Hi all ! I just had my first consult at the wt loss center ---- I went in thinking that if I had surgery at all it would be the band, mostly because I really don't like the idea of cutting stuff away permanently; and everyone there (the surgeon, the nurse, the insurance person) were all like, you should get the gastric sleeve, we see people with the sleeve really having the most success... The nurse had had a lap-band and she told me that it didn't really work for her, she was still hungry a lot, she still had cravings, she was regaining weight... if she could do it again she would have had a sleeve instead and she was actually considering a conversion. The surgeon broke it down that with the band it helps you about 30% and you have to put in 70% of the effort, and with the sleeve it helps you 80% and you need 20% of the effort. I know that it's not magic and I'd be expecting to still have to work at it, but that really scared me that they were so unencouraging about it. I guess my question is, would you do it again if you had the choice?

Thank you for taking the time to answer me. That is a very encouraging story! For sure, I'd much rather take a few years to reach my goal and keep it off than lose it in a short time and then gain it back. Major congratulations to you for the effort you have put toward reaching your goal.

my friend had the sleeve done at the same time i got the lapband. she had 200+ pounds to lose and i had 70+ pounds to lose.

she lost 160 pounds very quickly. it took me 3 years to lose 69 pounds.

almost 3 years post op, she has started gaining her weight back. i have continuously lost weight and am still losing.

in the beginning of our journey, my friend used to tell me i'd be sorry that i didn't get the sleeve because she was losing quickly and could eat anything she wanted. i was very limited in what i could eat and how much i could eat. i had a difficult time with not over eating. in the beginning i threw up a lot while trying to find foods i could eat but had to learn about the foods i could no longer eat.

what it comes down to is what YOU feel comfortable with. it can't hurt to do research on both procedures but the lapband isn't permanent. i haven't gained any weight back. so i'm happy with my choice!

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. I have done research, and when I went for my consultation I was very clear in my own mind that I wanted the Band, for all the reasons that you have given me and more. but when they were all so pushing the sleeve I started second-guessing myself. That's when I yelled for help. It's been very encouraging to hear all your stories, Thanks, again!

You need to hang around the vertical sleeve boards and don't just read...ask people what particular difficulties they've had. That way you know what you're in for and whether you want to risk dealing with those same problems.

Many surgeons push the sleeve and bypass because the patient does lose a significant amount of weight just by virtue of the surgery and in the first year. This is not typical of the band. *However*...is it really all about how fast we can lose the weight (which has its own set of problems)...or whether we keep it off? According to one medical report I recently read, at 5 years postop, the stats for all WLS are pretty similar in amount lost.

I would say the band takes a great deal more patience than bypass or sleeve because it can takes many months to get to the point where the band is actually helping...if it ever does. So if someone knows they're an impatient person, they might want to consider this carefully.

If someone is self-pay, the sleeve might be a better option just because there are follow-up fills with the band which can amount to a hefty sum. I've averaged a visit per month over the first year (about right according to my surgeon). Some do it in less...some do it with more.

Get a piece of paper out and list the pros and cons for both the band and sleeve...and don't let the surgeons push you into something you don't want.

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Thank you for sharing your experience. That must have taken a lot courage to cancel your surgery the day of your pre-op! If gny were the only option available I simply would not get the surgery because of the malabsorption issues you mentioned. I think you're right, what matters is how much effort you're willing to put into it, no matter which one you choose. Thanks for the great advice and encouragement.

You are very welcome. Anytime!

The relationship you had with food before your band sounds a lot like mine is now. The fact that you were 54 when you got it is another encouraging piece, since I am now 51. I did do research, and when I went for my consultation I was very clear in my own mind that, for a number of reasons, I wanted the band. But when they were all so pushing the sleeve I started second-guessing myself. That's when I yelled for help. Hearing all the stories from all the people who were kind enough to respond has done a lot to help me re-settle my mind. Thanks, again!

Well you definitely will not be able to eat lg amounts of food. I just love to eat and had a big appetite. Combined, I would eat past being full at times just because I enjoyed the food so much. Like most people overweight, I'm sure emotions often played into it.

Don't be overly concerned with the people who do not lose for months or take a few years to reach goal. I was unable to exercise until the weight was off due to severe back and knee issues. I still lost steadily at a rate of 8 pounds avg per month and had reached my original goal in 9 months and went on to lose another 20 pounds in a few more months. Definitely exercise as much as you can. I promise if I can lose weight that fast with little effort, the band has potential to help many people lose weight quickly. I was 54 when I had surgery so age was against me as well. I started at a size 22/24 and now wear a size 5/6 jeans and a med. shirt. I had never in my life worn less than a size 12.

If you do choose to get the band, after researching some more, and you have the motivation, you will most likely be very successful! Best wishes.

Thank you so much for your encouraging words. Basically, what it comes down to for me is that I simply can't bring myself to consider doing what amounts to a permanent amputation (sleeve). When I went for my consultation I was very clear in my own mind that I wanted the band, but when they were all so insistent that the sleeve was the way to go I started second-guessing myself. That's why I really needed to hear about some success stories. I know it's different for everyone, but with so many people out there who have made it I am choosing to believe that I will do it, too. Thanks, again!uote name='Humming Bird' timestamp='1299879802' post='1585035']

The band works different for everyone and I bet the sleeve works different for everyone as well. I can only tell you how the band has been for me and my own experience. I have lost more than 100% of my excess weight and went from a BMI of 41.3 to a BMI of 24. I have put in very little effort along the way. For me, the band has done at least 85%, maybe more. It has changed my life for the better and I am so very glad I did it. Do your research and make the choice that is best for you. It will come to you. Only you will know what the best decision is. I wish you the best on your weightloss journey.

Thank you so much for your encouraging words. Basically, what it comes down to for me is that I simply can't bring myself to consider doing what amounts to a permanent amputation (sleeve). When I went for my consultation I was very clear in my own mind that I wanted the band, but when they were all so insistent that the sleeve was the way to go I started second-guessing myself. That's why I really needed to hear about some success stories. I know it's different for everyone, but with so many people out there who have made it I am choosing to believe that I will do it, too. Thanks, again!quote name='Humming Bird' timestamp='1299879802' post='1585035']

The band works different for everyone and I bet the sleeve works different for everyone as well. I can only tell you how the band has been for me and my own experience. I have lost more than 100% of my excess weight and went from a BMI of 41.3 to a BMI of 24. I have put in very little effort along the way. For me, the band has done at least 85%, maybe more. It has changed my life for the better and I am so very glad I did it. Do your research and make the choice that is best for you. It will come to you. Only you will know what the best decision is. I wish you the best on your weightloss journey.

The relationship you had with food before your band sounds a lot like mine is now. The fact that you were 54 when you got it is another encouraging piece, since I am now 51. I did do research, and when I went for my consultation I was very clear in my own mind that, for a number of reasons, I wanted the band. But when they were all so pushing the sleeve I started second-guessing myself. That's when I yelled for help. Hearing all the stories from all the people who were kind enough to respond has done a lot to help me re-settle my mind. Thanks, again!

I have read about people who are very happy with the sleeve procedure. I also had a fear of getting a serious illness such as cancer and having my eating so restricted. I liked the idea that the band can be emptied at such times allowing a person to possibly get more nutrition and having an increased appetite at.

I do think it would be important that you have a Dr. who has confidence in the band and also one who has tons of experience doing the surgery. I think the expertise of the surgeon in placing the band and securing it might have much to do with a person's success and avoiding problems with it.