Hey guys

I really need some help from "real people with real experiences", my weight is increasing despite having a lap band in and I need to do something to stop it in its tracks. I have been dieting forever but this year I have done about 7 different diets, from Keto, SW, Calorie Counting etc and I am now heavier than I was on January 1st and what worries me is what my weight will rise up to if I don't do something.

My history:

- Starting Weight before Lap band: approx. 17 stone (size 20)

- Lowest Weight after Lap band: approx. 10 stone (not for very long, comfortable weight was about 11 stone) (size 10/12)

- Current Weight: 13 stone (steadily increasing weekly) (size 14)

- I had a gastric band in April 2010, everything was fine overall, but the last few years haven't been so good, I developed a pouch in oesophagus so I only have 6.25ml in my band, this isn't really providing me with much restriction at all, I do have a little reflux however. I have also suffered with constipation for about 20 years!

As I said above, I really need some help from "real people with real experiences", I am considering what my options are, revision surgery from the band to: Sleeve, Bypass, Mini Bypass or anything else?

I have spoken to a few surgeons this week and they have all given different advice, so it is even more confusing.

My questions are:

- Has anyone had a similar experiences and what did you decide to do and was it the right decision?

- It worries me if I have the sleeve or a bypass, will I be in the same situation in 10 years time?

- Would anyone recommend a particular company or surgeon?

- Has anyone had the band deflated and maybe had the balloon? I don't know if this is even possible? I thought this would mean surgery wouldn't be needed?

Any advice would be welcomed, thank you all for your time ?

I was banded back in 2008, and lost 120 pounds over the following years. In 2016 I got a piece of broccoli stuck and slipped my band. My original surgeon’s office wouldn’t let me revise and said since I was so successful with the band then we should try to get it working again. Well fast forward three years, never got the band working again, the pain while eating was worse, I had bad acid reflux, and I regained 50 pounds. A different surgeon in the same office said she would revise to gastric bypass after removing my band. She’ll try to do it all in one surgery. She said she would only do the GB in lap band removal cases because with the scar tissue from the first surgery it wasn’t safe to make the new stomach the way it should be with the sleeve. So December 17 (fingers crossed no COVID delays) I’ll finally be getting the band removed and GB done. Good luck with your decision!!