Search the Community

Had vsg in my fifties, had vsg to rny revision recently (almost 2 yrs ago) in my 60s (gerd related). It's been great. Maintained 100+ weightloss over the years. My weightloss rate was on par with others much younger than myself. I had no complications, recovery was very easy for me. As far as long term success, after the honeymoon period, and hunger returns, long term weightloss requires some discipline in following your plan. But since you are already practicing good habits since 2015, you are ahead in the game, and I think you will be very successful.

Hello, Sorry this a a long post but I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who's had similar experiences. Has anyone had a gastric bypass that didn't work? I knew something was wrong pretty soon after my surgery as I had no restriction. I'd known all of my surgical team since 2010 when I had a gastric band. After a year of filling and un-filling and coming to the end of my free fill period (they would have cost £100 after that), the bariatric nurse and I could never reach that sweet point between nothing going through the band and so being sick all the time and no restriction at all so I knew I had to give up on this. Then in 2012, I lost 9 stone (125lb) by following a very low calorie diet (VLCD). I did this for 9 months, eating just four sachets of food at just under 600 calories a day. I got down to just over 10 stone (140lb) on my 40th birthday at the end of 2012. But in 2013 when I was off the VLCD, I struggled to keep the weight off. By October 2013, I had tried everything and decided to go for further surgery. I was initially going to have a sleeve but the team's dietician had said that sometimes band to sleeve revisions weren't as successful and I'd read that the bypass is the recommended revision for those who've had bands. Add to this that it was sold to me as the 'gold service' of weight loss surgery and I'd read that it's the operation that has been done for many years and has lots of experience and evidence behind it, I went for the bypass. I knew something was wrong pretty soon after my surgery as I had no restriction. In early December 2013, the dietician agreed that I should not physically be able to eat or drink Fluid in the volumes I could (I felt and still feel like nothing had changed) so he sent me for x-rays which were inconclusive and the measurements/calibrations weren't noted at the time. However, one of the surgeons said in an email that he thought the stoma was around 20mm in diameter. Everything I read says this is too large as food goes straight through the stoma, meaning I never really feel full. The smaller stomach and stoma should mean that I feel feel on less food. It took months for me to push for a second set of xrays and I really felt that I was being ignored. Emails were replied to only after a few weeks when I chased them up and I have an email from the same surgeon saying they were deliberately slowing things down in the hope things would rectify themselves. But they didn't. They did agree to a second opinion and I chose a surgeon in London who not only runs a centre which is ICE accredited (International Centre of Excellence) but has performed over 2500 bypass surgeries and specialises in those that go wrong. He sent me to another hospital in London on that day for some more xrays and then delivered his report. He identified and the xray specialist agreed that the stoma was too large to have any effect i.e. 'no functional effect' at the site. He also discovered that I had a sort of extra bit of stomach or additional reservoir. They call this a hockey stick or a candy cane but the effect on the surgery is unknown. He recommended that my hospital carry out an endoscopy to rule out a stricture. My hospital received the report and said they didn't feel the stoma was too big and in fact it was a good thing as "one of the theories as to how the bypass works is getting food that is eaten into the small bowel quickly as this has hormonal feedback to tell the person to stop eating". I have never read anything like that before and that certainly wasn't how they explained the procedure to me. I've always understood a bypass to be the creation of a smaller stomach so you feel full on much less food (that's what makes you stop eating, I know nothing about hormonal feedback) plus the shortening of the bowel meant some calories weren't absorbed after bypass. My hospital also didn't think the endoscopy was worth doing either as I'd had no sign of a stricture. Throughout, I have been asking the surgeons whether an endoscopy would help them to see what's going on inside there but they thought not. One of the most disappointing things was how disinterested my hospital were from the beginning. I felt that they'd taken my money and I had to fight to make them believe there was a problem. Even then, they really didn't move to try and explore what had happened. I don't understand this as they are still doing this procedure on people. I thought they would have wanted to know what had gone wrong with me so that it didn't happen to anyone else. Also very disappointing was the fact that I woke up to a LEAD surgeon I'd never met and never even heard of. Like I say, I've know this team since 2010. They hadn't mentioned there was a new member, let alone that he would be involved in my operation and certainly not that he would be my LEAD surgeon. I trusted this team and I felt this was a breach of that trust. I also trusted them to look after me if anything went wrong. I'm in the process of taking on a lawyer plus, because of my tweets about my experience, a local journalist who's interested in the fact that many bands are being revised, how surgery is sold to patients and what happens when they fail, has contacted me. I feel I should raise awareness that there are things that can go wrong that you don't hear about, as in my case. Would I advise anyone not to have bariatric surgery? No, all I would say is don't use a hospital just because its local to you or you know them. It doesn't mean they'll look after you if things go wrong. Find an ICE, look at patient feedback like mine and get a cast Iron guarantee that they'll take care of you if there are problems. The hospital's final letter to me told me that they would not be refunding my money and advised that I pursue diet and counselling. I feel like they just put me on the 'it doesn't work for some people' pile when I didn't even know such a pile existed. Aren't diet, exercise and counselling things we do over and over again before considering the massive step of surgery? In fact, my hospital's own website begins ... "If you’ve exhausted all other weight loss options, you might be considering weight loss surgery”. I'm still paying off the loan for this and I'm left in the cold! David & Goliath. Please share your feedback with me. Thanks for reading.

glad to hear you are well. I have the vsg and at the time of that surgery had a hiatus hernia repaired. after goiong back to my surgeon and some tests and careful thought I am off to have a revision to RNY today. I am so over this reflux and not eating well because of vomiting etc. Do worry that constapation will still be an issue so anyone has experience please let me know.

I know that's what I thought but I was told that sometimes you can have the leak but it goes undetected due to the inflammation ! Once that subsides it shows up like no tomorrow , I was revised from the Lapband so I have a higher chance of having one ????my doctor has told me not to worry , I'm getting a test next week just do I can be in peace ! Thanks I need it !

I had my BAND TO SLEEVE Revision on 9/28. I have lost 32 lbs, but I have come to an abrupt STALL! Nothing in 3 weeks. I have horrible head hunger and I am able to eat more than I think I should . . . for lunch I had a Tuna pouch - then and hour and a half later I had 2 small chicken fingers. I was not in horrible pain but definitely too full. Is anyone else having problems with head hunger and able to eat more than they (the Dr) said?

I was banded may 2013. My first year went like textbook. i lost a total of 81 lbs and felt great. But than problems started and july of 2014 my band was emptied and stayed empty for a year. My surgeon didn't want to put any fill in do to the complications i had. We discussed revision and on july 31,2015 i was revised to a gastric bypass. Surgery was difficult due to adhesions and scar tissue. When the band was placed i had gone to surgery to have a bypass but that surgeon couldn't do it do to the scarring. When i was in the recovery room the first words out of my mouth were ,what type of surgery? if he couldnt do the bypass i signed papers for a sleeve. but he was successful. I was so happy. post surgery i have had no complications. Have lost 27 lbs in 26 days. and am doing well with my new way of eating.

Ok..i had the surgery on Monday.. Was drinking fine at the hospital.. But ever since yesterday I get chest pressure that really really hurts.. I also cannot keep much down. Seemed as though the liquids I am drinking sits on my chest.. Then comes that feeling of pressure. Then a couple of minutes later Ithrow up what I just drank. Has anyone expected this.? Are the chest. ,pain due to gas. I am taking nexium and gas x strips. Are all these symptoms normal.? Btw I had the band to sleeve revision.

Wow this is so exciting for you!!! I wish you well. Having my band removed 7/29, and revision to Bypass in November.

Hello, I had lap band last January. Thou I have lost weight but have not been doing well. I have had a a port issue from the beginning. Which consist of constant soreness. It went further and I had sever pain and ended in the hospital in for 4 days. With no explanation of why. I have lost 40 pounds and am happy with it. I finally got approval for port revision surgery along with the possibility of removal of adhesion. I also may have a hernia and my band has been empty for a long time. I also have reflux bad. I have no fills since July. A lot of not doing well is partially my fault as I have no restriction and I am hungry. I hope this surgery helps and I can have a fill and get back into the swing of things. Has anyone have similar issues? Would love to hear from you.

Hi Butterfly66.... I am very fortunate.... My insurance company will pay for the revision because I have not retained 30% of my weight loss. To be totally honest, I never lost 30% of my weight to begin with. I have joined a new bariatric program at a different hospital. A fresh start... a new beginning.

Curious you why didn't revise in the same surgery?

Hardly anyone knows that i had weight-loss surgery...AGAIN! and even few people know that I went to Mexico to have my band to sleeve revision. I'm 5 days post-op. (June 8 2017). I'm not sure if I'm ready to recommend it to all of my friends yet...however...I followed their pre-op without a single cheat. I lost 23 pounds in the pre-op diet but even more importantly I have been pain free. No gas pains. No about pains. Flying home only 3 days post-op was excruciating but only because it was so exhausting. So I may be getting closer to recommending it. My insurance is great as long as you don't mention weight-loss surgery. So my lapband surgeon actually recommended Mexico and the hospital. My revision was going to be about $28k in the US. Mexico was $4900. That's a big incentive. If you're going to Mexico here are some things I learned. I'm writing them down here so I don't forget too... Bring... Your own towel or two Your own pillow (I brought mine and it helped having it in the hospital and on the plane) Baby wipes for the bathroom. It gets messy. Water shoes (a lot of women wore slippers but I've never been real good at them. Plus I could keep these on while sleeping. And you need them for the shower anyway) Giant sanitary pads (Mother Nature is a b***h and I got my period the day after surgery. Tampons were not happening. Plus it helps with the surprise "juice fart") Extension cord for plugging in phone chargers and cpap machines Your own bandages and tape. For after you leave the hospital. I also brought juice and protein shakes in my checked baggage. I wasn't sure what they had for a liquid diet and if I was going to like it. They had jello and broth and they were delicious. My US surgeon also gave me a prescription for nausea and pain for the flight home. I ended up not needing either but I was so glad it was there just in case. Lysol/Clorox Wipes...I'm a bit of a germ freak Clothes. They have gowns of course but you will be up walking around so much you need something else. I wore loose Capri pull-on pants and giant tshirts. Several sets. Not fancy. Loose comfy old panties Compression socks. Several pairs. They have their own and they are stickers about keeping them on until you get home! I understand the importance. But so glad I had brought a couple of pairs. A very supportive person to go with you. My husband is a super hero without a cape. Unlike my roommates friend she brought. Gave her a sip of her beer she snuck into the hospital! No joke!!! A drink of beer about 24 hours out of surgery! Which brings me to this...whatever you can get private room!! They have them. I saw them. My roommate was so annoying! A phone and a tablet going all day and night with loud games and videos...even at 3am!!! I probably should have brought her some headphones! Bring yourself some too. At least some ear plugs. One of the best things I did was set up a private Facebook Group with only 9 of my closest friends and family that knew what was going on. I could keep everyone updated (in the terribly spotty WiFi service. Don't believe the free WiFi pitch. It's there. sometimes. If you're lucky.) Anyway, my husband kept everyone updated there too after surgery until I was coherent enough. It was great. I loved seeing that everyone was praying for me. It was fun. Like home. Again, I'm not ready to fully recommend it. Maybe soon. I hear a lot of people wake up from surgery with "what did I just do?" Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using BariatricPal mobile app

Hi and welcome! People experience slips for different reasons sometimes, it isn't known why a band slips, a patient can be compliant and it just happens. Other times it can be because someone is living with a too tight band, experiencing a lot of Productive Burping and regurgitating and the force of all of that can, in time cause a slip. Others, if a person, for whatever reason throws up a lot... That can cause a band to slip. A slip doesn't always result in loss of the band. A revision surgery can, in some cases set the band back in it's proper place and after a period of recovery and healing, the patient can get back on with their bandster life. In other cases, the band can't be set back in place and has to be removed or the patient chooses to have it removed and either revises to a different WLS or none, at all. Slipping is a possibility, but it isn't a given. It is a risk that you need to consider as you do your research and make your decision. Yes! It is absolutely okay to exercise with the band! You can do anything with the band that you can do without it.

See, I was kind of comparing it to college. Many times (not all times) kids whose parents pay for their college tend to goof off more and not take it quite as seriously as those who have to pay for it themselves. I know for me, since I am self-pay, I can't afford to do anything that would jack it up, because if I were to have to go in and do a revision, it would be out of my pocket. I agree with what many of you said that you have struggled to get to this point and have done your research and you will work the program like it should be worked regardless of how it is or was paid for. Thanks for all of your thoughts and feedback.

Read the revised addition of The China Study. There are a ton of good insights in that book.

Had my VSG revision (from LapBand) scheduled for tomorrow (8/15/17) in Mexico. Got down to do the pre-op testing. All was going well, vitals were all good, I lost the prescribed weight, but then... Apparently either I missed the question or it wasn't recorded properly in the pre-screen that I have had Hepatitis B in the past. Mind you, my HepB was 30 years ago and was acute (meaning no ongoing symptoms). Also, I had LapBand 8 years ago and there were absolutely no liver issues then and I have numerous liver panels through the years with no ongoing liver function issues. However, out of an abundance of caution - they want to run a fresh liver function blood test and the results take 10 days to process. Assuming it's good, they will reschedule. This means my surgery is postponed a minimum of two weeks and possibly longer depending on their availability. The real kick in the teeth is I have to stay on the pre-op diet the whole time.

If you are getting 50 ounces in at 3 days post op you are doing well. You are going through a healing process so you can't expect to get in so quickly. After my sleeve 2 years ago it took me 3 to 4 weeks to get that much Fluid in. You'll get to the goal amounts don't rush yourself. I am having a revision to RNY in August so I'm dreading having to do it all again.

No we lost no weight with it, ended up with IBS and other gastric problems, hence the reason for the RNY revision. Not to mention my upper GI showed most of the sutures had come undone.

Hi everybody! I am due to have the sleeve in 2 weeks, i had the band for 6 years, removed 1 year ago.. gained most back. I am curious to hear from people who have had band to sleeve revision. If you were to compare... what would you say are the differences... in relation to eating, hair loss, skin etc. Reason i ask... i was successful with the band... minimal hair loss and no loose skin, im curious to know if ill have the same result this time around. I hope that made sense. .. sorry my brain is fried today... 1st day of optihell lol

As a former LapBand person, I truly know the pain involved with getting food stuck! BE sure you get an upper GI. After I had a severe stuck episode and removal of my fluid I had a FULL slip. My entire stomach slipped through the band and it clamped off the bottom of my stomach. There is no words to describe the pain that was. I had the band emergency removed then the gastric sleeve a little over a year later. And I gained the 50lbs I lost back. From experience I can tell you that the sleeve is a more involved recovery but a MUCH NORMAL way of living. I just eat less. Look into the revision and fight it if necessary. Age should have nothing to do with it. Good Luck

I had very similar experience with the band. I have had my band for 3 years. Things were constantly getting stuck and I was vomiting a lot. My esophagus had ulcerations it was so raw. I lost 35 pounds post band but gained 10 back in the last 6 months. My doc removed the Fluid from my band so I could heal. I need to have gall bladder surgery so I told him to take out the band while he was in there. I didn't want it any more. He talked to me about the sleeve and we began the insurance process with doubts it would be covered. Because of poor wt loss, continued health conditions (sleep apnea and non-insulin dependent diabetes) I was shocked, surprised and excited to get approved last week and my band to sleeve revision with gall bladder removal on March 21. don't give up on your insurance company. the doctors know how to write it up so you are more likely to get approved. It is a slow process but I highly recommend pursuing it. I was going to get the band out and have nothing. The sleeve is a nice surprise.

I had my revision surgery at Star Medica with Dr. Rodriguez in april. My experience was awesome. The hospital was clean, modern and comfortable for me and my companion. Dr Calderon met us in the lobby and explained the process each step of the way. We saw him several times each day. I saw the anesthesiologist, I can't remember her name, and Dr Rodriguez everyday. They came to my room and chatted and answered my questions. I do have to mention that many nurses spoken varying degrees of english. Some of the staff spoke none. However, I never really had any issues making myself understood or understanding them. Everyone was very nice and very caring through the whole process.

PaperBullets, I hope all went well today and you are recovering nicely. Please let us know. Dr. Yoo is my doctor too. I haven't yet decided if I am doing a band to sleeve revision yet. When you feel better, please PM me with your thoughts and experiences. Thanks!

I don't think so. Talk to your surgeon. I had revision surgery and it was all done at once. My doctor told me beforehand if the scarring was too much he could do a sleeve or just remove the band and have me come back in 6 months for a bypass (I gather the scarring must break down over time). I did my research and found a surgeon with experience with revisions. Mine had done over 250 revisions and could tell just by looking whether I was good to go. Revision was the best thing I've ever done and I'm mad at myself for waiting so long. Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App

Welcome. Most of us are "champeen" losers. Most of us have lost hundreds of pounds countless times in our lives. And clearly most of us suck at maintaining. Not only are we fighting our internal habits of a lifetime with food (addictions, using food as a drug, disordered eating behaviors, etc), but we also battle our metabolism and the neurohormones and gut hormones and insulin/glucagon, derangement that happens once obesity has set in. So we are walking time bombs. I would encourage you to spend time doing the head work. I would encourage working with a counselor and an RD. Please don't wing it. You only get one golden shot. After that, revisions become dicier and weight loss is usually slower plus you'll be out a lot of money. Please consider what kind of surgery you need. Do you need malabsorption in addition to restriction? Only you know this. Hope you post often.