Our center does the revision in two steps to allow the stomach to heal from the band.    I had the band 3.5 years.  They removed the band 9/4/12.  They called the surgery at 9:15 and I was HOME at 1:30 including a 20/25 minute drive.  Even though this surgery was just as bad as the band they do it out patient.  I wish they had done the same with the band.  The recovery was the same as getting the band.

Than 4.5 months later they did the sleeve.  They made me stay two nights, I found it not to be as bad as getting the band placed. I did start to get sick to my tummy but my sister and DD, both had the band before me warmed me they had gotten sic****il they STOPPED the morphine.  So as soon as I had problems I stopped pushing the button.  They kept me on the anti-nausea meds. I did get some liquid pain meds the second day just before going home to help on the ride and I took something before bed the first two nights.  This third surgery was so much easier.  I had more discomfort from the drain and catheter than the surgery. 

I am retired bu****ch the 4 yr old grandson and live on a farm.  I made sure he climbed up and down with out my help for 4 weeks.  I made sure to honor the 8 pound limit for 4 weeks and 20 for 6 weeks.

I sure wish this had been my first surgery.  I am almost 25 pounds less than I ever got in almost 4 years with the band, at four months.

Good luck!  Hope you got the help you needed.

I had vbg in 1996 and of course it failed after a couple of years.  I finally go a revision 1/17/13 to an RNY.  I have lost 55 lbs and although it is a little slow, i couldn't be happier.  It is very important that you see a surgeon who has lots of experience with these types of revisions as they are complicated.  I saw one surgeon who indicated he was very comfortable with performing this surgery, but after researching him found that he hadn't been practicing long enough to have lots of revision surgeries under his belt.  I found the right surgeon who had lots of experience and i am doing fine.  JUST  for some additional information, I researched the Ds and would have gone with that surgery, but was told that the surgeons were hard to find.  I found this site and came to realize that the surgeons are out there and are excellent from the reports i have seen.  I wish i would have gone with the Ds even though my surgery is a success so far.  I have pain issues and with the RNY you can not take motrin.  That is a big draw back for me, but i am still thrilled with the surgery that i have had.  Research the Ds before you make a final decision, and make sure you have a very experienced doctor.  I would have gone to CA for the Ds if i would have known about it.  

Good luck with your surgery and keep us posted.

Michelle 

Hello, 

I had my band for 3 1/2 years before having it removed and revising to the sleeve. I had the band removed and sleeve done at the same time, I was in and out of surgery within 2 hours. My surgery was Wednesday morning, I was released by Friday evening. I took 2 weeks off work and was fine, I have a sit down desk type job. All in all I'm glad I did this, the first couple of weeks were rough recovery wise due to being so restricted from swelling from where the band was and from the new stomach that was created.  I do still have issues with foods at times if I eat something that doesn't agree with me similar to how it was with the band, ie stuck episodes, pbing but it is nothing compared to how it was with the band. Hope this info helps!

Good luck to you.

I'm sorry you're having so much trouble, but...you're only 2 months out. A LOT of people still feel like crap at this point. You need to focus on getting in fluids and protein---toss the crackers, pretzels, ramen noodles, and any canned pastas.  They're not just not good for you, they're actively BAD for you at this point. Get yourself some protein shakes, and gag them down if you have to. I promise you'll start feeling better if you can force yourself to get in a minimum of 64 ounces of liquids each and every day---more would be even better.

Post-op depression is fairly common---did your surgeon not warn you about this? So is the hair loss. Google 'telogen effluvium' and you'll learn more than you ever wanted to know about why this happens, and when it will stop. (Having a second surgery will only make it worse, BTW.)

If you do ultimately decide you just can't live with your RNY, here's a link to a list of revision surgeons. At 21, I wouldn't want to live the rest of my live MO, either, and these guys can help you get the most effective, kindest WLS out there.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4599894/RNY-to-DS -revision-surgeons/

Good luck!

Thank you!   I had so much false hope with this band!   I am trying to get the band out and the sleeve done at the same time.   My surgeon likes to have all heal before moving on to something new.   Just getting this band out will be joyful to me!

I had a band for 18 long months of torture.  I have had a sleeve for 5 wonderful years.

My revision was done in one surgery, band out, sleeve done.  5 days off work, recovery was exactly the same as band placement.  The first thing to hurt and the last thing to heal is the port area.

Thank you so much!   LOL I think you and I have waited too long for this.   I have kaiser so this is an adventure for sure trying to get a revision!

If you haven't already done it also ask on the sleeve forum, there are many, many band to sleeve revisions over there. The majority are thrilled with the sleeve and say it does what we were told the band would do but didn't. I's a rougher surgery to recover from but all say it was worth it. Good luck, hope all goes well for you!