I don't know what to do...

I wouldn't like being railroaded into a revision either.

Do any of those surgeons do gastric plication?

No, this surgeon ONLY does Sleeves, no bands, no bypass, nothing else. He is confident the Sleeve will work wonders for me...lol. Of all the surgeons that I've talked to they don't do the plication, during my research of surgeon in the DC area, I have not seen the plication even offered.

If you get the hernia fixed and the band taken out you will regain your weight.

If you get the hernia fixed and leave the band in, the same problems will return.  The band will put pressure on your esophagus and the hernia will act up again.

I think the surgeon is giving you sound advice if you want to remain healthy and thin.  Fat people don't need big stomachs if they want to get thin and stay there.

The surgeon can't force you to do anything.  Leaving the band in is a much bigger cash cow than revising you to a sleeve.  I haven't seen my surgeon in over 4 years since revising to the sleeve in 2008.

Mary, you bring up some good points, my BIGGEST CONCERN about the Sleeve ...is chronic reflux and heartburn, I had GERD BEFORE I HAD THE BAND, I RARELY HAVE REFLUX OR ISSUES WITH MY BAND OVER 7 YEARS...EVEN WITH MY HERNIA....I had been eating a whole lot of spicy foods and tomatoes which and that is when my problem started. Those horrible issues that I had for about 2 months now are pretty much gone, apparently the inflammation is calming down. I don't want to be dependent on PPi's forever and due to my HISTORY of GERD and my family history of ulcers, I don't think the Sleeve is a good idea for me.

I was reading the revision forum the other day and as of late there are more and more people suffering HORRIBLY with burning and GERD from their Sleeve and can't do anything about it as one girl mentioned she is **** out of luck now, because she had a hiatal hernia repaired when she got her Sleeve 2 years ago by a TOP surgeon, yea she has lost weight, now she mentioned they did a second repair to her hernia since she has been sleeved and now she has no where to go because she does not have enough stomach left to do anything...so they are thinking about revising her to the bypass....

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4577335/vsg-to-rny/

See I can't risk going through all of this stuff....I would think Weigh****cher online would be easier for me at this point.

My own personal opinion is the same as the surgeon you spoke with.  I honestly don't feel bands will be around in the next 5-10 years.  My surgeon told me the same thing. 

You have had amazing success with your band and it has served you well, so I can see why you are hesitant to be talked in to a different procedure.  I don't see why on earth any surgeon couldn't do exactly what you are requesting to be done...fix the dang hernia.  Leave the band in, if possible, if not, take it out.  Period.  Keep pushing!!  Hugs!!

Melly...that's what my surgeon said, my band has "served its purpose" I've had 6 great years with it...now it's no longer working for me properly especially with the hernia. This is a very difficult turn for me, as of this week, my pain from the hernia has calmed down, so the need to urgently remove my band is not necessary...but I need to make a decision to do something very soon.

But I am also concerned about if the new surgeon has no interest of trying to keep my band since he ONLY does the Sleeve, and I am meeting with another surgeon next week and they mentioned that they've not heard ANYTHING about the band no longer being a viable option and they are still installing bands and providing aftercare. 

But I do know that new weight loss patients are going with the Sleeve instead of the band these days....

I am only 6 weeks out with the band, I asked my surgeon how long can a band remain inside? He said for the rest of a persons life! Now I'm worried about hearing that they may do away with it? Hmmm I didn't choose the band, it was chosen for me, I would have preferred the sleeve actually, and maybe one day they will have to revise, but now i'm reading about hernias, erosion, etc. :( Kind of not feeling so great about this band. I have not had a fill yet, am losing weight slowly, but don't feel full, or sick and I feel like i really am going on sheer willpower here. But mostly I wanted to say my surgeon who does ALL types of WLS surgery told me it could be left in for life! They also repaired a huge hiatal hernia that I had for many years and took 2 meds a day for, after this repair, no meds needed and no heartburn or reflux, that part is a wonderful feeling! :)

Happily...there are NO weight loss surgeries without some type of issue, EVERYONE that undergo ANY type of wls will experience some type of adverse reaction to something whether it be the first year or 10th year post op, that's just the nature of the beast.

With the band, if you follow the rules as much as you can and UNDERSTAND the important of staying in the GREEN ZONE most of the time you will be ok, sure there can be problems without being too tight, in fact when I started having burning with my hernia, my band was loose, so things can happen, but MANY people do not have any problems, I really have not had many problems with my band going on 8 years.

I think NOW the Sleeve is the NEW KID on the block with surgeons, and some surgeons don't want to bother with the maintenance and adjustments that the band requires, so SOME surgeons are moving away from the band, do I believe the band can last in the body forever...YES, for some people, but I am realistic too and I know MANY will have to get it removed due to slippage, what  I do know is that many problems with the band can be fixed easily ....don't worry about others, just worry about being successful and complication free. Good luck

NANA!!!!! Hey girl...you ARE NOT going to believe this....I have JUST been told I have to have my band out also!!!  Can you believe this sh*t??!! What happened to us girl??  I am so sorry to hear about your struggles.  Don't get a sleeve, it makes GERD worse!  As far as the band is concerned, my surgeon told me the same thing!!

The odd thing is Na, since I was told this a few days ago, you have been on my mind so much!!! Someone from the old crew forwarded me your post. I have not been on OH much as of late but I will be back as a RNY patient. 

You and me...the lapband queens...de-throned!!! So damn wrong girl!!

Hey Sweetie...long time no hear! Where have you been? I will send you a PM with my number again to feel you in on some personal matters. I think you are right, I will probably in MORE MISERY with the Sleeve with GERD than I am with the band, and I can't get my stomach back once it's removed. So I would have to think long and hard about that.

Yea...we both rocked our bands to the fullest! When are you revising the bypass?