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I have had a lap band for 10 years and yes, you get hungry with it but I will say that I never felt hunger pangs and bad as before. I am considering revision to sleeve and I know for sure that there is a head-hunger that is in no way related to my stomach. It occurs when I have any kind of anxiety such as a deadline at work or even when I an anticipating something good. I have no idea how to rid myself of that and it may be what others are experiencing.

My daughter is getting ready to have revision surgery from band to bypass and you have given her inspiration! The only thing she is afraid of is seeing a totally different person in the mirror.

I am almost 2 years out. I do not regret the decision to have weight loss surgery at all although if I had known I would end up needing a revision due to reflux I would have chosen bypass initially instead of sleeve but I had no way of predicting that. I'm down 172 pounds. From a 54 BMI to a 24 BMI. Russell stover makes delicious sugar free peanut butter cups. There are reese's and quest ones too. I made what I call peanut butter cup oatmeal for breakfast today which is oatmeal, pbfit powder for protein and Walden farms zero calorie chocolate syrup. I've had diet coke a few times but carbonation bothers me so I have to let it go completely flat and it isn't worth it. I don't miss it too much. My PCP wasn't super big on WLS but my insurance didn't require a referral from him and honestly when I went back for a regular visit about a year post OP he was happy to see that it had been successful for me to have surgery. I don't eat red meat often as I don't do as well with it since my galbladder was removed.

I'm March 16. Band to sleeve revision. I can't wait.

Your metabolism re adjusts about 18-24 months. You basically have that amount of time to get used to eating right! I worry about banders. Your metabolism should do the same , kinda slows down, so what happens when the band comes off!!!! Is that why, when band problems happen , people need to get revisions! ?

It's not half, its 85%. I love my sleeve, have not had any complications, have reached 100% EWL and rock the 100 staples. I eat what I want, in moderation. I have never puked, I never had to visit the Doc for maintenance (except to check my labs... all good). Everyone has to do what they feel is right for them. If you are afraid of cutting out half your stomach, and getting 100 staples, then don't do it. Who could blame you. Personally, I think the size of my stomach was part of my problem, so saying goodbye to it was more of a relief than sad. It may be part of your problem too, and thats why you are looking at WLS, which all reduce the size of your stomach somehow. After years of trying to work my regular stomach to lose weight unsuccessfully, I was looking for a permanent solution, and with a lot of work on my side, with support, exercise, and daily accountability I think I might just make it work for the long haul. Without revision. Fingers crossed.

@@kjkeller102 welcome, welcome, welcome you did a great job testing the waters and making your first post some peoples heartburn takes a turn for the worst PO i even know someone that had a sleeve to bypass revision due to their continuous heartburn lets not concentrate on the negatives i don't know a % of people that have heartburn problems PO people DO have those issues but.........i "think" more people (like me) don't have any gerd problems or things can be controlled with meds now that i told you the "bad" some peoples heartburn issues PO might improve a little, or are gone PO as you said everyone is different when you see the doc next month talk to him about your concerns you should have a big discussion hearing his thoughts hopefully he will assure you things will "probably" be ok/or not maybe your heartburn will be controlled by meds there are only 2 guarantees in life Death and Taxes good luck bud kathy

I am scheduled for Monday, August 24. I am on day 2 of a five day clear liquid diet. I'm not so much hungry, but I am kind of weak. I have been making and drinking homemade broths. I see a lot of you have protein included in your diet - my Dr. said nothing about protein only clear liquids and I have been wondering about not getting enough protein. I am very nervous and excited (at the same time) about the surgery. My Mother had a revision from the Sleeve to Rny n April and had several complications - she is still not feeling up to par. So, all those complications are in the back of my head and making me anxious. Btw, I am in Pittsburgh.

How much (or what pct) did you loos 2 weeks post op ? Felling stalled. Can't break under 240. Still on full liquids. 2 week check tomorrow. Band wt. 300. 5/1/08. Bmi 41 Sleeve . 252. 5/5/17. Bmi 34.2 Current. 240 5/17. Bmi 32.6 Lowest band. 236. 2010/ 32 Lowest Adult 225 / 1980 Bmi 30.7

In general, the bypass is favored for PCOS. You have quite a few comorbidities, and may want the more aggressive procedure. If you wanted to try the sleeve, it might work for you.... but be sure you are willing to consider a revision down the road if things don't turn out how you want them to. (A sleeve can be converted to a bypass or duodenal switch). The problem with revisions are they don't work as quickly or effectively as the virgin procedure, and the scar tissue gained from the first procedure makes the 2nd one a little harder to perform, and has a little more painful, lengthy recovery. Insurance companies also frequently have clauses that limit the number of procedures and revisions. Vitamins are required either way, but you'll take more of them with the bypass. One thing that will make you happy to hear.. the intestines get used to the new arrangement over the first couple years, so people with bypasses typically stop "dumping" after that time. They also absorb more nutrients as well. (This is how people start gaining after a couple years if they don't modify their diets permanently). Do plenty of research, and be comfortable with your choice. The sleeve is performed twice (?) as much as the bypass nowadays.. but it doesn't mean all those that get the sleeve have received the correct procedure for them. There are plenty of revisions being performed (mostly for newly-developed GERD). I'm 3 months out from the sleeve, and am very happy. I had high blood pressure (that has gotten better), but that was my only comorbidity.

Anyone here been revised from a band and had Aetna insurance? Is it hard to get approved?

Thank you all for your responses! I appreciate it! Please keep us updated on your revisions journeys and i will do so as well! I wish you all the best!

Thank you for the play by play its so helpful. How long was your surgery since it was a revision? @@GalleyGal

March 30 revision any other revisions here Sent from my SM-G920T using the BariatricPal App

Bandproblems, If nothing is going through and you are completely unfilled, it sounds like you have more damage than what they can see. In my honest opinion and the little time I experienced in between being unfilled and revision, you will gain your weight back, even with regular exercise. Your old eating habits will come back, it's so easy to find that old friend again. One of my concerns was once sleeved I would lose the same amount of weight as I did initially with the band which would leave me skin and bones, but, it doesn't work that way. You will lose weight quickly while you are on the pre-op diet and then the healing stage post op diet, but, once you build up to regular meals your weight loss stabilizes. Your body weight is at a very different stage now before you had the band done and the body now responds differently to weight loss, so, no you won't disappear. lol As far as the stomach size they leave behind for a revision patient depends on how much surgical scar tissue the band has created, thus, this is different for every person, but, the stomach size difference is minimal. Google "bougie size" and you will see the difference in the circumference on the sizes. Once I completed the progression diet after surgery and began eating normally again, I eat the same amount as when I had the band which is about 1/2 a cup. In time, your sleeve stretches a bit and you eat a bit more. What I've researched is usually 1 cup. Last, a UGI only shows if things are going through or not. If you doc hasn't mentioned yet, I would ask for an EGD to see how much damage you may have. Depending on what kind of damage the band has done or doing, your doc may be able to get your insurance to cover the whole revision. Keep us posted. jake

I waited 6 months and had no problem- though in excess the hang overs are much worse than before. I guess the revised digestive system cannot process it as well or something

Hi! I've been banded since 2009. I know there are many threads about band to sleeve, but I specifically would like to know: Those who switched from band to sleeve; what is the main difference you noticed as far as your eating habits (ability to eat, how much you could eat, how you tell you have eaten enough, etc) without the band giving you a "hard stop"? Do you feel just as or more successful? Do you think it's easier to over eat with the sleeve? I'll have to have my gallbladder out - and am considering having revision to the sleeve at the same time. I discussed with my surgeon and he said yes he could do both at once. I keep going back and forth about doing it. I'm back to feeling like I should just go ahead and do it. Ever since my band was too tight like 2 months ago and I had to have Fluid taken out I haven't felt very good. I got it re-filled with 1cc then 4.5 weeks later I got one more cc. That last one was about 3 or so weeks ago. It's so weird - sometimes I feel like I can eat way more than I should be able to - I have about 8.7cc in there now...maybe a tad more - and other times I can't keep anything down. I started having reflux again and went to liquids for a few days. It went away. Now it's back this morning and I haven't even had any solid food. I made a Protein shake for Breakfast and was only able to drink about half of it. I took all my medication, but it hurt (I guess I went to fast, I try to wait a few minutes between pills, but was running late today). I am starting to feel like I'd be better off having the band taken out and switching to the sleeve. Through all this annoyance of the last 3 or so weeks I haven't even lost any weight. Go figure. Since the symptoms for being too tight and a band slip are about the same I'm not sure what to think any more. I'm sure I probably do not have a slip but I'm kind of paranoid about it anyway. I know if I call the nurse at my surgeon's office she'll have me come in and get an un-fill. At which point I guess I'll just start whatever process I need to start to do the revision. It's quite scary to me. The only surgery I've ever had was the band surgery. And of course the anesthesia made me sick after they had to wake me up from it (I take after my dad in that respect lol). Thanks for listening to my little story. I'm sure it's very familiar.

Hi drewr, I think I would opt for the sleeve. Having lived with the band for 6 years. I haven't done very well with it and now it seems cannot find the "sweet spot" again. It only took once to be too tight and have to get unfilled. Now it seems like I'm in every 3-4 weeks getting filled and unfilled and filled trying to hit that sweet spot and it just doesn't seem to be there. I'm hoping to be able to get a revision from the band to the sleeve in January or February 2016. But, some people have had great success with the band too...It's an individual thing. I'd definitely go to a seminar and ask a ton of questions. Good luck to you!

Drewer, I was a very successful patient with the lap band, until by chance, I discovered that it caused my esophagus some real issues. The scariest thing about my situation or what I now know was a blessing in disguise. I was doing awesome with the band and lost over 120 lbs. at the most successful point of my journey. I had no real obvious symptoms or problems, other than I could eat a bit more and had some very little night issues. My insurance company changed at work and so did the their bariatric service. I was forced to switch bariatric services and doctor and when I saw the new doctor, he asked for a UGI. To my surprise, the UGI technician told me to contact my doctor as soon as possible. Things took off very quickly after that and I ended up getting my band removed and revised to sleeve. Had I not seen the new doctor and UGI performed I would have ended up with much more damage that I had - Thank God! Wish I had gone sleeve originally. My vote: Sleeve 100%! Much luck to you! Jake

I'm doing all the jumping through hoops for the insurance company before I can get a sleeve to RNY revision. Looks like tomorrow is the big day for you!!! Congratulations!

OOOHHH!! Goody!! Another band sister - BandaCat - looks like October 5th is a big Banding day! With JDru and myself - that makes three of us on the same day!:clap2: :clap2: :clap2: Another LBT firend - Wheeler - is having revision surgery on Oct 4th.:clap2: Definitely a busy surgery week in early October. I didn't pig out before the pre-op diet - I haven't felt the need, as I am (nervously) READY to start my new banded lifestyle. However, I did make sure to have a few things this week that may not be terribly band friendly later, that might take me a while to work up to eating again, or that I shouldn't be eating anyway (eg. sticky bento rice, sushi, asparagus, chocolate and some cheesecake). I only had normal servings of each, at normal times. Since deciding to get banded, a lot of my old habits and attitudes are already changing. I just don't want to eat badly at the moment (hooray!). My girlfiends are taking me out for a Thai buffet on Sunday, and we are having a BBQ party at home for my dad's retirement on 1 Oct, so there'll be couple more good meals yet. :hungry: hehehe!!! I'll just avoid carbs / fried as much as I can, and won't drink any grog or caffeine.:biggrin1: I lost 1 kilo after Day 1 of my pre-op diet - but spent the whole day and half the night peeing:eek: sorry, TMI (too much information!), so it must be all just Water weight. I am also doing a 15 day digestive system detox (QuickClense, which is just herbal / fibre supplements), so that would be contributing to the water loss also. Looking forward to joining bandland with you all!

Mandy, My story is very much like yours. Here is a post i made almost 2 years ago now. Please stay with it. Kelley and Walter Lindstrom are so helpful. I am 21 months post surgery now and slightly below my goal weight. Search for my posts to see my frustrations while going through the approval process. I picked this one as it made me very happy Posted August 4, 2011 - 3:10 PM Congratulations to everyone that was approved. I have Aetna and was denied. the denial was upheld in the first and second level appeal by Aetna. It was so stressful. The final appeal is an independent external review process. This is where the decision goes out to an independent doctor not associated with the insurance company who will decide based upon the information provided if the patient meets the standards published by NIH and other medical groups. Mine did and the decision by Aetna was overturned. The entire process took almost 10 months and was SO stressful. All of my appeals were done with the help of http://www.obesitylaw.com It cost me nothing and Kelley is the BEST !! She called me 2 days before I was going to Disney to tell me the good news. She even offered to give me passes to Disneyland that they use to take out the employees in the office each year. Unfortunately I was going to Disney World in FL so I couldn't use the passes. She was so nice I decided I would tell everyone who was having issues with approval about them. They provide an awesome service to people who could really use help. I believe her husband Walter had both Gastric bypass and a Lapband revision later on. Good Luck to anyone having to deal with Aetna. 1st Lap band seminar: 12/14/2009 Highest weight: 253 Pre-op diet starting weight: 247 Banded: 12/28/2010 : 236 1st fill: 2/8/11 (4.5cc) 2nd fill: 3/15/11 (7cc total) 3rd fill: 4/25/11 (8cc total) 4th fill: 9/30/11 (8.5cc total) 18 months post-op: 175

You're so welcome! I was giddy with excitment yesteday as I walked through and discovered so many tasty treats. I'm a band to sleeve revision patient, so I know all too well how boring and grueling the pre/post op phase is. At least some of these things will make it more tolerable. I'm lucky to have a store about 5 mins from me. I'll keep you posted and any new discoveries

I didn't have a revision, but this surgery has changed my life. Since surgery I am no longer on insulin, high blood pressure meds or high cholesterol meds. It has saved my life. I was scared too, and there are no guarantees, but this tool really works. I eat pretty much what I want still, I just don't want as much. I don't know if you have co-morbidities or not, but they were the deciding factor for me. Good luck and let us know what you decide. We'll support your decision either way.

Actually, I have seen a great deal of offensive posts on this thread alone, not to mention a wealth of absolutely wrong information but the offensive posts aren't from the one you accuse. I am still waiting to hear why lap bands are removed at a rate of over 50% by the 6 year mark yet when these SAME people revise to a sleeve they do well. I was the poster child for lap bands. I followed every rule, did all the right things, followed up with my doctor every 2 weeks for 18 months and ended up losing weight to the point of looking anorexic, I was seriously malnourished, I have permanent esophageal damage, I was so weak I couldn't even go shopping to buy clothes that fit because I couldn't walk that far, and all in all, the band almost killed me. And you know what? I am typical. My case was not unusual. Many doctors decline to band anymore, my own employer refuses to band people. He won't place new bands and he won't reposition slipped bands. He will remove them, he will revise to a different surgery type, but he believes it is unethical to place bands knowing he'll get the person back for a revision. We remove about 5 bands a week. And no, we didn't place them. They were placed by surgeons all over the world. I see these people every single day, I work with them, I take care of them. They are not at fault. They have been trying to get banding right for 40 years. Yes, 40. First it was the mesh band, then the non adjustable metal band, then the small adjustable band. Now the mega band. Stats are NO different today than they were 40 years ago. People buy into this nonsense that least invasive somehow means safer. It is NOT safer. Banding provides the slowest weight loss, the least weight loss, the highest regain, and the most complications of all main surgery types. Least invasive means nothing about long term safety issues. I can have you drink poison, that is least invasive. I can slice open your gut and pour in the poison, that is most invasive. But it's STILL poison. When people are having band problems and are facing losing their surgery type they are already at their lowest point. They feel like even WLS can't help their weight issues. To blame them is childish, insensitive, poison to the soul, idiotic, repulsive, insecure, and simply uneducated nonsense. These people need compassion, not a bunch of school yard bullies saying yes yes yes, you phucked it all up. It's all your fault. My butt it's all their fault, it most certainly is NOT a majority of the time. There is a reason many doctors decline to band anymore. Many hospitals decline to band. Heck, entire countries opt not to band and they are doing sleeves now. Sleeves have far superior weight loss and are one heck of a lot safer long term than banding. People do not need your childish finger pointing and uneducated nonsense. They need compassion and a shoulder. Try being adults for damn sakes! Yes, it's much easier to run around pointing that dumbass finger and blaming everyone and everything except the stupid sorry band. It's easier to slam dunk than it is to pony up the compassion and try to treat people like human beings. And it is far easier to slam dunk and then run and hide claiming you won't be reading posts anymore when we all know darn well you are reading. Yes, much easier to do that than to be a friend. Some of you people make me wish I could be around to see the karma when YOU start having band issues. Lecturing people on band rules when some of you have been banded 3 full years and you still aren't at goal. If you were following your own advice, shouldn't you be at goal now? Some of you can't even post accurate information! This nonsense about erosion being the fault of the patient. Total crap. Nobody knows what causes erosion a majority of the time. So how the heck do you guys know? People, at least shoot for accuracy for goodness sakes! But posting a bunch of negativity, blaming people for something they have no control over... it's nothing but insecurity on your part. Get over your silly little selves!