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Meley24 Get a revision...get the lap band out... I'd really love to have an skype consult with you. It's free and I'm going to explain the metabolic aspects of weight loss surgery and why the sleeve or bypass are much definitive options thsn the lap band. If prople and even surgeons keep thinking about restriction as the main mechanism for weight loss they are going to fail in understanding the problen and of course, to fight it. Please check the videos on my website (undestanding obesity) at www.doctoraltamirano.com or send me an email to dra@bariatricpal.com to shcedule an appointment. Greetings Well said coming from someone who knows!

I have not had the revision. I have had some of the issues you mention, but a lot of mine were caused by me not following the rules of the band. I might suggest that before you make the big step of having surgery that removes part of your stomach that you have your band emptied to allow yourself to heal completely. I did this and healed. Now that I have filled again, I have vowed to use the band exactly as recommended, no cheating that only hurts me. I recently read to only eat bites the size of a nickel, chew for 20, wait for 20 and everything is working perfectly. My surgeon advised this, saying that a sleeve can stretch anyway so why not just comply to the rules of the band?Hey I say only you know what you've been through and your doctor so do whatever you think is best for your health and your future!!! Good luck!

I did the revision 2 weeks ago and I can say at this point no regrets except I did not do this surgery first. We are successful because the band teaches you to eat very slow so that is half the battle and the feeling when it is stuck is worse than any full feeling . But you know you are full and stop because we did the hole get sick because something stuck not anything I would do now because I can feel stomach acid again. The is new for me after 5 years to have to take Pepcid everyday for the acid I am hoping this will get better in time! Good luck making your decision mine was a must because of issues with my band and was experiencing type 2 diabetes again not an option since my husband past last year my kids need at least one parent here and healthy. My vote would be if you have a great surgeon do it!

I had the revision surgery 6 weeks ago.I am so happy getting the band removed.I lost 75 lbs from the band and was always sick.I was 25 lbs from my goal weight but my dr told me My body has been rejecting it and he had to take all the fluid out and I gained 40 lbs.My health was getting worse and my diabetes was geeting worse.I have lost 22 lbs in 6 weeks and i saw my general practioner and he could tell thedifference for my physical.I am a heart patient and January my condition deteriated.He told me when I saw him he didnt know i wuld make it by the end of the year.My bloodsugar has dropped from a fasting 180 to a average of 100-130.My nurse practationer shared with me the people that endured the band have much better reults you will love the diferance

I am having a revision surgery myself due to my lap band constantly slipping and causing issues. I am extremely excited as a co-worker of mine had a revision as well last October and has had fabulous results! Hopefully, this will help put you at ease. My surgery date is rapidly approaching on August 31st! Best of luck to you!

I revised from the band to the sleeve last year. I wrote about my experience on a thread yesterday: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/topic/163124-help-guys-band-or-sleeve-im-scheduled-for-band-feb1/ I had been at my goal weight for just over 4 years when my band was removed. I have excellent insurance, and it paid for my band removal in April 2012 and for my sleeve surgery in August 2012 because my surgeon's amazing insurance coordinator was able to use her skills and my medical records to prove that the surgeries were medically necessary. So if your band troubles have been well-documented (and surely a band slip and removal were well-documented), it's possible that your insurance will cover your sleeve even if you're no longer obese. Although I don't love my sleeve like I loved my band, I strongly believe that revision was the right thing for me to do because I knew I needed a surgical tool for lifetime weight management. I regained 30 lbs in the short time I was trying to wing it on my own. That is really scary, because I wasn't pigging out and eating stupid stuff (most of the time, anyway), and I was still exercising and generally a lot more active than I was when I was obese. Obesity is caused by our conscious eating behavior but also by factors that are outside our conscious control, like genetics, neurological and hormonal dysfunction, etc. etc. So however we lose weight (with or without WLS), weight management is a lifetime project. As for losing too much weight - I haven't seen that happen to a sleeve patient except for a friend who revised to the sleeve when she was at her goal weight, and then lost another 20 lbs she didn't need to lose. But part of her problem was the formation of strictures that made it hard for her to even drink Clear liquids, never mind eat real food. She had the strictures dilated and is doing much better now. Also, although the sleeve has micronutrient malabsorption, it doesn't (as far as we know) involve the macronutrient malabsorption that makes it so some calories consumed "don't count". If you can't eat much at one time, you can keep your calorie intake where it needs to be by adding healthy Snacks to your day. You might need to work with a nutritionist to do that effectively. I lost weight quickly after my sleeve surgery, so that for a while there I wondered if I was going to be able to stop losing weight, but my weight loss slowed because I was able to eat more (a normal consequence of the healing process) and because I was getting lighter so I needed fewer calories. I haven't lost any more weight in 3 weeks so I think I'm where I need to be. Good luck!

You will find it life changing. I refer to my revision as my chance at a "do over"

How long ago was your band removed? I found it very hard to stop gaining weight after removal. I would go for it to help you maintain. You won't lose too much. It's a revision that is why it was approved.

I have lost 75lbs 10 months post sleeve to RNY revision.

I am going in for sleeve to bypass revision in 10 days.. I am wondering how everyone's weight loss has been after a revision... Please share.. Thanks!

I would still get the revision because I had erosive esophagitis D. It has gone down to an A, so I shouldnt have to worry about getting cancer. I take 60mg Dexilant everyday plus carafate

Consult run down- my 1st consults I am grouping as one - those were the Mexico ones, which are basically just virtual. Price for both surgeries was between 8-9.5K. Fam begged me not to go to Mexico then my cardiologist said I would come back in a box so they got nixed Right away. FYI, Idid get a quote from Bariatric Pal MX for all those curious. You never "converse" with the surgeon during the process (which is different from the other Mexico consults) and they didn't have any openings until September. My second consult was probably the worst. Surgeon said with the amount of sag I have the implant would have to be done in a separate surgery- which was hard to hear. What was harder to hear was that I would end up part of the itty-bitty titty comittee. He said I would end up possibly a B cup. That is a no go, even for the 4 months in between surgeries. Plus how the hell are you gonna turn a 36DDD into a B. What type of hack job is that? Quote for that 19K. On to today's consults (#3 & #4) first doctor was super personable. He said he'd have no issues doing the implant and lift at the same time. But it would need to be a small implant - with out the implant I would end up a large C but would not have that full round look on top. With implant, rounder, perkier. Arm lift, great candidate, easy-peasy. Scars with be long and knarly, with take a year to lighten. He said I would have drains in the arms for a week, no drains on the breasts. Cost for that 17,513. Second consult of the day(#4 consult) was a bit more dicey. First off Doctor was a little surly (but f*cking handsome) and he had a similar take as the first of the American surgeons. Lift and implants at the same time were not a good idea. Why? Chance of revision would be high, symmetry would suffer, chance of necrosis of the nipple high. What I did like about him was the fact that he crinkled his nose when I said the other doc said I'd be a B. Worst case scenario, large C, probably a D. If they ended up a D, frankly I wouldn't go back for the implant. I might loose feeling in my nipples, yikes. Again, arms no biggy, great candidate. Cost 15,400. He said if I wanted the implant later for fullness on top, he would give me a steep discount. Still two consults to go on January 28 and then I make my decision. Oh, and no one today said anything about it being too soon. So if you want plastics now, go!

I've been on all kinds of medicine. They are going to do a revision of my bypass. I got rid of my surgeon and got a new one I'll be seeing next week

A lot of people look at revision surgery due to severe Gerd and reflux. Many report that don't get a lot of extra weight loss. So I was thinking if it's just weight loss for you why wouldn't you try to go back to basics with the tool you already have ( your sleeve)?

I truly believe some of these surgeons just want to torture you LOL! I think there's a grain or 2 of truth in that. I've been wondering if the surgeons are even aware of all of the rules their clinics impose on patients. My current surgeon's patient advocate (advocate isn't the exact word I'd use to describe her) told me that I have to follow all their pre-op procedures for my revision surgery despite the fact that I've already done all of this before. She said, "Listen, Jean, I know you wrote a book about it and everything, but this is the way we do things." Ah, yes, my very favorite reason for doing things: "we've always done it this way"! But, trying to give them the benefit of the doubt, I'm telling myself that since my original surgery was done by a different surgeon in another state (who also got his medical license yanked), my current surgeon's office has to assume that everything I learned the first time around is worthless, despite my evident success. I went to a mandatory nutrition class yesterday (which involved a 240 mile round trip, with gas at $4.09/gallon) and heard the dietitian say some things that just did not click with my understanding of things, but you'd be proud, I didn't make any smart-aleck or know-it-all remarks. Out loud, anyway.

Well I am scheduled for revision surgery on Mon April 23rd and I have started the dreadful 2 week liquid diet! I am so iiritated because from what I understand the liquid diet is to shrink the liver because people who are obese tend to have large fatty livers. Duh...I have a normal BMI now hence a normal sized liver. I mentioned this to the dietician and her response what that everyone has to do the 2 week liquid diet. I get the feeling that we are all just put into a box and given the same rules regardless of the situation. Besides that I am on a very very strict liquid diet of only low carb Protein shakes, sugar free popsicles, sugar free Jello, broth, and crystal light. I was allowed full liquids before my first surgery and everything went well so I don't understand why I have to go through this. This is a different surgeon so I guess everyone has their own rules but this is all so ridiculous if you ask me! Thanks for letting me vent!

Hi Scott, I too have the band and have had some problems, I just went in for an EDG now I'm waiting for my Dr. To call, I lost really well at first, but after two years started having problems, I was down to 135 lbs, gained back about 25 lbs, I was at 189 starting weight, but I want to keep my band and have them do a revision and plication done know, yes it is hard but I did it and now what some thing that I can lose this weight and keep it off, with the plication, I was reading your story and whated to wish you and your family good luck!

As with any of the weight loss surgeries, complications can and do happen. I agree with the others that you should take as much time as you need to research all of them and make an informed decision. Have questions prepared for your appointment and if you are not comfortable with the answers or the surgeon get a second opinion. The band is not an easy road by any means. Your head has to be in the right place and you must follow the band guidelines you will get from your surgeon. If you have any doubts, ask questions! I lost 100 lbs and made my goal in 8/9 months and am very happy with the results, however, I am one of the small percentage of people who had complications. Just 10 days ago, I had revision surgery to another band because my original slipped up onto my esophagus and had major scarring. I will tell you though that I was banded in Mexico with the old 4cc band, which is notorious for this very type of problem. The reason I am telling you this is not to scare you but to stress the importance of letting your doctor know if you sense anything at all doesn't seem right with your band. Good luck to you!

2 week post op today. They said the pulling is the ab muscles healing from the inner sutures where they closed the larger access points. The said they should settle down by 6 weeks but that I can return to my very physical job between 3-4 weeks post op. MD recommended I refrain from work closer to the 4 week time frame. Mine was a band to vsg revision, so there is a lot more to heal inside. I am having less burning stabbing now and more aching and alien cramp stuff going on in the muscles. They did recommend I back off to liquids for an additional 2 weeks to allow the sleeve to heal with a smoother thinner lining

My surgery date is listed in my callout. I had Band to RYN Revision on March 21st of this year. I'm having all the normal typical labs drawn, and my levels have (for the most part) stayed within the normal range. My only dip was in Vitamin D, because of where I live and my job, I don't see a lot of sunlight ever. So I've been supplementing that, but everything else is good, even was taken off of extra B12 because the patch has been providing the levels I need. My surgeon, PCP, the hospitals lead nurse and lead pharmacist all approved my testing of the patches as they haven't seen them ever. But, 3 month labs were all good, 6 months labs were all good. Been on the patches for 7+ months. Not sure who had issues or why with your groups, could be patch placement (you need a hairless, thinner skin placement area), could be patch wear length (you *HAVE* to wear them for 8+ hours) It's funny, there's another member around here that is against the patches and always says you can't tell if they work because vitamins won't drop within 3 months, yet you've got reports that folks had their levels drop within 2. Just amused at the differences all over the place with WLS.

Thanks OregonDaisy- I will look into those some more. You are one of the small group of people that I have been keeping tabs on about revision- including WasAbubblebutt, MacMadame, and some others. After seeing all of you having problems, all while playing the game right and ultimately going to the Sleeve has made me re-think my decision. I appreciate all of you being "vocal" about it thus, helping others like myself. I grew up in Oregon by the way, Portland & Milwaukie and then lived in Salem in my teens. I miss it there. SO different then Texas!

@onmyway11I had the exact same experience with the band. Then I was revised to the traditional DS two years ago. No regain at this point. The doctor who did my DS is located in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Did you revise to RNY because of the GERD ?

Did the tube disconnect at the band, the port or is it in between? Any idea why this happened? If you can have it revised I'd go for that? Seems like a small incision and scope to reconnect the tube would be easy?

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