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Hi Pam, I had surgery October 30, 2017. My first day post-op was horrible. Pain cross my chest and spasms all day. Dr. Wanted to keep me an extra day. I should have listened. Trying to keep up with the liquids was very hard. I also was drained no energy x about 2 weeks. I was started on soft diet on Tuesday and can't seem to eat much. Dr says it's normal x me. I've had the lapband, revision and finally had to be taken out in January. He said I have scar tissue and expects it to be tight. Hope you recover quickly.

I am so sorry that happened to you, Nikki. I hope you can have a revision soon! Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Mines flipped 3 times hurt like a pulled muscle couldnt lay on my stomach comfortably... Revision is painful becaise your awake for it

On September 11, 2015 (less than 2 months from 2 years.) I opted to have the Bariatric sleeve done. Starting weight was 248, my height is 5'2 small build, diabetic among other things. So naturally I was morbidly obese... Fast forward to now, I have ONLY lost 75lbs..([emoji24]) I weigh in at 173 today, still in a unhealthy percentile for my build. I haven't lost more than the usually give or take +1 or -1 lb each week in over a YEAR!! ([emoji36]) I have tried RESTARTS. I go down a lb. but right back up a few days later. I'm not sure what's worst, me wasting my time on having surgery. Or having surgery and not losing near the amount of weight you want and/or need to lose. It extremely HARD for me to except, after all the work I put in for little results. I'm not happy!! I shouldn't be looking into a revision this soon or at all!! I often say " I ALTERED MY BODY and I'M STILL FAT AND UNHEALTHY!! (Who does that? 🤦🏼‍♀️) - has anyone had this issue? What did you do? -is this normal? Or just another fail on my part? - what can I do? I'm I a total loss? BTW, please don't kick me while I'm down. I don't want to hear about going back to the DR. or NUT. My DR is no longer doing the surgery due to insurance & hospital going into litigation. Also, I no longer have insurance, so running to the doctor is very costly, and not an option. Things I do daily: Protein shakes Drink water ( as hard as it is) Constantly active Eat ( small meals of course) [emoji6] Thanks for taking the time to help! It's greatly appreciated, coming from others w/ similarities.

Yes, definitely do your research and seek out the negative stories as well as the positive ones. Too many people make this decision - and it IS a drastic one - without educating themselves on all possibilities. Complications are rare but that's no comfort to you or your loved ones if you wind up in the 1 percent. I started by researching the band. Being the cautious planner that I am, I did a solid several months of looking into the procedure and honestly, what I found was upsetting. Too many complications, too many repeat surgeries, too many with damage to the stomach and far too many people not losing the weight. When I saw many were revising to sleeve I started researching it as well. And honestly? The first time I read about the procedure I was horrified and thought it was far too drastic. I did some metabolic testing and saw another nutritionist (sixth or seventh time, I think) and did another dieting attempt. During this period, I kept researching the sleeve, just watching and waiting, without really being sure it was right for me. At some point (perhaps it was the results of the metabolic testing or the failure and regain I suffered on yet another diet) I decided to more seriously consider the sleeve. All told, I did a solid year of research on the sleeve and spent several months researching three different doctors before making my decision. I went in knowing what to expect and I feel I had a smooth recovery and adjustment because of that. Well, as smooth as life can be when you find yourself without your usual emotional crutch and unable to indulge in the overeating you enjoyed so much! But it was the right choice for me. Time and research are all that will tell you if you want this surgery. Being cautious is commendable. Being prepared is imperative. I'm very happy and would do it again in a heartbeat. In fact, I'd love to take my mom and sister to get the surgery done, too! But it's easy for me to say that when I suffered no real complications. Good luck. Ask questions and read everything you can find here. There are some old threads here that are immensely informative and still relevant today. Search out all of the experiences you can find and make a choice once you're fully educated on the pros and cons of this surgery. ~Cheri

I am pretty new here but not new to WLS. I was banded almost 10 years ago and I was not successful at any point. Most of the time I was unfilled or mostly unfilled. I recently began to have p Robles and found a surgeon in my are who did a fluoroscope and said all seems fine. I am starting to get a little terrified thinking I left this in too long and perhaps it has eroded. I found another surgeon and will be calling to make an appointment soon. I am going to insist on checking for erosion and also consider revision. The only thing certain is that I want this freakin band out of my body and I am terrified of surgery and my son losing his Mom. Really, I know it seems far-fetched but it is how I feel. I am the sole support for my family, have a good career and need to stick around. I am a bundle of nerves over this. Secondly, I chose the lap band so they would not have to cut my digestive tract, If I was not having pain right now, I would leave it in and forget it existed and never look at WLS again. I am now hearing that they have a 10 year max expiration date...wonderful! So I am deeply thinking about VSG and I can't stop thinking that it is nuts. Please don't be offended, I do not mean any offense against anyone. I am just trying to wrap. My mind around the possibility. I rode the train home tonight and kept asking myself when does the "insanity" of cutting an organ in half to lose weight become not an "insanity" but a reasonable choice and reality? I know that is pretty deep but I can't talk to anyone I know about it. They are all like..."diet and exercise" and no wls. I have tried, and tried and worked out and ran and I already eat healthy food, no soda, lots of veggies. I can't spend 2 plus hours in the gym, I have compulsion to eat more food than I should. For example, last nights dinner was kale salad with cranberries and pumpkin seeds and I ate 3 servings, then I had 2 stuffed peppers with turkey and quinoa that I made. Not bad food, but far too much and I feel like I can't stop. So given that I can not commit to several hours per day in the gym at the moment, but I can commit to 4 days for an hour each time with room for the late meeting I think I need some help and perhaps the vsg is the way to go.? How did you think through it? Was it an easy decision? We're you scared? Did you feel you had any other alternative? I know the trade off is giving up or fooling myself into thinking that "one day, I will find the right balance and magic formula of exercise and diet" and that will be it and I will sustain for a lifetime. Would love your thoughts...and remember, I know that's chose some harsh words but they are helpful in me working through my feelings.

For me my pouch dilation and/or slight slip, (they are similar) came on gradually I think from being too tight. I had some reflux each night and would chew a tums or 2, also when I was very tight I would throw up 1 or 2 times a week. After a year or so my restriction was decreasing and I was hungrier...also unable to get to a good fill level, going from too tight to too loose with only a .25 cc change. Good luck, the upper gi will let you know and if you have dilation you should be unfilled and wait to see if it corrects itself. Mine did some, but not enough to correct the problem according to the surgeon. Now he wants to do a revision on my band.

One of the problems people face after surgery, especially early on, is the feeling that you have to deny yourself certain things that you've always enjoyed, when that isn't entirely true. If there was a favorite food you had, you can still have it - just a much smaller portion. Or look for an alternative like the previous poster described. I've loved pizza my whole life. My wife and I would order a large pie and I'd eat half of it. I haven't tried pizza since my revision surgery, but after I was sleeved after a few months I would occasionally have ONE slice of pizza which would fill me up and make me feel like I wasn't depriving myself. Sometimes I'd make cauliflower crust pizza which was pretty good once I got the hang of it. They now sell premade cauliflower crust pizza which can be very tasty if you get the right brand. One of my absolute favorite meals that I made after my sleeve was the Eggface Ricotta Bake, it's super easy to prepare and tastes like lasagna. https://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=1793517 In fact I think I inspired myself, I'm going to make it this weekend!

family, friends and co-workers were not happy about me revising from the lapband to the sleeve and going to Mexico alone sent everyone over the edge. they all knew that getting angry wouldn't change my mind but guilt would almost stop me in my tracks. i'm SO thankful, in the end, that my sister held back my 15 year old niece's feelings. i guess on their way home from their last visit with me before surgery, Ashley cried the entire ride home. if i had known that, i would have cancelled the surgery. here i was thinking about myself and i never wanted to give much thought to what everyone else was feeling. it made my recover in mexico even worse because there was a 3 hour time difference. the day of my surgery, i was out of it and i assumed someone had called my parents... nope, no one did... so i got an earful when i called home the day after surgery. then on my 3rd day in mexico i was literally running all over... trasferring to the hotel, getting my drain out, getting a leak test... that i forgot to call home. somehow my mom tracked me down at the hotel and gave me hell. in her mind, something had happened and i was rushed back into surgery. i just kept saying "i'm sorry, i'm sorry". looking back at it, it WAS selfish of me not to think about everyone's feelings BUT i did what i needed to do to be happy.

Dr. Ortiz is also a very well respected and experienced surgeon. His prices don’t make sense today. He operates out of a nice clinic too, not a full hospital. He quoted you for a revision when your surgery is definitely not considered one. If you do use Dr. Pompa, send her my best. I like her.

I don't remember if I replied to this topic when you posted it somewhere else or not... anyway my surgery was covered by UHC, approved on the first submission. I think as long as you meet all the requirements you should have no problem being approved. I believe Bobbe had trouble because she was getting a revision, I'm not sure what UHC's criteria are for that but it seems that its much harder to get them to pay for a revision than the initial surgery.

@@JamieLogical, Thanks - that's what i figured too. I've already lost enough that if for some reason it had to be revised, it should work now. But there are certainly some positives with the sleeve for me too so after I got over the initial disappointment I'm determined to make it work. There are definitely pros and cons to both procedures and ultimately it's what works best for each person. So far I haven't had any reflux which was my biggest worry with sleeve, as I'd had some bad GERD many years ago (but my scope just before surgery showed none)

I am revising from the band...pure misery ..Gerd and reflux so bypass for me.

Taurus Thank you for your kind words!! I'm glad that I could help you. This is exactly what this forum is for, to encourage and support each other. I also have a GREAT SUPPORT GROUP that I am in on Facebook, this one is the very best. If you are interested in joining one let me know. Everyone has feelings like yours. How long did you have your Lap Band? Did you have problems with it? My hubby had his Lap Band for 13 years he only lost 100#'s but he was is a very large man. When he had his Band he weighed 515#'s. He wanted the RNY then but the suregon told him he wasn't strong enough for that one. Which he was a very strong man. He is quite a bit older now also. He went in for a revision to the RNY in Sept of 2013. After his band malfunctioned and he couuldn't even hold down Water. When they got in there the Band had eroded into his liver. So they backed out and told him in 3 months they woyld attempt to do it again. He ended up with abcesses and was deathly sick for 9 months. # of those months he don't even remember at all. So fast forward to June 3, 2016 we went to Mexico (paid cash) to get the RNY well since his problem with the band his whole right side was solid scar tissue so he got thenSleeve done. Now comparing to my RNY and his Sleeve he can eat way more food than I can at 3 years out!! He isn't using his tool very well so he hasn't lost but 60#'s since his surgery. This makes me so sad for him!! He has Cancer on his kidney and there is nothing they can do until he loses 150#'s. Of course he has me pushing him all the time!! So hopefully he will get on the ball and lose some weight!! So again if I can help in any way please feel that you can ask me any ?'s and I will try to give you a fair honest anwser. Take care and keep me in the know!!

I heard that too, I dont understand why revisions would be slower? does anyone have an answer?...I weigh exactly the same as you LOL....

LOL, I wasn't sure what type of "drainage" you had heard about. I didn't have any drains until I had the leak repair surgery 2 days after my original band to sleeve revision.

I get hiccups when I drink hot liquids (tea mostly). Prior to revision I always thought it was a band thing. But now, without my band I still get the friggin hiccups when I drink hot tea. (Hot chai tea from Starbucks, maybe it’s their cups?) drives me bananas [emoji529]

Priority Health. They've just revised their revision policy so I'm in a waiting stage now. My surgeons office should be submitting for approval this week. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Im glad you guys were talking about this because I used to get the pains everyonce in awhile but now im worried about it. Im going for a revision in Nov to the sleeve just hope its not erosin so i dont have to wait for my surgery. Thanks again for asking the question and the great replies!

I had d same pain and one day i woke up and I coudent even drink. So i called my dr.and I had a slip and my port had flipped. I didnt want it removed cause I lost 140lbs. and was only 10 lbs. to my goal.Long story short he took d liquid out for 2 months and gained 15lbs:(. Now im 5 weeks out frm d revision and lost18. Slow but he said it will cause I only weight 170. D diff. With d sleeve is that I have no problems with any food and @ times i feel like I eat too much.Lol.

Recently moved to Fort Worth from Flower Mound. Had my first WLS in 2006 with revision in 2010, so I'm the opposite of a "newbie" - ha!

Revision I'm having a revision due to severe acid reflux. How much difference will there be with recovery and weight loss? Sent from my SM-J727U using BariatricPal mobile app

August 29 here in Texas. Being revised from lapband to RNY. Have been unfilled for 5 years now and regained all the weight I lost. Ready for a new start!

Are you having a revision? I'm scheduled for revision on Sept. 7 with Dr. A. Looking forward to following your progress.

I wanted to share this story of inspiration with you. I am sure it will lift your spirit as much as it does mine! Fabiola Apollon is familiar with the setbacks and success of weight loss. She was not a first time winner, nor a second or third, for that matter. However, she is a woman of great spirit, and her determination finally won the battle with a gastric sleeve revision, spirituality, and dedication. Please read Fabiola's story of faith, patience, and perseverance over obesity here: http://www.mybariatriclife.org/gastric-sleeve-revision-patient-story/