Lap band or gastric sleeve?

[str672]

Does anyone know of anyone or maybe yourself first got the lap band and then made the transition to the gastric sleeve? My I ask why? I like the lap band because of the surgery being an in and out type of surgery but don't want to have to deal with the fills. Don't have time for that. The sleeve seems like that would fit my lifestyle more and my chances for success would be much greater.

[robin34]

Search the forums here and you will find tons of people that had the revision. The sleeve seems to work best for most people.

[alwaysthinking]

Yes there are tons of people on here that have had the lap band and then later decided to have the sleeve instead. Some said they had very bad problems with the lap band, some said they were just discouraged with the slow weight loss, some said the fills were to time consuming. I myself had considered the lap band first, and at the same time the surgeon showed me the sleeve, well i was scared to death thinking omg they are going to cut off 75% of my stomach lol however after great thought and much education, i did realize that the lap band was not a good choice for me and went with the sleeve. I had it done 17 months ago, i was a size 20, now im a size 10 from xxl to medium. I have not regretted it one day!

[peaches]

Hi had a band fitted 8 years ago and it worked well.( I lost 115lb in 18months.) Untill I had to have all of the fluid remove due to the band becoming over tight. This was 2 years ago since then i have slowly been refilled but I dont have the same restriction or sense of fullness and have put back on half of the weight I lost. I am now looking to have the band removed and have a sleeve. I wasnt offered the sleeve 8 years ago But if I was I would go for that.

[Luvs2lose]

I had the lap band done only 6 short months ago and Im having my revision done tomorrow!! I hate the band. I found the maintenance to be much to inconvenient. I hated getting "stuck" all the time. Having slimies and pain wasnt much fun either. I think its a matter of personal choice, I know people that have the lap band and love it. You have to weigh the pros and cons and decide what will work best for YOU! Good luck.

Corinna

[tlwebb]

I've heard a lot of stories in the last year about bands getting infected and having to be removed...I know there are risks with the sleeve but after much research I choose the sleeve because it was permanent, less hassle, and seemed to be much safer. Good luck in your decision.

[Topper12345]

During my surgery, I was roommates with a woman who had the band implanted 5 years ago. She came to have it removed and have the sleeve performed.
When they went inside, they found they could not perform the sleeve because the band had made a hole in the stomach. NOW....she did admit to poor maintenance, not having it adjusted etc. There is maintenance involved with the band. If you do not have the money or insurance coverage for having it maintained outside of an emergency room, is another reason to reconsider this procedure.
I was sleeved on May 14, 2012 and weak. But, i am beginning to feel better. It is really day by day for me. I am so happy that I am off this week. Regrets- not bringing someone along with me to Mexico. I was extremely sick coming back home with a 6 hour flight. I had to request wheelchair service from gate to gate all the way home. Never been so happy to be home. Talk soon, going to put my feet in the pool.

[Anamor2011]

I had lapband in December 2009 and had it taken out in October 2011 and had sleeve done on December 15, 2011. With the band I had the always vomiting, chest pain/tightness and a lot of port pain. I did loose weight, but with all the complications started gaining the weight back. Gained about 30lbs back. As far as the sleeve goes, I love it. I know when I am full and don't over eat. Have only vomited twice and I think it was what I ate and not the amount I ate. I don't have the continous soreness I had with the port. I am loosing much more weight with the sleeve and it has been continous. Still slow for me because I was at like 195lbs when I had sleeve done. As far as the recovery, I was in hospital for 2 days, but really only needed 1 day. I was so ready to go the next day. Pain was very much tolerable and only had that gas pain on my shoulder for a day and gets better each day.

[lisamarie0814]

I has the Lap Band put in back in 2006 when I was 19. Yes I lost weight with it - but I puked all the time, food always got stuck, and I was always uncomfortable. During one of my fills they punctured the tubing so I had to go back to MX to get a new port put in. My band got so tight once after I had the stomach flu from the swelling around my band that I had to empty my band with an 18 gauge needle by myself because no one in my town would touch me since I had surgery in Mexico. I finally got my revision in December and have lost 57 pounds and feel great! I had to spend 2 nights on the hospital because the band had done some damage to my stomach so I had to have an NG tube (down my nose into my stomach) to keep my stomach from collpsin on itself. I no longer have to worry about food getting "stuck" and I can eat anything now, just in small portions. I wish I wouldve gotten the sleeve to begin with because the band was nothing but problems! Good luck on your decision

[lisamarie0814]

I also forgot to mentioning eventually regained all of my lost weight + 20 pounds more with the band due to the complications, etc.

[agreatknead]

There are lots of stories out there. I too had to have my band removed, it was expensive and difficult to find that "sweet spot". I lost weight, but not as much as I though I should have for having the band 1 1/2 years. I'm sure there are many positive sides to the band also. It can be undone, unlike the sleeve. It can be adjusted during times of illness etc. but I also have decided to get the sleeve, do your due diligence and do what you feel is best. If you have the time watch the video of the sleeve surgery posted a few days ago. It is about 2hrs long but the surgeon is so informative and people were actually able to tweet questions to him during the surgery. It took a little longer because the surgeon also repaired a hernia. Good luck on your decision and your surgery.

[cowgirljane]

I had the lapband for 10 years and recently revised to the sleeve. If you have specific questions, feel free to ask.

Bottom line Lapband had way too many side effects and was hard to live with if it was filled with fluid; so far sleeve has been really good, by comparison. I am super pleased with my weight loss. 85 pounds since December. That is more then I ever lost with the lapband.

[str672]

I want to thank every one who replied to my question. All the replies were very helpful, please keep them coming, I think I'm leaning towards the sleeve more and more as I read everyones replies. Thanks again.

[Jeni]

I say, "SLEEVE ALL THE WAY!"

I had considered the lap band at one time, but after hearing about the fills that need to be done and thinking about having a device implanted into my body, I stepped back and took a year off before going to a 2nd informational seminar. Then I heard about the sleeve, and decided that's the surgery for me! It has worked well. I can eat just about anything, just much, much less. I have lost over 100 lbs. in the whole process. I think the sleeve has been wonderful for me.

[str672]

Thanks for the info. and yes i am definately leaning towards the sleeve.