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Happy1957, thanks so much for posting this. I was coming in this morning and planning on asking the same thing! I hit week 3 yesterday and I haven't lost any weight in 5 days. As a matter of fact, I had gained a pound at the end of last week and when I weighed this morning that one pound was back off. I was soooo discouraged. I am a band revision and had no idea that even a slight gain would be possible after getting sleeved. I too, have been reading about all these people that have already lost 20 to 25 pounds by week 3 and thought that this meant I wasn't gonna have good success. Now to hear that everyone seems to stall like this or have a little gain when transitioning into "real" foods, I feel much better. I guess some of us are just slower losers. I go to the doctor today and hope he tells me I can start exercising. I know this will help me to lose faster and kick my body back into gear!! Thanks everyone! P.S. can someone tell me how to post your weights, goals, and that weight loss ticker tracker so I can post. I just joined and can't fiqure out how to do it!LOL!

§ Start getting in better shape. I walked, lifted, and did as much as I could 5 times a week getting ready for surgery. § Started practicing eating slower for lunch. § Watched many videos, talked to people who had been through it. § Oh, but best work was preparing for the mental changes with my therapist and worked through this book: http://www.amazon.co...=bariatric book § I drank a great deal of alcohol so I weaned myself off and slowly cut the caffeine. § Followed the pre-op diet to the letter § Shopped two weeks before surgery for the foods I would need for the first two weeks. § Revised my will and power of attorney just in case something went wrong § Tried pureed meal ideas before surgery so I had some meal plans.

LOL agreed fellow New Yorker!! Some people just don't know how to answer the question. And ironically enough, although I do not 100% the answer to your question, I'm having my surgery next week for a revision sleeve to bypass. maybe we can stay in touch?! What i can tell you though, is when i had the sleeve I could barely drink the recommended 64oz daily. I would try to sip every 10 minutes but it was soooo uncomfortable. It would take me an entire day like this to even hit my fluid intake.

Are you getting the sleeve, bypass or a revision or would you like to talk about anything else? I'm understanding, my friend is getting a revision on the 24th and we've been focusing on other topics for now. These group can be the support you need...

I was looking for the same thing. I started having issues with my band last year and had to have all of the fluid taken off. Since then, I have gained back 90 of the 100 lbs I lost. Insurance denied my revision, at first, but I won on appeal. I saw the doctor 2 days ago and got my new surgery date... November 7th. I'm excited and scared all at once! My husband has had the gastric bypass and is doing wonderful. Now it's my turn, again. Just don't know if my experience will be any different, since my band has to be removed.

Hi all! I'm going for my first consultation with to see if I'm eligible to have a revision surgery from Lapband to Sleeve and I'm concerned about my BMI. Right now, my BMI is 34, and I know my insurance will cover the surgery if the revision is medically necessary. I'm having the worst experience with the band (chest pain, GERD, stuck with everything, vomiting, etc). I was banded 3 years ago and I lost 19 pounds with the band in some point, mostly because I was unable to passed food, but as soon as my band got deflated due to complications, I gained all the weight back. I still have high cholesterol, POS and insulin resistance. Anyone have had a revision done with a "lower BMI" in Arizona? Thanks! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

I had a revision I'm always starving and over eat. I'm not losing much weight but really don't care just trying to get protein before I go completely bald but I hate shake they literally make me gag!! Need fellow revision patients experience please!!!

Been using it for since it's release (lapband since 2009). I rarely ate any meat due to issues being too tight, and I got stuck a lot (just recently had a band to sleeve revision). Blood test taken 8/24/16, Results for my protein were perfect.: My albumin lvl was 4.4 gm/dL (reference range is 3.5-5.2) and my Protein total was 7.7 gm/dL (reference range 6.4-8.3).

Been on a break from the site for a while... had my surgery back on 11-12-13. Sw 257lbs, Reached goal of 150 at 14 months out (January 2015)....got pregnant literally less than a week later. Baby girl is almost 2 now. Since my surgery I have suffered from reflux and its gotten continually worse to the point I feel like my inside are literally on fire. I also have no restriction whatsoever since my pregnancy and have managed to get back up to 185. I had an esophagram done may 5th and my surgeon wants to revise me to RNY sometime this month. They have already submitted to my insurance and I am just waiting for my approval. I am nervous and excited all at the same time. so happy to get relief from the reflux and get back on track

Thank you for this forum. I was one that was very active and left the boards due to the amount of negativity at certain times and unrealistic expectations of some. I came back because I am considering revision surgery due to gerd, hernia, and lack of weightloss post pregnancy. I am looking for others that have had revision surgery. I had my VSG done in Bogota, CB by an amazing team and had great follow up care. We are now back in the US and I will most likely have surgery with Dr. Halmi.

I think MTF medical staff are all great and talented people and good at what they do everyday. But what I am looking for in a surgeon is hard to come by in the military. I'm NOT looking for just a talented and skilled general surgeon I'm looking for a surgeon that has done hundreds of VSG's and has dealt with every situation out there and specializes in WLS and in revisions. I want a team of WLS surgery staff dedicated solely to their WLS patients. Revisions carry a higher risk and I was just turned away this morning from an MTF because they don't want revision patients. It is scary enough to deal with surgery let alone have your choice's limited. I don't think I'm alone in thinking that civilian doctors are better options for WLS or there wouldn't be so many people wanting Tricare Prime to approve it. They would all be lining up to get to an MTF. Even my own PCM said that she would rather get the RNY at a civilian clinic than risk getting VSG at an MTF. Let's face it WLS is not typically a military doctor's speciality. It's used as a way to keep their surgical skills sharp or used as a training tool. Yes, if I want this surgery bad enough I may compromise and use an MTF. But I have the perfect surgeon 20 miles away and I can't use him because Tricare will not cover it. I can afford to self pay but I can't afford the risk if their were a complication. There are no do over's and I just need it done right once. Glad to know that you have had great MTF experiences as well as some others in this forum. Who know's maybe I will be delightfully surprised someday!

Up until last week I was all set in pursuing a revision to a sleeve.Its new I saw a couple of celebrities Graham Elliot,Lisa Lampanelli and Rosie O Donnell to note.All are first time procedures for them. Ok I felt the same way back in 2004 when I saw Sharon Osbourne and a few other stars opt for the "newest"surgery in WLS at the time the lapband.I was approved for both but decided that the less invasive.Lapband was the way to go.Had the best surgeon who performed bypasses on Al Roker,Star Jones etc...,she and Dr.Roslyn are pioneers of WLS in NY.She offered me the Up until last week I was all set in pursuing a revision to a sleeve.Its new I saw a couple of celebrities Graham Elliot,Lisa Lampanelli and Rosie O Donnell to note.All are first time procedures for them.Back in 2004 I had the option between bypass and the lapband.I immediately opted for the lapband ....not taking into account the fills/u fills and slippage.The procedure was new and long term data was not available such as RNY. Big mistake!!!!I lost about 40 pounds initially and the fills and unfills were not wonderful and I never achieved the right fill.I started to not be able to handle several types of foods so I developed involuntary bulimia.One day I could eat a salad the next day I would violently throw up.Going to restaurants were a nightmare...a secret nightmare ...I would have dinner and have to go to the ladies room because I would need to throw up.Years of acid reflux and just fighting with my weight was a losing battle.....I developed PCOS,insulin resistance...pre diabetic...gall bladder attacks,had it removed,high cholesterol returned,developed breast cancer in 2012 And the chemo had steroids and oh boy ...gained all the weight back.Indigestion and chronic acid reflux plus port pain and stomach aches and bloating.I am miserable. My friend who is extremely obese just had sleeve surgery as well as her daughter.It is there first WLS.It seems to be working for them.(2 months)She has lost a good amount of weight but has a long way to go.She feels great so I was all in...I spoke to her last week and she told me that one day she wasn't able to eat one of her small scheduled meals because she was very busy at work....she got home famished and had egg salad she ate a bit to quickly and felt like throwing up but said that slime and bile came up.AHHHHHH....by the way she doesn't know I have the band....she experienced what I go through almost every day. My stomach is lap band abused I have all kind of gastro tests because my esophagus and stomach is a mess...The reflux rules out the sleeve for me.I would hate to make that mistake.It is not reversible,long term data is not available and on a lot of other sites I am seeing people who have had the sleeve complain of increased acid reflux...its .worse with revisions,ulcerative sleeves,leakage which can cause infections and inadequate weight loss.Some are seeking yet another revision to RNY.I am not going to put myself through this with my lapband abused stomach.Cutting out 85% of my stomach which can't be reversed is not appealing to me.I will opt for the Good Standard once and for all the bypass....the data is there and it is the Gold Standard.No more fad procedures for me.

Well, I'm the exception to every rule. Band erosion might make me consider a removal if it could include a simultaneous revision to RnY. I got myself approved for the RnY bypass first, but I saw the Lap Band when I lived in the UK and I was really excited about it being approved here. So I joined the original (and ill-fated, LOL) FDA Study of the LapBand and boy have I had 5 fun-filled years of unique LapBanding experiences and occurences. And in 5 years, I've experienced nearly every complication that a Banded patient can experience. I keep thinking erosion is next (*sigh*)...but no signs of it yet. (The fact that many erosions are asymptomatic is not comforting, but there you go.) After my LapBanding, I literally was sicker than any bypass patient I know (and I know quite a few Weight Loss surgery patients) so all those things I hoped for with Lap Banding (having a less minimally invasive, safer surgery with fewer complications) didn't exactly go as smoothly for me. So when I see people say "Oh I'd get banded or nothing" well, to each his own. But I'm still trying to work with the band or my new band (or technically I received 2/3 of a new band last year) and on dark days, a bypass sounds good to me right now. But I'm at BMI of 30 - so insurance approval for a revision to bypass seems unlikely. It's unfortunate to be too fat to be content, yet not fat enough to get a revision. Anyway, as long as the band works, I'll keep working with it for now. But I am absolutely determined on this point - if I get one more single band complication, they can have it. Revise me to an RnY, if the band can't get the job done. After 5 years of band issues, a little malabsorption might not sound so bad to get some of this excess weight off. Enough is enough - and I might throw in the towel. But again, I'm the exception to the rule. Happy Banded (and Non-Banded) Journeys to everyone...

Having bypass in February? We are starting a closed/secret group on Facebook and would LOVE to have you join us. 2 years ago I had a sleeve done, but due to complications they are revising me from sleeve to bypass. I had an AMAZING group on Facebook that all had the same surgery that month. We were going through the same things whether it was venting one day, sharing milestones, and made lasting friendships! Since it's a secret group there is some hoops to go through to get added (sorry, Facebook makes it harder) The good thing is that it's completely secret meaning none of your friends can know see posts or ever know you're in it This makes it a safe place for us because I know for some it's not something they want to share. Here's how to join: 1. Go to https://www.facebook.com/lanaepetersen and send me a friend request 2. I will accept the friend request, then send you an invite to the group. 3. After you are added to the group I'll unfriend

In Northern Kentucky Getting sleeved 12/28/15 by Dr. Trace Curry!! So nervous, it's a band to sleeve revision and I know it can have additional complications

I had the sleeve 5 years ago and due to acid reflux and my esophagus was collapsing I had to have a revision to the bypass 14 months ago . I'm a 105lbs now and want to stop losing. I have been having issues since I had the revision. I just had a pick line in that I gained 20lbs and 3 weeks later it was gone. At first it was diarrhea and now its vomiting. I seemed to can't get a break. I felt great with the pick line in but that is dangerous walking around with a IV in your arm feeding you dripping over your heart. I just has another EDG on Monday and they found nothing again. I had to spend another $300 for that. I am trying to stay positive but this is getting very hard and expensive. Need someone to talk to.

Well today marks my week post surgery (revision surgery Nov. 14th) and I am glad to report that I am down 10lbs. I can also tell the difference between being just banded and also having plication as well. I hope to keep moving the the right direction but as of today I am very pleased.

I am 4 years post op and revising due to the gerd and twisted sleeve. It intensified as the years went on but not for everyone Sent from my Z981 using the BariatricPal App

Hello everyone, so glad to have found this forum. Am 2 weeks post Op and in general, my recovery is excellent. However, am having problems drinking liquids!! I manage about 1 glass of water in 2-3 hours.. Really trying hard but it dies nit work too well. I am introducing natural coconut water, no sugar, and this goes a bit better. But still, 250 ml of it takes a whole day.. So far I lost 16 pounds, quite happy with it. My bowels work every two days, which I find quite OK. I am basically here to get some support for the long road ahead. Specially with the drinking, as I understand (and also according to my surgeon) that this is the most crucial part. Thanks a lot in advance and much success to us all!! Sent from my D6603 using BariatricPal mobile app

I was dead set on having the Sleeve when I started my journey. Due to my weight and BMI, my surgeon recommended RNY. In the end it was up to me and after much investigation, I chose RNY because I did not want to have to worry about GERD and having to have another surgery for revision if it developed. A nurse in my surgeon's practice had RNY 18 years ago and she is healthy and having no issues. I'm 5 months Post-Op and feeling great. My knees, back and hip have so much less pain than prior to surgery. My pre-diabetes has gone away and my blood sugar is in the normal range.

That's a good question lol I know the Bypass is the best option esp with the long term results, but the whole malabsorption really scares me I'm going to attend another support group tonight with a friend of mines who did the lap-band 9 years ago. She is thinking of revising to the Bypass herself. Her surgeon said the lap-band is just like the sleeve and it's a waste of time. We go to the same medical group just see different surgeons. So I guess you guys are right each surgeon is different.

I still have no word on revising this band. I checked with insurance coordinator yesterday and she said its still in pending. I'm not having terrible problems if I don't overeat, but I'm steadily gaining. Probably up another 2-3lbs. I have no self control and I just sit in front of a desk all day long. I'm about to start popping dextrim - LOL...I'm sure sometime in my weight loss trial and errors I did that.

So I feel like I'm ranting, but I'm really searching for information. My 08 band has slipped, pouch is stretch, so-on & so forth. Insurance WILL NOT pay for revision to sleeve - denied for not seeing doctor for 3 years, might not cover fixing of this band and will only cover "emergent" to take the band out. The PA said I can live on a 2-4 week liquid diet, high protein, low cards and they'd try to submit for insurance to cover going in a repositioning this band. Is this safe? They think I can live with the "complications" of the slip by not over eating, swelling my belly/pouch, and making better choices. When, or IF, the band causes such discomfort they will submit for emergent surgery to take out. I'm really lost, pissed, and getting fatter by the day - what would you do? Do I fight with insurance doctors? My next appointment is Nov 4th to review my liquid weeks and see how I'm feeling. If I choose good foods and don't over eat the symptoms are much less, burping, pain in back/shoulder, reflux, but if I do what overweight people do - EAT and eat wrong then I pay. Thoughts anyone?

YAAAASSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!! I couldn't eat anything healthy with the band, but Cookies were no problem. WTF?? Now I can eat veggies to my heart's content without getting stuck. I had this weird dance I'd do in my seat to try to get stuff to go down, and I'd always have my hands over my head because it felt better to be stretched out...but it looked ridiculous!! I can eat more than a typical bypass patient, but I can eat very normally with other people and not have to make a quick escape to get something dislodged. And sleep is wonderful now. I have several band friends and most of them are jealous of my revision. We all had our surgeries around the same time. One made it past goal, three are still struggling through it, and I'm now revised. So it does work for some people (though the one who made it past goal did it by being so tight all she could eat was soup and she takes Nexium twice daily and still has issues, but she's willing to put up with it.....I wasn't). I wish I'd had the foresight to know I wouldn't be one of them. I had the same issue! Any junk food was no problem but give me a salad and I'd throw up!

Dr J Lo, Thanks for answering my prior question on Brachioplasty and dog ears. I had my srugery on 2/14/08 and looks like I did not get them, however I am not 100% happy with my resluts. I have no loose skin at all, which I am very happy about, but I still have fat, flabby arms. I am really bordering on asking myself why did I sacrifice having these long scars and still have big arms? My PS felt he really didn't need to combine lipo with the procedure, so now I am wondering if this is why my arms are still so big and flabby. Did I walk into this with unrealistic expectations? I guess I trusted his opionion at the consult, and now I am second guessing myself. I am scheduled to have my TT with the same surgeon in June, and now I am having second thoughts. Will I come out of that surgery disaapointed too (he will not lipo my stomach - but he will do my back fat)? I did asked him if this is as small as he could get my arms and he said that he couldn't take too much off at once, or else I could end up with a condition that would leave me very very swollen. I want to schedule another consult with a different surgeon for my TT, and maybe to discuss a revision on my brachioplasty (which I know is too soon, just wanted a second set of eyes). I did ask my PS if it would be possible to get a revision by getting lipo on my arms, and he said no that would leave me with loose skin. It makes me feel like I am stuck with what he gave me. Sorry so long, please any advice would be appreciated. I really like my PS, but now I am scared that I will not be happy again. PS Do some Plastic Surgeons not like doing lipo? Is it really a bigger risk to blood flow during surgery as my surgeon has mentioned? Sorry I forgot to add that he removed 5 inches from each arm (almost 2 pounds) Thanks Eugenia