Post op Lap Band removal

I recently had my lapband removed. I have had it since 2006. I lost 100#'s and had two children, which was a goal.. I have recently had the band removed to do complete restriction from scar tissue. I am gaining weight back. I am also having lots of trouble with gas and diarreah. Is this normal? will it go away?  I had the band removed two months ago.

THe Doctor also mention the Gastric Sleeve to me as an alternative.  Is this a risky surgery? What  do you all think of it. I have gained about 29 pounds in three months!

 

 Kathryn:

It's a double edged sword to congratulate you on your successful weight loss but to give you my sympathy on the loss of your band.

There are a LOT of people who have revised from band to sleeve. Many of them are still here on the Band Forum, but many more are on the VSG Forum. Visit there, if you haven't already. And best of luck to you!

I had the band for three miserable years.
I had to wait 3 months to revise to the sleeve due to the amount of scar tissue it produces.

About a month after band removal I was in th e hospital with esophagitis. The surgeon believes this was caused by the band adhesions.

My sleeve surgeon said that my stomach was stuck to my liver with adhesions due to the band. There is no way around adhesions with the band. If you have it you will have adhesions. This is whymhe won't do the band anymore.

The sleeve is awesome! It is everything I thought the band would be. No vomiting or heartburn, intolernace of foods.

Hi Kathryn,
I don't know how much you have left to lose but I went from the band to a sleeve, then the sleeve to the DS. 

The sleeve or DS are very productive surgeries and I think you'd be happy with either.  Just choose based on the severity of your weight/obesity.

Best of luck!

Hi Kathryn,

I had a lap band for just under 3 years. I lost about 65 lbs the first year, but spent the next couple of years gaining that weight back when my complications started.

I revised to the sleeve December 2010 and am now at goal weight. I am very happy with the normal quality of life the sleeve offers me. While regain is a concern with any WLS including the sleeve, I do feel like the sleeve is giving me a better chance of maintaining this weight loss than the band gave me.

The sleeve is a relatively safe procedure; however, revisions do carry higher complication rates than virgin WLS. Many surgeons prefer that the band be out for a few months before revising in hopes that the stomach can heal from damage caused by the band, so you have that going in your favor. Talk to YOUR specific surgeon about his/her complication rate with revision surgeries.

There are many successful band to sleeve revisions around this site.

Come see us on the VSG board!

Best,
Lindsey