Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

FEAR OF FAILURE— Band To Sleeve Revision. Maybe.



Recommended Posts

I had lapband surgery 11 years ago. I had moderate success but not nearly what I thought I would have. I failed the band or it failed me. Maybe a little of both. I am considering revision surgery but I just don’t know. What if I “fail” again. Not sure I could mentally or physically handle it. I’ve seen people have greater success once having the revision surgery. I also am very unhappy with the surgeon that did my lapband and I am looking to find another surgeon that will work with me and actually help me succeed. I never had that from my previous doctor. I’ve got a million things to figure out. My insurance didn’t cover weight loss surgery back then and now it does but I don’t know how revision surgery plays into that. Making calls this week to possibly get the ball rolling. Any advice from someone that has had lapband to sleeve revision or any advice at all would be greatly appreciated!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had the exact same fear!! The sleeve is completely different. You won't fail in the short term. Looking term, weight gain is possible, as in all WLS. Hostile
Hopefully, we will have mastered it by the time we are at goal.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

It is funny that my insurance didn’t cover any weight loss surgeries for years and then now they do. I thought all these years that the second I found out it was covered that’s all it would take and I would 100% be sure I wanted to do it. It’s crazy that’s not the experience I am having at all.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

My story is almost the exact same - same fears and concerns. I had my revision on the 8th so I'm too early to comment on the differences but after a long process of thinking and debating I decided that I was not going to conquer this life long battle by myself without help. What made me really decide to move forward was the metabolic change that comes with the sleeve. It's so different than what we had with the band. Good luck with your decision process!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

The way I look at it , and this may sound terrible , but I’m not getting where I want to be as things are right now so why not try the revision. It can’t get worse than the mental hell I live with everyday spending another day unhappy. Good vibes to you and your new journey !!! Super early in your sleeve journey. I will be excited to see how things go for you.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

11 hours ago, TinaM8 said:

The way I look at it , and this may sound terrible , but I’m not getting where I want to be as things are right now so why not try the revision. It can’t get worse than the mental hell I live with everyday spending another day unhappy. Good vibes to you and your new journey !!! Super early in your sleeve journey. I will be excited to see how things go for you.

I totally get this! I was also done with the band - tired of feeling the pressure in my chest constantly and having to "lube" up healthy foods in order to eat at. So the band was coming out to either way. I was ok with eating small portions and was ready to make changes so I went for it!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

This gives me hope! Now I start the process of seeing if insurance will approve a revision considering I don’t have any actual “problems” with the band. Let me ask you, did they do the procedure in 2 surgeries or the removal and sleeve all in one? I’ve heard of it happening both ways , I’m hoping for one surgery.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had no issues with the band other than still being obese. They were able to do it in one surgery thankfully!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

@ TinaM8 do you know what happened? Now this was told to me by someone "in the know", it's due to the Affordable Care Act, once insurance companies were forced to cover maternity care they had to also cover Bariatrics A lot of them aren't overjoyed so thats why we have 3,6 or even 12 month restrictions, silly cause in the long run the client is more healthy so they would save money. My view on life insurance, you're betting you need it, the insurance company bets you don't, if you win this agreement you're dead and can't enjoy the win.

Sent from my VS880PP using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

So I’m just waiting for my surgery scheduler to schedule me for my sleeve I have the lap band now and I absolutely hate it I got banded in 2009.. just hoping this works for me. My current weight is 236.. I’m looking forward to seeing results at the same time frightened.


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I felt the same way as you do. But I have no choice but to have my band out because it is causing an issue which could cause me to develop a severe gastric bleed (I've already had one, lost half my blood and was in the hospital for a week). After a year of diagnostic tests, we discovered it was an issue with band slippage (due to dilation of upper pouch, which I must take responsibility for, too) creating blood vessels inside my stomach around the lower side of band.

Anyway, since it must come out - I was left with: do I revise to sleeve or just have the band out. My gastroenterologist doctor is fully supportive of the revision. Part of me is worried that I'll just stretch again and cause more problems. Part of me is worried that with no restriction I will gain even more weight. In the end, I decided to do the revision.

My insurance does not cover bariatric at all, so I am off to Mexico in 2 weeks.

By the way, my best friend just had his out a few months ago (no revision) and is struggling with the new found freedom of once again being able to eat anything he wants. But his doctor and my doctors all agree - everyone who has a band will likely have to have it out at some point due to a complication.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I felt the same way as you do. But I have no choice but to have my band out because it is causing an issue which could cause me to develop a severe gastric bleed (I've already had one, lost half my blood and was in the hospital for a week). After a year of diagnostic tests, we discovered it was an issue with band slippage (due to dilation of upper pouch, which I must take responsibility for, too) creating blood vessels inside my stomach around the lower side of band.
Anyway, since it must come out - I was left with: do I revise to sleeve or just have the band out. My gastroenterologist doctor is fully supportive of the revision. Part of me is worried that I'll just stretch again and cause more problems. Part of me is worried that with no restriction I will gain even more weight. In the end, I decided to do the revision.
My insurance does not cover bariatric at all, so I am off to Mexico in 2 weeks.
By the way, my best friend just had his out a few months ago (no revision) and is struggling with the new found freedom of once again being able to eat anything he wants. But his doctor and my doctors all agree - everyone who has a band will likely have to have it out at some point due to a complication.


Thank you so much for replying, I’m eager and anxious but I feel that the band is hurting me more than helping me.


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I’m getting the sleeve on feb 1st. Honestly, my band tried to kill me. I had it 10 years almost and lost 120. I loved it for awhile. However; last January it failed and slipped. I couldn’t even drink Water , it felt like I was being stabbed over and over. I was throwing everything up. I had it removed and they took out tons of adhesions and scar tissue. I still have a bunch I’m sure he will take more out this time. From what I see if we commit to the plan it will work. Hope this helps some [emoji4]

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 2 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×