Hellooooo Support Group!

**kat40223** · 11-10-2012 11:43 PM

I just joined tonight while looking on the internet for information about the sleeve. I have been overweight most of my life and after having two knee scopes this year to repair damage and tears, I decided that it was time for a change in my life. I have been going back and forth between the band and the sleeve. What are the thoughts out there with those that have experience with both? Thank you for your input! I am anxious to use this site as a tool for success in my journey.

**ninaricci46** · 11-10-2012 11:46 PM

Had the band.. Rubbish, really not as good as people think.. You can never eat healthy with the band...
Go for the sleeve. I had the band to sleeve conversion and for the first time in 4 years i can eat normal food without it getting stuck
You will not regret the sleeve!

**LadyLacey** · 11-11-2012 02:46 AM

The SLEEVE!!!! You will rock it!!! Best of Luck!!!!

**niamh** · 11-11-2012 03:49 AM

Who could resist such an enthusiastic Hellloooooo!

Hi back to you. I haven't had the band, but I considered and booked myself for a consult early last year and then cancelled because of reading about the number of people with slips and erosion, the abnormality in eating style and frequency of foaming and bringing stuff up, and other organs getting stuck around the band etc. Then not to mention the hassle and expense of adjustments. Just seemed to me although effective for many in the early days, it was proving to be more and more difficult the longer people had them in. That was my main concern - how would my body react to having this surgery 20,30,40years down the track? So I cancelled - I hadn't heard about the sleeve at that time, so in fact my choice then was between the band and nothing (I wouldn't consider bypass - don't want to muck around with the basic process of digestion that much).

Then I heard about the sleeve just a few months ago now. While in some regards a bit of a new kid on the block for weight loss surgery, the sleeve uses the same materials and techniques of stapling that have been used for many many years in bypass, and in surgery for stomach cancer or stomach perforation where part of the stomach is removed. So I felt confident that my stomach once healed will be fine for the long haul.

Lots of people talk about the band being reversible as a positive - but really my main problem with my weight loss in the past is that it kept reversing, so I see no point in a surgical technique that gives me the option of putting the weight back on again.

I'm 7 weeks out - no complications, I've tolerated everything I've tried to eat just in smaller amounts, and I feel great. To me there's no comparison between the two.

**kat40223** · 11-11-2012 08:24 AM

Thank you for the feedback everyone! I truly appreciate the knowledge and support :-)

**cowgirljane** · 11-11-2012 10:45 AM

I had the lapband for 10 years and have known several other people with it. Don't do it - it was a reasonable option back when I was banded, but now you have the sleeve to choose and it i a far superious procedure. It has fewer issues and works better for weight loss! It is my opinion that in comparing options it should be the sleeve or gastric bypass = don't even consider the band. If you do, it is only a matter of time before you are looking into a revision surgery (like I had) and it is even riskier after the band has scarred your stomach up.

**Pip** · 11-12-2012 05:30 AM

Hi there .. I just had my lapband removed after 6 years and I would definitely not recommend it ! I believe there is quite a few success stories but I was definitely not one of them

looking forward to having the gastric sleeve my new lapband free stomach is starting a party and every food is invited

Good luck