i currently have a lapband it was put in 08 port flipped revised about 8 months after the intial surgery slipped in 2010 put back in place my biggest was 298 and smallest was 212 now i am 247 i am slowly ganing and that scares me i am new to kaiser sought out help had an upper gi series done show a very smal dilation to my esophogas with all my compications it is no wonder i wanted it out my primary doc at kaiser referered me to dr nanda in orange county i think he is amazing told me that it was not an option to have lapband out and the get the sleeve all in one surgery and im not gonna lie that is what i wanted and was heartbroken to hear that i would have to wait a year to have another surgery. he then referred me to dr mun the surgeron that would remove my band with in that week i begain to have anxiety and sadnes almost lke i was mourning my band went to the optins orientation through kaserr and had even more anxiety when dr nanda was going through all the complications frm the band and also the other surgeries i was terrrified because i am so fearful that without my tool that has made me healther and happer even though i have gained some of it back and has caused me problems was going to disapear had my surgery consult today with dr mun and is telling me that he wil do the srgery all at once i am so conflicted i have two doctors telling me two different things and the only thing they can agree o is that my band needs to come out i do have asurgery date on feb 12 to have a removal and then get the sleeve but i would love and need to hear other people wth the same experiences i know you out there i have had the 7 days t process that i would be left with nothing and took support from family and friends made an apontment with a counselor to prepare me for my so called mourning and with either deciion i make am contining to do so but feeling conflicted i woud lov hear other people thoughts and advice please share your experiences with me

Sorry to hear you're going through such a rough time!! I have not shared your experience, but just wanted to offer you some support. From what I've read about others who have gone from a band to a sleeve, they are very satisfied.

I haven't had my surgery yet, but I'm revising from band to sleeve in one operation. Is the one dr saying it has to be two step because they need to previous complication to heal?

Most everyone on these boards who has had a revision has done it in one step.

I had my band out and revised to sleeve in one procedure recovery was tough but I wouldn't have it any other way. Same issues as you got banded 2009 had port replaced 6 months later had issues with being too tight had my band emptied numerous times gained and lost same 50 lbs I've been sleeved for 2 months now and I'm down 30 lbs post op.. I tell you what I don't miss that port or the stuck feeling I can eat everything just a lot less now

@ soocalchic omg gosh that port feeling is the worst cannot sit for more then 45 min in a chair without discomfort!!! and that stc feeling can be awful!!!! and how was the recovery tough?

@socaldixiegal the dr that told me that it to wait a year after being removed is not the surgeon he is the dr that runs the barriatric program at kaiser in orange county he just flat out said kaiser wil not do it an that they want you to take that year to heal and work on the mindset of the surery and weightloss process which i totally agreee with everyone should take precaustions to fix the mental blocks with weight loss thats why isseked counseling and am actually going to attend my first OA meeting ths week. i just didnt like that they told me if i gain weight back in that year then kaiser would not pay for it becuase i would not of been in that mind set it is just alot of info to take in from both doctors in a matter of 7 days but i do know that i did lose asignifigant amount of weight with the band and i really need a tool.keep and ouch and let me know how your journey goes !!!! would love to hear your experience!! when is your surgery?

Gotacha, and I totally get what you're saying about the fear of regaining. I had my band about 5 years ago, but didn't do well. Didn't have any real complications but just didn't do well. Either too restricted or too loose so it just hasn't been the right tool. Lost a total of 50 lbs. 30 in the first year then 2 years for the other 20, then began to regain. I'm now only 20lbs below what I started. Sigh.

I was going to go back to the dr. that did my band (also Orange County) and pay for this surgery (about $21k) but then after reading all these boards started looking into heading a bit south.

You might just want to look into going south and being self pay. I feel like it's giving me control over my experience and I get to pick a doctor out instead of insurance choosing one for me. It's definitely an option and one that doesn't require a year of hoops.

My surgery is 2/11 and I'm finding so far that the pre-op instructions as well as post are more conservative than my local dr. Interesting.

After reading your experiences I can say I am really lucky. I was banded April of 2010 and really had no issues except I didn't lose anymore than about 14 pounds! Was a total rip-off.

My insurance carrier changed to Kaiser and was really luck that due to my Diabetes and BP issues they are gonna remove the band and do the sleeve at the same time. I am not required to do any of classes till afterwards. I guess since I went through all of them with the prior insurer.

I have to say that the meeting are an essential part of the whole process. So I hope to attend my class the week after surgery.

My story sounds so similar to yours. I am having my sleeve tomorrow morning. My doctor would have it done it all in one surgery but my insurance would not cover the sleeve until my bmi was 40 or higher so I actually had to gain weight (about 40 lbs) to qualify. I had my band out in July and am looking forward to new found success. I had done okay with my band before it started giving me trouble... I had lost about 90 lbs. I am hoping to actually get to goal with my sleeve (and stay there). Good luck on whatever you decide. I know the despare you are currently feeling.