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Congratulations! How are you feeling now? I just had my revision done on 11/6. I’ve been in a lot of pain and having trouble swallowing pills. Are you able to drink 64 oz water? So far I’m on my second water bottle and it’s 4pm and I managed to drink 11oz premier protein drink. This is such a strange thing for me, I’m so use to wanting to eat eat, and right now I could careless. Did you or anyone else have shooting pains near an incision site. HW 367 SW 346 Revision from band to gastric bypass RNY on 11/6/17

I had my RNY revision on 8/20, I am on full liquids and am having a feeling for the past two days like something is stuck under my chest and I am hiccuping or burping more and it very uncomfortable. The only thing I have had other than liquids is my nexuum pill, per my dr. Has any experienced this?

The peso has also gone way down, that's why the pieces have dropped in dollars. I just went to Dr. Aceves for a fill on Saturday and the cost for the flouro was only $60 instead of $75 because of the exchange rate. As for why I chose the band over the sleeve, I was not interested in cutting off a perfectly good part of my body. I realize it takes longer to lose the weight and you have to work at it, and it requires follow up but I was OK with all of those things. With the band everyone has their individual "sweet spot" yet with the sleeve it's an irreversable one size fits all. That just seems odd to me. The potential for revision from band to sleeve is there but not the other way around. I'm just a chicken, what can I say! LOL. With that being said, Dr. Aceves is the best choice for either (and yes I'm biased ) I believe he is doing more sleeves then bands now because of the demand. The day of my surgery I was the only band and there were 2 others getting sleeved.

Hello I had a gastric bypass revision on June 13 2016. I'm a bit concerned because I don't feel that "stop you're full" feeling like i did when I had my first surgery. Second week post op anyone else experiencing this? Sent from my SM-G928T using the BariatricPal App

I am still waiting for approval! I want this band out however, I am told that my best chance for a revision to sleeve is to have it done at the same time. I do not know how much longer I can wait. If I have not heard the words "APPROVAL" by June 3rd I am going to schedule the band removal and hope for the best. what is the problem? I have insurance, I meet the criteria, I have a failed band that is documented.. Come on BCBS bust a move!

I had Amerihealth and was paying over a grand a month...they don't cover revision WLS...so what do they cover??? Ugh

It does happen, with any of the WLS procedures, though with somewhat differing rates. Revising from the bypass to the sleeve is possible (talk to your surgeon!) though the results are unlikely to be all that good as they are both similar in their overall power. As with most revisions, the second surgery tends to yield less, and slower, loss. The key to any of them is to understand why the weight has come back and get a handle on that, as one can eat around any of these procedures. There are some bypass specific procedures that are sometimes done in an attempt to correct some problems - band over bypass or different stoma tightening techniques, but they overall don't seem to have a very good success record. The best approach that I have seen is to revise it to a duodenal switch, as that procedure offers better regain resistance than the others, but that's a very complex procedure for which only a very few surgeons are qualified (like maybe half a dozen or so). From what I have seen over the years, is that 30 lb or so regain is fairly easily lost again over some months by getting back to dietary basics and cutting out whatever junk has crept back into the diet. 50lb regain or so seems to be more of a 50/50 thing as to whether one can pull it back with diet or have to revise.

From time to time, a bandster will comment (sometimes in the context of a complaint, sometimes just in surprise or confusion) that weight loss with the band is basically the same as weight loss with a diet. They’re disappointed by this. They expected WLS to make weight loss easier than it is with dieting, and while that's true, it's only part of weight loss success. They may hold the mistaken belief that the band itself is what causes weight loss, but that’s not true either. The band is just a piece of plastic. Although it’s inside the patient’s body, it does not directly affect the way nutrients from food are ingested or metabolized. It releases no weight loss instructions into the patient’s bloodstream, nervous system, or endocrine system. It doesn’t directly affect the patient’s eating behavior or exercise habits. It doesn’t compel the patient to make good food choices, limit portion sizes, eat slowly, or resist the urge to graze or binge because of boredom, stress, cravings, etc. After reading that long list of what the band doesn’t do, you may be thinking that it’s a mighty expensive and not very helpful weight loss tool. Why go through the risk, trouble and expense of WLS when you could achieve the same results with plain old dieting? HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL? Here’s some news that may shock you: I lost 100% of my excess weight by dieting after my band surgery. My dietitian gave me a food plan to follow, and I followed it. It never occurred to me to do otherwise or to complain about that because my bariatric team had made it clear that I, not my band, was going to have to make some significant lifestyle changes in order to succeed. It wasn’t until after the excess weight was gone, after a big unfill to treat an irritated esophagus and stoma (after swallowing a large, corrosive antibiotic capsule), that I realized how much my band had been helping me by reducing my appetite and giving me early (if not always prolonged) satiety. I had been taking my band for granted – out of sight, out of mind. I suppose it’s possible that I had been experiencing a placebo effect; that my band worked for me simply because I believed it would. If so, it was a remarkable and long-lived placebo effect. It wasn’t until my band was being refilled after a complete unfill (to treat a band slip) when I was 3 years post-op that I experienced a stunning, “Oh, so this is what it’s all about!” aha moment. My experience of restriction then was quite different than it had been the first time around, because I understood more about my band’s effects and how to optimize those effects, and because my body had changed so drastically since my surgery. Whether your 8-ounce water glass is half empty or half full, it still contains 4 ounces. Getting the most out of those 4 ounces is largely a matter of attitude adjustment. You can accept that you have 4 ounces, then make the best of it, or you can give up all together and spend your life in wistful regret. You can find another way to fill your WLS glass – complain to your surgeon, or the band manufacturer, revise to a different WLS procedure – or give up altogether and spend your life in angry regret. Taking the “half full” viewpoint may be easier for me than for others because I’m an opportunist who actually enjoys making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. Webster defines “opportunist” as one who uses the art, policy, or practice of taking advantage of opportunities or circumstances, often with little regard for principles or consequences. Since I do have immense regard for principles and consequences, perhaps I’m not a classic opportunist. But I see nothing wrong with taking advantage of opportunities and circumstances when my own careful plans aren’t working or have led me into unknown territory. Resourcefulness has been a handy life skill for me. BUT I WANT IT TO BE RIGHT THE FIRST TIME I do know what it’s like to be disappointed with a purchase, though, be it a band, a blouse, or a bicycle. I want the item I purchase to be suitable, if not perfect, for its intended use. During a shift at my retail “day job” the other day, I helped a customer whose garment size wasn’t in stock. She didn’t want to order that garment – she wanted it now, so much so that she considered buying the wrong size and having it altered to fit her. Before I could volunteer an opinion, this woman uttered the very words I was thinking: “I hate to pay good money for something new and have to alter it. I just want to buy it and wear it.” If I were a better (or pushier) salesperson, she might have bought that garment, but I’m not and she didn’t. If your adjustable gastric band hasn’t (yet) lived up to your expectations, you do have my sympathy. It’s not easy – if even possible – to return a disappointing medical implant, and it’s maddening to have to “alter” it (by dieting, for example) to make it work for you. I could tell you (unhelpfully) that your expectations were not realistic, but it’s also possible that your surgeon educated you well, you’re a “compliant” patient, and yet your band just isn’t up to snuff. According to Doctors Jerome Groopman and Pamela Hartzband, authors of Your Medical Mind, “Medicine is an uncertain science.” No one, not even your doctor, can say with certainty what impact a condition “will have on an individual’s life or how someone will experience the side effects from a particular treatment. Each of us is unique in the interplay of genetic makeup and environment. The path to maintaining or regaining health is not the same for everyone.” Doctors Groopman and Hartzband go on to describe what they call the ‘focusing illusion’. “In trying to forecast the future, all of us tend to focus on a particular aspect of our lives that would be negatively affected by a proposed treatment. This then becomes the overriding element in decision making. The focusing illusion neglects our extraordinary capacity to adapt, to enjoy life with less than ‘perfect’ health. Imagining life with a colostomy, after a mastectomy, or following prostate surgery can all be skewed by the focusing illusion. We cannot see how the remaining parts of our lives expand to fill the gaps created by the illness and its treatment.” Despite carefully-devised formulas and scoring systems (intended to direct resources and money to those most likely to survive) for calculating a patient’s chances of surviving a treatment or illness, doctors are lousy at predicting outcomes. A study in England found that one out of 20 ICU patients who doctors predicted would die actually lived, and most of those who survived had a good quality of life. I don’t think that’s a sign of medical incompetence. I think it’s a sign of the unquenchable human spirit and its enduring will to survive and even thrive against all odds. One of my life goals is to survive and thrive, no matter what. That’s an ambition you can’t get from a medical device or bottle of medicine. It comes from within you, and if you think you don’t have it, or not enough of it, I suggest that you look again. You might be pleasantly surprised.

Welcome Aboard MT! Glad you decided on the sleeve. I started out looking at the band too. After reading all the revision to sleeve I decided that was the better course. Nice to see you take charge of your life at an early age. Good luck and keep us posted!

I don't know about others, but I chose VSG because; 1. It's a permanent change and you can eventually eat normal foods 2. Higher and quicker weight loss 3. Felt the LBS had way more complications than the VSG, which could cause increased follow up surgeries. 4. Did lots of research on both and my surgeon who I know from a previous hernia surgery recommended it for me. I don't look much at the mortality rates, they are very low comparatively and are a risk in any surgery. Recommend you look at the Lap Band revision category on this site. You may get a little more insight on why people are choosing the VSG

Im now 3 months post revision op, after having the lap band for about 8 years. I was also bad with the fills too. i would have to drive an hour and a half to the hospital, wait around from 1pm until at least 6 and sometimes longer to see the surgeon for 5 minutes. And the lots of times to return after a few days to the er to remove the fill because i could drink anything. I wish i had done it years ago. Its so good to eat without that horrible chocking feeling. And now i know what full feels like, which i never got with the band. I had revision rny and my gallbladder out in the same operation. But i did have all the fill of the band out for two months before to help with the chances of doing the op all at once. My surgeon was very experienced, and everything went very smoothly. I hope it does for you too.

Steph, I am not sure if I'm happy with my tt nor not. I do still have some upper abdomenal fat. I know you said you have the same. My pannus is completely gone however. If I were to take my hands and pinch the fat on my abdomen I can gather probably 1 1/4 inch still. How much do you have? I am thinking about a lippo revision in 6 months. It will cost me $3k.

I suggest researching the Bariatric Centers of Excellence near you and finding a good doctor there. Plenty of doctors have done revisions / converted to a sleeve or gastric bypass!

I am only in my 3rd week out, but my doctor put me on a type of prilosec (It's in spanish since I had my sleeve done in Mexico) and told me to take 1 in the morning and 1 at night for 60 days. Wondering if you had done the same in the beginning? I imagine that acid problems could crop up down the road as well. Could you call the dr. and see what he recommends? You could also just try a 14 day round of prilosec or something like that and see if it calms things down. I had the lap band prior to the sleeve and certain times of year, etc. would cause me to have some acid reflux and I would do a round of prilosec and usually that took care of it. Previous to my surgery I was having a lot of acid reflux and the doctor told me to do the 1 in the morning and 1 at night to prepare for the revision. After a couple weeks my stomach settled down.

Kookieto I'm from Southampton nj in Burlington co.!!! I have a family member in Roebling runs for florence ems that also had rny gonna be getting revision! Nice having someone close by!

Hi all. I was banded Aug. 3, 2010. I weighed 285 lbs. I had an "uncontrolled pop" at the port site about 10 days post op. It was drained and I was on antibiotics. I now weigh 250 lbs. I went in for my first adjustment on Sept. 15 and found out my port had flipped. I had surgery for port revision yesterday. I will hopefully have my first fill in 2 weeks. Wishing success to all of us.

There is a lady in the support group that I go to that had RNY surgery, then gained some of her weight back. She then had revision surgery and got the lap band and is back on the road to losing again. Good luck to you.

Usually band-to-sleeve converters feel a lot less restriction than they did with the band. I think because tissue, by nature, is elastic, and plastic is rigid. So, it will be up to you to pay attention to what and how much you consume. (I feel this is why we say "revisions typically lead to slower losses"... because the patients... and their bodies.... are already used to restriction).

I think Dr. Nick in Dallas (major sleeve surgeon) doesn't do leak tests either, and I can't remember if Dr. Cirangle and Jossart are still doing leak tests or not. My surgeon did 3 on me, and the 3rd and final one is what detected the leak after my revision.

Like I said I have never had a problem in 9 years. I had a revision 2 weeks ago and have completely different insurance then in 2005. Of course each policy is different but I, personally, find it unlikely that most insurances will not cover these medical costs. When you do have to get new insurance you should certainly check your coverage but this has been my experience. Also, not many people have the same insurance for the rest of their life.

I'm not a revision, but an eight year "vet" on here. Most people don't lose weight nearly as fast after a revision as they do after a "virgin" surgery. And also, you do have some control over that. You probably won't be able to eat much for the first few weeks after the surgery because of the swelling and healing, but once you're through that, you do have some control over how many calories you're taking in. You can always bump them up a bit if you think you're starting to lose too much weight

Both times for my lap band and my revision to sleeve they gave me Versed after I told them I was afraid of the anesthesia. I don't even remember going into the operating room either time. I talked to the anesthesiologist and he told me that it's extremely rare for someone to wake up in the middle. They have all kinds of high tech gadgets monitoring your every response. He also told me if you have had surgery before and it didn't happen to you then, it won't in the future.

I chose bypass because I need to lose approx 50% of my current, starting weight (my BMI is 49), and I know that I (personally) need every possible advantage to help me reach my goal. I am also 49 years old, my metabolism will be slowing down soon, and I don't feel like I have much more time to waste. I have been overweight since toddlerhood, and I am ready for this to be done. I am quite healthy now considering my BMI, no co-morbidities except sleep apnea, so I am comfortable that I will be able to heal well. And I am having my surgery at Duke, so I have huge faith in the skills of my surgical team. I have GERD now, don't want to take the chance that it will get worse if I had a sleeve, and hate the thought of a revision surgery if my GERD got dangerous. So, it's RNY for me on Thursday, barely 3 days to go! Going to support groups for a few months pre-op and talking with people who have had both surgeries really helped me with my decision. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Have any of you CA Kaiser members out there had your bands done in Mexico/by other US doctors and had Kaiser do your fills or revisions? I have Kaiser (NorCal). I might have to get a port revision but since I'm self-pay with the band I may not be able to afford more money for this second surgery with my private doctor. I'm so worried I won't be able to get this fixed. I've only had the band for 6 mo. and 2 fills.

Let me paraphrase what I think the "FDA Lab Rat" expressed elsewhere in an earlier post. (I hope I get it right.) Everyone who has any variety of WLS has to learn new habits and new behaviors. With the bypass surgeries, patients lose the weight and if they learn the new behaviors, the weight will stay off. If they don't learn the new behaviors, the weight comes back. With the band, it's learn-as-you-go. Band patients have a small intital weight loss, but then the rest comes off as we learn. Band patients who don't adopt new behaviors never lose any substantial weight. So, two or three years out, here's what's left: 1) Bypass patients who lost it all within months and kept it off; and, 2) Band patients who took two years or so to lose it all, and are at about the same place as the bypass patients; and, 3) Bypass patients who lost a lot of weight, but regained all or most of it; and, 4) Band patients who lost little or no weight. Two different roads, each splits, leading to only two final destinations, "the loser's circle" and morbid obesity. IMHO, learning new behaviors is the essential issue. I didn't need a speedy weight loss and then the devastation of "failing" yet again. I need to learn as I go. It is only human to compare, and when I read that Jane Doe, RnY patient, has lost as much in six weeks as it has taken me a year to lose, of course it seems a good thing to accomplish the same thing in less time. Then I read about the toll it often takes on Jane's body...the gall bladder, the impacted colon, the malabsorption of essential nutrients, the dumping (which is a bad thing being promoted as a good thing), the "revision surgery" (which means "we screwed up and you need another surgery,") and the rest. I don't need those problems. And besides, maybe I'm a slow learner who really does need a couple of years to incoprporate everything I'm learning into my daily life. I hope that didn't further confuse anyone. Sue