I am starting the process from band to sleeve, I was band in 2005. I had thought about the revision last year and I backed down from it because I was afraid of another surgery, I didn't have any guidance and didn't know what to expect. I am at a point were I am very disappointed with the results of the band like I see many of us here are, so I decided to contact my Dr office once again to continue the process of getting the sleeve. I hope I can get some answers and support here. I am wondering if I will have to have the band removed first then go back and get the sleeve? I am wondering if I will have to do another upper GI, I had one 5 months ago? I am wondering if I will have to another evaluation and scope, I had this done last year before I chicken out? Any answers would help, and I'd like to find a buddy here because I am feeling I need the support because of fear of doing this all over again with no results, I hope I am not being to forward with all these questions.

Hey you all, I'm new to this, I'm trying to see how to follow or friend someone.

Hi Tynoodles11, did you figure out how to add someone? If not all you have to do is click on their name and it will prompt you to their profile, and click add as friend. hope this helps

Hi all,

I was banded in 2008. Did well - lost 70 pounds before it slipped. Had a revision, but was never the same again. If tightened at all I had night choking, so it's been mostly unfilled since 2009 and I've regained all the weight. I'm scheduled for revision to sleeve on the 16th - so close! I'm getting really nervous, but also excited. Trying to get my head to a place of confidence and dedication to make this work - finally, for good.

I had an upper GI before approval, and 3 months of supervised diet. That was it. May have been quicker because of the issues I still have with the band.

We can do this thesuse2000, I am excited for you and I am hoping for a speedy process. My doctors office is good at getting things done. I am just hoping that if the process is long, I can have it all done before the holidays. Good luck and keep us posted, you are a couple weeks away from your new journey

Thanks A Stoot! And nice to have you as a friend!

I wish you the best with the process. I hope to be able to share good news with you in the future on my progress.

I was banded in 2010. All was going good. I lost 135 lbs in the first year in a half. I had to have my thyroid taken out in 2012. At that time I had a unfill because of the surgery. I never was able to get back to my sweet spot again. I gained about 50 lbs. Finally, I talked to my Dr. About getting. My insurance company approved the revision surgery. On Wednesday May 28, 2014 I had my Lapband taken out and due to get the sleeve surgery in eight weeks. Kind of excited, I hope it all works out for me,

Hi everyone....Banded 2010 only lost 50lbs struggled big time....Had band removed and sleeved May 12 2014.....No regrets down 15lbs low energy but so grateful for a 2nd chance

Hi all. Had a band In 2006 but began the "too tight/reflux" problems in 2008/09. Pre-band I was at 248 and dropped 60 lbs, but with the probs regained about 30. Now, I'm just past my 1yr. mark w/ my revision to a sleeve. I'm down to 155 and in a size I've never seen in my life! I set a lot of mini goals over the year, with my main goal being to hit 70% loss of weight in my first year. (The Dr. said the expectation was this to happen in 2 yrs.). I DID IT!

Now, I'm still pushing on to my next goal, but after my 1yr. check up, my Dr. said my blood work is great and I was doing fantastic with things. Here's the key....EMBRACE THE CHANGE! I took the eating and exercising seriously. Don't get me wrong, I hate any and all forms of exercise (PE was NOT a fav in school) but it is a job I must do to maintain my change. Clearing the house of junk and making sure my body is taking in what it needed and not always what it wants helps the process. OH, and the biggest thing (for me anyway) is learning to recognize the head games my brain will play about wanting food. In the last year I have really tried to focus on learning what is hunger and what isn't, and how to compensate with new things instead of old habits.

A phrase I've adopted is "It's a marathon, not a sprint." As long as I work the plan and stay focused (recording what I eat, exercise 3-4x a wk for 30-60 mins., make healthy choices) my Dr. says I'll stay on a successful path. So, best of luck on your journey!

Hi all. Had a band In 2006 but began the "too tight/reflux" problems in 2008/09. Pre-band I was at 248 and dropped 60 lbs, but with the probs regained about 30. Now, I'm just past my 1yr. mark w/ my revision to a sleeve. I'm down to 155 and in a size I've never seen in my life! I set a lot of mini goals over the year, with my main goal being to hit 70% loss of weight in my first year. (The Dr. said the expectation was this to happen in 2 yrs.). I DID IT!

Now, I'm still pushing on to my next goal, but after my 1yr. check up, my Dr. said my blood work is great and I was doing fantastic with things. Here's the key....EMBRACE THE CHANGE! I took the eating and exercising seriously. Don't get me wrong, I hate any and all forms of exercise (PE was NOT a fav in school) but it is a job I must do to maintain my change. Clearing the house of junk and making sure my body is taking in what it needed and not always what it wants helps the process. OH, and the biggest thing (for me anyway) is learning to recognize the head games my brain will play about wanting food. In the last year I have really tried to focus on learning what is hunger and what isn't, and how to compensate with new things instead of old habits.

A phrase I've adopted is "It's a marathon, not a sprint." As long as I work the plan and stay focused (recording what I eat, exercise 3-4x a wk for 30-60 mins., make healthy choices) my Dr. says I'll stay on a successful path. So, best of luck on your journey!

thanks for sharing slikchik10, very encouraging to embrace change!!!

Hi, I'm also considering the revision. I'm actually in the process of getting the sleeve. I had to get an upper GI, have a psych eval and also nutritionist appt. I spoke with the coordinator of my center and he said my surgery date will be in July just as long as I'm approved. Please pray for me. It failed miserably with the lapband, I'm back at my pre surgery weight, we can be buddies too, how soon are you looking to get sleeved?

Tynoodles11, I definitely feel you on the disappointment with the band. I am not sure of my date yet, I am just getting started so I am sure I will have to do another GI, psych, and see the nutritionist before I get a date. Thanks a bunch and yes we can definitely do this

Hi there. Sorry for the late reply, I'm new to this site!! I don't know how to friend someone on here, but we can follow each other and I'll keep you posted on my progress.

I was banded for 10 years - epic fail.

Not only was I scared of another surgery, but I was scared of failing again and I was scared of the permanance. I had one basic question "what if it is as awful as the band but I can't reverse it?"

Well, I reached the point where I felt I had no choice but to leap in. It took me over a year of wrestling with this before I finally had the band removed. Surgeons were adament it needed to go before it slipped further. I couldn't get courage up to do the sleeve, but I was preapproved for insurance. Then, I found out my insurance was changing and i had a "last chance" to get insurance coverage for the sleeve - so i went for it in Dec 2011.

Now 160+ pounds lost - I weigh around 140 instead of around 300-315 and it was the best decision ever!

i have been on these boards for way to long. i say to myself as im sure many people might say to me "either shit or get off the pot!" lol. i just go back and forth with the decision to have this done. so many different emotions and fears, i guess. im afraid it wont work. im afraid something will go wrong down the road, like maybe ill need my stomach back for some reason when im older. i dont know...crazy right? maybe my sleeve will twist or leak etc etc. im emotionally drained. i have prayed and tortured myself with this. i stay on these sites to see how everyone is doing, to say to myself, "see that could me you if you werent so damn afraid and such a worrier". how will i ever get past this. ughhhhh

i have been on these boards for way to long. i say to myself as im sure many people might say to me "either **** or get off the pot!" lol. i just go back and forth with the decision to have this done. so many different emotions and fears, i guess. im afraid it wont work. im afraid something will go wrong down the road, like maybe ill need my stomach back for some reason when im older. i dont know...crazy right? maybe my sleeve will twist or leak etc etc. im emotionally drained. i have prayed and tortured myself with this. i stay on these sites to see how everyone is doing, to say to myself, "see that could me you if you werent so damn afraid and such a worrier". how will i ever get past this. ughhhhh

I am the same way girliegirl, back in 2005 before I was band I wanted the gastric bypass, my Dr denied the gastric because of the lining of my stomach and esophagus and a BIG possibility of what if cancer form in the stomach and there's no stomach to remove. It was something I had to think long and hard about back then and even more now with the sleeve. It will be interesting to hear what he has to say about the lining of my stomach now vs back then....I will definitely keep you guys posted

okay so what does cancer have to do with it? was he concerned because if you ever had stomach cancer that they couldnt make you a new stomach because it as reduced?

okay so what does cancer have to do with it? was he concerned because if you ever had stomach cancer that they couldnt make you a new stomach because it as reduced?

Yes, that's exactly what his concern was back then because of my family history, but had nothing to do with reduction, it had everything to do with bypass and the fact the stomach is completely removed. The band and the sleeve is just a reduction, not removing the stomach

Yes, that's exactly what his concern was back then because of my family history, but had nothing to do with reduction, it had everything to do with bypass and the fact the stomach is completely removed. The band and the sleeve is just a reduction, not removing the stomach

The stomach is NOT removed for the bypass.

Yes, that's exactly what his concern was back then because of my family history, but had nothing to do with reduction, it had everything to do with bypass and the fact the stomach is completely removed. The band and the sleeve is just a reduction, not removing the stomach

The stomach is NOT removed for the bypass.