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Oh my gosh, thank you all for such amazing support! Hearing the word "inspiration" makes me so happy because for so long, I looked on this website/app researching and reading success stories and was never really sure if I could do it like those people. As for your revision, I'm sure that can be quite scary worrying that you won't lose the weight, keep it off, etc... BUT, you have to think positively! The minute I got my surgery date, I found this newfound hope that I had never had before! I've lost crazy amounts of weight over the years but could never sustain the weight loss, but with the sleeve, it is like HEAVEN! I can now eat anything (I don't obviously, but it doesn't make me sick if I have a bite of something, however, I get full after just a few bites. Perfect example: sushi is my favorite food. After surgery, I felt like I was going to have to give it up for forever! I used to be able to eat 3-4 rolls just by myself... That's like 24-30 pieces!!! Now, I can't eat more than 2 pieces of sushi and I feel the same fullness as I would have before surgery! Best of luck to each of you who has a surgery date, waiting for one, or those post-op like myself! I posted a pic earlier, but will post it on this thread in case anyone is interested!

Planned on revision from lap band to bypass but got revised to a VSG sleeve instead, doctor insisted. 2/27/18. HW 315 After dieting, and preop diet presurgery- 302 today- 288 goal- as healthy as I can get with God’s will

UPDATE: I just got the call. The nodules also came back pre-cancerous, and it's going to take 2 more surgeries to get them all removed from my duodenum. I'll be having them in April and May. I also have to have a colonoscopy because when I go #2, there's horrible pain at my belly button and along the sides of my stomach, to the point where I can't catch my breath, stand up straight, or walk. Given the polyps and nodules all through my stomach and duodenum, my GI specialist is concerned there will be polyps or something else that needs to be removed. So I have no idea at this point when I'll be cleared to have my revision. But he was saying the colonoscopy will probably be in June and then we'll go from there deciding what needs to be done. once everything with my colon is finished, I'll have to have another endoscopy to see if any new polyps have come back in my stomach and duodenum. If so, they will have to be removed again. If not, I'll be cleared for my revision. This is absolutely ridiculous. I'm so over all of it.

I am so glad that you are still reaching out to your team and posting here. I won’t get too far into my story but because of “confusion,” about my mental health, interactions with meds and embarrassment the help I got from my team was not working for me and I gave up. I continued to gain and now I am back here facing revision weighing a little more than when I started this journey. People here are very helpful and understanding but your team should be giving you answers too. Sounds like they have a plan for the next step if need be and that’s great. if all else fails, The phentermine is the one medication that I could try which did work amazing during the day for me but I suffer from insomnia and when I can’t sleep I eat. So, the meds worked wonderfully during the day but at night, with my larger sleeve and being awake so many times, I was able to consume too much for the whole day and I still gained. But I can see how if you sleep throughout the night it really could work. I didn’t get to try mountjourno or any of the other brands it’s sold under because of financial reasons but if you can swing it, I have heard AMAZING things about that medicine too (there are some side effects for some people to consider). People claim they think they must know how skinny brains feel after taking it. They just don’t ever have to think or worry about food. One lady has to set alarms if she is busy to remind herself to eat something. Another drawback is how long you have to take it. Some say when you go off it you start to gain. They are doing studies now where they are trying to work out a maintenance dose that may be less than the regular dosage though. There are also places that are starting to “compound” it at compounding pharmacies. I wouldn’t necessarily trust the stuff from random sites online but my PCP was telling me they were working on getting it in their office and it is less than half the normal cost that way. I don’t know much about the other weight loss drug options because I couldn’t take them with my bipolar meds Interestingly, i just seen an ABC special Oprah did on weight loss injections the other night. (Ironically it was the day I went back to see my surgeon so I thought maybe it was meant to be which is why I inquired about them with my PCP). I’m really hoping that reached someone that has the power to change how accessible these meds are. I asked my pcp and she said it’s probably going to take a little while like everything else and she thinks at this point I shouldn’t wait on surgery for that but if your interested keep asking questions because these things tend to just change in the middle of the night and the word takes a while to reach you if you not the one asking. Anywahs, kudos to you for not giving up. Let your team do all they can to help you and keep posting here!!. I think when I stopped that I lost all hope. I was so isolated. Surrounded by skinny family and having only one heavyset friend who is perfectly content being that way I don’t have a lot of real life people who understand me the way that this community does. I felt so ashamed and I didn’t want to drag down the vibe here with my failures. Since I have returned I have been welcomed with open arms and honestly don’t know why I ever doubted that I would be. Keep doing what your doing and you will work this out. I know it. 🤗

Hi. I will be going to Mexico on Oct 19th, with Dr. Aceves. Surgery will be on the 20th. I was banded in 2006. I will be having a revision surgery from band to sleeve. I will be getting a complete unfill this morning and going on liquids for 3 weeks preop. That's a little scary :biggrin:. My weight is 125 (up from lowest of 115). I hope to lose the 10 lbs and then maintain. I hope the sleeve will help with that.

Hi again Lizalee, What do you mean "kinked tube'" and "port revision?" How does that happen and what procedures are involved in fixing these problems?

Hi starryeyes. I am under the homerton but looking for a revision from band to sleeve. Sent from my VFD 700 using BariatricPal mobile app

Losing is a challenge but keeping it off is an even bigger challenge. I worry all the time about whether or not I will keep it off with the band let alone the thought of not having the band at all. Long before my Band days I had lost 175lbs between 2003 and 2004 and got down to 219. I somehow managed to put it all back on plus an additional 90lbs. Even now when I reflect back I am not totally sure how I managed to let myself go and let it get so bad. I think perhaps I felt so good about myself and that life was grand that had I slipped back into habits and then begin making excuses for not taking corrective actions. So as you can see I am very nervous about keeping it off long term as I had already failed before. Band or no band but at least with the band I am hoping my weight issues forever stay on the forefront of my mind so what happened before will not repeat on me. From 2003 to 2004 I went from 394 to 219 back up to 488 by 2011. Completely disgusting and inexcusable and to this day I haven't forgiven myself. I wish you all the luck in the world and hope it works out but if it were me I would revise to something else if possible.

Well, hindsight is always 20/20. I think, when I was making the decision, I was much more tortured about it. It is a unique dilemma to have already committed and paid for a weight loss surgery and it doesn't work. I did not lose much weight with the band and it didn't slip, but it was uncomfortable and was doing me no favors. I was self pay both times, so it isn't just the failure of the band, but paying for both surgeries. It's a major fail either way you look at it and I am not the type of person who takes failure lightly. I think it is good that I had the sleeve in this time because I think the procedure has evolved and it much better now than it used to be. Of course, I wish I had never had to deal with a failed lap band. The sleeve is everything the band promised, without the BS. I never had much success witht he band. You did have success, though, and I can see where you may feel odd about losing it. I couldn't wait to get that piece of crap out of my body. When I went in for surgery, I was totally at peace with the idea that, even if I didn't lose any weight, I would be OK. I was getting the band out and I was doing the VSG as insurance. I just didn;t want to get any heavier. When I woke up in the afternoon after surgery, I touched my port site and almost cried - I was so happy there was no more hardware in my belly. Another revision patient that was a very low weight (she had good success with the band until there were complications) is Loouuu (not sure how to spell it). It's not crazy to do VSG with a BMI of 30. Just think, You are almost all the way home!! After VSG you will have a new surge of success. Some people do VSG on a virgin stomach at that BMI. Just make sure to find a good surgeon who has lots of experience with revisions - we are a little more risky.

So once you get to your limit on the bread, how do you feel? Are you just full? Does it hurt? Do you feel nauseous? Sorry for all the questions - I'm a band to VSG revision - with my band, when I ate something I shouldn't (or didn't chew enough) food would get stuck and it hurt. Bad. Sometimes had to make my self throw up. Thanks!

The band isn't right for everyone. Personally, for information's sake, if you don't mind sharing, I'd like to know why you don't think it's right for you? I do not think that insurance will pay for a revision without you having issues with the band. Unfortunately, there aren't alot of people who got revisions who hang around here, but you might try to repost this in the "Life After Lap Band Removal" section. There was a poster who used to hang around called Geezer Sue who was revised to DS, but I haven't seen her in a while.

This whole situation is very disturbing. It could be that your wife is having major complications from the band. Perhaps her body is rejecting the material placed in her body. Inflammation is usually the body's response to a foreign object. I would hesitate to replace the band with another one without knowing why this happening to her right now. The situation is serious, and I would be asking as many questions of the surgeon and the rest of her medical team to find out WHY this is happening. It is not just from the trauma of the surgery. Yes the vomiting could cause her to have swelling, but to the point of almost having the stoma close is very extreme. Weight loss is not worth your life! Living the way she is now on IV and vomiting all the time is no quality of life. Reach out to other doctors, not just bariatric surgeons, maybe speak to an internist or a gastroenterologist as well to see what their opinion is on the swelling before making the choice to put in another band or revise to another surgery. Best of luck to you and your wife. Please keep us updated.

I have actually had issues with my lapband, weight loss, food getting stuck, throwing up daily, and now dealing with all of the testing related to erosion and/or Barrett's complications. I was never told what "full" would feel like, not like an alien wanting to pop out of my chest, gag reflex and bolting to the restroom. I wasn't told that I wouldn't know what food would trigger it or when it would happen. I was told my insurance would cover follow up visits but it didn't. It started in 2008 and I am here now. Back at my original weight, having only lost 35 lbs originally, being approved for removal and sleeve revision only to find out that even with insurance, my portion would be around $13,000. I am considering a lawsuit for the initial cost, removal and any treatment that will come from what I am also facing. I hope your treatment works well and you get better asap.

I had my surgery.....Lap Band removal, revision to Sleeve.....almost 2 weeks ago, June 26, 2017. I am quite swelled on my upper left side incision area, and have been since surgery. Has anyone else had this swelling, or does everyone have it? I'm wondering if it was due to removal of my port, as it was a good size. I've kept ice packs on this area but can't really tell it's going down much. My doc office says as long as it's not hurting, it's ok. Maybe I'm worrying too much!! Thanks.

I have been thinking a great deal about my lap band and the struggles I've had for the last few years. I had my lap band surgery in 2013. I lost 60 lbs and everything was great until 2017, when I traveled to Hawaii. The flight messed with my lap band and since then I can't seem to get it right. I had another surgery to fix the placement of the lap band because it slipped but that still hadn't gotten me back to my original success. Since this time, I've had fills and defills and nothing seems to work. I travel allot (before Covid) and the flights always mess with my lap band. Right now, I am waiting for another fill but can't get it because of Covid. However, I'm having issues with the band. Some days I can't eat anything, not even coffee, the next day I'm starving and everything goes through, bread, pasta, chicken etc. I checked in with my Dr, and she says that stress and hormones are a factor in the band tightening. Well, I'm hitting menopause so my hormones fluctuate ALLOT. I have diligently tried everything. I have been following all the rules, eating protein; small bites, chewing etc. I'm getting tired of this constant back and forth. And to top it off, I'm gaining weight again. I am considering having the band removed. A friend suggested revision surgery to gastric bypass. She had it done and she doesn't have any problems anymore. I also heard that some have the gastric sleeve. What does this group suggest?

I truly believe even those who are a "success" with the band will eventually need it removed. I had mine for over 9 years. 7 of those years I had very little fluid in it due to reflux issues. The last year I had no fluid. I felt fine once the fluid was out but found out after my revision what a horrific scene it was inside me. The doctor said my stomach was close to shutting off completely and it had to come out in pieces. I have to wonder what all long term band stomachs look like. I am so glad I had it out before I experienced a life threatening incident.

Hi to all & Jennifer1... Im a newbie & I'm scheduled to have my revision from lap to bypass on sept 22 & Dr Masrur @ Uic in Chicago will be performing my surgery, I dnt know if this the surgeon u looked into but he is board certified ..& he also perform Bariatric surgery on some of the women staff there @ Uic & they look awesome.. So I'm very excited about my new journey after going through so much with the band Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Hi my name is Jennifer and I am looking to get a revision from my lap band to the sleeve. I often hear how your surgeon should be board certified...has anyone ever used a doctor that was not board certified. I have a doctor out of UIC in Chicago and unless i'm spelling his name wrong when I look him up it doesnt say he is board certified. Thoughts????

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).

Hi peeps! Two questions for everyone if you can answer.. 1. I am 14 days post op (band to sleeve revision) and the largest incision is almost healed however the internal tissue surrounding the incision is super hard.. Does the density of that tissue minimize overtime!? 2. I notice many folks are experiencing stalls 3-4 wks out what did you do to overcome it?

I am a little over two weeks post-op from hernia repair and band removal to gastric sleeve revision... I am experiencing constant burning pain where the port was. The incision is healing great, it's definitely coming from the muscle underneath. It's worse when I move certain ways for sure but it is there to some degree all the time. It is driving me crazy. Any suggestions or pain relief solutions?

It sounds like you're on the right track with finding a new good doctor that you like and can trust. A revision might be the answer. Check the forums here and many people have had them and have had success with that. Hang in there.

That's a good question lol I know the Bypass is the best option esp with the long term results, but the whole malabsorption really scares me I'm going to attend another support group tonight with a friend of mines who did the lap-band 9 years ago. She is thinking of revising to the Bypass herself. Her surgeon said the lap-band is just like the sleeve and it's a waste of time. We go to the same medical group just see different surgeons. So I guess you guys are right each surgeon is different. I would be concerned about a surgeon who says the sleeve is just like the band and a waste of time. The theory behind the two, restriction of food intake, is the same but that's about it. There are plenty of people, me included, who are amazingly successful with the sleeve. I've lost close to 130 lbs and am 2 years post surgery. I think you need to gather all the information you can and go with the procedure that's right for you. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Gina. How's it going? I have one last pre op appointment the 19th. Then my paperwork will be submitted for approval through insurance. Michelle Pre-op revision band to bypass Starting weight 275 Healthy BMI 154.

This is gerd and is quite common with the sleeve. I too would wake up with acid flowing from my nose and mouth. It was horrible. Best option is to revise to a bypass. you need to see a surgeon. They may put you on a ppi but those are not safe long term. Gerd can lead to much worse things like cancer. Please see a Dr ASAP.