I had an upper GI series last week due to some complications I had been having, and it looks like my band has slipped and the pouch is stretched.  I am waiting to meet with my surgeon regarding my options, but the nurse said the band would need to come out.   I've had my band a little over 4 years and weight from a preop weight of 292 down to 245, so I still have a long way to go.  My nurse said that many people have been removing their band (1 out of 4) due to complications or unsuccessful weight loss. 

So my question to you is who has had their band removed and did you get another procedure?  I don't want another band, but am debating between the sleeve or the gastric bypass.  I know people who have been successful with both, but am more hesitant to get the gastric bypass.  For anyone who has had a revision, can band removal and the other procedure be done during one operation? 

I would love to hear from people who have been in the same situation as I am, what you chose, and how you're doing.  Thanks!

Well I haven't had a revision but wish I could. From what I've read in my 5 yrs with OH many, many bandsters have had to revise and alot of them have been very successful with the sleeve (that would be my personal choice) because the sleeve works like we were told the band would but didn't. It can be a bit slower for revisions but very doable if you give it your all. I also know of successful bypass patients too, that wouldn't interest me because of the malabsorbtion. Try reading both forums and see if that helps you. Good luck!

First thing you need to do is check with your insurance and see what your insurance covers. Many insurance companies don't cover the sleeve yet. 

Then find out what the revision guidelines are. 

I could not do the sleeve due to my heart burn was so bad.  I chose the RNY and have not regretted it. unfortunately I still have some heart burn with the RNY which is not normal


i did do the revision in one surgery but some doctors do 2 surgeries depending on the damage. a band can cause erosion or if there is too much scar tissue



Tamara

 
I'm 3 weeks post op revision from Band to RNY and my surgeon removed the band and then did my RNY at the same time.  

I originally wanted the Duodenal Switch, but I have health issues that make that not an option for me, so I went with the RNY.  I had horrendous acid reflux, which would not have been cured with the sleeve.  It has completely resolved with having had the RNY (it's the re-routing that fixes the reflux issue) that alone made having RNY worth it!!!  

My band was empty for 3 yrs and I still had horrible acid reflux and regained 50 lbs of the 100 I lost.  I ended up waiting till I got new insurance that covered removal and revision, but it was hell having to wait so long. 

The Band is being phased out by a lot of practices and is being replaced by the sleeve.  They are taking out Bands left and right now.  You may want to check out the DS, RNY and sleeve boards and see what those peeps have to say about their specific surgery.  

The most important thing is that you decide which surgery will work best for YOU, and than go with it.  

I'm not due to get weighed again till Monday, but so far I'm down 26 lbs and 2 clothing sizes, and that definitely is working for me!!!  

Did your surgeon tell you that you wouldn't lose as much weight with the RNY as most people that haven't had a revision will? I just went to see mine today about getting my band out and revised to RNY. He told me I would probably only lose about 100lbs which will still make me 220 and that's still obese. I'm so deflated about that.

 
No, actually, he didn't.  He was confident I would be able to get down to a "normal" weight for my height.  He is anticipating I will end up somewhere in the 130-150 lb range, whatever I am comfortable with.   

I wouldn't get down about an ending number at this point. . .you can do anything you set your mind too, it just may take a little longer!!!!!  We may lose a little slower, but this isn't a race, it's a lifestyle, and whether it takes 18 months or 3 years, as long as you don't give up, you can be as successful as you choose to be!!!!!

You never know, you may look and feel great at 200-220 lbs and decide that is where you want to be. . .being 100 lbs lighter would certainly make you feel better regardless of where you decide to stabilize your weight loss!!!!! 

I have band removed and then sleeved.  There was a three month wait between surgeries per my surgeon's practice. 

Absolutely love the sleeve!

I wasn't aware that heartburn could be an issue with the sleeve.  That's one of the main reasons I want the band out.  I have an appointment with my surgeon on Wednesday, so I'll go over all of this with him.  The nurse told me as well that many times there is a 3-month wait, but it's on a case-by-case basis.  I honestly don't know that I want to have 2 surgeries as I had 2 unrelated surgeries last year, so not only am I about out of sick time I'm work, I'm just surgeried out!!  If they can't do it all at once, I may just get the band out and hope for the best, but at the same time I'm scared to death to gain back what I have lost!!!  Guess I'll just have a heart to heart with my doctor and see what he recommends and go from there!

 
It depends on how bad your heartburn is.  It's possible that you wouldn't be continue to have it.  Mine was horrendous.  It showed up clearly on my upper GI, and I have a good amount of damage to my esophagus from it.  I am now on med's to try and heal it.

With the sleeve you have a bigger stomach, about the size of a banana, and you are still making the acid and it can continue to splash up into the esophagus.  With the RNY you have a pouch about the size of an egg where you still make some acid, but in RNY it's much less because it's a smaller area.  The acid is still being produced but that is over in the part of your stomach that is re-routed and joined together in your lower intestines to mix with and break down the food, so no more splashing up into the esophagus.  That's why RNY is so good for WLS peeps with severe reflux.  

If you currently have heartburn, it is definitely something you may want to discuss with your surgeon.

Hopefully he will tell you it's a one-shot deal for the surgery. . . .Good luck, and keep us posted!

Hi there!

I'm sorry you are having to go through this. I'm in the middle of it myself. Not only is there the physical component of the band hurting your body and needing to come out there is also the mental part, which was the most difficult for me.  It was really hard to process the fact that the one and only surgery I thought I would ever need didn't work out and now I needed to figure out what to do. Sigh.

It is scary to face another surgery especially one that you may have already ruled out in your decision to get a band. I've spent the last several months coming to the decision to revise to the Duodenal Switch -- a surgery that I automatically ruled out pronto while researching wls the first time. My surgeon (Dr. Kemmeter in MI) thinks there is a good chance he can remove the band and revise all in the same surgery).

I wish you the speedy healing from your band removal and lots of success with your revision.

Take Care,
Trixie

 I had my band removed in February of this year. I had it for three years with almost no weight loss but lots of problems. I am soooooo glad to have it out. Now I can eat fruit and veggies and nonprocessed meat. Yay! However, I am bigger than ever so I need to do something.  Decided to go with the duodenal switch because I don't want to deal with the potential dumping and stuck issues that may go along with the RNY. I want to be able to have the occasional sweet treat. For some people those side effects are great because they are a deterrent to eating crap, but I dealt with those issues for three years and can't imagine it being a forever problem. In deciding what to do next I researched all of the surgeries to find out the pros and cons of each. Then I did some self reflection to figure out why the band didn't work for me and picked the surgery that was most likely to have the outcome I am looking for with the least chance of the problems I am trying to avoid. Consideration also was given to how much work i am willing to do after since the malabsorptive surgeries require a life long commitment to supplementation. From what I have seen on this board it is all about getting the surgery that fits YOU. What are your goals? What are you willing to give up to reach those goals? What limitations can you live with and what limitations seem unreasonable? Which side effects seem tolerable and which don't? If you can answer these questions, the next step will become more clear.  Good luck!

Thanks for your responses!  Unfortunately, I don't think my insurance covers the DS, so I really haven't looked much into it because of that, but it seems like many people have been successful with it! 

I have an appointment with my surgeon on Wednesday.  The nurse told me that they are scheduling surgeries for July; however, I am going to ask him if he can unfill my band, see what I can do on my own and either take it out or do a revision after the first of the year.  There are some things going on in my personal as well as professional life right now, and it would be better for me if I can put it off for a few months.  I am hoping that if the fluid is taken out of the band, that maybe my stomach can get back to normal somewhat and I can get the revision done in one surgery at that time.  I'm thinking if the fluid is out, most of my complications from the slip and stretched pouch should resolve, at least I hope!!

Does this seem like a reasonable plan??

I originally had my band for a little over a year. Had the same thing, esophagus dilated, then found out through EGD that band slipped. I had surgery in one operation and surgeon said it couldn't have gone any better. The revision surgery was supposed to take 2.5 hours minimum. My husband said I was in surgery all of 45 minutes. I've only had my sleeve for a month but I am down 23 lbs already. That is way faster than what I lost initially with the band. With the band I had to fight for every pound lost. Now my days are consumed with getting in enough water first. I also had to relearn what feeling full felt like. I have had a few instances where one more tiney bite ended up with the whole meal coming back up. I learned quickly. Good luck to you on your decision. I love the sleeve, especially after being sooooooo disappointed with the band.

I had my appointment today with my surgeon.  He said the band definitely needs to come out and removed the saline from the band.  It was amazing how I could tell the difference right away and it was so nice to be able to eat my dinner tonight in no pain!! 

Anyways, he highly recommended me getting the band out and getting gastric bypass.  He thinks I will be more successful long term; however, would be willing to do whatever I prefer.  He compared the sleeve to being a lot like the band, so isn't sure I would be quite as successful; however, I know from reading this board it is very possible.  My main concern, as some people mentioned above, was the issues with potential heartburn/acid reflux with the sleeve.  He said if I had it with the band, it is possible I would have it with the sleeve, but much less likely with the gastric bypass. 

My SIL had a gastric bypass from the same surgeon 2 years ago and is doing awesome - down from 260+ to about 120.  I have a co-worker who had the sleeve by this same surgeon in January and is very happy with it, down about 40-50 lbs.  Before I left, my surgeon urged me to discuss the gastric bypass further with my SIL.  When I called her after my appt, she just went on and on about how happy she was with her decision and highly recommended it, etc.  I had my mind and heart set on the sleeve, but now I am torn.  I think the potential heartburn with the sleeve may be the breaking point if I decide to go with the gastric bypass.

In any case, he said there was no rush in getting the band out right now if I have no problems after the unfill.  He also said he could do both surgeries (band removal/revision) at the same time, which is what I wanted.  I need to reaccumulate some sick time (2 surgeries last year), plus I am taking some fall classes, my DH's 40th birthday vacation, and a sick dad who is getting ready to start chemo....all of that this fall, so I am holding off on making any final decisions until January.  Before I make a final decision, I am making a personal goal of losing 50 lbs by January.  If I can do this on my own, I will consider just getting the band out and calling it down (I'd be in the 100s).  If not, I think it will be time for my revision which at this moment would be gastric bypass.

Hi! I had my band put in December of 2004, and had it removed October 2011. My BMI at that time was not high enough for my insurance to approve a revision, or even put a new band in. I had terrible reflux, and had tons of tests done, along with an upper endoscopy. I had about a week of relief from the reflux after the band was removed (I had a complete unfill before that, with very little relief a few weeks out) and then it came back. I am taking 300 mg of zantac every day, taking mylanta as needed, and it's still terrible. I would see how you do long term after the unfill, but I know I want my reflux cured, so I am starting my journey to get a RNY.

I am so sorry you are having these complications...I am 15 yrs post op Fobi pouch GB surg.  I have had uclers and reflux for years...The most recommended antiacid liquid is Gaviscon. It is way more expense around 8-10 dollars a bottle but works much better.  Also, is your Zantac over the counter?  You might ask your dr. for a trial of Protonix, Prilosec, or Previcid.  This (Protonix) seems to work best for me and some others that I know.  Please be sure to check with your dr. on the antiacids b/c you don't want to take to much and kill all the acid in your stomach either (which I did b/c it just hurt and burned all the time!)  Also, if you have not checked out Daily Strength that is also a GREAT online support group.  Good luck and stay in touch.