I'm Considering Band Removal/Revision to Sleeve or Other

[PrettyThick1 1,860]

Hey guys, it's been a while!

I am here to do a public walk of shame and to admit that maybe the band wasn't the best choice for me. I'm about 4 years post-op and had great results until the first time I got the stomach flu about a year ago. Having the flu meant that I was constantly nauseated and throwing up, so to prevent any damage I had 1cc removed from my band. So I went from being in the green zone and losing/maintaining very efficiently to gaining - quickly. I went to get the Fluid replaced but I could never find my "sweet spot" again - either it was too tight, or not tight enough. Long story short, I've basically gained back all the weight I lost. I have scheduled an appointment for later this month to determine if I've slipped (kinda think I have) or I just need to get back in the swing of living the banded life the right way or if I want to take the plunge and go for a more strict procedure.

Either way, something has to give. One of my favorite singers died because of weight fluctuations and I've done that a lot in my life. I hope this helps someone and if you have advice, by all means please share!

[BayougirlMrsS 3,933]

Hey @@PrettyThick1 long time.... missed hearing from ya. Sorry to hear that you are having issues... I sure hope you don't have to have another surg..... I hope you can just get back in the swing of things again.... I know you can do it, you did it before....

I tell you one thing if i ever have to get my band out.... im going for the GB.... just my thoughts.

[PrettyThick1 1,860]

Hey Bayougirl! It has been forever...that might be a part of the problem. Checking in, posting and reading other posts seemed to keep me on track. I think I'll try to do better about participating in the forum. What is GB? See...I've been away far too long.

[BayougirlMrsS 3,933]

@@PrettyThick1 GB Gastric Bypass.... But i'm holding strong with my band... 7 years and counting. Lord willing ill have for a lot longer.

I know when i got a little off track, coming back here helped me re lose the 20 i had gained and 15-20 more.... So it can be done. You know what it takes you just have to get focused again.... maybe start at the beginning... with a liquid diet? That should give you a good jump start.

[UsernameTaken 283]

@@PrettyThick1

I feel you, I had my band for 8 years, honestly looking back at it I hated it since the beginning. I couldn't eat healthy foods like chicken and other things unless they were drenched in sauce. I felt like a failure and finally I developed horrible heart burn and had to get t emptied few times I kept gaining weight I said I had to do something about it. It was a hard decision to make but I did revise to RNY this year, I am 7 months out and even though I had complications I am so much more happier now and I don't miss my band at all. I am down 87 lbs this year and 42 more till goal. I know some people did well with the band but I was not one of them, just wish I did the revision many many years ago. Hope you find what you are looking for, talk to your surgeon about your options.

Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

[WshfullyShrnkng 80]

I too am looking at a revision to VSG. I have been researching because I have struggled with my band since I got it. I can't eat a lot of the healthy foods even with my band almost completely empty! I have gained back all the weight I had lost and then some, some of which happened with pregnancy and some of which I was already struggling with. However, my insurance does not cover anything related to WLS. So I am on my own if I want to pay for it. I am looking into loans and maybe the option of traveling to Mexico for it. Looking forward to following your journey.

[KWeilbrenner09 88]

I am a revision patient as well! I had my lapband for 7 years and gained all the weight back.

I just had a conversion to a gastric sleeve with duodenal switch. I figured that if I am going to do this again, then I am going it big. For me the DS had the most successful long term weight loss and that's what I needed.

I just had mine done on 12/26 so I would be happy to chat!

Katy W- Louisburg, NC

Lapband revision to VSG with DS

HW- 297

Weight at Surgery-279

CW- will update at two week appt

[DecemberSleeve 18]

I just had my lap band taken out and converted to a gastric sleeve on Dec 29th, after several years of living with a band slippage that caused me a lot of problems with severe reflux and pain, so I definitely sympathize with your dilemma.

I hope it turns out that you just need a little tweaking of the band because going through a surgery is never fun or easy, but if it does turn out that you need to have the band taken out, I hope it helps to know that a lot of people seem to feel like living with the restrictions and quirks of the lap-band makes living with the sleeve seem pretty easy by comparison.

I am still on my liquid/puree post-op diet so I can't say for sure what things will be like when I'm healed, but already I feel a sense of relief that i no longer have that constant awareness of the band I used to have when it was causing havoc for my stomach.
Living with these kinds of problems isn't easy. I hope you find health and happiness again soon, whatever that ends up meaning for you.

[PrettyThick1 1,860]

I am a revision patient as well! I had my lapband for 7 years and gained all the weight back.

I just had a conversion to a gastric sleeve with duodenal switch. I figured that if I am going to do this again, then I am going it big. For me the DS had the most successful long term weight loss and that's what I needed.

I just had mine done on 12/26 so I would be happy to chat!

Katy W- Louisburg, NC

Lapband revision to VSG with DS

HW- 297

Weight at Surgery-279

CW- will update at two week appt

Please keep me posted on your progress. Thanks for sharing!

[Travelher 915]

I hope you are doing better now. And things have improved.

My recommendation is that if your band is causing issues definitely get a defil. Don't try and live with pain and or issues for an extended period.

Two of my friends just found out this week that they can't have revisions because of the irreparable damage the band caused. One found out before her band removal that she has irreparable esophagus damage and the other had her band removed a year ago and when they went to do her rny they had to close her back up...there was so much adhesion and scar tissue they couldn't even find her stomach. On another board a woman shared that she had been vomiting blood for months does is just now seing a doctor about it.

my rny was smooth sailing and I suspect it may have been because of my being defilled As long as I was. it minimized the damage. We are our own best advocates my recommendation is as soon as someone has issue, get it checked out!

[jovi2673 22]

I also had band issues. I was banded in 2007 and had it removed last week and now have RNY. My band worked good for 3.5 years then I began having major issues with reflux and slowly had to remove all my restriction and gained back about 75 pounds. Happy I was able to get it out!

[MJ985 0]

I had the vgs 5 years ago started out at 367 day of surgery weight was 321 my lowest weight was 266 and now im back up to 325 . Im planning to see Dr Johnny Perez to make a plea for a revision. Any and all advice would be dearly appreciated

[Amy Turner 16]

Sorry to hear about issues, especially the weight fluctuations are most alarming. I struggled with the band from the beginning, food I love but can’t consume and weight is back again…keep updating and Good Luck!!