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I hate the band. I lost very little weight. I threw up continuously anytime I ate anything remotely healthly. The unhealthy foods slide down easy. I could never eat chicken. I ended up with esophogeal erosions. I love my sleeve. I am a slow looser but I have lost consistently with the sleeve. I had my revision on Mar 21 and have lost 45 lbs. Some would complain but I am not complaining. I feel healthier and happier. They don't want me at support group meetings either. I am a very vocal anti-band person. I love the analogy to the ex. smokers. It is so true. Cathy

I have watched this site for several months now and it has been so so helpful. I had my band to sleeve revision ( after a slip, and then non-functioning port). Had another hernia that they had to repair as well. Today it has been a week and I am down 11 pounds and feel great although I have over done a bit. You all have been very helpful even to those of us who kinda stay in the shadows most of the time-- Thanks!

I get my band to sleeve revision on August 11th

Had appointment with Surgery Center and final appointment with Doctor this am. Revision surgery is at 7 am Tuesday and I was told it would last about 45 minutes to an hour. I am more excited than nervous.

I was originally set on revising to the VSG, but I'm fairly certain that I'm going to do the RNY instead. The VSG just has so many "what-ifs." I've already had the lap-band twice (first one had to be replaced due to complications, and now I'm having issues with the second one), so this will be WLS surgery #3 for me. I don't want to possibly need to go for #4 if the VSG doesn't work as well for me. The RNY has long-term result statistics available, whereas the VSG only has truly long-term stats when it was used in conjunction with the DS. My metabolism is horrible for several reasons, so I'm worried that a solely restrictive procedure just won't be enough. It probably would have been if it were my first procedure (I did very well with my first band, until I started having issues), but my metabolism is so much lower now. I'm just so tired of struggling with my weight, and now that my back is going bad (degenerative disk disease with a herniated, extruding disk), I just don't have the energy to fight both. It's like a never-ending cycle. My back won't get better unless I lose weight, but I can't lose weight because my metabolism is so low, and I can't increase my metabolism by exercising the way I need to because my back is bad. I feel like the malabsorbtion from the RNY (even though it is temporary) will help me lose enough weight initially that I'll be able to get back in the gym without killing my back.

wow....this is like being in a huge family of nothing but sisters. But thats cool, I always wanted sisters anyway, I only had one miserable, drug addicted, brother who has caused nothing but pain to our family. ANYWAY..... I went to Sams and bout about 300 dollars worth of Premier shakes and the Clear drinks, which taste ok but leave you with a very dry mouth so I really do not care for the Premier Clear Protein drinks. Too bad I bout 5 cases. LOL Surgery is 6/15 and I am only supposed to do a 2 week pre-op liquid diet but I have been trying my best to start it early. I have been doing ok but I find myself getting bored at night, especially since being laid off my job a couple nights ago. So I have been slipping in a meal or two of regular food. Still somewhat healthy and has protein, like hamburger patties and sausage. Boredom is one of my worst enemies when it comes to eating. I have got to find something to occupy my time, something that won't cost money since I am jobless now. I am also have a hard time weaning myself off the alcohol. I wouldn't call myself an alcoholic, but the last year os so I have found that a couple or a few glasses of Crown Royal or Vodka help me to fall asleep. I don't ever get hangovers and something tells me it is safer than taking sleeping pills (which never worked for me in the past anyway). But, I do know that I need to stop drinking soon and at least until a couple months post op, and even then, only vodka. Anyway, Just figured I would jump on here and babble a bit rather that go look for food. LOL I know some of you are starting Instagrams for this journey, If anyone is interested, I have one that is mostly of st journey with my VSG. I haven't posted in a while since gaining back a bunch of weight but I will probably start again with this upcoming revision. Feel free to follow me at JamesL_1973 and I will follow back. Look through my followers, there are a LOT of very inspiring people in there.

"I'm scared to death of possible complications there by also causing job problems and even more scared of life afterwards i.e. not being normal anymore cuz i cant eat anything." This is the comment that drives me the craziest and I wish everyone could wrap their brains around it - PLEASE listen up: ONE DAY YOU WILL BE ABLE TO EAT ANYTHING YOU WANT TO EAT - NO RESTRICTIONS OTHER THAN THE QUANITY YOUR STOMACH CAN HOLD. I consider myself perfectly "normal" now. I eat out for business quite often and no one even notices the amount of food I actually get in. Don't let these fears get the best of you. I had the same questions, even with being a revision from the lap-band. With your co-morbidities, this will be a life saving operation for you I'm sure. You owe it to yourself to be healthy and happy. And believe me - once you get the weight off and feel and look better you'll be so happy you made this decision. Best of luck to you!

Hi everyone. I am writing this so some of you won't be disappointed. I went in for my band to bypass revision yesterday (Monday) and I was so excited. When I was in recovery they told me the bypass didn't happen. When they went to remove the band there was a lot of scar tissue an tears so they removed the band and closed me up. It would have been dangerous for them to do it cause they needed to cut where the band was, of course I started crying. I can have it in 6 weeks but my surgeon will be on Christmas vacation and she is talking January. With Obama care I have to reapply for insurance and I may have to start the process all over again. Good luck yo all of you.

I understand your disappointment. It is so hard waking up and finding out that not only is your (malfunctioning) tool you gone, but now you're on your own again. I had a lot of bitterness and resentment over that fact. Unfortunately, I also had a lot of damage. My stomach needed time to heal and I ultimately know my surgeon did what was best. He said he would hate for me to have the disappointment of TWO failed surgeries. That certainly put it in perspective for me. I've been without my band for almost a year. I've gained 22 pounds. My revision to RNY is set for February 3. I'm so excited. You'll get your revision, too. It will be at just the right time.

Ms. Maui, let's be fair. That stat was true of the older lap bands wasn't it? And while you are at it, can you tell me what the reversal rates are for Gastric Bypass and Gastric Sleeves? Oh, wait they can't be reversed can they? And as long as you are interested in stats, would you care to let us know what the mortality rates are between the different types of bariatric surgery? Any bets which surgery has fewer patients die within 30 days of the surgery? Now, I don't have an axe to grind, and even if what you said was actually true of the lap band that I had installed, I would still have gone ahead with the surgery. I like choice in my life, and with the lap band I have a choice. With GB and sleeve, there is not going back, no further choice. Now, with that said, if my band fails and they can't put another band in. I will probably revise to a sleeve, if that fails (they do), I will opt for something else. But you see as a band patient, i have that choice. My friends wife who had GB and makes her self sick 4-5 times a week with dumping, doesn't have a choice anymore. http://www.obesitylapbandsurgery.com/statmain.html

When I was researching Dr's to do my revision, I was looking at doctors all over the U.S. and learned that the pool of WL surgeons who are qualified and skilled enough to do complex revisions or takedowns is probably less than 15-- I only found 5 or 6. If you go over to the www.obesityhelp.com site, you can find a lot of information about people who have had complications from all different surgeries, although the majority of them who had issues were those that had the GB. I trolled that website, this one and others for months while I was doing my research on the different WL procedures. Reason being is that my original WL surgeon died several years ago (young man but had a heart attack) and no surgeon in the Kansas City area had any experience doing surgery on someone who had the VBG (vertical banded gastroplasty). They all just wanted to do the GB because it was the easiest for them, never mind what was best for me. My point is that I did find surgeons who had been able to reverse the GB and in those cases, it was for medical reasons, not because the patient didn't want the procedure anymore. It's even possible to modify the DS surgery, but very difficult to do. You also start entering territory of experimental surgeries which have their own inherent risks. I had to go out of state to have my surgery to find a qualified and experienced doctor who had worked with previous WL surgeries such as mine. We don't know Carnie's reasons for choosing the LB. As I said, I do wish her the best. I can only hope she did her own research and not let some Hollywood Dr. lead her down a path that served only his own interests.

Pevette and Pookeyism, Yes, I have heard of "upgrading" surgeries from others. In plastics, often insurance will cover a panneculetomy, but surgeons will charge the patient the difference to upgrade. I have hounded the insurance coordinator from a variety of angles attempting to get a price for the difference of the band removal and revision to sleeve. I am more than willing to pay a fair difference. I was told that it was fraud to submit on procedure code to insurance when in fact another was performed. They refuse to do it. Maybe someone with insurance filing experience can explain this to us?

Hey, March 7th. I'm having 2nd revision now going to a bypass due to severe reflux

Good luck with your upcoming gastric bypass!! I hope you’re working on resolving any emotional eating issues as the new surgery won’t prevent you from eating poorly or overeating. It is also common to lose less weight with a revision versus an original surgery. But if you follow recommendations to eat dense protein first then non-starchy vegetables, and to avoid sugar, processed food, simple carbs, alcohol, and liquid calories, you should be successful. This new way of eating needs to be a long term lifestyle change, and not just until you reach your goal weight. You can do this!

@@chimboree26 if you dont mind me asking why are you getting a revision to the band, i had originally planned to have the band but my doc said it would be beneficial as i would not lose enough weight

Change of taste also and I think you mourn food that is the only way I can describe it but you make the appropriate decision and keep going-in the morning I am still rely on my shakes then I can drink liquid till lunch and do better then and supper-my surgery was the day before yours and a revision-I just keep going and follow plan as much as you can

Basically what happened is.....I have UHC, but this particular plan does not cover bariatric care at all. So, I paid for the surgery myself. Well, in order to get insurance to pay on the surgery, they billed "unlisted liver procedure" instead of wedge liver biopsy...."unlisted procedure, stomach" rather than gastric bypass...."adhesion repair" rather than lap-band removal...and also charged for a (hiatal) hernia repair. Mind you, all of those things were to be INCLUDED in my revision surgery (that's why it's more expensive than a "virgin" bypass), but they had my insurance information from my (original) consultation and submitted it. Since the coding "appeared" medical, UHC covered a pretty significant portion of it. Thinking I should get a refund for anything that insurance DID pay, I phoned the office to find out when I'd get a refund check and, to my surprise, they said they would be keeping BOTH payments! Adhesions were expected, due to the band; I've had a hiatal hernia for OVER 10 years, but the op report reads as if it was "discovered" during surgery!!! Adding what they billed insurance PLUS what I paid up front, my surgery was nearly $58,000!!! That is ridiculous. The average for bypass is $22,000, which is what I "self" paid prior to surgery. Just a side note....I had NO complications, NO unexpected/unplanned procedure and the hospital and anesthesiologist both wrote off ALL charges except what I paid up front...only the surgeon billed/was paid by my insurance company. I tried to "appeal", but UHC wouldn't since it was not a denial. The insurance commission only regulates insurance, not MD's. The Medical Board only cares if you have "injuries" (for malpractice), they don't care about how the MD codes the surgery. Most patients don't mind because, had UHC NOT paid, they would not have billed me anything....they would have just " settled" for what I paid them up front. Because the patient usually doesn't get a bill, most don't mind and/or don't complain when the doctor submits "medical" codes and gets payment. It is a common practice by bariatric surgeons (even the "good" ones!), but it's wrong, wrong, wrong. I am continuing to pursue it because I work in the healthcare industry and I am just so infuriated by all the fraud, abuse and waste in "the system" that I am not going to let them get away with this, even though almost all of them do it!! Sorry to go on and on, but I am just SOOOOO frustrated and angry that I go on a rant when I discuss it. I asked all the right questions, reviewed the contract, etc., etc., and I STILL got "used". I am still trying to work with UHC to either ask the doctor for a refund or else tell him he needs to refund it to me...even if I don't get it, I don't want the doctor paid twice. If your insurance doesn't cover your surgery and you end up paying yourself....BE SURE that you have an "iron-clad" contract and understanding with your physician about what will be billed and HOW it will be billed. As a side note, even my PCP said it's "illegal as hell" (quote, sorry for the language) the way they billed it; it's not just me being upset because I didn't get a refund.

I just recently had surgery and am new to this forum, but I have noticed that there are quite a few people who have had bands removed, replaced, port revisions, stomach erosion, etc... Anyone care to share their experiences or advice on how to prevent these???

Please study all my threads - please. Infected ports can and do lead to erosion. An infected port won't give you a fever (well, it might but I never had one.) I had 2 port removals due to infection, and I was diagnosed with erosion this week. I started a thread the other day about the importance of an endoscopy. Is your port inflamed, hot, red? If so, it's most likely infected and needs to be removed. But please don't get all worried because maybe the port just shifted after losing weight. If there's no infection and it bothers you a lot, they can do a port revision. But if it's infected, that means you should keep an extra special watch on your band. You're very smart to have paid attention to loss of restriction, which could be a sign of erosion, but again it just might be a sign of "time for a fill." PM me if you want to talk and I'll give you my number. Don't let all this worry you. I've been accused of trying to scare people with my infection and erosion stories but that's not what I want. I just want everyone to have the greatest band experience possible. Good luck and PLEASE keep in touch with me, k?

I had a revision as well. I'm 45 down in 8 weeks. Keep up the good work!!

i had my revision 8/25i have yet to get passed clear liquids. I had a stent placed last week. I am hoping this fixes my issues since i had 4 dilations with no success.

I get my revision on Dec. 4. I can't WAIT to be done with this band!!!! I just had an "incident" yesterday and man o man will I be happy to be done with that. Most of the time I don't even know it's there and then BAM! Out of the blue I am completely stuck. I am sure I will have issues, too, because my pouch is really stretched. I hope your recovery goes very smoothly and I am so happy to hear you have no hunger. I am hungry all the time at this point.

Hello - I have had my band for over 5 1/2 years. After about 18 mths my band slipped. I think it was from Throwing up. (not confirmed by My Dr) but I know my body and I was getting sick alot when I ate. But I was willing to go thru this to loose the weight. Bad idea. My Dr took some of the fluid out to see if the pouch would reduce/ the swelling to go down on its own. ( it didnt) One thing that can happen when the band slips is your pouch becomes enlarged, and in my case even part of the old stomach made its way up thru the band, thererfore creating a new pouch from my old stomach. So now I had 2 smal pouches, not a good thing, I was able to hold more food, explaining the reason I was not loosing any weight. So I had surgery to replace the band. Well, just a month ago same thing, but this time I have not been throwing up. However I noticed I was and could eat more then I normmaly use to which also explained some weight gain, I thought maybe I need a fill, I went to the Dr and Bam enlarged pouch, then 2 weeks later band slippage. My band now has to be removed for a 2nd time. Things to learn from my post: You must always remember your band is a "TOOL" never take it for granted. If something doesnt feel right it probably isnt. Check it out...Use common sense, most of the time your Dr. does want what is best for you, seek their advice or call the nurse, they are very knowledgable and have probably heard your worry from many others. Do not over-eat and you should not be throwing-up more then the occasional burp-up. Stay in a support group. Band slippage most of the time can be prevented, sometimes not. For me personally I think the first time might have been preventable, I use to beat myself up over it but now that I have had a 2nd slip, I am not so sure, I didnt throw up. Sometimes it just happens....I will be having a revision surgery this July..not another band, not becuase I do not have faith in the band - I do - it took me down 85 lbs, but My Dr says its time for something else. I will either have the Sleeve or the RYN...5 years ago the RYN was a dirty word to me, now I am prepared, it too is still a tool and I am sure it will get me to goal. Would I do it all over again, YOU BETCHA. Love your band!!

Absolutely zero regrets. I was a band to sleeve revision. It was the best thing I ever did. I had horrible complications, extensive recovery, and I would do it all over again to be living this life that I have today. I'm 15 months post revision and loving life.

Hi all, I was originally told by my surgeon's office that the insurance "approved" the band-to-bypass revision, but unfortunately there were some miscommunications on their end and the insurance company actually denied (they are saying that it's not sufficient enough to approve this surgery because the band is still technically in place and hasn't "failed" even though medically it has failed in terms of WL success and more than occasional vomiting). Talk about a roller-coaster - - excitement and hope followed by sadness and dispare... but I want this badly (and NEED it), so I'm about to draft an appeal letter. Do any of you have advice on what I should state in the appeal letter? Any other suggestions? Thanks, ~Micheal