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I had my band in 01/05 and to me it was very painful the first 4 days. I have a very low tolerance for pain. I had my revision on 12/20/13 and it was painless, hardly any pain, I was a little tender on left side for abt two to three days. I was really nervous abt the pAin w the sleeve. I had watch several u tube videos..some said no pain and others said worst pain in their life. So I wasn't really sure what to think. I was really scared but went ahead with it. When I came to I couldn't believe that it didn't hurt. I was pleasantly surprised and oh so relieved. No my only problems was EXTREME nausea and Diarrhea... My diarrhea has stop and the nausea not quiet as bad. Good luck in your venture

Snuff, I am a revision patient also. It sounds like you were full. The same area where I feel full now is around the area where my band used to be.

You are doing swell! As for the tummyache issue, it might be lactose intolerance doing it to you. Try mixing Almond Breeze milk into the Protein powder to see if that won't help; soymilk might also work but it has more calories in it than the Almond Breeze--I get both at costco for reasonable prices, and also my protein out there is good, too. I use Muscle Milk lite in vanilla flavor to make my shakes with. Sometimes, I will add half of a banana to flavor it with--tastes very good! You could also try frozen blueberries in the shake which also is a nice tradeoff from plain vanilla. I think as you get farther along postop, you will do much better! I am 5-6, and right now weigh 186. I started this journey as a revision surgery patient from RNY to sleeve in May of this year--a first for the doctor I had. Normally, they do band to sleeve revisions. My bypass failed 5 yrs ago and I had developed hypertension that I cannot be treated for with meds due to severe allergies to all of them! Weight loss is my only intervention--I feel better than I have in years! My goal is to maintain at 145-150. My weight at the onset of sleeve surgery was 223.5 pounds--at the time of bypass surgery in 2001, I was 264. I never wanna see those 200s EVER again!!! It is great hearing from you, Dawn! Wishing continued success and keep me posted on your progress! Ronda I agree about the carbs, I try to avoid them for the most part and concentrate on the Proteins also. I saw the doctor for my check up today and I've lost 10lbs since my surgery. The doctor was happy with that and said slow loss is better for me since I have less to lose. I can't do the protein shakes. For some reason they give me a stomache ache. The doctor said to get my protein from my food instead. He also said that I can cut down the total protein from 75 grams to at least 50 grams. I am short only 4'10' and he said I don't need 75 grams of protein so I can stop stressing about getting so much protein. That was a relief for me as I have been feeling really worried about not getting enough protein. I also think that since I am not going to be eating constantly to consume so much protein I will see a better weight loss on my next visit. It is all a learning experience, but one that I am so glad to be working on.

I'm just a year out but couldn't be happier. I have a lot of restriction still and eating is almost like following a checklist to get my Protein and calories in. My BMI is now 22.9 and they don't want me to lose anymore. I have a medical background and did not want a surgery that changed my anatomy so drastically. The sleeve maintains normal anatomy including important valves (pyloric valve) of your stomach. My surgeon found that some of his bypass patients were able to force food past the small pouch and into the small intestine because there is no functional valve anymore. I would recommend the sleeve and consider a revision if you don't lose all you want. But some of us reach goal and beyond. (I weigh 12 lbs less than my original goal)

My doctor told me the people who have revised surgery lap to gastric sleeve lose weight very slowly. It's been 14 months since my surgery and I haven't lost any weight. I recommend your dr take the lap band first then wait a couple months before they attempt the gastric bypass. the wait will help the stomach get back it's shape. My physician said my stomach was so misshapen after band came off that he eyeball how much to take off - he doesn't use a bugie. I believe the reason that I haven't lost weight is that dr left my pouch big - I was able to drink 14 oz Protein with no problem after surgery

I had the band out and 4 months later had a sleeve. Everyone gains weight while the band is out. I think surgeon number 2 is the way to go. It is harder to lose weight after a revision so why gain it and have to lose it again.

Ok, I've got a dilemma and maybe you all can help. Ok, so I visited my original band surgeon in February (surgeon #1) and inquired about the sleeve. He said "if you want it done, you will need to find another doctor". He is not in agreement with the sleeve and said that I would gain the weight back in one year. I really took that to heart and I had to make a choice. I love my original surgeon and I really wanted him to do the surgery, but per his response, in March I began to find a new surgeon Surgeon #2 is all for the sleeve and explain how he opposes the band because of it's "failure to produce long term weight loss" and said that he would take out the band and perform the sleeve all at once, but because of the revision I may have complications (which he explained was a standard disclaimer that he must warn to his patients; however, he's never had a patient return with complications). I thought wow, he must be some kind of amazing. So I began the process. I went to surgeon #1 last month (March) to inquire about the sleeve again and he was not for it still. I really love this dude Meanwhile, under surgeon #2, I had my psych eval and I will begin my two nutrition classes on Saturday, April 19th and paperwork will be submitted for surgeon #2 next week. With many prayers for an approval, I hope to have surgery next month. Thought, ok a third time is a charm, I went to surgeon #1 today and now he's on board with the sleeve surgery! What?? But here is the catch 22, he would remove the band next month and I must follow a three month diet w/o band. He will perform the surgery in July IF I can follow the dietitians plan. This complicates my decision because I would much rather have it done sooner than later and I do not trust myself without the band. And if I cannot follow the dietitian plan, is that to say he would not perform the sleeve? UGH What would you do??

I had a revision, band to sleeve. My situation was similar to many stories, and yet somewhat different. I lost like 90 pds with the band but had a partial slip in Dec that eventually caused pain & the inability to eat & keep anything down. It was removed & replaced all in 1 surgery on Jan 16th of this year. I weighed 156 the day of surgery & now weigh 138 pds. I have no regrets. I fill up with 1 cup of food & do not feel hungry at all. Mind you, I can eat 1 cup of crappy food OR healthy food. YOU still have to make the right choices, which isn't always easy. YOU are in control. Good luck!

It is brand new and I think sleevers should all be interested in what they have to say there, in the event we go for revisions later on in life. Best of luck, and I think at some point there should also be a revision-specific board.

Thank you ladies for your response to my call for help. It is nice there are people I can ask for help on these forums regarding eatting right after having a Sleeve Revision and while trying to be smart and not fall into the wrong way of looking at food now. hhhHappy- i did put a call in to Nut/DR office but they havent called back, yet. Ktklass- I will go out and buy some Premier shakes from costco this weekend, they have 30gr of Protein and that will help me get the protein in that I need. EscapePod, thank you for your words of kindness and wisdom. Your right grief isnt normal there are days when it hits you and days when your just numb. I do appreciate your honesty. I lost my father many years ago and turned to "comfort food". This time I wanted to be smart. It is true that I havent been getting my Water in and that is something I try really hard to do. When i realized that I also figured I wasnt so hungry either just 3 meals a day instead of my 6 small meals. hugs to all of you again.

I was just wondering if anyone was at goal weight when they had their revisions from band to sleeve? What was the process like for you? Were you treated as if you were a new patient? I was banded 3 years ago. I have lost 100+ lbs and have gained a love for fitness. I am 5’3 and 130lbs. I feel that I have been very successful with the band. In December I got a lower body lift and tummy tuck. I got sick coming out of surgery and vomited several times. My band has slipped. I was on full liquids for a month and my band did not correct itself. The Bariatric clinic will not do surgery to fix the band they will revisions to a sleeve and I am okay with that. I don’t like that I have to do the whole process over again as if I am a new patient. My band has to be deflated for 3 months, I have to attend group and see the nutritionist for three months.

I lived in San Antonio for ever I wished that I could have had my surgery there with Dr Michael Seger. I love his office. I'm in Abilene now had my lap band done with dr Einspanier. Just before his office closed. His patients were left to find new doctors without any help. I found Dr Warnock who took over my care and did my revision. Very happy with dr Warmock.

Has anyone used carecredit to pay for surgery and how did you like it? Is there better financing for this type of surgery? Of course my insurance excludes any WLS or problems from WLS. I looked at carecredit last night and if you don't pay them off completely in 24 months the interest rate is really steep. They also only give you 23 days before they demand credit again..meaning one day late and the interest rate climbs to 26%!!! I'm despertaly trying to find a way to pay for this revision since my band has failed. Thanks for answering.

I was feeling the same way you were. Being on this board made me sad cause there's so many people who have little to no pain and I'm still on paid meds. My surgery was on July 8th and I am 5 days out. I am not a medicine taker but it's getting to the point if I have to leave the house I make sure to bring pain meds!!!! My doctor was so certain I wouldn't need them after day 2!!! So not true! I had a lot of pain in my right side. I am also a band to sleeve revise so I was wondering if that played a role as well. Good luck to you. Today is day 5 and I haven't taken any pain meds yet today so maybe day 5 is the breakthrough day! I was also able to sleep on my side last night!!! Hope all gets better for you. :-)

I would check with your doctor to see if you're even supposed to be taking Vitamins yet, which may be why they're making you sick. I had my band to sleeve revision on the 14th and I'm not allowed to take any vitamins until my 2 week post op appt on Tuesday. And then, it supposed to be in liquid form since I'm on liquids only for 3 weeks. Your post op instructions may be different, but just a thought.

I really wanted to be the first patient in the morning with my doctor .....but I ended up being the third patient because he had to do two complicated lap band revisions in front of me .....and when he came in the room to see me before I went into the operating room he said to me "oh good now my easy patient" - I do think the more complex patients are handled first. Shelby

I am scheduled for a revision sleeve in June. Has anyone experienced gall bladder problems after being sleeved? I have heard it can be a problem.

Lap Band 9/2007 by Dr Spivak in Houston: 20 lb weight loss immediately after band. Lost another 60 with running, boot camp, exercise and benefit of band as tool to eat less. Reached weight of 135 and felt great, but intermittent episodes of severe restriction, vomiting. Dr Spivak had moved out of the country and his website directed his patient to the physicians at TLC Surgery in Houston. Made an appointment with Dr Sherman Yu. Found out in July that my esophagus and pouch were dilated and i had reflux esophagitis (asymptomatic). All Fluid had to be removed from band and I returned to bad habits. Gained 50 lbs back and felt miserable. I was approved for band removal and revision to sleeve right away, but I chickened out and canceled my surgery in February thinking I could do it on my own. Wrong! i rescheduled and had my revision on 5/12/14 at Park Plaza Hospital. In the hospital, I received IV acetaminophen, dilaudid PCA and the On-Q painbuster ball. I walked 4 hrs after surgery and went home around noon the next day. The staff at PPH was amazing. Dr Yu gave me prescriptions for pain and nausea meds at my preop appt so it would be available when I got home from the hospital. He also is using new compounded lotions/creams for scar, nausea and pain which I am using as well. It is pod#4 today and feel great!! Of course, I have some incisional pain, but I really cannot complain at all. The last time I took pain meds was 2 days ago. I was sent home with the On-Q pain ball and removed it myself on pod#2. No nausea or vomiting, able to drink without problems. I drove myself to the movies yesterday and walked 2 miles today. I hope I'm not speaking too soon and jynxing myself, but I really don't think so. I just wanted to put a positive experience out there for those folks who have heard the horror stories. Best of luck to all!

It's been 10 mths since my band to sleeve revision but I remember that 4 weeks of full liquids like it was yesterday. Definately hard. After being banded in 2009, I only made it to the 2nd week and then I cheated. Regretted it for yrs. I was single back then and it was easier to cheat. It was also easier to cheat knowing I couldn't really damage myself withe the band. But I could with a sleeve. Plus I gained a "food Nazi" husband who woulda tattled on me had I cheated. I got my hunger back on day 10 (was easy till then) and then I could eaten my arm - had I been able to suck my arm thru a straw. I ate tomato and split pea Soup, Jello, sf pudding, yogurt, and popsicles. Hot stuff satiates (not "fills" u asn liquids don't do that much) better than cold stuff. So sip tomato soup. Sip, sip, sip. Gawd, how I wanted a french fry or a taco. But then I'd be paranoid about causing a leak and my craving would go away - for about 5 minutes. Nothing I can say that will make u feel better. Hang in there. It WILL get better soon. No, u won't feel "full" while on liquids but u certainly won't die. I wouldn't rush out there and eat something - just in case ur the 4% that get a leak. When ur able to eat soft foods, it will get much better. Good luck!

I was wondering the people who was revised from the lapband to gastric sleeve did you still have to do the 6 month weight lost management to be approved? I'm having sooooo many complications with my lapband and I'm hoping I don't have to wait 6 months. I need this band out asap.

I am 9 weeks post-op. Just had my 2 month follow-up exam today. My blood pressure is normal and I am down 38 lbs. I am on a normal diet now and that is anything that I want to eat. I follow the nutrition plan but I don't substitute anything for flavor. I use real butter and I drink whole milk. I do use sugar substitute for ice tea and kool-aid. I haven't exercised at all yet. I have a back problem that I am recovering from. I just walk around the house and help out with the kids. I guess that is a workout, chasing after 4 little kids. On surgery day I was nervous and anxious. I am a band to sleeve revision. The surgery took about 4 hours. I felt miserable when I woke up in recovery. It was the anesthesia. After it wore off I started feeling the pain from surgery. I was hooked up to a morphine pump and I had the control in my hand so I used it alot. Whenever I saw it lit up, I would drug myself. You will be up and walking by dinner time on surgery day. They won't let you lay there. There is a danger of blood clots. I didn't have a urine catheter when I woke up. It was removed right after surgery. It was my option, so the doctor went along with it. Walking around after surgery helped me with going to the bathroom also. I was in the hospital 2 days. You have to pass a swallow test before they release you. Just making sure there are no leaks. You'll have liquid pain killer at home. Keep it handy and after about the 5th day you will be feeling pretty good. Some people feel great right away. My pain lingered for a while. My wife took care of me through this whole thing. She is a great woman. I think the main thing is to have someone around to help you the first week. And if that person loves you then that is all the better because you are going to be an inconvienence for a few days. Good luck to you and let us know how you do.

So I just sent in my health report in today. When I was 12 yrs old, they discovered I was born with my pancreas wrapped around my stomach/ : google annular pancreas . I am now 51 and Dr.Valensuela said it would be considered a "revision" due to possible scar tissue . So, it would be another $1000.00 has anyone else had anything similar ? Crap, it wasn't weight loss surgery and I have never had problems since. I don't know who to try next, I really can't go above $5,000. Help, I wanted this done in July on my vacation. Thank you for your responses.

aloudwhisper Are you revising to a sleeve? or just removing it? Good luck either way seems like you will be happy to get rid of your band. Embrace not what I want to hear weeks before my revision from band to sleeve but I will be prepared.

@@Embrace Hi! Thank you so much for checking in on me. Your note before my surgery gave me great peace and comfort. I have told NO ONE but my husband, so having you and others checking on me in INVALUABLE! I have had a tough 1st week of recovery, but am beginning to feel better. My 1 week check up is tomorrow. Because I was converting a "plication" to a sleeve, my procedure lasted 5.5 hours. I think this may be the reason the Anesthesia was particularly difficult to rid from my system. Not sure if this is the cause of my blurry vision for the last 6 days, but reading online, I have found that this can be a result of anesthesia and will improve in 9-10 days. (I have been unable to read the newspaper, emails, or any of the 3 new books I bought to enjoy during my recovery phase.) Additionally, I have had severe headaches that I cannot treat with my regular migraine meds, due to the complicated revision-----my doc's fear that the strong meds (even crushed) would cause damage to my new sleeve. ENOUGH COMPLAINING THOUGH!!! I'm grateful for my supportive husband who paid the 17,500. fee to have this done and my steady improvement. I actually feel myself getting stronger each day. Remembering what you said about walking the anesthesia off, I made sure to walk a little each day but honestly I only made it to my mailbox and back, walked from one end of my house to the other.....etc. (I was quite wimpy this week) I tried to balance what you said about walking and resting my body. I have a goal of walking 30 minutes (all at one time) by Saturday of this week. I hope I am able. Your 3rd piece of invaluable advice was very helpful and something I HAD NOT considered. As soon as I can get out, I'm going to purchase tiny bowls and small plates. Thank you so much for this tip!! Something I had not expected was the weight gain in the hospital from fluids. ( I probably should have done better research and made myself aware of this bc it SHOCKED me!) I gained 11 lbs and after 6 days that was finally gone. I hope I begin steady "losing" from this point on. I practiced "going out to dinner" last night with my husband. This is a little scary at first! We went to a Tai restaurant where I was able to order a bowl of simple broth. It was divine. (After eating broth from a box all week.) Since today is 1 week out, I'm going to weigh, take measurements, etc. I'm hoping I'm on the right path and will continue to improve. Enough about me! Are you doing o.k.? Still losing? Adding new foods to your diet? Feeling good? I think your surgery was this summer so we are just a few months apart. Your wisdom and compassion came through so clearly in your message to me and I want you to know how very much I appreciate the time it took to send it. Please continue to send your valuable tips and please let me know how you are progressing.

Long time member but i haven't posted anywhere in ages, but I used to be on the Lapband board. I was a long time very successful band patient i was orginally banded in Jan 02 (in Canada, pre FDC approval) lost weight at a great rate. My first band (Innamed) slipped a total of 3 times before it came out for six months, I also had surgeries to move my port and another because my tubing disconnect. Next we went to the J&J band and it was great until it slipped badly, I had it for about 6-7 years and it worked like a charm, restriction was great most of the time, lost to my goal size and then it self tightened and i left it there because of travel, personal stress etc and i thought it would release on its own when i went for a defill it completely slipped around my esophagus and it was horrible. With the J&J I had a port revision surgery in there too. Then we tried a 3rd band it never worked right, I couldn't get restriction because if we did more than i had instant reflux etc. I revised to the sleeve last week with a new surgeon in Philadelphia who told me the band was basically around my esophagus and i had no pouch which is why I had no restriction and why I could not be tightened any more. But I lost about 150 lbs in 12-16 months and maintained that loss for 10 years plus, with little to no effort. In the meantime because of the band with no restriction, some prescribed evil steroids that I had to take that put 30lbs on me in a matter of 8 days... (they change your brain chemistry in weird ways) hashimoto's disease (hypo thyroid) fluctuations for the last few years and a few other things I gained about 70-80 lbs that I could not lose weight I tried. I went gluten free and dairy free, nada, I tried the HCG diet lost 20 lbs gained it back and generally I don't eat more than 1500-1700 calories per day including when I am drinking wine, eating out 3 meals a day etc. I hired a trainer, almost went paleo not quite. Now in talking to my surgeon he has said there are new studies showing band patients 9-12 years out who suddenly gain weight they can't lose for love nor money. They try everything and it won't come off more restriction, calories restriction etc. So we made a joint strategic decision to go to the sleeve since I knew the risk, what type of lifestyle change I was in for, portion control etc. wouldn't be a problem since i had it already. In our conversations we talked a lot about Ghrelin which is produced in the stomach and it makes you hungry, when you are feeling that craving to overeat or binge typically it is ghrelin and obese people produce more ghrelin than non obese people typically with some exceptions. We also talked about leptin which makes you feel satiated and is produced in the brain. With the sleeve, about 70-90% of the ghrelin produced is surgically removed with the part of the stomach they remove. i am curious have you noticed a difference in how hungry you get, cravings and the satiation of cravings ie: I can eat two bites of cake vs. I want the whole cake now? Have you also noticed the full feelings getting different than before from the leptin. My surgeon has said in his conversations with his patients they noticed their cravings reduced which helps them with portion control and in making better choices which helps a number of other things. In other words the brain and stomach don't conspire to make cheetos seem like a great dinner choice or ben and jerry your best friend. Overall I eat very healthy without a ton of junk food in my life we cook at home, we make our own stocks and Soups etc. to help get me through the liquids phase. But we do eat well and drink wine, we might be foodies (we are told we are, I just like trying new things). I have never eaten out of control even with the last band and no restriction just trying to lose weight has been terrible, depressing and frustrating. Especially after my first experiences which was I lost well, ate well, exercised and it worked like it was supposed too. I am a consultant and I travel for my job excessively so hence the eat out three meals a day most of the time I don't have a choice in that, but you can make healthy choices even in eating out and I do. I look at fats and calories along with Proteins and make good choices. Any thoughts you have I would appreciate and any advice you have I would love to read. Thanks for reading and good luck