Band07

had a lapband for 6 years, I LOVED my band, I went from 223 to 139 lbs and I maintained around 145 for years ! However, in order to do that I had to keep the band very tight. I couldn't eat anything before noon or after 6 without pain and suffering. When my body had enough I had shoulder pain and chest pain and never just felt full. I was always dehydrated and ended up with kidney stones twice but i was happy to sacrifice because I was a size 6/8 for the first time in my life ! But live long enough that way and it causes problems (severe reflux) and just misery any time you eat or try too. My surgeon started offering the sleeve and after years of "selling" the band to others (with my personal success as a witness) I asked him to revise me to the sleeve because everyone said how wonderful it was. Well for many it is but for me I hate mine. It's not always the same for someone who has had prior surgery so as I type this today, I have gained 20 lbs since the sleeve and it's a fight (that I'm losing) to not gain more. I had many barium swallows over the years that always showed a dilated pouch. Sorry so long, I pasted it from a prior post lol

@cute 1 Have you consulted with Dr. Rod at all ? Any ideas what happened with your sleeve?

Yes ! You are not alone ! I was banded in 2007 and did great as well. I revised to sleeve in 2013 and I hate it and Iv gained 20 lbs with it and I'm always hungry and it's truly like I never even had surgery at all of any kind. I never imagined that I would even consider any type if malabsorption procedure but I'm scheduled to revise to a mini bypass in less than 2 weeks and I can't wait to put this small detour (sleeve) behind me and get back to losing weight again !

This morning I weighed 187, hardly skinny ! My BMI is 31, that's officially obese.

When i consulted with dr. Rod about resleeving I was told he doesn't think it's a good idea and recommends the revision to MGB instead, I did a ton of research and have to say I agree, he is doing mine on 4/23.

I'm scheduled for MGB on 4/23. From what Iv read dumping is well controlled with proper diet and as long as you keep up on vitamins and protein shouldn't have any issues with that either. There is a board here under other procedures that has some good info.

Thankfully Iv been told all those things are possible, but I still think it will be worth it !

I did great with the band but revised to sleeve only to find myself steadily gaining more and more weight, I'm revising to MGB on 4/23 and I couldn't be more excited ! Iv read so many great things about it, I'm ready to beat this once and for all !

I'm SO sorry to hear about your husband, that must have been terrible for you. Yes, I'm sure my dilated esophagus was from keeping the band too tight for so many years. I hate that Iv gained weight but I don't miss the band at all. Have you looked into the MGB ? I never ever thought I would consider it but I haven't read a single negative thing about it ..

Who are you going to ?

I'm not sure about the liquids for some reason Iv never been a big drinker of anything so the band just increased what was already a struggle with the whole don't drink and eat thing and wait 30 mins. I didn't revise only because of reflux, It was managed with Prilosec well enough but more so because of just sick of the whole lifestyle that came with the band. Yes I could have loosened or unfilled but only with weight gain. Iv not had even a slight bit of reflux since removing the band but I also had a hiatal hernia repair during the revision. I had many barium swallows over the years since I worked in the surgeons office, a few dilated pouches that I would refill for about a month to correct but they never fully corrected. My esophagus is still dilated even in my recent X-rays.

I am so sorry you have had such problems. I have been (happily) banded for nine years but have seen others banded around the same time having serious complications and for some, like you, removal. Equally, as you say, I know many people totally happy with their sleeve but a good friend of mine has had her whole life turned upside down by hers and has simply had to accept that this is her life from now on. All surgery carries risks and I am always concerned when people rush into it without real knowledge. Your post is a good reminder to those looking into surgery - it may not be what they hope. Please don't take this amiss if I just add one thing. Banded people cannot remove all risk. But they can minimise it. And the main way of doing that is by never keeping the band so tight that it physically prevents us eating or causes pain. If either if these things s happening, food is backing up into the oesophagus which can lead to oesophageal dilation or dysmotiliy or damage to the vagus nerve. Nothing is worth that! It us true and in the last few years thankfully the new way of thinking at my office was stay as loose as possible and still lose as opposed to the 3 bite tight mentality that i was banded under.

Take this for what it is, just my personal thoughts and experiences but that being said, I had a lapband for 6 years, Iv had the sleeve for a year and a half and I worked for a bariatric surgeon for almost 7 years. I LOVED my band, I went from 223 to 139 lbs and I maintained around 145 for years ! However, in order to do that I had to keep the band very tight. I couldn't eat anything before noon or after 6 without pain and suffering. When my body had enough I had shoulder pain and chest pain and never just felt full. I was always dehydrated and ended up with kidney stones twice but i was happy to sacrifice because I was a size 6/8 for the first time in my life ! But live long enough that way and it causes problems (severe reflux) and just misery any time you eat or try too. Of the hundreds of patients Iv worked with over the years, very few (maybe 30/40% ) have kept off weight and been successful long term with the band. My surgeon started offering the sleeve and after years of "selling" the band to others (with my personal success as a witness) I asked him to revise me to the sleeve because everyone said how wonderful it was. Well for many it is but for me I hate mine. It's not always the same for someone who has had prior surgery so as I type this today, I have gained almost 20 lbs since the sleeve and it's a fight (that I'm losing) to not gain more. That being said, if I was starting as a virgin patient today; I would choose the sleeve or the mini gastric bypass (which I'm revising too). We didn't know enough about the band in 2007 when I had mine but we now know there are cases of it fusing to the liver or embedding in the stomach wall and the chances are if you go with the band you WILL at some point have a revision. We really don't have all that long term study on the sleeve and while I don't worry and complications, I do think it will be at risk for regain. Do your research, make your own decision but i at least wanted to share my story.

Yes it is possible to resleeve. Regardless of what others will tell you it is possible to restretch you stomach, some people are more likely than others for a lot of reasons. My "sleeve" is very large, my surgeon used a 42 Bougie and had to start with a larger sleeve because of scar tissue. It easily stretched out in just a years time. I have X-rays to prove the size and for me, it wasn't about cutting carbs or increasing exercise. I needed a tool that worked for me as long as I work for it and I don't have that. Be sure though that it is the sleeve that is "broken" and not you before restoring to another surgery. I obsessively researched resleeving for months as well as pouch resets and back to basics before deciding to revise to MGB. I'm scheduled for 4/23. Best of luck for whatever you decide.

Thanks guys ! I'm scheduled to revise to MGB on 4/23.

Who is doing your surgery ?

I don't drink a lot but do enjoy the occasional margarita every few months, how long after surgery and how does it effect you now ?

Guilty ! Lol that's me, just trying to get as much information as possible as I think of things. It's really not that big of a deal for me, I'm 99% of the time the DD and prefer to drink water because of the high calorie content of alcohol and it always puts me up a couple of pounds. The only time I would actually miss it would be on a vacation.

My family is a little ( a lot) worried even though Iv produced numerous articles discussing the decrease in violence over the last couple of years. Please share your experiences so that I can share with them.

You're right Rocky, I know we've talked before and I had told you I was fine with it, they however they always think the worst lol I know there are so many on here who have not had any problems at all, I was just hopeful hearing a few stories would calm their nerves a little lol

You will feel so much better having it removed ! I loved mine and never even realized how it was affecting me until it was gone. I can tell you even though I'm gaining weight I still know I'm much healthier than I was with the band and I definitely don't miss PBs, sliming, back and shoulder pain and feeling stuck for hours after every meal !

Wow that is unfortunate you had to go through all that ! I swear to you that would have been my first suspicion if you had posted on here that you had the cough, I can't believe it took your doctors a year to figure it out. Though I have actually worked in the bariatric surgery field for over 6 years so Iv seen that quite a bit. Yes Iv also read MGB is a cure for that but just today I watched a video in which Dr. Rutledge said that it is not necessary to fix a hiatal hernia if doing a MGB and any surgeon who says it is, is not experienced with the procedure.

http://www.slideshare.net/mobile/DrRRMD/fear-confusion-about-the-risk-of-cancer-after-bariatric-surgery

https://sites.google.com/a/clos.net/mini/billroth-ii/billroth-ii-and-cancer

Form what I read it prevents it but Iv also read conflicting reports about the risks of cancer, some say it does not reduce the chances.