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It seems that the sleeve is going to overtake lap bad for most surgeons. The sleeve is prefered for the really overweight as it works faster and there is less aftercare. When I am getting that needle stuck into my port and belly ever 6 weeks I some what jokingly say to the PA, "this is when I wish I had a sleeve or bypass." The drawback is that the sleeve can't be removed as the band can.

Okay gang, I have another "ism" of mine..... (1) I read this EVIL Blog on WLS and how crappy it was. This person claims to be a "medical researcher" (on her own time) and is of the opinion that any WLS is waste of time, obese people are not THAT unhealthy. This person post some of the most disgusting pictures of the "after" surgery pictures. She even goes so far as to IMPLY that one of her freinds died of cancer because of WLS. I call it evil because the information in it started to eat at my resolve to make a change in my health/life style. I hate negative bastards like that. AND..... A co worker has had the bypass surgey and has lost A LOT of weight. Now me and this person dislike each other but I can understand why he had this surgery. I told him that he looked much better but I refused to pry into his very personal choice about getting this done. Well, all the hatefull have come out of the wood work and are complaining that "he looks like he's dying" or "he lost the weight to fast" and "what will he do with all the exess skin". He DOES look "ill" for lack of a better word but I hept that to myself since he has enough on his mind without people making comment about his apperance. This is the exACT REASON I'll never tell others at work about any WLS I'm considering... let them eat cake......

Hi OilSooner, My previous banding experience was with an inexperienced surgeon. He was young, and I believe I was his 22nd band placement. I don't think he did it right to be honest. My whole experience was miserable and it failed big time. So, when I decided to get revised I went out of my way to choose a Dr. who was very experienced, especially with my revision circumstances. My personal opinion based on my experiences is that I preferred to have an experienced surgeon this time around. My sleeve is perfect and my choice turned out in my best interest. That being said, just because a Surgeon is new doesn't mean they are not worthy. Everyone starts somewhere, that including my Surgeon. Someone was his first patient... know what I mean? Just have 110% confidence in your choice and decision. Good luck!!

I think maybe it's comparatively rare everywhere but where your first doctor is! It sounds like you're in kind of a "bubble" of people who have had this type of revision.... I know you said you don't need a support group but "looking for others' experiences" is pretty much what a support group would be about... And it sounds like there's plenty of individuals in your area!

I started with a gastric sleeve surgery done in July 2019 weighing just shy of 350lbs. I had a lot of issues and tough recovery and it required a revision to a gastric bypass at the end of February 2020. I do not own a scale in my home as I would obsess over the number and with the whole Covid situation I was not going to in person dr appointments but today finally I was able to go and I weighed in at 187lbs!!!! That number seems crazy to me. I was over 200 at the age of 12 and I’m now 46. I want to laugh and cry at the same time. This last year was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever been through and I am not back to being 100% healthy yet but I am so excited to finally be under the 200lb mark.

Just curious to hear of other experiences.....but Im good...dont really need a support group...but there quite a few in my area. Wow...didnt know this was so "rare"...well in Dallas it isnt. Have an ex coworker who is about to have hers converted...we had the same surgeon...(bypass) and she us having the same issues.

I'm almost 4 weeks post Bypass and have not been experiencing any hunger issues, just the opposite actually. Months before surgery I gave up many things (e.g. alcohol, sweets, carbonated beverages, processed food...), which was difficult for the first few weeks but it helped curb cravings and start weight loss. This may be why post- surgery has been fairly easy thus far for me. Suggestions on "hunger" are to make sure you're getting enough fluids in each day and to take PPIs for a period of time after surgery (work with doc on exact dosage and timeframe). Good luck!

I know exactly what you mean about knowing all about nutrition, how the body works, tried every diet in the world. I think most of us here have all gone through the same thing over many years. We all know so much more about diets and nutrition than the general population, in my opinion! I don't obsess over diets anymore. I just think rationally about what I've had in the day to make sure I've eaten what I should be eating, if I have a dessert here and there I don't worry about it because I know I won't be able to overeat, it isn't an option. I know there are people who bypass the band, and it can be done, but I have always been a healthy eater, just ate too much! The band, therefore, is good for me. Because I am not always that hungry I don't have the cravings for things I used to. Hard to explain, but overall it just makes me more in control. It takes me a long time to eat something too, so the enjoyment lasts longer, whatever it is I am eating. Best of luck to you... you will do great!!!

I thought that was only for Gastric Bypass. I could be wrong of course.

Congrats r due especially as u have the courage to blaze ahead! i want it, iwant it,iwant it but am waiting for inswurance approval.amswiting on medicare and medicaid.does it take a long time? how long? has anyone done this lapbadning as a rivsion surgery and had to have a fully open belly cut? if so, didu stay in the hospital for any length of time?? am post gastirc bypass patient,lost 200 then gained back 100! am ashamed of myself but amgettingover it. oh for a second chance after all i know now what not do! i had no support in 1998,medicare paid for the surgery but not the counsellinga nd support!go figure!

Hi Coco, My issue with the aftercare isnt with the doctor or surgeon, its the cost of the hospital. Just becase the surgeon will do the fills ... and do the port revision surgery as part of the aftercare doesnt impact that the hospital has charges from the or, anesthesia, etc. So, thats where the money comes in. the Surgeons fees are cheap compared to that. allison

Wow...I logged back in to this platform as my journey continued and forgot this thread was here. I can’t believe I’ve been in this band nightmare for over 12 years!!! In 2007 I finally got the port removed. My doctor very nonchalantly said “it tested positive for MRSA infection”. I had NO idea the implications. He handed me a card for an Infectious Disease doctor and told me to go across the street to their office. Again, NO idea what was ahead. Suddenly I had a nightmare of a PICC line (took 2 excruciating days to insert) for Vancomycin and a wound vac system. I had both of these for weeks, my home was a virtual hospital. I even took that show to work a few times. Crazy. That was over 10 years ago. In those 10 years I had just the band. I’d never been able to get it removed because it wasn’t presenting obvious negative effects and my insurance wouldn’t cover it. After a decade I finally started the path to revision to a sleeve. I had the band removed on 10/26. It was very complicated. My outpatient procedure turned into 6 days in the hospital. The band had eroded into my stomach (common) but also had RAVAGED my small intestines. The new surgeon said he had never seen anything like it. He had to get the band out of several spots in the intestines and do a lot of repair work. While recovering, about 24 hrs after surgery, things went south. BP low, breathing shallow, heart rate up, fever...ugh. Many tests later and we determined that my chronic Diverticulitis had flared up and was causing the additional pain and infection. It was a very long 6 days, and the fevers kept coming. After being released and on a better coarse of oral antibiotics, things are finally better. It’s been 3 weeks and I am almost not in pain. It was a miracle I didn’t have a blockage, or major infections with that band. I now think my bowel perforations and infections may be related to the band. I had no idea and I guess the band was never visible in the CT scans. Anyway... I wanted to finish my 12 year saga. I’m almost second guessing the sleeve surgery. I feel like I am 4/4 with bad surgery issues...but the reality is that a lot of things (if not all) were caused by that awful band. I may have the surgery, but it will be after the New Year. That bums me out because it will very VERY expensive with out of pocket costs...but realistically I need more time to heal...and I am unable to miss a wedding on Dec 29th. Not sure anyone will read this...but that’s where I am. Xx

I had RNY gastric bypass surgery and for the first month my meal volume was limited to 2 ounces per meal. That is almost nothing. With this minuscule amount of food, it is next to impossible to meet your protein daily requirements by food alone, so therefore you need to rely on supplements such as protein shakes. I found that if I met the fluid, vitamin and protein requirement, I had all the energy I needed. In your case since you are very much on the go, you might need a little extra protein. So I guess I am saying don't stress on the meals, but rather put your focus on meeting your fluid, vitamin and protein goals. If you are weak, it can be due to dehydration. If you are weak it can be due to an electrolyte deficiency (such as potassium and sodium). Without sufficient protein, your body will scavenge protein from other areas of your body, such as your muscles. Protein is extremely important after surgery as its job in the body is to build and maintain tissues including your body's major organs and skeletal muscles. Protein deficiency, when continued over a long period of time can cause a disease known as protein caloric malnutrition. Common symptoms are poor healing, fatigue, hair loss and muscle wasting. Immediate post op, protein promotes healing of the staple line and incisions.

I had gastric bypass 4 days ago still on clear liquids until the 22nd I'm still in some pain this is so different from the sleeve I had 2 years ago. I'm not hungry cuz I'm tired of broth I'm getting my protein in as much as I can. If I knew 2years later after my gastric sleeve that I would have to have this bypass surgery I don't know If I would have done it. I lost a lot of weight with the sleeve surgery this bypass surgery I feel like it's hard to get energy I didn't feel like this with the sleeve Sent from my SM-A015AZ using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi, I have just stumbled across this forum and thank god I did as I am hoping to get some help. I has a the Sleeve surgery in 2009 and then had a SADI or SIPS Bypass ( I think that is the technical term for it) in June 2017. I am in Australia and they were just starting to use the SADI option so didn't have a huge amount of feedback available. After having the sleeve surgery done I was diagnosed with an auto immune condition Lupus (obviously not from the surgery). So after years of pred/steroids to treat my condition I had started putting weight back on so had the bypass done. When I had the surgery, everything went ok with that part, however from them moving my Pancreas I ended up with acute Pancreatitis and was stuck in hospital for almost a month. Anyhow fast forward to 2018 when I would consider myself completely healed from the surgery, I started having a lot of gastric symptoms like bloating, excessive gas, sometimes diarrhea sometimes constipation that would come and go. I put it down to everything just getting used to the surgery. However, the past 18 months or more the symptoms have become progressively worse and after having all types of scans, faecal samples done, this test and that test and trying different treatments and diets I have finally had it with all the doctors as the cant give me an answer and now just put it down to my Lupus! The last "diagnosis" from different GI's was Chronic Pancreatitis (which my Lupus specialist says its not) and SIBO. But after changing to different diets and trying courses of antibiotics etc there is still no pattern and still no answers! I AM MISERABLE! I live each day in chronic pain but to add this to my health problems has been devastating to my mental health. I have basically become a recluse (I just turned 40) because if my Lupus isn't playing up I still cant leave the house because of these ongoing Gastro issues and I am so over it. Bellow are all the symptoms i have, some at different time depending on how bad it is and there is no pattern as to when it comes and goes or how long it lasts. I was wondering if anyone that has had SADI surgery experienced anything like this and if so were you able to fix it? Diarrhoea Constipation Excessive foul smelling Flatulence Severe Bloating (I can wake up with a flattish tummy and by late afternoon it looks like I am 8 months pregnant and my tummy is rock hard) Abdominal discomfort Pale coloured stools Steatorrhea Foul smelling stools Nausea weight fluctuation Malabsorption So that is most of what I can think of right now, but I am really hoping I can find some answers as I am just existing not living Thanks....desperate poster

I just had my revision yesterday......My port was detached and flipped.....DO NOT READ FURTHER IF YOU WANT A POSITIVE RESPONSE!! so it just started out bad bad to begin with.. instructions were to get there at 730... have blood work and then check in for surgery by 830 I was scheduled for the 10 oclock slot... I did all that was asked of me.. sat there for 3 hours and didnt go in for surgery till almost 11. ugh! Ok so they stuck me like 5 times looking to get an IV... I am terrible at getting IV's my veins just do not cooperate well... The best place is deep inside my arm between my wrist and elbow... hard to visually see the vein but if the person knows the anatomy then they can get it easy.... Last two surgeries that is where it has been....OK.. they wouldnt even look there... so I end up with a 22 guage needle in my finger...like a 2 year old would have... and they said once you are under we will get another IV in.... I say ok.. as long as I am asleep cause I cant take much more of the poking and searching..... Ok so fast foward to waking up... they didnt time it right and I woke up BEFORE the tube was out... so instantly the NEED to fight to breath happens and I cant because there is a tube in there.... thrashing and choking and cant breath... so they finally get the tube out and my throat is RIPPED up... sooo sore... raspy voice scratched throat... so not fun.... Had to go to short stay after surgery because my BP was 83/52 and it wasnt coming up... it was scary low... so they monitored that for a LONG time in recovery.... Ohhh and as I am waking up and trying to get my bearings after all that has been happening.. obviously weak from BP being so low... sore from surgery and everything else.. I realize I have an IV in my left shoulder... of all places... ugh! ok so back to short stay... she tries to give me some morphine for the pain...through the iv in my shoulder....it BURNS BURNS... she realizes that my shoulder is hard and swollen... the Fluid is collecting in my shoulder....OMG! what else can go wrong right?... Ok so finally I get home at 515pm....long ass day... Ohh and also... I was having my period on top of all of this... today is cycle day 3.... LOVELY!!! So the port is sutured back down... I am stitched up... and I have a small fill so I am on liquids till tomorrow... and then soft foods for 2 days...then I can eat normal after that... I am taking motrin and hydrocondone.... Pain is pretty intense..less then the actual lapband surgery ... but still intense...Hope to be off narcotics by tomorrow....Painful sleeping getting up and down...

I have come to believe that no matter which WLS one chooses, most of the change has be done in the mind. If the patient is ready, willing and able to make changes, they will succeed. If the patient thinks that the band, sleeve or bypass is going to do the work and they will passively watch the weight melt away; they will fail. If I ever have to lose my band, I will revise to a sleeve, if I can.

Caloric malabsorption does wear off after a year to 18 months. The intestines regrow the vilii (spelling) that can absorb calories however they cannot grow the vilii that absorb vitamins- those were bypassed by the surgery. I also recommend you go back to basics- Protein first. Since you are a year out my surgeon has said up to 1 cup of food 3 times a day. That's all- your pouch is supposed to stretch to accommodate that much. If you need to spread that amount out over 6 small meals to stay feeling fuller then you should do that. Make the pouch work for you. Even if you have stretched it some it will never be the size your stomach was previously since the pouch was made out of the least stretchy part of your stomach. Talk to your surgeon and I'm sure they will be able to help you get back on track. Sent from my iPhone using RNYTalk

Originally I was going to get the sleeve but after doing a lot of research and soul searching switched to bypass which I am having 6/24. The hospital time is the same but you will need to be more careful with diet after to avoid dumping. I believe the recovery time is the same since both are done with a scope. Hope this helps.

I initially had the sleeve and was told I could maybe try it at 18 months out, but it was very heavily discouraged. I had a revision to bypass and was told absolutely no forever.

I had surgery Thursday 4/23 around 7 in the evening. I'm a sleeve to mini bypass revision. I had pretty uncomfortable gas pain and I had a drain that was miserable till they took it out. I'm on clear liquids and they are going down fine. If not for a dull headache I can't get rid of I would feel great ! I have low energy but I'm prob only getting 300 calories a day right now. I'm going back to work tomorrow.

psych eval tomorrow then I wait for approval! so ready.

1. Dr. Michael Michel, he is a Major in the USAF, and stationed at and operates out of Eglin AFB. I've sent 2 of my close friends to him within the last month (he just returned from 7.5 month long deployment) and an "ex" friend of mine had her surgery performed by Dr. M last September. My secondary surgeon Dr. Riley, out of the same military facility, is amazing as well. Dr. R took over my care when Dr. M deployed. He's performed surgery on 2 of my friends within the last 4 months. 2. Insurance company first, PCP next, supporting letter from PCP and any other specialty physicians you may see. 3. I would imagine natural childbirth would be worse. I had a c-section (was awake for it), and the VSG was nowhere near as painful. I had a completely different recovery, and I'm not the norm therefore I can't comment on this one. I was a revision patient. Had the band first, then VSG. 4. Same as above 5. I've dropped 155lbs as of today in around a year. I started at 270 today I'm weighing in around 118lbs. My skin is wrinkly, but not sagging or flapping over. It's recovering nicely. Saw my surgeon last week, he looked at my skin, and said " considering how much you've lost, your age, and how fast you've dropped it, your skin looks amazing, I've had patients lose less, that are younger that have to have plastics. Don't do any other surgery for a minimum of 12-18 months". I moisturize like crazy. I exfoliate with a homemade sugar/salt scrub, I massage my skin. I do not wear shapers, girdles, or anything of the sort. I live in Florida, it's 99% humidity, and wearing spandex under clothes is self-induced torture. 6. Take Biotin or another hair/nail/skin supplement now, and continue taking it once you're released for meds/supplements post-op. It'll help with the regrowth. Nothing stops the shedding. I'm vain, I lost half of my hair, I chopped it off, and it's grown 4 inches in length since January. We measured the other day to find out how much growth I was actually seeing. I have new growth that is about 7" long that started coming in before the shedding stopped. For me, it last 3.5 months. It's temporary, it'll grow back. I used Folicure shampoo every other day when I started losing, and never took Biotin or other supplements on a regular basis. Interesting article: Telogen Effluvium: eMedicine Dermatology 7. I was released for alcohol at 3.5 months out. Was told to avoid wine. My surgeon doesn't forbid soda. He doesn't believe it causes sleeve stretching. It is empty calories/carbs, and if it's caffeinated, it doesn't count as a clear Fluid. I drink soda. No harm, no foul, no regain,no sleeve stretching. I'm not a beer drinker, but I drink rum/cokes and various shots on a fairly social basis. 8. Perfectly normal. Today, my 12 yr old son and I shared an order of beef fajitas with black Beans and rice at Chili's. Sour cream, shredded cheese, salsa, 8-10 tortilla chips, 3oz of fajita skirt steak cooked medium, and a huge amount of sauteed onions. I ate about 6 small bites of the rice, I skipped the beans, they put stupid pico de gallo in them, no flour tortillas. I ate about 2ounces of shredded cheese mixed with the beef, sour cream and salsa. I drank strawberry lemonade before my meal. We were in and out of the restaurant within 1 hour. We talked, laughed, and just hung out. I waited about 15 minutes after eating to take a few swigs of my lemonade because Mexican food tends to be salty. I needed to wet my whistle. I felt normal, and have for months. 9. Only puked a couple times and that was super early out. Nauseated only happened when on heavy antibiotics. Slightly dehydrated only once, but didn't require hospitalization/iv fluids. 10. Stick to your surgeon/nutritionist's post-op diet, don't reinvent the wheel, don't cheat, it's just not worth it regardless of other people's experiences, if you absolutely need to progress your diet call the medical professional that you trusted to staple off and excise 80% of your stomach and ask if there is a safe option that may get you through a horrible day, don't be negative nelly, your body needs you to be positive and encouraging it will have just took a major blow for you, be nice to it. Realize that some days might suck, you might be sore, you might not feel like doing much of anything, but the good ends up outweighing the bad 100 fold. Remember they operate on our stomachs not our heads. Our minds will beat us up if we allow it. Emotions will run high, you might be mad, angry, or feel like you're on a permanent PMS trip from hell, prepare your husband/family for this, it does get better, but it doesn't make it suck any less. Other than that, know that you are embarking on an amazing journey. You'll experience so much that it's hard to really wrap your head around all of it. Look for support when you need it, and know that whatever hurdle you may find in your path, there is probably someone else out here that's gone through or going through the same thing, don't be afraid to ask questions, have faith in yourself, your surgeon. Sorry for the ramble, run on and fragment sentences. Best wishes and keep us updated.

Darn digital scales...... Nope not I, after the hell of two bands this was the golden ticket for me....I had a coworker with duodenal switch and she either had a bad surgeon or just rotten luck. She ended up on TPN feedings off and on for a very very long time. Not to mention she had other issues that were over looked during a psych eval. The RNY has been the gold standard of WLS . The surgeons are performing different malabsorbtive techniques with RNY now as to not have the horrific complications of malnutrition and Vit deficiencies. Still there are risks with any major surgery, you have to feel you have chosen the right procedure for you. Watch out for the "mills" many WLS MD's are doing the surgery then only see you for one year. If you needed a revision or had an issue you are SOL with those MD's . Researching these surgeries is very educational. I for one researched the heck out of the band and I ended up here with RNY and wished I chose it first.......

Yes! I had revision from VSG to Gastric Bypass on 12/8/2020