Squeaky123

Hi, I currently had the lap band and am getting a revision to the sleeve on October 2. I have had the lap band and if I had to do it all over again, I would not have it. It is very hard to comply with the rules of the band. You have to cut up your food in the smallest pieces you can imagine. I could not eat many foods. I could not eat dense foods like chicken. I could not eat one bite of chicken for lunch; yet I could eat a bunch of crackers. I had vomitting issues, pain like you would not believe. I never felt full, only stuck or unstuck. I would not recommend the band.

It shouldn't be an issue with the surgery but make sure you tell them. I never had surgery with my period but I had a very heavy period when I had a colonoscopy and I was worried about leaking out even with a super tampon. They gave me disposal underwear and a pad for the colonoscopy which they just pulled down during the procedure. I know it's gross but this must happen to so many women.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to reply. I'm getting more and more comfortable (and less scared) of the sleeve. I'm going for it !!! Just a few more appointments and then can schedule !

Hi, I was banded in February 2008 with a start weight of 220. My lowest weight was 180 and I never lost more than that. Due to other problems with the band, like food getting stuck and vomiting, the Dr. suggested the sleeve. So I am seriously considering it. My concern is that I failed with the band. It did not erode or slip like I see so often. I just didn't lose the weight and I ate around the band. So I'm seriously wondering if I will succeed with the sleeve. I would like to think that part of it is the band in that the food got stuck and I never felt full. But it would be comforting to me if I heard from someone who didn't lose a lot of weight with the band but did with the sleeve. Thoughts?

I have the band right now and am probably going to get the sleeve. People ask me about the band and I will tell them honestly. DO NOT GET THE BAND ! Here is my life since the band: (1) Can barely eat in the morning when it's more important but can pig out at night. (2) Turned to drinking more milk and smoothies and Soups because food would not go down. (3) Food got constantly stuck and had to throw up. This would happen sometimes after ONE BITE OF chicken. (4) Could eat crackers, Cookies and other junk food easily but healthy food would not go down. (5) vomiting several times a day. (6) significant pain when eating until I could throw up. (7) random periods of extreme tightness to such a degree that I needed an "emergency" unfill (8) lost only a total of 40 pounds which is less than 50 percent of my excess weight. I am not the only one. do not get the band

Hi, I had the lap band in 2008 and failed miserably. My food was either stuck or went through and I learned to eat around the band. I lost 40 pounds but then needed an emergency unfill due to not being able to drink and I have gained all but 10 pounds back. I now weigh 210. My doctor recommended the sleeve. Without thinking too much, I had it submitted to insurance and I was shocked that they approved it right away (they gave me trouble with the band). So now that I'm finally here, I'm scared to have another surgery, this one with a lot more cutting. The other thing I'm afraid about is failing again. After all, I already failed once with a restrictive only procedure. I can't have a third surgery. This has to be it. My question is, should I have the bypass that is the gold standard or the sleeve which doesn't re-route the intenstines. I'm agonizing over this decision. My two main questions are: how serious is the acid reflux with the sleeve really? I hate GERD and don't want to be on meds the rest of my life. and, can someone who has had the sleeve a couple of years or more tell me how they are doing? Thanks so much for your help and comments.

I am new and haven't even been sleeved yet but I was reading on another post that when people's weight stalled, they cut their carbs and that seemed to help a lot. Just an idea