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I agree that it works for some people, and some people want to be able to eat a more varied diet. But for me, I literally didn't have room for carbs(even an apple) if I wanted to get in my Protein grams in 4 meals per day which is what was prescribed by my surgeon. As for carbs on labels, it's hard to screw up carbs on fresh or frozen (no preservatives, no salt, nothing added) on green Beans, broccoli, pinto/black beans(which I made from raw form) and romaine lettuce which is pretty much the veggies I ate through my losing stage. I even skipped using mayo/miracle whip and subbed in greek yogurt for a lot of my meals for chicken/tuna/egg salad, with a little mustard, or dry ranch dressing. I also relied on the glycemic index for veggies/fruits intake for counts. If it was over 55 points on the glycemic index, I never ate it in my losing stage. My goal was to lose as quick as possible. I won't deny that at all. For me, my goal was to hit goal, and worry about maintenance when I got there. I should add that because eating carbs even the "good ones" didn't work for me in the past. I was diligent with weight watchers, and my body fought to lose with eating little portions of "good foods". I did the points system and the "whole foods" program numerous times, and both had minimal results. I didn't see it as a diet, I never felt deprived so that could be why I was so stringent on my intake. I think people just have to find what works for them, and how they want to lose weight, change their relationship with food, and really change their habits. My losing stage taught me a lot about what I was able to tolerate, what I could eat without feeling deprived, and I learned tricks to make food more "sleeve-friendly" while not losing flavor. I live an extreme life of moderation in maintenance because it's what works for me. I drink soda, I eat bread, Pasta, rice, potatoes, all veggies, alcoholic beverages are weekly indulgences (before the pregnancy) so by no means do I live a life of dieting or monitoring all my intake like I did during my losing stage. For me moderation in maintenance is what works for me, also that moderation can easily get out of hand, and luckily, I can go back to "better choices" cutting carbs to an extent, and still lose weight. I should add that I had another driving force to losing quickly. My husband was deployed during my revision. After my complications, and a slow start with weight loss (I was fed 1800 calories a day for almost 2 weeks via a TPN bag/picc line so I didn't lose a ton of weight), a 2nd hospitalization that resulted in weight gain again, I had a goal to lose 60lbs before his return in 4 months from the day of my revision. Because I was so stringent on my intake, I had dropped about 80lbs by the time he came home and he walked right by me at the airport. So, there were some other driving forces to me losing quickly, getting healthy, and making a full recovery after extensive complications. I had to "get better" before he came home. He wasn't allowed to come home during my complications, he was in a shithole of Afghanistan, dealing with the the mental issues of deployment on top of his wife nearly dying due to complications, he was worried that I was going to be "sickly" and not myself. Sorry for the ramble, I just thought I should clarify some of my reasoning and what all went into my decision-making process during my losing stage.

I have BCBS TN and my revision process was pretty smooth. My first consultation about revision was September 26. My surgery was December 15. It was actually easier to get the revision approved than my initial surgery. What I would advise is call you insurance company and ask them to send you the specific criteria for bariatric procedures. Know your specific policy, and advocate for yourself. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using the BariatricPal App

Depends on the insurance, but I have Blue Cross in CA, through the NASI union benefits and I have a slipped band (banded 2009) and was approved for a sleeve revisions surgery at the standard percentage of coverage for my plan. It is possible but a lot of insurance out there and its hard to give a blanket answer. Maybe if you said what insurance you had someone else might have specific information for you. Good luck! Sent from my SM-J700P using the BariatricPal App

I am in the appeal process with my insurance... They denied my port revision... saying that the FDA does not have substantial information to support the need for this secondary surgery in order for the original surgery to work.. Can you BELIEVE that....?? Hello no way to get to the port NO way for the band to be adjusted and work... duh!!! Could take 60-90 days for a decision......

I am having a very slow weight loss. I had my first surgery 3/2000 and VBG revised in 2017. I gained 80 pounds and had a gastric bypass on 3/23/2022. Wondering if anyone else had these issues?

September 3, 2015 is my final surgery! I am so excited. In 2008 I was banded lost all my weight had a breast lift, gummy bear implants, thigh lift and tummy tuck.. In May 2014 I was revised from band to bypass because my band had eroded. So my final surgery will be my face lift and full face laser resurfacing. I'm thrilled. I have used the same surgeon for all my plastics and I love him!!! Dr passaratti in Darien, ct. The only surgery that didn't give me awesome results was my thigh lift but I don't want the scar down my leg for the median thigh lift. Im happy with them just not thrilled lol. I have been a self pay for all my surgeries so the new me has cost $87,500 but I am worth every damn penny! I have never been happier!

I am having my revision in 3 days......I am getting really nervous......Not about the surgery so much, but how I am going to feel emotionally when I lose my "best friend". I have been eating everything in sight

I was banded in 2003 and lost about 60 pounds. It slipped once; revised in 04. Slipped again and had it removed in 06. Think slips were from over-fills and testing the band limits too often. Quickly gained 20 pounds after removal. After three surgeries, I sure didn't want to have it end with me at original weight! I exercised, ate a healthy diet and lost 30 pounds. In the past two years, I've slowly re-gained 20 pounds. My doctors say it's aging/menopause and I have to cut back MORE and exercise more. It's sooo frustrating. SO: I contacted my surgeon to explore possibility of re-band. I'm scared I will have same experience, but hopeful the product, procedure and information have improved since original banding seven years ago. I'm worried about scar tissue; I also had tummy tuck to remove excess skin and am not sure how that will impact. Anyone know? My insurance won't cover so this is a big decision, assuming surgeon says it's viable. Feedback from re-banded and tummy tucks re-banded greatly appreciated!

Hi Brenners! Sorry to hear of your band loss! If it were me, I'd not hesitate to consider a revision to another surgery. I'd work with my doctors to decide which was best. After having success at a thinner, healthier life with the band, I'd not want to go back to my previous condition. I know for me, that would happen without the valuable tool of WLS. Best wishes to you!

Has this ever happened to anyone? It started out with port site pain that was very tender to touch...went to see the doc today and now I'm waiting to have a CAT Scan done. He said the band might have eroded. In a situation like this would they revise it to a sleeve or gastric Bypass? I'm just scared because my weight loss is going great.

I had my revision from band to sleeve on June 3rd, 2009. I haven't seen a lot of patients on here that are more than 2 years. There are several long term sleevesters on OH.

Mandi, I've gotten the impression that there aren't that many RNY's here at lapbandtalk and it's a really good question as I'm revising to RNY myself in June.

Had revision on 5/27 - 4 days ago started feeling sick and vomitting up bile. Horrendous pain. I couldn’t get liquids down. I had the same issues with the sleeve though even years out. Water bothered me all the time. Had to do sips all the time. Other liquids not so much. But nothing stayed for.  Surgeon requested a ER visit so Off I went. Turns out that something was going on. Had a contest ct scan but was normal as it was on Saturday when I had one for my large hematoma.  I just had lapro again yesterday as some of the scar tissue was giving me an issue. Was only 2 weeks. I hope this was just a flukr. They said sometimes it happens I am Hoping to go home today!!!! And this is the restart to things to come.  I know some have said you lose your restriction. Sleeve was better with that. I find restriction but could that be cause it’s a new surgery?  Hope all is well. 

So exciting!! I'm about to begin the band to sleeve revision process. My old insurance (Cigna) wouldn't pay for it. Hoping Aetna will. We'll see.

lots of people have revised, so some may chime in here. It usually does resolve GERD (although not always -- tracyringo, who's on here, hasn't seen any improvement yet, unfortunately) - but for most people, yes - it stops it. most RNY'ers don't dump (the statistic that gets thrown around a lot is 30% of us dump, although I don't know if there's any hardcore medical research behind that number. However, I've been on bariatric boards for the last six years, and I know a lot of us don't dump - so that number doesn't surprise me. And no - you don't dump on Splenda or other artificial sweeteners. Just sugar - and for some people, fats (although I should add that some artificial sweeteners, esp sugar alcohols, give some people G/I distress - but that's true of normal people, too - not just WLS patients). weight loss supposedly isn't as fast or easy with revisions as it is with virgin surgeries, but some people do manage to make their goal.

I had revision from sleeve to rny in September 2020 and have had zero GERD symptoms since surgery. I do dump with some sugar substitutes, but so far it seems limited specifically to sugar alcohols (xylitol, erythritol, sorbitol, etc.). Splenda and Stevia have been fine so far.

Keep walking and that will help disperse that gas/air that is inside of you. When I woke up from my revision surgery (lap band out to the sleeve), I looked at hubby and said, "What the he** did I do?" (I don't cuss generally, lol). But, once they let me get up and walk but the evening I was doing better and also with the pain medication being given to me in my IV. Follow the rules that your doctor gives you so that you heal well with no complicatons. Remember, you have to take care of your "baby sleeve" as someone on chat shared with me. Congrats!!!

I only waited 14 days to get a cheaper flight. Revision 1/31/13 by Dr Cabrera and Venezuela in MX

almost everyone has a stall around the 3rd week post op. Did you get a DS or just a sleeve? This is the first I've heard of revision from bypass to sleeve (since the bypass is a more powerful surgery, I'm not sure why they'd do this... unless your sleeved stomach is part of a DS? (duodenal switch - which is a sleeved stomach with a partially bypassed small intestine - this particular surgery is even more powerful than the RNY bypass)

Proton-pump inhibitors (ppi). You need to go back to your surgeon to report that. I had to go on several different ppi drugs. I had a Gastric Sleeve done in 2012. Developed acid reflux and now have GERD. Unfortunately for me the GERD was not controlled with the ppi. Now have a serious hernia and developed Barrett's esophagus. Having a GS revision to Bypass in September. You can develop Barrett’s esophagus when acid reflux is not controlled. Barrett’s can turn into esophageal cancer in 5% of patients.

Heather -- Once you get good restriction, your band will be a better tool for you. Think of it this way. When was the last time you could say that 6 months have passed and you DID NOT gain weight?? Let us know how your port revision goes. Melissa Lea

thanks for responding. My dr. is trying to get the insurance to agree to a revision using the same band. He thinks it will help to stitch the band in on a different area of the stomach. Have you had a band repaired?

it's not so much that your band has slipped ...it's that your stomach has come up through the band so that you have more above the band than you should and it causes you to be really tight. I've had two major slips...first one, unfilled and everything dropped back into place (done under fluoroscopy). Slowly refilled band and once I got to any significant restriction I was then completely blocked again. They went in to do a revision surgery. As it turns out my stomach had adhesed to my pancreas. Not sure why...still lots of questions...this just happened on Thursday. good luck to all

Hi This has happened to me but further out I have had the band for a year and I have to go in on Thursday for a port revision because mine flip too. Hope they are able to flip your backs.

I'm getting my band to sleeve revision next week and I have opted to not tell everyone I know. Only my 2 bosses and my immediate family know. However my friends from work are getting quite nosey about my scandilious leave from work coming up. I have just said I've decided to get my lap band removed. I feel guilty like I am lying! And then questions start and I don't know what to do or say!!! HELP!!!!