Hi All, I'm new here and happy to find you all. I was banded in November 2010. Continued to see my dr until I had a good fit of fluid. Then I thought I didn't see them again unless I had an issue with my band.

I lost a total of 38 pounds but lost a ton of inches going from a size 26 pants to an 18. 4x shirt to 1x (but loved the comfort 2x gave me [emoji4])

About a year ago I started having severe acid. To the point it woke me up choking. Having terrible pain in my stomach and not being able to keep much food or liquid down.

Went to a GI, had endoscopy and found 3 esophageal ulcers. (Didn't realize I should have gone to my surgeon). After meds healed all but 1 ulcer he advised I should see my surgeon. He also found a hiatus hernia. He suggested I may need to move to a sleeve due to the place of the last ulcer. He also felt the hernia may be causing issue with my band

So back to the surgeon I went. He said moving from band to sleeve would not help the acid as it is still the same type of restriction. He prefers band to bypass and thinks I will do well. He will also repair my hernia and if my gallbladder is causing issue will remove that as well. (Some of my pain has indicated gall bladder pain).

I am at the last part to get approval, psych, dietician then I will be scheduled.

I am trying to be very informed as to what to expect and do to be successful this time and do the right thing.

I'm doing the band to bypass too. I had my band placed in 2016 and it didn't really help me at all ? I lost like, 20 pounds at first but then stopped losing. Could never find my sweet spot. I'm on Facebook groups that are band to bypass and have seen a lot of other folks have better success with the bypass. I'm terrified they're gonna open me up and see a ton of damage from the band and not be able to do it... there are plenty of stories about that happening. Lap bands should be completely banned, they're the worst!!!

Good luck on your revision. If I had known what I know now, back then, I would have gone straight to bypass. Both the lap band and sleeve gave me many issues.

Weight loss was good but the band cause esophagus issues so I had to switch to sleeve. Weight gain of course, when they removed the fluid for months to heal... And now the sleeve caused severe GERD and now I am revising to bypass.

I went from Band to sleeve and I've had zero problems.

Good luck! I am also going from band to bypass but the surgeon is making me do two separate surgeries: removal of the band and then the bypass. Ugh! I am thinking I should get a second opinion to see if it can be done all at once.

Hope everything goes well for you!

I had two separate surgeries. Medicare covered the take-out, but I had to qualify for the sleeve. It was about 6 months. It went by fast.

3 minutes ago, Sandra Nuelken said:

I had two separate surgeries. Medicare covered the take-out, but I had to qualify for the sleeve. It was about 6 months. It went by fast.

Thanks, Sandra! I hope you are doing well. I am glad I'm not the only one. I am self-pay for bypass, but the removal is covered under my insurance thank goodness!