Trying to decide

Today I had my consultation and I'm torn between the band and sleeve.  Any tips?

Well, search through my latest posts and I'm sure you can see which one I would recommend.

I've had both and for me, hands down, the sleeve is the winner. The band's stats are too lousy, post-op complications are too high, and the band often requires follow-up surgeries for repair, removal, or replacement.

In my first year with the band, things went smoothly and I lost about 65 lbs. Then I began to have complications and spent the next nearly 2 years gaining back the weight I lost.

In just over 6 months with the sleeve, I'm down nearly 90 lbs. I have never vomited with my sleeve and full feels much more normal with the sleeve than with the band.

Do your research on how many people succeed with the band v. how many fail. Also look at how many people are keeping their bands at 5 years out. Then look at 10 years.

Come visit us on the VSG forum. See if you can friend USAF Wife. She has some great information on her profile re: band and sleeve.

Best of luck,
Lindsey

WOW, awesome!  I will try and find her.  This info is so very helpful.  Thank you!

Hi!

Please do research on the lap band and the sleeve. I was banded in November of 2006, and I wasn't successful with it. It didn't work for me, and I didn't work for it. I'm having my band revised to the sleeve in September, after a ton of research.

There's not a single WLS that doesn't have it's successes and failures. Don't be bullied into doing anything you're not comfortable with. I also recommend visiting the Revision board. Whatever your decision, good luck!

Thank you so very, very much it really helps being able to talk about it with people that understands!

I had my FIRST band placed 5 years and 2 days ago. Since then it slipped and I have had it replaced with a newer and improved model in 2008 which also ended up slipping and eroding into my stomach. I have also had esophageal damage and some nerve pain which may end up being permanent.

GO WITH THE SLEEVE!!!

I was banded 4 1/2 yrs ago. I lost 30lbs but no more. I continued struggling on the diet but there were a lot of foods i could not tolerate like chicken and dense veggies. So eating good foods were almost impossible. I gained 40lb back because of the restricitions:(

Im being reivsed to the DS and after my recent EGD I found out i have Esophagitis, Erosive Gastritis and a Heital hernia.

I never had more than 2cc in my 10cm band, which is a tiny fill and my GI dr told me if i had not told her i had the band she would never have know. So apparently what i always thought of a my "sweet spot" was actually imflammation!

My DS surgeon (Dr. Smith) does all 4 WLS...his stats in the last 3 yrs is high percent of sleeve, then DS, RNY and almost NO lapbands. I think the % was like 1-2% of his total surgeries were bands. That tells me a lot!

Good luck on your journey, no matter what surgery you choose:)

Hi Jennifer,

Thank you so very much, I'm doing a lot of research and will certainly take all the information into consideration greatly.  I noticed your're in FL so am I ( Central Fl)  Thanks again

I replied with a long and detailed post for you on the VSG forum.

Sleeve all the way. I've had both, and without hesitation, at 2 years out from my revision to the sleeve after major band issues, recommend the sleeve over the band any day of the week.

My vote is 100% SLEEVE!  I had/have my lap-band for 2 years and it has been a constant struggle.  I hate that I'm hungry all the time but if I try to eat I throw up.  Even with restriction, you're still hungry, you just can't do anything about it.  It sucks, A LOT.  And the throwing up sucks, A LOT!!  It feels like throwing up egg whites...sorry to be gross, but that's the exact texture and look of BPing. 

I'm revising to the DS and I cannot wait.  If you don't think you need the malabsorption feature, then the sleeve is the clear winner.  That way, all the band horrors aside, if you decide you do want the malabsorption of the DS, you're already half way there since the sleeve is the first half of the DS. 

Whatever you decide, I wish you the best of luck!  Good for you for researching your options before you go under the knife!