Trying to decide

Sleeve!  I had the band and had so many complications.  One of the worst was not being able to swallow the few days before my revision.  It was really scary.  I have lost weight with the sleeve and I have restriction.  The band just caused me lots of pain and really damaged my body.  It isn't really reversible like they say.  If you really research you will notice how many band patients are getting revisions.  That is because the band is not successful for most.  I really do love my sleeve.  It has changed my life in an amazing way.

I also had the band in 2008 and am currently waiting to be revised to the sleeve.

In Qatar the band was the only thing that was offered at the time so I really had no choice and I thought better the band than nothing... Although i had lost some weight, it has always been a struggle. Daily vomitting, sometimes during time of stress not even able to swallow my own saliva... it has not been an easy journey.

Has I had the choice from the beginning, I would have gone for the sleeve without any hesitation.

Best of luck on your journey

No tips here, I'm a bandster.  The sleeve wasn't being done in my area when I was banded 2 1/4 years ago and honestly I didn't know about it.  The band has been a godsend for me, I've lost 200+ lbs in the time I've been banded.  I have very little problems with the band, if I do, 99.9% of the time they are operator error (ie, my mistake).

Would I do the sleeve now if I were starting all over?  The best I can say is maybe.  I'm not fond of the idea of removing 2/3 to 3/4 of my stomach and throwing it away.  However this is just an idiosyncrosy of mine.. not everyone has these qualms.

I will say that if for some reason my band should stop working or start causing me problems to the point of it needing removal, and if I couldn't maintain my weight loss on my own.. the sleeve would most likely be my choice instead of a malabsorptive surgery (RNY, DS, etc.).

I was talking Monday night with a nurse who has worked in the bariatric field for many many years and she and I agreed that the sleeve is the new "darling" of the WLS world right now and that these things go in cycles.  They'll eventually find that there are certain problems with the sleeve (unknown to me right now.. maybe some sleevers have an inkling of what they might be) and will change the surgery just a bit, like they changed the way the band is installed.  Sooner or later the sleeve will become less popular and another approach will be the new star.  

Glad you are doing research and checking into what will work best for you and your lifestyle.  No matter what WLS you choose, if you follow your doctor's guidelines, the chances of you doing well and losing weight are very good.  :)

Best of luck to you!!

 Well the benefit of "throwing away" a big part of your tummy is that you throw away the part that produces ghrelin, which is the hormone that makes us hungry.  With the band, you still have all your ghrelin production going on, and it seems many of us never feel "full," just stuck and in pain.  I have been stuck on something like a small bite of eggs for hours, with my stomach roiling with hunger.  Sound fun?

Yeah I would support the sleeve 1000%.  I wouldn't wish the band on anyone.  

And.....

Ghrelin is a hormone produced mainly by P/D1 cells lining the fundus of the human stomach and epsilon cells of the pancreas that stimulates hunger.^[1] Ghrelin levels increase before meals and decrease after meals. It is considered the counterpart of the hormone leptin, produced by adipose tissue, which induces satiation when present at higher levels. In some bariatric procedures, the level of ghrelin is reduced in patients, thus causing satiation before it would normally occur.

I knew the subject of Ghrelin would come up.

I fear that sometime in the future science will discover that Ghrelin has more than one function and those who have had the sleeve will be deficient and need supplementing.

Similar to how science used to believe that womens ovaries stopped functioning after menopause and had no further use.  They now know that they still produce estrogen albeit in much reduced amounts and help protect women from several problems, among them alzheimers.

I think I've read, not sure where, that not all Sleeve patients get the reduction in appetite.  Is this true or is it something I've just picked up out of the air?

I'm truly sorry for anyone who had or is having a bad time with the band.  But just because some do have difficulties, doesn't mean it's not a viable choice for others.  I'm not trying to encourage the OP to have any particular surgery, but just to present my experience.  

Ex banders are having their turn....  Bandsters who are satisfied with their choice should have equal time.

Unfortunately or fortunately depending on how you look at it, the ghrelin comes back.  The stomach isn't the only place it hides out either.  I am loaded with that stuff.

I have always had an appetite, so yes, not everyone gets the reduction in hunger.

I don't believe anyone is trying to stop satified bandsters from having their say.   The issues I have are when people who have problems are blamed.  All it does is stop people from getting the help they need because they feel like they are doing something wrong.  I also think all sides of the story need to be seen by people doing research.

I agree, no one should be blamed or made to feel bad if they are having issues, no matter WHICH surgery they chose.

Sometimes people who are trying to help word things poorly.  I know I've been guilty of that in the past and I'm sure I will be again, unfortunately.  I try to ask questions or give advice in a non accusatory fashion.  And sometimes those who are having issues are super sensitive.  Which is very understandable.

Back to the Ghrelin question:  so if you are still dealing with an appetite, do you get satisfied on smaller amounts still (like the band is supposed to work.. but only does for some)?  Do you still have to weigh/measure your foods or do you just eat till satisfied? 

I never got a satisfied feeling with the band.  I just got a full chest feeling, which does very little to make you feel like you are satisfied.  With the sleeve, it is a more natural full feeling.  It is actually in your stomach.

I don't have to weigh or measure.  I can eat a small but normal sized portion of food.  Probably about a little over a cup of food if I put it all in a cup.  I will feel full and just not be able to eat anymore.  I never do dessert unless it is an hour or so later, but I don't have a big appetite for sweets.  I do have to make good choices because I am pre diabetic and post menopausal.

There currently is research about Ghrelin and how losing it can relate to depression and such for SOME...of course all of this is about some.   The beauty of Ghrelin is that it's not only produced in the stomach...the majority of it is, but not the only place.

I would equate the loss of hunger in sleevers to the dumping "syndrome" for RnYers not everyone gets it.  I'm almost 4 years out and I still don't physically get the hunger call like I used to preop.  I do get mind hunger and want to eat.  Luckily my sleeve still restricts the amount of food I eat, but like any/all/every surgery your mind will figure out a way around many of the barriers that WLS puts in place.

Ms Shell