Search the Community

I also have the band as on May 7th I will be having a revision to the bypass. I don't weigh much more than you. I found out I have Barrett's esophagus and I cannot do the sleeve. I was told in most cases the bypass cures acid reflux. Anyhow, I've wrapped my head around it. Side note, this is my 3rd wls surgery. I had an a Molina band that didn't adjust ( first band used) It tightened up on me and I couldn't keep food down. I went from 310 to 119, size 2. I had it revised to the adjustable band on 2007. I had foot surgery and gained about 30ish lbs. this year. I had no real issues with band but I went to talk to wls surgeon anyways and found out my esophagus was turning into a stomach and that contributed to the weight gain and then found out with scope biopsy I have Barrett's, precancerous cells. The band has to come out I know I need a tool so if bypass is what I have to do so be it. I would love to keep on touch with both of y'all. I don't understand this site fully, but if u know how add me. . Wednesday at 7, go time

Awesome thus far! It's exciting when we come to terms to have weight loss surgery because it's not easy. In my case I am revision patient from and gastric bypass to DS. My bypass was done in 6/06 and I was pregnant in 2/07 I gained 42lbs back got pregnant again so that was a total of 4 can sections , gallbladder removal and a spinal fusion. My starting weight was 219 day of surgery today I am 211 I really have NO PAIN I walked every hour 10 times in the hospital and drank water which help with my bowl movement the second day and release of gas as well so the pca was gone that day I only had liquid pain meds. I also had so much scar tissue that more of my intestine had to be removed because it was attached to my abdominal wall. I am having problems with room temperature and cold water and suggestions

Hi. I am curious if you have any room for fills left in your band? Have you considered that? Maybe you don't have enough restriction.Also, I have to say I know a lot of people who got lapband revised to a vsg after either not losing enough weight or having their band erode or slip. Good luck I hope you can figure it out.

it is, I wish I knew some one who knew about this and statistics on revision etc. I am frustrated cause I dont know what to expect

Cigna revised their bariatric policy today and only requires a 3 month supervised diet now! Yippee!

My surgery is December 10 in Provo, Utah. I'm having a revision from LapBand (2007). I've been on the liquid diet for 1 week, so I'm halfway there. Haven't cheated and hope to be able to say that next Sunday night. I'm probably the oldest one having surgery this month (63) and maybe the oldest on the site. Yikes! I guess it's never too late. Good luck to everyone having surgery this week. So anxious to see you on the other side!

My name is Jamie and I started my weight loss journey many years ago but my surgery journey started in February 2010. I was 330 pounds at 27 years old. I was always a healthy person but after 4 knee surgeries I gained over 100 pounds and tried EVERYTHING to try to loose the weight. When I hit 330 I knew it would end up being life or death. I attended a bariatric surgery meeting at my mothers suggestion. After meeting with my surgeon and discussing all options with my husband we decided on the lap band. (Man was that a mistake) I had the lap band surgery in May 2010 and it only took me 3 weeks to recover!! I thought I had done enough research to prepare my self but I was very wrong. Eating was hard and I was seeing the Dr almost every 4 to 6 weeks for 3 years trying to figure out where the perfect fill was. After 3 frustrating years of throwing up and learning how to cheat with the band we decided it was time to revise the band. I decided to do the a sleeve, it seemed like a safer and less invasive surgery. I was very excited to start this new journey after seeing co workers have great success with it. I had my revision to the sleeve May 2013. The recovery was much harder then the recovery from the band and I think it was due to doing the band removal and the sleeve revision at the same time. After 6 weeks I was as good as new and dropping weight at a nice pace. I was very excited to eat right and exercise because I was actually loosing weight!!! After the first 3 months I began to get really painful chest pains. Being a person that never had to deal with acid reflux, GERD or heartburn I didn't know what the pain was from. I went back to my Dr and he began seeing me every 2 - 4 weeks and we tried every acid reflux, hernia, heartburn and GERD medication we could. By the time I was 10 months out I was in such bad pain and no medication would help my Dr decided we needed to revise my sleeve to the full bypass to eliminate the acid from being created in my stomach. I am very unhappy with this decision so I went to 3 other doctors that specialize in acid reflux and weight loss surgery and sadly they all agreed with my surgeons prognosis. We began the insurance approval process and it was a little harder to get the bypass surgery approved this time since I am 178 pounds and they didn't see a reason for the surgery. Last Tuesday the pain got so bad I ended up in the ER for 6 hours as they tried to figure out how to make the pain stop. The prognosis was esophagus spasms so I had to be put on a liquid diet since eating hurt. Finally my insurance approved the surgery and my doctor is rushing the surgery date due to the severity of this issue. My revision to bypass is scheduled for May 13 2014 and I am completely freaking out!!!! This is not a surgery I want and I am concerned that I am going to have all the bypass side effects I really never wanted to have! I know the surgery is inevitable and the only way to get rid of this intolerable pain for good! I am coming top grips with it and feel more assured that this will work since I did seek other opinions from multiple specialists. I am telling my story because I really need help from others out there that may gave went thru the same issues I am and what did you do to resolve it? What should I expect to be different from the sleeve to the bypass? Please help! I am really scared and really don't want to have to go thru this again!!

I had band removed and revision to RNY all in the same surgery. Sent from my SM-G935V using the BariatricPal App

I've answered this many times, many ways...... but the short version. MAINTENENCE! the ongoing fills (when needed) are the magic... I've been up and down the scale so many times, I know that if I had the RNY I would eventually have a regain. I doubt I will need another fill maybe NEVER, but if I do... I can... Other reasons that make my top 10. 1. Surgery on Thursday, back to work the following Monday 2. All my inards are in tact 3. Down the road, if needed I could get a total unfil, and then start the process again. 4. Reversible.. any general surgeon can remove the band. 5. I absorb the nutrients from the food I eat (RNY is a malabsorbative procedure) and even though you can easily start a regain, you will never absorb the nutrients. 6. I am horrible about taking vitimins.. w the RNY you must be religious in your Bariatric Vitimins and most get VitB shots. 7. I have two friends who had the RNY... both are fighting Regains...... one more severe than the other, and both have the RNY "look". 8. The RNY scared me. 9. Ports do not scare me as they have been used for a long time, the band is just a different application. (my grandma had a port for pain meds) 10. If and when I need a revision or replacement.. I will say BRING ON THE NEW and IMPROVED VERSION!

I am having my surgery on April 30th. I am having a 360 degree tummy tuck, fleur de lis, liposuction, hernia repair, muscle repair, and port revision. Surgery will be around 6 hours and my PS is sending me home the same day. I'll have a 45 minute drive home and then another 45 minute drive back the following afternoon to check the incisions. I'm a little worried about going home so soon, but he says most people do really well and are able to go home the same day. I hope this is the case. Congrats on your surgery. It sounds like you are doing really well. I will be anxious to see your pictures when you are able to post them. Take care and get lots of rest. Cathy

:biggrin:HI, I am checking in also. March 5th was my surgery. I have lost a total of 60 lbs since my Jan. 14th consult. That would be 45 lbs since surgery. I have had only one fill, I am on Medicare and they will pay only every 91 days, and will get another fill on July 23rd. I have 2 cc's now. I decided that going slow on the fills was okay so I can use my lapband tool and work-out. I go to "Curves" 3 times a week, just started last week. I was having trouble getting enough exercise in. I didn't like exercising by myself, so this is helping. I am now half way to my goal. But, I know the weight lose is slower at 1 to 2 lbs a week. Yes, tell us how they did the revision on your post disconnection? Melda

Sorry for your troubles. I am 23 months out from my surgery, I personally have not had issues but I work with two who have and both have had there bands removed, both at about 3 years. One girl had struggles the entire time and never really lost weight and they considered her a band failure and removed the band and did the gastric sleeve on her. The other girl had very similar propblems to you, she did lose all her weight but had multiple issues along the way with reflux, GERDs, stuck episodes episodes, etc. They let out her band and left it alone for a while, than she gained 20 lbs so they put fluid back in and she did well for a while but 2 months ago she started having pain all the time and was not able to eat anything. Xray showed the band had slipped, and had the pouch had developed a pocket. She decided to have the band removed but insurance will not pay for any other surgery becasue her BMI is in normal range. The only way she can have another band or procedure is if she gains her weight back. I know this must be very frustrating for you and it scares to read about this and know people it has happened to. If my doc told me he could possibly fix my band I think I would let him try, if your insurance will pay for the revision or you can afford it. I like you have had good weight loss success. My friends doctor also told her (he is my doc too) that he would never put a band back in her becasue once this starts to happen generally it continues to happen again and again. I wish you luck and success with your choice.

wednesday is my day..so caught up in all this as this is a revision lap band from a 2000 gastric bypass and of course the last resort...this is it...no room for failure or anything...not that I feel that I did anything to fail..one of those bypass people whose pouch stretched with time just because it did soooooo here I am after gaining almost 60 pounds back and nothing woulde remedy it..just like before the bypass...non existent metabolism...thyroid on a respirator..lol...oh well..please dear G-d let this be it....fills and healthy food...scared of the pain you all are talking about as I was told it was nominal for the most part...anyone banded who didnt have too many difficulties? Yeah...Wednesday...my future...my life.....

Hi Dawn I'm also going to see Dr Hii. I'm getting a revision from failed band to mini bypass. I live around half an hour from you, would love to hear your experiences. Sent from my SM-G900I using the BariatricPal App Hello, good to hear from you.. you are not that far away. Mr Hii is a wonderful surgeon. I am again suffering GERD and I had a gastroscopy Monday, performed by Dr Adam Cichowitz in Wangaratta. I have another hiatus hernia and severe reflux esophagitis.. I see Dr Cichowitz on the 5th of r he next move for me. I am taking Nexium and it is not helping.. Dawn Oh no you poor thing hope they can get it sorted soon.Do you have much restriction? Sent from my SM-G900I using the BariatricPal App Hello What do you mean by restriction? As in what sort of foods I can eat? regards Dawn Yes and how about portion size? Sent from my SM-G900I using the BariatricPal App I am pretty much unrestricted on foods except I do get dysphagia from bread, red meat and rice. v much much smaller than I used to eat. I find if I eat sweet things they do not agree, dumping syndrome has been an issue here.When are you for surgery? Is at at Royal Melbourne? Haven't got a date yet, public system so will only get a couple of weeks notice. Sent from my SM-G900I using the BariatricPal App

Yes only a surgeon will be able to advise. Revisions are based on other factors besides weight.

I haven't told anyone at work. They already knew I had the lapband in 2008. Of course, due to a flipped port, and slipped band, I decided on a revision to the sleeve. I know they suspect I have had the sleeve surgery, but they are just a bunch of gossips. Yet they are the ones with the eating too much issues. I thank GOD for my decision and I love my sleeve!

You've lost 37 pounds and aren't happy with that? That's 9.25 lbs/week, and average weight loss with the band is 1-2 lbs/week. I would suspect that your body is now in a quandary because of the big initial weight loss and trying to readjust your metabolism. It's way too soon to judge your restriction or your band's success. I think you need to work on your band eating skills. Read the article I wrote about that here: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/page/index.html/_/support/post-op-support/how-to-eat-like-a-bandster-r58 ) Also, you need to re-think what "full" means to you. It's not healthy for anyone, especially a bandster, to eat and eat until they feel "full". Eating that way is overeating, and overeating is how we got fat in the first place. And when a bandster overeats, it overloads the stomach and esophagus and can cause esophageal dilation,stomach dilation, and band slips. So, don't go looking for "Thanksgiving dinner Full". Eat only until the physical hunger pangs are gone. You wrote: I'm really think I'm wanting a bypass but, figure that sense I haven't had the band that long that I Probaly won't be able to get it and I supose there got to be something wrong like the cabs slipping before I can get a bypass ? As I said before, it's way too soon to decide your band isn't working. And no, you won't be able to revise to the bypass so soon after your band surgery unless you have a lot of cash and can persuade your surgeon to do it. The bypass isn't going to work like magic either. Weight loss is hard work no matter what surgery you have. I don't know what you mean by "the cabs slipping." What is "cabs"? If you mean that a complication like a band slip could justify revising to the bypass, you're right, but you can't assume that your insurance is going to pay for revision to another procedure because some policies allow only one WLS in the patient's lifetime. So your insurance might pay to remove your band, but not to do the bypass. I was hungry at lot as a new bandster. It will probably take a few more fills for your band to start helping with that. In the meantime, hang in there!

Hi, I've posted this in a couple of spots, because I ran across it when I was on a Google Search for Gastric Sleeve Surgery Tricare There's a new ruling as of today for surgery for the morbidly obese. It states that if it is nationally accepted and medically necessary, it will be covered by tricare. Here's the link to the Federal Register Document on the Department of Defense Final Ruling. I think this could mean the sleeve will be covered as of march, but read it and see. There's a contact person and phone number in the document, so that might help with insurance issues. Here's the Link. My link DEPARTMENt oF DEFENSE Office of the Secretary 32 CFR Part 199 [DOD–2008–HA–0057] RIN 0720–AB24 TRICARE Program; Surgery for Morbid Obesity AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DoD. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: This final rule adds a definition of Bariatric Surgery, amends the definition of Morbid Obesity, and revises the language relating to the treatment of morbid obesity to allow benefit consideration for newer bariatric surgical procedures that are considered appropriate medical care. The final rule removes language that specifically limits the types of surgical procedures to treat co-morbid conditions associated with morbid obesity and retains the TRICARE Program exclusion of nonsurgical interventions related to morbid obesity, obesity and/or weight reduction. This final rule is necessary to allow coverage for other surgical procedures that reduce or resolve comorbid conditions associated with morbid obesity and the use of the Body Mass Index (BMI), which is the more accurate measure for excess weight to estimate relative risk of disease. As new technologies or procedures evolve from investigational into generally accepted norms for medical practice, the statutes and regulations governing the TRICARE Program allow the Department to offer beneficiaries these new benefits. These changes are required in order to allow the Department to provide these newer technologies and procedures for the treatment of morbid obesity as they evolve. DATES: Effective Date: This rule is effective March 16, 2011. ADDRESSES: TRICARE Management Activity, Medical Benefits and Reimbursement Branch, 16401 East Centretech Parkway, Aurora, CO 80011– 9066. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gail L. Jones, Medical Benefits and Reimbursement Branch, TRICARE Management Activity, telephone (303) 676–3401. VerDate Mar<15>2010 14:08 Feb 11, 2011 Jkt 223001 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\14FER1.SGM 14FER1 WReier-Aviles on DSKGBLS3C1PROD with RULES Federal Register /Vol. 76, No. 30 /Monday, February 14, 2011 /Rules and Regulations 8295 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background On December 27, 1982, the Department of Defense (DoD) published a final rule in the Federal Register (47 FR 57491–57493) that restricted surgical intervention for morbid obesity to gastric bypass, gastric stapling, or gastroplasty method (excluding all other types) when the primary purpose of surgery is to treat a severe related medical illness or medical condition. The severe medical conditions or illness associated with morbid obesity included diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cholecystitis, narcolepsy, Pickwickian Syndrome (and other severe respiratory disease), hypothalamic disorders, and severe arthritis of the weight-bearing joints. The DoD also limited program payments to two categories of patients: (1) Those who weighed 100 pounds over their ideal weight with a specific severe medical condition; and (2) those who were 200 percent or more over their ideal weight with no medical complications required. Program payment was made available as well in cases in which a patient, who originally met the criteria, received an intestinal bypass, or other surgery for obesity and, because of complications, required a second surgery. Payment was allowed even though the patient’s condition may not have technically met the definition of morbid obesity because of the weight that was already lost following the initial surgery. All other surgeries including non-surgical treatment related to morbid obesity, obesity, and/or weight reduction were excluded. The DoD used the definition of morbid obesity, which was based on the Metropolitan Life Table and used then by other major health care plans, as well as reflected the 1982 general opinion regarding which cases justify surgical intervention. The DoD decided, at the time, that it was necessary to be very specific in benefit parameters due to fiscal responsibility and to ensure that Program beneficiaries were not being exposed to less than fully developed medical technology or procedures. At the time the current regulation was written in 1982, gastric bypass, gastric stapling, and gastroplasty methods were the recognized surgeries for morbid obesity. However, in recent years, other bariatric surgical procedures have evolved and some have a substantial body of literature to support their safety and efficacy. Unlike the original rule that listed the specific surgical procedures and the clinical conditions for which coverage may be extended; this final rule authorizes benefit consideration for those bariatric surgical procedures that have moved from the unproven status to the position of nationally accepted medical practice, as determined by the Program standard of reliable evidence. Also in 1982 during development of the current regulation for morbid obesity, overweight and obesity were typically measured with height-weight tables (such as the Metropolitan Life Table). The 1982 regulation restricted eligibility for bariatric surgery to individuals who exceed their ideal weight for height by 100 pounds with an associated severe medical condition, or 200 percent or more over their ideal body weight with no associated medical condition required. This final rule changes the Program definition of morbid obesity to reflect the current nationally accepted medical use of the BMI, rather than the typical assessed height-weight table (i.e., the Metropolitan Life Table), to determine an individual’s eligibility for bariatric surgical treatment. The BMI is the more accurate measure for excess weight to estimate relative risk of disease. Since there now are more than 30 major diseases associated with obesity, the final rule requires the Director, TMA, to issue specific criteria for co-morbid conditions exacerbated or caused by (morbid) obesity, as determined by the Program standard of reliable evidence. This final rule does not expand the TRICARE benefit for morbid obesity surgery. However, it does make the specific procedures that are covered, as well as the clinical conditions for which coverage may be extended, a matter of policy. In other words, new bariatric surgery procedures may be added to the TRICARE benefit structure as such procedures are proven safe and effective and are established as nationally accepted medical practice as determined by the Program standard of reliable evidence.

I so envy you all the food choices that we don’t have here. BUT - I am coming to the USA in September, Baltimore. So, once I know the hotel I will be sleeping in, I think I can place some orders and have them delivered to me there to bring home! I have been thinking about your calories post, a lot. I am still losing a kilo a week, I am below my best gastric band weight - which was my goal but I have revised the goal downward to the top of the BMI ‘not overweight’ range. I know I should, by surgeon’s predictions, be losing at half this rate by now. But I find myself loathe to let my calories go over 700. I have been considering that it might well be very easy for me to simply replace one eating disorder (overeating to deal with any emotion whatsoever) with another (caloric limitation and obsession)... So - thanks for raising this thinking for me, too. Will my relationship with food ever be normal?

I'm in relief tears, because you understand what I'm feeling. Thank you for answering me in such detail. BP is like a journal entry for me that responds to what I'm expressing. I love having this support system 💜. My actual support system is selectively small, by my personal choice. I'm private and respect other's rights to their privacy as well. I have 2 people in my support group who are Post-op, one had to revise from vsg to rny (major complications after revision this year). I read these posts and truly value everyone sharing their very personal experiences. This is like Cliff Notes for Bariatric Surgery.

Day 3 is in the bag! Boom! Done, baby! It was hands down, the hardest day so far. I think maybe it's because I expected it to be the toughest day--since that's what I so often read? But it's done. And I've made progress. Thanks to my fairwell tour of BBQ, I was up 4-5lbs on Sunday morning--so I started the liquid diet 1 day early, to see if I could mitigate damages. Yeah--it was TOTS worth it. This morning I'm down to 228.2lbs (-5.8lb loss). Yay for me! Thah crahps ah sayuved!!! I heard back from my RD. She will allow me to add up to 28g (1oz) of condensed cream of mushroom or cream of chicken soup to 1 of my daily meals, as long as all the other meals/snacks fall strictly into my guidelines. That's good and bad. It's good cuz I now have a tiny bit more variety. It's bad because it means that psychologically, I'm still saving my "best meal of the day" for dinner, rather than eating it earlier in the day. Often "best meals" contain more calories/carbs/fat, "fill in the blank" and often, they are bigger and heavier. And it gets eaten around 7:30pm...so, just sayin', that may be a behavior I need to visit and revise post surgery. I found an intriguing recipe for Banana Joe Smoothies yesterday on another site. As I "understand it" Banana Joe refers to mixing banana protein with coffee. They made a smoothie, but last night I was too hangry to care, so I just made it into a super quicky iced coffee. I'll post the recipes below: Creamy Beef and Mushroom Protein Broth (Pre-surgery Approved by My RD) Makes 1-2 servings 29g Isopure Unflavored Protein Powder 2fl oz Fairlife Milk, fat free 28g Campbell's Healthy Request Cream of Mushroom Soup 8fl oz Beef Stock, unsalted (Kitchen Basics) 1 pckt Herb Ox Beef Bullion, sodium free 8fl oz water 1/8 tsp granulated garlic 1 pinch dried parsley pepper/No Salt to taste Mix unflavored protein powder with milk and condensed soup until it makes a paste. Nuke the beef stock, water, and spices until burning hot. Slowly pour protein mixture into the hot soup, stirring constantly. Make sure everything is dissolved and well combined. Enjoy as 1-2 meal replacements. Nutritionals: 211 cals; 39g protein; 2g fat; 10g carbs; 0g fiber; 10g net carbs; 3g sugar Banana Joe Iced Coffee Makes 1 serving (HEEEEEUUUUUGGGGEEEEE) 11fl oz Premier Protein, Bananas and Cream flavored RTD shake 12fl oz brewed decaff coffee 6g whole psyllium husks (optional) 4-7 drops liquid vanilla stevia (Vitacost) ice (and lots of it) Mix it all together. Make sure there's a crap ton of ice. Add a straw and enjoy. This should occupy you for a LONG while! Nutritionals: 160 calories; 30g protein; 3g fat; 5g carbs; 2g fiber; 3g net carbs; 1g sugar (counts do not include the psyllium fiber since I omitted it last night) Here's MFP food log for Day 3. What I'm finding is this early out, I'm just not feeling deprivation. I feel like I have "enough" variety and a wide enough array of sweet to savory that my palette isn't getting jaded by a bombardment of sweet. I will tell you, it's odd how satisfying a cup of broth with a bit of granulated garlic is feeling. Between meals, it really keeps me satisfied--as did the sf cherry popsicle yesterday afternoon. It's the little pleasures. Right?

Melody, Your 5 pounds is probably a combo of water retention from the salt in restaurant food and when I work out more than usual my body retains water for a few days too. I bet it goes away in a couple of days. Stacie-- What about the sleeve if you have to have revision? That is my backup plan. Bob-- Good luck with the panni, I would like to do some CS but A) I'm scared of the pain, :biggrin: I cant take off work and most of all C) NO MONEY. I am kind of irritated that, after losing all this weight I am not more happy with my body. I guess I thought I was going to get my 20 year old body back. SHEESH!

Update! Not much has changed so just a quick pic, nearly 11 months post MMO Actually one thing is that I unintentionally tanned deeply during the summer months so ALL of my Incisions darkened, even my old lap scars. c'est la vie. I'm a Fitzpatrick IV/V skin type so par for the course It doesn't bother me & I'm not worried about it because they're well hidden underneath underwear but I will need to address it at some point either through scar revision or some other modality Plastics totally changed my silhouette so no big deal

Hey Iwannabeslim..I had my band revision on Monday and things are going great; just thought I'd let you know that.

Congratulations on the 12 pounds! That's excellent!! I can't wait to have my surgery. I recently, since the holidays have gone back on the myfitness pal app and I am really trying to stick to a healthier diet and more mindful eating. Ever since losing the band it opened up a new world again of eating for me and i could eat everything again.. ( very bad) You should be happy you didn't have to experience that with a 1 step revision surgery. :-)