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I had surgery on 9/24 weighing 252 lbs.and went in for my first fill yesterday.. I currently weigh 225 lbs. and guess what.. my port is backwards..... now I have to do a revision.. and I do not know if I should go through this again... because I am unable to get any fills... because she has to tilt my port and attempt to have the needle penetrate on an angle.. and it hurt soo much.. The office has given me a tentative date for Jan 11.. has anyone experienced this.. my goodness It's only been two months and 6 days!!!:wink2:

Wow, I would say that it is still worth it. I am sure that the port revision will not be as bad as the whole surgery. Good luck!

This is a good question. In all my prep for my surgery (band to sleeve revision) I missed the part about no caffeine...I had the worst caffeine withdrawal headache post op. I would have weaned myself off if I knew I wouldn't be able to have any. I am actually drinking a little coffee today, just enough to make the headache go away (a couple ounces). I was not a big Starbucks drinker, didn't do lots of mochas or lattes, I just like a cup of coffee in the morning.

Right after I had my band put in (1/31/2005) I was very sick for 2 weeks. I threw up constantly, most likely due to extra restriction caused by the swelling that resulted from surgery, and a band that was probably too small for me. The constant throwing up (I wasn't able to even keep down my own saliva) probably led to a slip. However, because my doctor didn't do fills under flouroscopy, the slip wasn't caught until Thanksgiving of last year, when I went for my first fill under flouroscopy. After the slip was discovered, they removed all saline from the band and put me on a liquid diet for a week. In that time, the band *did* slip back. However, shortly after receiving my first fill, the band slipped again. Because the band slipped twice, there was no hope that it would remain in place, even if it did slip back on its own. The sliding up and down the track that the band was on created scar tissue that enabled slipping. I had the option to have my surgeon try to repair this band, but in cases like this, they usually want you to have the band removed and wait six months and try again. I was also given the option to revise from lapband to another WLS (the one offered to me was RNY, and I didn't pursue the route to see if other bypass surgeries, like DS, would be covered). I'm done with the band. My experience wasn't as bad as some have had, but it was bad enough that I'm not interested in ever having it again. I ddn't lose much weight with it, I was miserable after surgery, miserable many times during the course of the year I had it, and it was a serious hindrance to losing weight once it slipped. For me, once it slipped, I had no restriction when it came to any food I could eat, but it prevented me from eating some foods -- like salad (lettuce, specifically), brocolli, many other vegatables and fruits. So, that's my story, more or less. In a few days, I'm going to post a rather long post detailing what I've learned in the past year, in hopes that it will help those who are currently banded, those who are considering banding, and those who have lost their bands. I feel like I've learned a lot, and want to be able to share it with whoever is interested. Hope this answers some questions for people. Peace, Jonathan

I had a band for 3-1/2 yrs. Only lost weight within the first 6 months, then nothing after. Was miserable with food getting stuck, etc. Ended up with a hiatal hernia near the band site. Revised to the VSG in January and loving life now! In my opinion, the band is evil:sneaky2:... I wouldn't recommomend it to anyone except Osama bin Laden.

My removal was pretty uneventful even though I have a lot of scarring from previous revisions. I actually felt better the second I woke up, even though that sounds crazy.

Since my surgery, I cannot eat dried pastas or white, brown, red or black (forbidden) rice. But I CAN eat fresh pasta and wild rice and all wheat grains and many other grains. My understanding is that the ones I can't eat continue to expand after eating, and that's painful with a tiny stomach pouch. So, did some research. Rice and dried pastas can expand up to six times their dry volume either during cooking or after eating. Fresh pastas still are about halfway to the expanded volume before cooking and double when cooked, so are DONE EXPANDING when eaten, so won't cause pain or nausea when consumed. Rice pudding and risotto have also fully expanded BEFORE you eat them, so can also be eaten with no negative consequences. However, most rice dishes and pasta from dried have tripled in size before eating but will DOUBLE that INSIDE you. That's going to be bad. My research has found NOTHING about the discomfort being due to high carb content. If you are prone to short term dumping, high carbs can be a problem, but although I can't eat a whole hard candy, I can eat a plate of fresh pasta with cheese sauce ( my version of Mac and cheese, homemade) and it doesn't cause dumping. I only get dumping from fresh pasta if I don't consume enough protein with it. The problem with pasta is one of volume, not carbs. Wheat grains (wheat berries, spelt, kamut, einkorn, farro, emmer, cracked wheat, bulgur, and others) expand to only 3 times dry volume when cooked, so the expansion is done during cooking, and no more occurs after eating. The same is true of barley, quinoa, amaranth, teff, millet, kaniwa, buckwheat, and a bunch of other grains. So, they all can be substituted in recipes that call for rice. Wild rice isn't in the rice family, it's closer related to wheat and barley, do it also is done expanding during cooking so can be eaten without trouble. I use spelt when I make pork fried rice. I use wild rice instead of noodles in chicken soup. I use kamut or wheat berries instead of couscous. I do have to adjust cooking times, or liquid amounts to reflect what actually is being cooked, but the recipes come out tasty and healthy. My question for you all is, have you found any prepared pasta dishes you can eat? If not, try with fresh pasta. Btw, egg rolls wrappers are essentially identical to fresh pasta and can be used to make lasagna without needing prior cooking, and without over expansion inside you. Hopefully you can try some of these ideas and find out you have more food choices than you thought you did. I am 8 years out from Roux-En-Y surgery, with several revision surgeries as well, and gall bladder removal, and I am still at my target weight, 100 lbs. down from pre-surgery weight. It has NOT been easy.

Not only would I, but I did. Had stubborn small slip that wouldn't repair, so almost 3 years to the week I had revision surgery and got the larger band to replace my old band. I started at 324, went as low as 174, but gained up to 208 when my band was slipped. Now I'm hovering around 190 and hoping to get back to 180 by the summer. Taking off 125 - 150 pounds made all the difference in the world to me, both physically and mentally. Best wishes to you. Sue

Hi Alex, I'm wondering if there is anything that can be done for someone in a case such as mine who has had two bariatric procedures done? I had my lap band in May 2013 and still was ~150 lbs lighter when I had my revision-to-gastric sleeve done 2 weeks ago on August 24th... it seems like I'm only able to merge the info together which either makes it look like I had the gastric sleeve done in 2013 OR that I lost 160+ lbs in 2 weeks while it's pretty funny it also makes my history appear very misleading. Thank you!

It may be too early for me to chime in but I had a revision from band to bypass in May. I had the band 13 years and went from 232 to (usually) the 140s. But when I had a complication (esophageal dysmotility) I was unfilled and (no surprise) gained about 45lbs in the 5-6 months until the revision. So new high weight was 185. Surgery weight was 177. It’s been 7 weeks and I have lost exactly 20 lbs to 157. So I cannot comment on long term effects... BUT One thing is that this is sooo much better than the band. I recently had the first meal out with my husband where I ate a “normal” amount and didn’t end up in the bathroom. Normal being a miso soup and a fish appetizer at a Japanese restaurant. With the band I would often have two bites and not be able to eat which was embarrassing and people would always ask why I wasn’t eating (or sneaking off to the bathroom). Small portions make me feel good and satisfied. Unlike the band where it was usually painful or uncomfortable. Hope this helps! S

Well, I'm 3.5 wks post-op from my breast augmentation revision and things went fantastic. Dr. Bogdan removed my 31-yr old ruptured silicone implants and replaced them with the new gummy-style silicone. I had a capsular contraction with my last implants, so they were hard as rocks. Now these new ones supposedly feel like natural boobies (though I really have no idea - it's been so long since mine WERE natural, and when they were there wasn't much to them to feel!). Dr. B removed all my old scar tissue internally and also my whole old scar along the fold under my breast. My new scars are so thin and gorgeous (for scars) that I don't think you'll even be able to see them once I'm all healed. I'm happy, hubby is thrilled, and now I have experience with an amazing aethesthic surgeon for when I want to do more. First thing on the list is some type of filler for my cheeks so they won't look so gaunt, then someday a neck lift to get rid of the turkey neck. But got to get back to saving the $$$ again first.

Dr Spann was also involved with my surgery and he is AWESOME too! You won’t be disappointed with your choice! The online support group is THE BEST - highly recommend you join as soon as you’re a patient. Mine was a revision from a previously messed up revision so can’t really help you with the insurance process BUT as soon as you become a member of online group ( they’ll give u access when you go for your appointment- pose the question to the group - you will get LOTS of info

well I have to go through the 7 month visit with my family dr. and all the other steps that I did with the first surgery before I can have my revision. I guess if I want insurance to pay I will just have to go with the plan. I had planned on having the surgery before I put on too much weight but I guess I will have to work harder to keep it off. - which is going to be even harder because I am going to have surgery on my foot most likely in May - and there will be no weight allowed on that foot for a month and then very little for the next. By the time I am getting over that surgery I will be nearing my time to have my sleeve surgery. I just hope I can balance my diet to not gain a lot of weight before I have that surgery. because there wont be to much exercising. I am so happy you are so close to your surgery. I will be praying for you. Just remember the goal you will be reaching for when you are struggling through the bad days. Just grasp that picture of the smaller jeans and not squeezing into those tinny chairs.

Thank you for sharing, I'm having band to sleeve revision at that hospital on the 31st. It's nice to know what it's like. Speedy recovery to you!

Wow, so many have to wait a while between procedures. My band is coming out tomorrow - 3/10/14 and revision to sleeve on April 17th - only a 4 week wait.

Hello all, I had lap band in 2008 and lost ~250 pounds, from 433 to 178 pounds. I thought the band was a miracle. Then the band went from being my friend to my nemesis. Trying to manage severe GERD has led to almost 100 pound gain. Long story short, I have a doctor appointment tomorrow to see about getting the band out and convert to RNY. (Sleeve is out of the question due to GERD). I have Kaiser and they will only do it in two steps which I am bummed about, but I just want to get the process started. Anyway, the reason for my post is I have been re-emerging on this forum to find others who have transitioned from lap band to RNY. My main question is, for those who have gone from band to RNY, how was the transition for you and did you find that the RNY worked well for you after your band? I read a lot of these stories about people losing a lot of weight quickly on RNY but they are talking about their first bariatric surgery. As a second bariatric surgery I want to know more about what I can expect. Are there forums on here for revision patients? Kathy

Congrats! I'm also pleased I had mine removed. I was revised to the bypass and I honestly could not be happier with my decision!

Congrats on your LB removal! I know when I had mine removed, I felt much better physically. I chose not to get revision right away and did pretty well for about 5 years. Then life threw me some curve balls and I gained my weight back. I spent 2 years trying to do it on my own before I realized that I needed help. I got revision to sleeve on 4/10 and am very happy with my decision.

I'll be 7 years post gastric sleeve in December. I never reached goal, but lost 80 lbs. I managed to keep most of it off for about 4 years and slowly the carbs crept back into my life and the weight gain began. I gained 35 lbs back and I'm so disgusted with myself. It took me so long to get the courage to finally have WLS. I was so nervous and afraid that I swore if I put myself through surgery I would never gain all my weight back. I've tried Keto, and did really well for about a year and a half until I was no longer losing and just couldn't commit to the lifestyle. It seems I've lost any will power I may once had and I really don't want to get a revision if I can help it. How do I restart my weight loss? I know I've probably stretched my pouch. Do I go back to drinking shakes? Has anyone had any success in losing their significant weight gain without having to have a revision, or is a revision in my future?

I'm 61 and going for revision. Just don't know if sleeve or bypass is better for me. But I just don't want to retire and not be healthy enough to enjoy it. Right now I have no energy and I am sick and tired. I'm scared so any words of encouragement or your own good experience stories are so welcome

Hey all! I'm new to this forum. I'm scheduled for RNY on 6/4....SOOOO EXCITED! I had a lap and placed in 2008 and then replaced in 2009 due to a slip. I lost about 70lbs. Then life started to happen. The insurance I had did want to pay for fills. Luckily I still had some restriction...even going thru 2 more pregnancies. I got new insurance coverage in 2016 and decided to get a fill only to find out my band had slipped again. The Dr did not recommend another band and suggested I have it removed and get a revision if I wanted. YES PLEASE! I'm blessed to awesome insurance. It did not require me to do a 3,6, or 12 month pre-op diet. I did have to do the EGD, psych, and nutritionist visits. I was required by the surgeon to wait 3 months after band removal in early January for my stomach to heal. I wanted to have surgery in late April but was delayed because the office assumed I had to see the Nut more than once and didn't do my due diligence in confirming what my requirements are. Anyhoo...I can't dwell on that. Its just a few weeks. I'm eager to get my health under control (I have hypertension) and look and feel good in my clothes again.

Hi, I’m new to the journey. I’m in the middle of assessment for revision surgery. I had a lapband in 2007 and had great success until it slipped in 2012. After losing 120 lbs I’ve now gained back 80. I’m now looking into either a VGS or RNY. Any advice on which one would be helpful. I suffer from mild heartburn infrequently so I’m concerned about reflux with the VGS. surgery won’t be until May or so due to my work schedule, but want to decide soon. The doctors are open to either for me.

4 and a drain hole. But mine was LapBand to sleeve revision.

The ultimate decision is yours of course, but I would listen to your doctor's advice, he has done a lot of these procedures, and he wouldn't have suggested RnY if he hadn't seen a good reason for it. A lot of times they advise sleeve for people your age but as you see from the previous person a lot of times it needs revised. Why not go with just one surgery and get it done right the first time? Study up on both procedures, you'll only have 4or5,little iddie bitty slits in your tummy no matter which one. If you have a sleeve the left one is where they pull the majority of your stomach out, you do know you lose about 3/4 of your. stomach with that procedure? If you have a bypass that's where they put the biggest gauge equipment, in either case that will be the sorest if one has to be. You'll start on a beautiful new journey toward weight loss and better health, and also a longer lifespan. It will be worth it all! Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Just had a sleeve revision February 27th water and ice pops is pretty much all I can consume. Broth makes me nausea (and I love soups!) good part down 10 lbs