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This is a great question and I hope someone can chime in with some solid answers. Just completely speculating here, but I've always thought that the weight loss was slower with revisions surgeries because most patients have already lost a lot of weight (or lost and regained weight) when they do a revision. You know how like even before bariatric surgery, when you would diet the weight would come off quickly at first but then slow down significantly. And if you switched from one diet to another, it would still be a slower weight loss than those that started out with the second diet to begin with... (I'm not sure if I wrote that in a way that makes sense.)
I'm revising from a sleeve to a loop DS and my surgeon told me the weight loss would be slow, but hopefully steady. I'm sure there are exceptions and everyone is different, but I'm curious to better understand why weight loss tends to be much slower with revisions too.
Try not to worry to much about the honeymoon thing... that might be more a virgin bariatric surgery phenomenon. Just keep trying your best and following doctor's instructions and your weight will land wherever it will land. Hopefully it land in a place where you are happy and comfortable, or at the very least in a place that you feel better than where you were before the revision.
Has anyone heard any current consensus as to the reason why there is slow or less weight loss after band to sleeve revision? I wasn't told about it preop and couldn't get a straight answer from my surgeon afterwards when I realized I wasn't losing weight the way other sleevers were. I had a Lap Band in 2005 and lost a little bit, but went unfilled for years since they could never give me the right fill amount. It was always either too tight or too loose. Now post revision to sleeve, I'm concerned that I will miss out on the honeymoon period and find myself at the time sleevers' weight loss will slow down anyway. Is the issue that the weight loss is just slower and it will equal non-revision sleeve loss eventually? Is it less weight loss overall no matter what? Why does it happen anyway?
has anyone had this done? I have been told that it is pretty much the same procedure as the RNY. this is what the dr is having to process this procedure under in order to get it covered under my insurance. I guess im just wanting to know how it has worked out for you. has it stopped your acid reflux? lost a significant amount of weight? hows the mal absorption?
weird things to be worried I guess. just in a funk that I have to have this done! I think only because I have had a surgery every yr since 2015 (vsg 2015, gall bladder removed 2016, tumor removed from uterus 2017, and npw this one in 2018)
If you currently have reflux I would not get the sleeve. To many times folks are having to revise again to the bypass due to GERD/reflux. I had no fill in my band for a few years, but when I was revised my surgeon said scar tissue had encased my band. That was causing my band to tighten on its own. Making it hard to eat dense proteins without it getting stuck.
Dr. Sanchez Lapband 9/12/2003
hw305/revision w280/cw197/gw150
Revision from Lap Band to Bypass on 2/4/2015 by Dr. Pohl
I personally would not go with the sleeve after having the band. The sleeve is a great surgery if it is a first time WLS, but when it comes to going from band to sleeve I have seen numerous times folks had to revise to the bypass due to excessive acid causing GERD/reflux etc. You do not want to stay on a PPI for the rest of your life.
I myself wanted to get the sleeve when I was going for my band removal, but after years of dealing with the heartburn/reflux from the band I ended up not being a good candidate after going to my surgeons seminar. Went with the bypass and woke up heartburn free. Also, when I was having my band removed and revising to the bypass my surgeon found damage done to the top of my stomach due to the band.
For me the band to bypass has been great.
I noticed you are in RI. Can I ask who your surgeon is? I had my revision done in RI and my surgeon was Dr. Pohl.
Dr. Sanchez Lapband 9/12/2003
hw305/revision w280/cw197/gw150
Revision from Lap Band to Bypass on 2/4/2015 by Dr. Pohl
I'm getting my band out after getting it placed in 2006. I get it out October 16th. Then in January I am being converted to the sleeve. I too have received no fills in the last few years but sometimes gets stuc****asionally. The weird thing out of all of it when they did my x-rays and fluoroscopy, which is different from a barium swallow, it shows that my band is still in a great position but I'm suffer from reflux which has qualified me for the removal.
I met my surgeon this week and gearing up for a revision. I have the band, it's been pretty much useless since I had my twins 7 years ago. I still get occasional stuck episodes, sliming, etc., even though it's empty.
I will have an upper GI done next week to see if it has caused esophageal damage. If it hasn't, sleeve is an option. If it has, he will recommend RNY.
I've always thought I would definitely want the sleeve, but I'm half expecting him to find damage and tell me RNY is my only option. RNY just makes me nervous with potential complications. Anyone regret going from band to RNY? Or regret band to sleeve?
I thought I'd post an update since I met with my surgeon. He does revisions in one surgery (phew!). I am getting an upper GI test done next week. The results of that will decide whether I can do the sleeve or if bypass is the best option. We'll see how much esophageal damage has done by this piece of junk. But, it sounds like once I get all of the appointments done, I should be good to go in around January! EEK!
I am having a revision from lap band to RNY in three weeks. I'm nervous about the recovery time. I'm only telling a few family members and only taking one week off for surgery. My surgery is on a Wednesday, and I'll be back at work the following Wednesday.
I know everyone's healing is different. What was your recovery like the first week?
