Band removal, considering gastric sleeve!

Hi all,

I had lap band Nov. 17, 2005 and I had to have it removed Sept. 17, 2008.  I was at goal when I had it removed, maybe a little lower, but I don't know for sure, I didn't weigh the last week.  I was so sick, throwing up all the time.  I had sincerely hoped to keep the weight off, but that was a pipe dream.   I have gained 40 - 50 lbs since having the band removed. 

I found out recently that my insurance will cover either a lap band or gastric sleeve.  I will not have an RNY though it is covered also.  I may not be quiet heavy enough at 220 for the 100 lb overweight but I will be shortly unless something changes. 

I am trying to decide which surgery I need.  Has anyone here had the sleeve after having lost a band?  If so I really need to hear from you.  Any information from anyone is appreciated especially if you have had the sleeve for a year or more.

Thanks,

Corliss

Hi Corliss!

Did you also post this on the VSG board?  There are several folks there who have had a lap band to VSG conversion.

Best wishes.

I wish you would consider the RNY, I had it 2 years ago I am amazed at how wonderful I feel.  i have several friends who had the band and 2 that have had the sleeve.  There are so many more complications.  The throwing up the slipping the fact that they don't work as well. the RNY saved my life.  I am no longer diabetic and I feel fantastic.  I have lost 179lbs and have kept it off.  No problems no complications.  I just made some healthy life changes and I have this wonderful fail proof tool.  Just my opinion!

Hi,  I am so glad your bypass is working out for you.  My daughter had RNY in 2003 and lost over 150 lbs.  She was down to normal and had started regaining some weight and was up to 191 lbs when she had a mesenteric hernia and her bowel was deprived of oxygen and large parts of it died. She became septic and was hospitalized for over 4 months. She had multiple surgeries and now has short gut syndrom.  All of this was a long term but fairly common complication of RNY.  She is now on disability and has to eat around 4000 cals per day to maintain a weight of 136.  Unfortunately RNY is not fail proof as many do regain much of their weight and there are life threatening complications associated with it.

The lap band is probably not a good choice for me next go around because if one slips the chances of having another slippage is significantly increase.  Until it slipped there were no problems.  I lost 203 lbs with the lap band and I am just horribly sorry that it is not the best choice for me anymore.  I know how wonderful it was when it worked right.    I was blessed int hat I have never been diabetic but most of the diabetics I know who had lap band no longer have to take insulin or other diabetes meds.  I think it is the weight loss which causes people to have much less problems with their blood sugar with either surgery.

My friend from work had her sleeve done this past week.  I can't wait to hear from her. I am thinking I will get one this summer.  I might not get weight loss surgery at all if I can continue to maintain.  After I lost my band I regained up to 230 and now am down to 212.  I wish I could loose on down to where I was at 170 but that is highly unlikely without surgery.

I hope things keep going well.  Stay close to your doc and if you have any problems, run to see him.  Take care,  Corliss.

Hi Corliss!  Have you made your decision yet? 

I have heard of complications with the band, and I am sorry that yours had to be removed.  Both the gastric bypass and the VSG are good surgeries. There are pros and cons to both.  I chose the VSG so I could keep my pyloric valve and have a normally functioning stomach.  The restriction was enough for me to lose 125 and keep it off relatively effortlessly.  No co-morbidities, no complications, no dumping, no vomiting, a normal BP and lots of energy. 

Best of luck to you which ever surgery you choose.

Ev