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well...the horrid weather in the Midwest caught up with me. I was walking with my snowblower today and slipped on the icy road. As I fell, I could feel one leg going forward and the other twisting behind me. As I twisted and fell to the street, I could feel my right knee dislocate. (I know how it feels, it's happened three other times.) After the firefighters got me to my feet and into the house (I refused to go to the hospital because I have no insurance) I took some liquid Extra Strength Tylenol and started in with the ice packs. However, this is the worst it's ever been. I have a very large muscle or tendon tear on the inside of my right knee area. It's really swollen and extremely painful. I remember when it dislocated four years ago they gave me 3 shots of morphine in the ambulance, followed by dilaudid (sp) at the ER. None of that this time and the injury is definitely worse this time. I'm a bit over 3 weeks since my revision surgery....and needing to know what I can take for the pain and inflammation. I'm a Dr. Aceves Patient and I emailed Gaby to get their advice, but in the meantime I'd like to hear from any of the long time sleevers that can help. I have Vicodin here which has helped in the past when this happened, just not sure if I should take it.

I am going through the same thing right now with one of my incisions. Six and a half weeks out, and one of them is still not healed. The other four healed beautifully. I was also told that there was an underlying suture which was the cause. I have to go in to my surgeon's office every 2-3 days now for them to change the dressing and re-pack the wound. It's small, about the size of the head of an eraser, but it is going to leave a nasty scar. Fortunately, my surgeon told me that once it is completely healed, she can do a small procedure to revise the scar and it will look like all the other ones when it heals. So that's good news. But in the meantime, I have a hole in my stomach and a big stupid bandage that you can see through my clothes. Not cool. BUT, it is the only complication I have had, so I consider myself so lucky- it could be so much worse.

I just had surgery for a revision of the band after my band slipped. I did not have reflux or throwing up. I simply felt stuck, food hurt to go down, I always felt full, and most of all I had pain and discomfort after I swallowed food AND liquids. I went to the doctor to ask him to unfill me, and the pain still persisted, so i did an esophogram which then showed I had slipped. I had surgery monday to repair it. best of luck to you and keep us updated.

Hi all, So I had the revision surgery to RNY on the 24th and I initially had no problem drinking. As of yesterday I am having major issues. I started protein shakes Friday and I'm pretty sure I dumped on the evening shake. I thought maybe I took my vitamin and shake too close together. But now I am also having severe pain when I drink water. It feels as though my stomach is being stabbed and twisted. I've tried both warm and cold and get the same results. Is this normal?

I haven't had a revision or rny but I assume if the pain has continued in the last six hours you have contacted your surgeon's or doctor's office to make sure everything is okay/

Yay! I am so glad you are doing so well. I had a revision as well and I totally agree about the "crap band." Enjoy the new you! I bet you will be doing lots of shopping very soon.

hi dana67, i was revised from the band to sleeve on the same day and went back to work 9 days later, I am an RN in a busy ICU so the first day was a little tiring but i adjusted quickly, the biggest challenge was that i was still on clear liquids so getting enough nutrition to keep working was difficult, I had to keep sipping on my protein juices the whole night, i wish i had taken another week off.

Yeah surgery done. So happy was able to have the revision. Dr said my band was wrapped around my esophagus like a necklace. Extra day in hospital cause my blood pressure dropped way low but going home today. So happy I did this just getting down sips of Water with no problems just can't stomach broth for Breakfast. Hope everyone is doing well Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Me, too. However, I was afraid of the bypass surgery and years ago it was kind of complicated to get the revision (and no guarantee you'd get it at all!!). Nowadays there are quite a few hospitals in Germany that perform revisions because of reflux without the patient having to get permission from insurance first!

Hey Girl! Delco in the house! Jefferson is a great hospital. I am sure you are in good hands. I went to Crozer Chester for my initial RNY. Dr. Katz was good doctor with a great bedside manner. But he is out in Reading now. For my revision to DS, I went to Dr Krecioch at Fitzgerald Mercy. He is a good surgeon but I had an unusual amount of pain post surgery and I felt he wanted to divorce himself from it which was not cool.

Dana I was back to work 3 days after my band surgery, too. Everyone I've spoke with (and like Fluffy said) that had a revision of a band that had no band-issues said the pain was less than their original band surgery. I am going to try and have my surgery on a Thurs and be back to work on Monday. Shouldn't be an issue. I have a pretty sedintary job anyways!

My goal was 2000 before I had my first tightening. I normally was 1600-1800. Since the port revision and filling, my goal is 1500.. I get between 1300-1600 regularly. My IDEAL goal would be 1200, but I don't see that happening for me right now.

Another plus you have to think about with the plication is that I hear that your chance of band slippage is minimal. My band is slipped now and I'm facing a revision (most likely the sleeve). I wish plication had been available in 2009. Marci

Gastric Bypass. I had horrible knee pain and GERD pre-gastric bypass and both have resolved. I don’t think I would have lost enough with a sleeve to improve my mobility and pain issues to the degree I have. I’ve also heard of too many people that have VSG but later need to revise to RNY to correct newly developed GERD or poor weight loss results. This is hard because many insurance only pay for 1 weight loss surgery per lifetime so if you require additional surgery later it might require self-pay or none at all. With your financial situation it may be too risky to have VSG because of the possibility of needing another procedure down the road.

Try not to give up on yourself and/or the surgery so early. What side effects are you having? If it's gas, that would happen with ANY laparascopic surgery. If it's pain, same thing. If it's the food restrictions, you would have those (maybe not the same) with any weight loss surgery. i had the lap band before I revised to the sleeve and my post-op diet is almost exactly the same as the sleeve. I'm sure the more radical Gastric bypass and Duodenal Switch would be the same if not more severe. You must have read on here how people feel better soon after having the surgery, but it's probably going to take a good 4-6 weeks for you to establish a good routine with your new tool and diet. Don't beat yourself up so quickly. You obviously did this for a reason, which was most likely that diets just don't work long term. Good luck to you!

I just got call from Insurance and am now approved. It was a week ago Dr. sent in paperwork, and first round Ins said there is a 6 month wait. But after explaining my issues and need for revision soon, they quickly approved. Now just waiting for surgery date. Hoping for mid to late April.

Getting sleeved in January, so excited. Had a lapband and now revising to sleeve. Fairly new doctor to this board but have a few friends who had him and loved it. He sends you to recover in a recovery house with registered nurses. Can't wait

Yes, I am going with my original surgeon that did my band. Getting a revision to the sleeve in July/August. The OP on this thread was looking for one tho. Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App Did you have any luck finding a Dr? Sent from my SM-G900V using the BariatricPal App

Hi all, I cannot find any info on this site of anyone dealing with Harvard Pilgrim for this surgery, more specifically a band to sleeve revision.. My surgeon has approved me for this revision and said he is willing to help me fight to get it. I am no stranger to this site as I followed it over from lapbandtalk.com when I saw how many people were getting revisions and having beter success. The hunger with the band is killing me, and the constant fill/ unfill process is getting old. I am over the extremes of starving or sliming.. And always feeling hungry.. My doc feels as though the sleeve would be a better choice to address the hunger issues. I have lost 50lbs with the band since 3/19/08 (246lbs-195) and have maintained, which is considered average- but the surgeon thinks I could stand to lose another 50-60lbs.. At 5' 3.5", my personal goal is another 50, anything extra would be a bonus! Supposedly Harvard Pilgrim is one of the top insurance carriers now adays, and have always been great to deal with, and quick with descisions. The doc wants me back in 2 months to see what progress he's made with HP and for me to see the nutritionist every 2 weeks until then and get a print out from my gym of my visit dates to show a paper trail to help my case. He feels as though the sleeve will be the new band and that the band is already phasing out due to complications and lack of success. He also feels that now there is 5 year research out on the sleeve that more insurance company's will cover the surgery. As of now HarvardPilgrim.com states that it does not cover the sleeve, however when I called to inquire if I could get around it they suggested my surgeon call with more info and codes.. Any ideas or experiences with Harvard Pilgrim? Thanks in advance for any input, Kerri:)

After 3 1/2 yrs with my band (which I lost 104 lbs with, btw), we're about to part ways. Good. Causes much reflux and stomach pain. Last year, I was at my all time lowest (144) when I got a minor slip. After much unfilling/filling/tweaking, it was shown to not have changed. So I was left with whatever fill was there that didn't cause major nightime reflux. My band worked at about 50%. Sometimes it didn't feel like I even had a band. I gained 18 lbs. 2 mths ago, after 4 days of increasing stomach pain, the ER diagnosed me with a herniated band from a CT. Not only had it slipped but my stomach was protruding up over the band. I was totally unfilled and told it needed to come out. Another 12 lbs. A total of 30 gained in 18 mths. Last month, after my appt with my surgeon about a sleeve revision, I was so excited I was getting this done. he showed me how he folds over the excess skin of the cut part of my stomach over itself reducing the chance of a leak.. Yeah. Then I went to talk to the insurance coordinator and schedule a surgery date. I found out that because I cancelled my Part B Medicare 2 yrs ago (I was paying $110 a mth for something I never used once in 12 yrs), I had to pay a $5400 drs charges in cash. Wow. I don't have $5400 lying around the house. By the time I can resign up for my Part B (July 2014) my stomach is likely to be so damaged by my band that I will have no choice but to just take it out and not revise. What to do, what to do... We have poor credit so no loans for us. We don't own a house so no mortgage for us. We make a decent income, but it would take YEARS to save that much. A friend offered us her 0% interest for 16 mths credit card. Making 450.00 a month payments are not something that sounded good to us (we luv to travel so we'd have nothing left to travel) and we couldn't ask a friend to do that, But it's nice to fall back on if we HAD to. The last 2 weeks, we've been in Ca vacationing with my inlaws and my mom (we're from OR). My inlaws are so concerned about my bad band causing me pain. Today they offered to pay for it. Wow. Couldn't believe it. They told us there was no need to pay them back, by hubby and I talked about it today and we will eventually pay them off, little by little. Goodbye good friend that allowed me to have more confidence in myself while losing 104 lbs. You allowed me to enjoy single digit clothing sizes, allowed me to cross my legs, polish my toe nails, and say no to seconds. I loved my band. However, it's hard to be perfect all the time and maintenance with the band is crucial. Did I follow all the rules? Nope. I ate whatever I wanted, just much less of it. So happy that my new tool will take little maintenance and will start working right away (not waiting for proper adjustment and keeping it there forever) so happy that they cut out the part of the stomach that has the ghrelin, so I won't be so hungry. Also, the part they removed is the least stretchy part keeping a stretch to a minimum. I've heard that it starts out at 2 oz and over a year can stretch to 4-8 oz, but nothing more than 8 oz. I've heard so many stories about RNY patients gaining all the weight they lost back. Anyway, I'm so relieved. I have the best in laws in the world. My mother in law loves me so much and is so happy I married her son (we've only been married 18 mths). I think they offered me the $$ cuz she doesn't want me to get too fat so he leaves me...hubby disagrees! They've noticed my weight gain but are the most concerned about the damage the band is doing right now. I have raging nightime reflux and occasional stomach pain. Now hopefully my stomach is good and unswollen now so they can do both surgeries at the same time.A whole new set of worries if they get in there and can only removed my band. Prayers that I wake up without most of my stomach. Can't wait to be satiated with 1/4 of a sandwich or 1/2 carton of yogurt (like I did with my new band). Please wish me luck!

Another good one to talk to would be Dr. Ara Keshishian in Glendale. If you need a revision, he would most likely go for a DS rather than a bypass as that is more his specialty. But since the DS uses the sleeve as its basis, that means that he has been doing them a lot longer than most bariatric surgeons, so if there is something wrong with your sleeve, he would be the one to be able to fix it rather than revise it to something else. By your description, it sounds like your sleeve may not have really been done correctly, so a correction rather than a revision may well be the answer. Typically, a revision from the sleeve to the bypass doesn't do a lot to correct a poor weight loss problem as the sleeve and bypass are so similar in their metabolic strength; if one really needs a stronger solution, the DS is the way to go, but it sounds like a simple resleeve may the the answer for you. Good luck,

Hi - I got my revision through Aetna. I had to do a three month supervised diet. Had to have a BMI over 40 at the end. I wish you the best!

Usually an jnsurance company looks at revisions differently than straight new surgery. Have you asked for their medical criteria in writing? I would. Or Google bcbs name of your state and gastric sleeve it should have the revision guidelines in it. I have cigna and they have it couple pages after new surgery Remember bcbs is different by state so make sure you get that state name In there https://cignaforhcp.cigna.com/public/content/pdf/coveragePolicies/medical/mm_0051_coveragepositioncriteria_bariatric_surgery.pdf

Tracy: You are going to love having a flat tummy. It really changes your perspective on all the weight you've lost. Suddenly, you look so much better that you understand what you've truly accomplished. Believe me, it its worth it! Maybe you can have your surgery on the same day as mine, that would be cool (Oct. 15th). Here is a before and after of my TT and BL. Keep in mind that I'm having an anchor revision of my TT with my lower body lift.

Back last summery insurance denied my Lap revision because there was an exclusion on Bariatric surgery. So friggin nice of them since my band was making me throw up unfilled. Totally frustrated my doc's insurance gal told me a great suggestion. Opt out if my employer's insurance plan and buy an individual plan on my own like Blue Cross who covers weight loss surgeries. I did it and with the new non pre existing clause they couldn't say no due to my prior Lap Band. Jan 1 my new insurance plan was effective and on Jan 14th my revision was approved. Feb 10th is my big day!!! I would have never thought about totally thinking outside of the box with playing this insurance trick without my doc's creative insurance gal. I thought my dreams of a revision was gone until she told me what to do. I owe it all to her! ????????????????