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Hi Cassy - Check out the new Vertical Sleeve Talk website Alex set up and just released TODAY ... Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) Surgery Forum Also check out the VSG forum on LBT - you can read all about the sleeve and those who have had revisions from band to sleeve and the reasons why. I haven't had the sleeve yet; however, after all of the research I have done, I am 100% certain the band is not for me. The sleeve does involve cutting away and removing part of your stomach; however, it leaves the pilori portion so you get the full feeling and you don't have any malabsorption issues; plus you don't have any foreign objects in your body. All I can say is RESEARCH RESEARCH and then RESEARCH SOME MORE before you make the decision that you believe is right for you.

I had the revision 7 months ago and have never slimed, gotten stuck, or thrown up. Not once. It was constant with the band. Sent from my iPhone using RNYTalk

I've read many reports of consistent restriction from VSG vs. tha random restriction I had from AGB. Is your restriction consistent? Is it consistent both in terms of times of day you can eat and types of food you can eat? Does VSG seem to be effected by the same variables as AGB? (e.g. flying, stress, humidity, PMS/water retention...) My restriction is consistent except that I do notice that right before my period, I seem to be able to eat a little bit more (or maybe it is that I want to due to hormones). With AGB "stuck" foods caused me discomfort or pain, often quite a bit of pain, and often for a fairly long time. Does food stick with VSG? I've read about people brining stuff up, but is this because of failure to pass through some stoma, or is it because of eating more than you can hold? Or both? Does it hurt like it did with your band? When it comes up, is it "saliva + stuck bits" like with the band, or is it actual vomit? I hated being stuck with the band! I have never had anything get stuck with the sleeve. Sometimes, when I eat out, I may take that one bite too many and I feel extremely full. So full that I don't even want to think about food or be around it. That is what has allowed my great success though! I can only eat at small amount at a time~ I know some dumping can occur with VSG - do you dump? Is it on specific foods, or random? The only time I get that feeling is if I eat Cereal with milk. I am not sure if it is the the milk or that the cereal swells in my stomach, but I feel sick and like I need to lay down. I don't usually eat cereal becasue of this. If I drink milk alone or in something, I am fine. What period is the greatest risk for developing a leak? I see references to 2 weeks, 2 months...I am not sure but my doctor did say to follow the post op diet closely to avoid putting stress on the staple line and which can cause a leak. Is leak the (currently known) most likely complication of VSG? I see people talking about leaks, and pOuch stretching, but that's about it. Surely there's something else out there...You can have issues with Calcium absorption which can cause problems with your bones and teeth. You have to take calcium citirate regularly. WIthout the need for fills, what does your post-op care look like? Do you have periodoc leak tests as a bandster might have period fluoro or xray? I have just had blood tests and check ups. So easy and nice! I hated getting fills. What do you like best about your VSG? It works! I feel amazing. I can't sabotoge myself anymore with food. Food doesn't control me. What do you like least about your VSG? Maybe the scars, but I love the sleeve itself. I really feel it is one of the best decisions of my life! What did you not know going in, that you wish you did? I wish I had asked for the morphine pump for when I woke up after surgery. I didn't discuss it with my doctor because I just thought everyone got one. OUCH! I was fine once they started giving me pain meds through my IV though. I keep reading "recovery is a lot harder than with the band," but no one really elaborates. Can someone please share their comparison of recovery? I actually thought they were about the same. I didn't have a drain with my band and I did with the sleeve. I did not like the drain, but it is there to detect leaks. I would do it again in a heartbeat! How hard did you find the transition in terns of behavior? I'm assuming there are shared rules such as chewing to goo, small bites, waiting between bites, etc. My band never really worked right, so it is hard to compare. I know I always had to worry about getting stuck at the most inconvient times, like at a restaurant. I would have to run to the bathroom and pray no one else was in there when I slimed. With the sleeve I have restriction all the time. I do have to focus on Protein first, but I really can eat anything, just smaller amounts. Do you have a "soft stop" with VSG? (I never had one with AGB, but I'm wondering if it exists with VSG) I just have to stop at the first sign of fullness. Just one bite over my sleeve capacity and I am miserable from fullness. Did anyone out thyere have a difficult revision due to scar tissue/etc. with the band?I had some soreness where the port was, but that is gone now. Any bathroom problems? (e.g. the terrible stinkies DSers are known for) Nope It seems like most people encounter significant heartburn. Is reflux an issue with VSG? Is the heartburn long term, or does it resolve after a while? I get hearburn with certain foods (spicy usually). I had it a little the first three months after surgery and took my prescription. Now it is just on an as need basis. I rarely get heartburn. Are your food intolerances (if any) the same as with your AGB?For some reason, hamburger meat in the patty form does not agree with my sleeve. I have thrown up three times trying to eat it. I just avoid it now! I can eat it if it is ground up like taco meat. The three times I tried hamburger patties are the only times I have thrown up with the sleeve. Otherwise, nothing else has caused this issued. I LOVE the sleeve! Good luck with your revision~

Wow Tiffykins, that's quite an ordeal. I think I read in a past post of yours that your leak was from your esophagus? What was the issue with your band - were you an erosion? All in all, how long did your recovery take - until you could resume normal activity? My band is completely unfilled - fortunately. And while I'm told my slip is bad enough that they don't want to attempt a reposition or reband, it's not really messing with me that much. I'm "tolerating" it in such a way as that I don't present with many of the typical symptoms. But who knows what I look like on the inside. I know that from my band surgery, there is a lump of scar tissue I can feel from the outside (if I "try"), so I know it's likely to be an issue. I suspect my surgeon will put me on a significant liquid diet prior to any procedures. His "generic" liquid pre-op diet is only 2 days, but I've heard his revision diet is more like 6 weeks. I never wondered why, but maybe it's to prevent secondary or tertiary swelling caused by processing solids. I too have had someone tell me that revision patients are at 3X the risk for complications. I think I'd gladly take a second procedure if it's an option. I'll just tell him to use blanket sutures & mesh "just in case" -- just do my sleeve as though I already have a leak. Yes, how to treat leaks is on my list of questions, and how to diagnose: how many leak tests, when, which types of tests does he use, how frequently -- as well as his accessibility to me or other providers post-op. He's only about 45 minutes from home, but when I live 5 minutes from another hospital, that can be significant if there's an emergency.

My surgeon not the severe erosion on the inside of my stomach but on the outside, I don't know if that makes sense. But, my port had flipped early out, and my douchebag band doctor ignored my complaints of pain for months, it got to where the port migrated, and the tubing was pulling on my band that was wrapped around my stomach. 3.5 months for me to resume normal activity. I actually didn't have a pre-op liquid diet. I just had to low carb it, and then fast the night before surgery after midnight. I don't know many revision patients that have to do a prolonged liquid diet unless they are having major issues with their band and even then I've never read more than 2 weeks of Protein shakes and other liquids including yogurt, sugar free popsicles, pudding and Jello. My leak was directly where the band was wrapped around my stomach. I did lose additional stomach tissue from that area, but it was not at the esophagus/stomach connection. My leak was discovered on my 3rd and final leak test with contrast fluid(gastrographin Fluid should be used since barium is not Water soluble).

It's a choice that you would have to make that works best for you. I was going for the sleeve and decided to go for RNY because I wanted to get rid of acid reflex and not have to deal with diabetes or high blood pressure or sleep apnea. My surgeon sat down and told me the differences and he said for long run RNY is a better way to go than sleeve. And I also didn't want to revise anything later on and wanted to do what's right for me. As far as being on anti-depressants, I stopped taking them the day I came home from my surgery. Typically I would have spoken to the psych and decrease the dosage and slowly get rid of it completely. But of course I didn't do that and just stopped them on my own. Do I feel depressed? Nope I don't. But I do still get anxious...so next week is my first follow up after my surgery which has been 10 days now and I will speak to them about my anxiety. Either way I think you can only make the best decision for yourself and what works best for you. Being scared of the surgery was the last thing on my mind cause I am an RN and I am ok with surgeries. Best of luck and I know you will make the right decision for yourself.

Similar process as GreenTealael. Only difference was that since my surgery was a revision, they offered a epidural and that was done in the operating room. They also asked if I would be ok with a direct line in my neck as it would make injections and taking blood easier later. I said yes to both. 9 hours later I was waking up feeling like I was hit by a semi truck minus the broken bones. After recovery where your pretty out of it and I can barely remember much from it other then a nice nurse that hit a button when I said I hurt. They rolled me up to my room where I took inventory. Besides the incision site, I had 3 drains, Feeding tube coming out of my abdomen. What I didn't expect was my right leg and left arm were sore if not in pain. This was due to how I was laid on the operating table. The nurses were nice about it and provided ice packs to help recover. Your Milage May Vary though as all surgeries are different. Good Luck!

Hi Lily66, I am actually revising from a sleeve gastrectomy. He had said that he thought the gastric bypass (GB) was a great option for me, but he did mention that I might consider the mini gastric bypass (MGB) too. He didn't go into a lot a detail, but I have been doing quite a bit of research on my own. We will discuss it more next week when I go back for my appointment before the surgery date. It looks like for many people the MGB is a great surgery choice with very similar results to the GB such as weight loss and resolving comorbidities. The nice thing about the MGB is that it requires less intestinal (stomach) rerouting and the time of surgery is much less. However, there is a higher incidence of bile reflux after the surgery. I have a had quite a problem with acid reflux and they found on my recent upper GI scope that I have a severely inflamed esophagus. So I am leaning toward the gastric bypass which has been shown to take care of GERD completely. Hope this helps anyone with questions. Best of luck on your upcoming surgery on the 11th. Bren

In the same boat. I had my band in dec 2010. I haven't lost that much and still need to lose 50-60lb. I keep vomiting and am miserable. I spoke with my doc today about revising to the sleeve (or bypass). Which he reccomendation the sleeve for me. He actually removed ALL my fluid today (which I was not expecting). Now I am worried about gaining. I haven't gained in a bit but I haven't lost either. He said he is doing more and more band to sleeve revisions. I really hope due ton he go it to g complication my insurance will ok the procedure. I can't afford it myself and as of right now I don't qualify for it. Bmi is 35 with no comorbidities. He did say it would be slightly more risky due to the scar tissue the band has caused, but said it should be ok. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Yes I would like a refund for my lapband now that it is no longer working, the money would be useful to help pay for my revision

I am 10 weeks post op revision and I have no sign of the port. I was sore in that spot longer then the other. Good luck! Revision 1/31/13 by Dr Cabrera and Venezuela in MX

My dr told me my new stomach was only 2oz, but could stretch to 4 oz over a year or so. Don't want it any smaller than it already is. Plus thats adding a whole new set of problems (was a lapband patient, had complications and was revised). I'd defintely do my homework on that before having it done. Sounds scary to me... You need to be able to eat something...

Well im atheist and I am having the bypass done on November 16th. My reflux is too bad and the sleeve is not an option. Many people revise from the sleeve to the bypass cause the sleeve tends to give you bad reflux. Can't go that route. I already had my gall bladder out earlier this year.

Congrats! How did your surgery go? I am very nervous to have the revision. I am 230 and want to make sure I am making the right decision!

Had my gallbladder removed and I am still vomiting and the various pain is not happening.I am going for barium swallow to see what is truly happening.He performs revisions in 2 steps.Band removal then revision.I am not jumping for joy.I have had deep vein thrombosis...I have to now put bypass back on the table.

After reading all of these posts, I am wondering if getting the sleeve will be worth it! I lost about 50 with the band, and kept off 40. Will the sleeve make a difference? I have a 14cc band that has slipped. It's been filled almost to max capacity. No one ever told me that my band could cause difficulties with my sleeve! The entire point of the sleeve is to have restriction, correct? I'm paying cash for my revision surgery, and it's a lot of money to shell out if the sleeve will make no difference! I'm really bummed out, and I'm wondering if I should just get my band removed, and no sleeve on Wednesday. I only had band restriction for one year after band surgery in 2009. Please let there be more band to sleeve success stories out there!! Thank you, Lisa ????

Going back to the liquid diet should definitely help! I was Lap Band -> Sleeve revision, so I think your situation might be similar to what I went through during my pre-op diet. I dropped 20 lbs in those 2 weeks before my surgery. Just be sure you're getting your Protein in, 70-100 g/day, and 64 oz of Water. Think of it like a little "reset" - Best of luck!

I had the revision done 5/4. My wounds are healing really well. Bruising around wounds has diminished to almost zero. Today i get the drain removed from my abdomen. The drain is a bit of a pain because you have to try to hide if you want to go anyplace but it doesn't hurt and it's actually kind of interesting seeing and tracking what comes out through it. I had my first touch of reflux yesterday and today (days 11 and 12). I'm staying at my folks' house because I was told not to drive and I hadn't expected that. So...I don't have all the foods here that I had gotten ahead of time. While here I've been doing 2 costco Protein shakes a day, 1 small can of V-8 (just because it tastes good and feels like real food), 1/2 cup of chicken broth (some days) and Water (sometimes Isopure Protein Water). I haven't felt hungry. I have felt extremely thirsty but my surgeon requires you to pour all intake into a one ounce medical cup and drink it over 15 minutes. I think I have the reflux because I got impatient yesterday and drank too much Soup too quickly. Sorry to be so wordy! I've been cooped up in my parents' house for 11 days and trying not to drive them crazy. As I related in an earlier post, I have a nasty virus or infection giving me earaches, sore throat, sore jaw, sore teeth. Something I got at the hospital and it isn't getting better so it skews my perception of this healing process a bit. There is definitely no comparison between band recovery and band to sleeve revision recovery. By this time after banding I was back at work and I was a firefighter. My surgeon this time around doesn't allow weight lifting until 4-6 weeks out, driving and stuff like vacuuming the floor until 2 weeks out.

You have to check with your own insurance, but it's my understanding that most insurances will cover a revision even if they didn't originally cover a wls. My mom's insurance doesn't cover any wls but will cover a revision if you are having complications because it would be deemed medically nessacery.

((hugs)) Sorry about your miscarriage and happy about your 2 children. If it were me, I would do 2 things now. 1. Go see my WLsurgeon and get them to send me to a nutritionist and a therapist in that order. Start the 6 month documentation with the therapist now. Get to finally working on the eating behaviors that are keeping me heavy and down. Get all of my blood work done to r/o thyroid, endocrine issues and/or underlying medical conditions. 2. Start working on getting an approval for revision to DS and find a surgeon in my network that can do that revision surgery--not all surgeons will or can do revisions to DS or RNY. Honestly, at this present weight and with the problems you had losing to goal with the VSG and if it was me, I'd go nuclear on my weight. DS is THEEEEEEEE most effective wl tool from a malabsorption standpoint--especially given what I think may also be the emotional/psychological eating issues associated with the regain and present weight. BTW, no judgement here. We all deal with emotional/behavioral issues with food relationships that simply MUST be fixed if we want to have any hope of losing and keeping the weight off long term.

I'm sorry that your going through this,I'd hope that things can be resolved but the reality is that it probably Won't. I'd get the band removed rather than risk more complications. Reflux, and aspiration are NOT NORMAL. And you don't HAVE to have ANY other WLS, just because your surgeon does a particular surgery. And yes I know about the emotional roller coaster ride you'll be on if you choose not to revise. BUT I believe your STRONG enough to do what is needed. Don't risk your health further. I've copied some literature about slips. Complications associated with adjustable gastric banding for morbid obesity: a surgeon’s guide Anterior slip results from upward migration of the anterior wall of the stomach through the band. This can be due to insufficient anterior fixation and disruption of the fixation sutures. The second cause may be related to increased pressure in the pouch due to early solid food, vomiting, overeating or early (< 4 wk) band fill Posterior slip is defined as a herniation of the posterior wall of the stomach through the band. This is usually related to the surgical technique but is less frequent now with adoption of the pars flaccida approach instead of the perigastric approach In both types of slip, the patient usually presents with dysphagia, vomiting, regurgitation and food intolerance. The diagnosis is made by upper gastrointestinal series. Complications related to band slip include gastric perforation, necrosis of the slipped stomach (type-V prolapse), upper gastrointestinal bleeding and aspiration pneumonia. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3038361/

Agreed. I’d speak with Dr. Keshishian regarding a revision to the DS. He’d give you a fair opinion.

I'm not sure about the liquids for some reason Iv never been a big drinker of anything so the band just increased what was already a struggle with the whole don't drink and eat thing and wait 30 mins. I didn't revise only because of reflux, It was managed with Prilosec well enough but more so because of just sick of the whole lifestyle that came with the band. Yes I could have loosened or unfilled but only with weight gain. Iv not had even a slight bit of reflux since removing the band but I also had a hiatal hernia repair during the revision. I had many barium swallows over the years since I worked in the surgeons office, a few dilated pouches that I would refill for about a month to correct but they never fully corrected. My esophagus is still dilated even in my recent X-rays.

I went back to work 10 days after my sleeve surgery (no revision). I work in an office setting and did fine at work. I will say that although I was back to work 9 hours each day, for the first 6-8 weeks after surgery I was extremely tired and in bed by about 7pm each night!

I have another appointment with my Dr next week. I have no comorbities with my bmi so the insurance might not cover a revision and only cover my band removal. My BMi is 40 I gained back all the weight lost from my band its very depressing and I would like to have the hunger feeling hone. I'm so hungry and protein foods like meat get stuck all the time I end up sliming but remaining hungry. I'm so sick of it I feel like it has taken over my life. :/ I'm ready for a better change and if mexico is the only way to do it at a cost effective way I'll have to take that.