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Very very true But what comfort does someone who's surgery failed their expectations get if that surgery was never right for them in the first place (not by my standards, by close evaluation of all data)? Just have a revision? Thats what people are doing ...

So Carnie Wilson, had Gastric bypass in 1999, and then the lap band in 2004. She has only lost 40 pounds since her revision. I suspect she will be getting the sleeve soon. Speaking of famous people (or semi famous people). I'm thinking Boy George and Chaz Bono had WLS. Any thoughts?

I know here, if your oxygen is 90 or better, they send you home. I don't agree with it, but they don't seem concerned about it. Chest pain could possibly be gas pain from the gas they used during the surgery to inflate your stomach. When I had my first surgery, the pain was in my chest and shoulders. Freaked me out. My revision, all the pain was in my abdominal area. Constipation right out of surgery is also very normal. But the rest? I would go back to the hospital if it gets worse, or if you're feeling uneasy about it.

Hey marly18, I'm having my gastric bypass March 26 and will also be saying goodbye to my band of 16 years. My procedure will all be done at the same time. May I ask why you are having to remove your band and then doing the RNY at a later date? When I first entertained the idea of having my revision I kind of figured it might be done at two separate times, but after my consultation with my surgeon he said he would do it all at one time. He is also repairing a hernia too.

I'm revising from sleeve to bypass on 7/1 because of severe GERD. I'll admit I'm going off the rails a bit. I have a perfect sleeve (other than the fact it's trying to kill me with acid) that tolerates all food. Do I know how my frankenstomach will behave after surgery? No. So while I stayed on plan 98% of the time during weight loss (and I'm maintaining a 120lb loss to prove it) I am eating foods now that may bother me after surgery. Last night I had ice cream. Did I eat a pint? No, but ice cream is not something that is a part of my every day diet. Did I enjoy it, yes! Am I going to eat it every day until surgery? No. I guess what I'm trying to say is I don't think a "food funeral" means your not ready for surgery, that you're lying to yourself, or that you won't be successful. We all start this process in our own way and I don't believe I'm hurting myself by having ice cream. Maybe I'm speaking in the voice of a 2-year post op but I really think you need to do what you need to do to get to the starting line. However once you're at that line (the pre op diet, whatever that means to you) you need to be fully committed. I wish all of us luck! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

For me the sleeve appears to the the right decision. Granted I’m 4.5 months out and I’m way ahead of the avg loss numbers. I was already lactose intolerant so that wasn’t t a concern. I rarely got heartburn prior to my sleeve and think I’ve had maybe 4 flair ups (too many spicy foods). It came down to how much the malabsorption scares the crap out of me and rerouting my insides when I know I’m an ugly scarrer was enough to tip me to sleeve. Going in based on what I needed to loose the avg lbs difference between the options wasn’t significant enough to deal with malabsorption. I also have 4 friends at different points in post sleeve surgery. One is extremely successful. One is still loosing but doing really well. Another was a band to sleeve revision and is the least successful. Lastly is someone who is fighting regain 2 years out. This gave me a realistic view of what is possible and what is needed to meet goal. Can I self sabotage? Sure I could and maybe someday I might but I have different tools I didn’t have before. Will they work? Time will tell.

March 19th...revision from lapband to RNY. Originally denied by insurance when I was given a surgery date February 12th. Fought an appeal and won!

I had band to sleeve revision on 10/26/16. I could not be happier with my decision! It is true that because of the restriction of the band, you may not lose as fast. But you will definitely be able to tell the difference. Just remember, everyone's journey is different and what happens for them may not be the same for you. Follow the rules, eat right, exercise, keep your head up and keep your eyes on the prize. Best of luck

Finally got my band to sleeve revision done. It was yesterday. First 3 hours was bad. Incision pain, general nausea, gas pains. After that I could walk and the pain subsided. Although nauseous, I tolerated Water well, and I never slimed (like I did with my lap band) and haven't thrown up yet. The first two walks, I got dizzy. That went away today. My surgery was done at 7 am, and I was released the same day at 4 pm. I was first in. I'm not hungry at all. Today, on my 2nd day I was able finished 32 oz with 1 scoop Bariclear, going to make a new one to try to get 64 oz but don't think I'll be able to get that down by the end of the day. So I see I have 7 incisions. I had like 4 for my lapband. How many did they put in you? Thanks!

Well, if you have a lap band, you can always have revision surgery in the future, IF needed. 80% of the failed lap bands are due to folks not following correct eating habits, or not doing follow up visits. I personally know two folks who had revisions because they were not losing weight, and they are still failing after having a sleeve. I work hard to ensure my band works like the tool it was intended to be. At my age, the doctor felt the band was the best solution for me. And, they have be go back for follow ups at least once every six months to make sure there are no problems. If you don't have insurance, that can be costly. Few doctors want to deal with past patients, and that is another reason they avoid the band. I'd opt for a sleeve today, but I am happy with the band.

Best of luck to you honey. In the US...not many Dr.'s are even doing them anymore. More and more revisions are being done because of complications.

Staple line leak for 1st time WLS patients is low. Staple line leak for revisions from band to sleeve is much higher because the staple line goes through a previously scarred tissue and scar tissue doesn't heal like un-scarred tissue. I trust my surgeon, she's been the one of the top surgeons in our state for almost 2 decades. She would have referred me to another surgeon if I really wanted the band to sleeve revision. But after her explanation as to why it's not a smart idea, I agreed with her and decided that revising to something that's riskier wasn't the best idea. So, I went with the RYN because that staple line does not transverse the scar tissue created by the band, thus, no increased leakage potential. Clearly it's each patients choice. But knowing about the band to sleeve revision's potential issues is a good thing.

I had gb on 12/14 then a revision to repair a leak 12/20. I've been feeling pretty well but there are some days where I can't stomach my Protein shakes and overall don't feel well. It's like a yuck feeling vs I need to go to the E.R. Is that normal? Has anyone else experienced this?

Thank you That's what I thought too... And what I had experienced for my lap band. I thought perhaps it's cause its a revision they needed three more incisions. Sent from my SM-N910V using the BariatricPal App

This study had a 2.5% failure rate requiring revision https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5406732/

My LapBand was nothing but problems from the very beginning - Everything I was supposed to eat got stuck and everything I should have stayed away from went down just fine. The fill in my band was unpredictable. Some days water would gurgle, others I could mindlessly eat a huge chunk of chicken or pasta and slip on through no problem. It would change depending on the time of month and there was no "sweet spot fill" everyone talks about. To make matters worse, if you ever get the flu or food poisoning it is an EMERGENT issue. (No one ever told me this was a "thing.") If your doctor is only a few minutes away and available after hours, no biggie. (Until you have to move years later or he does.) Mine was a 3 hour drive away. Imagine me heaving for hours upon hours in the backseat of the car after eating bad sashimi - My stomach was in obscene amounts of pain..I could physically feel it trying to come up, only to get stuck under the band. My ordeal started at 4am and didn't make it to the doctor until almost 12hrs later - I'm surprised that much wretching didn't cause a slip. This whole situation scared me so much, it wasn't until over a year later I went back to re-fill. There are a lot more issues people talk about above I don't have to mention again here and I know it works for some people - But it never did for me. I'm being revised to a sleeve next month and I couldn't be more excited. I want this thing OUT before it causes more damage. My doctor already mentioned he more often than not sees damage from these bands when being removed...It scars the esophagus over time, regardless of complications. My advice, do what's right for you...It is your choice and your body! I, on the other hand, would still never recommend this surgery to anyone!

Sorry you are having all of this trouble. Do you have a bulge that protrudes still ? I took a calcium chew without food today and it was awful !! I kept dry heaving and had to go lay down. I truly dislike this revision and new way ugh. Prayers for you.

As long as we put our faith in the Lord and hold his hand I believe he is gonna guide me threw this Sent from my LGLS992 using the BariatricPal App What is revision surgery? Sent from my SM-G903W using the BariatricPal App What is revision surgery? Gastric bypass? Sent from my SM-G903W using the BariatricPal App

Dr.Ponce is in Mexico, and I am a revision. I went in to have the revision June 26th but left with just the band removed due to erosion. Where at in Phoenix are you?

Seven weeks today - 21 pounds. Ugh, revision, the slow race!

I'm interested in hearing how people who have already had surgery decided between the sleeve and bypass. I'm really leaning toward the sleeve as I have RA and will most likely need prednisone/NSAIDs periodically for the rest of my life. One of the two bariatric surgeons I interviewed really seemed to think my significant GERD would likely become worse with the sleeve. She thought if I lost enough weight I might not need anti-inflammatories - but that's a big "might not" and a lot to gamble with. I do also have a hiatal hernia, so there's a chance that fixing that plus weight loss might actually improve the GERD - so many unknowns... Has anyone had the Linx procedure for reflux either with or after the sleeve instead of revision to bypass? BTW - the surgeon who was worried about worsening GERD is a specialist in this procedure. Maybe I'm overthinking all of this - just don't want to do something for my health and then end up in worse condition than I am now. Thanks for any replies. Brenda

I haven’t been online much since my surgery and wanted to update everyone on my progress. I’m no long an MGB patient. My surgeon revised my procedure to a full RNY Gastric Bypass. After performing the MGB, my stomach had active bleeding due to severe erosive gastritis secondary to my Lap-Band. Having had long term exposure to a foreign body (my Lap-Band) for 15 years caused me to have Barrett’s esophagus and sever erosive gastritis. My surgeon had to redo my entire WLS procedure again to insure an optimal outcome. In my case the RNY was the indicated procedure. Thanks to everyone who has reached out over the last week! You concern and caring words meant the world to me.

Exactly!! I have the same sentiments. I just had a tube and port replacement that was torn during a previous surgery and due to my insurance at that time it wasn’t caught and was gaining all my weight back since I had no restriction. Finally back on my journey!! My current Bariatric surgeon actually recommended repair instead of removal and revision. His view was if it was successful when you had it working, give it another shot before something more drastic.

What input can anyone offer? What advice or suggestions can be offered to someone who flat out says that you do things your own way and that is how it is? We told you the truth and that makes you angry. So be it, it just isn't going to change reality. The sutures your doctor put in your band are not meant to hold it in place long term. That isn't going to cut it. What holds your band in place long term is the scarring or adhesions that form around your band on the outside of your stomach. If your stomach is churning and working to mix food with digestive acids it looks a bit like your stomach is in spasms. Each time you "do things your own way" you are breaking those newly forming adhesions. The thing about scarring is that it does not form in the same place with the same quality the 2nd time around. This is why if you slip once, you are likely to slip again. The adhesions are not of the same quality when they grow in the same place a 2nd time. When you blow off the post op diet you are breaking the fragile, newly growing adhesions. They are trying to do their job and you are fighting them and why? Because you are doing things your own way. So it's a choice. If you want to keep your band then I'd suggest you follow your doc's post op diet. If you want to lose your band I'd suggest you keep on doing what you are doing. Let's face it, this is a month out of your life. It isn't the end of the world. It's okay to feel discomfort every now and again, it isn't going to kill any of us. Most of it is head hunger so you might as well start dealing with it because that is the hardest part of this journey. It will get better but not until you start dealing with it. Stomach hunger... obese people do not die of starvation. We tend to have a back up system of fat. A little hunger is uncomfortable, we all have to deal with it. It's just the way it is. Cut out ALL carbs. All of them. Carbs just screw with your blood sugar and make you have blood sugar spikes. Protein evens out your blood sugar and prevents the spikes, thus prevents hunger. But it's your choice. Do as you will. I'm going to tell you something, revision surgery is MUCH harder to recover from than the original surgery. It hurts like f'ing hell. I know, I've done it. It carries more risk, more potential for problems, and it hurts like hell. I followed the rules and that is exactly why with all my barfing I never slipped. You are at MUCH greater risk for losing your band due to your own actions. It's bad enough when revision surgery is necessary, but revision surgery from not following your doc's instructions would likely not be fun on an emotional level. Again, your choice.

When did I claim not to be sarcastic? I am, it's me. But that doesn't change the fact that this one you brought on yourself. Don't blame me for your own behaviors. We have been saying the same thing since before you came to this thread, it's critical to follow your doc's advice. We explained why the post op diet exists, we explained why cheating is potentially harmful, we explained the head issues. The reality is that we wrote what a few didn't want to read. We tend to have a fat mentality and many ways of justifying more food. The docs don't say eat solids and chew extra well during the soft stage, they don't say to follow their diet because they like to torture others. There is a reason for the diet. When someone finds ways to justify more food, the wrong food, extra food, they are continuing the very same behaviors that earned them a band to begin with. If someone feels picked on because their behaviors are being pointed out to them, I don't care. If it takes that for someone to wake up and see what they are doing then great, they can be annoyed while they KEEP their band. I'd sure rather someone think I am a big bad skank than to be in a depression over losing their band. Look, I've been through a revision surgery and I followed all the rules. I did it the right way. It's hard, very hard. Revision is a hard surgery physically and mentally. I think it would have been worse if I caused the problems myself and brought on my own issues from not following basic instructions. You don't like my style? Kewl beans. I don't like yours. But we don't have to like one another's styles, we just have to learn from one another because that is why we are all here.