I had lapband surgery in August of 2008. I only ever lost 35 lbs. About two years in, half of my band collapsed and wouldn’t hold fluid at all. In 2015 I went to the doc for a revision to sleeve. My doc would not convert from band to sleeve due to increased leak risk. He recommended bypass and my insurance quickly approved. I didn’t want bypass and didn’t go through with it. I tried keto and lost 50 lbs. I didn’t keep it off and was back up to 285 which was my initial band weight the first of this year. I decided to have bypass this year and had to fight insurance for 5 months which was crazy because I was in the same position I was in in 2015. On July 2nd I had my band removed, bypass and my gallbladder removed. I stayed one night in the hospital and went back to work part time a week later and full time a week after that. I’m due to start any diet I want this weekend. This surgery has been a walk in the park for me. No problems at all and finally no stuck food in my throat! I’ve lost 18 lbs and am excited for what’s to come. Why did I wait so long?! If you are on the fence do it ... your life will be so much better. =)

Your words convinced me. SOLD!

Wait. I've never had a lap band or a sleeve or any other weight-loss surgery that might benefit from a conversion to bypass. It's just that your succinct comment convinced me that if I HAD to take action of some sort, I'd definitely listen to you.

I had my bypass on June 13, 2018. Apparently, I got it right the first time. Lucky me. Lucky for others like me.

I'm happy for you. I'm proud of you for fighting the good fight with your insurance company (talk about a soulless corporation with the horse sense of used toilet paper). It sounds like you've tried to make good decisions since the beginning... but your journey abruptly headed South.

But... finally, FINALLY!!! ... you're on a superhighway that will get you where you've wanted to go all along... again, I'm so very happy for you. Keep us posted. Your journey is one I'd like to follow.

Edited July 26, 20188 yr by Missouri-Lee's Summit

8 hours ago, Carlad48 said:

I had lapband surgery in August of 2008. I only ever lost 35 lbs. About two years in, half of my band collapsed and wouldn’t hold Fluid at all. In 2015 I went to the doc for a revision to sleeve. My doc would not convert from band to sleeve due to increased leak risk. He recommended bypass and my insurance quickly approved. I didn’t want bypass and didn’t go through with it. I tried keto and lost 50 lbs. I didn’t keep it off and was back up to 285 which was my initial band weight the first of this year. I decided to have bypass this year and had to fight insurance for 5 months which was crazy because I was in the same position I was in in 2015. On July 2nd I had my band removed, bypass and my gallbladder removed. I stayed one night in the hospital and went back to work part time a week later and full time a week after that. I’m due to start any diet I want this weekend. This surgery has been a walk in the park for me. No problems at all and finally no stuck food in my throat! I’ve lost 18 lbs and am excited for what’s to come. Why did I wait so long?! If you are on the fence do it ... your life will be so much better. =)

This mirrors my experience with the band pretty closely. Had the band installed in 2011, I did lose 70lbs or so, but that was it, the gain/loss fight started. I didn't have any major issues with the band, but I did get stuck far too often, and things that shouldn't hurt, like leafy greens, did. Revised to the Bypass this past march and I couldn't be happier.

This will be me in September.... yip yip