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You can be modified from a sleeve to a bypass. My Dr. at Kaiser Fremont mentioned this is done if GERD is very bad post-op. I wouldn't say many people revise to DS, but some do. There is a DS board on Obesity Help so you could get more info about DS there. There are many more side effects with DS, but for some it is a life saver if they can't take the weight off another way. The restriction alone has been enough to get me to goal. My program uses a 40 bougie to size the stomach. I have started a blog on this site and discuss bougie size there: http://www.verticals...-and-then-some/ For North Carolina references, check the Gastric Sleeve Surgery Support Groups → Local Gastric Sleeve Surgery (VSG) Support Groups → USA Local VSG Support and then search for North Carolina. I found three threads for that state. Best wishes on your journey! Lynda

@@CHELLB33 I guess I am a bit nervous too since I am a revision patient. What we do know is that my stomach is twisted. He said it could be longer than normal surgery time because they don't really know until they get in. I have a hernia repair too! I am glad they were able to get you all fixed up and on the road to recovery. How are you feeling this morning? When will you get released?

Just be aware that if you have GERD or other stomach acid issues, the sleeve will more than likely make that worse. And, the sleeve is the *only* surgery that's not reversible as 90% of your stomach is going to end up in medical waste and contrary to popular belief, the bypass is reversible, just under specific conditions due to the added danger in reversal, but, it can and does occur. With the vitamins you are taking now, that's more than I'm required to take... I don't think you'd have an issue with the bypass in my opinion based on what you've written. Either way, you decide what you want to do, just be open to what your doctor has to say about it. I was set on the sleeve myself when I was looking at revising from the band. My surgeon wouldn't do the sleeve due to reasons specific to my case. She advised that others in her practice would do the surgery and outlined why she wouldn't. After talking with her, I agreed that her reasons were sound and decided to go with the bypass rather than the sleeve and I'll tell you this, I'm 100% glad I did. Found out I had Grade 4 Esophagitis during pre-op testing, and I had no idea. If I had gotten the sleeve, this would have gotten much much worse. But since the bypass reduces or reverses acid reflux issues, my Esophagitis is now Grade 1 after only 6 months and may be completely healed at this point (won't know until my next scoping). Just be open to *all* the facts and information and make the best choice for you based on that information rather than assumed or perceived personal preference (speaking from personal experience on this one)

I've heard SO many people on here talk about band failures and complications. And what's more...once you decide to have a revision surgery from band to sleeve, the damage from the band can complicate the sleeve and cause more problems. Just something to think about. (I'm not just saying random thoughts. These are actual incidents I've heard from people.) Many problems. At five weeks, I'm feeling great and looking forward to my smaller self!

Sometimes you all need to hear how wonderful you are to share your experiences. Wow! I did not realize how comforting it feels to know I'm not alone. I haven't posted on LBT in a while. The good news is that I lost more weight than I ever expected, from 250 to 150 in about 14 months. The tough news is that I started having problems keeping solid food down, and had to insist on a GI. The PA told me it was unnecessary. I paid out of pocket, and did the GI on 9/1. The test revealed esophageal dilation, and the barium would not go down for 10-15 minutes. The band doc took out all of the fill, then told me that the band should come out. I will go for an endoscopy this month, and depending on the results, the band may need to come out. Do I feel failure? Heck, no. The band helped me lose 100 pounds that I never could have lost on my own. Am I scared? Heck yes! I can eat more since I have no restriction. Thank goodness that I am physically active, and a picky eater. Will I rely on willpower to keep the weight off? Willpower did not work before, why would it magically work now? My plan is, if the band needs to come out, I will want to do a revision at the same time. I have bariatric coverage, but it may not pay for a skinny woman's revision. I may have to pay for it all myself, but I would rather invest in maintaining my weight than go back to high blood pressure, gasping for breath, pre-diabetes, and afraid of fitting in an airline seat. Thank you all for having the courage to share your very personal challenges. Love and Blessings,:whoo:

I have just recently found out I've been approved for a band to sleeve revision. I have used myfitnesspal off and on before so I might add you all to give me an idea of what to eat!

Are you speaking of a band over a bypass? I have read of a few people doing it, yes. It is not without risks. I believe there was a thread about it a year or so ago on thinnertimes.com You could also look into having your pouch revised if it has stretched. They can return it to its original size.

Here is some of the basic advantages to having the sleeve, I pasted the information from the Bariatric.us website. I went through the 12 week Kaiser pre-op program and received tons of information on the surgery and on the nutritional requirements before and after surgery. There are tons of success stories on this website and also alot of issues, mostly in the early phases of recovery after surgery. Most long term sleevers wish they had done the surgery long ago. I will be sleeved in April of this year, and I have been on restricted calories since last September and already lost nearly 40 pounds. I am looking forward to the next leg of this journey. The effects of gastric sleeve surgery are: restricts food intake controls hunger Following gastric sleeve surgery, food continues to move through the digestive system naturally, from the time it enters the stomach to the time it is released into the small intestine through the pyloric valve. The difference is that after surgery the amount of food that can be eaten at any one time is greatly reduced. The surgery also helps to control hunger, because the upper portion of the stomach that produces the hunger stimulating hormone Ghrelin is removed during surgery. Advantages Intestines not cut, rerouted, or bypassed, so does not cause malabsorption or nutritional deficiencies Keeps pyloric valve intact, thus reducing ulcer risk and avoiding dumping syndrome Food does not get stuck on way into stomach, as is possible with gastric banding Can usually be performed laparoscopically, even on very obese patients Safer and less complex than a combined restrictive/malabsorptive procedure, especially for patients with health problems Option for patients with health concerns or medical issues, such as anemia, Crohn’s disease, anti-inflammatory drug use, or prior surgery, that prevents them from other bariatric procedures Does not require a medical implant (gastric band) or adjustments Average weight loss of 30% to 50% excess weight in first eighteen months May be converted to duodenal switch for additional weight loss Revision option for gastric band patients

I had my revision on April 10, I've lost 20 lbs but since then I haven't lost anything. i am stating to get down. I got on the scale to day and it looks like I'm gain 2 lbs . I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong.

Right now, I am banded and have been since 2011. I am getting revision surgery to the sleeve mid-March of 2015. As far as my surgeon has shared with me, both the band and the sleeve are restrictive procedures. There is no dumping as with the bypass surgery which works in part due to malabsorption and where dumping syndrome is more common. Still, parts of mindful awareness can be beneficial to eating slowly and saviring one's foods for several types of surgical procedures. Perhaps not all aspects will apply to everyone and bariatric rules such as eating protein first, etc must always be followed.

I recently also just had my revision done I'm two weeks post Op.... Although I'm still healing the worse part has been the lower abdominal incisions... As You said itching and pants can be challenging... Ill stick to yoga pants for now... lol so far in very happy with what I've done no regrets.... Soft food recipes?!??... Yes please!!! Good luck w/ your journey

It all depends on how much weight you have to lose. If you are in the higher weight ranges, the RNY might be better. The Sleeve is a bit easier but then it's easier to cheat which could cause you from losing all the weight you need to lose. I had the Sleeve 2 1/2 years ago and I love it. I still have restriction and it's just so easy. The bad thing is that I have horrible gastric reflux and meds are not helping. I am scheduled for a revision to a RNY bypass in August. They are both tools, they both work but the RNY is malabsorbtive, which could cause dumping and there is the issue of taking Vitamins the rest of my life. Ah well.... Good luck to you.Great points....my BMI IS 51, I have 160 pounds to lose....so that clearly points to RNY. But I have a real fear of playing with my intestines, since they already seem rumbly and mildly unhappy 4 days a week....maybe I have chronically inflammation and have just always lived with it? But even more worrisome, my mother had her intestines resectioned in one place during a cancer surgery, and she never healed right, had bowel obstructions, developed a fistula from her intestines through to her belly button, it was awful. And I am afraid maybe I would heal like that? Your GERD must be awful to "leave it" for an RNY....it really is unbearable? It must be, if you are willing to through all this again. The sleeve seems like so much less trauma to my body. But maybe I am underestimating myself, and maybe I could handle the extra trauma of the RNY. Another plus for RNY....I only have 1 chance to do this with my insurance. So maybe I just go for the RNY, if I might wind up there one day anyway? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Hi Gina. I have to say I absolutely love my sleeve. It's awesome. After all this time I still have restriction. Maybe not as much as I did but I can still only eat small meals. I've had GERD for years but the surgery did make it worse. I've tried so many pills and though sometimes the meds help for awhile, nothing cures it or gets rid of it. My esophagus is inflamed, I have erosive esophagitis now because of the reflux. If I don't convert to the RNY I could end up with cancer, not to mention that the meds for reflux damage your bones. If you don't have the problems I do, you will love the sleeve. If you are truly afraid of the malabsorption issues then don't put yourself through the stress, just go with the sleeve. It's a much easier surgery. I was off work one week, went back to work and managed fine. At 5 months I traveled out of the country and did great. They are both wonderful surgeries. I prefer the sleeve and hate to have to change but my health requires it now. Good luck to you and get ready for some really big changes in your life. You are going to LOVE LOVE LOVE IT. Oh, btw, don't go overboard buying clothes during your weight loss. Shop second hand and thrift stores. You can't buy a new wardrobe every month for the new size you are. :-)

When I originally had my band done back in 2012 the surgeon told me that he thought my GERD was related to a hernia and if it was when he got in there he was going to fix it. It was and he did. I had a revision to a sleeve 2 weeks ago and have had no problems with GERD. None since the hernia repair.

I would recommend the MGB for less surgery time and less complications. It has gotten rid of my acid reflux and I am losing weight again. With the sleeve I had easy regain and couldn't pay to lose any of it. I measured food, lifted weights, did cardio and would lose nothing. I am at 203having regained to 239. So I have lost 36 pounds since the start of the revision process. I would be losing more but I have a bad knee that swells and hurts when I exercise. When I get below 200 I will see about getting my knee fixed. It is bone on bone.

I also have the MTHFR mutation. I had revision surgery on 10/18/16 and had to use Lovenox shots for 14 days after surgery. My hematologist was on board with the surgery. He felt that I would be better off to have surgery than carry all the extra weight. Since MTHFR can cause an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes, it was a reasonable decision. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Join facebook and friend dr r rutledge. He invented the MGB and will have great advice. I would get a 2nd opinion on your surgeons recommendation.. you could always revise the MGB to be changed. You will lose your stomach and lose the possibility of changing back. Sent from my SM-N920P using the BariatricPal App

So I had MGB 8months ago. I have been getting bouts of diarrhea and after insisting to speak to the doctor over the phone (since my appointment is not until end of feb), doctor thinks it might be IBS. I'm down to 114lbs and most probably this weight loss will continue so now doctor is recommending revision to RNY!!!! This is crazy.. has anyone been through this before?? If I will have to go under the knife again I would prefer to get a total reversal but doctor thinks a reversal is not an option!! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hello there! I’m having a revision aswell, I’m nervous and scared yet excited, how was your recovery? How long did you stay in the hospital?

Yes. Every year after my vsg surgery, I did two things: Full blood test and have a check up visit with my team including a barium swallow to check my sleeve. I was always paranoid I had stretched it. I will probably do the same now with my revision. Sent from my SM-N986U using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi. I remember you from LBT. I was slim-n-tn (changed the name to *slim* before I stopped going over there). I hope all goes well and speedy for you to get your revision!

Yep sounds like me too. I had my revision on 1/13/14 and only lost about 15lbs but I'm down about 12in of my body. The scale started moving and I've lost about 7.5 in April. That's because I'm trying to keep my calories to about 1200 and exercising about 3-4 times a week when my schedule allows it. I also started Dietbetters.com. You bet money on losing weight and if you meet your goal you win a share of the pot! Nice incentive! I have about 50lbs go to to meet my goal. Hopefully by this time next year I will have made it!

I just had the gastric sleeve surgery three months ago. I tend to find myself being really concerned about stretching my stomach or doing something that will cause a downfall. For those preparing to have revision surgery, is there any advice you can give regarding what led to having to have revision surgery? What wisdom would you pass on to those of us who just had our initial surgery? Thank you. Very very grateful.

I'm having a revision due to GERD and associated esophageal damage. Sent from my Z6201V using BariatricPal mobile app

Like the others, it was a lap-band failure for me. Ironically, I had it for twelve years before having it removed. I had horrible acid reflux and never got the adjustments just right. After a while, I stopped going for fills/adjustments and regained the weight. Having said that, I have been successful with my revision. However, I am all in with exercise and eating better. No matter which surgery you have, the honeymoon period will wear off and when it does, you better be in position with good habits formed or you will see the weight creep back. I’ve maintained over 110+ lb weight loss for over three years, however, it’s no longer the surgery at work, but me as I can now eat about 90% of what I use to be able to eat. So maintenance has definitely been the “natural” way.

I had the sleeve 7 years ago. I lost 90 lbs. I gained back 70. I have terrible Gerd. My surgeon told me a few years out that the sleeve did what it was supposed to do and i won't lose like weight again. I went to a new surgeon and he recommended a revision to bypass. I'm 6 days out. I hope to hell I can maintain this time.