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Reversals are actually done a lot more often than you would think. I may be doing this by the end of the year. There are Facebook groups for gastric bypass takedowns and support. Lots of people have had mechanical issues and needed reversals. They are definitely high risk, however if they can take you apart, they can put you back together, although I wouldn't go to just anyone that's for sure!. I'm personally experiencing malnutrition, and severe weight loss (and no, none of this is my doing. I did all that I was supposed to over the last 16 years). Had a revision in September, and still having complications. Seeing my doctor again next week to discuss next step, which is most likely the takedown. They also do them on those who continue to get ulcers, or severe dumping (which I also get from everything I eat). In regard to weight gain from the reversal, it's one's choice to eat badly and put the weight back on, just like you can start making bad choices with rny and never expect to stretch your stomach. It happens in most cases. I learned a lot about eating well, healthy/organic, locally grown as often as possible. (wish I knew then what I know now, I regret my surgery a lot) I would actually give anything to eat a salad or a piece of fish right now, instead I am getting tpn through a picc line. So even though you follow the plan, like I did it doesn't mean you wont have issues.

Dumping is not guaranteed. So maybe not the best ideas to make a decision on that. You posted on the bypass thread so you'll get a lot of pro bypass perspectives, too. I decided bypass because I wanted the greatest chance of my co morbidities being completely resolved. I wanted long term data. I've been on this site a while and I can't figure out if sleeves are just being offered more lately and there by we are hearing more about folks not being able to eat being 6 wks, 6 months out and other stuff or if sleeves are more vocal about it. Can't tell. I'm two weeks out and can tolerate everything I tried with no problems, nausea, vomiting. I know when I'm am eating too fast but I think that would be the same for everyone at this point. You need to make this decision with your surgeon. I think most people go with their guts and at their fear edge. Some people are gonna be creeped out by the re routing, I was afraid of the long line of stitching with the sleeve or developing any sort of reflux, heartburn etc. Also, what sealed the deal for me and you might ask your surgeon. How many of each procedures has he/she done? Which one has he/she done the most revisions or fixed complications with? And how comfortable with it are they? If his or her child needed bariatric surgery which would they recommend? Honestly, you are young and healthy and would probably do well with a uncomplicated sleeve or bypass process, but you may not need all the bypass has to offer.

I did *lots* of research for my revision and all led me to Dr. Aceves. I think I'm making a great choice as well as I've heard and read nothing but good things about him and the hospital. I'm just worried that I'll fail the sleeve like I failed the band. Fingers are crossed and I have a goal that I WILL get to! I haven't been to Mexico since I was banded so I'm itching to go back ..... we used to go every year while growing up and I so miss it! Pretty sad I have to schedule a surgery to go! Hahahaa

I am also a band to sleeve revision. When I got the band in 2009, that was a selling point - that it was reversible. But, as I started to lose weight, I wanted it to be permanent, not temporarily. Why would u want something temporarily? I thought the same thing. God put this organ in my body for a reason and would I regret losing most of it? Not yet. I'm 10 mths out and don't regret it for a second. 15% is all u really need. Good luck!

I am scheduled for a revision sleeve in June. Has anyone experienced gall bladder problems after being sleeved? I have heard it can be a problem.

I am getting a revision from lap band to sleeve. I got my lap band in 2010. Everything worked fine until I had minor complications almost a year later and after I had my daughter. So it really isnt working for me anymore. I have almost gained all my weight back. I look forward to my journey with my sleeve. However, my doctor's office submitted my paperwork to Aetna on Oct 24 and still havent heard anything. Ive checked with the coordinator and Aetna and they just tell me its pending. Today is the 10th business day from when it was submitted. Aetna said additional information was submitted on 11/2 and told me to check on Monday. Anyone else playing the waiting game? Im ready to get this party started lol

I had gastric sleeve, not bypass. I was a revision from a lapband (implanted in 2001, removed 2011; sleeve in 2011). My nutritionalist told me that there was strong evidence that people who take probiotics lose weight better and encouraged me to take them after my revision to sleeve. i bought them, but was so burned out on "pills" from the Vitamins that i never did. I lost 150# in 14 months and have been maintaining that loss for 3 years - so made it to a normal/goal weight without them. I recently had another kind of surgery, had a complication and then an infection. I required Iv antibiotics plus was on a total of 3 different types of oral antibiotics. I was pretty sick actually. As i was wrapping up the antibiotics course, i decided to take probiotics as a preventive measure against yeast overgrowth or other imbalances. i feel fine, I feel no different. So, my personal experience neither supports nor contradicts the benefits of probiotics. I had borerline blood sugar - always in the 90s preop. It dropped to low normal levels quite quickly. Most of my blood work was otherwise pretty good - but i have read stories on these forums of very quick improvement of health conditions, faster than you might expect if it were just due to weight loss. I had borderline high blood pressure too, but that has always been more controlled by exercise vs my weight - not sure why.

Hello All, It has been quite a while since I've been on here. I'm currently not too happy with the way my band makes me feel which is why I'm seeking a revision. I''m going to speak with my surgeon about the issues I'm having and was wondering if you all have any advice for me as far as going from the band to sleeve? What has been your experience and are you happy with your decision? What made you choose to revise? Any feedback both positive and negative is ok. Thank you all in advance and good luck to those who have surgeries coming up. Lala

I'm scheduled for my VSG in September and have only come out and told one co-worker who is actually very supportive and was sleeved years ago. The others (inluding one who is having a band to VSG revision in Oct) have pretty much guessed that I am either deep in the contemplation phase or am scheduled and they are being a bit catty, saying amongst themselves "She won't be able to do it, she eats all the time", ""She thinks it will be easy but it isn't", "She's going to Mexico because she doesn't really need the surgery" and the like. I know, blow it off and chalk it up to people just being catty -- which is what I plan to do. But, why does it seem that weight loss surgery is a topic people can be just so darn vicious about? I've heard more stories about cattiness in regard to WLS than breast augmentation!

Long time member but i haven't posted anywhere in ages, but I used to be on the Lapband board. I was a long time very successful band patient i was orginally banded in Jan 02 (in Canada, pre FDC approval) lost weight at a great rate. My first band (Innamed) slipped a total of 3 times before it came out for six months, I also had surgeries to move my port and another because my tubing disconnect. Next we went to the J&J band and it was great until it slipped badly, I had it for about 6-7 years and it worked like a charm, restriction was great most of the time, lost to my goal size and then it self tightened and i left it there because of travel, personal stress etc and i thought it would release on its own when i went for a defill it completely slipped around my esophagus and it was horrible. With the J&J I had a port revision surgery in there too. Then we tried a 3rd band it never worked right, I couldn't get restriction because if we did more than i had instant reflux etc. I revised to the sleeve last week with a new surgeon in Philadelphia who told me the band was basically around my esophagus and i had no pouch which is why I had no restriction and why I could not be tightened any more. But I lost about 150 lbs in 12-16 months and maintained that loss for 10 years plus, with little to no effort. In the meantime because of the band with no restriction, some prescribed evil steroids that I had to take that put 30lbs on me in a matter of 8 days... (they change your brain chemistry in weird ways) hashimoto's disease (hypo thyroid) fluctuations for the last few years and a few other things I gained about 70-80 lbs that I could not lose weight I tried. I went gluten free and dairy free, nada, I tried the HCG diet lost 20 lbs gained it back and generally I don't eat more than 1500-1700 calories per day including when I am drinking wine, eating out 3 meals a day etc. I hired a trainer, almost went paleo not quite. Now in talking to my surgeon he has said there are new studies showing band patients 9-12 years out who suddenly gain weight they can't lose for love nor money. They try everything and it won't come off more restriction, calories restriction etc. So we made a joint strategic decision to go to the sleeve since I knew the risk, what type of lifestyle change I was in for, portion control etc. wouldn't be a problem since i had it already. In our conversations we talked a lot about Ghrelin which is produced in the stomach and it makes you hungry, when you are feeling that craving to overeat or binge typically it is ghrelin and obese people produce more ghrelin than non obese people typically with some exceptions. We also talked about leptin which makes you feel satiated and is produced in the brain. With the sleeve, about 70-90% of the ghrelin produced is surgically removed with the part of the stomach they remove. i am curious have you noticed a difference in how hungry you get, cravings and the satiation of cravings ie: I can eat two bites of cake vs. I want the whole cake now? Have you also noticed the full feelings getting different than before from the leptin. My surgeon has said in his conversations with his patients they noticed their cravings reduced which helps them with portion control and in making better choices which helps a number of other things. In other words the brain and stomach don't conspire to make cheetos seem like a great dinner choice or ben and jerry your best friend. Overall I eat very healthy without a ton of junk food in my life we cook at home, we make our own stocks and Soups etc. to help get me through the liquids phase. But we do eat well and drink wine, we might be foodies (we are told we are, I just like trying new things). I have never eaten out of control even with the last band and no restriction just trying to lose weight has been terrible, depressing and frustrating. Especially after my first experiences which was I lost well, ate well, exercised and it worked like it was supposed too. I am a consultant and I travel for my job excessively so hence the eat out three meals a day most of the time I don't have a choice in that, but you can make healthy choices even in eating out and I do. I look at fats and calories along with Proteins and make good choices. Any thoughts you have I would appreciate and any advice you have I would love to read. Thanks for reading and good luck

I got my revision band to sleeve on Aug. 28,2014 and I've experienced so much pain. I was able to pass gas without any problems and drink water smoothly but my head is throbbing (lack of coffee) . Do you know if we can drink coffee?

Ditto Cindy I was banded 23 yrs ago and dealt with issues for a looooong time. The revision to RNY is the best I have felt, and I like starting to get my life back. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Goodluck ladies!! Im one week from 6 mo and dwn 55 pounds and dwn 2 dress sizes!! I am band to sleeve, banded 2005 and revision 2014. Yesssss i noticed i am a slower wls patient than virgin sleevers and i was told i would be by the dr! I am still happy and proud of my results! I always have restriction and the first 3 mo i was not hungry ever i just ate because i had to and was on a schedule. I love my sleeve and its 110 PERCENT better than the band No COMPLICATIONS and no ISSUES with stuck food, throwing up, no problems with RESTRICTIONS and No Gerd

I am scheduled for surgery May 21st. On my last pre op appointment with the surgeon I told him I've been experiencing a lot of heartburn lately and he told me with the revision from band to sleeve, it will probably be worse? Anyone has heartburn problems after revision?

Glad you are home and doing well. I go in for my revision on Monday and I am starting to get very nervous. Why did you have a tube down you nose? I did not have that for the band and don't think I get that with the sleeve surgery either? How is the pain factor?

I was revised on Tuesday, too! Staci, I had my surgery early in the am and NOTHING by mouth until about 2 pm on Wed...after doing the xrays with contrast to check for leaks. I didn't experience any extreme pain, although I did have one bout of severe gas for about 1.5 hrs later that evening. That hurt like hell and the dr had left orders for morphine if I needed it...nurse didn't give it...only gave the "regular" stuff. I didn't find that out until the NEXT day, so instead, I walked, stood, rocked from foot to foot, etc...and it went away. Probably better in the long run that I dealt with it that way vs being doped and in bed. But t the time, I would definitely have preferred being doped! So try not to worry about the pain...sometimes the anticipation of it is worse than the reality. Right now, I'm VERY glad to have my band out. I think the band was causing some irritation and chest discomfort for much longer than I realized. And to be able to lie down without gurgling, sleeping through the night without coughing or reflux...even WITH the surgery incisions and drain is just HEAVEN!

Hi Everyone- This is my first time posting on this board. I have had my band for about 2.5 years and I lost 50 lbs in the beginning and then i stopped losing. I started to eat bad again and starting drinking with my meals. then I got pregnant and about a year ago i started having problems. Food would constantly get stuck and i would have to vomit. And the problem is still happening. My surgeon took all the fluid out of a band and it is completely empty now still have problems. He claimed nothing was wrong with the band when he went a looked at my band under fluroscopy. Seriously contemplating a revision from band to sleeve.They originally recommended the sleeve but it scared the crap outta me so i went with the band. I have at least 100 lbs to lose. not really sure what to do. Anyone else run into these issues? I just found out my surgeon left the practice he was in so i am scheduled to see another surgeon tomorrow. I hope he can give me some answers. So tired of living like this! Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Me too! I lost a 100lbs and had a TT and all bat gained it back again. I was hoping not to have a revision as it was a difficult surgery although I recovered quite well not I've never been balanced on both sides completely as my surgeon also did Lipo on my flanks and they are not completely symmetrical but it's not noticeable under all my extra weight.

This is what happened with me and the band..... i decided to have the band because i was obese. i was obese because i ate way too much food. not because i was a sugar or carb addict. I did not have a sugar and carb addiction before the band. I repeat... too much food too often. After i had the band I had nothing but problems. I could not eat meats, poultry, eggs, vegetables or fruit without it coming right back up. so what does one do eventually, eat what stays down. which is slider foods, sugar, carbs, etc. I am having a revision to the sleeve soon, which my doctor says he has seen way better results for the people that had the band and had problems, and switched to the sleeve. Meanwhile he unfilled my band so I can eat , how how i had missed these healthy foods! So my plan is that when i get the sleeve , I will still eat healthy as I have been since the unfill and i will be restricted to the amounts i can eat and be successful. It sounds like some people dont understand how and why some of us with the failed lapband/self experience ended up on the failing end. Good Luck to all and good luck to me! :-)

Welcome! My surgery will be band removal and sleeve revision in one operation. Monday morning 9am check in, same day as you! I too am hopping I will do well with the sleeve. I was (mostly) happy with the band until it went bad. If it helps, I have never read anyone post that they went from band to sleeve and wish they still had a band. But I have read about so many people that revised and love their sleeve.

Protein drinks are a way to get a lot of protein in with very low carbs and moderate calories. Back when I was banded, I was not informed of the benefits of a high protein/moderate carb diet and did not use Protein Drinks. There are still surgeons who don't want you to drink your calories. I dunno, I am maintaining a pretty massive weight loss (half my starting body weight) and I still have 1/2 or 1 premier Protein Drink daily... usually in my coffee plus a few sips and I call it Breakfast. I am 4 years band to sleeve revision. I am not wild about ANY of them. The ones I could tolerate where premier chocolate or strawberry. The vanilla is vile but works as a base for a smoothie or a fake latte. For ones that start as a powder, I found the nectar Syntrax the only ones i could BEAR to drink. My my main complaint is they weren't very "satiating" as a person with a mature sleeve. They have lots of crazy flavors - the best ones in my opinion was the vanilla bean and I think the chocolate was okay. I don't use it anymore but I did during the weight loss phase. The best way to try the syntrax product is get their sample pack. It used to be you could get it for the price of shipping which was a great way to try before you buy. I recommend calling the company and asking. I bought my big jug powder of the vanilla bean from Amazon as that was cheapest at the time.

Are you going to get a revision to the sleeve?

I'm just a year out but couldn't be happier. I have a lot of restriction still and eating is almost like following a checklist to get my Protein and calories in. My BMI is now 22.9 and they don't want me to lose anymore. I have a medical background and did not want a surgery that changed my anatomy so drastically. The sleeve maintains normal anatomy including important valves (pyloric valve) of your stomach. My surgeon found that some of his bypass patients were able to force food past the small pouch and into the small intestine because there is no functional valve anymore. I would recommend the sleeve and consider a revision if you don't lose all you want. But some of us reach goal and beyond. (I weigh 12 lbs less than my original goal)

I am 5 weeks post op revision tomorrow and am suffering the same thing all of a sudden. DId you happen to find out what it was?

I had my sleeve on 5/21/12. I've lost 128 pounds to date. I have very bad GERD and the worst part is esophageal spasms. They are taking over my life! They are so painful and they feel like a heart attack. I've been having them daily and usually wake up around 4 am with this terrible pain in my ears, then throat, chest, and right side where my sleeve is. These things will throw you down on your knees they hurt so bad. I'm on Levsin that I put under my tongue when they happen to help relieve them. I've never experience anything like this. My surgeon thinks they could be caused from GERD. I'm not so sure. I was scheduled for a Bravo Capsule endoscope on Monday and a Manometry on Wed and I've decided to back out of both. I've read where the capsule can damage the esophagus and could get lodged in the intestines when it falls off the esophagus in 7 days if you're lucky. Sometimes it doesn't fall off and there it is stuck and causing more problems. I just can't take the chance, I know I have GERD and all this test does is measure how much acid I have in my stomach over a 24 hour period. Nahhh I think I will just not do it. I'm tired . Sick and tired of these test!!! I'm more sick of the spasms that feel like labor pains and then leave me drained and sore. Well, I'm not sure what I'm going to do. The surgeon wants to revise me to RNY but I absolutely do not want to do it. I guess I will take my chances and see if something else can be done. I know that gastroenterologist will use botox to stop the spasms but I'm scared to go to someone who isn't familiar with the sleeve but I'm not trusting my surgeon either right now. He is so busy and he just heards people in and out like cattle. Ok, well if anyone has had experience with these horrid things, please respond! Thank you!