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Me neither, but just as every other medical therapy on this planet doesn't work in 100% of the cases with 100% success it's not realistic to expect 100% of WLS patients being 100% successful. I think most surgeons have a way more distant and neutral view of this treatment method than most patients. The patient's view seems to be loaded with emotions (no surprise here) and that is reflected on this board as well. It's never the treatment method that fails, it's always the patient who isn't strong enough, disciplined enough, motivated enough if goal weight isn't 100% or 100% maintained for the rest of life. This is very interesting because we used to be the same with diets. Then came the "diets don't work" movement along, backed up scientifically. And then as a last resort there is WLS - it's kind of depressing to accept that this last resort treatment isn't 100% fool proof either. It's easier to blame the fellow patients because it's quite frightening to think about the fact that you yourself might be one of the patients where it doesn't work 100%. And this sword of doom looms above your head for a very long time, if not forever. You always worry and if it's only in that little chamber in the back of your brain: "Will I be able to get down to a normal BMI?", "Will I be able to maintain my weight loss?", "Will I regain everything I lost or most of it?", "I simply can't accept even a slight gain or I'm a failure", "Will I be able to function on this high level of discipline and vigilance for the rest of my life?", "What about my 15 h per week exercise program when I suffer a serious injury and have to pause for several months?", "Am I really doomed to always follow a rigid diet for the rest of my life?" I dunno - maybe after having had surgery almost 17 years ago now and having had one revision and adhesiolysis I tend to see things differently than I had 10 or 15 years ago. I went through quite a few things during these years, including some regain when I stopped smoking, being obsessed with clean eating, exercise addiction before several sports related ailments stopped me in my tracks and being just burnt out from all the above. This is why I'm convinced that we should strive for a sustainable middle ground when it comes to eating and exercise and I can't see that much on the various WLS boards so I'm still searching for a place to settle down. Maybe it's because there aren't much people around whose surgery lies back so many years. Here you are a "veteran" after you're - what? - 18 months out IIRC. I personally think this is not a very long time out. Also being 2 or 3 years out is not much. I'm not sure how I can bring my point across without sounding like a total ass. Think about long term relationships maybe. All the couples who're together for 5,10,15,20,25 years or longer will know what I'm talking about when I say "that's not a very long time".

Sorry to say but yes I did vomit after surgery. Also my nausea was pretty bad. I had a little rougher time than others because I was a revision from band to sleeve. However that is not a prerequisite for this type of reaction. Just remember, nothing worth doing is ever easy. My results are proof of that. I really went through it for the whole first 6 weeks, but I'll tell you what, I wouldn't trade in one second of that knowing how I'm living today. Your emotions will get the better of you leading up to your surgery. Just don't let your feet get so cold they get stuck to the ground. Stick to the plan and make your life better!!!

I just found this website and thought I would share it with you all..... $8k ALL INCLUSIVE for a gastric sleeve in the US isnt bad! http://coastalbariat...16/Default.aspx http://coastalbariat...69/Default.aspx "The self pay option of $8,000* for Gastric Banding and Sleeve Gastrectomy in the Myrtle Beach area results in significant savings and can be advantageous to those looking for affordable weight loss surgery and not wishing to travel outside of the United States. *This price covers any complications that might arise within 90 days of either the gastric banding or sleeve gastrectomy surgery and one year of fills for the gastric band. Hospital, surgeon, anesthesia and radiology fees are all covered for the surgeries." I have chose to go with Dr. Rodriguez in Juarez, MX for $6800 (and many more revision surgeries under his belt) but for those of you that dont like the idea of MX, this may be an option for you. Just remember to always do extensive research on the doc and facility before you make a decision! Sometimes you get what you pay for! Good Luck!!!

Hi ladies, I think I'm getting CLOSE to getting my date!!! I had my ultrasound, surgery class, meeting with the Director of the Hospital Bariatric program, and a metabolic breathing test yesterday. According to my checklist I have to do my psych clearance-which is next Tues, one more lab test (stool sample...ugh) and my last appt which is now scheduled for Feb 11th! So, they will submit to insurance after that appt! I'm excited but I have to admit the nerves are REALLY kicking in. I'm praying for favor with the insurance company. I have struggled with the losing weight during the program, I go down, then up, down then up. I hope they don't deny me for that reason, I've done everything they require. So, also-can I ask for some advice? I was sort of thrown a little curve ball yesterday. This whole process I have been trying to work towards having the sleeve. I met with the BIG WIG of the Bariatric Program of my hospital yesterday. He told me that after reviewing my charts, progress, etc. that he recommends that I have the full bypass. He said that he has personally seen quite a few patients who don't succeed with the sleeve and eventually go on to have it revised to the bypass. I think I looked like a dear in headlights!!! Thankfully the surgery class was right afterwards so I got some questions answered about things I was worried about. FOR EXAMPLE-the malabsorption thing. It was explained to me like this. The malabsorption component means that my body would absorb less of the fats and sugars out of the foods I eat, thus resulting in better weight loss. It's not like it's going to cause HARM, it's a good thing...an extra bit of help. If I would eat, let's say, an oreo-full of sugar. I would have the dumping syndrome and probably bring it back up. It's an extra level of feedback that my body would have stating NOPE YOU CANT EAT THAT! Trust me, it won't take me long to not try to eat sugars and bad things if I'm throwing them up!! So even though it's a more complicated surgery, because of what the doctor reccomends, do I try for the sleeve or go-ahead with the full bypass? (Cross-posted)

On and off since 2011. More on back in 2011/2012 and recently after my revision.

Hi JakeLancaster , You would not believe how many people claimed that the smaller Bougie is actually the better choice and if I would have done this blind without researching on the internet I probably would have followed their advise. But I am glad that after the moment my first surgeon (band surgeon who is retired now) suggested a revision and my second surgeon who actually did my surgery confirmed that it would be a good idea to make a sleeve when the band is removed, I started researching. Great topic, I am scheduled for my band to sleeve revision. I think the starting BMI has a lot to do with it too. I would be scared of the 44 size bougie, I really want this to be the last surgery. I get the acid problem with the band though and understand why you choose the large bougie I just do not want to risk it. I am prepared to lose slower than I did with my band, I was told revisions lose slower but your averages sound great. See you on the other side in a couple of weeks! I had only 2 months to make my decision. I was for hrs on the internet trying to find the newest research published by the medical world , newest studies and so on. I am glad I did!! Because even though I value VERY much real life report from Sleevers I still think that each and everyone of us has a subjective approach, which is often mixed with emotional statements. When I went to my last meeting with my surgeon I had a list of questions I needed to be answered by her. I made my decision depending on her answers at the end. I asked about : - which size of staples to use since different cases demand different staple sizes to prevent leakage - wanted to discuss her position on oversewing or not - and buttressing or not - on the problem with the hourglass shape or the twisted stomach in case of an ear curve which happens to be a problem with many surgeon because of the way they staple - on the fact that the staple line distance to the pylorus and the sphincter is crucial in regards to prevention of damage to both - and last but not least the size of my bougie because research shows clearly that there is no difference in the success of weight loss results with bougie sizes between 32F up to 40+ F The surgery in itself through the removal of 75% to 85% of ones stomach and therefor the reduction of the ghrelin (hunger producing hormone) production completely changes our metabolic biochemistry, which at the end causes us to lose weight. But the fact that a smaller bougie size is proven to have a significantly higher affect on GERD occurrence and on leakage made me 150% sure that I choosing a smaller size was a risk I was not willing to take. I can say I'm only one week out of surgery but I did not regret anything. I have no acid reflux symptoms not the slidest nor to I feel I could eat more than my fellow sleever. I am in close contact to sleeve friends who had been sleeved on the same day and when I read what they can eat and what I can eat there is no difference in size or portion. I agree with you Cowgirljane 100% the quality of life is much higher with the sleeve than it is or was with the band. I can not count all the times I was vomiting, the permanent hunger, or almost suffocating in my sleep because of horrific GERD or feeling I would die and having to go to emergency because some kind of food got stuck again and closed my stomach that I felt I was drowning on my own saliva. Since I have my band out and my sleeve in, I actually feel normal again..... I just feel like life is perfect and I just can only eat 2 or 3 spoons full of whatever I am eating for a meal. I feel as full and satisfied as I would have eaten 2 plates of food. I even do not feel the desire to step on the scale every day, which I did with each and every diet or with the band. I feel like all will come as it is supposed to be and that I will be back to my normal slim healthy weight before my illness. It almost sounds corny but I wake up every morning thinking : OMG I am so so happy . Happy I am alive . Happy I got rid of this band. Happy I made the decision to get the sleeve. Happy I feel like I am being a fully integrated part of our social life again soon. Happy I can do stuff with my grandchildren again. Happy I can go to every normal cloths store like before my illness and before my outrages weight gain soon. Happy Happy Happy that me second half of my life started last Monday!!

Hey I currently have the band but hate hate hate it n want to get rid of it always having problems.. can someone tell me what they require that would make me a candidate for revision from band to sleeve?

I started at 174 at my revision so I lost much slower. I lost 15 lbs at my 8 weeks post op appt. I know some lose much, much faster but when ur bmi is lower, u WILL lose slower. Good luck!

Day of surgery (original lap band) And me now after lap band revision to sleeve 60 lbs gone forever!!

Mine was a revision surgery. I only lost 19.5 pounds at 8 weeks post op. I have barely exercised because of a bone spur in my foot has made it very painful to walk. I'm hoping to get it treated in a couple of weeks so I can start my walking again. I still think my weight loss will be slow even with the exercise but my goal is to try to lose 8-10 pounds a month.

FINALLY AFTER MANY MONTHS MY REVISION SURGERY HAS BEEN APPROVED!!!!! THANK YOU WALTER & KELLEY LINDSTROM, Lindstrom Obesity Advocacy, FOR NOT GIVING UP AND FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. 2016 is going to be a year of wonderful changes in my life! I'm looking forward to this new chapter in my life!!!!

Hi All! Got home from 3 days and nights in the hospital this morning after undergoing a band to sleeve revision on Tuesday. I had some pretty adverse reactions to the pain meds...I'd have been better off sticking with Tylenol!! Anyway, I have done well...no nausea while in the hospital and am still sip, sip, sipping. Am going to try my first post surgery Protein shake for dinner. A few questions: 1) Did anyone come home with a drain? I had one on my stomach side that was removed this morning. Had a fatty tumor (lypoma) removed Tuesday, too. It ended up being quite an ordeal and I still have a tube in it. I knew it was big, but it ended up the size of a small loaf of bread and was sending fingers down to the major muscles! Wow! 2) When did you guys start drinking shakes? 3) On returning home did you go straight to 60 grams of protein per day? 4) All suggestions are welcome! So happy to join the Sleeve Society! Cheers~ Barb

My doctor won't let me have it till 3-6 months after surgery! Katy W- Louisburg, NC Lapband revision to VSG with DS HW- 297 Weight at Surgery-279 CW- will update at two week appt

Karen - with an attitude like yours, you will do well! I would imagine a revision as you are going to have must be a little more invasive than just having the sleeve? All this means is that your pain issue might be a little worse? Just speculating here. So, after saying that I can say that I have apparently been an exception to the rule according to my surgeon. I have had no pain, no pain medicine, no nausea, etc! The only problem so far was my very raw throat. A raw throat is common after surgery because of the breathing tube they insert (I think that is what it was). It did a job on me. It was so bad that I literally did not sleep Monday night. I have sleep Apnea and because of my inflamed throat, the CPap machine wouldn't function properly on exhale - my throat would close up as the air blew across my throat! Hard to explain but bottom line, I was not able to sleep. The fact that I couldn't sleep on my side made the problem worse. I am not complaining however since that is really the only "hiccup" I had. Meeting with your anesthesiologist is a good opportunity to discuss any fears you may have and to tell him in detail any issues you may have such as a bad reaction to anesthesia, sleeping/breathing problems, etc. PLUS, discuss the raw throat issue!! I am somewhat anal when it comes to Doctors orders - I follow the instructions to the letter. I was on a liquid diet for 4 weeks pre- surgery and never cheated. As a result I lost almost 40 pounds before I had surgery. When I tell you this, I am not bragging, I am saying that perhaps that made a big difference in my body's ability to tolerate surgery as well as it did. Post surgery will be no exception - I will follow the Doc's and the Nut's directions. Three days out, I have had no problem with my new/old stomach. I sip, take plenty of time and pay attention to what my stomach tells me. I continue to be serenaded by my stomach and bowels talking to me ... WOW! My wife thought it was thundering one time!! LOL That's all I have. I feel blessed. Sure I followed the doctor's orders (after all, he has done over 800 sleeve surgeries)!! However ... I don't discount the prayers sent up for me! I asked everyone I knew and some I didn't to pray for me! I will be praying for you, Karen. Let us hear from you. Truly, you sound like a fun person with a great attitude and that will take you a long ways. Sam

Hi Redhead...My cousin had her sleeve done with Dr. Vohra. She was very pleased with him. She had the lapband to sleeve revision. Lap band was also done with Dr. Vohra.

I am a band to sleeve reviser. I will be a month out on august 8. I am still pretty miserable with recovery. Not taking in much and not really sure where i should be at this point. I am never hungry and its extremely hard for me to eat. I had no real big issues with the band but decided to do the revision because i was so scared of the complications that are rising from the band. My doctor also highly reccommended it. I lost a total of 100 lbs with the band in the 4 years i had it. It kept me in check a lot. I learned the band very well when i had it and if i didnt feel like being good....i also knew how to eat around it. With that said, im tired, scared, and simply exhausted the past month trying to learn the sleeve. I dont know up from down and im trying so hard to just keep trucking and things will get better. Just know everybody is different and each struggle gives us wisdom to succeed in our own personal journey! Good luck to you!!!

Hi there. I'm 38 years old and had lap band surgery in 2000. Pretty much always been overweight and very unhappy with my body. I was placed on the elective surgery waiting list in Melbourne(VIC, Australia) over 8 years ago for arm lift, breast reduction and tummy tuck. I had my breast lift and arm lift done 12 months ago (Aug 2012). I am so very happy with my breasts, I love them now. However, I am really upset at the way my arms turned out as they are still very heavy and saggy. They were terrible before surgery (surgeon took 12cm off each arm). I borrowed $5600.00 to have liposuction on my arms before the arm lift as the surgeon said there was too much fat in them for a lift to be of any great benefit. I had the lipo done and the lipo dr thought that they would cut out the saggy part underneath so he did the upside of my arms. Before the surgery there were concerns that my arms had too much fat underneath still and that they may sag again. My surgeon reassured me that if that did occur, she would perform a revision to correct that. I went in to discuss that and now she's saying she doesn't want to do the revision. My lipo dr said he's happy to redo more lipo to correct his part of it but he wants to speak to the surgeon first to clarify exactly what they need done. Both him and the surgeon are of the opinion that I am being too "picky" and that my expectations are unrealisitc. I haven't stopped crying since they said they won't do the revision because I do not have the money to pay for the surgery so will be stuck with fat, saggy arms AND thick red scars because the weight in my arms has stretched them! I don't care about scars but to still have the large unsightly arms AND the scars is uinacceptable to me. The depression I feel about this has been overwhelming. I'm struggling immensely and am contacting a psychologist who specialises in body image therapy to try to help with that. I'm tired of feeling so ashamed of myself and no one understands how I feel. I have been single for most of my life as I am so self conscious about my body that I can't relax and just be myself. I've dated some lovely men, but due to my poor self image I haven't been able to feel comfortable enough to be myself, I feeze up emotionally and just can't get past the way I feel about myself! I've become obsessed with having surgery as I feel like I can't keep living with this misery and lonliness any longer. Last week I was booked in to have my abdominoplasty on October 7th, which has been a life saver. When the surgeon refused my revision, she also said she didn't want to do my tummy tuck because she feels that I've had enough of a go with the public system and that I have unrealistic expectations! She also said that I'm not even on the waiting list anymore. I broke down at the hospital when she told me this as I was devastated. They then booked me in to see a different surgeon who will do the procedure for me. I wrote a letter to the hospital explaining that I was told that I'd be given revision surgery for my arms and was then refused, and I'm waiting to hear back from them regarding that. I'm feeling really torn between feeling ungrateful and being unable to accept this result for my arms. I know that in another 12 months or so they'll be back to the way they were before because the sagging only gets worse - as many of us on here well know. In addition to the tummy tuck, I also need to have a lower body lift (at the back and a thigh lift so I still need to borrow at LEAST $10,000.00 for those. That will be another 12 months - at least IF I can even manage to do that. I'm hoping the tummy tuck makes me feel a lot better about myself because I'm really struggling at the moment. Does anyone else feel this bad about themselves? I've attached a pic of my arms and breasts which was taken half an hour ago (12 months post op) so you can see the results. Does anyone think I am overreacting about how bad my arms still look? I am absolutely devastated! I would really love to start up a foundation for people like us who need surgery after weight loss to provide both support for each other and funding for people who cannot afford it. I know that if I was unable to get on that waiting list 8 years ago I probably wouldn't be here now. It's been the only thing keeping me hopeful that I will feel good about myself........one day. I'm so lucky that I had this and I realise not everyone is so lucky. I'm so glad that I found this forum too and that there are others who understand the intensity of the emotional and physical pain and sufferring we endure every day. Thank you all so much for being so brave to share your stories, pictures, strength and support on here. It has given me the strength to do the same :-)

I just went to Mexico on the 20th. Dr. Illan. I thought I would just be lounging around the hotel room for 2 days after surgery. How wrong I was! The valet had us out walking (optional) both days. I was out for 5 hours the first day, and 8 hours the second. I brought too many pjs and not enough real clothes. The real clothes should have a stretchy waist, as your abdomen will be swollen. Good walking shoes are a must. I did notice the virgin sleeves had the easiest recovery. Bypasses and revisions are harder. Don't know what it is like with other surgeons...

Well, I am lucky that my bariatric team educated me very well. I also read the boards. Well and I was a band revision, so not my first rodeo as the saying goes. I was quite well educated and realistic by the time I was sleeved. My"surprises" - I never dreamed I would turn out looking so good..I was truly transformed which never happened with the band. Also, I didn't struggle as much with the emotional issues around restricted eating during weight loss phase...however..the emotional adjustment post goal has been epic. I was warned but did not really understand how fundamentally my life would shift...many dimensions to this topic. Shifts needed to successfully maintain, getting used to people noticing me, finding my sense of style, figuring out how I fit in socially etc etc. Anyway I am nearly 3 years post op been at goal for awhile and feel I am finally on solid ground again.

I will try to answer some of your questions. I was much farther along, over 2 years out from my original surgery when I got pregnant. So that part is different but the rest applies. Weight loss history. 376 when banded (1/08), down as low as 250 but then in 09 (8/09) my band broke, I regained about 40 and then had revision surgery in 10/09. (Band breakage was not my fault-just really bad luck). Got down to about 265 and then got pregnant (5/10). Now am hovering around 330. (Ugh) I had an "unfill" at about 4 weeks along. It was not total but had the effect of being total-I really did not have enough restriction to stop me from much. I gained about 100 lbs during my pregnancy (just like I did with my first son 9 years earlier). My doc actually wanted to remove a bit less than I asked him to but I had gotten so bloated at the beginning that I could not really even drink much for days so was literally starving when I got my unfill and thus not very rational. It does not have to be completely open, you will have to check with your doctor and OB and preferably have them in agreement with you. I did not slip and have not known anyone who did. I think that they way they put bands in now, by stitching the band to the stomach make is very unlikely for a slip to occur. I vomitted plenty. I did not have any medical complications due to my weight other than my being huge. I had my baby on Jan 31, 2011. The band cord is in a totally different part of your body so the baby does not even get near it let alone get tangled in it (I asked my doc the same question!) I have had a horrible time losing after having my son. I lost 40 lbs in the first 6 weeks and have plateaued since then (it's now been 6 mos). I am terrified of getting a fill because I am loving nursing and am really committed to it and do not want anything to mess that up. So still have not decided about when to get a fill. If I can help in any way-let me know! Good luck!

Julie (nu2ywg) down 4lb to 248 This is just my second challenge and I'm wondering if I make my goal early should I revise the goal? My original goal was 249 so maybe I should aim for 246 for next week or if you don't think I should change it, I'll just be happy with doing better than goal.

Congratulations! I’ve been watching you for a few months now, cheering you on! Thanks for posting Mitchell in Minnesota’s name, I’ll start watching him as well. I’m a revision patient, 2/12/19, and have had a hard time finding youtubers that have had revision that keep up with posting videos.

awwwwww, thank you so much @FluffyChix, Sandra Nuelken & Bariatric Legend. Sandra - check out Mitchell in Minnesota on YouTube and let him know I sent you. He's one of my new BFF's on there and he's about 8 months post-op and succeeding with lapband revision to RNY. He's honest about the whole process.

I had the sleeve on 1/26/2012. I did lose 90 lbs. within the first year. I had absolutely NO dumping and no reflux. I figured out really quick that I could eat all the same foods as before but only less. I convinced myself that now I was "normal" and could eat what I wanted because of my restricted stomach size. WRONG!! I started regaining a couple of years out and all the weight came back quickly. I have no restriction and can eat a full size plate with no problem. I am now scheduled for a sleeve to bypass revision at the end of October. Everybody has to do what is best for them, but I have since learned after the sleeve that there are quite a few others that are also gaining back after about year two. I am beyond blessed that I get a second "second chance" with bypass. I will not mess it up this time! Stay afraid of the foods that caused the gain in the first place!!

Your story sounds like what my surgeon just told me during my consult. He,said about 1/3 of sleeve patients will experience hearburn after the procedure, but he said he is seeing many people 4/5 yearsafter the sleeve having horrendous reflux and doing revisions to rny. Not sure how long your out, best of luck to u. Sent from my SM-N920P using the BariatricPal App