Does anyone wish they had gotten the sleeve instead of the band? Why?

I've had both the band and the sleeve, and do not wish I had gotten the sleeve first instead of the band. The sleeve is much harder for me to live with and I have more health problems now than I did with my band. The best I can say of the sleeve is that it doesn't require adjustments (fills & unfills). But, if the sleeve had been the only WLS procedure available to me in 2007, I would have had the sleeve, even knowing what I know now. I may have more health problems now, but my life is still much better now than it was before WLS.

Yes.  Because of band damage I cannot revise to ANY other WLS.  I was compliant, kept my band loose, would puke up every solid meal for months while undergoing $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ tests.  They removed a lot of scar tissue from around my lower esophagus, which is very dilated due to food getting stuck there.  The valve between the stomach and esophagus wouldn't open to allow food to enter my pouch.  It feels just like getting stuck on dry chicken, till you bring it up and there's nothing but mush.  

If I'd gotten the sleeve first, I'd be at goal.  I lost 100 lb with my band.  Need to lose 40 more.

Just had my band removed after 7 years. The first 3.5 yrs. we're great, the next 3.5 years, reflux, developed Barrett's, gastritis and esophagitis. Never had a slip but the reflux led to gaining 40 of the 60 lbs. I lost. I was at goal. Now just relieved the band is out, no more port pain.  I want my body to heal. I will try to treat it well and listen to it very carefully...

I'm letting my body heal, too.  So far just dealing with 5 lb +- up and down. Lap bands are fundamentally flawed, high pressure systems that most anatomies cannot tolerate.  Those who are lucky enough to have compatible physiology do fine, but the numbers of those who MUST have their band removed due to serious complications are not at fault.

YES,YES and YES!!!!!  I hate my "crap-band" I am now in the process of saving money to have a revision to the sleeve!

     The band is now only meant to be temporary-

PLEASE listen to your DR.!

Thank you!!!

4.5 years out and so far so good..180+ lbs lost...

So right now I'm good with my band.  No complications ever and I can eat what I want, when I want.  I have a high tolerance to my band and always have.  In the beginning I saw it as a curse because it took forever before it seemed like I even had a band.  But now I see it as a blessing.  Because I never had any issues and I can eat fruits and veggies and lean protein that others have so much problems with.  So hopefully I can keep on going with no problems and maintain my weight. 

I am not ****y and realize this honeymoon could end at any time.  But I will always be grateful for having the opportunity to lose this weight and getting healthy. 

Yes, because with the band you have to go back to physician mulitple times to get fills for restriciton.  With sleeve you have restriction coming out ou surgery.  I just have had my port flip; waiitng now for port replacement.