Update On My Gastric Sleeve Revision

[Glendaaus 20]

In July I was posting here on having my lapband removed and revision to vsg.

Yesterday I finally got the camera test and my lapband is eroded - so I have an appointment at the end of November and imagine I will be going back to hospital to have it removed in January, 2012. I was not impressed - but I guess I always knew there was some problem.

I imagine that the surgeon will make me wait for x amount of time to have the vsg done. If anyone has any experience with this - I would appreciate your comments.

Glenda

Lapband Sydney Australia 2003

[Lissa 2,631]

Glenda, I think there is a forum that talks about Band to Sleeve Revisions. If I remember correctly, several people have had their sleeve done at the same time as band removal. Is that not an option with your surgeon?

Good luck with the surgery, however they do it!

[Lissa 2,631]

DUH! That's what I get for pulling from the most recent posts list! You're in the right forum!!! I'll just find a corner and cry now.

[Glendaaus 20]

No problems Lissa - don't cry.

I will find out his ideas I guess on the 30th when I go back. I have to drive 4 hours to get there - so it better be worth it - haha!!

I think I will get him to take it out - but if there is going to be a long wait to get the vsg - I may go to Dr Kelly - like I had previously planned to do.

[Becca 108]

I had horrible complications with my band. The tubing had broken apart and the band had started to erode. I could barely swallow right before my surgery. I also had a hernia. I had the band taken out, hernia repaired, and my VSG all at once. You just have to find a revision specialist that is skilled enough to do it. I really do think you should seek the doctor that can do it all at once so that you don't have to suffer through two recoveries. I had to wait around for my insurance to cover the VSG (they approved the lapband removal right away when it broke, but stalled forever in covering the sleeve). I am so glad I waited and had it done all at one time. I hate being in the hospital and it was nice to be able to move on to the sleeve and forget about the band. I am so happy you will be getting the sleeve. The sleeve works!

[CowgirlJane 14,261]

My surgeon gave me the option of doing it all at once or separate surgeries. I chose to do separate surgeries because I had the band for 10 years and figured there would be alot of scarring and adhesions and to be honest I was still coming to terms with whether I wanted 85% of my stomach removed.

When they removed the band in late September, they spent alot of time removing the adhesions and I will be sleeved and hernia repair in December. I don't think it is a skill level question; I think it is a question of what do you think is the least risk. I suspect that there isn't very good data on which approach gives best results statistically speaking (ie fewer complications) so surgeons are working off their own experiences.

for me, this has been good. I have been so hungry and gaining weight, in spite of trying to diet since the band came out. It has really removed any dellusional thoughts of "I can do this myself". It may sound crazy, but i needed that last dose of reality, that my obesity is out of control and I can't get a grip without bariatric surgery.

[donniej 35]

I guess it depends on how bad the erosion is. 90% of my band had eroded into my stomach. I went to Dr.Aceves and he couldnt remove the band and the sleeve at the same time, too much damage and would not of been safe. I had to wait 6 months for the stomach to heal and will be returning to Dr. Aceves next month. I can hardly wait!!!

[MelissaEve 1]

I had it all done at once. I developed and infection where they removed the port and ended up in the hospital for 6 nights. Very long journey wit lots of pain, I am just todat starting to feel a bit better. The drain (I ended yo having 2) was the problem. Once the second drain came out I felt normal again. It is not an easy process and I will never take my body for granted again.

[kekerene 35]

I had the band to sleeve revision done all in 1 surgery but I think it would depend on the surgeon and how much erosion has taken place from the band. I went to Dr. Aceves and luckily my band had not done enough damage to prevent it from all being done in 1 surgery. The bad did leave behind a bunch of scar tissue which Dr. Aceves was able to remove during surgery. I think if you find a skilled surgeon they would definitely do what they think is best once they are inside and can actually see the damage that the band left behind. Good luck!

[Pegsinthewoods 8]

My band was severly eroded (I was super sick with peritonitis) and my doc required it to be done in two procedures. He is making me wait a year for the adhesions to soften up.

[lml32937 65]

I had my band out and sleeve done all at once BUT there were no complications with my sleeve- it was in perfect posistion, no erosion, no slippage, no problems. I think since you have erosion the need for you to heal in between would be important but then again there might be a doctor willing to do both at once- worth looking in to- Good luck!