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Is the surgeon that looked at it a band surgeon? Most of the time they don't understand what is going on with the band. I would get a second opinion about the surgery. My incisions all drained. Not unsual. I had to have a port revision surgery but that was because my port tilted. You don't want someone messing with the band or port unless they have experience with it. Just my humble opinion.

My name is Becky and I'm a regular in the Gastric Sleeve forums. I had a sleeve in December 2012 and immediately after surgery developed dysphagia and have not been able to swallow anything other than pudding and ice cream in 1.5 years. I haven't lost any weight partly because I eat stuff like ice cream and pudding all day, partly because I have zero metabolism, partly because I get zero Protein therefore have zero energy therefore sleep all the time. It sucks, badly so finally I'm taking a big step and revising to a bypass. The surgeon swears it will stop the pain and minimize the achalasia which can lead to cancer. I'm totally scared though, all I hear about is malabsorption issues and trouble getting in protein leading to hospital stays and I can't handle much more. So, since this is my only option I need to hear some success stories. Can you guys please tell me that this has helped you and you aren't dying? I need some positive stories because the last thing I need is to make everything worse.

Hello, My name is LaQuita and I am 'new' to this board. BUT I am not a new bander. I was banded in August of 08. I am 5'2 and weighed 241. :thumbup: The first fill I was supposed to have, I couldn't have b/c the port had sliped and turned sideways. The Dr could not access it for the fill. I had to have surgery again 6 weeks later so the Dr could secure the port with more stitches. I had lost over 40+ pounds (down to 198) before I had my next set of problems with my band.:eek: I got to 7cc and started throwing up so the Dr took out 4 cc, waited a ferw months and we started back again. I got up to 7cc again and this time I started throwing up and wouldn't stop. My Dr couldnt see me so me sent me to the ER to have a raiologist take it ALL out. We did this the week before Christmas. :confused: I saw the Dr the first week of January and he said that the radiologist said my and had silpped from all the throwing up. So, now that this has happened twice I am having a band revision. This time he will use the Relaize band on me. He is taking the 'other' one out and putting this one in on March 1st. :thumbup: I have since gained back some of the weight I had lost, from being able to eat more than I should. I am now at 225.:wink: I am an emotional eater, we have a special needs child at home (she is 20 years old) . I am her primary caregiver. I NEED encouragment especially since I feel that I have had so much trouble with my first band. Any encouragment that anyone can give me WILL BE GREATLY appreciated.!!:confused: Thanks so much LaQuita www.caringbridge.org/visit/shea

I don't know why, but after researching bariatric surgery for a while now and starting the process of getting a gastric sleeve, I find myself wondering what the heck I'm doing. I don't know why I'm having these doubts. On top of my co morbidities, I am at my highest weight ever, I have constant back pain whether I stand, sit or lay down, and I'm experiencing the worst heartburn that I have ever had in my life. I recently have gone up another pant size which I swore I would never do. Yet, here I am finding myself looking up diets again to see if I can finally stick with one that will help me to lose all of this weight. I'm almost 80 lbs over weight which probably wouldn't be so bad if I wasn't so short. (4'11") Despite all of that, I've been asking myself why am I considering cutting off a large portion of my stomach, when the problem is not my stomach. The problem is my poor food choices. What if this surgery leads to complications to my health and/or constant revisions? I know in my head that obesity is just as much a threat to my health so why am I on the fence? Has anyone else felt this way before surgery? Has anyone gone through wls not knowing 100 percent that this is the answer?

I have lost a total of 36 lbs since being banded...2 weeks ago I had a port revision surgery because my port flipped. I just got my forth fill makes 7 cc now. I can really tell a big difference. I was so discouraged, thanking the weight was going to magically fall off it really takes discipline. I have to admit I wanted to lose more than 7 or 8 pounds a month. I am happy though at least I'm on the right track if I can ever recover from the surgeries and get started back on my exercise routine, I know that will help! anybody else around the same time is me? how is it going how are you coping? let me hear from you I need a buddy...

Good luck to you!! Maybe you can do revision to sleeve or RNY??? Like previously said, no need to be embarrassed!

Choc, although the bypass is somewhat more invasive than the sleeve, the surgeries are similar in many ways. I never had the band but there are a number of folks on the forum that have had the band to bypass revision and I'm sure you'll get some good feedback. I'm 30 weeks out following the bypass and I can tell you without hesitation that I would do it again in a heartbeat. You won't be sorry!

I will be going in wednesday for my revision , Going through the same thing, doc wont know til he gets in there if he can do the revision in one surgery or have to watit to sleeve me til my stomach heels. Im stressed out about that part.

I totally understand her pain. I had my first surgery here in Des Moines IA. with Dr Eibes who did my lapband. When I went back to him when I stopped losing weight he told me that I should have probably had the sleeve in the first place. Nice of his to tell me then. We talked about a revision to the sleeve and they sent it into my insurance who denied me. Dr Eibes told me that it would take 2 surgeries from him.....the first to remove the lapband and then in another 5 months a second to do the sleeve. This would have cost me about $40,000 out of pocket. I could no way afford that so I too went to Tijuana Mexico and had both procedures for a total of $6000. When I came back I called his office and they told me that since I had the surgery in Mexico that Dr Eibes would not longer see me as a patient and that I too was not welcome at their support sessions. Told them fine. I have been following up with my primary care physician and she checks my blood work. I take all of my supplements and watch what I eat. If I should develop a problem I will just go to the ER and they will have to call and they will then have to take care of me if I need surgery etc. Other than that they can screw themselves. I am so sorry that this happened to you and that you too have no options. There are other surgeons within 2-3 hours of me but I have not contacted any of them as I had my surgery on Dec 11, 2011 and I am doing good. My primary care checks me on occassion and if I need she will send me to the ER> It is all about the almighty dollar for the bariatric surgeons here in the US. They all took an oath of "Do no harm". Guess they conveniently forgot that part.

My surgeon has submitted to my insurance. I have a complication my hernia has slipped inside my band so I'm praying that will get me approved for a revision. Sent from my SM-G550T1 using the BariatricPal App

Wow! That is very expensive. I am very glad I found Dr. Aceves. I don't know about having his work published, but I do know that he has a lot of band to sleeve revision surgeries, and is doing 5 sleeves to every one band these days. I am sorry for everything you went through at the airport. I had them tear my stuff apart at the airport the last time I flew, and it was no fun. I can't imagine them doing it if I was feeling poorly. Lucky for me, I couldn't even tell I had surgery by the time I flew home.

Ruthi, I'm with you. I'll be having mine done by Dr Aceves for several reasons...no leaks from what I hear, full service hospital, 4 day hospital stay, number of years experience, number of VSG's performed, free transportation to and from airport, and the price is right. A 1% leak rate would not have swayed me even if he had one either. That's below the researched average and after doing so many, someone is bound to have a leak. Since he does revisions, which are the hardest and probably most prone to leaks, I would be surprised if he does not have one to report eventually. So far, I'm hearing zero.

Hey Sabrina, and welcome to VST. You've had a heck of a journey thus far. As for my band complications, I had a flipped port from early on, and it caused a lot of pain and discomfort. The tubing was actually tugging on my stomach in addition to all the other wonderful "band" issues. So, I was able to revise to the sleeve. As for your concerns, I was not released to drink alcohol until my 3.5-4 month post-op mark. I have a glass of wine a couple times a week. It doesn't get me drunk faster unless I drink it quickly, then the drunk wears off, and I maintain a nice relaxed feeling. I'm 7 months out, and I indulge in a soda once a week, once every other week. It takes me 2-3 days to drink a soda because I don't drink it all the time. Some doctors are absolutely against them. Mine happens to believe that they are just wasted calories and that it will not stretch out the remaining. We do not have a pouch like RNY or band patients so it's a little different. My post-op diet for the sleeve revision was 2 weeks clears 2 weeks full liquids (I did a week doc progressed me to mushies) I did mushies for awhile with some soft Proteins for 2-3 weeks then onto regular food. You'll need to stick to the post-op diet because healing of the staple line is completely different than with your band surgery. Food particles, seeds, and chunks of stuff can get in your staple line causing infection, irritation and lead to a leak. I had a leak 2 days post-op revision, and it wasn't fun at all. I was in ICU for 5 days, on a ventilator, and had a slim chance of survival. The leak was successfully repaired, but I was on a pic lin in my arm being force fed 1800 calories a day through a TPN bag for over 2 weeks. I didn't have anything to eat or drink for 22 days. NOTHING no ice chips, no Water, nothing at all. Just my opinion, I think 6 weeks out is way too early to consume alcohol. Your stomach has been traumatized, and will still technically be healing. I've heard people talk about stomach burning, but wine (Riesling) hasn't bothered me at all. Keep us posted on your journey, and I'll be looking for updates.

Hi all I am booked for Monday. I am having band to rny revision. I have had heaps of surgery, but I will admit this is all bait scary.. Wish me luck.. Anything I should know for my hospital stay????

That is what I am hoping also. I bounced back really quick after my lapband and my csection. Good luck on your revision!

Hey, okay so I have an update. I met with my surgeon today and the administrators did default to the "6 month" answer at first, but then I showed them the link to the pre-authorization form and the policy revision (provided by 2goldengirl) and with that, they thought it was sufficient to get the ball rolling on the 3 month suggested timeline, as per the new policy outline. Which I thought was awesome, and good for them for being good advocates for their patients!! So it seems that I am going to go through the process as outlined in the new policy, they will include that in my paperwork, and then submit for approval in three months! I just wanted to share, because I was ready for the worst, based on some of the stuff I've been reading. This was a pleasant surprise, and I'm very happy to report that - as it seems today - I won't have to jump through a million hoops! Talk to me in three months if I'm declined

I've been following this conversation intently, because I worry I'm going to face the same hurdle. I have my appointment with my surgeon tomorrow. I've printed out the pre-auth form and policy update, and have links to each in case they need to go to them directly. But I worry that they will run into the same issue when they call if Blue Shield CA isn't giving out current information. 2goldengirl, did you have to go through the grievance process? Or was your medical group or surgeon able to figure out the revised policy? Or do you know anyone who did have luck where someone was able to verify through Blue Shield CA the policy change and say "yep, that policy was revised! No more 6 months!"? As far as I can see on these forums, everyone is having difficulty with this. Thanks so much for all your knowledge on this! (Also, I know I should, but I don't know what my medical group is versus my insurance provider versus the surgeon. :/ )

I am having the revision 8/19 and have 12 month and 4 year old boys! I did ask the dr. About my lifting restriction and he said 20 lb ( which is what my little one weighs). We do have a nanny, but she is not a live in, and my husband works and travels a lot. Hopefully I will recover from the bypass as quickly as I did from the lapband back in 2005. Good luck to you!

another band to sleeve revision person here. I am so glad to be rid of that band. I wish I had known about the sleeve from the beginning, but I am so glad I finally did find out about it .I love the sleeve and I love never being hungry.

Hello lb family, Had the lapband for nearly 4yrs. Guess what I gained half bk I just came out of surgery the day b4 to hv my doc revise it cause I lost liquid! Bk on track. Forgot what the restrictions felt like.

I decided to get weightloss surgery after being over 250 lbs for 5 years with several failed diet attempts. I had hypertension, GERD, and fertility issues. I started off weighing 285. By the time I had surgery I was down to 268 lbs from my pre-surgery diet. Had my 4cc lapband done on 5/17/2006 in Omaha, NE. First fill 6/2006. .5 cc. Lost 30 lbs. by 6/2006. Got pregnant 7/2006. Yay fertility issue solved....faster than I had planned....but yay!! Had my son 3/2007. 228 lbs. postpartum. Had second fill done 6/2007. 1cc. Got pregnant AGAIN 11/2007. Um fertility issue solved...yay? Another baby? Really? Ok. Had to empty band this time due to complications. Moved to Texas 2/2008. Had my daughter 9/2008. Postpartum weight 238 lbs. I didn't have insurance that would cover Lap Band in TX so I had to find a new doctor that wouldn't charge me a ton out of pocket. By then I weighed 291 lbs. Had 3rd fill of 1cc done 7/22/09 for $150. Btw the doctor tells me, "I would have never done LapBand on you. You come see me when you have better insurance and I'll do a revision gastric bypass on you." I should have walked out right then and there but got the fill anyway. Well 1cc was too much too fast and my stoma swelled shut. After a week, I couldn't even swallow my saliva without throwing up. I had an ER visit and fill removed a week later for another $150. I was down to 279 by then. 12 lbs in one week! Yikes! 9/2009 pregnant AGAIN! GDI!!!! Really!? Fertility issue can go to hell!! So can the breast feeding myth!! 6/2010 had another daughter. 270 lbs postpartum. Ok so most of you will gasp when you hear the extremes I went to to have my band filled, but here goes....I worked in an ER as a secretary. A nurse did my fills for me. She was honestly better at doing them then the clinics were. We started slow. By 11/2011 I had filled to 1.75 cc. Great restriction, no problems. Now I'm down to 245 lbs. I moved back to NE where I started my journey. My problems: 1. I don't follow a good diet. When you go through the preop screening you get educated, motivated, supported, to eat right. Its been so long....I don't know where to start again. 2. I was diagnosed with adult ADD. My meds make me never want to eat. I could go all day so I often go for junk just to get some calories in. 3. I just got tested 6/2013 for vitamin deficiencies and I'm vitamin D and Calcium deficient. No doubt as a result of my bad eating habits. I feel like crap. My hair is falling out again. Bad skin. Fatigued all the time. Irritated, moody. 4. I started smoking again. Ugh. I know I know!!! I'll smoke instead of eat. Bad bad bad!! But I'm being honest here. 5. My life has fallen apart. In the small span of time I went from being happily married, spouse working making good money, going to school, making good money, good insurance to....having a horrible marriage with a husband who is mentally ill and had a back injury (yes same guy as before. hitting 11yr anniversary July 26) he only makes disability, my son was diagnosed with autism, part time work, government assistance.... I have Medicaid. I go to school again full time. I only have 2 years left for my bachelors of nursing degree. I have a band that I abuse. How do I get back on track? Where do I even start with all the other things on my plate (no pun intended)? I'm a horrible example of a Lap Band patient. I feel like such a lowlife. I need help. What can I do on my own to get healthy? Besides the obvious, to quit smoking.... Thanks I forgot to mention I was up to 304 lbs when the nurse started filling my band. So since 9/2010 I've lost 59 lbs.

I was banded in May of 2007 by Dr. Schmitt in Birmingham, AL. I had a port revision in June 2007. I must admit I was feeling discouraged about what to eat after being banded. Weight loss was great I just felt like I could not eat anything. I thought that I was really informed before surgery but later found out that I was not. I found out that I was having my 1st child in August 2007 so I had band deflated. My son is now 10 months old and I just had my first fill since I found out that I was expecting. I'm excited and nervous and really need some support, guidance, and education.

We are here for you! You don't live far from me, as I am from Houston. You absolutely should do this for yourself! You are worth it. Message me anytime. I am in the process of revision from a failed painful lapband to the sleeve.

First of all, welcome! Please fill out your profile, too. Look, it sounds like you have been having a tight band, and then getting sick with a slip and then the surgeon takes drastic step of taking all the fill out. I have been there. But after having a slip, my surgeon did a revision. I,also , gained,but not my whole loss. I am now at 5 cc and living in the "green" zone. I never have kept a too tight band. You don't say if you have been going back to your surgeon for follow-ups. Even after getting to goal, I have kept close contact with my surgeon. I am now seeing him every 4-6 months but if need be, I would schedule sooner. Take it easy, and try not to get to the too tight not eating place this time. Best wishes! Karen