Question:
Has anyone gone from Lap Band to Gastric Bypass?

I have been banded for 41/2 years and have lost over 150lbs I have maintained up to 90lbs still off but the 60lbs has gradually slipped up over the past couple of years. I have developed severe Reflux disorder and it is almost unbearable at this point. eating is so difficult and painful until I'd rather not eat but I know that is not an option. I have thought about having my band removed but I have come so far I don't want to retun to 328lbs again. I need to know if the Revision is a good option or just having it removed and pray for strength to keep it off. All suggestions and comments are welcome. thanks, Carolyn    — MSCDALEX (posted on September 26, 2007)

September 26, 2007
Carolyn, you said you have been banded. I am assuming that is lap band. I had the vertical gastric banding 9 years ago. I lost about 50 lbs and then gained that all back. This summer I had a revision to the RNY done. It has been 3 months, I have lost 57 lbs. and I am doing great. I am so glad I did this. It offers me much more control than the previous surgery. Best Wishes, Neisha
   — neisha =.

September 26, 2007
My friends stepmom wanted to have the gastric bypass done but she wasn't able to bc she had the acid reflux surgery done. You might want to explore your options before making a decision.
   — Crystal H.

September 26, 2007
Hi Carolyn, I had RNY last July and my surgeon fixed my acid reflux at the same time......something'ectomy'. He said it would be a breeze to repair the flap while he was inside anyway. It's be great ever since. Although eating less is supposed to help with the reflux, I opted to go ahead and have the repair completed at the same time as my bariatric surgery. Talk to your surgeon. I'm sure that he can do both the revision and reflux repair together. Hope this helps. Good luck. Toni
   — tonidaniels913

September 27, 2007
The same thing happened to me. I was banded 11/10/04 and about a year and a half out it hurt for me to eat I had gained all the weigh back plus some so I had to get a revision I got the gastric bypass. I would never recommened the lapband to anyone all doctors are seeing that the longeity of them is at about 5 years like you are. I didnt even make 2 years before mines started to bother me. You can get a revision just talk with a good doctor. Let me know if you have more questions.
   — crlindfw

September 27, 2007
Did you have laprascopic gastric bypass? what was your recovery time and hospital stay. what has your weightl loss been since?
   — MSCDALEX

September 28, 2007
Have you considered trying medication for the reflux before going down the surgery route? There is an over-the-counter medication called Prilosec-OTC that helps to decrease stomach acid production. It doesn't work immediately, but if you take it daily it might help decrease some of the reflux. Pepcid works faster initially, but once the Prilosec-OTC has been a used a couple days it seems to be more effective than Pepcid. There is another Rx med called Metoclopramide (Reglan) that is used as a pro-motility agent - pushes food through the gut so that it can't sit in the pouch and irritate the esophageal sphincter. These are just my opinions. Talk to your doc about it. Good luck.
   — NMlakerFan

September 28, 2007
Another option is to have a revision to a duodenal switch, not the gastric bypass. Check out duodenalswitch.com and the DS forum here on OH. I am in the process of getting approved for a DS after having the gastric bypass 2.5 years ago. It did not work well for me. I was at a stall for over a year and then starting gaining. I have gained over 40 pounds. I am so excited to have the option to get a DS. You may have to travel to find an experienced surgeon in doing the DS, but you willl find it is so worth it.
   — KRWaters