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I had VSG on 5/12/14. I converted from sleeve to bypass on 7/1 because of severe reflux. My reflux was gone the day after surgery. I was basically at goal when I converted and my doctor told me not to expect to lose much weight as a result of the surgery. I gained weight right before the surgery but am now almost back to goal (4lbs to go). I had to go through the 6 week food progression again but basically eating is the same. I do not eat any refined sugar as I have no desire to test whether or not I'll dump. If you have any questions, feel free to ask! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had the sleeve done in August 2014 & lost 70lbs just like you, and gained 20lbs back. I was still very far off from my goal weighing 260 at the time ....I tried diet, and diet pills and the most I would lose was 10-15 pounds which was super frustrating. My doctor decided it was time to convert me to the bypass. Like volleyball girl said ^^^ there is less restriction with the bypass. I can sip sip sip and not feel full or discomfort. The recovery is longer though for sure...more painful and lingers .....I can have soft foods now and I enjoyed my scrambled egg and ate very slowly and chewed it to mush. Today I was rushing when I had my egg and I felt really full 3/4 of the way and threw out the rest. I also felt uncomfortable & pain as well. Won't be doing that again. I also had a small size cottage cheese snack. I feel satisfied after I eat, nor really that full feeling as I did with the sleeve. We shouldn't eat until we feel that full feeing anyways, we should just feel satisfied good luck and you will do just fine ! Yes the whole liquid thing is a pain but stay focused on the bigger picture . Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm just starting the process of trying to get my band revised to the sleeve, about how long did it take for you to get your revision approved? Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

I'm having the revision surgery cuz I've had nothing but complications with my band i have it for about 4 years I never could find my sweet spot is either over filled under-filled I just thought I would go about my business and deal with it! sometimes I can eat and sometimes I cant eat most the time I am vomiting because my food gets stuck I finally made an appointment with a new bariatric surgeon and found out that it slipped and is at the top of my stomach and bottom of my esophagus which means I don't have a pouch anymore so when I am able to eat without any problems I totally over it because I never know when I'm going to be able to eat again which sucks!!!!also I have a hiatal hernia I gained all my weight back plus a couple pounds and I also have slowly and gradually been getting heartburn more frequently I believe that is due to the hernia I was just approved by my insurance and hopefully get a call today to get my surgery date.. for the revision. I wish I would have went in a couple of years ago and caught it in time but I didnt there is no way that I would want to be re banded just to go through all of this again I want the damn thing out and I want a permanent change it is definitely scary though but in the end I'm sure it'll be well worth it!!! In facts my surgeon and a lot of Surgeons are not doing the Lap Band anymore because of the complication rates I'm happy for the people that have not had any problems or complications:) Sent from my SM-N910V using the BariatricPal App

Had my revision surgery on 10/18/16 from LapBand to sleeve due to esophagus issues from the band. I was banded in 2010. If I can answer any questions, just ask away. Recovery wasn't easy, but it wasn't terrible either. I haven't had any problems with drinking or getting my Protein in. Still off work but that's only because I want to make sure I've got a good handle on food before I return to my job. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi, looks like this was posted a while ago but I'll respond anyway. I had my band put in by Dr. Ortiz in 2011. It was the best experience with a doctor and staff that I have ever had. I am now looking at a revision to sleeve or bypass (now that my insurance covers it) but I would go to him again if I still lived near Tijuana. The hardest part was coming home and lugging suitcases so soon after surgery. We stayed at the Marriott in Tijuana, which was beautiful and amazing. Had to be at the clinic early in the morning and we were done by noon and left the clinic by 4. We stayed down there 4 days. Any questions, feel free to message me.

Idk, I was asking if anyone had a band revision to another surgery with him.

Anyone had a band revision with Dr Ariel Ortiz???

I was 206 at the time of my revision. I maintained 160 for years but I had put on 40 lbs after getting uncontrolled gerd unfortunately. My weight was stable as long as the PPI worked but it got to the point no medication worked. On the day of my revision, I was still 120 lbs. less than my 2008 beginning weight 320 lbs (plus). I weighed 113.4 lbs this morning. I am still trying to find my maintenance level of calorie as I am still losing.

Anyone else on this day?

Hi nervousnellie...I can certainly understand why you're nervous. Have you read any of the posts that I've posted? Look on the thread sleeve to bypass tomorrow if you haven't already. I've really been through the ringer. I don't even know where to start to talk to you...maybe i should ask if you have any questions? Please reply, I'll answer/tell you anything you need/want to know, even some stuff you probably don't want to hear. I feel for you and the mess you and your husband are going thru right now. Let me know if I can be of any help... Niki

Im so happy to read your reply. Was it a hard process to get Aetna to cover it? Also, didnthey do your revision to sleeve all in one surgery!? Congrats on all of your weight loss! I am getting excited now. Appt at 1030 today! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I would agree. I'd revise to a DS. You probably need that surgery. I don't think you will be happy with the RNY and think you will likely not get to your goal weight with it. I can say this because I have RNY (virgin surgery) and have a larger capacity. So I do not feel a whole lot of restriction. And food goes through my stoma very easily. So I have to be extremely careful of what goes in my mouth, calorie, volume count and limit food in the face of hunger. And I got to my goal. But it took iron balls to do it. And not everyone can put that kind of limit on themselves. If you haven't already, you need to have your sleeve evaluated to see if they left too much of the fundus in tact, or if it can be revised to make the sleeve smaller in a re-surgery. If it's surgeon error, they should have to fix it. If it's your error through overeating or eating around restriction, then a new surgery won't necessary fix your head and you will need to consider counseling along with a new anatomy if you want to avoid having this same discussion in the future.

How is everyone doing? How much weight have you lost? What has been the most exciting change? What has been frustrating? I am down 53 lbs since surgery. To me, I would like more. I have accepted that I am a slow loser. Currently I am in a two month stall. I track my food and exercise. I am doing everything that my doctor has told me to do. So, I am a little frustrated. I also have PCOS so that may be factoring in. On the plus side, I am only 5 lbs away from my lowest band weight! So my sleeve and I have accomplished in 7 months what it took me three years to do with the band. Plus, I love that I do NOT have that stuck feeling anymore!!! Overall it has been a wonderful experience. I am happy with my revision choice. I just wish I had done it sooner!!!

I am wondering if there is anyone that has ever gone through a Gastric Bypass Surgery that I can talk to Via email and be email pen pals with . Right Now I have a lot of Questions about gastric bypass because I am having a Really Bad Dry Gag Nausea Feeling that will not go away that is bothersome, etc.. What can I do to get rid of the Dry gag nausea feeling that will not go away. If you know the answers please email me. If you would like to be my email pen pal I am looking for pen pals that will answer short letters with questions like for example: Do you have any pets? Do you like music? What type of music do you like? If you can talk to me please message me.I am also looking for a Diet Buddy . Channing

I'm looking for a revision buddy I'm sleeve to Rny but lost like a band so that's why I'm doing Rny I'm 37 5'6 mother of 3 I go up and down from 206/210. My date is first week of June So anyone want to be buddy's

I had VSG in May of this year. I had a wonderful experience. I have lost 53 lbs and could not be happier with my sleeve. Due to my success, and seeming ease of recuperation (overall, that is), my husband decided to have the surgery in August. He has had nothing but problems. He has never been able to keep any food or Water down. He constantly throws up anything he takes in, including Vitamins and medications. It is not nausea--it is an inability to digest anything. He has had multiple IV's for dehydration, and would have been hospitalized multiple times if he did not work in the medical field (which allows him access to IV Fluid without being admitted to the hospital). He is now about 6 weeks post-op. His doctor finally did an EGD this week. They found a kink in the area where his small intestine connects to his stomach. Essentially, it causes the food to have to travel "uphill" (for lack of a better description) to exit his stomach. It's just not working. He has erosion in his esophagus and severe GERD b/c of the buildup of acid in his stomach. They dilated the spot that is kinked, but it didn't make a difference, which they didn't expect it would because it is not a stricture. Now his doctor wants to convert to gastric bypass. It is sooo disheartening. Neither of us would have considered having a bypass electively and he is terrified of the side effects of the bypass. We know that the side effects cant really be much worse than what he is going through now but it is still stressful. We have been unable to get a second opinion (my surgeon just retired and another is on vacation). My husbands surgeon (whohas been absolutely wonderful through this whole process) wants to do the bypass ASAP. I have read a few posts with similar circumstances, but can't find any recent updates. Does anyone have any information/thoughts/ideas/experience with this? If so we would love to hear! Thanks for letting me vent and for any suggestions or thoughts! Right now we are just trying to process this whole mess!

I believe there is an entire section devoted to revisions! I am getting sleeved 9/4, so I am no help (first WLS ever), but I have seen many going for revisions!

Hey Jack, Thanks for your concern. I'm a nurse, so I'm well aware of what they're talking about, and what's involved in bypass versus the band versus DS; I've talked to several nurses at my work who've had the surgery and have been able to ask really detailed questions that the average WLS consumer might not think of. I have a list of 25 things I plan to ask the doctor during my consult. Apparently, the smaller the amount bypassed, and the earlier in the digestive process it takes place, the less malabsorption there is. (This "jibes" with everything I learned in nursing school, and has been verified by my husband who has a BS in Biology and who's counseled people on nutritional counseling). Obviously, ANY malabsorption is a problem, especially for someone with an autoimmune disease as I have. I need all the help I can get to keep my inflammatory condition at bay, which is why I take roughly 25 vitamins, mineral, and other various supplements a day. So that's an enormous concern. OTOH, not having anyone able to follow me after banding is a huge concern as well. Even the one doc up here who does fills is difficult to get in with and is talking about not doing them anymore; and he wont' actually touch the band, just do the odd fill. Yikes. There is literally no one within 2500 miles who would follow me and help me if I had a complication; I'm not sure people who don't live in Alaska quite understand how isolated we are up here, and how limited our health care choices are. It's really quite frustrating how limited we are. The lack of follow up care is scary for me, and why I'm reconsidering banding. The safest operation in the world becomes dangerous without proper follow up care. The money situation with us is enormously difficult. Without going into details that I'm uncomfortable sharing, there is no way I can have my surgery financed. I have to go through my insurance company or it will not happen. We've figuratively cut the fat out of our budget in order to support a family of FIVE on two health care worker's incomes (we're not doctors, just a nurse and dental assistant) in one of the most expensive states in the US. So it's not as though I'm not motivated; there is literally no way to do it (and I'm a persistent one). I can always wait until we move to Washington or Oregon sometime in the next 5 years, but how much weight will I have gained by then? (I don't wanna know). So it's frustrating right now. My insurance would cover me going to Texas for the band, but I'd have no follow up care. My new insurance (as of April 1) won't cover WLS at all. So if I'm going to do something, I have to do it now or else possibly wait several years. In the meantime, my mobility is failing, my comorbidities are getting worse, and my Sarcoidosis is getting worse as well, in part because of my inability to exercise and the stress of my weight on my lungs. (I was in the ER the other night because of a flare up, which led to a panic attack). Sucks to be me, doesn't it?

I would never tell someone not to have a bypass. For the single reason is that it is such a personal decision, for so many reasons people outside of the situation cannot understand. I would make sure they were educated, as you are and then leave it to them - only you know what is best for you, what will work, what risk you are willing to take. The one thing that concerns me about you deciding to have a bypass is that your husband is not supportive of it (and you understand why) - I would really try to make sure he was on board with it ahead of time. You will need all the support you can get through this process, the surgery (no matter WHAT kind you have) and post op. I can't imagine doing it with NO support, nevermind with a spouse who thinks I made the wrong decision. But again, that is ME, and MY circumstances. Good luck with your decision... it's a very difficult one at best. Please let us know what you end up doing.

I have continued to take my pill since surgery. I am losing slow, but I don't think it is the pill causing it. I am just a slow loser. There shouldn't be any problems swallowing the pill. It is tiny. Beware of what doctors tell you when it come to the Lap Band and birth control. I once had a nurse practioner tell me that my pill was not being absorbed due to my band! Get real! There are A LOT of doctors who have no idea about bands. I think a lot of them confuse it with bypass.

Day I finally went to the emergency and they discovered that Lap Band I had put in my stomach on October 2010 has severely slipped. and I was way dehydrated since I couldn't drink more than a half a glass of Water a day before and couldn't get out the bed because of the weakness. It was also the day I reached my goal weight of 150lbs.... Now, completely unfilled waiting for my lap band to gastric sleeve revision. food... My roommate though something was not right when I came home with groceries one day. 6 IVs a day keep the dehydration away... It would be interesting to see nurses faces when they will be stapling 90% of my stomach off - I am so tiny now... but I love it. Now... The question part - should I just have it taken out or should I do revision to sleeve surgery at the same time since they can do it for free for me since it was a slip. Even though I am at my goal weight - they offered it. Well, I just feel like I am greedy. Surgery cost 27,000 and now even though it slipped, I finally reached my goal. But you know you never know - I am just afraid that some day I will be fat again and I will regret that I did not do sleeve when I had the chance. What would you recommend?

I had my bypass done almost a month ago. I was good until last week. Started having a soreness on my right side. Progressively has gotten worse. Feels like I'm ripping stitches sometimes doing same things as u mentioned. I saw my doc today and she said it's muscle pain. Gave me muscle relaxers. Hope they work cause it hurts so bad. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using the BariatricPal App

it depends on the insurance company. Hopefully you'll get it covered! However, if you have GERD, I'm not sure you want to get the sleeve. Bypass is usually recommended for GERD sufferers, since there's about a 30% chance that the sleeve will make the GERD worse (bypass, on the other hand, often improves GERD - if not outright cures it)

Everyone I know who has had revision has new scars. I don't know why they can't go through the same spot.