I had my lap band done in 2007 and have kept my 108 lb. loss to date. Now my doctors are saying I should have it reversed to a sleeve.

Is this recommended now?

Joan in Oregon

Yes it is but heck i would just take the band out and see if you can stay healthy

1 hour ago, Joan in Oregon said:

I had my lap band done in 2007 and have kept my 108 lb. loss to date. Now my doctors are saying I should have it reversed to a sleeve.

Is this recommended now?

Joan in Oregon

why does he/she wanting it out? are you having issues? I think the dr's that are doing this is just trying to make more money.... (my opinion)

My two cents, for what it's worth..... Leave it alone if you're not having issues. For one, getting a revision paid by insurance is damn near impossible for those of us who followed the rules and didn't gain all the weight back. I was banded in 2009 at 232#, ER band removal 2017 at 143#..... started looking for a dr to do a revision and was told over and over again..... You don't weigh enough. fast forward 2.5 years and hell trying to keep the weight off i was up to 173#..... and trust in the fact that it was hard not to gain more... i went hungry, diet pills, lax., went to crossfit 4-5 days a week and still..... and for people that say... just eat like you did when you had the band..... F U... it's is damn near impossible to do that. Two weeks after the band was gone.... hunger came back with a vengeance. I had forgotten what "hunger" felt like.... well it sucks.

So after 2.5 years of nothing.... i had my mind set that i was going to Mex to have the MGB.... but as luck would have it i found a dr. 10 min away from my office. He and i talked and he agreed to do a revision... but i had to agree to the sleeve and pay 14k out of pocket.... which i did. that was 38 weeks ago today (8/28/19). Went in weighing 173#.... today i'm at 126ish...(125-127). From a size 10 to a 2-4

Do i miss my band..... EVERY DAY. Do i wish i still had her.... EVERY DAY.

They say band only lasts 10 years before it's starts to deteriorate

If you're having issues with it, then probably - a lot of people have had those removed the last few years due to complications and have gotten the sleeve or bypass instead. But if it's not bothering you, I'd be tempted to ask for his rationale.

Hi Joan--add me to the list that is wondering if you aren't have any trouble with your band, why does your doctor want it removed? We have a saying here in the South: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!" If I hadn't had so much trouble with mine in the last two years I'd still have it.

I’m among those who were very successful with the band and loved it. I had it for over 10 years and almost overnight I developed complications. Horrific heartburn, which was quickly followed by not being able to get anything through at all and constant vomiting which brought me to the ER. The band was deflated and the hunger and weight returned. Six months (and +35 pounds) later (which happens to be just over a week ago) I underwent a revision from band to bypass. I’m 8 days post op today. I have to agree with @BayougirlmrsS, I miss my band, and if it was still working I would’ve left it alone, but given the option of no band or a revision to another procedure I’d pick revision every time.

Hi All,

I am new to this group. I had lap band surgery in 2009, I was lucky and had the realize band. When I started this journey I was up to 280. I had got to 240 on my own and then I had surgery, well it didn't go as planned my port was up high and got infected and I had to have the port removed then put back in several months later. When I finally started getting fills I was 208 and did well for a while. I got down to my lowest 140 but after starting to run was about 165. Now I am dealing with Menopause and having a hard time. In October they decided to drain my fluid due to vomiting and not keeping food down. I had a upper GI no issues so they slowly and I mean slowly started to fill my band. Well COVID hit and I only had 1.5 cc in my band and I was not able to go in for a fill for 5 months. I went in earlier this week and I qualify for revision to a sleeve due to my BMI. The thing is I can't lose 5 lbs or I will no longer be considered. I started doing more protein this week and now I have lost 5lbs. I am kind of scared they wont approve me now. I am excited to be doing this. Honestly I am sick of being poked by people who hardly do this anymore. Anyone else have the band to sleeve after 10 years? Was it successful? I would love to hear your story.

On 5/20/2020 at 9:44 AM, BayougirlMrsS said:

why does he/she wanting it out? are you having issues? I think the dr's that are doing this is just trying to make more money.... (my opinion)

My two cents, for what it's worth..... Leave it alone if you're not having issues. For one, getting a revision paid by insurance is damn near impossible for those of us who followed the rules and didn't gain all the weight back. I was banded in 2009 at 232#, ER band removal 2017 at 143#..... started looking for a dr to do a revision and was told over and over again..... You don't weigh enough. fast forward 2.5 years and hell trying to keep the weight off i was up to 173#..... and trust in the fact that it was hard not to gain more... i went hungry, diet pills, lax., went to crossfit 4-5 days a week and still..... and for people that say... just eat like you did when you had the band..... F U... it's is damn near impossible to do that. Two weeks after the band was gone.... hunger came back with a vengeance. I had forgotten what "hunger" felt like.... well it sucks.

So after 2.5 years of nothing.... i had my mind set that i was going to Mex to have the MGB.... but as luck would have it i found a dr. 10 min away from my office. He and i talked and he agreed to do a revision... but i had to agree to the sleeve and pay 14k out of pocket.... which i did. that was 38 weeks ago today (8/28/19). Went in weighing 173#.... today i'm at 126ish...(125-127). From a size 10 to a 2-4

Do i miss my band..... EVERY DAY. Do i wish i still had her.... EVERY DAY.

I am having problems keeping food down. Not all the time tho. And I started getting heart burn. Taking pills for that. I have had the band for 13 years now. I don’t want to get rid of it. It is not invasive like a sleeve or bypass.
Dr. Patterson said that when we all gone all that will be left of us will be a pile of lapbands. So they do no desinagrate. I think my problems with the lap band is that I am getting older and might have these problems even without the band. I just don’t feel good about them cutting part of my stomach out for the sleeve. No taking a out then. jmo.

On 7/9/2020 at 4:32 PM, ARMYMOM324 said:

Hi All,

I am new to this group. I had lap band surgery in 2009, I was lucky and had the realize band. When I started this journey I was up to 280. I had got to 240 on my own and then I had surgery, well it didn't go as planned my port was up high and got infected and I had to have the port removed then put back in several months later. When I finally started getting fills I was 208 and did well for a while. I got down to my lowest 140 but after starting to run was about 165. Now I am dealing with Menopause and having a hard time. In October they decided to drain my Fluid due to vomiting and not keeping food down. I had a upper GI no issues so they slowly and I mean slowly started to fill my band. Well COVID hit and I only had 1.5 cc in my band and I was not able to go in for a fill for 5 months. I went in earlier this week and I qualify for revision to a sleeve due to my BMI. The thing is I can't lose 5 lbs or I will no longer be considered. I started doing more Protein this week and now I have lost 5lbs. I am kind of scared they wont approve me now. I am excited to be doing this. Honestly I am sick of being poked by people who hardly do this anymore. Anyone else have the band to sleeve after 10 years? Was it successful? I would love to hear your story.

I'm with you, banded December 2009, had it removed 2 months ago - down 35 pounds already and don't miss the slider foods, vomiting, and fills!

On 7/29/2020 at 12:10 AM, Ann777 said:

I'm with you, banded December 2009, had it removed 2 months ago - down 35 pounds already and don't miss the slider foods, vomiting, and fills!

Removed and revised? or just removed?........... my revision was 2.5 years after the removal. Down 53#

2 hours ago, BayougirlMrsS said:

Removed and revised? or just removed?........... my revision was 2.5 years after the removal. Down 53#

Did you have the lap band before revisions? Did you gain any weight before you got the sleeve after 2.5 yrs?

I didn't make it to my goal of 135 but that was because I didn't exercise while I was losing the 108 lb. loss. I wasn't unhappy with the weight I lost. Just am having problems with food getting stuck and coming back up. Not all the time just 2 or 3 times a week. But it would start to choke me and I couldn't get a breath. The last time I thought I was going to die.

I broke my back 3 times and lost 13 lbs. Not a way to lose the weight. I have stayed down around my loss weight and now under it. I don't want to gain back any of the weight I have lost and have kept off for 13 yrs.

1 hour ago, Joan in Oregon said:

Did you have the lap band before revisions? Did you gain any weight before you got the sleeve after 2.5 yrs?

I didn't make it to my goal of 135 but that was because I didn't exercise while I was losing the 108 lb. loss. I wasn't unhappy with the weight I lost. Just am having problems with food getting stuck and coming back up. Not all the time just 2 or 3 times a week. But it would start to choke me and I couldn't get a breath. The last time I thought I was going to die.

I broke my back 3 times and lost 13 lbs. Not a way to lose the weight. I have stayed down around my loss weight and now under it. I don't want to gain back any of the weight I have lost and have kept off for 13 yrs.

Yes i did have the band 2009-2017. I didn't gain any weight before my removal.

Do you still have your band?

51 minutes ago, BayougirlMrsS said:

Yes i did have the band 2009-2017. I didn't gain any weight before my removal.

Do you still have your band?

I guess what I was asking is when you had the lap band removed and had to wait 2.5 yrs did you gain any of your weight loss back before you had the reversal.?

No, I have not had the reversal yet. I am keeping the band for now.

51 minutes ago, BayougirlMrsS said:

Yes i did have the band 2009-2017. I didn't gain any weight before my removal.

Do you still have your band?

2 hours ago, Joan in Oregon said:

I guess what I was asking is when you had the lap band removed and had to wait 2.5 yrs did you gain any of your weight loss back before you had the reversal.?

No, I have not had the reversal yet. I am keeping the band for now.

yes.... i did, i gained 30lbs.... from 143 to 173.............. Sleeved 8/28/19 and i'm down to 120lbs

I loved my band and had she not slipped i would still have her.... the band changed my life.