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I'm in the same boat. I will have my band and revision to the sleeve at the same time hopefully, but I've been unfilled for a while and have gained a lot of weight back. I was successful as well with the band, but I'm also wondering if the sleeve will be enough. I've considered bypass, but I just really don't think I am ready to go there. I just dont' want to find myself in this same boat again in 4-5 years. I already swore I'd never be here again when I lost with the band, yet here I am. :-( I have to have an EGD on 1/4/12 and then can schedule my surgery. I'm hoping for the middle to end of January. I'm just ready to get started again for real. Good luck!

Ahhhh just scheduled my surgery ... January 9th (band to sleeve revision)

I'm January 14! I'm in Maryland. My surgeon is Dr. Moazzez in Virginia. I'm a revision ... had my band out in April and gained 31 pounds since then. Band in at 254, down to a low (for a split second) of 175, up to 245 now. I've been eating what I want while trying to stay fitting in the few clothes that I have...I am ready to go back in the right direction. I'm scared that, while this is permanent, it still won't work permanently and I should've gone with the bypass (even tho I have never wanted to do that...). But i'm ready to start another journey. The doctor is confident that I'm a good candidate and will do well since I lost (although very slowly...) with a restrictivee only procedure before. Good Luck to you all. Crystal

I'm 24 and having my revision on January 9th ... I have the lap band now which I've had since 21 ... I'm scared too!!

I'm March 8th with Dr. Aceves in Mexico! Revision from band to sleeve! Super excited and a tad nervous! Wish it was now!!

Hi everyone had my surgery Monday 15th, got home this evening! I'm so sore! But I had revision from band to by pass and my surgeon said it was pretty nasty inside, and he is not surprised I was in pain with the band, and all the problems i was having, but surgeon that did band was shocking!!!! my new surgeon that did this op(band to by pass)was awesome!!! X How is everyone else?

Had a long day of traveling to and from preop testing and class!!! 8 days until removal of the CRAP BAND and revising to RNY! Got some free samples and goodies in class also! I love free stuff!

After putting it off for 2 years because I didn't want to be lectured about gaining weight back, I went to see my surgeon last July. She cheerfully informed me her practice had stopped doing bands in 2010 because the success rate is so low! Based on my severe GERD she unfilled my band right then, rather than adding fill like I'd expected. It was an immediate relief. From 2 Prilosec/day to 1 every 2 days or even longer. Since then I've done all the steps and paperwork (tedious!) to get approved for a revision to the vertical sleeve. My plan said 'okay', and my surgery is set for April 30! While I'm not looking forward to the surgery, I am really hopeful I'll be far more successful with the VSG. In the meantime I've been working out with a trainer since September and am as strong as I can be, even if my weight has stayed the same. With no fill in the band, I'm grateful for no weight gain at this point. I'll let you all know how it goes, please all of you do the same!

I tried to post last night I thought it worked. Lol I was banded in 2008 it was a great moment in my life, I lost 100 +lbs. I followed the rules to the T.... I did the fills and unfills. Yes, traumatic, but I did it. Still happy I was not a hepher. In 2010 I started to have problems, couldn't swallow my own spit, after a fill, them another unfill, the I vot serious reflux, to the point of ER. Finally at the end of 2010 it was time to have the band removed sure to a serious slippage anda mass of other problems, to no fault of my own or the Dr. he was one of the best banders. In the end my personal belief the band should only be temporary max 2 to 3 not only due to my experience, but thru the exp of a multitude of others. Since then in March 2011 I had a revision gastric sleeve, one of the best decisions i've ever made, no more fills, unfills, side affects, posdible slippage, throwing up, reflux, meds, for reflux trips to the Dr, etc. a year 1/2 later I'm down to 150. A total weight loss done my journey began of 171. I've never never had 1.single issue writhe the sleeve. I'm n a size 6 and happy I got the band object out. And to add, the removal of the band was quite traumatic that was only supposed to be a45 minute surgery, but due to the slippage and the erosion it caused in other organs it was over a 2 hr surgery. Dr zane from kaiser made a enlightening statement to me that day, that as long as bands are being installed he will stay in business removing and revising nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo matter who or what Dr inserts them, the band should only be a temp fix. Check into getting a revsion. The gastric sleeve. How this helps.....

My doc used to do band removal and then wait for healing and do sleeve. Now if at all possible he does the removal of the band and the sleeve in the same surgery. He said it seems easier on the patient then 2 surgeries and he can usually get the band out pretty fast. My surgery was 3 hours. There is no way I was going to have it in two surgeries. I was only wiling for them to do their best to do the revision in one. And thankfully that is how it went.

Oh my gosh so much to catch up on... From memory here goes... Cathy and Coops...I am SO JELLY! OMG love the photo of you both. Wish I could have been there!!!!! Coops...omg you look awesome in Paris, just fantastic...you are so cute and I love your red converse shoes! Sarah I'm sorry about your MIL/FIL your Dad and now your hubby. Wow when it rains it pours! Hugs to you. Denise, I tend to agree that a pregnant 53 year old sounds *almost* too crazy to be true. I suppose it *could* happen but it just seems so so so unlikely. I wonder about the mental state of this woman and if it really is true, if I were Bill I would be demanding MORE information. Like I'm sure they can't do a DNA test while in utero, BUT what about can he TALK to her Dr. can she forward her medical records, etc. I almost want to say he should hire a lawyer or a Private Investigator or something because I'm just highly suspicious of this woman. I want a happy ending for you and Bill and she seems to be swooping in determined to take you both of course. But glad you have had a good vacation, that sounds like you aren't letting this get in the way of being together and enjoying each other's company. Georgia, that tornado and horrid weather is awful. I know some people who were directly hit but somehow their houses survived while neighboring ones did not. So sad. Glad you are safe...and love that cute hat picture too! Sheryl, thank you soooooooo much for all the info on the post. I can no longer see it and totally missed it. I knew that Susan and Irene were both going to convert to bypass but I had NO idea they thought this was the fault of Dr. Aceves. I honestly thought it was because they were sick of the regain and they had the acid issues so they saw the revision as a way to tackle both at once...get rid of the regain and then cut down on the acid issues. But that sure is a complete turnaround from HELPING people have surgery in MX to STEERING people away. I guess all of us can only tell OUR story and not point fingers but I guess the finger pointing is probably what got the thread locked/deleted. I also remember Dr. Aceves as one who made smaller sleeves...which I know for a fact my surgeon tries to avoid. I think he made our sleeves a bit too big as I know a lot of people who never reached their goal (me included) but I don't BLAME him or BLAME the sleeve, it is what it is. I do have restriction when I eat protein and notsomuch when I eat crap, BUT THAT IS EVERYONE no matter WHAT size their sleeve is. So while I think my surgeon tends to err on the side of going a bit larger I think he does it to avoid complications due to the sleeve. I know personally for me and also for my husband (who is also sleeved by my surgeon) we never had any sort of heartburn BEFORE or AFTER the sleeve, no bile, no reflux NOTHING ever. So are we just lucky? I just don't think you can blame things all on ONE person or ONE surgery. Some people had never had reflux in their life and then have WLS and it happens. Some have it, have WLS and it gets BETTER. So how do you figure all of that out? The big question is Susan okay now???? I have not been around much at all, way way way too busy. My oldest daughter (age 13) has taken on too much at school. She is in school volleyball, National Junior Honor Society, (which my youngest was just accepted to also!), a Sisterhood, Yearbook staff and then tried out for and was awarded a spot for the spring musical ...NOT onstage but as a "pit band" member, she plays the flute. First performance tonight and this past week has been verging on PURE crazy the amount of rehearsals they have to do. And she is lucky she is NOT onstage as the "actors" have to do makeup and costume for their rehearsals...at least she can just wear jeans because no one sees the band and orchestra. Oh they are doing The Sound of Music and she has a solo for the song, "I am sixteen, going on seventeen...." that high pitched part is her solo. OH MY! I'm excited to see all her hard work pay off but she has been literally running on empty which means the rest of us are too. My eating has been terrible and I can't remember my last FAST I would literally have to search through posts here to see when it was...maybe 5 weeks ago? UGH UGH UGH!

Finally set an appointment to discuss my revision. I hope it gives me some hope. Fenton and BNL, glad to see you back here. Kept thinking of you guys. Special, Harley and Scrappy....you guys truly inspire. Thank you! Chrisitne

Globe - I can't explain it, but something about Neibles made me nervous - I think it was his deranged fan. By the way, Dr Sauceda has a few of them too. I came to realize that someone who used to weigh 500# and now has lost a bunch of weight and has had plastics but has no real relationships (I am not talking about just with a man - I mean in general) is a prime candidate to become obsessed with a surgeon. Dr S I promise is not difficult in spite of some of his crazy ass fans. Anyway, some of the pix I have seen of Niebles work are amazing, but the key is to see lots and lots and lots of before and afters. Dr Sauceda has done about 300 jumbo procedures (ie multiple stuff at once) and I have seen before and afters of probably 50 of them. That helps build confidence - but not everyone gets the same results, it is very individual. Some of these women started out much heavier and in much worse condition. When I posted some before pix one of the ladies told me that I look as good as some of the "afters" - you need to keep all of that in mind. A doc who takes on more difficult cases is not going to have as perfect of looking afters either. Take a look at this thread and I would contact TulipTwy to try to understand the specifics. Every surgeon has some that are less then ideal and this woman has NOT shared photos so I don't know what to think, but it is just another data point. http://www.gastricsleeve.com/forum/body-makeovers-and-cosmetic-surgery/23333-lower-body-lift-belt-lipectomy.html What I mean about less tight - is Dr S doesn't remove as much skin as some surgeons. Lower risk of wound separation etc. i know he removes less because I was ready to do plastics in the USA in the spring and I know how much she was planning on taking of my tummy and he did less. Also, he TOLD me that he is more conservative. He told me he would rather have to revise someone (ie take more skin) then have too high risk of complications. This is part of the sane approach which allows him to do a bunch at once. Flip side is, she was going to do my work over 3 surgeries - something I could NOT deal with so the trade off is worth it to me. The key thing to understand about plastics is it is a serious of tradeoffs - risk versus benefits. Scars versus results... that sort of thing. Thank you FYE - you are a true artist and that comes across in the way your present yourself too. I sometimes think I am just an ordinary middle age woman trying to look 20 years younger, not really an ideal goal. I am adjusting myself though, i still dress fashionably, youthfully (dresses and tights and boots and skinnies and all that) but trying to rein it in to get a nice look rather then a "trying too hard" look. Work in process

Hi Carol. I am from Michigan too. Who was your surgeon? I was banded in Oct 2008 by Dr Kevin Krause/Royal Oak Beaumont. Had a slippage in August 2013, so needed a revision for that. Now hoping I can do a conversion to the sleeve. Need to call his office tomorrow to get this all started again!

Its been a long time since I have checked in - as usual Looks like there havent been a lot of folks responding lately on this thread but thought I would give you guys an update. As it turns out I have been having some ongoing problems that will require som more surgery. I have always had terrible gerd prior to and it seemed to get worse after the sugery. My lucky husband had his resolve completely after his vsg and hernia repair. I started seeing another bariatric doc last year, as my doc had moved to another practice and we moved as well. To make a very long story shorter - and the number of tests I've had done dwarf the first surgery - I will be having revision surgery on 11/22/16 - 11 days from now. I have a significant hiatal hernia, a stricture, and various other sundry things that will be repaired - gallbladder out and removal of stray sutures (which is goofy but that's what the photos after the last egd) My new surgeon is going to revise my sleeve a traditional Duodenal Switch. I had gained back about 30 lbs from my lowest weight. And it took just about a year to recover from the total knee replacement - what a nightmare that is, but at least I can walk again. Hopefully the hips and back wont hurt as much soon. Wishing everyone well and hope everyone is happy and healthy

Hello! Sorry I've been away - been uber busy and I've been feeling a little down - the job I applied for was a no go... didn't get to the interview stage, which I was really gutted about as I would of like the experience. But I'm ok with it now... just gotta plod along and keep looking. I've picked myself up and dusted myself down and feel more positive again. At the end of term I took a coach/bus load of kids to Paris. The guy who originally organised it couldn't do it so they asked me to lead it... I was nervous of the responsibility but we had a great time and no dramas.The kids loved it, all 46 of them, and the other members of staff were really cool and did as I asked! Happy days. It was mine and my daughter's birthday yesterday... we had a great day. I have sorta resigned myself to the fact that it is her day now and go with the flow, so I spent the day running around after 11 teenagers... it was like being in work! lol. We had a BBQ for them and they all enjoyed themselves. Each went home with happy smiley faces! When the guests had gone, we say outside around the fire pit and drank tea - Betty had a can of Fosters...lol... apparently that is what 16yr olds do...lol. When I get chance I will post some pics - they are on my phone now and I want to put them on the puter. On the 5:2 front, I've been doing really well... not good in Paris and I did some damage limitation at the BBQ yesterday, but previously I've been getting in two really good fast days. Steve is still doing it with me and has got to a new low for him... jammy bugger... I have managed to get down to the top end of my bounce range again, but can't break the set point. I haven't been exercising over the last 3 weeks as I've been so busy, run down and have a lingering cold. Now we are off for another week (although I do have to go into work for two revision sessions) I will try to get to Curves a few times. I hope everyone is dealing with the major things that are going on... I wish I had words of wisdom but I don't... unfortunately. Oh and Cathy... I LOVE Banksy - I have a decal of the girl with the balloon in my kitchen! I would love to see that piece of graffiti art in Cheltnam! And as for the shape thing - I think I am back to my original pear shape that I was when I was a youngster! From looking at pics I would say my excess weight is lower body (not including my arms and the skin on them...grrr!)

I'm not finished with weight loss yet, as I'm waiting for revision. So stay tuned... My photos aren't that great, especially my first pic. I forbade my photo to be taken so I literally have none of my fattest days and I still don't like taking photos. 😩 Sent from my SM-G991U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

Good Morning girls, thanks for the great welcome back! Feeling pretty rough this morning, swollen HUGE! My belly feels like an overfilled tire, like if you poked me I'd go pfffffffffff and fly all around the room! I slept well though, and know I am getting better---think maybe I just feel like complaining!!!! Jane, Suzanne & Tracy---you looked like you had a great time!!! Wish I was closer to y'all! Pamela, wedding looked beautiful. Maybe Rick and I need to renew our vows...... Terry......never worry about being nosy! Insurance is being very particular. They would not cover any part of my EGD--because it was done in the surgical center not the hospital----but he needed the info immediately and could not get an open lab at the hospital within what he felt was a safe time frame. So it is all out of pocket. They hospitalization will be covered under an out of network charge-----so while I will not have to pay the entire thing it is going to likely be one big chunk of change to pay it. The fact that the intestinal problem was an emergency surgery might save me financially, but I just don't know yet. They charged me my $500.00 co pay for hospitalization, and will bill and work out the rest with insurance. So when I see how bad they hurt me I'll let you know. They DO cover band repair and revision.....as well as removal. And if I were to come to TX the cost would be minimal----as the hospitals there would be in network. Rick's company was based in TX so the entire company has BCBS of TX, regardless where you are located with the company! We actually had an international plan when we lived out of the country, but always in the states it has been TX based so we are always out of network. They gave me some really wierd meds this time. My pain medication is a nasal spray----a highly addictive opiate narcotic ! He had me use it once in the hospital before I left so he could be assured I knew how to use it without OD'ing. I slept the entire way home! And they also give me something new for nausea (which is not an issue now) and it is sublingual, it dissolves under your tongue and he says it works wonders. Other than that I got the stupid pink medicine they always give the kids for ear infections or whatever--------I feel so silly taking kiddy meds!!! But let me assure you the pain stuff is no kiddy med---I am scared to take it and be alone here! Which is an issue with Rick, he had to go in to work this morning---his boss who was supposed to be in charge while he was gone, just didn't show up. So he had hands ready to go in to work, and they could not get in to work at all. So he went over to unlock, and has still not heard from his boss. But he has already called the big boss and lodged a complaint, and he said he would be in so Rick could come home.....but I am really fine by myself----I plan on sleeping a lot!! I'll check in later----hugs to all of you!! Kat

Yes, I have a friend who had bypass around the same time I got my band and she's down to a size 3 now. I never want to get that small, I just don't think it would fit my frame. And to tell the truth everyone we know always says she looks like a crack head now. But she can't seem to get to the part where you maintain instead of losing. I run into people we both know all the time and the comment I get the most is: You look great, Have you seen Chrissy lately she looks like she's sick. What I take from that is it's not always better to be the skinny one but to be the healthy one. If I had to revise my band for any reason I wouldn't get another band I would go with the sleeve, But not bypass. I know it works for some but it's just not for me. I went thru that gain 3 lose 3 for the longest time but since my last fill in Jan. I've lost at least 6lbs that I've kept off. I think I averaged out to about 10lbs from Jan. 08 to Jan. 09 most of my total loss was from July to Dec 08. So I'm hoping things are looking up this year.

Thank you ladies. Marie, I wanted to wish you luck on the port revision. Let us know how it goes.

I am 65 and hoping to have my surgery in November. Test are done, nutrition done, shrink next week. Was worried about my age, but Dr said he has done several on people my age. I also have a band and will be having a revision to rny

As of Friday 4/11 I weighed in at 213.4. I weighed 248.0 the day of surgery on 1/16. It's been a slow process since my band to bypass revision surgery..I'm being patient..

So I'm about to be told a whiner so bear with me. I have hit another intermission has been a week since I've lost anything besides the 4 pounds I lost briefly after my last intermission. Ugh. It seems like I might be one of the slow revision losers that has been mentioned before. Plus it seems that eating At work will become a chore. We only ever get 30 minutes to eat at a time. I may have to ask my boss if I can take an extra 10 to really focus on eating.

Sleeve to bypass revision 10/21 lbs down half way to my goal

I had lower body lift and both arms done last Aug 25. It was tough for the first few days, The arms were painful but the lower part not so much...I had a nerve block for that. I only used one dose of narcotic once I got home. The combo of gabapentin and robaxin on a round the clock schedule is being used more and more post op for pain control and has been effective for me after my RNY, my hip replacement and now plastic surgery. I was in surgery for 12 hrs for all 3 procedures and spent 2 nights in the hospital. I recovered at home alone except for my brother would come over every day at lunch time and bring me food and change my arm dressings. The first 2 weeks I didn't do much except sit in my recliner with my arms elevated. After that, recovery became much easier. I had 4 drains for my LBL and I managed them myself and even was able to wrap my own arms and then get into my compression garments once I got them. My brother drove me to my first post op appointment but after that I drove myself to my weekly appointments. I have now scheduled my next surgery, breast lift and back lift and scar revision on left arm, for Aug 2. I'd love to do it sooner but that's when I could get enough time off from work. My third surgery will be a thigh lift and scar revision on right arm, hopefully in January (depends on work schedule). I wouldn't change anything other than wishing I had done it all sooner! My arms are 10 inches smaller and my hips are 33 inches! I wear a size 2P and will probably be a size 0P after I get my thighs done. I never dreamed I'd have this kind of success when I was at my highest weight a few years ago! Good luck with whatever decision you make and you can do it alone with a lot of planning and determination!