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After visiting my surgeon today for my consultation. He recommended the sleeve for me. Has anyone had the band converted to a sleeve or really know anything about it? Thanks

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The surgeon said that many WLS are beginning to phase the band out due to the addition maintenance and future surgeries required bc it is just plastic and it won't last forever. My insurance will only cover ONE surgery a lifetime so if it failed I'd be screwed...(his words not mine) :)

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Well, he's right on one thing, there is no guarantee that your band will last forever. But, the complication rate is actually much lower than the Sleeve or Bypass. Granted this is just my opinion, but as much I would hate ever losing my band at least having it removed is an option. If you get the Sleeve and something goes wrong you can never get back the huge portion of your stomach they cut out.

I might also point out that many surgeons push the Sleeve or Bypass because they're the money makers. They make far more off them then they do the Lap Band.

The fact is, only approximately 5% of Lap Band patients have serious complications by no fault of their own. That means if you follow the rules and do what you're supposed to, you have a 95% chance of never having complications. Those are darn good odds.

Here's a couple studies that prove it:

Weight Stays Off Long After Lap Band Surgery

Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding In 2000

Consecutive Obese Patients: 12-Year Results

Best wishes with whatever you decide!

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The sleeve fails too.. So if that fails your screwed anyway..

But just a little info..

If your band slips, leaks, or erodes.. A majority of insurance companies consider that a medical emergency not an additional surgery.

Andddd

As u can read on this board, people that were banded years ago, lose the weight, gain it back, then 4-5 years later.. Are starting their journeys over (with the same exact band) just by adjusting their fills and eating a proper band diet.

You can seek a second a opinion sounds like your surgeon prefers sleeve for his own reasons.

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I looked into other options such as the sleeve, but found that is too risky for me. The surgeon I talked said that with the sleeve, your stomach can still stretch back out over time, which requires another surgery to correct. With the band it is meant to stay in forever, but is reversible if needed. There is the possibility of complications with any surgical procedure, but I just fill more comfortable the stats with the Lapband. The sleeve is a newer procedure so there isn't a lot of long term data. It may be good to get a second opinion. I actually talked to three different surgeons before I made a decision.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

        Now I have a whole new big, bigger, biggest, best days ever. I am out there with those skinny people doing stuff i could never have dreamt of. Food is now an after thought. It doesn't consume my day. I still enjoy the good home cooked food but I eat smaller portions. I leave food on my plate when I am full. I can no longer hear my mother's voice saying eat it all up, ther are starving children in Africa who would want that!

        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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    • KimBaxleyWilson

      Three months and four days ago... I was in Costa Rica having a life changing surgery! Yesterday we had a followup visit with Dr. Esmeral via video chat and this morning my middle number changed.  I'm down 47lbs and two pants sizes. I can wear a Large tshirt for the first time in like... 14 years! Woot!! Everything is going great. I have zero regrets. I went down to the riverwalk with a friend and walked 2 miles on Monday without even getting fatigued. And no more snoring or chugging pickle juice for crazy leg cramps! I need to go to the gym more... I'm making new shirts next week so that will motivate me. LOL But I'm also just not as TIRED all the time! I have a LONG way to go...but seeing the progress on the scales and in the mirror is a huge motivator!! Thank you all for cheering me on and supporting me!!
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      1. This update has no replies.
    • bellaamey

      https://alluniqueguide.com/java-burn-coffee-reviews/
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