I am new to this website, but thought I would give my input regarding VBG surgery. I had mine done in March 1996. My surgeon felt it was the safe surgery instead of RNY. There were less possibilities for complications. I originally lost 105 lbs and have kept 65 lbs off for about 9 years. I developed horrible reflux a couple of years ago. I gradually have become unable to tolerate any kind of "normal" diet. I cannot tolerate but a handful of foods, mostly dairy, no meats of any kind. Even a scrambled egg makes me ill for hours and then I usually end up throwing up then. I had an endoscopy 13 months ago and other than some un-digested food in my pouch, he found everything intact. He dilated the banding, and it improved somewhat for a couple of months. I had another endoscopy yesterday and the food from 12 hours prior, including liquid was still there, undigested basically. He believes my pouch is the problem, and I have gastroparesis which basically means the stomach has quit working. Due to this, he believes conversion to another type of wls will not fix it. He is suggesting total reversal. I am terrified of gaining to where I was at 279lbs, (I am 5'2")but also cannot continue to live like this. I feel virtually bulemic from throwing up. Has anyone else had this happen to them? I wish now that I had done gastric bypass initially, and he feels since it also has a pouch conversion isn't feasible.