Is the sleeve as miserable as a lap band

**Behappy** · 07-23-2017 11:15 PM

I had a lap band in 2007. I was 296 I got down to 192. I was very successful with my band. Never my goal weight of 155 but still 104 pounds gone. Then I had several surgeries in the last 2 years including a hysterectomy and the weight started creeping back up to 222. Then on 6/18 I went to the ER with severe chest pain. Honestly thought I was having a heart attack. Turns out my band had slipped and it took them 4 days to figure it out and then I ended up in emergency surgery to have it removed. Since removal I have gained 8 more pounds. UGH! I am terrified to gain all the weight back and I am terrified of a sleeve or any other weight loss surgery. My band caused pain for years on end. Constant chest pain, refulx, vomiting, etc.. but hey it got the weight off. I had 2 hospitalizations as a result of pain from the band (not including the 5 days for the recent removal). The band caused me pain almost daily for 10 years so I am terrified of a sleeve AND terrified of regaining all the weight and being almost 300 pounds again.

So....... loaded question... what do you think about the sleeve for someone like me?

Thanks in advance for your time!

**RehabNurse** · 07-24-2017 12:05 AM

I'm pleased with my sleeve. However, mine was a 'virgin' sleeve and not a revision.

Bariatric surgeons fail to tell prospective patients that revisions often lose slower than those who are on their first weight loss procedure. This is because the revision patient has already had the metabolic shock of a prior bariatric surgery.

Here is a blurb from the Texas Bariatric Specialists website:

Many patients don’t realize that after a revision, weight loss is generally slower, and the percentage of excess weight lost sustained is slightly lower than what is experienced after a primary weight loss surgery procedure.

However, many people have enjoyed success after revising from a band to a sleeve. It all depends.

http://texasbariatricspecialists.com...ery-revisions/

**Lisa73me** · 07-24-2017 05:16 AM

Originally Posted by Behappy

I had a lap band in 2007. I was 296 I got down to 192. I was very successful with my band. Never my goal weight of 155 but still 104 pounds gone. Then I had several surgeries in the last 2 years including a hysterectomy and the weight started creeping back up to 222. Then on 6/18 I went to the ER with severe chest pain. Honestly thought I was having a heart attack. Turns out my band had slipped and it took them 4 days to figure it out and then I ended up in emergency surgery to have it removed. Since removal I have gained 8 more pounds. UGH! I am terrified to gain all the weight back and I am terrified of a sleeve or any other weight loss surgery. My band caused pain for years on end. Constant chest pain, refulx, vomiting, etc.. but hey it got the weight off. I had 2 hospitalizations as a result of pain from the band (not including the 5 days for the recent removal). The band caused me pain almost daily for 10 years so I am terrified of a sleeve AND terrified of regaining all the weight and being almost 300 pounds again.

So....... loaded question... what do you think about the sleeve for someone like me?

Thanks in advance for your time!

Hello, I had some health issues a few years ago before my gastric sleeve. I had a hysterectomy and I also had breast cancer and a double mastectomy. I don't think normally a gastric sleeve is bad at all, but I had 2.5 months of complications. I'm still very happy with my sleeve now, even after all I had to go though. It was worth it, but just be careful please! With your past history, you may not be as healthy as you think for surgery. I also don't think the alternative of gaining your weight back is healthy either. I think you should go for it, but try to have it done here in the states. I had mine done in Mexico and had a bit of a hard time finding doctors that were willing to take me and my complications on back here. Thoughts, prayers, good vibes, and hugs! If you want more info, please feel free to PM me...

**Gvn71** · 07-24-2017 07:58 AM

I never had a lap band, so can't really comment on that, but, I love my sleeve! No pains, no complications, no issues (except very successful weight loss). Never experienced any of the common problems that people seem to have. I would never have known it had been done except for the incisions, and the inability to eat a lot of food anymore.

No complaints here.

Hope this helps.

**Christie13** · 07-24-2017 08:13 AM

I am 8 1/2 months post op and have surpassed my goal. Other than constipation, no issues really. In the beginning when you are learning to read your full signs it is easy to eat too much and feel discomfort but no pain really. Some people do have complications so it is important to read up and be aware of possible complications. As rehab nurse said, revisions usually lose slower but still lose. You can search it up on here and see other revision stories. I did my research prior to choosing the sleeve. I did not like all the issues that people had with the lap band. My research revealed that the sleeve has the lowest complication rate. Sorry about all your medical issues. Good luck with your decision.

**Fatbgone** · 07-24-2017 03:16 PM

I had the sleeve in Nov 2016. I'm down 120 pounds. I am very happy with my sleeve. No ongoing pain or issues. You will vomit if you over eat and figuring out how much to eat is tricky.
I would highly recommend it!

**PokerGuy** · 07-24-2017 04:44 PM

Everyone I have spoke with that went from Band to Sleeve is SO happy.. Probably 5 -7 people.
I would say DO IT.

**Ann2** · 07-24-2017 04:52 PM

I was also a virgin sleever, so cannot talk at all from personal experience.

But like PokerGuy, I've read dozens, if not scores, of stories by people who were ex-banders who went the sleeve route. Many of them (most of them?) had to do it in two phases -- remove the band and let that surgery heal fully (I'm thinking maybe 6 months ???), then have the sleeve. Because the surgeon will be performing surgery on a stomach that may have scar tissue in very inopportune places, your sleeve outcome could be different than someone who'd never been banded.

And since it's possibly a more complicated surgery the second time around, you probably would want to have this done close to home where, if there were post-op complications like a stricture, you'd have access to your second surgeon and not have to find a third surgeon to deal with the problems.

Sounds like it's consultation time.

BTW, I've never even thrown up in all my 3 years post-op. Sleeve of steel here!

**electricgypsy** · 09-09-2017 12:32 PM

I can speak from personal experience. I was banded about 7-8 years and ended up with it dislodging only a few months later after one too many coughing fits. Horrible excruciating pain and acid reflux led me to have all of the liquid removed..so like nothing there. I was disappointed in myself and started to gain all of the weight back that I lost and then some. Once I developed diabetes, I had a discussion wi H my doctor and found out that they would do a revision for me...remove the band and move to the sleeve.
Well here I am...two days post sleeve surgery and doing great. I was afraid of what seemed to be so much more invasive than the band, but I have many friends that were sleeved and so happy, I am happy so far and so happy that I have been given a second chance. Only you will know what is right for you, but I can tell you if you are afraid of the sleeve...don't be!