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If my doc wasn't givin me fills when I asked for em, I'd go to another doc. Luckily, he lets me decide how I think I'm doing. I had a fill from the port-revision, was too tight, unfilled in November, decided maybe I wasn't too tight, just not use to how restriction fills.. got filled back up in Dec. Now I am pretty tight, it's hard to eat a lot of solid foods, but liquids go down fine. I eat about 1/4-1/2c of food depending on time of day. Mornings are a lost cause, I will always spit up solid breakfasts, so I stick to a coffee, frappuccino, v-8, or milk. Lunch I am still pretty tight, so I have soup, or a few really small bites of something solid that take a while to eat. Dinner I am still restricted, but not nearly like I am for the rest of the day. Depending on what I'm eating.. I have never had a rice problem, but pasta doesn't go down well. And bread is out. I still try to eat bread even though it makes me sick!! A typical dinner is about 1/2c of food, spread out over whatever I feel like eating. I make dinner most the time, DH eats most of what I make and I take 1/2c and pick at it.

My friend a work had bypass and has been buying clothes at Ross, Marshalls, and TjMaxx while she's on the way down. I plan to do the same! What a good idea.

Yeah...that dietitian (the hairy eyeball woman, as I like to think of her LOL) kept getting us lap banders and the bypassers confused. She kept thinking I had GBS...I am pretty thick skinned but after the 5th time in 30 minutes I started to take offense LOL I'm going to buy viactiv. So there! :tt1:

You'll get your band removed and heal for atleast 3 months... Then get sleeved. This made me feel a lot better about a revision! I currently am in the same boat as you... Finding the perfect doctor and trying to let go of the "size of the bougie" fear though.

Thanks everyone for your support and help. I am just starting to figure out what to do. I have had my band almost 10 years and it is time to come out. I am scared of what damage they will find when they get there and I am trying to select a new Doctor. I looked locally at what my insurance company recommends as Centers of Excellence and I also see that there are some top hospitals outside of my region, such as The Cleveland Clinic. I am wondering if it will be worth it for peace of mind, to see if I can go to one of these more experienced hospitals for a revision? It would be a 1 hour plane ride and around $200 from Chicago or a $150 train ride for 5 hours each way. I would not want to drive it, that would be about 6 hours. Am I being unreasonable or am I just reading too deeply into horror stories and assuming that I will have problems? Any recommendations for an excellent surgeon in the Chicago area...when I say excellent, I mean world renowned. I care less about personality than I do skills.

My surgery for gastric sleeve bypass is still 3 months away. My question is: how long before I can go back to work? I work in a dental office.

So my hubby had the bypass, I had the sleeve. He is loosing weight faster, I have to work harder and it's slower. BUT, I am getting stronger and healthier by working harder. I can do things I have been able to do in years. The sleeve hasn't effected my meds I have to take for my bipolar. The absorption seems to be the same. My hubby hasn't had complications nor have I, but his recovery time has been longer. I think...for me...the sleeve was the better choice. I am changing my bad habits and learning healthier ones. It's slow, but constant. This is my experience. Sent from my XT1650 using the BariatricPal App

Would like to revise from band to sleeve but am concerned about this reflux issue. Even before having the band I had issues with acid reflux. I have it well under control now by taking omeprazol daily, but am concerned that with the sleeve the omeprazol won't be effective. Has anyone been ableto control their reflux succesfully by taking a ppi after VSG? Thnaks!

Hello good people! I'm so excited to find some folks that can relate to me. I have been trying for more than 2 year to have my revision from the band to the sleeve. I was sleeved in late 2008. I started off good, but I never lost more than 60, and that was a fight. I realize that although any surgery is just a tool and the work comes from the person, I realize that I need more help that I thought. So I am scheduled for the 19th. I was initially scheduled for the 12th, but I think I need more time to mentally prepare myself. I was just told I was approved, and then I was told to just let then know when I am ready. Soooooo....... now you might feel some of my apprehension. I know this is my dream, I'm just nervous. I want to do well. I know that the journey with the sleeve is completely different. I just need some encouragement and understanding from some people that know just what I am going through. Thanks in advance

Hi good for you, I am 60 and have to have the band removed, but they will not do both here in Canada, I want both done I am thinking of going to Mexico, I do not want to have the band removed and gain weight I have to wait 18 months before they will look at doing the bypass, I am sick to my stomach as I want something done right away. I think you made the right decision and you will have a great journey, I wish I was in your position. You will be ok and do great Let me know how your journey goes. Thinking of you Pat

I just had revision surgery on 1/30, band to sleeve! I had it all in one surgery as well as a hiatal hernia repair! I was under for about 3 hours! All went well! When I asked my Dr why Drs sometimes do it in separate surgeries he had 2 answers, first of all it depends on the pt and comorbities, how long can someone tolerate anesthesia ? Since just having sleeve surgery you are under for about 1 1/2 hrs! The second answer was interesting he said if he did in 2 surgeries he would make more $$$ which is so true ! Also in addition the pt has to take 2 separate LOAs if working! So in the end I would look for a surgeon who did it all in one surgery! good luck

I had two separate operations 10 weeks apart; 1 to remove the band and to enable my oesophagus to go back into shape as the band had formed a pouch above it. 2nd to have the revision. Im in Australia and this was covered by my insurance as the band failed. Ive lost more weight now with the sleeve in 4 months than what i ever lost in 4 years with the band!! I love love love my sleeve and wish i had this option sooner! Best of luck to you with your journey ahead xox

To everyone that replied, Thank you! I have decided on bypass My surgeon and I believe that will be the best choice. I am in therapy, have been for years. I think the combination is a must along with a desire to rise above my addiction. Blessings Sent from my XT1585 using the BariatricPal App

I had revision from bad to sleeve on 11/14/16 Since then I've ONLY lost 2.6 lbs. even though I have not been taking in much of anything. And I GRATEFUL for that lost, just don't understand why it's not more. Also, I am Extremely Bloated, which also restricts my intake. Can anyone explain? Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using the BariatricPal App

I have appt this coming week, they are working me in so am not sure what date it will be on - for final meet with dr. I've been working on researching bypass vs. sleeve to make sure that I feel like I concur with what the dr. has suggested. I'm torn on some of the pros/cons of both surgeries based on following about co-morbidities/health situation: I do NOT have high blood pressure I do NOT have high cholesterol I do NOT have diabetes I do NOT currently have ongoing heartburn/acid reflux (get heartburn 3 or 4 times a yr, and acid reflux..maybe once a year if that) My BMI started out at 60 and is now 54? I am 50 yrs old (not young) I have long clotting history but NO clotting disorder EVERY episode of clotting (DVT's/PE's) had known causation. Have permanent IVC filter since 2011. Knees have severe arthritis and need replacing - have to get to 40 BMI to have kneed surgery Here are some generalities I've gathered on sleeve vs bypass from searching here, google searches, and many youtube videos watched. If anything is wrong, please let me know. It's amazing that despite how much you read/watch, you can come away with questions still - maybe my retention is shot with long pre-op diet?: Bypass – possible chance of bowel obstruction later after surgery Bypass – possible chance of twisting bowels after surgery (don't know %) Bypass - less chance of reflux/resolves reflux for many Sleeve – chance of developing reflux (do not have more than 4 episodes a yr of heartburn, maybe 1 of reflux) Sleeve – chances of clots forming in previous ‘stomach/fundus’ area - not able to get specific % (this was also something dr. mentioned) Bypass – chances of clots/DVT's? (haven't found specifics yet) Bypass vs. Sleeve - hair loss - tied. Rapid weight loss causes this and can occur with either surgery Bypass vs. Sleeve - more long term data on bypass than sleeve Bypass vs. Sleeve - overall amt of weight loss tends to even out for both at around 5 to 6 yr mark, but bypass has 10 to 20% greater chance of 'initial faster weight loss" Bypass vs. Sleeve - chance for hernias, ulcers, etc. %? for both (need to find out) Bypass vs. Sleeve – likely to cause more time in bathroom? Bypass due to dumping/vomiting (some see dumping as a 'pro'?)? Sleeve due to vomiting /diarrhea? Bypass vs. Sleeve - % of Vomiting / Amount of Nausea (same?) Bypass vs. Sleeve - easier to stretch out sleeve pouch?? Bypass vs. Sleeve - lesser % of chances or regain with bypass in long term? Statistically significant? True or False? Bypass vs. Sleeve - sleeve has more reduction of hunger hormones ghrelin & leptin as fundus removed? Anyone know if bypass has statistically significant reduction in 'unger hormones'? Bypass vs. Sleeve - more chance of malnutrition with bypass - what happens with my long term meds & how they will absorb/not absorb (take 2 anti-depressants and 1 is 'slow release' - take 2 diff meds for sleep due to shift work disorder)?? Bypass vs. Sleeve - bypass surgery longer Dang..i feel like I'm missing some obvious stuff on this list!!!! Going to go look at snippets saved in Word doc.

You're welcome! 🤗 I got my band in 2013, and within a year or so I hit my lowest weight and I got stuck about ten pounds above that number. For years I was stuck. I gained about another ten back after GERD, and I thought that I wouldn't be able to lose anymore weight either. But it's coming off. And as far as not feeling restriction... I feel/felt the same way, but this week I started eating grilled chicken again for the first time since before the revision, and now I feel soooo much restriction. My surgeon told me that I have some nerve damage from the band and that's why I wasn't feeling restriction. But I can definitely feel it now as I'm able to eat denser proteins. Previously I was still eating a lot of chicken that I made in the crockpot, so it was a softer consistency. I think you will notice more restriction once you're fully healed. You're early out still. Give it some time and just follow your surgeons eating plan and track your protein and water. You got this! Best wishes!

14 lbs in two weeks is excellent. I lost 16 lbs the whole first month! (not a revision - I have a virgin bypass). people tend to lose slower after revisions than they do a virgin surgery - but again, 14 lbs is quite a lot. I wouldn't throw in the towel yet...

I called Tricare and the very nice lady who could not give me a definite answer. She told my to have my doctor submit a pre-authorization and see what happens. I could not find a solid answer in the Tricare manual so I did a lot of searching and this is what I came up with. CHANGE 55 6010.54-M JANUARY 30, 2007 SUMMARY OF CHANGES (Continued) CHAPTER 4 (Continued) 5. Section 13.2 (Surgery For Morbid Obesity). 43644, 43842, 43846, and 43848. No change. New CPT procedure codes were within procedure code range. We added the following to Exclusions: laparoscopy, gastric restrictive procedure (CPT procedure codes 43770:cry - 43774) and gastric restrictive procedure (CPT procedure codes 43886 - 43888) is unproven. Added “for gastric bypass procedures” for unlisted codes. 6. Section 20.1 (Nervous System). 61000 - 61860, 61863 - 63048, 63055 - 64999, 95961, 95962, 95970 - 95975, 95978, 95979. Pulmonary ateriovenous malformation (PAVM) was removed from paragraph III.B. because it did not belong in this chapter. New CPT procedure codes 61630, 61635, 61640 - 61642 added to Exclusions. Deleted CPT procedure codes 64561 and 64580 from paragraph IV.J. because they were the wrong codes for this procedure. New CPT procedure code range is 61000 - 61626, 61680 - 61860, 61863 - 63048, 63055 - 64999, 95961, 95962, 95970 - 95975, 95978, 95979. Link to PDF So, now we know more than they do.

I'll have to go get some tomorrow, I've always gone with the powder because I'm a cheapskate but after surgery I can barely stand them. I'm struggling to get my Protein in so hopefully finding a shake I like will help. Revision 1/31/13 by Dr Cabrera and Venezuela in MX

I have 130-140lbs that I need to lose. I didn't like the fact that I would have to get fills and all that PLUS I'm insulin resistant with having PCOS and I know the Lap Band isn't the best for that which is why my last surgeon switched me to gastric bypass but I didn't feel comfortable with that. I got July 10th to the first seminar. I'm nervous because of all the complications that can happen but I've had 10 surgeries so far that also had complications but I never had a second thought of having them done. I just need to keep my anxiety at bay

Do the sleeve. It's the best way. You don't want to spend years worrying about filling or maintaining a Lap Band. Gastric bypass is fine and always an option if you needed it later but for now why not choose the sleeve and go from there.

I had lap band in 2012. I didn't lose as much weight as I wanted and then last year I started throwing up everything I ate that I was supposed to be eating. I ended up eating stuff I shouldn't be just to keep anything down. We tried for six months to adjust the band and finally took out all the fill in April. I had the band removed and a sleeve done on June 1st. I am much happier with the sleeve. I can eat chicken again. I can eat any lean Protein and non-starchy veggies. I'm not throwing up at all. I eat in the 700 to 1000 calorie range depending on what I choose protein wise for the day. I chose the sleeve over the bypass because I didn't want the malabsorption issues and I didn't like the idea of messing around with my intestines.

First off, congrats on your surgery and hope you are healing well. A certain amount of depression/buyer's remorse is very common with life-changing events, and a bypass certainly qualifies. It might help to know how many of us wish we had had surgery earlier in our lives. You should certainly be able to have children. In fact, after weight loss you should have less trouble conceiving than an obese woman at the same age. You are less likely to have issues with gestational diabetes and your baby is more likely to be born at a normal weight. By the time you reach maintenance, you will be able to consume sufficient calories to support a healthy pregnancy. And when your toddler runs, you can run, too! The first month is hard, no two ways about it. But in the grand scheme of your life, this will just be a challenging chapter. The one right before all the good stuff starts! Best wishes!

I chose bypass because it's a more final surgery It's going to dramatically reduced my diabetes Weight loss is usually better the first 12 months I only want the 1 surgery and it is the most restrictive and malabsorptive. It completely changes your metabolism and internals

Yes, my revision was done all in one surgery. My surgeon said it was the most common surgery she does. @@giugiu37 my insurance paid for the revision because when my band slipped I regained most of the weight I had lost, so I had to get it out either way and the weight gain showed that I would not be successful without restriction.