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Hello! Get your maps out, Wortham, TX here. Revision and hernia repair on march 20th, healing well and ready to enjoy life once again.

My surgeon that banded me has a center of excellence which is unheard of for the tiny practice that he has. He has never done a sleeve. That was good enough for me to go to Dr. Aceves. I love my band doctor. If he had done the sleeve surgery for the same price as doctor Aceves, you bet I would have gone to him. I wanted somebody experienced with revision surgery and the best choice and best doctor for that is Dr. Alberto Aceves.

Silviamom...When did you have your band removed? I have heard the 30% chance of leakage is when you have the revision, but if you wait 6 months and everything is healed the chance of leakage goes way down. I also don't have any interest in bypass, to many risks for me. when do you plan on having your sleeve? mine will be around Xmas or right after the first of the year.

I'm in MD... I'm having my surgery at Virginia Hospital Center. This Dr did my lap band 7 years ago. I'm revising to a sleeve on 10/6. Band was removed in July. Sent from my SM-G925P using the BariatricPal App

I am 60 years old and weigh about 80 lbs more than I 2 ant to. I had trouble with my band sliding so we my do and I to have me do the bypass revision. I am doing good no problem getting enough protein or water, see the Dr Monday for 1 week check up. Little worried about hair loss. Anyone got ideas to prevent it

what could you be revised to? Have you tried the 5 day pouch test to get back on track?

I take 5000 mg of biotin every day and was a band to bypass revision my nails and hair look amazing now I am 4 months out from revision surgery.

wow can I empathize with you. The only thing I can say is at least you found out BEFORE you had surgery!. I was approved and had surgery (revision from lapband to sleeve) in November 13. I was hospitalized 4 days due to complications. A few weeks later I get a bill for ..... wait for it.... $132,000. So I have a major anxiety attack and call my insurance who tells me they indeed did approve the surgery but my policy only covers up to $25,000 per life time. They never told me that nor did they tell the program coordinator at the hospital I went to. Now, I have to tell you, the hospital did "reduce" my bill to $47,000. That was nice of them. When I called to make payment arrangements, the lowest they would accept per month was $800.00. That just isn't going to happen, I'm a social worker who works for a non profit agency. Scary stuff.

How can you tell if you need a revision? What is the process of a revision?

I voluntarily unfilled my band 4 weeks before my revision. When Dr Garcia got in there, he said everything looked great and there was NO irritation (which is what I did it for...NO irritation) I was then sleeved right after he removed it

My doctor will be taking out the fluid months before surgery. I have had chronic heartburn for three plus years and need the esophagus to heal prior to revision surgery.

Hello everyone, I went to visit my new surgeon (I'm Kaiser now) to discuss my lap band slipping. I was thinking we could just take out a little saline and see what happens. Never heard of the sleeve before today but when he discussed this option while taking out my band at the same time- I immediately knew it was the right decision. My band has been a total nightmare. The group who performed my band surgery pretty much deserted me after my operation. Kaiser has been a dream come true for me. There were things about the band I was never told- like most people get it out about 2-5 years later and almost nobody has it in after 10 years. I was led to believe this band stayed in forever. I also thought it was going to be a simple surgery. Wrong. I have been hospitalized so many times for problems. I faint after I eat sometimes because its pushing up again my Vagal nerve. And its been too tight for months- finally after months of vomiting/getting food stuck constantly/and slime issues- it slipped. Thank God, because it slipped I pay for nothing- my insurance will cover this as well as my revision to the sleeve. I am so excited to have my surgery June 28th. It is so helpful to read all your comments and stories. Today my surgeon removed almost all of the saline explaining it helps to reduce any swelling to make surgery and revision easier. And I am so happy to NEVER have to get a fill or have this port accessed again. Yippee!

Hi I have a question why are u getting a revision I see a lot people get them and I was just curious of why what's not working that you need a revision

I just had a revision from the sleeve to a bypass a week ago today. I'm already 16 pounds down. I had horrible stomach acid... the thing is, lifelong taking medicines for stomach acid is bad for you. Increases cancer risks, dementia risks, and accelerates bone loss. I did not want to be taking these meds for decades to come when science has proven how dangerous that is. I've had no vomiting or nausea while healing. This time around, the vitamins don't even make me sick which is a huge relief. They used to.

Well without having read all the posts in between, that just rammed home two things for me. One, there are many doctors making a buck with obesity surgery who have no freaking idea of the emotional journey we take when we undergo it. Choosing a surgeon for this is like choosing an obstetrician, its somebody who you hope to have a long respectful relationship with and I've been appalled at stories I've heard from people about how little understanding their doctors have shown. TYou bare your soul to them afterall. This was just another example. What, is weight loss surgery the next big money spinner, but you hate fat people? And two, how very glad I am that I live in Australia. For a measly $3,000 I have my band AND I have guaranteed aftercare FOR EVER and that INCLUDES revision surgery if necessary. I know our health systems operate very differently but this should be the case for everyone.

Ok I know by now I should have done something....I joined the challenge to motivate me, but really I'm just tired. I'm still waiting for the doc to call me back and tell me my new date for the revision. I figure I'll give him a call on monday since he hasn't called me...doctors...ahh well. Teaching is going fine, I can't wait for it to be June so I can leave. I'm excited about coming back to the states. First thing I have to do though is find a band doctor there in florida and get that all settled. I would hate to have problems because I had my band surgery here in Portugal. Christmas is just around the corner, so I'm busy with christmas shopping and christmas cross stitches. I wanted to go ahead and put up our tree but hubby won't let me. There isn't a Thanksgiving here so I figured I might as well get it all up. Dec 1st he says...so I wait...:tired men.

So O.K., I need a kick in the butt too! I have been doing so well, workingout 5 times a week and eating right all day and then at 9:30 at night, I start to feel like I need to snack! I graze on this and that and I jknow it destroys all the work I have done all day! This is the hard part for me because everyone is talking about how good I look and how much weight I have lost and I begin to feel like I can ease up for just a moment. I deserve it. That is the behavior that had nme gain weight year after year! I'm with you Pizz and Bad I am putting a moratorium on everything not on the list. I am 5 lbs from my revised, revised 6 month goal and I am 9 days out. I go in for my 6 month post op on Mar 4 so that gives me a few extra days to knock off these 5 lbs. Well, I had to get that out! I'm going to bed to save myself from food! Val

Hi Morningoasis, I'm glad you're going to get this taken care of. I forgot to mention that some of my pain was very simular to yours...I couldn't take a deep breath either. I'll be interested to hear if your insurance will pay for this. I looked up my policy with BC/BS and it states: "No coverage for bariatric surgery including reversal, revision, repeat and staged surgery, except for the treatment of sickness or injury resulting from such bariatric surgery, or unless required by law." I'm hoping they consider abdominal pain when eating sometimes a "sickness" . If not, then I'll have to go back to Mexico and I'm not looking foward to that with all the killing going on there. Ofcourse, I could always wait until the band causes me a "sickness" :thumbup: I am also worried about living without my band. Although I never got to goal, my band has kept me from gaining it all back. I hope that repositioning is all we'll need. Take Care, Marsha

I just found out about 2 weeks ago that my band has slipped. This is what lead up to finding out and the problems I’m having and facing now that I know.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> I had the band placed on 10/25/07 and have lost about 120 lbs so far. During last summer I was filled too much and had crazy reflux and two months in a row I had unfills. Then I was fine for 6 months. Then this past holiday season, between xmas and new years I started having weird symptoms. It started with weird side pains when I ate. I'd have the tight pain in my left chest/shoulder, felt short of breathe from the side pains, couldn't breathe very deep. (I actually passed out around new years once). Over the course of three weeks it lead to reflux on everything even water, just burping up a little bit of everything all day. Then progressed into 24/7 uncontrollable heart burn. On Fri 1/9 I called the hospital because I couldn’t sleep at all or eat any solid food. I had to wait until the following Wednesday to see my surgeon. I was on liquids for nearly a week until I saw him.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> On 1/14 my surgeon removed just over a CC of fluid and ordered a full blood panel and an upper GI. He said it could be one of 3 things. 1) mega esophagus 2) slippage or 3) erosion. He thought it was #1 for sure since I wasn't throwing up, I could keep food down. It just reeked havoc on me until it passed. He said if it was the esophagus problem, worst case would be band removal. (freak out!) I had the upper GI done on 1/16.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I felt great after the unfill and the upper GI. The Upper GI found that my band had indeed slipped. My surgeon isn't concerned with it as is unless it keeps causing me problems. Now he says that I might just need a revision surgery, he didn't speak of removal. His plan if it keeps acting up is to remove all fluid, then if worse, schedule a revision surgery. I’m set to see him again in 8 weeks, but he said that if the reflux returns or any other symptoms to come back and see him.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> In the last week my symptoms have started flaring up again. I’m hoping to get in to see him next Wednesday. My poor husband can’t sleep at night when I’m up pb’ing, choking on acid reflux and coughing up spit foam (I can’t seem to throw up even when I try because I hope to get some relief, just sliming and pb’ing).<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Note, I’ve also had other weird abdominal symtoms that I’ve checked with my GP with, she then referred me to the GI specialist. Whenever there is food in my stomach at all no matter what it is, I get these weird side pains, still short of breathe, crazy abdominal cramping and weird uncomfortable radiating back pain. They don’t seem related to the band other than it only happens when food is in my stomach. My lapband surgeon didn’t seem to know what those pains were from and how they were related. So that’s why I’m going to see the GI specialist. Who knows!<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> I'm so scared. I don't want another surgery, I don't want it removed. It's done for me what I can't do for myself. I've made drastic changes to my life and food habits, but I still don't trust myself without it. I want this band to work. I want to be able to live with it.<o:p></o:p> <o:p></o:p> <o:p> If anyone has experience with slippage like this, please continue to share. All of this informaiton in this thread has been really helpful. I noted the smoking, coffee, chocolate, mint and articicial sweetners as triggers. This week I am going to cut out these items (coffee has already been reduced to 2x's per week from daily.)</o:p>

Hi Ezma How are things going in Arizona? How is everything going with your band? Well I had my port revision surgery today but they didn't have to do anything with the port. My tubing was kinked, my surgeon didn't say anything about scar tissue on it. He straightened it out, put a 2cc fill in the band. I had it done under local anesthetic and it went really well. My surgeon sutured me up and I am supposed to get another fill and the sutures out next week. I am happy I got this done and I can continue my weight loss. Talk to you soon, Cami in Colorado

Me too!. Had my revision surgery from gastric lap band to sleeve this morning. Won't lie, was much worse then the banding lol, but that's to be expected considering they had to fix the mess Dr Felix Speigel made me 5yrs ago and then sleeve me. I woke in the recovery room screaming and pleading for pain medicine and anti Nausea meds, bedding to throw up and for Water or ice to so so. Needless to saw never got water Didn't throw up and once then for me stable from screaming and crying at them I was put in my room around 1pm. Since them am feeling much better. Feel like I just did a marathon, 10000000000000 sit ups and twists lol and got a new BFF Hahahaha my pain med button. Still no ice or water but have a thing to swab a little water across my tongue and lips They should be taking me for a walk at 8pm So apparently doc told fiancé that my sutures came undone on my band, it was in wrong place and dilated my lower esophagus

Congratulations on your removal. Did you realize that Dr Garcia could have done the revision for you at a nominal fee? This is of course if you didn't have complications. I only paid $500.00 extra to have my band removed and sleeve done in same surgery. Good Luck with your sleeve, you have chosen the right surgeon to do it, he is amazingly skilled!!

Mine said it only covered one WLS, but I just had a revision from the band to the sleeve 3 weeks ago and they covered it. My surgeon listed it as complications due to band failure and I only had to pay my maximum out of pocket for my insurance.

Congratulations on your surgery dates! Please keep me posted with your progress and how you are doing after surgery. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers as your dates approach! And I cookarue- I am with you on the data. As pleasant as the sleeve sounds/sounded, a part of me feared what it would look like in 20 years. I never could find any success stories, or stories in general after 3 or 4 years post op. I know that weight regain is possible with any WLS, it my surgeon is very confident in the bypass and what it can offer me over the other surgeries. So I am very excited about that. And like you- I want a one-time deal. The thought of having one surgery, it not be a success and causing me to have a revision to the bypass is too much. My dear friend who had the sleeve earlier this year is mostly satisfied with it, but she wishes she would have just gone with the bypass. I don't want to have that regret. RC- I currently do not have a surgery date. I meet my surgeon again in December, which is when I'll have a better idea of when they will be submitting paperwork to UHC. Monday is my final weigh in for the 6 month supervised weight loss and after that I have to complete the second portion to my psych eval- so I shouldn't be far. Did your surgeon say anything about what they expect life to look like after surgery with your PCOS? I am so badly praying that I will see an improvement with some of my side effects from PCOS. It has gotten so far out of control that I can barely tolerate it anymore. ????

I'm just curious - can I ask what: Revision... distillization of rny is?