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OK. So I finally got the results of my Upper GI from my (potentially) new LapBand surgeon. (As some of you may remember, my LapBand surgeon of 5 years has 'fired' me saying that despite my protests, he will perform no further fills on me. Ever. Why?...Because my fill level is approximately 2.8 in a 4cc band. Now he's always been conservative and he's very very stingy with fills - which is why I call him "Dr. No" but him refusing to fill me when I know I need more restriction has been an absolute death warrant for my weight loss. I'm struggling to fight to lose the same 3 pounds over and over and this has gone on for months. Oh, "Dr. No" also went on to say that the band has done all it will ever do and that I've probably lost as much weight as I'll ever lose with the band. Um, problem is, I'm STILL fat! Technically by BMI standards I'm still obese at a BMI of 30 but Dr. No says "Oh you look great." This has been a real issue lately, as we don't agree on that at all. Now keep in mind, I'm hungry more lately and I've absolutely stopped losing weight for eons...so this is a real problem and in the Battle of The Bands, of course, my surgeon won. He refused to fill me further and sent me a certified letter to that effect. Meanwhile I've been struggling to keep from gaining any weight, and trying desperately to lose a few pounds. Nothing has worked.) But for months, I've been begging for more restriction as I really was fighting major hunger pains. Serious ones, not just head hunger - which is difficult enough to deal with even with good restriction. Anyway, after months of desperation about thinking either I was the world's biggest LapBand failure (I've been banded 5 frustrating years) or that my band was either eroded, slipped or in some other type of jeopardy - I finally started looking to find other bariatric surgeons. I figured if the band was screwed up and if my original surgeon wouldn't help me, I'd just get revised to the RnY. I've really been through enough in 5 years of banding, so if I need an RnY bypass, I'd get one somehow. So I picked an experienced bariatric surgeon who had been doing RnY bypass and is just recently beginning to get more Lap Band experience. In fact, in his study of LapBanding, he actually worked under my original surgeon who is considered a veteran in the field. Well guess what. The Upper GI/radiology tests came back and my (if he'll really take me on) new surgeon pronounced that my band is fine. His quote: "It's perfect. It's absolutely textbook." Huh? Me? The world's biggest LapBand failure (BMI of 30 and still holding, dang it) has a 'perfect' band? No (evidence of) erosion, slippage, or other types of band problems? Well, so then the question is - why don't I feel enough restriction? Good question. Many surgeons find that the longer a patient has been banded, the more restriction they sometimes need. OK, fair enough, it's been 5 years for me. Then, the new surgeon checked out my current level of fill - turns out, I had not 2.8, not enough even 1.8 - but approximately 1.75 in my band. (I hadn't actually been filled since late summer/early fall but I was at 2.9 late last year and had been told I had at least 2.8 back in late January while I went in for flouro. ) So the mystery is: What happened to my 2.8 or 2.9 fill level that I still supposedly had? When I went in for my fill in January with Dr.No - when he decided not to fill me - did he not accurately check my fill level? (Unlikely - he is absolutely on point on this things, usually) OK, then did he slightly unfill me without saying anything? (Hmmm, he's been definitely on a tear lately about not liking patients to have a higher amount of fill, but 2.8 is not that much for someone banded for 5 years) Would he just take a little bit back out? Or did my band simply 'sweat out' more than 1.0 cc of fill in less than 3 months? We know that bands do lose fill level sometimes. Excessive exercise (errr, not very frequent, but I have been known to exert myself now and then), dehydration and simple osmosis sometimes makes the amount of fill decrease over time. The new surgeon checked again, found that I really did have only 1.75 and since my test results looked good, decided to give me a tiny fill to get me back to 2.0 Then, he'll see how I do with that and then in 2+ weeks or so, he'll nudge me back up to 2.5 or so. That's a bigger jump but it's still less restriction than I thought I was walking around with. Then he wants another series of tests to make sure all is well. My concern is whether I have some sort of slow leak or something like that. (*sigh*) Few years back, I had a leak in my tubing and NONE of my fill would stay in, so I'm on guard to see if anything like that happens again. I've had the unfilled band and it absolutely does NOT work for me long term. I need restriction, or else I will gain. So let's see how this will go. I hope everything's OK. I'd like to get back to a real fill level again or else I'll never win the Battle of the Bulge. Wish me luck. Happy Band Journeys To All...

r u feeling better now that they deflated u, cause i did not get any relief at all, but they said my slip was severe. hopefull like i said it is not, but if it is it is way easier than the original surgery. I got a 1 cc fill today, hoff told me 2 weeks ago he gave me 2 cc's but he couldn't have cause barb said there was only 3 cc's not 4, so she gave me 1 cc and said it probably wouldn't be enought cause normal before surgery was 5.5 but she said it was a revision so it may be different. well, im glad she didn't give me any more cause i just tested it and its pretty good right now..talk to ya later, feel better.:bored:

Hi guys, been a busy week or so getting things together for the kids to get back to school. How are you feeling Vick??? MKat - welcome! I wish you the best of Luck with this adventure, it has been a long 2 1/2 years for me but I am on my way to my goal, with a long pleatu that was self induced mostly because I met my Dr's goal and was told how great I looked all the time so I maintained. My words of wisdom: exercise ... even if just walk, park far away from the door when at malls or store... I'm sure you have heard it all before. Don't ever give up. I know you say you are picky eater, look for ways to cook what you like with healthy subs. Throw something at me, I'll revise it for you! ( I LOVE TO COOK) If you every need anything at all, PM me, I would be happy to help. I love sharing what I have learned and even more if it actually helps someone. Hope you all have a great day -I am up way too early and going to get dressed and go for a walk before I get my hair done this morning! Oh still have not made it back to the gym so I've given up at this point, I'm going to do what I have to to finish getting ready for school and next Tuesday morning I will be up, go for my walk at 7:30 when the bus comes and head over to the Y for my light weights. MY PLAN: be ready to walk when the bus picks up ds at 7:30, m-w-f leave for water aerobics when get back from walk, tu-th leave after walk to Y for light weights. Sat & Sun I will walk but maybe the easier walk with my friend just to not be sitting home

Glad to hear you're dong so well Karen. :car: I'm so happy that you can eat a lot more normally yet still have a weight loss tool that works for you! I just had an esophogram done... as my original surgeon thought an undiagnosed slip might be the reason for all my re-fill problems. Well, the Band looks picture-perfect... and as a bonus, they informed me that my subclavian artery is abnormal in that it goes behind/in front of (can't remember which) my esophogus. Nothing to be worried about... just a nice to know. So... this all means that in mid-October I'll be heading out to see if I can be refilled. We'll see. If not, it's revision time sometime next year.

I was told from my doctor that revision sleevers lose slower but not less than virgin sleevers...trust me I understand I didn't even tell anyone because I was so afraid I wouldn't lose any weight...

Me too. I'm Liz Lapband revision to gastric bypass on 12-14-2016 Weight day of surgery: 308.2 lbs Current weight: 300.8 Total weight loss: 7.4 lbs

Had lap band and I never felt full. Even after several fills Of course I am only two weeks out of from sleeve surgery. There is certainly a difference already. There are so many lapband revisions to sleeve these days. What does your dr suggest. I was scared to have the sleeve.. But it all went well. Take your time in making a decision that is best for u. Research ..ask questions...and pray.over it. You will know what route u should take when the time comes.

I started at 174 at my revision so I lost much slower. I lost 15 lbs at my 8 weeks post op appt. I know some lose much, much faster but when ur bmi is lower, u WILL lose slower. Good luck!

I'm finally back to the weight I was at before I went into the hospital -- my pre-surgery weight. It took 5-days. Everything from here on in is new weight lost. Given that I'm not particularly active yet, it's OK if things don't move all that quickly -- although I hope they do. Time will tell. Band to RNY revisions don't lose as fast and I've accepted that.

Just stumbled upon this topic/thread. Wondering how you're doing now? Did you have your revision surgery? I'm currently waiting to have revision sleeve to bypass surgery due to severe acid reflux too!

Hi JakeLancaster , You would not believe how many people claimed that the smaller Bougie is actually the better choice and if I would have done this blind without researching on the internet I probably would have followed their advise. But I am glad that after the moment my first surgeon (band surgeon who is retired now) suggested a revision and my second surgeon who actually did my surgery confirmed that it would be a good idea to make a sleeve when the band is removed, I started researching. Great topic, I am scheduled for my band to sleeve revision. I think the starting BMI has a lot to do with it too. I would be scared of the 44 size bougie, I really want this to be the last surgery. I get the acid problem with the band though and understand why you choose the large bougie I just do not want to risk it. I am prepared to lose slower than I did with my band, I was told revisions lose slower but your averages sound great. See you on the other side in a couple of weeks! I had only 2 months to make my decision. I was for hrs on the internet trying to find the newest research published by the medical world , newest studies and so on. I am glad I did!! Because even though I value VERY much real life report from Sleevers I still think that each and everyone of us has a subjective approach, which is often mixed with emotional statements. When I went to my last meeting with my surgeon I had a list of questions I needed to be answered by her. I made my decision depending on her answers at the end. I asked about : - which size of staples to use since different cases demand different staple sizes to prevent leakage - wanted to discuss her position on oversewing or not - and buttressing or not - on the problem with the hourglass shape or the twisted stomach in case of an ear curve which happens to be a problem with many surgeon because of the way they staple - on the fact that the staple line distance to the pylorus and the sphincter is crucial in regards to prevention of damage to both - and last but not least the size of my bougie because research shows clearly that there is no difference in the success of weight loss results with bougie sizes between 32F up to 40+ F The surgery in itself through the removal of 75% to 85% of ones stomach and therefor the reduction of the ghrelin (hunger producing hormone) production completely changes our metabolic biochemistry, which at the end causes us to lose weight. But the fact that a smaller bougie size is proven to have a significantly higher affect on GERD occurrence and on leakage made me 150% sure that I choosing a smaller size was a risk I was not willing to take. I can say I'm only one week out of surgery but I did not regret anything. I have no acid reflux symptoms not the slidest nor to I feel I could eat more than my fellow sleever. I am in close contact to sleeve friends who had been sleeved on the same day and when I read what they can eat and what I can eat there is no difference in size or portion. I agree with you Cowgirljane 100% the quality of life is much higher with the sleeve than it is or was with the band. I can not count all the times I was vomiting, the permanent hunger, or almost suffocating in my sleep because of horrific GERD or feeling I would die and having to go to emergency because some kind of food got stuck again and closed my stomach that I felt I was drowning on my own saliva. Since I have my band out and my sleeve in, I actually feel normal again..... I just feel like life is perfect and I just can only eat 2 or 3 spoons full of whatever I am eating for a meal. I feel as full and satisfied as I would have eaten 2 plates of food. I even do not feel the desire to step on the scale every day, which I did with each and every diet or with the band. I feel like all will come as it is supposed to be and that I will be back to my normal slim healthy weight before my illness. It almost sounds corny but I wake up every morning thinking : OMG I am so so happy . Happy I am alive . Happy I got rid of this band. Happy I made the decision to get the sleeve. Happy I feel like I am being a fully integrated part of our social life again soon. Happy I can do stuff with my grandchildren again. Happy I can go to every normal cloths store like before my illness and before my outrages weight gain soon. Happy Happy Happy that me second half of my life started last Monday!!

Hey I currently have the band but hate hate hate it n want to get rid of it always having problems.. can someone tell me what they require that would make me a candidate for revision from band to sleeve?

Keep a close eye on it.....I thought I started my cycle in late Dec, 2020 (about a week before my revision, sleeve to bypass) and since I have PCOS and the flow was light, I didn't think anything of it until August when it still didn't stop. I had a endometrial biopsy----came back as cancer. I had a total hysterectomy in early October. Cancer had spread beyond the uterus to an ovary and peritoneum- Stage 3B, just had round 2 of 6 Chemo cycles and after that I have 5 weeks of radiation.......so if your cycle is not normal for you.....check it out!

Im 3 month out 30lbsdown from revision lapband to rny.... Sent from my LG-K540 using BariatricPal mobile app

good suggestion. I can't modify my original post to request this info, so i'll look up each person's profile and input what it says the type of surgery they had. Not everyone fills this in, so we'll do with what info we have. Also, for those with revisions, only their latest surgery will be noted as it will start to get hairy if i have to cross-reference exactly WHEN they had thier revision...

Okay guys. I had revision band to leave yesterday. Every thing this far has been amazing! I haven't had a lot pain except by the drain site. From the drivers to Dr Lopez has been all I expected. They all are very nice and speak great English for the most part. I go for the leak test in a little while. Can not wait to get some apple juice! Lol

I would love to hear more about your experience. I am having sleeve to bypass revision and I am nervous too. Much more than I was for the sleeve.

Did anyone have the sleeve to RYN at a normal BMI? I developed Barrett's and severe acid and bile reflux and am revising sometime in December. I'm only a year out of sleeve surgery and will probably be around 140lbs (currently 150) at surgery and am 5"5'. I just remember how hard it was to eat anything for so long and I'm having a hard time figuring out what having bypass is going to be like at a normal weight.

@@nailsbyniki yes I'm so miserable I've just finished my pre-admission testing this post Monday on the 7th of March and is being revised on March 16th.... I'm praying for a better outcome from this surgery especially getting some relief from this darn GERDS

HI THIS ACTUALLY MY FIRST POST. I ANSWERED A LOCAL MEETING POST. I'M IN A SUBURB OUTSIDE OF CHICAGO IL. I'M DENISE. I HAD LAPBAND SURGERY IN 2008. IT DIDN'T WORK FOR ME. I LOST APPROX. 40 POUNDS AND REGAINED IT. I REACH MY SWEET SPOT FOR A MINUTE MAYBE THE 3RD MONTH, BUT THE DOCTOR HAD AN INEXPERIENCED TECH DO MY FILL AND IT WAS ALL DOWN HEEL FROM THERE. I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. I DO KNOW THE DOCTOR FINALLY SAID THE TECH DIDN'T HIT MY PORT. AFTER THAT I STARTED HAVING BOUTS OF NO RESTRICTION & THE BAD ACID REFLUX DANCE. AT ONE POINT THE HEADBOARD OF MY BED WAS POSITIONED SO HIGH UP; WE SLID OFF THE BED. LOL! I STARTING BECOMING SO FRUSTRATED AND EATTING AROUND THE BAND. FAST FORWARD TO 2014. THE DOCTOR DID AN UNFILL ON MY BAND 4/1/14 (HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY). I HAD SOME ESOPHICAL DAMAGE, BUT NOW I'M SCHEDULED TO HAVE THE BAND OUT AND RNY REVISION 8/27/14. OH HAPPY DAY. I AM BOTH EXCITED & NEVEROUS. NOT ONLY BECAUSE OF THE DANGER OF THE SURGERY, BUT BECAUSE THIS JUST HAS TO WORK. YOU KNOW? ALSO I WON'T KNOW UNTIL I WAKE UP IF HE WAS ABLE TO DO BOTH SURGERIES. WELL I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED. PRAY FOR ME!!!!! DENISE

I will be having band to sleeve revision with Dr Lopez on the 12th if all is well. Fingers crossed.

Well I dont know if guy ever watched a show called BIG MEDICINE??? Well the father/son surgeon Dr. Robert Davis/Dr. Garth Davis. Thats who I a have been seeing. I am lucky to live in Houston. They are both very nice. I like Papa Davis though and he will be doing my revision. So I am having the band removed and having gastric bypass. They are still trying to get my insurance approved, but I hope for the best. I would like to schedule surjery for the first week of June as soon as the kids are out of school. I am scared, I cant seem to grasp the idea that I really dont eat much now, but with gastric I will eat less than I do now and loose weight???? I dont eat now. We will see!

Hi! My name is Tiffany. I am a 50 year old mom of 3 adult kids. I had the lap band from 2005-2012. Never lost weight. Followed the program to the letter. My doc used to guilt me and tell me I was his only “failure”. He didn’t even offer me the choice of revision when I had the band removed. Unfortunately I’ve been misinformed for the past 7 years. People told me I couldn’t have another bariatric surgery after failing one. My PCP moved and I mentioned it to my new doc and she told me I could indeed have another bariatric surgery. I’m an oncology RN that has been disabled since 2012. All of my visits are done, I’m waiting for the surgeons office to call with a date, but he thinks the end of June. Not, by the way the same surgeon!!

I am finished with my full liquid diet. Today I start my clear liquid diet however my clear liquid diet consists of jello, sugar free popsicles, crystal light, water, clear liquid protein shakes(I don’t have), decaffeinated sugar free coffee and tea. I have to be at the hospital at 5:15am and I am determined that this tool will help me to reach my goal weight. I am getting a revision from sleeve to bypass. I have craved every food in the world even the food that I will never eat. I didn’t have anything outside of my diet because with needing knee replacement in both knees I can’t play with getting this weight off and keeping it off.

Hello ladies and the one other guy, I don't think is even still with us....I haven't checked in in a bit. Just wanted to stop by and say all is well, feeling great.....or I was until today. I finally went and got a Black Card membership at PF and went today. Managed 3 miles on the treadmill, walking mostly but I was able to do a couple of intermittent jogs. Did some leg presses and then some ab killers....5 sets of 30 Russian Twists with a 10 lb medicine ball. My abs were on FIRE and I thought that would be the one I would regret but as it turns out, the leg presses were a bit too much, I can barely walk now and almost fell on my face a little while ago trying to go down the stairs. My legs are like jello. LMAO As much as I am hurting, I still feel awesome that I went and was able to do as well as I did. Other victories....Before surgery I was in a tight 46' jeans, I can now get into 40s but they're a bit tight so I'll stay in the loose 42s another week or so. Guy at the gym gave me a 3xl that I asked for but then he threw me a Large and said there's an extra one for you to set yourself a goal. Hell yeah!! Started on soft foods yesterday. I can tell it's going to be hard to get in the protein goals with just food so I guess i will keep some shakes handy. It wasn't so bad with the sleeve but with this revision, a spoonful of food fills me up. It's crazy. I make a bowl of scrambled eggs, mix in some unjury unflavored protein and just eat a bite every 10-15 minutes. Hope everyone is doing well. Best Wishes.