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Hi alley-gator. I have a band and my 23 year old daughter got the VSG on Feb. 8th this year. I had some different issues with the band but am on track with a new doctor and it seems to be working wonderfully now. My daughter loves the VSG. She is not lactose intolerant and loves it. She eats 4 sometimes 5 small mini meals a day and has lost 70 lbs since surgery. I wish I had the VSG and have been considering a revision. She feels great and has no problems. Good luck in what ever you decide.

I can't answer a whole lot of "post op" questions, as I haven't had my surgery yet, but from my research and reading these boards, the risk of leaks is only for a couple weaks but can happen a bit later. And some leaks can go undetected even for months and so then there you are 3 months later and think you just had a leak when it was actually there way earlier. I believe the stomach tissue grows over the staple line and makes it that much stronger. I am going to Mexico with Dr. Aceves and his required hospital stay is 3 days. There are usually much shorter stays (some go home the next day!) in the states for various reasons. His 3 day stay is included in the price. I am thankful for the longer stay. There is a whole section on here for band to sleeve revision. I know Tiffykins had one and she has a great wealth of knowledge on the subject. Good luck to you! I am getting sleeved March 9th, so we will be starting out together!

Woohoo!!! Deflating my band worked. I actually received 4 cc's back in today. The deflation got my band to adjust to the position that it should be in and so no surgical revision is needed. Back on liquids and mushies for a bit, but I do not mind.

I'm more shocked that there are surgeons still putting the band in. I was banded in 2011, worst choice in WLS I could have made, got stuck on foods I shouldn't have, could **NEVER** get to the "green zone" no matter what we did. Leafy greens and other things I should have been eating hurt to eat. Even though I had no major complications, my band was 100% encapsulated in scar tissue and took my surgical team more than 3 times longer to remove it than it should have taken. If I had left it in, I would have been faced with some serious complications. I didn't even know I had Grade 3 Esophagitis until I had my upper endoscopy to make sure everything was ok for the revision to the Bypass. The band caused the Esophagitis. 2 of the major manufacturers of the band, don't make them or replacement parts for them any longer because of how badly they are doing. I mean, good luck and all, but I'm very suprised your doc didn't alert you to all the issues, revision rates, etc https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3266497/ Seems on average 20-30% (depending on where you look) of all lap band patients will need revision of some nature.

Thank both you ladies for your advice and feedback!!! I knew it somebody who knew and had some information that would be helpful to me. You know I asked that question "does the lapband agree with EVERYONE" and the answer was "YES" this is what my doctor told me. I kept wondering if I was going to have an issue and I told her that I believe the way I lose weight has something to do with my hormones and my body chemistry, but she just looked at me like I didnt really have a clue and neither did she. I am going to look into the hormonal inbalance. So did she get a revision? Also Mechelle I would like to no more about Dr. Shina, if you can give me that information that would be great!! Thank you guys so much for your feedback!!

I have Anthem BC BS. I had band surgery in fall 2007..worked pretty good until summer of 2008...had a blockage, then gall bladder removed in November 2008..surgeon took out band and repositioned it during that surgery (that option not even discussed before the gall bladder removal). Anyway, it never worked right again. So, November 2013 I have requested to it removed and revised to the RNY. Insurance okayed band removal, but denied the RNY. I had to go thru all the nut classes, and psych evaluation again. will finish that up next week, and resubmit the RNY request. I will let you know what the out come is, I hope by the end of February. I am getting quite anxious and still nervous that they will deny me again. Good luck to you, I have seen many on here that have no problem getting approval for revisions.

When she told me I don't have to do a preop diet before my revision surgery in Jan! yay, so happy, the first time was bad enough

Probably, but sometimes Surgeon's need to tweak things a little. I have 5 cc. I have had 5 cc for about 2 years, but had a slip and needed to have everything removed and then a surgical revision. He had to remove everything, but when he put fill back in, I am still at 5 cc. Does that make sense? I sometimes ramble in teh early mornings. Best wishes, Karen

I had mine removed 2 1/2 weeks ago secondary to slip. I was supposed to revise to bypass but there was so much damage they send me home for 6 months of healing. While not at goal my BMI is now 36 with no co-morbidities so I was petrified I wouldn't qualify for revision. However my insurance company has chosen to use their brain and base revision on my pre-band BMI of 50 and my diagnosis of hypertension although now removed. In many ways I'm doing better than I thought I could. Apparently having a band taught me I don't have to gorge myself, I can have a bite or two of the delicious bad for you stuff and survive!!!! Good luck to you!

It sucks, but you'll make it through! Are you getting a revision as well or just removal?

When I originally had my band done back in 2012 the surgeon told me that he thought my GERD was related to a hernia and if it was when he got in there he was going to fix it. It was and he did. I had a revision to a sleeve 2 weeks ago and have had no problems with GERD. None since the hernia repair.

Hi Lisa I'm over 18 months out from my revision from Lap Band to VSG - and I'm doing excellent. I had a blood test only a month ago (have shared the results here) and they are great. The only problem I had is low blood count (anemia - need to up my iron) which is normal for me. I've been anemic pretty much my whole life and runs in my family. Other than that I'm able to keep up with all my supplements and all my levels are right on. I am my own advocate too, so I'm always getting copies of my results to be sure all is well. I DO have a tiny stomach and I'll want to know if anything is borderline or below as it would be a bit more difficult to get them up without quick response and supplements. Anyone who doesn't eat properly has the chance of being malnourished, wether they are thin, or overweight, normal sized stomach or tiny - or whatever the case may be. All the best to you! Do whatever you have to do to be as healthy as you can be. For me, that meant having WLS.

Wishing you the best! I am a revision from sleeve to RNY and I second your nervousness!!! I think it's to be expected. Please keep us posted on your progress!

Hi, I'm Sundie. Hopefully I'm doing this right. I'm scheduled for a revision from the Lapband to the bypass and I am, of course nervous. Especially since I'm self pay!! Gah! I'm just here reading and it's great! Thanks to everyone for sharing! I'm 5'4 and starting out at 307 big ones. I'll be 46 next month. Talk about a pivotal time in my life. Woot!

I'm not trying to nit-pick, I just want to make sure I understand: You've been sleeved a year? Or banded? (Trying to figure out of you're revising TO or FROM a band). My band was removed in September after about 6 years. I've had my sleeve since late March. There is a forum specific to band -> sleeve revisions, you can get to it from the "Forums Home" page. Lots of great info to read through there.

Dr Charles Callery in Poway, CA does lap band revisions or switches you to sleeve. Don't lose hope Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I meant that I have a hunch it won't work well for me. Which is why I'm trying to find out about how it has worked for other people that are similar to me. It seems to me that the lap band works best for those people that put their whole selves into losing weight and who are able to and do stick to the eating plan. The sort of people that can stick to something, but just needed that extra push to keep them going and to make the diet work better. Unfortunately, I am not that way. (I'm not making excuses and doubting myself before I even start. I am being honest with myself and with my failings.) I am not a sticker. I stick to a diet for about 2 weeks, then fall off, whether or not I've lost weight. I can lose 10 pounds in those 2 weeks, and I still can't stick. I have no willpower when it comes to food. I'm not really an emotional eater, or a binge eater, or anything else like that. I just like the taste of good food, and I get bored with chicken and salad and veggies. And I have a major sweet tooth. I crave chocolate, and I have a hard time ignoring my sweet tooth. So, I guess I want to know if the lap band is going to be right for me, considering I don't have a lot of will to resist temptation. My little stomach would be able to eat a lindt chocolate as easily as a piece of chicken. So will I still lose significant weight if I'm a cheater, or would I be better off going with the bypass that will keep me from cheating? I just want to make the best choice for me, because I don't want to have one surgery with the option to revise it to another. I just want to get it done.

I'm a RN so I'm a little nervous about Mexico!!!! My mom had a lap band put in in Mexico and had a awesome experience! I'm hoping it will go smoothly. She is actually getting her band revised to the sleeve on the same date I'm having mine! They will even room us together which is awesome! Our date is June 8th and I'm counting the days! My BMI is only 31 so I barley qualify so I'm trying to maintain weight not gain or loose between now and then! But even though 5'8 and 200 lbs doesn't sound that bad I get asked if I'm pregnant several times a week and I'm over it! I carry my weight in my stomach and boobs! It's awful. I can't wait to be little again! To go shopping again and get dressed up and feel good about myself. Since gaining 50lbs working night shift I've stayed depressed! All the diets and working my but off in the gym hardly does anything!! I'll work my butt off eat clean boring foods loose ten-20 lbs then eat a cheat meal or two and gain it back almost immediately ! I'm so ready to get this done!

I was also in the city this past Saturday, doing only a bit of walking. I drank a good 24 oz. of Water before I left my home (on Long Island), took a train to the city, walked 10 blocks to the theater, sat through the entire play, including intermission, walked back to Penn Station and took the train home -- and only then finally went to the bathroom. Actually, no -- right after I walked in, I took the dog out first, changed the cat's litter...and then went. I'm the type of person who can't make it through the night without a trip (or two) to the bathroom, so yes, definitely, water loss through perspiration can really throw one for a loop! By the way, lexy, you really should consider revising your name to SexyLexy -- you are GORGEOUS!

I had band to sleeve revision one week ago today. A few people at work that I'm close to only know I had the band out. Only my two closest friends at work know the whole story. Eventually I might tell more people at work but I just didn't want their opinions and close scrutiny. Many that I work with are young and very very healthy and have no idea what I've struggled with my whole life and I don't think they'd even understand. Besides all that I don't want them to worry

Hi fellow September 24th bandsters (well sort of). I wanted to just stop in and say hello. I was first banded in January 08 and my band had a leak and I was rebanded last week along with you September Samurais. Congratulations on being banded and I hope you will all be successful with the band! It's a life changing journey if you want it to be and if you work with the band properly. Each of you will have different experiences along the way. At some points it will be hard and you'll wonder if it's worth it, but just remind and encourage yourself to keep going because it is worth it (at least I think it is) and because you deserve it! If you gain weight one week, don't come down so hard on yourself and remember it's one week out of the entire year. Try to be positive and notice the small changes along the way because they help put things into perspective. And don't let people tell you that you took the easy way out because it's a lot of hard work! I forgot what it was like to be banded until I had to go through it again! My revision was not as invasive as the first one as all my dr. had to do was remove the old band and put in a new one (so there's not a tremendous amount of healing to do because most of the scar tissue is formed already to hold the band in place, but there is a small amount of new stitching that needs to heal). The first few days were just as rough as the first go-around though, but after that I have recovered a lot quicker than the first time. However, I'm still on the the post-op diet like the rest of you so I can empathize (gotta love them liquids! So happy to be on pureeds now!) Now that a week has gone by, it seems like most of you are feeling much better, which I'm happy to hear! It might feel like the first month or so will seem to drag on, especially with the post-op diet and you'll think you'll never get to chew real food again, but I promise, you will! It will pass, and before you know it, you'll be 2,3,5,8 months post-op and you'll wonder where the time went! If you have any questions please feel free to ask, and I will answer them to the best of my ability! Melody, I found out at the age of 20 that baby food is actually pretty good (who knew)! I'm a fan of the oatmeal and pears (or apples). I add some sweetnlow because it doesn't come sweetened and you would think you're eating the most delicious apple cobbler/crisp you've ever had. Cream of tomato soup is good and I add in some ricotta cheese to up the Protein, plus it adds a nice flavor. I also just microwave some ricotta (you could use cottage cheese too) with some tomato sauce and add basil and garlic and onion powder! It's like a good Pasta dish minus the pasta. I made some cream of sweet potato soup with babyfood sweetpotatoes (again the baby food). I did 1 jar of Stage 2 (I think like 3-4oz jar) and add a half cup of skim milk and like 1/4cup of Water and I heated it and added a bit of ricotta cheese and garlic/onion powder, salt and pepper and it was really good too. It had a nice sweetness to it too. The first time around I had butternut squash soup which I made from jarred butternut squash and followed the recipe on the jar. I also made a cream of cauliflower soup which was good too. I think I have the recipe if you want it. I think I found it here on LBT. Be well everyone! -Redtulips

I'm also a band to sleeve revision (slipped band) and I'm 7 weeks out so eating regular foods now. I honestly eat about 7-8 times a day cuz after 4-6 bites, I can't eat anymore - but then I'm hungry 90 minutes later. My dr said I should be eating 3 meals by now but how can I live on less than 450 calories forever (and thats including my Protein shake)? I've added up my 4-6 bites x 3+ my Protein shake and it totally less than 450 calories. That can't be right that he wants me to eat so little. So I eat when I'm hungry, which is more often than with my band. I've been bouncing between the same 1 lb fr 2 weeks now. Maybe I'm eating too much? Plan on kicking my cardio up on Monday and hoping that helps cuz I can't eat much less. So I understand why 3 meals sounds so daunting. not sure someone can actually live by eating 5 bites 3x a day??? Good luck!

I had issues with reflux for over a year and for me I would cough the next morning after suffering with reflux during the night. Unfortunately, the fluid that comes up and makes you cough during the night can irritate your throat and lungs so you end up coughing. If it keeps up go see your doc. Believe me when I say...don't take reflux lightly. I did the whole fill/unfill thing to take care of it but, then demanded tests with the last fill and the reflux came back and found out my band slipped bad enough that it had to be replaced. I just had revision surgery on Dec 18th. not fun to go through again. Good luck and definitely seek your doc if the reflux continues. In the meantime because you say you over indulged yesterday, stick with liquids for a day or two and see if the reflux goes away.

WOW - me too! A couple bites and that is all I can eat and I get hungry. I can drink OK. I was banded Dec. 13. Actually, it was a revision (i think that is right). First time thru the tube wasn't connected or came undone, so he removed that band and gave me another one. If all I am eating is a few bites, shouldn't the weight be just falling off?? I have lost 23 lbs and I do eat healthy. I can only eat so much. 2 or 3 bites of cottage cheese, yogurt, whatever. I thought this was how it was supposed to be.