Nothing like a Newbie

I daily read the Sleeve board and I have not seen one person who is seeking a revision.

I'm not sure where you're getting that information from.  Also, The Sleeve has NO pouch, so you cannot stretch it!  That's impossible.  As for Dumping, we do not dump.  I have never had nausea or dumping.  I do admit to having Reflux and that was discussed with me prior to surgery.  I take OTC Prilosec daily, have NO hunger and No more reflux.  So YES, I am extremely happy with my Sleeve.  Good try, Nana.

Also Nana, you just had your Band replaced and yet you have no restriction.  I'm not shoving the Sleeve down anyone's throat.  If you feel that way, perhaps, you have regrets you didn't get the Sleeve.

I chose the Band for the same reasons you did.  The Band worked for me.  I never had one complication and not one unfill, not even a partial unfill.  And I followed the rules and still had to have it removed. 

I am happy with the Sleeve, it works the way the Band was supposed to work.  The restriction is excellent. 

You always say the band is Reversible.  It's not always reversible.  There are many who have had it removed only to find that their stomachs are permanently damaged compliments of the LapBand.  Reversible to me, means you remove the Band and you are left with your stomach the way it was before the Band was placed.  That just isn't happening.

Perhaps, you should return to LapBandTalk.  I'm sure they will be very supportive there and you will be very happy.  This is a LapBand support forum, yes, but since I was a Bander for almost 5 years, I have the right to be here - advising those who come looking for advice.  Remember I was once a very successful Bander.  I lost almost 300lbs.

Of course you are not going to see Many Unhappy Sleevers on the Sleeve board, they get run off.....MANY no longer post. Of course all Sleeve problems get PUSHED to the side and under the rug and "hushed up"...not sure why....But as the Sleeve matures and more people get it done like the Lap band  -- all those problems will get more noticeable just like the band. Band problems used to get hushed up too when it was NEW. 

But I am a thorough Researcher and watch for trends when I am seeking weight loss surgery that is permanent and not reversible....I got tired of copying and pasting ALL THESE PEOPLE seeking a revision from their Sleeve.  If YOU LOOK FOR SLEEVE PROBLEMS they are are not hard to find. Just like the Revision board is FULL OF LAP BANDERS and BYPASS folks, they are ALSO FULL OF SLEEVERS...and the Sleeve is still pretty new and this is NOT a good sign.

Regarding ME having NO restricion...REMEMBER I AM ONLY 7 weeks out and STILL BAND HELL, and I have the larger capacity band, it can take much more saline than my old band. So I am getting used to it.  I've ONLY had ONE fill and Remember I am in NO RUSH for tight restriction, since I am still wearing a size 12-14, so I don't have much weight I want to lose and I don't want to be really tight,

I just want to reduce my portions to half. My only concern was that my surgeon has already filled me to 8ccs and I don't have restriction yet, but he assured me that he can go way over 10cc in my band -- he mentioned he has some patients needing 12cc and 13cc in their 10cc band before they reach optimal restriction, so I am not concerned about getting restriction. That is what I love about the band, it can be continually adjusted.

Here is some info about Dumping Syndrome with the Sleeve, it appears that you have NOT  done your Research FULLY on the Sleeve before you got it. Some don't experience it until a year out....technically Sleevers are not suppose to get dumping syndrome since the pyloric valve is intact but MANY do. Here is a video of a lady explaining her dumping syndrome and it is not there heads..it happens...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VrJis4rTEg

Published Study on Sleeve dumping syndrome, there are MANY.

http://www.unboundmedicine.com/http://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/21647622/Symptoms_suggestive_of_dumping_syndrome_after_provocation_in _patients_after_laparoscopic_sleeve_gastrectomy_medline/citation/21647622/Symptoms_suggestive_of_dumping_syndrome_after_provocation_in_patients_after_laparoscopic_sleeve_gastrectomy_

Here are many Sleeve failures on the Revision board, it's a lot more than this...I just got tired of copying and pasting... just copy and paste those links into a new tab or window and you can see all the Sleevers asking for revisions you want.

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4595702/finally-f acing-my-fear/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4590908/Sleeved-a nd-then-re-sleeved-Anybody/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4534588/Revision- from-Sleeve-to-RNY/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4455348/Curious-i f-anybody-here-has-gained-weight-back-after/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4595300/Wanting-t o-hear-from-others-who-had-the-VSG-and-had-it/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4595284/Consideri ng-a-revision-to-the-DS-from-a-VSG-Can-you-talk-to/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4592383/GASTRIC-S LEVE-TO-GASTRIC-BYPASS-ANYONE/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4594151/HELP-APPE ALING-THE-INSURANCE-TO-HAVE-MY-DS/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4591550/Revision/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4560127/VSG-REVIS ION-DATE-SET-FOR-SEPTEMBER-12-2012/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4590495/Revision/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4577335/vsg-to-rn y/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4576511/Best-Revi sion-for-DS-in-Tennessee/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4573493/how-do-i- get-a-revision-from-sleeve-to-full-DS/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4565145/Sleeve-to -DS-List-of-Questions-for-Doc/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4506422/Dr-Roslin -and-revision-from-VSG-to-DS/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4557325/Sleeves-f ailure/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4528136/sleeve-to -bypass/

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4531211/sleeve-to -revision-advice/

 http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4529093/revision /

http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/revision/4528229/Need-info rmation-on-revision/

Nana,

I did do my research.  I work for two different Bariatric surgeons and have attended numerous meetings and conferences on all WLS.  The Sleeve is unlike many others - no pouch and no malabsorption.  The dumping that you mention - perhaps, happens, but it may happen for other reasons outside the Sleeve.  Before I banded, I dumped.  I had other issues.  I even dumped a few times with the band, but I have not dumped with the Sleeve and it was something I discussed with my surgeon.  Dumping is not a part of the Sleever's Life, even though there are a few who do - it just happens to be a coincidence.

I am not interested in arguing with you.  I am not an unkind or argumentative type of person.  I'm not unhappy with my Sleeve - the opposite.

You mentioned your band has 8mls in it - and you have a 10ml band.  It's true that the bands can hold 2 mls more than advertised, however, that 2 mls is the tubing, not the band.  Next time you're with your doctor, have him fill a band in front of you to the maximum and you see what it's doing to your stomach.  I, personally would be extremely concerned if my Band was filled to 80% capacity and I still had no restriction.

It was ten years ago that I entered the operating room (with TV cameras following me!) to have lap band surgery. A news crew from one of our local TV stations was featuring me and my "journey." I was one of the first people in my area to have the lap band done.

I felt SO confident that I would be successful that I did a pre-op interview with this crew... laid out all my hopes for a healthier future, disclosed the reasons why I was undergoing this procedure, and granted them access to any and all that had to do with my surgery. They did a follow up about six months later. I tried to explain that I regretted the band and was in chronic pain... but that part was left in the editing room.

The surgeon got his free advertising, the news station got their human interest story, and I got completely damaged.

No one wants to hear about the bad side... the local news station didn't want to "get in the middle of possible litigation." 

But I have made sure that people hear the bad side. And I'll continue to say that I think the lap band is the worst form of torture. People can do with my opinion what they will. Diplomacy doesn't really matter to me anymore. I've spent too much time trying to be gentle and "nice" only to be accused of being a "band basher" or "jealous," or "bitter."  What people don't seem to realize is that I have watched the same things over and over and over... it DOES NOT change... the band harms, it damages, it's a disgrace. And my sharing this information IS being "nice." 

I've said the words, "Good luck with your band. I hope it works for you" about a thousand times... and I've also said, "I'm sorry the band didn't work for you. I'm sorry you're hurt- disappointed-damaged just as many times."  It DOES NOT change.

The manufacturer of the band has no bearing on success. Following "rules" has no bearing on success.  Human anatomy does not allow for the presence of the band. The band damages a human body. Eventually there WILL be damage. At least with other surgeries, the anatomy is altered purposefully... with the band, it just alters with no rhyme or reason. And that's disastrous.

I don't post the truth to be nasty or rain on anyone's parade. I post what I do to try to help other people avoid the same thing I went through, the same thing SO many people have gone through. But, like I said, people can take it however they wish. I don't let others determine what I say, how I say it, how often I post, or what words I use. People can react however they react. But I won't keep quiet about it. We're going to have a LOT of really damaged people... and it affects all of us. Not just because of healthcare costs and insurance "One WLS per lifetime" clauses... but because we shouldn't want our fellow human beings to be damaged. It is simply the ethical thing to do.

Hey LilSleeved, Thank you so much for the great post. I truly wi**** could always be as you described. I doubt it always will, actually after reading some of the replies I know it won't, but we can try. If we truly try to be supportive we can help those newbies. I was actually afraid to post here about the problems my band gave me in the later days, and my revision. At that time there was a lot of "I told you so" going on.

I am still a bandster at heart and will support anyone whether they are having good or bad results. I regret that in my earliest days I was not supportive to some who had bad experiences. After a while I learned that their experiences were exactly that, theirs. I grew to have great empathy but it took some time and maturity. I didn't understand that we cannot control most of these things. I thought if you followed all the rules and were careful you wouldn't have bad results. Not so. Even before my problems there was an increase of people having problems, even though they had done all they could. How could I condemn them? I couldn't.

In the spirit of your post I say we move onward. BTW I am in awe of your success with your weight loss. Holy Cow!

Sue

Lil-you said it.  We can all have our opinions, experiences and knowledge, but wouldn't it be nice if in addition, we all just tried to be kind to one another.

Hey, does the sleeve work? I see peeps like us complaining about the sleeve just as we tell our bad sotries of the band. I'm scared and frustrated

There is one LapBander who always complains about the Sleeve and she really doesn't know what she's talking about.  We do not have a pouch, so it cannot be stretched out.  We also do not dump.  There are a few, I guess who have reported dumping, but as I mentioned in another post, I dumped prior to WLS - and it stopped when I got my Band and I have not had it happen again. 

The Sleeve removes 85% of your stomach.  Removes, no blind stomach left - as is the case with RNY.  You do not have hunger because the part of the stomach that is removed is where the hunger hormone is located.  I can eat 1/3 to 1/4 cup of food at each setting.  I eat 5 times a day.  I eat solid dense proteins and never get stuck, never have sliming and have never had pain.

I love my Sleeve and I wish I had done it sooner!

I wish I could word things like you do