Long time bandit with questions

[to-sleeve-or-not-to-sleeve 0]

Hi everyone

I have joined your group mostly for some opinions.

I live in Australia and had Band surgery in 2004. At that time I weighed 180kg (397lb) with a BMI 62. That wasn't my highest weight but I have no idea what that was as I couldn't be weighed anywhere other than the local Grain Store and I wasn't going to be doing that!!!

Anyway in the first 2 years I lost 85kg (185lb). I had little if any problem with my band and I lived my life then as a "normal" person. I was simply not able to keep under the 100kg mark and hovered for 2 years around the 105kg mark. I had an adominoplasty to remove about 9lb of skin in 2007. Less than a year later I had to have a hysterectomy. So, anyway, when I had the adominoplasty I had the fill removed from my band to make it easier with medications etc. Between then and the hysterectomy I started to have my band refilled but it was never "quite right" after that. Then after the hysterectomy I gained 10kg (22lb) almost overnight! (ok maybe not overnight but quickly!)

I started getting severe reflux at night. (there is something particularly attractive about having projectile reflux out through your nose in the middle of the night!) Anyway I was put on all the various medications, had fill in and out, tried to live with it, and eventually after aspirating a bit and developing a chest infection I had the whole fill removed.

So, now, four months later (including a 6 week vacation to France!) I have gained probably another 15kg...I haven't weighed myself but I would guestimate that all up I am approx 125-130kg (287lb).

So now comes the crux of my story. I know I have to start getting my fill back in. I know that without it given another 12 to 18 months I will be back to my highest weight again. I also know I can't live my life with reflux like I have had in the recent past. I have just turned 50 years old (which I know that without the band I wouldn't have seen) and I have an expectation of being around another 30 years or so. I don't see that I can live with the band, with adjustments and reflux, (not to mention the fact that eventually this band will have to be replace I am sure) so I have started to think about having a Sleeve. (you KNEW I was going to say that didn't you?!).

I have been "happy" with the band, if you can be happy with reflux, blockages and upchucks. The one thing that really sold me on the band was the fact it is reversible (not that a sleeve was given as an option then) and if it turned out "bad" I could simply have it removed. I know the Sleeve isn't reversible and so I am a bit nervous about the "what ifs"

To use a really bad anology on a weightloss forum, I guess I want my cake and eat it too! I want something to help me lose the regained weight and to maintain that loss, but I don't want to think that I might end up regretting something I can reverse.

Of course in 7 years I have learnt to "cheat" my band, so please don't think I blame my band for any regain. If someone asked me what it is like to live with a band when it is giving restriction I would have to say it has some rather unpleasant sides to it but that I would never want to live without it, or "something" in it's place . Obviously I am afraid if I go the way of a sleeve that there are the risks of leaks and infections etc, but I hear/read the liklihood is fairly low. I am a lot healthier now 110lb lighter than when I had the band and I would use my band surgeon for the Sleeve and I have confidence in him. But I guess I just would really like to hear what others think and if there is anyone out there who has gone from band to sleeve what they can tell me about everyday living with the Sleeve. Any other words of wisdom would be appreciated too. And I want you to be honest...if you think I'm nuts then tell me! lol. One really good aspect though is that my surgeon says he won't charge me anything over what the Health Insurance pays so I won't have any out of pocket expenses if I decide to do this.

Thanks for reading this long speel. I hope to be around learning from you guys for a while . I am off to see my surgeon for a chat next Thursday.

[elcee 3,343]

One of the things I find strange about sleeves is that a lot of people convert to a sleeve due to bad reflux with the band, yet if I read the sleeve support board it seems that all sleevers routinely take antireflux meds. That just doesn't make sense to me. I believe that it is also possible to learn how to eat around a sleeve. basically the same way as you do with your band - sliders, drinking with meals, constant grazing etc. I think the greatest benefit of the sleeve is that you do not have to wait for months getting fills to reach restriction like you do with a band. But it also seems that there is a honeymoon period where you lose most of the weight and after that if you don't stick with the rules you start gaining again.

Does that sound familiar?

You should probably go onto the sleeve board and read some of the posts. Most of them seem very happy with their sleeves but most of them have been sleeved for under 2 years. I think to get an idea of long term success would be quite difficult.

[Cindy C 150]

I think that generally, night time reflux is caused from the band being too tight. Could it be that after your hysterectomy you just never found your green zone again. It's been 4 months. Maybe you should try getting your fills again. Whatever was going on 4 months ago may not be happening now. BTW, a six week vacation to France? I am so jealous!

[Jack 855]

regarding some of your issues post hys etc, it sounds like your esophagus has never quite readapted to its new role.

I've wondered about the sleeve myself but will wait a few more years to see what the longer term consensus becomes.

I've had a few issues with having been too tight and having to take months to reestablish the sweet spot with no hunger, small meals, no complaints....but it does come eventually.

I've never had night time regurgitation, but gather the impression it very often is related to late eating as well as being too tight.

I've had moments where daily PBs could be an issue, but I've found ways to live with that occasional turmoil.

[lizzy2150 3]

Have you considered looking into gastric plication? That's currently my go-to plan if the band ever causes me trouble . . .