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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>

What surgery did you have?What complications, may I ask? P.S. your arms are Amazing! Thanks for the compliment on my arms...it's funny though, I think that's my worst feature, lots of excess skin...I think that might have just been great photography! Lol! Anyways my complications are almost too many to list: large hematoma with drain tube one week after sleeve surgery, severe reflux and GERD, 3 strictures with dilations, 2 hiatal hernias needing surgery, a myelotomy surgery, revision to bypass surgery, central line put in for TPN, then finally 2 weeks ago a jejunostomy feeding tube put in for nutrition. Whew!So you had complications with both the bypass and sleeve...

I don't exactly meet your specs but I am replying anyway! I hope you don't mind. I am 5'7. SW 350 CW 200. Revised to sleeve December 2013. Still losing but very slowly now. I lost 100 pounds in 6 months.

hello!! Congrats on you weight loss u look great how long u had surgery? I had my surgery dec 4th 2014. The first surgery I had was rny and I had complications (extreme pain) because my intestines weren't put right. My surgeon had to revise to a sleeve on March 16th 2015. So I had two surgeries and had to go through all the stages 2x. I am 8 pounds from goal in six months due to this. It's been tough but totally worth it in every way!!

Last yr I bought a shirt from Target. It was an XL in women's. All women know how much it can suck to buy womens clothing. 9 times out of 10 a XL in one brand can be a M in another. This is why I generally just buy men's t-shirts. Though I know I wear an XL in Old Navy's women's shirts. That being said, I bought this shirt and when I got home it was about 3 sizes too small. I sadly shoved it in a drawer and forgot about it. I'm almost a mth out from my revision. My GERD is completely gone and the weightloss is a huge bonus. I found the shirt today and put it on. And it fit!

Here is the side by side of 3 days post revision vs 2wks post revision. Tomorrow I'm going to track down that black tank top so I can wear the same shirt in every progress picture. Both shirts are an XL and the jeans on the right are a size smaller than what I've been wearing.

So I’m not there yet but today is my 5 month surgiversary!! Starting weight 273, surgery weight 260, today 192. My goal weight is 165 so more to go. I may revise my goal when I get there but I’ve never been that weight as an adult so not sure what I’ll look like when I get there lol. So happy I made the leap and thank you all for the support, tips and sharing. I don’t have a picture just before surgery as I hated photos of myself but here is one that a friend took when I wasn’t aware, at my biggest. The second one was taken yesterday.

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?

This past Tuesday I had my revision, sleeve to bypass. During the leak test we discovered I have very slow motility of my esophagus. My surgeon thinks this will correct itself as things from my revision heals.

I have to admit I have seen many people mention it on here but had never tried it till today. I failed with the sleeve and I’m trying other things before I go the revision route. The NP said to try tea, especially when I know it hasn’t been long since I have eaten and surprisingly I think it worked.

Just got my revision scheduled for next Friday. I finally got the guts to ask parents for a loan. Mom said, it seems like a waste if the next baby is goign to mess it up too--I said yeah, BUT there may not be a next baby if I don't fix it. I'm gaining and gaining, and I was infertile before. She said she wondered that too. So I asked dad if they'd help me, he said go ahead and get the surgery scheduled and I can pay him back monthly. If/when it breaks again, post-2nd baby, I'll swap to the sleeve. 8am is preop, and 10am is surgery. So glad to be moving the right way again. Should definitely help with this funk I'm in!!!! I have so many clothes in my closet waiting for me to lose weight, I'm glad to think about wearing them again.

WOW you go jen!!! Haydee that would be AWESOME!! And Kat, Dr. A is actually who I am leaning toward, now it's convincing everyone it's SAFE and ok. They believe it's all unsanitary, they butcher you and leave instruments, because there's no regulation. But there is, and it's the fly by nights who rent an office space, etc. that do the things they worry about. It will take some time to get them to come around. Dr. A quoted me 12,500 to remove the band & swap to sleeve. They don't include airfare, but we fly to SD which isn't too bad. I didn't know any of you went to Dr. A. That will actually help me when I talk to them about it, to let them know one of my very own V's (not just some 'random internet person' which is what they refer to everything else I read) went there and would go back! My mom said, don't go just because of cost; it's dangerous. I told her, I was thinking of the sleeve after finding out I may need another surgery--which had nothing to do with cost. And right now from what I have researched, Dr. A sounds like the best option, even if money wasn't a factor. So she said, wait a few years till the TN doctor that does them has them under his belt.. well I can't find any stats on 'revisions' for him, which is an important factor, and Dr. A has done a lot of revisions.

Hi everyone. Well, insurance finally got in gear! I got a call from Kaplan's office yesterday and insurance gave them the approval! Susan (Kaplan's nurse) is great. She was on top of this and called me as soon as she got the approval. So, for those of you also waiting on insurance approval, I'm sure she'll do the same for you! My port revision is scheduled for next Friday (26th) at 11:30am. Woo Hoo!!!

Hi everyone!!!!! I have decided on lapband. I am very fortunate in that I have the best insurance in the US. I have been approved and the only thing that my insurance will not cover is a pharmaceutical consult and recreational consult. Everything is covered at 100% with no deductible. I have to pay $247.00 total. Even though I have had to go through 3 meetings with a dietician, an informative meeting, a psych evaluation, and the upcoming meeting with my Dr. I feel blessed that I am afforded this while others have to go through so much. I weigh 235 and am 5'2" and 55 years old. I want to get down to 135. I have serious joint issues including having had four hip surgeries including two hip replacements, and my knees are ready to fail as I speak. My left hip hurts so much that I can hardly walk and will have to be revised. The surgeons tell me that I have to lose a lot of weight and even then they are skeptical of a good outcome. I used to be an athlete and a P.E. teacher in charge of all swimming activities. I coached triathletes and participated myself. Even though I had a weight problem all my life I was able to keep some control because of my activity level. I would exercise hard about 2 hours a day. NOW....I can do nothing. I even have problems with my shoulders. So, I sit and eat, and feel horrible. I have gained so much weight. My objective is to be able to walk again. I will figure out a way to exercise because I believe in it so much. I am excited that I finally get to see the Dr. on Wednesday and hopefully will have my surgery in less than a month. I am going to need support during this. I am so afraid of losing food, my best friend. If I can get over that feeling, I think I will succeed and will then be able to have my hip revision and walk without pain again...(until my stage 4 arthritic knee gives out) Yes, I feel sorry for myself. I love that there is this group to go to. Thanks for listening, Jan

I chose Dr Aceves because I was a band to sleeve revision and he was the highest recommended by far on either side of the border. It is hard to compare since none of us went to both doctors. I know that Dr Aceves works out of a real hospital - complete with an emergency room, trauma center, other types of patients, etc. You stay all nights in the hospital rather than a house with nurses (not sure what Dr Kelly's post op set up is?). You are not discharged from the hospital until you pass all the leak tests and perform some necessary biological functions. He has had a lot of experience with the revision - that is what sold me. If I was not a revision, I may have considered someone else. You will find that each patient is passionate about their own doctor, no matter who he/she is. We all feel like we made the right choice for us and people get a little territorial about it. All I can say for my experience is that it was better than any US surgery experience I have ever had. I felt well cared for and I have had no complications as a result of the surgery. Good luck with your decision and surgery!

So, I have a revision scheduled with Dr. Kelly for January but am also considering Dr. Aceves. My story is a little different being that I have an older non-adjustable band called the Molina band (I have other posts on here about that) but here is where I need your input... I have read all your posts on the two docs (and they both sound equally awesome and competent) but am confused on the pricing difference between the two?? Dr. K is almost $5k cheaper than Dr. Aceves for a revision surgery. Does anyone happen to know why? Thoughts? My husband is questioning this mostly and asked me to post and see what everyone has to say about this. Thanks!!!!

Thx Mildge, Sorry to hear about your difficulties:sad: Hope your surgery goes well, maybe they can do a revision or something?? Thankfully, the pain resolved itself in about two days, we were doing alot of yardwork, building a patio, a lot of heavy lifting, so I think I just strained the muscles that my port is attached to. No pain since. Sending good thoughts your way, hope it all works out for you:blush:

I too have BCBSIL. I got my lap band in 2010 but am looking into revision surgery. I go back on 6/13/14 to see if my stretched pouch has shrunk. I went through graduate school and basically let myself go. For any banders looking into gastric sleeve, what lead you to your decision?

Hi Kelly and kpardisek. I was scared also so that's why I did lapband. Was going to do the sleeve for the revision but the dietician I was working with talked to me about gbp. Boy am I glad we talked, best decision.

My direct inspiration is my Cousin who started in the low 400's, around 420 I think. She started about 8 years ago with the lap-band lost about 100 lbs and had trouble (band was malfunctioning and causing problems) and was revised to an R and Y around 2 years ago - she is now around 200 lbs and I have to say I know she works hard but she is not a fitness addict. I take inspiration from her for sticking to it and taking action when needed. She has kept the weight off even if she isn't a small BMI yet - that equals success to me.