Lapband vs Gastric Sleeve

**Dee1979** · 05-15-2011 01:18 AM

Hi all im from Sydney Australia 31 yr old female ...
this is my story that i wanted to share..
i just had my lap band removed after 10 years only ever lost 20 kilos and many years of reflux and vomiting due to the lap band i had adhesions all over my organs and a 1 hour operation ended in 5 hrs - the worse experience of my life. its been 2 weeks now and im still in recovery i cant eat any soilds as my stomach was punctured .. please anyone thinking of getting the lapband DONT! The gastic sleeve that my sister has had has lost 40 kilos in 9 months and still going i believe it to be the safest and guaranteed weight loss and if i had known back 10 years ago i would have had the sleeve... My surgeon is only prepared to operate on me for the gastric sleeve 6 months later which i am prepared to wait and this is my last chance. For once in my life i want to feel good about my self ..

**accordingtome** · 05-15-2011 11:33 AM

Thank you for telling your story.

**X_grl07** · 05-15-2011 07:50 PM

I'm with you I had my band for around 9 months spent most if it vomiting had to get it removed in er because it had stopped all fluids from going into my stomach 5 bags of fluids later I was rehydrated now I'm having sleeve surgery 6/27 it may work for some but it wasn't good for me!

**Laura1960** · 05-15-2011 08:02 PM

I appreciate your post. My paperwork is out for insurance approval right now. When I first started looking into bariatric surgery my regular doctor suggested the lapband. My surgeon strongly felt the sleeve was the better option. This forum has helped me to make a decision. Other than a family member who has had the lapband, and loves it, I keep hearing of so many with problems. I even checked out a lapband forum and alot of the post were from people with regrets. Even though I'm afraid of the surgery itself I know it will be the best decision for my future health.

**Lorna Doone** · 05-15-2011 11:34 PM

I too had a lap band for 10 years and had a slew of complications from it. Those 10 years were the worst of my life. Talk about torture. When I look back on my experience with the lap band I could equate it with a medieval torture device. LOL!!! That's right. And I'm sure my prior fellow bandster's
would agree.
The sleeve is a great surgery. Last night me & hubby saw some friends I hadn't seen for over a year and they were like "oh my God you look gorgeous." "Whatever happened to you?" "Your shape is phenomenal." It makes complements like those all worthwhile. Now I can't wait to under go a cosmetic makeover to complete the look.
Lorna