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Was banded in May 2010 by the guru Paul O’Brien in Melbourne. Didn’t follow his golden rules and frequently overate, vomited and cheated with shakes and lollies. Had revision surgery yesterday to correct pouching, and ready to go again.....this time with a better attitude towards the tool! 93kg, BMI 35.4

I was revised from band to RNY and couldn't be happier about that choice.

Cigna revised their bariatric policy today and only requires a 3 month supervised diet now! Yippee!

Hey All... I'm Jacee and this is my story. I am 23, female and living in Australia. In 2008 I underwent Lapband surgery and went from (127kgs) 275lbs to (70kgs) 150lbs. I was initially very successful and I loved my band. In early 2010 I started suffering for undiagnosed gallstones, which meant that in turn my Lapband had to be loosened from unrelentless vomiting. My gallbladder was removed in December 2010 and by then I'd gained back (20kgs) 45lbs. In early 2011 I suffered from a Lapband slip and my surgeon recommended I undergo RNY Bypass. At first it was a very daunting decision that I wasn't ready to make, but within a month I changed my mind. My codependency to food had returned due to a constant feeling of hunger and an urge to eat after being so severely restricted for 3yrs. Our health system in Australia is very different to the US. We do have public health provided by our tax dollars, but it is a VERY LONG wait for elective surgery. When I was 20 and got my Lapband I didn't have private health, so I had 2 options - wait on the public waiting list - 3-5yrs or pay for outright. So I took the second option and $12,000 later I had a Lapband. When my Lapband slipped in 2011 I didn't have private health cover available to cover the RNY bypass, and my surgeon told me without private health he could only put me on his public wait list for revised surgery. It's been 10months wait now and I go in for surgery in under 4 weeks. I currently weigh close to 140kgs which is over 300lbs. My BMI is 49, nearly 50. The last 10months of my life have been devastating emotionally and physically. I have felt and lived success, but here I am now, bigger than I've ever been, ready to start all over. I'm literally terrified, but at the same time, I am extremely eager to get my "restriction" back. To feel healthy, happy and confident again. I'd love for my husband to know thin me, to feel beautiful for him. I also want him to know that in the next few years I'm going to be healthy enough to give him the family he so eagerly desires. I can't wait to fit into my AU size 12 - US size 8 - clothes again that are piled in boxes in my cupboard. I have so much to strive towards because I've been there, I've felt success, and now I want in more than ever. I wish you all luck and plenty of love on your journeys, I'd love to hear other stories. My surgery is in Brisbane Australia on the 25th of May 2012. All the best, Jacee

Hey ondo I just had my revision sleeve to.bypass yesterday and I must say this recovery is a lot harder than I expected I also had a hiatal hernia repair and my sleeve was slightly twisted. I'm on Clear liquids until day 3. Then I'll be on full Protein liquids for two weeks. My dietitian wants us focusing on hitting protein goals of 60g and 48oz of fluids in total. The shoulder gas pain has been killer but I've been walking a ton !!! Feel free to add or message me !!!! foreverbariatric Sent from my GalaxyNote4 using the App

Ok so HOLY CRAP. I just got the call and my revision surgery is going to be on the 28th of June!!!! Apparently someone's insurance didn't approve their surgery and they had to cancel their surgery and I got their spot. I was told my pre-op appt with the hospital is on the 12th, my pre-op appt with my surgeon is the 13th, and I have to do iron infusions before surgery (first one on the 14th, 2nd one on the 21st, and 3rd one on the 28th after surgery). My iron is really low because of all my procedures, but they said it won't affect my surgery since I can have the infusions. My mind is literally blown. I wasn't expecting this AT ALL. This is really fast!!! But at least it's FINALLY happening and I can get back to my life sooner rather than later!!!!

10 days out for me. I had similar thoughts prior to having the surgery. I know I need this tool to help me revise and develop good eating habits, lose weight, get healthy and be able to do things I'm limited to due to wait. My experience has been very positive. The incisions are tiny and my pain was minimal. I was on painkillers for 3 days and Tylenol for 1. It is wonderful to feel full after drinking such a small amount. Yes, some of the shakes are horrible. I've found mixing the powder with soy milk and letting it sit for a while really helps. Nashua Nutritions sells samples of the majority of powders. I bought a bunch to try before buying a big container. You're going to do just fine. Waiting is the worst.????

Hi all! I initially posted this topic in another forum, but found this forum and am hoping for a bigger audience, because I am anxious to hear from all of you! I wanted to start this thread because I am curious as to how many of you use activity trackers with your exercise and any fitness apps that have helped you in your weight loss journeys. What are your reviews and how do you like them? How have they helped you? I started out many years ago with my first activity tracker before I had been banded. I had bought a FitBit One. It worked remarkably well with the features of tracking miles, sleep, steps, calories burned, time and date, and a growing flower which would grow the more activity you did. I clipped it on my sports bra or my waist of my pants and it was discreet. It was about $100 back then when they first came out and it was an investment I was willing to make to boost my activity and help with my weight loss efforts. Loved it! I paired it with Fitness Pal app and it really helped!!! However, I found out that it does not do well in the washing machine haha. I forgot to remove it from my sports bra and that was money down the drain. I never replaced it and just used the Fitness Pal app, but I didn't have that added reminder to move. When I realized I was having all of these problems with my band, I was in the market for a new activity tracker and researched ALOT for something that would do everything I had before but less risky for me to toss in the washing machine! Activity trackers are NOT cheap and I wanted to make a sound investment that would last. I had researched the Fitbit Flex, and Fitbit Flex HR, Jawbone UP24, and the Garmin Vivofit and Vivosmart among others but found that the Fitbit Flex had problems with the band breaking or tearing after about 6 months, not to mention the band was wider than I would have wanted. My co-worker had a jawbone which was considerably cheaper, but again it was something to clip on. My Zumba instructor had the Jawbone Up24 which was pretty cool looking, the band was lightweight, looked durable, and easy to put on, but you would always have to look at the phone app to see what was going on with your info. A friend of mine had the Garmin Vivofit, and I liked the number display but the band was too wide and thick for me......yeah I know picky picky....so I finally noticed the Garmin Vivofit and I really liked it. It had all of the features that I wanted, plus a slim band. In addition, it has a move bar that reminds you to get your booty moving, by vibrating your wrist if you have been sitting too long which was exactly what I needed. I also can receive Facebook notifications and phone calls, and even can control my Pandora music! My husband actually surprised me with it. It is waterproof, but I don't want to chance it so I remove it for showers. It has an excellent battery life. I have gone over a week without having to charge it. I absolutely love mine. I pair it with my Fitness Pal and I am so glad I have it. It was a bit more than I wanted my husband to spend, but he knew it was something I really wanted. Normally its about 150.00, but he was able to pricematch it at Bestbuy for 129.00 yay! He liked my tracker so much, that he bought one for himself a few weeks later! It has already helped me keep moving. I keep increasing my goals every week when I continue to meet them. It's a great motivator and I know for sure that it will help me be more successful to stay on track when I have my revision surgery! Tell me what your activity tracker is, and what fitness apps that you use and your reviews and how it has helped you!

It could be a number of things, most common this far out would be a hiatal hernia that could cause these problems. Is your protonix once a day, or split into two doses, morning and evening? If it is consistent with the labelling, try taking it in the evening, as that is where your biggest problem seems to be, or splitting it morning and evening (if it is two 40mg pills.) Short term to help with the overnight problem, try elevating the head of your bed 3-6", or elevate your head and torso with a wedge pillow, or sleep in a recliner if you have one - anything to get your upper body (not just your head) angled down toward your stomach. Avoid eating anything 2-3 hours before bedtime. These are classic DIY reflux mitigations that the gastro will probably also suggest. You can consider going to the ER and hopefully they can get some of the tests done necessary to diagnose your problem (likely an endoscopy and/or barium swallow imaging. The may also just send you home with a larger dose of protonix or maybe a switch to dexilant and possibly carafate. An urgent care clinic may be able to help, particularly if you have one affiliated with your hospital - they may be able to short cut getting the tests done that you can then take to the bariatric surgeon (who would likely order the tests anyway. Many hospitals run these clinics for just this purpose - not really an emergency, but too urgent to wait a week or two for an appointment. This may save you a couple of weeks. Don't worry about insurance coverage as if a revision is needed, it would not be considered a second WLS (which some insurance limits) but as corrective surgery for you complication. Good luck in getting some resolution soon (er, rather than later)

Hi, It has been a year since my sleeve and I feel like such a failure. I’ve only lost approx 40lbs since surgery. Will the liquid phase I’ve lost 80-90 lbs. While some might be happy, I have a LOT to lose. HW 430 lbs, S.W. 365lbs, current 320lbs and it’s remained there for 4-5 months. I’m so disappointed in myself and feel like I’ve failed. I have the option to get a revision from sleeve to bypass... has anyone done this? Is it worth it? I’m just worried I still won’t lose 😔 Thoughts?

I had this revision in May. I too lost very little with my sleeve & developed GERD. Since my revision 2 months ago, I lost 56 pounds. More than I lost with my sleeve (which was about 20 something pounds).

Hello, I’m going into surgery today, it will be a revision from lap band to gastric bypass.. I had my lap band removed in 2014 due to complications and erosion. Doctor suggested we go with the gastric bypass because of the scarring as well I was hesitant and even got second opinions, but fully understand now that we would be high risk in general because of previous surgery and with a bypass they are able to cut around the scared tissue and not into it like the sleeve. Really hoping this works for me. Had done great on lap band went from 260 to 135 and leveled off at 165 for many years, but did pick up bad habits and eventually got back into the 200s. When I had my lap band removed I believe I was 220 and right afterward my son passed away to an accidental drowning and my life turned upside down I gain all my weight back plus some now my current weight today is 297, HW was 341, and lost 42lbs by myself before surgery, I hope everything works out for you!! Good luck

It's a very personal question. I was at first leaning toward the band, then gastric plication, and I ended up doing the sleeve. I found a lot of people have complications with the band, and there are so many other costs involved (fills, follow up appointments, getting the band removed etc), I decided against plication because it doesn't remove grehlin and I couldn't imagine having a tiny stomach capacity but still being hungry all the time. I felt the sleeve was best for me because it doesn't re route other organs, it has a short 'down' time, and also because it can be used as a stepping stone surgery, so in the future it is still possible to get revised fairly easily to the DS or bypass if VSG is not 100% successful. I felt that I wanted to do something that was not overly invasive or complicated, and that I wanted a surgery that I could recovery quickly from. I felt all around for me, VSG fit the bill. Here are some charts that helped me early on to compare the different weight loss surgeries available. Maybe they will help you too. Good luck on whatever you decide! http://www.bariatric-surgery-source.com/types-of-bariatric-surgery.html#Comparison

Thank you for your concern. He had to do a revision to correct a narrowing. He explained it but i was in so much pain my dad probably understood what he said because I was in my pain. It went well he actually drained out everything so now i dont have to have a drain bottle. I have to stay until saturday or so and start from the beginning. I am on two types of anti biotics also. They have been very nice here. iamready4this

It must have been a shock to get that diagnosis--but as others have said, I'm glad you got the information now rather than suffering really serious complications later down the road. Thank goodness there IS such a thing as a revision, imagine if there was nothing anyone could do to help your twisting tummy?? You have an awesome outlook, and it sounds like you've got a good head on your shoulders and a solid, supportive medical team. You're going to do just fine; hang in there, and keep us posted on your progress.

I had surgery to remove my gall bladder and revise my sleeve to a bypass on 23rd January my surgeons profile is soft food from day 3, with which I have coped well I started experiencing about a week ago a severe and constant pain on my left side about 6 inches below the major incision .on the left side . The acute area of pain is about 4 inches long but when bad , the pain radiates to my back. Assuming it was constipation, i got some serious laxatives from the doctor . Things starting moving and the pain was less but still niggling. 24 hours later it is as bad as it ever was. I don’t have fever has anyone else experienced this please or have any suggestions / advice. i have a Hospital follow up next Thursday. Is it safe to wait until then? i would appreciate any feedback. Thank you

I've heard a lot of people say on here that they can't tell the difference. I think that with all the dieting I've done over the years I've always noticed it in my clothes but never through my image. Why don't you do the side by side comparison from before surgery to your current post op I'm sure you'll see it and it's true that we get use to how we envision ourselves so I think it's natural that others will take notice before we do. I'm proud of both of you! Another you can try is to put on a pair of pants, a dress or a shirt that didn't fit before surgery and compare how it fits now. I'm sure I'll probably go through the same thing when I have my revision since that's how it was for me when I first got the lap band in 2007.

Nope, I had very easy recoveries as well. Many posts are usually when they are worried something is wrong and I, like others, read them and get worried. I avoided the gastric bypass for years and now that I had the revision, I feel so silly in retrospect. The majority of WLS are very smooth due to the laparoscopic procedures being so efficient and safe. Congrats to your great recovery and sounds like you are on the right path with great success.

Did you have success after revision? From my understanding, having the revision is not as effective as the first surgery that was done. Did you experience this?

I had the revision on Thursday and will be back in the office at a desk job on Tuesday. Will have to do some work from home tomorrow thou. Ideally would take more time but had to take vacation for the surgery...

Great I just sent request to you My surgery was a revision 1-22-2013 8 weeks out How about you?

I asked the hospitals bariatric nurse that one today.. she said it you have to have time for the sutures that hold the port to heal and mold around it.. people who rush into ab exercises risk having to have a 2nd surgury for port revisions. the lady next to me was having one today, and did not look too happy about it.. she was real uncomfortable. I look at it this way.. Dr. Spiegal may not be all warm and fuzzy, but he has done more than anyone else. I can follow the rules for 3 months. Someone told me a great way to indirectly work the abs without straining them is to do the hula hoop. but even then I think I'll wait awhile

JLOR, you sound a lot like me. Graduated about 120, started gaining right away. All the way up to about 260lbs over the next 20 yrs! Could be more but that's the number I have from a doc's visit at the time. Also have a younger sis who struggled w/her weight all her life. Difference, she had bypass about 15 yrs ago and has done an awesome job w/it! I had the band installed about 4 yrs ago. First year went well and got down to about 178 or so. Then the next 3 years had problems and gained all of it back up to surgery day weight, which was 210. May 9th, doc told me my band had to come out and he offered me the Sleeve as an alternative. June 4th, I had my removal/revision surgery. I had managed to get about 16lbs off and was 194 when doc told me I had to have surgery again. Day of, I was 186. As of this AM, I'm 177!!! WhooHoo!!! I put 140 down as a goal, but truly I don't really have one. I had resigned myself to struggling w/my band and just trying to keep from GAINING! I was going to try to just stay in the 190's and find a way to be okay w/that. Now, I'm just going to keep going down until I stop. You need to get your own head in this. Don't worry about trying to get anyone else on board. If this is what you feel you need to do, esp. after 20 years of dieting w/out being able to keep it off. Then that is what you need to do. It's not up to any one else. Best wishes w/your journey, whatever you decide.

Honestly, if you live that far from a doctor, I would really be concerned how realistic the Lap-Band is for you. 99% of people need fills for their Band to work... some as many as five or more during the first year. Can you see yourself driving back and forth that often?? If you're interested in a restrictive, non-malabsorptive operation, you might want to check out the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy. Check out vsgfaq.com or ObesityHelp's VSG board for more. Weight loss is comparable to the Duodenal Switch so far, but without the nutritional issues. And no fills needed. I guess for me there is such a difference between malabsorptive and restrictive-only operations... that I'm always surprised when a person is willing to consider either one. Usually people who want restrictive-only operations do not want to deal with the issues related to malabsorption. People who want malabsorptive operations usually hope that the malabsorption issues are managable and worth the potential additional weight loss.. .although, honestly I see tons of RNYers looking for revisions after 3-5 years. The only malabsorptive operations I don't see that with as much are Duodenal Switch people (who have to be much more vigilant with Vitamins and such) and MGBers.

Glad to hear you're dong so well Karen. :car: I'm so happy that you can eat a lot more normally yet still have a weight loss tool that works for you! I just had an esophogram done... as my original surgeon thought an undiagnosed slip might be the reason for all my re-fill problems. Well, the Band looks picture-perfect... and as a bonus, they informed me that my subclavian artery is abnormal in that it goes behind/in front of (can't remember which) my esophogus. Nothing to be worried about... just a nice to know. So... this all means that in mid-October I'll be heading out to see if I can be refilled. We'll see. If not, it's revision time sometime next year.