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I would not wish the crapband on anyone! 10 year survivor of that torture device. Never did well, beat my self esteem to the ground, and caused pain. I am at goal - lost 150# after revision to sleeve.

Please please don't do the band. I had mine revised to the sleeve on the 11th. While I did initially do well with the band it was very short lived. I had suffered with it for 6 years. One major emergency surgery. And I learned how to eat around it to survive. Most bariatric surgeons won't offer it anymore. Sent from my iPad using VST

Was banded 10/07. First 3 yrs were amazing. Lost 105lbs. Felt great. Confidence was great. Now 3yrs after that with a revision of the band surgery on my belt I've gained 70lbs back. I can eat anything portions are out of control. I know it's a tool but if I could diet /exercise I would've done it without surgery. I don't know what to do. Going in for yet another fill dec 2nd. Any ideas?? I feel defeated.

Add me to the list of band survivors that would urge you to just say no!!! Lol I too am revising. My date is set for May 11th. I have actually had TWO bands because of major complications with my first band. Now after complications with my 2nd I am finally revising to the sleeve. It has been 10 long years. I am counting the days until this thing is out of me!!! Best of luck whichever you choose, but I would definitely say the sleeve is a better choice in my experience. Check out the complication and success boards on both Vertical Sleeve Talk and Lap Band Talk... That should be more than enough to make up your mind. There are risks with both surgeries of course but there are FAR more long term risks with the band and much more long term success with the sleeve!

What revision did you have done?

I had my revision on 1/11. My post op this time was much easier than my sleeve. I had hardly any pain and I was able to sleep on my side the first night. My only issue was bad nausea in the recovery room. I had problems with shortness of breath my first week. I didn't use my incentive spirometer enough. Now that I'm 3 weeks out I'm on soft diet. I'm struggling to get enough water in so of course I'm constipated. Other than that I feel good. I've been eating mostly chicken salad, egg salad, ricotta bake and bean puree. I still do a premier shake in the morning, only way I can get in enough protein but I don't like them as much anymore. They are too sweet now.

Just playing devil's advocate, would your surgeon go for a sleeve first, then finish the switch later if you needed it still? Granted, the revision isn't going to lose as much as the virgin procedure, but you could have a plan like.. if you start regaining and get to 30lbs that you'll do the revision then.

I just had a lap band to sleeve revision Jan 13. With my lap band (9 years ago) I told most people who knew me. Later regretted it as I had a lot of problems with the lap band and even tho it may have been my imagination I felt all those eyes on me wondering why I lost weight and regained it. A few would ask and some were sincere and some were just plain nosey. So this time the only two people know outside of the clinic I went to: my husband and my niece who took care of me the first week. WHY? There is plenty of time to tell them later. I can decide on an individual basis. It's my business. When I lose enough to show, I can revisit it. If they are my best friends family they will understand and care about me no matter what. I'm 7 days out and no regrets that I didn't tell anyone. In the end it's an individual choice.

Hi Kelsey. Congrats on the weight loss! The regain is worrisome and I’m glad you’re working to address it before it continues to creep up. I’m sorry you had a frustrating experience with your surgeon. It’s my understanding many programs try to get patients back on track with basics before doing revisions to make sure that we are using the tools we will need to be successful after the rescission. I hope that is what he was doing but wish he would have communicated that in a way that was more … helpful. You did well on the shakes, which is encouraging. I’m wondering if you were weighing, measuring and tracking when you went back to food? Following up with a PCP about your malabsorption and other health issues is a good idea. I’m glad you had an appt, but sorry it’s so far out. Have you ever seen an endocrinologist for the metabolic issues? If not I highly recommend it if possible. While I love my pcp - my endocrinologist has a very different approach to those things and it’s been a big help at dialing in the right treatment. This forum is a great place for support and I think you’ll find a lot of it! I’d also suggest looking into to finding a therapist if you are able. Please check back in and let us know how you are doing.

I am so happy for you! I went to rny revision this year. My docs office has a Michelle too, where do you live?

Hello, my name is Doreen and I had the lap band in 2011 and have only lost 30 lbs. I'm going in for my revision to bypass November 4th. I now weigh 206.I also have diabetes, high BP and high Cholesterol in which the lap band didn't help resolve. I'm sure you will be fine but I have to let you know that I do worry about losing too much weight also. I'm really excited about it and I'm sure I will be fine as long as I follow all the guidelines my Dr. and nut give me.

I lost amazingly, remarkably fast with the Band (which my doctor said was unusual). And after three years of complications, had the band pulled out in November, and the RNY on February 10. Since the bypass surgery, I have lost 17 pounds (almost 6 weeks) which I know is great, BUT ... the zillions of people who did not have the band removed first are losing 30, 35, or 40 in the first month. I was so concerned that I was "doing something wrong" that I called my doctor's office. They reassured me that for whatever reason, the weight loss is MUCH SLOWER after revision surgery. I feel bummed. Then again, I have no reflux, no gird, no gurgling afwul sound after I take a sip of Water. I sleep at night, I never throw up. Sounds good to me. I can wait for the wait to come off, as long as it comes off!!

Hi everyone, I am scheduled for a sleeve revision to sleeve on December 2, 2019. I am 46 years old and have been significantly overweight since I was 20 years when I was pregnant with my daughter. I called this thread 'Weight loss 2.0' because my previous gastric sleeve was December 3, 2013. Looking back, I believed the surgery was the magic fix to all of my problems. At first I had considerable success and dropped 100-120 lbs. Then,life happened - well bad things in life happened. I survived two violent attacks, the first in 2014 which left me with physical challenges, and then in 2015, after a sexual assault, I attempted suicide twice. It took me two years to get to a place of mental stability, but by then I regained my weight, plus more. In 2017, I began discussing with my doctor the prospects of having a revision surgery or bypass. For health reasons, the bypass is not an option. I discussed the options and decided I would not get back on the surgery table until I knew I was truly ready for change. What I have learned though, is that there will never be a moment when I will be truly ready, but it is about making a decision to change my life and working hard to do so. I am very good at self-sabotage and while awaiting my final doctor's visit to schedule surgery, I went over in my head all of the reasons I should and should not have the surgery again. After all, my first sleeve in 2013 was a failure and I stretched my sleeve to 2.5 times its size at surgery. There is a million little things that added up to me regaining weight, but I could not stop wondering if I had the fortitude to stick to it this time. All of the questions and doubts went away when I fell out of my shower two weeks ago yesterday. My spine is fused from C2-T1 and I handed on my back with my head and shoulders against the sink cabinet and the shower curtain rod jammed against the bathroom door. Short of the fire department tearing the door down, I had to find a way off the floor. It was early in the morning and my pride/embarrassment was too much to ask for help. Eventually I painfully got up off the floor. In that moment, I felt there is no reason at 46 years old I should not be able to get off the floor. I went to the emergency room to make sure I did not suffer any real damage and then decided to schedule my final appointment and pick a surgery date. I am teetering through excited and terrified because I have been down this road before. In my gut I know it will be different because I am in a different place and have already made changes to start my journey. To commemorate the start of my pre-op diet, I gave up coffee, sugar, snacks, all at once. For some reason last week, I kept eating things I figured I would never be able to eat again and then went cold turkey starting Monday morning. The lack of coffee and sugar alone makes me feel like crap all the time, but I am keep working at it and already lost 3.5 lbs this week. I had a protein bar today that somehow tasted like a mixture of cardboard and paper mache paste dipped in cocoa powder, which was some sort of scientific miracle that allowed it to be stamped as a food product. But it had 20 g of protein and 3 g of sugar. (definitely will not try that one again). For any other coffee addicts out there, I found that hot tea with dry non-dairy creamer (no sugar) is enough to trick my brain into thinking I had my usual coffee drip. The good news I no longer feel like I am losing my mind. The sugar substitutes are just not my thing. Fortunately, I love water and the many trips to the second floor bathroom have been a kick-start to my exercise regime - that is after many years of couch surfing. I found a 64oz water bottle that has times on one side and inspiration on the other, but I feel like I will start floating soon. I truly never realized how dehydrated I was, probably from the excessive amounts of coffee every day. I am less than 2 weeks away from surgery now and I am grateful that I have a sense of hopefulness, mixed with the reality of knowing that after surgery is when the hard work starts. A part of me is grieving too because I need to give up this life-long terrible relationship with food to live a fuller life. Thanks for reading and happy to be here to share my story. I look forward to learning more about other people here. Mya

Ok cause I'm seeing a new doctor ..I have diffrent insurance n I havnt been to a doctor in like 2 yea rs (lack of insurance) but now I have insurance but iv had issues for years.. throw up Dailey get stuck all day my port Jams in my rib cage ..hard to make healthy choices cause I always get stuck ..stopped losing weight and always hungry.. so we I see this new doctor I wonna ask him about the revision to sleeve just wasn't sure if it was a battle or doctors are getting on board because the band is failing alot of people

I had a revision three months ago after having the band about 7 years or so The revision was the best decision I ever made. As my band surgeon advised me when I seem him, over 95% of surgeons are removing them as they are too much trouble. They are not a leave on option as I had first thought, one day it will have to come out due to some sort of complication. I lost about 35kg in 6 years (that is absolutely pitiful), the thing failed majorly, I vomited and slimed every day and even after I had all fluid removed, I still had pain every day - no slippage, no problem that they could see, my body just rejected what it was trying to do and mentally this made me very very sick. Today, I can't be happier, having the sleeve is the best decision I have ever made, I am a totally different person. I am happy!

I also considered the band but then avoided it like the plague after consulting more with my wife. She is a surgical RN on the bariatric team at the hospital where I had my surgery so I had very good insight into everything ahead of time. My wife said they do a lot of revisions or removals of the band because they are just not as effective, they shift, they have complications (not that the sleeve can't have complications), etc... In fact, the bariatric center where I had my surgery shys away from the band because of those very reasons. They primarily shoot for the sleeve for lower BIM patients or patients who need to loose extra before getting the bypass, or for they do the bypass right away. Both are permanent changes with no foreign object being put inside your body!

Hi, Well I know that in my medical group that did my gastric bypass surgery they are getting away from doing the lap band surgery. The reason is it is the least sucsessful of the three surgeries and alot of people later have to have it revised to a different surgery like to the gastric bypass due to complication or the lack of the success of it working. With gastric bypass I was up walking around from day one and everyday after. The pain truthfully I've had worse with smaller surgeries. You can't lift anything over 10 LBS for the first month after that it's up to your doctor to decide. I know some people that went back to work after a week of surgery which is real fast. Most people go back after two weeks but your self employed so this is a different thing and I don't know what you do so for you this is could be much sooner. I would say study both surgeries as much as you can and go to bariatric meetings to ask questions of people that have had these surgeries and how they feel about them. I'm not an expert I'm just going by what I've heard from going to the bariatric meetings in my area, I've heard from the surgeons in the group, and read. Good luck in your decsion of whatever surgery you do and make it your choice that you feel is right for you.

1. What made you choose the Sleeve over the Lap Band? My surgeons office no longer does this type of surgery. Google band revisions. I had the sleeve because it was less invasive. My intestines are not altered. 2. Have you had Hair loss with the Sleeve? Yes, its typical and temporary. It will grow back. 3. What can you absolutely NOT eat now with the Sleeve? I can tolerate anything. Sweet, salty, Spicy. To be successful it's healthy eating and behaviors. I choose and enjoy eatting healthy. 4. At what point did you know you made the right decision with the Sleeve surgery? The moment I chose it was the right decision. It's been successful long term. 5. What as been the best tool you've used in keeping your weight loss progressing?. Keeping my weight loss progressing/maintaining has been staying on my Dr's food and exercise plan. Best thing that has assisted me was a food tracking app. It was eye opening to see how you fuel your body.

Honestly every process is different, after I attended my free siminar they sent us home with a packet that was basicaly about our weight history and such. After getting my packet they sent me to my general health doctor so I could get a check-up and to get a letter of recomendation to send to the insurance company [b/c the lapband dr. can't do it due to he would be making money off of it, and the insurance companies won't accept it]. After these steps it's really dependant on what insurance you have, and how long it takes you to do things [b/c if you are like me i have work and school and tend to put all other things off for as long as possible...i am a huge procrastinator.] with my insurance company (United Healthcare) they require a 5year weight history (for me this was the longest part of the process took me about a month and a 1/2). When I was done getting all of that together my nurse at the surgical clinic who is handeling my case put all my information into a packet which would go to the insurance company for them to review and then decide if they would cover the surgery. My nurse told me that the revision process could take about 90 days, but I recieved a call from her 3 days later and she told me I was approved. Now all I have to do is attend a meeting, and we are setteling on a final date today [more then likely april 6th]. so all together it took me about 4 or 5 months (that come and go quickly) not very long considering how long I have been unhappy and uncomfortable in my own skin due to being overweight. Hope this helps...but usually it is different for everyone, and it really stinks for those whose insurance companies require a 6 month doctor monitored diet...but remember the juice is always worth the squeze. good luck =]

Everyone is different when it comes to fills. Some never need a fill, they have restriction from the get go. Others could get the restriction with any number of fills. Like I stated, it took 4 fills for me. First one was 6wks out, month later my port flipped so had revision surgery and fill at that time, that was 3mths post op, 6wks later a fill and a month later another fill , which hit the spot, 7mths post op. By following my Drs diet, I continued to lose throughout. Now its just easier. I like that my Dr is conservative and I never have had to go back for an unfill. Don't get discourage on the time it could take.

My band to sleeve revision is scheduled for 3/2 and I'm going to have to pay my $750 deductible plus the 15% coinsurance. I'm going to be out of pocket about $3,500. But all worth it for me. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I'm also losing slow but I do feel the restriction. I'm able to eat pretty much anything but not a lot. ( I have not had desserts or pizza yet). The only bread I eat is a 1/2 of a sandwich thin toasted with tuna or chicken salad on top. I haven't done a lot of exercise because of work and waiting to get my foot treated. So far I'm averaging 10 pounds a month which I'm ok with. To me that's healthier than dropping 50 pounds in 2 months. But is does get frustrating reading about people losing so fast. But we were given a second chance with the revision. It just might take longer with some than others.

I have numerous reason for choosing the sleeve. 1. The risk for malabsorption was unacceptable. I have cvid which already causes a Protein deficiency. 2. Because of my cvid (common variable immune deficiency) I have a very high chance of stomach cancer. Having a left over stomach that isn't easily accessible to scope (think every couple months) would be asking for trouble. 3. because the RNY leaves the stomach in the body, it doesn't decrease the ghrelin hormone like the sleeve does. Decreasing my hunger is a big thing for me. Another side effect of cvid is stomach issues. I'm used to having diarrhea. I'm afraid that if I have the RNY I will still be constantly hungry, but because the pouch is so small I'll eat the WRONG things (like chocolate) and because I'm used to dumping syndrome it won't deter me. 4. Rerouting my whole system just freaks me out 5. The sleeve has nearly comparable weight loss stats (and if u look at the 2+ year studies it actually has more) 6. the sleeve also changes how the guts bile acids bind to a receptor called fxr. In the absence of fxr weight loss occurs. So aside from restrictive and hormonal changes the sleeve causes a change in your metabolism. That's huge for me! 7. I don't like the idea that I might not be able to absorb needed medications 8. If I find the sleeve doesn't help, I can revise it to add the malabsorption part. I suggest writing out a pro/cons list and going with what feels right to you. Good luck!!

This is a followup to my earlier replies> (I just didn't want to start a new topic.) I had my band removed two weeks ago. I am so glad I did, don't miss that port at all! Here is what my surgeon, Dr Higa said: I asked him because I was still feeling restriction-he said that can last up to three months. He also said it will take about that long for everything to heal inside as well. And don't let this happen to you as it did to me: more pain with the removal than the install. Makes sense, though, since there are adhesions, scar tissue, etc. This nurse just kept saying, But you were supposed to go home right after! Meaning, I suppose, that I was being a big baby since I was in such pain and had to spend the night. ******! LOL Anyhow, I am doing better and have lost another three pounds. I have switched up my food to pretty much vegan because that was my intent with the band in the first place. I just want to be healthy, not skinny! My motivation is still there and I am very aware of what I'm eating. I also asked for the band and port to so I can keep it in my kitchen/fridge to remind myself of it all! If you are thinking of having it removed or revised, just do it. The band should be the last thing you think of, IMHO! Good luck!

I'm in inner NE (laurelhurst)...had band to sleeve revision on 12/29 at OHSU where i work. Dr Deveney was wonderful. Everyone was great. He told me to expect 2 days in the hospital but I went home the next day. I was banded at good Sam 6 years ago...my surgeon then is no longer in the practice but I had a lot of follow up with Emma Patterson. She is wonderful and I would have gone back to her but our insurance wouldn't cover it. My experience at OHSU was great, even though I was nervous about having this kind of surgery as staff.