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I'm only 4'11 and my HW was 233, I received the lap-band in 12/03/03. I received my revision on 5/28/13. SW: 180.4 CW: 161.7

I had rny gastric bypass may 2, 2012. I had to have 2 blood transfusions and my blood pressure was higher then normal. They did the upper GI and found no leak so I was released after 2 days. When ingot home a couple days later I was having trouble keeping anything down. I was very thirsty all the time. I had a lot of pain in my belly button area that would go around to the lower back. I still had the jp drain in (thank God) I started seeing brown liquid in the drain and that's when I realized it was my protein shake. I went to my surgeon and he sent me to the ER and they did a cat scan and found a leak. They also found an abscess and a gastric gastric fistula. The leak cause the connection from my old stomach to my new pouch. So when ever I would eat or drink it would go out through the fistula into my drain and old stomach. My doctor admitted me into the hospital. I had to have a picc line and I was feed food bags. He couldn't go in to fix it because the area was to mushy. He wanted everything to dry out and then see if the fistula would close on its own. I was in the hospital for 18 days. I missed my daughters high school graduation. I was so upset. I even began to question why I did this surgery. After I was released from the hospital he kept me on the food through the picc line. I had to have home health care. A nurse came out once a week for about 2 months. Finally everything was getting better. All my vitals were back to normal. The doctor did another cat scan and decided the fistula was so tiny that no food would pass through it so we decided to wait and see if it would close on its own. I started on the diet I lost a lot of weight. I started at 264 lbs and lost over 105 lbs. about my year mark I started having trouble keeping any food down everything made me throw up. I kept complaining about the pain it felt like something was always getting stuck. He checked for a stricture I didn't have one. We checked the gallbladder, mine was fine. Everything we checked we couldn't find what was the source of all this pain. Finally he did a endoscopy. I had a pretty good size ulcer. They put me on carafate and 2 other antacids for 6 months. The pain and everything just kept getting worse. I asked if the fistula could cause the problem. He said it was to small. Well we did another endoscopy and now the ulcer is tripled in size. Now I barely eat anything. I went in for an upper GI. As I drank the stuff I watched on the screen all the liquid go into my old stomach. The fistula was bigger. The acid in my old stomach was coming through the fistula and caused the ulcer and damaged my pouch. I was told I had to go in for gastric revision. March 12, 2014 I went into the hospital and the doctor removed the upper part of my old stomach were the fistula was and he had to take down the pouch and rebuild it using part of my intestine. He said this surgery is more intense then the first and I would be in a lot more pain because of all the scar tissue and mess he had to repair from the first surgery. I was in the hospital for 3 days. I am now 6 weeks post op. I feel so much better this time. I was not in as much pain as the first time. I honestly believe that God said I was in enough pain the first time, that I didn't need it this time. I weighed today at 130 lbs. my new pouch is smaller then the normal size so I need to make sure I get my protein and water in. I was told I may have to eat a little more often. But so far I'm doing great. I am glad. Went through this surgery if I didn't the weight would have killed me. Even with the complications I would do it again if I had to. Everything has risks. I had a great surgeon who was there for me every step of the way. And I had a lot of family and friends support. And I pray to God everyday for giving me the faith to get through this and heal.

I revised only three weeks ago due to severe acid reflux. Unfortunately it has not helped my reflux at all. I'm in pain 24/7. Literally. However this is NOT the norm apparently and I would encourage anyone to revise who has GERD.

To say that one should choose different operations for different BMI ranges is an often propagated myth by surgeons. The truth is that all weight loss operations are tools for weight loss and regardless of the operation, patients that take full advantage of the tool do great but some patients don't lose that much weight with any operation. Interestingly, if you look at band vs bypass, the bypass looks better the first year, but 5-10 years later the band looks better because bypass weight loss is somewhat "false" in the beginning because it is a disease weight loss with muscle wasting (NOT the way to lose weight in a healthy manner even though it makes the scale look better, temporarily). The problem with bypass is that patients regain weight later requiring revisions. We do a lot of band-over-bypass surgery to create an adjustable bypass so patients can lose weight again. The plication success rate should be no different from other weight loss operations. I anticipate most patients will do very well with the tool but some patients will lose very little weight just like we see with other weight loss operations. I've got a couple of GPS patients (Gastric Plication Surgery is what we call it) who have already lost over 40 pounds in a couple of months - amazing. Obviously, it is early in the game but it is so simple I do not anticipate any massive surprises with the operation. In Europe, plication patients' average weight loss looks better than the band. A common theme of patients not losing weight as fast is eating too much ice cream and/or too many "concentrated sweets" (cake, Cookies, etc). The good news is that when the appetite is turned down after surgery, patients find it much easier to avoid these foods because they are not hungry. I've had a lot of patients -before surgery- tell me, "Well, Doctor, if I could make good food choices I wouldn't need surgery," but then they are pleasantly surprised after surgery at how much easier it is with the appetite turned down and getting full on small meals. Also, sometimes complex emotional eating issues are thrown in there which sometimes requires experts in that area if it is interfering with weight loss but it is rare that patients need that level of help after surgery in my experience. At any rate, we have done band surgery on patients through all BMI ranges and they all lose weight very well when they use the tool effectively. I feel no different about the GPS (plication). I like the plication because there is no malabsorption, no cutting, no rearranging, no foreign body, no port, etc. Plication has a lot going for it. Brad Watkins MD

Hi, I had revision from band to gastric bypass on 8/1/13 and I am still struggling getting my Protein, liquids and calories. On a good day, I get the minimum (48 oz liquid 45-60 protein but approx. 500-600 cal). I just feel too full and can't fit anything else in. Getting these amount is a real painful struggle. I did have a recent complication of a hernia with my intestines twisted up and around the pouch. During that whole month of dire pain I was only getting 300-400 calories. I am healed up now, but I still struggle like I did before the complication getting 500-600 calories. Is there anyone else that struggles because they are just too darn full all the time? Oh I also have more pronounced food sensitivities. Most of the time I am in pain from trapped gas and I think about how I can't continue living like this. It's really depressing. I am happy that I am losing weight, but I don't feel successful, because I feel like crap everyday (lack of energy, dizzy, very depressed from lack of calories, and borderline wanting to end it all). Hubby says take it one day at a time, but I don't know if I can anymore. Doc told me to take beano, digestive enzymes and gave me prescription strength antacid. These things don't seen to work well. Please, is there anyone else going through this?

@@KS123 - I was 46 when I got my lap-band and 58 when I revised to the sleeve. You are, definitely, not alone. In fact, you're practically a youngster! I'm now 59!

I didn't have one for my band but I did for my band to sleeve revision. They pulled it out the morning I went home. It was a pain and they had to pin it up to my gown so I could do my walking in the hallways or it was banging on my knees. That incision is still the sore one 2 weeks later.

April 3rd scheduled for revision from sleeve to Bypass

How are you all that already had the revision feeling? I go on the 23rd for mine.

My doctor told me today that I am going to need a revision to rny from sleeve due to severe reflux. I have been on Nexium and Zantac for 2 years and he says it is not for long term use. I was already revised from band to sleeve 2 years ago, also due to reflux. I am scared to death. He gave me a month to think about it. Please let me know if this revision works for reflux. Also, I became lactose intolerant when I had my sleeve surgery, so I also wonder if maybe rny would reverse that also? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I got my approval today and my surgery date is June 3 and I am so excited. I wanted a May date but oh well at least I got an approval. I was sleeved in 2015 however it was unsuccessful. I am determined for this bypass to work. I wanted the bypass the first time but the surgeon suggested the sleeve. This is the last and final time can’t get another revision after this but I wouldn’t one another one.

WOW!! Alot of great info! I go Thursday, Aug 16th, band to sleeve revision. I am both excited and alittle scared!

I was banded in November 2008. I lost about 80 pounds and then all of a sudden I got swollen and couldn't eat or drink. I hadn't had a fill for almost a year at this point. Dr. Removed all fluid (8cc) did a swallow test and the band didn't slip and was fine. Gained a bunch of weight back and started the fill process all over again. Got back up to 7cc and was losing slowly. Then it happened again, swollen and couldn't eat or drink. Removed 2cc this time and I am gaining. I would like to get the revision but does this qualify as a complication? I feel like my body does not allow the band to be as tight as I need it to lose weight.

BJean, I feel like singing the song to the munchkins from Wizard of Oz "come out come out where ever you are.... I too have a lot of those same issues that you spoke about which make it more difficult to lose. I'm on anti-depressants, anti-anxiety meds, have a thyroid issue but medicated, type II diabetes, not medicated at the momement, I'm 48 years old. My weight is 248 and I wanted to get down to 200, which to most people seems like a lot to weigh but for me it was basically my first goal and would probably be satisfied to get that far. I had gotten close to 220 on Medifast right after surgery but since then with the fills adjustments, no fill, too much fill whatever I just put it all back on. So getting down to 220 was a big deal to me and I was almost thrilled at that weight! Then to go back up to close to the 253 where I started just about killed me! So I never lost I gained. I don't think I was the right candidate and have been chatting with people on another forum that my nutritionist suggested and they have very similar problems and most are getting revisions or have already had them. I'm afraid at this point or paranoid that no surgery would work for me or I for it, I've lost confidence. I'm at the point now with only 2 ccs that I can eat a WW tv dinner and try to follow the points plan but I can't always stick to it and exercising on the treadmill isn't always the best thing for me because I'm built like a candy apple! I have very thin legs and gain belly up. So I end up getting really muscular legs and thinner ones and it makes me look bigger on top. Anyway that's about the gist of it. So like I said I just have a feeling it wasn't the right surgery for me (without sounding like a basher) and I'm trying to figure out what to do now. I had the surgery last august and that's almost 9 months now and I don't know how much longer I should go without making some drastic change. Thanks for your help brandyII.

Sue, Per my doctor's orders I was on liquids the first day and then could eat normally again after that. Just told not to go crazy. I didn't revise at the time and had no complications either. Good luck to you, Nancy.

Not sure how you read into my post that I was taking it personally, because I wasn't and I'm not. I was simply making a statement in agreement with the gist of what another poster said. In fact, I wasn't even talking to the other people that posted in the thread, I was talking to you, based on your past posts in this thread, the posts where you said you were considering a revision, that you like to eat things that the band doesn't really restrict, and that you aren't exercising. I wasn't saying that you were taking that possible revision lightly, but I was warning you that you were likely to run into trouble if you revise and go into that surgery assuming certain things, like you apparently went into lap-band surgery with certain assumptions. And I'm sorry if you think it's an attack on you, because it's not. The fact is, you've admitted in this thread that you had certain assumptions about what lap-band surgery could do for you, assumptions that weren't accurate. I do want to pull one comment you made in the above post out and go over it, though. "No one jumped into this lightly, it was well planned out, we were all screened, we all researched and we paid a lot of money for something that has disappointed us." (emphasis mine) Can you honestly say that you really researched this surgery, though, if you continue to blame your surgeon for not telling you certain things about the lap-band? For example, I believe you've said in the past that your surgeon failed to inform you that sweets-eaters might not do as well with the band as they would have with the bypass. That's something that could have been found very easily through research. And yes, that was my exact point, when I mentioned the member here that has Cushing's Syndrome, that not everyone has it. In fact, it's an extremely rare condition. That was my point. Those people that DO have it, like Vinesqueen, have a reason that they aren't losing weight that is truly out of their control. They can't help the fact that they've got a brain tumor that prevents them from losing weight. That is why I said that it was "legitimate." I have a lot of sympathy for you, I do. This road hasn't been all roses for me, either. I've got quite a bit of acid reflux that I deal with, I had a very hard time losing any weight in the beginning, and I've plateaued and even gained weight (now losing again) since being banded. But you know what? I also don't consider you "a band failure." Why? Your band hasn't failed. You may have been using it incorrectly, due to being overfilled, but now that you've had an unfill (I think you said that, anyway), hopefully it will be working correctly. But you also have to take responsibility for doing half the work and exercise and NOT eat stuff that goes right through it. And honestly, I have no problem with people that are really having issues with their bands supporting each other. In fact, I think it's awesome. That's what the complications forum is for, after all, to be that safe place you mentioned. But you didn't post in the complications forum, you posted in the rants and raves forum.

My Dear Bari Brothers and Sisters, You may have noticed that I too have been missing from the Scene for a while. Not for lack of love for you all. Following my honeymoon of no work, I had to go back and as you may know a grueling international travel schedule followed. An as exciting and glamorous as going to places like France and England may sound, it does take it’s toll, and has been so tough for me to resist the endless temptations along the way, not to mention the drag on my noon existent time. And since I work with computers, when I fly home, I usually go dark and stay away from electronics, as my 6 and 8 year old miss me and I want to spend every spare moment with them. To add to that, we have all been severely debilitated by a series of illnesses. My daughter had Coxsackie Virus, My son had stomach Flu, I tested postive for Strep and then the bugs started to cross pollinate so we all suffered greatly with a bouquet of bugs Then of course the Holidays were upon us and...yeah, we had to get our act together and travel to family etc, so I have been go to GO, and all those things I put on hold while I had and recovered from Surgery, well they all caught up with me. From a weight perspective I really don’t know how I’m doing :\. And here is why: Pre- Surgery Weight 271, Surgery Day August 22nd 2018 257, current weight 226 So Weight loss since Surgery (approx 3 months ago is 31lb and total loss is 45. Not monumental like some, but then again, this is my 2nd revision, I had band to Sleeve to this so like when I had the Sleeve, at the 3 month mark I had lost on 15 more lb than I have now :(. I’ve lost enough to be able to feel better and have several non scale victories...not ashamed to take pics with kids, easier fit in airplane seats, more energy, feel better about myself, my cloths are fitting great, more optimistic about the future, did not feel such dread going to see family on Thanksgiving, etc On my trips, where I have had hotels with kitchenettes, I’ve avoided eating out all together, doing fabulously grocery shopping, walking min 10K steps a a day and loosing weight. When I travel and there is no fridge or kitchen in the hotel, its much harder. An unlimited food budget coupled with crazy irresistible deliciousness makes it tough tough TOUGH to resist. In my last trip to France, various cheeses, and even Breads found their way into my world. Nothing near the copious previous quantities but enough to make me uncomfortable emotionally. The crazy part is my pouch did not resist at all. Very scary, as one with multiple surgeries I am crippled with the fear that this shall fail too. Which brings me to my next point. Following my stricture release a month ago, I no longer throw up, a good thing you might say BUT, I also seem to have lost my restriction!!!!! I mean, I don’t know where and HOW I am able to put away what I do :(((((((. Beyond sad and bewildered. Another problem is that my bloodwork revealed that my Anemia was worse...so on the 16th of Nov, I went in for an Iron Infusion. Now I had that last year with my Sleeve and I had a series of Iron infusions...7 in total 3 weeks apart and I left each infusion RAVENOUS and stayed that way. Gaining tons of weight before each next one. Well this time seems no different in that I am RAVANOUS ALL THE TIME, since I got it over a week ago. That coupled with the seeming loss of restriction is desasterous. I’m snacking on crackers and nuts and I know that stuff adds up. Last night I did a test to see when I will get full. Tried eating what would normally be considered healthy ways to fill yourself. Removed my Vegan restrictions and had at least 5 strips of deli roast beef...not full, a cup of leftover Green Bean casserole...than a big cup of chicken tortilla soup...nada...a big bowl of Green Beans, Brussel Sprouts and curried chickpeas followed....and 30mins later I was in a grazing mood again, grabbing Oat Crackers covered with no sugar chocolate and chia seeds...and guys...yeah, not a peak from my pouch and somehow I never got to a full or satiated feeling. Too depressed to even call doc about it. What can they do? I’m just 3 m out, this has GOT to work for me, and I’m like if at 3 months I’m able to devour all that...what hope is there at a year or two. Been down this road too many times. Trying hard not to be depressed...I gave up my Wellbutrin on Surgery day and have been doing great, but this...food preoccupation and seeming return of hunger plus lack of restriction has got me seriously in a funk. So for those suffering from too much restriction, I repeat, relish it..it does NOT last! This coming from me who was throwing up at a sip of water and now just 3 short months latter, I’m like praying for restriction. Frustrating does not begin to cover it...I just don’t know what to do. It’s also the week before my period when I’m usually most carb needy, so that is probably playing in too....idk, any thoughts? So yeah...here is where i find myself. About to go walking, it’s cold but I’ll brave it, if for nothing else, than to increase my Serotonin naturally (and catch up on my work calls as I do). And that’s what’s up with ellie123. Hope you all had an awesome thanksgiving, miss you all and hope everyone is doing great.

My sleeve is so unpredictable. I’ll have days where I swear I can eat like a “normal” person and I honestly forget I’m sleeved. Then I’ll have days where a boiled egg fills me up for hours and I have zero interest in eating. What’s even weirder is that my husband- who has NOT had any bari surgery- eats a lot like me and sometimes he runs into restriction. Tonite we had date night and went to one of our favorite pubs. We split a chicken sandwich with fries, each had 1 cocktail and 1 beer. We didn’t even manage to finish half of our halves of the sandwich and also failed to drink over half our beers! We laughed that we were failing so bad at splurging. One thing that is kind of alarming me is that my acid reflux seems to be kicked in overdrive lately. I’m about to really clean up my eating and drinking prepping for this next foot surgery, so I’m hoping to catch a break from the constant heartburn. I really, really, really am happy with where I am and the LAST thing I want is a revision due to this reflux. I love my sleeve— I don’t want a pouch. I don’t have the best tips to remember to drink water bc I guzzle down 2/3 of my daily water before I eat for the first time of the day. I’ll literally have around 60 ounces of water between waking up and eating around 10-11 am, then drink maybe 12-16 more the whole rest of the day. It tends to leave me feeling somewhat dehydrated by bedtime, but bedtime is when I will “treat” myself to my Coke Zero. My hair never really came back. It’s still fairly thin, but I will never regret having the VGS. Good God, I hope the kidney stone thing never happens to me: I’m a wimp when it comes to stuff like that.

Yes- which is why I stopped beating myself up about not following mine exactly and revising it to fit my needs. How do these surgeons come up with the post op plans? Mine says I can drink alcohol 4 weeks post op; other people have to wait 6-12 months? Some are requiring 80 g of protein beginning immediately after surgery and others are 15 g for the first week? Some people are supposed to start with multivitamins day 1 post op and others wait 1-2 weeks to integrate them? Are these surgeries so radically different that the post op diets need to differ this much? I’m listening to my body and pushing to get max protein but I’m not going to beat myself up if I don’t get in 80 g of protein. Sorry.

What is this in reference to? I see a helluva lot more people getting revision surgeries because their sleeve didn’t work than people failing with a bypass

I love your dress and those shoes are amazing. I'm doing ok. I'm going to be having an EGD because I have an off and on again stomach pain/upset since surgery. I haven't got the date yet until they get the approval. I will let you know what I find out. I'm at 251 and have lost 87 pounds. I feel like I should have lost more, but probably am waiting too much. Last night I ate a whole croissant with no ill feeling. If eat chicken it hurts after a few bites. I try to stick to soft proteins. Yogurt is the easiest on my stomach. I still have tons of restriction, but am finding I can graze a bit. I'm still trying to be very mindful of what I eat. I am at a BMI of 39.9 which is just below morbid obesity. I still have a long way to go. I really hope it get there by 18 months. My dr and I will go over my options at 12 months to see if i need/want a revision to DS. I'm having so much lose skin and would consider doing my arms. I carry my weight in my upper half of my body and have way smaller legs. I guess we all have our problem areas. Mine is my arms, breasts and stomach. You're looking good! How much do you have to lose to goal? I'm at a spot that most people started. But, overall I feel pretty amazing! Take care! Stay in touch. 💗

I know I would be able to increase the amount I can eat. I have to be vigilant making sure I keep portions low or I don’t lose. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m a revision or some other stupid reason. Froufrou- I seem to have to keep calories low, between 600-700 to lose well. I may do better if I were even lower, but I can’t seem to get it lower and get 50-60g of protein. I think I’m going to buy the unflavored Genpro powder since I hear it has 30g of protein and only 60 calories for about a tablespoon and is nearly tasteless. As far a what you’re supposed to be eating...protein first, then veggies and they say carbs last, but I don’t do a starch on my plate as a rule. I have however had the tiny corn tortillas in street tacos a couple of times. I think they have 7 carbs in each one. Street tacos come with 2 tortillas and I have tossed one, so only eating one of them but honestly they are a waste of calories/carbs without much nutritional benefit. We are supposed to only be eating things that have good nutritional benefits at this point. I am finding that I have to stay focused or I will push the boundaries far enough to just maintain my weight. I have a hard time with my fat brain at night, urging me to eat something, never bad stuff, just yogurt or cheese and almonds, but still calories I don’t need because I’m not hungry and definitely don’t need to eat before going to sleep. It’s an ongoing struggle for sure.

Mishu I am a revision from sleeve to rny and am constantly questioning what is the best path to insure success. I just can’t help feeling like we need to keep calories/carbs very low to be successful after failing one surgery already. It’s scary for sure.

I had a sleeve 7 years ago and wish I would have known about the high prevalence of damage due to acid reflux after the sleeve. I now need to revise to bypass to stop the damage from getting worse. If you have any history at all of reflux, I'd be talking to your doctor about doing a bypass instead Sent from my Z6201V using BariatricPal mobile app

Great Info....still relevant so many years later. Thank you. I actually sent you a friend request on FB. I wanted to learn more about Dr. Alberto Aceves. I am also a revision surgery candidate. I had the lap band removed in October 2013 bc of complications. I couldn't do the revision at that point bc of too much damage and the insurance company didnt want to fund it. I'm now looking into Mexico bc of continued problems with the insurance company. Ironically, I already have the Insanity DVD also. Can't wait to get to the point where I can start it as well. I actually like working out so right now I feel like crap. Hope to get more advice from you. Thanks again.