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I don't understand your comment. I don't view it as unsupportive if a doctor makes sure a patient understands all their options. Should he be sure not to tell her all her options? That would be irresponsible. No, they don't. Inamed came up with those stats. They took a high risk group of bypass folks who won't lose well for a variety of reasons (mostly not bypassing an appropriate amount of intestine) and THAT is the group they compare banded folks. Besides, for any of these surgeries they consider a 50% loss of your excess weight a success. I don't think 50% of your "excess" weight is all that great. It's better than where we started, sure! But a success? Banding does indeed have the lowest success rate, the slowest weight loss, and it is the hardest procedure to have to lose weight. The following are typical results for WLS at the end of 5 years: DS: About 85-90% of your excess weight (but a horror of a procedure IMHO) Bypass: About 80% Sleeves: About 80% Banding: 50-70% (depending on starting BMI) MGB: Not sure, nobody with any skill or positive reputation does this procedure, only the doctors who can't make it in the real world do it. ;o) Gastric Ball: Only used for temporary use, not designed for long term use so there are no 5 year stats. No, they don't get it because it is adjustable, they get it because they are very limited in options for a revision when they fail. Bypass isn't for me either but they get a band because they drank carbonated beverages and large quantities of food and stretched out their stomach. Banded folks screw up their surgery types too including dilating their pouch and esophagus. You can eat around every single surgery type out there. When you have a lap band you are essentially trying to copy what your pylorus valve does naturally. You are adjusting it to do what sleeves do naturally but in banded folks it is done higher up in the stomach. Re-ops are between 10-40% for bands depending on which study you read. I disagree, question yourself up to the moment they put you to sleep for surgery. Keep asking yourself if this is the right surgery type for you regardless of which surgery you are having. Never stop researching your doctor, hospital, and surgery type. When you have Inamed putting out information they have manipulated all to heck to prove a point that doesn't exist then you have people that don't have solid information to base their decision. I like the Inamed band better than the J&J band but the folks at Inamed/Allergan have the morality of a stray alley cat.

Hi Wasa: I have a question for you - did insurance pay for your revision? I have had virtually no band problems in almost a year, in fact it has been pretty easy for me and I am almost at goal but I do live in fear of having some problem that would make my band not effective or need to be taken out and I always wonder if I would qualify for a revision if my BMI is in the normal range. Thanks in advance and thanks for sharing your story with us.

That's what my bariatric surgeon said this morning after looking at my esophogram. When I asked her about how thin my esophagus was per a comment made by the technician, she laughed and said that they're not used to seeing a normal esophagus. Most of the time because of band tightness, the esophagus swells. Because I am fortunate enough to have no Fluid in the band, mine is normal. I also showed the doctor my 'golf ball' and she said that needed to be revised for sure. So after the summer, I get a port revision to a lower profile version and she will tuck it under the muscle. I will be happy to have it gone. I tried on a dress yesterday and couldn't buy it because the port was really noticible. Happy days and I'm a happy lady thanks to my lapband.

I had my lap band in 2008. I lost weight, but gained back a ton after I had my son. I found a surgeon who was willing to do my revision. I had the consultation, I started doing my surgical clearances. My insurance (HealthPlus Amerigroup) changed to BCBS HealthPlus. Everyone was made aware of this change happening. I was scheduled to have my lap band out on 10/27. On 10/05 I called the office to ask a question, and they informed me that they no longer take my insurance. I was floored that no one even bothered contacting me to let me know I wouldn't be having surgery in two weeks. So for a couple weeks I sat depressed, until I found an awesome Surgeon willing to do my revision, and who accepts my new insurance. So now I've been doing the 6 month diet because I've been headed towards this surgery for a while. I was at month 5!! I went into my PCPs office for a visit, only to be told he doesn't work there anymore!!!! They wouldn't give me any info, where he went, why he left, nothing. Finally I tracked him down and I'm going to see him this week. Idk what happened, but now I missed my weigh in for the month of October. Idk if my new insurance even requires this 6 month diet because when I call, they tell me they won't know the requirements until the surgeon submits paperwork for the surgery. Is that the most ridiculous thing you've ever heard?? Does anyone know if they require it? Does anyone know if my insurance will somehow accept that my dr went MIA in the middle of my diet? Maybe I can convince my doctor to add a weight in my chart for the month of October I can't start over! I cannot wait until May! I only have my psychiatrist and nutritionist left to do. I've been doing this diet and it was ruined by this fucking doctor. I'm so pissed. Idk if I'm even asking a question, just venting I suppose :/ I'm not even sure if I technically have BCBS or healthplus now. I'm so upset.

Grace, I'm sorry you are having such issues. Who knows why something works for one person and not for another, or why some people have medical problems and others do not. I can't speak for your surgeon's or doctors as to why they did not catch this issue before your band surgery, but the good news is that you have caught it now and you have a band that can now be removed and you may be eligible to have a revision surgery. You would not be able to do that with either of the other weight loss surgery options. Try not to be afraid, let hope dissolve your fears for you as you move forward to have this situation corrected and into a new journey with RNY. Check out the forums there and ask many questions, and seek support for your upcoming surgery. I think you will find that you are not alone. Best of luck to you! Check in when your all done and let us know how your doing.

Well, my doctor now wants me to have a revision to RNY. I suffer from borderline achalasia. Luckily the lower part of my esophagus opens and closes correctly so I can have the surgery. If I had a full blown achalasia situation he couldn't do any surgery. I cannot have the vertical sleeve because of this though. I basically suffer from horrible acid reflux because my esophagus spasms really bad. I tried everything with the band and went in for fills every 3 weeks because he had trouble filling (under fluoroscopy) because my esophagus would not hold still. He has stated the band has failed. I am five years out. It's a long story as to why this was not caught earlier but suffice it to say in the last year I have been very regimented with the band and it will not work for me. I am truthfully scared about the RNY but I just cannot get the weight off. I have the realize band and my doctor won't even use the realize band anymore. Anyone else deal with this issue? It is depressing. I had the band put in when it was all the rage and I should have thought about the fact that it didn't have enough statistics. I feel stupid but I also feel misled. This was never a side effect my original surgeon said could happen. And I don't know if the band caused the problem or if it was always there. But if it was always there, why didn't he catch it during the barium swallow? I am just bummed out. I absolutely detest this band. A friend of mine had a band placed two days after I had surgery and she lost a ton of weight and is doing great. I so wanted it to work. Now I just want it out. I hope that even if I cannot have RNY they can remove the band. I am worried it will erode or slip next.

Ok so those who have gone through this is it that bad? The doc says he might need to move mine cause it floats around to much. I went in for my third fill and yet again he couldn't get the needle in the port. He found it and was hitting it but because when i lay down it floats up under my ribs he is having problems getting in it. Anyway just some help would be nice thanks alot.

I can not believe the ordeal you have been thru. and no one could tell that your band had slipped? you are right about knowing your body. I knew something was not right with my band but I did okay for a while then I must have really slipped when I had extreme trouble keeping solids down and had most of my Fluid removed with out relief. thankfully I only had to wait a few weeks for my revision. Now I have new band that is larger than my last (went from 4cc to 14cc), it a huge difference and I have fighting to find restriction but I am very very happy. all the best to you!

The topic was weight loss surgery, but of course they only talked about lap-band. OMG. Seriously, I was so apalled at what I was hearing that I was driven to write them a letter, which is something I would never do. They had the smug lap-band surgeon laughingly say there was only 1% chance of any type of complication and that the surgery only takes 15 minutes. He was such a douche! They had a couple of success stories on there and everyone was so bowled over by how awesome everything is. There was one lady on there that was talking about complications, but they didn't really give her much time. Here is a copy of what I wrote - I wanted to share it with you all: ***** The lap band is a nightmare!!!!!! This is a direct quote from the Allergan web site regarding lap-band safety: "In the study, 25% of the patients had their band systems removed, two-thirds of which were following adverse events. " Reference: http://www.lapband.c...nformation/#top If the 600,000 patient count that was quoted on the show is accurate, that means up to 150,000 have probably had them removed and this should be represented in the discussion. Your lap-band "expert" surgeon downplayed the risks as if they didn't exist. I got the lap-band almost 4 years ago and I just had it removed a month ago. There are thousands of people like me out there. I'm not sure where the statistics are coming from, but I think there is a huge silent group of people out there having revision surgeries. There is not as much information out there regarding lap-band patients 5 years out from surgery, but there are so many that have the band removed because of problems eating (I couldn't eat chicken with my band AT ALL), Problems with chronic port site pain, port flipping, slipping, erosion, doctors that do port fills correctly, and much more. For the record, I did not have any major complications and I still had the band taken out. Go to a lap-band support forum on line and then look into the "complications" discussions. You will see it all there. And these complications are not because the patient failed, the equipment is problematic, period. Check out www.verticalsleevetalk.com and look into the "Band To SLeeve Revision" topic. Read through the stories and see what is REALLY happeneing out there. These are real people. Also, your surgeon said something about the removal of a band being "easy". I don't say this lightly, but this guy has no idea what he is talking about. I had an uncomplicated revision surgery and there was internal scarring from the band that needed to be removed. Please do your homework before you sell this surgery to the desperate overweight people out there. They will believe anything because they want so desperately to lose the weight - i know because I was one of them. Please, please, please - stop perpetuating this flawed surgical remedy. The marketing is out of control and people are being seriously hurt. There are other surgical options that have better long term results and less long term complications. Sincerely, <full name withheld on forum> ********** I had to get it off of my chest. Thanks- Lara

Hi. I just had a revision from band to bypass this past Wednesday the 17th at a local hospital. My emotions were running high, as my Dad passed on the 10th, but running uber high because I was doing the bypass. I have two artificial knees, so I know a bit about major surgery and recovery. My experience was THE most painful, dehumanizing, frustrating exp's I've ever, ever had. I had done massive amounts of research for the RNY, and the revision exp. I saw here how so many of you had positive exp's. as well as the negative. But way more positive. I eventually came to the decision to have this surgery. My surgeon and the clinic he runs within our hospital is extremely well run, trustworthy and knowledgeable, but the actual hospital area that aids in recovery was PROFOUNDLY inept and rude. I'm home now, with a drainage bag in my side, doing everything by my surgeons book. My left ribcage feels like it was kicked by a mule and when not on pain meds (which is rare) I find breathing painful. I'm bloated like crazy, and am quite tired. I also have a short window off opportunity come pee time. I just can't hold it in till ready! Can anyone tell me if this is a 'normal' bad experience? (I left SO much out!) Are these normal feelings? Physically. Remember, it was a revision, who, btw, the surgeon said was an excellent process and completion. I just need feedback. Please?

Im one week and one day from surgery. Although i had the revision surgery from band to bypass so mine was more than urs will be. Honestly on a scale of 1 to 10 the worst it got was 4. I was really surprised actually. The most pain i had was when i acidentally caught my drain tubing and it came out a little. Thank God it is gone today. 22 pounds down so far

I had my tummy tuck on 4/21. He couldn't get all the abdominal fat so I will need to go back in for additional lippo. He did a really good job on the pannus but I'm not exactly pleased on the upper stomach. I still want to lose 15 lbs. I should be able to go back in sometime in the Fall. Any advise?

So, I gained a total of 45 lbs back from my post op total, which was a total loss of about 115 lbs. I feel awful. My stomach feels huge. I’m grabbing it with both hands and it literally just disgusts me. Soon after my surgery I had an Appendectomy followed by having my gall bladder out about 3 months after the appendix. This resulted in the consumption of a lot of pain medicine as I’ve struggled with opioid addiction for about 10 years, it really got worse after my three abdominal surgeries in one year about a six month time frame. Well, I eventually checked myself in for recovery and have been on suboxone for about a year. The problem is that I eat too many sweets. In fact it’s the majority of what I eat. Eating protein makes me sick, in fact I can eat about a few bites of protein and feel full. But then I’m hungry again so I’m snacking sweets. I don’t know what’s wrong with me or what to do, but I don’t want to have revision surgery. I’ve started working out, intensive cardio, anaerobic exercise but I can’t lose weight anymore even with the workouts. I feel hopeless and at this rate bound to be back up to 300 lbs. I know a girl who I inspired to get weight loss surgery and she started where I was same weight and wears a size 8/10 now. I’m so sad that she killed it on her first year I’m a complete failure at three.

I am almost at 6 months and I have heard the hunger comes back at 6 months so I will have to get back to you on that. I am never really hungry since my revision from band to sleeve. I eat because it's time to eat. I have a Protein drink when I get up, lunch at noon and dinner around 5pm. Head hunger is in the evening when I usually have a fudgesicle.

That's fantastic! So far, the surgeons I've contacted locally have only had experience doing revisions from band to RNY- and I really want someone experience in band to sleeve revisions.... so I will most likely have to travel. (My insurance is already out of network, as it's through Oxford in the New York area....so I don't THINK it would be a problem having an out-of-state surgeon....but who knows!!!) I am glad to hear that this worked out for you- and I hope you are having wonderful success, and feeling great now that the band is gone! =) -Charlotte

Sounds like my symptoms when I had a slip 7 months post-surgery. Time to get it looked at, xray or endo, and see what's happening. I ignored it and ended up having to get a revision and get ulcers in the esophagus treated.

She's not a surgeon right? Listen to them, not her. I had a similar experience with my primary care doctor telling me that I should use her new Protein shake program instead of having revision surgery. She doesn't know what she's talking about so I chose to not listen. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Has anyone ever had or knew someone that had sleeve and went to bypass???

Wow. This is so normal on the lapband board (which I used to frequent before my sleeve revision 11 mths ago) but had no idea it happened so much to sleevers also. When I was sleeved, if I took 1 bite too much, I would hiccup - just once - to let me know I've had enuf. Now, nuthin. Cept a tummy ache if I take 1 bite too much.

Goodluck!! I was revision from band to sleeve 4/9/2014 down 25 pounds!! One day stay at the hospital.. I did have Gas in the hospital but gasx knocked it out (hurt soooooo bad in my back) day 2 i was walking one mile feeling normal, no pain, no complications, no hunger!! I wish the best for you and also of my 5 incisions they are almost gone and I never put anything on them.. Look like i only have one scar and thats where my port was from lapband!! I wish EVERYONE great success and a healthy life after WLS

I got a sleeve to mini gastric bypass revision in Tijuana on July 28.

VSG - 3+ yrs ago so slightly different than what maybe happening this year: I called the local Bariatric Surgery practice to inquire about how to start the process and was told to attend an in person seminar where all of the information would be discussed After the seminar I called to set up an appointment with the surgeon. At the appointment my insurance was processed, weight taken then official first meeting with the surgeon where we discussed my health & medical history as well as my options. I chose to move forward with surgery ASAP. The head nurse/office manager set up my first nutritionist appointment for the same day because the NUT was available right after my consult. I was given info on the diet I needed to begin to follow (I needed to meet just once or twice more with the NUT prior to surgery for more instructions and weigh ins). At checkout from the initial consult, I was handed a huge packet of info on the next steps/appointments. There were some the office set up and some I needed to do on my own. I needed to meet with my primary for insurance authorization & prior weight loss history. Next was the psychologist, cardiologist, gastroenterologist , sleep study, and my neurologist (case specific) Final steps were endoscopy and barium swallow test then the final required WLS seminar. Once it was all complete, all materials were submitted and I waited for insurance approval. Once approval arrived I was given options on surgery dates. Prior to surgery I needed to complete pre-op lab/paper work including meeting with the anesthesiologist about 1 week before surgery. No pre-op diet required but I did one for ~ 5 days because I was nervous. Day of surgery (5 am) was just more paperwork then briefly meeting with the team one more time. Administered light sedation then headed into the OR suite, met the surgerical team, placed on surgerical table, wired with monitors/leads, IV placed and then placed under general anesthesia. From initial call to surgery day ~4 months. *Revision to RNY (1+ yr ago): At one of my regular follow up appointments I told my AMAZING Surgical PA that my GERD symptoms had increased significantly. I was scheduled to see the new Surgeon immediately (original one left the practice). At the appointment with my new Surgeon it was suggested to conduct an endoscopy immediately. It was scheduled for the same week. My new Surgeon conducted the endoscopy to have first hand info on my anatomy since they were not the original Surgeon. A few days later we met again to discuss my options (revision or several months of repeated balloon dilatations) I choose revision and was scheduled for 12 days later. Please note that I was "fast tracked" and I didn't need to repeat any of the initial prerequisites because I was at goal weight and demonstrated significant need for the procedure. No insurance issues either for the same reasons. But this time I had to do the 2 week pre-op diet. The day of revision surgery the same as first surgery. Good Luck with your journey ❤️

I had a revision from the band to the sleeve. The only complication I had was that one of my incisions came open. The cause of this was going back to work after two weeks and a pair of pants I wore kept rubbing against the incision. I just had to be careful and keep it covered. It healed fine. Other than that, the rest was just discomfort from having surgery that was mostly cured with pain meds. I do remember having some "head" hunger issues from not eating, but I physically was not hungry. There were days when I felt weak, but I got some Five Hour Energy and it really helped. I recall feeling better each day and when I could eat real food again, I started to feel like myself. The weight loss really keeps you motivated. I agree that any pain is worth it!!!

I'm scheduled for lap band to sleeve revision on August 8. At my psych eval, the therapist admitted to having had a bypass (she's still quite thin). She said that after the surgery and weight loss that my life would completely change. She then said my life would change in ways I couldn't imagine. So my question is this: what major life changes occurred for post-opers, and did they have changes that they could not imagine before surgery?

I've had 2 dilations this year, but it hasnt worked for me. I was told that I have esophageal dysmobility and I will be having my band removed and a revision to a gastric sleeve on Nov 1st. I wish you have better luck with dilation then I did.