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I haven't lost any weight either and it has been 3 years. I also feel hopeless and blame myself when I see how successful others are. I still see my surgeon as I refuse to give up. He has asked me to consider revisional surgery to a gastric bypass which he does not perform.

Good luck in your journey - I haven't had the sleeve yet so can't answer most questions. Call your insurance to see if they cover the sleeve. As for weight loss, I have heard it can be comparable to gastric bypass.

I am 17 days post-op gastric bypass and gallbladder removal. I just ???? all by my self!!! Yaaaaay!!! It was all white. Should I worry?

Sounds like you are kind of doing the appeal battle that a lot of us have to do....basically the same thing...feeling run around...no hurry, etc. I sure hope you are ok. The big reason I did not want the lapband was because of what's happened to you...that and I didn't want a foreign object in me, or to have to have needles to get fills....not for me. I can't believe you'll gain the weight back. I think you should hunker cown and get your food logs going and restrict yourself to Protein shakes and 1500 calories...I highly doubt you'll gain all that weight if you try and fight it...at least until you get your revision. I dont have PCOS...but who knows...isn't there a way we all can battle the buldge?

I do hope you can get the revision done soon, I do know what it feels like to really work hard at losing it only to regain it so rapidly because of the PCOS. It's so frustrating, that is where I am at now! I can look at someone else eat something and gain 10 lbs just from smelling it! Thats how bad it is for me. Then I just give up and though I'm not a horrible eater, I'm not the best either. So frustrating! Hang in there! Ping me anytime you want to vent, I do understand the PCOS hell!

Hi Mindy.....would you please share the info on the insurance you purchased that covers revision?

im looking for anyone who has had a band to sleeve revision with Dr. Ramos Kelly in Tijuana, Mexico. please share your experience with me! i originally had my band done in Tijuana 4 years ago but it was not with Dr. Kelly. Im not scared of going to Mexico, or even scared of traveling alone but i have a fear of dying from complications. i know, i know probably just me being paranoid, but its a real concern. i have a 5 year old daughter that i want to watch grow up please....any info is appreciated. thank you, shaundra

OK so I'm 9 weeks out from my revision and I've been hovering between 28 to 32 pounds lost for the past 3 weeks! Grrrr!!! Wth?! Sorry, just had to vent.

I feel like I am the first Gastric Bypass failure. I lost weight before I could eat solid food and I have gained back 2 pounds since. I rarely feel full...I know I have to work at losing weight but I was hoping the sleeve would be a tool that helped. Honestly I sometimes think I am the placebo test patient, they removed my lapband but did they forget I wanted the sleeve when they were in there? Being able to eat as much as I did before ( and some days I do) makes me feel horrible. I know "hunger" is in my head but I was hoping the sleeve would make it easier for me to feel full. Every time I read that people can consume a cup of food at some meals ( like that is a lot) makes me nuts, I can easily eat 2 - 3 cups at a meal ( if not more!) Am I the ONLY one?

Hello everyone. I am to be sleeved on Feb 1 2011 pending in surance approval. I was a little disappointed that my surgeon changed his mind from gastric bypass to VSG. But since reading all the sucess stories here, I feel that it may be a better choice. I have at least 110 lbs to lose and I hope this is the only procedure I have to have. Please let me know if I can accomplish this wieght loss ith this surgery. Beat of Luck to all.....Judy

Hi, Apologies I am a complete newbie in terms of forums, blog sites etc. I posted the below as a reply initially as didn't know how to post, so please bear with me if you have already read it/responded to it. I've just been sleeved as well. Surgery was 23rd Feb 2010 so am now 11 days out. The surgeon said I should have 2-3 yoghurts and a good bit of Soup before they would let me out of hospital. They forgot this bit and let me out after 1 yoghurt, which took about an hour to eat. I am just able to sleep on my stomach now (as of last night), thankfully but not sleeping great anyway. Up til stupid oclock in the morning as just not tired. The acid reflux was horrendous at first and could not be controlled but now it has gone completely and it appears so has all the very uncomfortable gas. I am a little concerned as don't really know if i'm eating enough/too much. Not had any discomfort, should be on liquid for 14 days but was told to eat yoghurt, custard,jelly & Soups etc from day 1, but after 15 days of pre op liquids couldn't stomach any of these except the custard. I have been living on fruit juice and apple sauce with custard (without limit) and have had some ready brek for the last couple of days. I have never really had a "full" or heavy feeling. I am not making huge quantities but worried that this is not normal. I haven't felt hungry but do get an empty feeling. I am supposed to start mushies on Tuesday which I am pleased about as I think I am ready for some variety now. I am feeling a bit worried as I don't "feel" any different really. I did the first couple of days as it took about an hour to eat a yoghurt but now, no problem. I am also concerned that I lost 14lbs the first week after surgery and then...Nothing.Nada, Zilch. I have only been to the bathroom once since I had surgery as well (despite taking lactulose) Is this normal Further to this, I have to have DVT injections and I have been getting really cold since surgery, don't know if this is due to thinning of the blood or the reduction of the insulation. I was particularly cold today so opted for a nice hot bath this afternoon and when I got out and was drying myself off I went all light headed and the room started spinning. I had to go and lie down on the bed for about 10 minutes cos thought I was going to pass out. Loving this site been on here all day, it's very inspiring and we have nothing like this in the UK. I was told that I am the first to have a sleeve at the hospital I went to they only really do bands and bypasses. I did actually explain to one of the nurses what I was having done and why because she had never heard of it. Not very encouraging I have to say, however the surgeon I had is the best in the country thankfully.

I've been nosing my way around the forums for a few weeks and have noticed a lot of concerning, scary, and intimidating information. I know that this is not the norm, but still. Going through everything, is it worth it? I'm still going through all my pre-op appointments and will hopefully see the surgeon for final approval at the end of March and bypass in April or May (as long as there are no hiccups). Thanks!

I am two weeks post bypass. Healing good, no major problems better chewing can't solve. I can't wait to get back in the local rec center pool, are any of you swimmers and did you get back into the pool quickly? My Dr. says two more weeks, any suggestions for pace? I know I will want to overdo it, but will restrain myself.

The only reason you would need to have the band removed would be if it was medically necessary. When I had to have mine removed due to infection my insurance covered it 100%. If the doctor reports it as medically necessary, it is covered even if your plan does not cover bariatric surgery, like mine does not. When I got sick I was scared to death that the removal surgery would not be covered, but my new doctor reassured me it would be covered. As far as your choice, if I were young and planning to have children in the future, I would factor that into the equation and discuss it with my doctor. I too chose the band, because the only other alternate at the time was bypass. I had my band done with 8 of my coworkers and none of the others have had any problems. I am the only one who picked up a staph infection and we all saw the same doctor for the surgery and the fills (except for one). Of course, at this point because of my problems, I can only recommend the sleeve. __________________ Originally posted at www.lapbandtalk.com

Sorry, but your the one who brought up the complications rate being higher then the band first. So, since you brought it up first, you should be the one showing the proof. I'm not going to waste a bunch of my time convincing the obvious unconvincable. I'm not going to bother.....there is plenty of information out there showing the statistics on complications of sleeve versus band. And no you don't get to lump bypass with the sleeve against the band....they are two entirely different surgeries. You can carefully word it to make it sound better or worse, but you need to actually look at all of the statistics. And yes, most importantly you should look at the statistics of your doctor in reference to the surgery they are going to perform on you.

Wow, you look amazing. I'm 5'10.5. I'm surprise because there really isn't that many tall ladies out there who could pack on the weight and get away with it because we are tall. It wasn't till my medical chart read "morbidly obese." A word that haunted me for a while and will now be replaced with history of Gastric bypass. I'm only 3 weeks out and looking forward to some permanent weight loss. For now, Its about getting my right amount of protein and exercise every day. Thanks for sharing your sucess, and keep at it girl!

I'm 3 1/2 mths out and I eat less than 1,000. Rarely go over that. And I no longer do Protein shakes so all of thats just food I eat on the higher side of everyone on here. I only have 22 lbs to goal (was a band revision) and I'm in no hurry, so I'd rather eat more and have less losses...

Hi! I had my lap-band revision to sleeve exactly 1 month ago. I'm super happy and I feel more active than ever! I'm trying to get as much Protein that I can but I'm still find it difficult to eat much. My starting weigh was 175 and I'm at 158 right now. I haven't lost any weight in more than a week now so I hope I can break this stall... Overall great experience and my incisions are beautifully healed. SW 175 CW 158 GW 120 Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I am still waiting, I am 7 days post op sleeve to bypass revision. Talked to the Dr, he told me to continue to take Colace nightly and Miralax.

Hello Clinton6, It has been several years since I had my bypass, but as I look back at what I experienced then and what I know now,I wish that I had done things different. First I would try to get some type of education about what I personally needed to do before I had my surgery. If you surgeon is placing you on a 1100 cal. diet, he may have several reasons for doing it. Psychlogical and emotional after effects are going to happen; food and your tolerance for some foods will be something you will need to experiment with as you try to adjust after your surgery, you will find that even thought you loved certain types of foods, after the surgery you won't. Believe me when I say this, as I found that certain types of foods; milk and milk produts, some meats, especially with an excess of fat, raw vegitable, sweets, soda pop or any carbonated drink plus other foods will make you very sick, especially if you try to eat over the small amount that your new stomach will hold. You will become very nausious, purging can be very painful with you feeling like your going to throw up you whole stomach, at least what is left of it. It will take several minute to several hours before you start feeling like you will live. You are sweating and feeling light headed and you will need to lye down until you start feeling better. They don't explain to you enough of the things you may experience after your surgery. I would check with your physician and the facility where your surgery will be preformed and inguire about any pre-surgery classes or seminars that you can attend. I wish that there was some of these type of support bases when I had my surgery;it would have made things alot better afterwards. Best of luck with your surgery, and be sure to follow your surgeons directions, If you don't understand why he is asking you to do these things. then ask him! It's your body and your future that will be affected. Most physicians and surgeons would be more than eager to explain why they ask you to do certain things before your surgery.

I'm new to the vsg forum but not to the band forum. Yes, another bander to revise to a sleeve! June 20th is my date for surgery. I have had such esophagus issues I can't wait till this band is out of me too. Glad your doing well with your sleeve but I'm curious what damage you have to the esophagus? Acid scaring from reflux, stretching or what. I'm so worried about my own, I hope they will scope mine when they do my sleeve to check it out. I'm again self pay like with my band, so I'm afraid to ask them to do more due to cost, but I'm concerned since I've had such reflux for 2 + years of the 3 I've had the band. And the additional sinus drainage from allergies makes sleeping at night without gagging a major pain. Gloria

Thanks for posting this, maestrita. Your thread has provoked an interesting discussion, and I'm glad no one has resorted to mud-slinging (yet). Since I revised (not very happily) to the sleeve, I've often been asked if I regret my initial choice of the band. I admit that my affection for my band colors my response to a question like that. No, I don't regret my band surgery. It's harder for me to answer 3 other common questions. One: Would I recommend the band to pre-ops as eagerly today as I did 6-7 years ago? I'm not sure. The answer depends as much on the person who's asking as it does on me, and there's no such thing as a perfect or one-size-fits-all WLS procedure. Two: Would I choose to revise again (if needed) today? No. Since most of my stomach is gone forever, there's only one other WLS option available to me now: duodenal switch. I'm having enough trouble with micro and macro-nutrient malabsorption with my sleeve. I can't imagine how I'd manage with the DS. Three: Would I recommend bariatric surgery (as a whole, not related to a particular procedure) to an obese person today? I'm just not sure. I guess I would if the person's co-morbidities were so severe that some kind of WLS could be life-saving.

I'd rather have the opportunity to be able to re-operate than have no other alternative. I'm banded and I'm happy with it. In case of complications I can do something about it. My daughter has the sleeve since July and she looks fantastic but if there are complications she has no alternatives. It's a matter of personal choice. My doctor does the band and the sleeve. My daughter's surgeon no longer does the band. He only does the sleeve and gastric bypass.

Has anybody reading this thread delved into the reasons (if any) given by that study's author for the higher re-operation rate in band patients? It would be interesting to look at that information. Based on my personal experience and the experience of some band patients I've known for a long time and know IRL (in real life), there are a number of reasons for re-operation, not all of them due to complications. Some revise to other procedures because of disappointing weight loss (and the disappointment can be related to concurrent medical issues that affect weight as well as unrealistic weight loss expectations). Some revise because of side effects. Some revise because of complications. Some revise because a band that worked very well for the 1st few years didn't respond to fills after pregnancy and birth of a child.

Awesome thread very close to my story! So happy you are doing well! I just was revised from band to bypass may 21. Already down 16!!! I've been a lucky one no real pain and haven't had pain meds since may 22. Sore yes pain no. I threw up day of surgery but no nausea since.. Glad to see you are doing so well!!! Keep posting! ❤️