people who are having very little weight loss or very slow, hungry, eating what they used to, disappointed, etc. etc. This really scares me. Is this the norm? I am worried that I made the wrong decision. I am 58 and don't have time to make a big mistake like this and go in for a revision.:cry I"ve read all the 'statistics' but I could use the real scoop on what the typical person can expect. Please can someone help?

So, now am 3 months out with sleeve to roux n y revision and may have learned a couple things. Was originally on super low calorie low carb diet

I'm a 34yr male. 6'1 and currently weighing 225 pounds. I had succesful lap band surgery in march 2007 and lost 80 pounds. From 265 went down to 185. I had maintained overall weight loss success until sometime last year in january 2014 when i started to notice the GERD getting worse and also some weight gain. For the first time in 5 years when i hit the scale i saw numbers over the 200 range. I started to worry because i knew something was not right. Got an upper GI series done and all it showed was mild pouch dilation. Doctor left band as is and never suggested any course of treatment for the dilation and for the GERD. Fast forward now to 2015 and I seeked a second opinion from another surgeon. Surgeon performed an EGD and it shows that there is band slippage, gastritis and presence of GERD. Surgeon suggested a revision for the lap band and to convert it to either a gastric sleeve or gastric bypass. Insurance has approved the revision but need guidance or help in deciding which one is better for me. I see soo many mix responses from people suggesting or prefering one over the other. I will say that yes the band did work for me and do its job. It improved my health alot but now is the GERD that is just kicking me in the rear end very bad. Like stated before I weight 225 now and for the long term success and achivement I'm undecided as to what procedure is more suited for me at this point of my life. I do need the surgery to aliviate the discomfort plus without any bariatric procedure on me I would go back to how i was prior to the lapband. I tried it all before deciding doing bariatric surgery in 2007. Thank you.

Thank you for responding to my post. did you have more nerves for your revision surgery? For some reason I have more anxiety for this one as opposed to my sleeve.

I had the band in 2005 and it sucked and now I am trying for the revision to the highly successful Gastric Sleeve. 2 weeks out from the procedure I just got a call from the WLC that my insurance denied the whole thing, removal of band and GS, until I get another psych eval and nutrition regiment for SIX MONTHS!!! I am pissed. I even had a sleep apnea test done as that is a new requirement if BMI is under 40, which mine barely is. And yes I have it zzzzzz... I am waiting to hear back from WLC about the possibility of having the band removed now, and the sleeve done in 6 months. AND insurance covering it. GRRRR... I look at that 6 months as time wasted when pounds could be dropping. I am 63 and getting older by the second!!

I know I am SUPER late to this thread!! But I just left my fiance three weeks ago. We'd been together for a little over 3 years. Matter of fact we celebrated our 3-year with a trip to Chicago in Feb.... Anyways. Long story short. He was emotionally and physically abusive on top of incredibly irresponsible. And he has a son, whom I call my own bc his bio mom basically abandoned him when my ex and her divorced. The last straw in our relationship was when he stole, yes STOLE almost half of the loan money I had taken out for my VSG revision!!!! He was NOT supportive of my revision from day 1. I told him he either supports me or he doesn't, I am doing what's best for me and my health. I got the money back - thank GOD, but I left him that day. I am still riding the ups and downs of the post-break-up roller coaster. And when I am great I'm GREAT, and when I'm bad I'm bad. I stayed with him for so much longer than I should of because I gained about 80 lbs while being with him (he was SUCH an enabler with my food addiction) and I had/have no self confidence and I was plum scared of being alone. So I chose to be unhappy in my relationship over being alone. I now am alone and I know one day I will be better, but I am still suffering. Especially since within 72 hours of me leaving him he up and left for Texas with my son.... I am sad to be alone but even more sad that my son is gone.... Even though I KNOW this was the right decision 150%, it's hard to think that there will ever be a man out there for me! But there was a REASON I was engaged to this man for 2 years and would never marry him. In my gut I ALWAYS knew, and would ALWAYS make excuses. And like you, BBJ, I found myself having issues being attracted to him. Prior to him I'd always dated very in-shape men, and he had a gut and no motivation to be healthy with me. I hope that one day once I drop this weight that I have my confidence back like you do BBJ! More power to ya girl!!! If anyone is interested, I've been blogging about my WLS since Dec 2010, and there's more details about all this there.... www.diaryofafatwhitewoman.blogspot.com

Just a thought to share about saying goodbye to the drinks and foods we have come to love...those preferences or in some cases addictions are the reasons we have the band surgery. food is not your friend...saying goodbye with a finality is a positive step to take for success with your weight loss journey. As is often quoted on this forum, the band is only a tool; you must do the work to experience success with using the band in the way it has been designed to work. We need to change our relationship with food, and revise thoughts to approach a better and healthier way of life and diet. A healthier regard for food as something we need to fuel our bodies to live, instead of looking at food as solace for anxious and/or angry thoughts. Best wishes for success as you move forward on your journey!

Ferrer. Here’s a link to their website http://www.c-ferrer.com/en/spanish-artisan-and-traditional-products#cate70 Lap band 10/2007 revised to RNY 12/22/2017 HW 270 SW 263 CW 257

@, you have a revision from band to Sleeve and was released that same day? Wow, I've never heard of that. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App