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Hi. After unsuccessful lap band surgery in 2007 and now over 400 lbs I am seriously considering the sleeve. I have an appointment in the morning with my bariatric surgeon to discuss my options. At 65 time isn’t on my side anymore. I’ll be spending time here going over the postings for info.
Hi, welcome here on this great board!
I am sure you will find a lot of info re band-sleeve conversion.
I know for a fact there are some people here, who did the same, one of them will answer here I am sure.
So, read and learn a lot, and ask all your questions!
Good luck on this amazing journey, you are about to embark on.
There are also a lot of women here of a certain age. :D
I am one of them, this is the best thing I ever did for myself.
You'll love it! Best of luck on your decision. Don't compare it to the lap band as my surgeon doesn't even do that surgery anymore, sounds like his results were dismal.
This is a new start and you'll love the journey. I work in a large bariatric hospital and we don't do lap bands anymore and once we take them out, most if not all, get a "revision" surgery and do great! I was 61 when I had the surgery and 8 years later, life has never been better! This is a great site to gain information and motivation, so please if you're seriously considering the surgery, don't delay, call your surgeon of choice and make an appointment.
Much continued success on this journey!
Oh my age when I had the procedure 2 years ago! Best decision ever! And Welcome!Quote:
Originally Posted by 1BigDog
So, after a lengthy conversation with my bariatric surgeon I decided to give the band another shot. I had an adjustment done and I’ll see how that goes again. I can always do a sleeve later on if needed.
Hi there and welcome! I’m going to repost a response I gave to questions about the Lap-Band. If it sounds familiar to some, it’s what I send out to those who are considering VSG after Lap-Band:
I had my Lap-Band placed 12-2009. I lost all my weight in just over 1 year but then slowly started to gain it back. I dealt with nausea/vomiting, reflux, trouble breathing and a dilated esophagus. The constant trips to adjust the band was awful. The Lap-Band was very popular until a few years ago but about a third of those patients now require additional surgery to lose weight, because there has been a loosening or slipping of the band over time which is exactly what happened to me. In addition, weight loss tends to be temporary – 6-12 months is typical. In the end, I weighed 20lb more than when I first had the band placed. Remember that Lap-Bands do not last forever. Because the post-market studies submitted by the makers of Lap-Band ended after only five years, we don’t know exactly how long Lap-Bands last. Many patients do not keep their Lap-Bands for 10 years, either because they stopped losing weight or had complications, such as the band slipping or deteriorating. Researchers at the European School of Laparoscopic Surgery studied patients with gastric banding devices for 12 years. They found that more than one-fourth of patients had their bands wear out, and half of the patients had their bands removed. Each additional surgery, whether to take a band out or replace it, is an added risk. Even patients with good experiences will eventually need it removed (and replaced, if the patient wants it to be). Fast forward to 2019 and I had my VSG done 3/27 and so far it’s been going great! My Lap-Band was removed and the VSG performed all in one surgery. If there is extensive scar tissue, however, it is often better to let that heal and then proceed with a sleeve or bypass a few months later. My surgeon did say that I would lose weight at a slower pace after having the band as compared to other gastric surgery patients so it is a little frustrating at times. But I would still make the same decision to have the VSG. With the band I stopped feeling my restriction so I overate and with the VSG the restriction is always there (though I have read that research shows two years after your surgery your stomach can double in size and if you consistently overeat you can stretch your pouch). For pre-op, I had to have an upper GI done to make sure there was no erosion caused by the band, but no other invasive tests were required. About 20% of patients who get a sleeve have reflux after but my reflux has disappeared completely. I am on a PPI for 6 months and Ursodiol which is prescribed for obese patients undergoing rapid weight loss to prevent gallstone formation. With the exception of my bariatric vitamin and calcium, I have stopped all my others meds in the space of 4 months! I was on the fence for awhile but in the end I wouldn’t change my decision to do the revision. I’m only sorry I chose the Band first, otherwise I’d have been at or near my goal over 9 years ago.
I had concerns about the band lasting as long as it has as well. Back in Feb I had an endoscopy performed by my band surgeon and there was no erosion. The band is still performing well. Yesterday he did a "scope" of the band before and after tightening it again. It seems to be working right now and I follow a keto diet as well. I respect my surgeons opinions as he is a very good one and if he feels the sleeve, which he does perform, is not needed right now I will go with that. No matter what, these procedure are all tools and if we do not use them the way they were intended to be used then it will fail. I just need to wrap my head around it a little better. I can always get the sleeve done in the future but for now I will give it to the start of the new year.
Thanks for all of the input. It is appreciated.
You must do what you feel is right for you.
Best of luck!
So many band horror stories. So many come on here when they are converting. Good luck with your decision.
Hi, I noticed your thread and was wondering if you had the gastric sleeve. I am in the same situation. I had lap band in 2006, had it removed in 2015, and now considering the sleeve. I also am 65 and definately feel that time is not on my side. My doctor feels that after lap band the gastric bypass is the best option for me. I am only comfotable with the sleeve and will not have the bupass. .
You may not even see this since you posted March 2018 but hoping that you will. Thank You to response in advance.
I decided against any further surgery. My lap band surgeon was against it because I was not able to maintain eating well with my poor eating habits. Any surgery will fail if one cannot change their lifestyle. He performs the sleeve as well but would not recommend it for me for those reasons. But I will add that I joined weight watchers a few months ago and have dropped 35 lbs since. It’s actually helping me make lifestyle adjustments for the better. Good luck ��
Hope you can lose all the weight with weight watches - people can do it that way. When you look at Connect it looks like everyone can do it. I wish I could give you statistics, but from my own experience I could have owned stock in WW I joined so often. I would join, lose, gain, and quit. I assume I'm the norm.
You have to change your eating habits for all weight loss ways, WW or surgery or any other diet. But it sure is easier changing those habits when you can't eat much.
Totally not anti-WW, I'm a lifetime member and use it to help maintain the weight I lost with the sleeve. They go well together IMO. Good luck!
Thank you for posting. I too had the band placed 10/2009; now band slippage and erosion along with my long history of GERD. I am worried about converting as the GERD and constant food sticking has had a horrible mental state, so I have cheated with drinks which are high carb and calories. I have only maintained a weight loss of approximate 40 pounds since 2009. I worry about malabsorption in the long run for the health on my bones are pulminary systems. Has your reflux symptoms disappeared?