Time to think about revision!

Hi all..... it's been a really long time since I have been here!!  My "Band-Life" has not been much to talk about, so I have avoided talking about it!!  I am sick to death of this band!!  I never know when I am going to be able to get something down.  I hate to go out anymore because of the fear I will get sick at the restaurant.  I throw up several times a week!!  I can either eat like a pig or nothing at all!!  So, after 4 years being banded and losing a grand total of 11 pounds - I'm done!!  I don't know when, how, or to what.... but I want a revision.  Anyone on this board done a revision?  What was your experience?

Thanks!!

Tonya

Tonya,

It's good to see you again, but I'm sorry it's because you're struggling.

Here's my revision experience: an experience that illustrates the sad truth that there is no such thing as an effective, risk free, easy WLS procedure.

.I had to have my band removed in April. It's a long story, but the short version is that my esophagus was damaged from 20+ years of silent reflux, my band was aggravating that, and my surgeon told me it had to go. In August I had VSG surgery. The good news is that I've lost 28 of the 30 pounds I had regained. The bad news is that I'm having a hard time adjusting to my sleeve. Since the surgery, I'm ferociously hungry all the time (no matter what, when, or how much I eat), my blood sugar has gone crazy, I had a gastric bleed, and I've become anemic because of micronutrient malabsorption. Instead of reducing the medications I take, I've had to add metformin and an iron supplement. I've discovered that sleeve patients can dump, just like bypass patients. But I'm only 4 mos post-op, so it's probably too soon to judge the long term effects of the surgery.

If you haven't already done so, I suggest that you spend some time reading posts on the OH revision board.

Good luck!

Jean

Wow, Jean!!  I had no idea!!  You were the "poster child" for band!!  I always envied you - I am *SO* sorry you've had these issues!  I think the biggest reason I am a band failure is due to reflux as well!!  I have had reflux (not silent, but full out screaming, reflux) since about age 13.  I just didn't know what it was then!!  So, I think the band - even though my actual symptoms of reflux are gone - has not been the best idea.  EVERY fill caused me issues.  I am STILL not sure if my issues are from band issues or bad chewing (etc).  I am trying to go back to basics and see, but that doesn't change the fact that it has been 4 years with NO weight loss!!  FRUSTRATING!!!

Thanks again!!

~T 

Before you seek a revision PLEASE remember NO weight loss surgery will work if you are not compliant. All rules still apply if you revise to the Sleeve or Bypass they are all tools. You need to figure out why you failed, are you honestly following a low carb diet and exercising, it's not all about vomiting and restriction.

Also remember, the band can be tighten much tighter than the Sleeve if you are thinking about that, you may get extra help if you revise to the bypass with help from malabsorption, but again, to be successful with the bypass you will still need to follow a low carb diet and exercise, unfortunately there is no free ride to any weight loss surgery.

The band can be a evil creature if it's too tight, you may need to just remove a little saline and join a support system, exercise, some people benefit with a nutritionist and seeing a counselor.

Edited to add: You may want to check to see if you have a hiatal hernia that could be causing your band to be less effective, which can cause reflux and vomiting when you are at the sweet spot. Sometimes they don't show up on Upper Gi's, mine did not, I had to get an endoscopy to find the hernia, and during my revision, my surgeon mentioned that it still was not easy to see, he had to dig it out and dissect it. So you could have other issues as to why your band is not effective.

Good luck

Hi there,

It is good to see you back here. Your idea to go back to basics is a very good one. See if it reduces the stuck episodes. The next step would be to get your band emptied to see how you do.

I was banded in May of 2010, lost all my weight in five months, and really loved that thing. I did have stuck issues mostly of my own making. However, this past April I was getting stuck all the time so I had all the fluid removed and a UGI (that was normal). We waited 6 weeks and when I went back I had to tell the surgeon that I was still getting stuck but more often and not of my own making. There were many times I could not eat things that I had always eaten with fluid in my band. The evening I got stuck on soggy Life cereal was absolutely it! The surgeon told me that it had to go. When I protested that I loved my tool he said "When your tool is harming you it is no longer your friend".

He started me on the way to revision to a sleeve but I was convinced that my insides would heal up and I could keep my band. I did not improve much by the time my approval came in so we scheduled surgery. I have to tell you that a revision is a huge deal compared to getting the band. Mine was removed and I was revised at the same time. In surgery he found no real reason why the band was giving me trouble except that my body must have been attempting to reject it initially had a very difficult time and I still mourned my band. I gradually healed but it has not been an easy adaptation to the sleeve. At nearly 4 months out I am still on protein supplements since I can only eat a tiny bit of food at a time. I still cannot eat meat other than a little bit of boneless skinless chicken thighs prepared in a sauce. They tell me that at around 6 months that should gradually change. I still get "stuck" if I eat one bite too many or don't pay close attention.

As you see from my story and Jean's that revision is not an easy thing. It is major surgery and the adaptation is not always easy. You would do well to think long and hard about it. If in the end you need to do it you will now know that it isn't as easy as you hoped. Some fly through it and others do not. A revision is always harder than a virgin stomach. It is also a much, much slower healing time.

Good luck to you,

Sue

Hi Sue...

Just curious.... if there were no issues with your band at the revision, why do they think you may be having these issues??  I guess I am just curious why/how a revision is so much harder.  

Thanks!

Tonya

Lots of folks are on the same journey that you are on. I have been struggling with a nearly forty pound weight regain, and if I can't get this band under control I will revise as well, but will have to pay out of pocket for it. 

Do what you have to do to keep healthy and be happy with yourself, and let us know how you are doing.  The days of complete devotion to the band and of attacking those for whom it doesn't work are pretty much over.

Tonnabug, not all revisions are horror stories. Most of us that have been revised to Sleeve, RNY or the DS have done really well. I had no problems at all with my revision, actually I felt 100% better after the band was out and I was able to eat more normal.

You need to check on the different message boards like, VSG, RNY or DS and ask about people there that have revised from the band.

Good Luck

Hey my little bug so good to see you back!!! Yep if I could revise to a sleeve I would do it in a heart beat! Like you I still only lost 20 lbs with this piece of crap called a band. No coverage tho so here I sit with an empty band because it kept tightening on me so I just said screw it and had it emptied before it caused any more damage. You wouldn't believe how many old bandsters have had to revise. Now as much as I love Jean and Granny I have to say they are the only 2 I have seen that had such a hard time with the sleeve. No it isn't perfect and it is a whole different mind set than the band because you can eat so little for the first few months but having read the sleeve forum and already having read the RNY forum years ago I would still go for the sleeve. I wish you the very best and if I can help you with anything feel free to PM me my little friend.