Are you happy with your revision to the sleeve?
Good for you for maintaining your weight! I too had the band for 8 years, and was so miserable at the end I begged the surgeon to deflate it just to give me a break. Good thing I went back to him, because when I did a barium swallow he was shocked to see even liquid not going through! They asked me how I got food down, and I told them that, believe it or not, I used to jump up and down sometimes just to get the food to pass! That's what I ended up having to do right then and there to get the barium to go through. I had had the darn thing UNfilled twice already, and it still tightened up on me that much. So I hear you on that one!
Getting it revised to the sleeve was absolutely the right thing to do, and since I got it done almost 2 years ago, I NEVER have felt the urge to vomit after eating, which was a constant with the band. I no longer have to look for the bathroom as soon as I enter a restaurant, and no longer have to avoid bread, pasta, and other food because of the chance of it getting "stuck" (although I avoid them anyway just because they aren't good choices).
Good luck to you - you're making a good choice!
I had my band removed December 2014 had in put in 2010. I've been so happy with the sleeve. As u said my band also tighten by itself and I had to always go to bathroom to dump. It was very embarrassing out with family or friends to do this.i would order food and start eating when my band decided I wasn't . I lost in beginning but really had to diet. Then started gaining. I already lost 35 lbs. and can eat almost anything. I get full very fast and I'm starting to judge at a glance the amount to take with taking too much and leaving half. This is the best thing I've ever done. I recommend to anyone who has problem losing weight. I feel it safe and effective....
I had my band removed on May 2014 and I had VSG on Nov 4th 2014. I am feeling the different between the band and the sleeve. I love the sleeve and I think it was right move.
My issue with Band was always hungry and it did work for the good stuff (steak, chicken, hard vegetables.....) and I used to throw up all the time with hard food.
Now 3.5 months with sleeve and It is working with all the food and almost no throw up. I just had to be careful with amount of the food I am eating and I hungry feeling is way better now.
The other point is the recover after sleeve was harder for me than the band.
Good luck