Fire Fighter/ Mom looking for help on which wls i should do.

**patrice32** · 09-09-2013 09:02 PM

I am looking for help in which wls I should do. Im debating between the lap band and the gastric sleeve. Any information and help would be great!!! I am 5'6" and 255

**AuburnTigers10** · 09-09-2013 09:07 PM

Gastric sleeve all the way��

**robertajanzen** · 09-09-2013 09:17 PM

Definitely the sleeve

**Kelli D** · 09-09-2013 09:26 PM

There is absolutely no question about it the sleeve!! Please read read read the complications that the band to sleeve members have had. It is positively frightening what they have gone through. Many doctors are now phasing the band out because of the complications that have occurred. Stay on this forum and keep reading you will quite a bit on here. I wish you the very best with your decision!

**Think** · 09-09-2013 09:52 PM

I agree, the sleeve. Although you should remember, you are on a sleeve forum!

I believe there is a group for band-to-sleeve conversions. Look at it and read. There have been quite a few members here who have had difficulty with their bands, and then converting to the sleeve. I know personally 3 people who have lost some weight with the band, but not near what they needed to. Now at least one of them takes no personal responsibility and eats cookies, chips and garbage all the time.

At first I started looking into the band, because I am in the lower BMI range. But the cost is essentially the same for either procedure and the band has such great success with individuals who have diabetes that the sleeve is the way for me to go. I have a horrible family history of diabetes, so that is largely the reason I want to do this. I do not want the deaths my parents suffered, nor the complications that 2 of my 3 siblings have.

I wish you great success either route you go!

**jactkb** · 09-09-2013 10:01 PM

I had the lap-band surgery in June 2007. I lost 35 lbs with it. I could have lost more but I fell off the wagon(very stressful work and many illnesses in my immediate family and I turned to food.) I had restriction and it did at least not let me gain tons of weight, I put on 20 lbs over the years.
But the worst was that to have it tight enough for restriction it is then tight enough for things to get stuck. Slimies, foamies, vomiting and dry heaving was at least a weekly occurrence for me for the entire time. In mid-June I started have a lot of reflux and some pain. At the end of July my lapband slipped and I had to have it removed.

My surgeon removed 10 lap-bands in the month of Aug this year. The bariatric center he is part of (2 surgeons), will not do lap-bands unless the patient is adamant. There have been so many failures to lose and slippages and other complications that they do not recommend the surgery any more.

**Chulita12345** · 09-10-2013 07:56 AM

I'm a sleeve person, and had the band before,
I had the band for more than five years n was able
To loose all the pound I need it, but right now
I'm paying the consequence! The band end it up damaging
My stomach so bad, it was digging it's way inside my
Stomach, after the doctor removed the band
I had a big hole in the middle of it, he was able to closed
It but my stomach stop working for also two weeks
I was hospitalized for those two weeks just
To keep me alive. Now I speak about how bad
The band can be in the long run, why do the band if at the
End u r going to end up with the sleeve.

**TheJennC** · 09-10-2013 08:27 PM

Well you're on a sleeve website, so you know which side we're all on lol. I was considering the band as well, and then I attended the information session at the hospital. My surgeon explained that the band is simply just not as effective, and there are too many ways for it to fail. One or two of the surgeons in his group don't even perform them anymore. After that session, and after meeting with the nurse practitioner and talking with my primary care doctor, I've decided that the sleeve is the best option for me.

But just because it's the best option for me and the other members of this board doesn't mean it's for everyone. Check out the band-to-sleeve group here, check out a lap band board, do research, speak to your surgeon (or a qualified person in their office). Make the right decision for YOU. Best of luck!

**Chulita12345** · 09-11-2013 12:16 AM

I did, now with the sleeve I feel much better than with the band,no more heart burn cause by having the band. Doing the research was not the problem, going through so many health problem cause by having the band was the issue, I speak from my own experience, I've been on this site before even getting the sleeve, I'm happy with my final decision, and regret not doing it sooner.My recommendation for anyone with the band is to switch to the sleeve as soon as possible, it's worth it.