Need band removal...thinking sleeve...

[SamieTeacher 0]

Hello,

I was banded 12-29-08 (just about a year ago) and my doc discovered a leak in my band. He gave me the option of getting a new band or a sleeve. He highly suggested the sleeve.

I decided yesterday (my bandiversary) to go with the sleeve. I'm nervous and scared. My husband got a band on 2-16-09 and has had great success. It took a while to figure out that I had a leak...the excuse "men lose weight faster" was always said.

I am have always had a huge phobia of needles...I've passed out just at the sight of them. I'm proud of myself for having band surgery but never thought a year later I'd be looking at another surgery!

Anyway, I'm 30 and live in SW Florida. I'd love to hear from any of you as I continue this crazy weight loss journey!

[Tiffykins 672]

Hey Samie, and welcome to VST. We live in NW Florida panhandle near between Pensacola and Panama City.

I'm a band to sleeve revision patient, and I'll be honest, the sleeve is so fabulous. I made it to goal in less than 7 months, and couldn't be happier.

I had complications with my band, gained weight with it, and was just downright miserable.

My mom and younger brother have the band. My mom has had hers for 2 years, does the sliming, pb'ing practically daily and pukes a couple times a week, and she just thinks it's normal. My younger brother has done fabulous and had great success (100 pounds loss in 5 months), but has only had it since May 2009. My mom has only lost 60% of her EW, and of course that's a successful band per the stats. But, I wouldn't trade my quality of life for hers to have another band.

Keep us posted on your journey, ask any questions that you may have, we'll all be here for you.

[youknowit 11]

my doc discovered a leak in my band.

This is a rare complication, but I also had a leak in my band... 2.5 years after initial implantation. Ugh. I lost a LOT of weight with the band, never had the "typical" band issues... Then, it was gone. I'm planning to revise to a sleeve here soon... Wasn't able to do so at the time of removal, due to severe erosion into my stomach (can I say as a side note - Allergan and my original doctor - Not Dr. Aceves - told me to "keep it in there, it's no big deal"... hello?!). Anyways, if you ever want to chat about this, PM me. I know this is so hard and scary. Here's to your sleeve!

:001_smile::thumbup1:

Edited December 31, 2009 by youknowit
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[i1Linda 15]

Hi Samie!

I don't have any words of wisdom on a revision. I am a sleevester from the start. But I love my sleeve and love my quality of life with it. When I first started researching WLS - LapBand specifically, I was amazed at all the "do's and don'ts" of LapBand. What I have today with the sleeve is exactly what I was interested in having before I had even heard of VSG - I love that I have no real restrictions on food but just can't eat much of it at any one time and I rarely feel hungry. I have always known what to do to lose weight, it was the doing it that I found difficult - I just got hungry and needed a lot of food to feel full. VSG was perfect. Good luck and welcome to VST.

[deedee 5]

Welcome to VST Sammie! I have no experience with the band, but can tell you I've been super happy with the sleeve. I turned 30 a couple of months ago and I can tell you this decade is already rocking thanks to my new sleeve tool. Congratulations on your decision!

[SamieTeacher 0]

Thanks to all of you. I'm feeling a little bit better. I've been having nightmares...trying to calm myself down. I like that this surgery is laproscopic, too. I'm a middle school teacher, from what my doctor said the recovery time (before going back to work) will be about 2 weeks. Does that seem right? Also he said I'd probably spend 1 night in the hospital (I didn't spend the night with my band, although my husband did). I appreciate the support from all of you! I am already starting to gain weight back as there's no liquid in my band...looking forward to getting a surgery date!

[deedee 5]

I'm a middle school teacher a well and think I could have gone back to work after 2 weeks. From weeks 2-4, I was very exhausted, but feeling much better than the first two weeks, so I'd suggest planning appropriate units if possible. Not sure what you teach, but you probably won't be up to grading any major projects after school or at night that first month post-op, you'll just want to be home and resting. Just something to keep in mind.

[Shontel 3]

sami: I had the lap band for 3 years. I had to go 3 hours to have fills, and in the end, it wouldn't fill or empty, they thought it was erroded into my stomach. (not to mention the 30 plus pounds I gained back out of the 60 I lost) I did a lot of research, I wanted something that was maintenance free...I found it! I have only had it a month, but I can tell you, compared to the band...no sliming, no pb'ing, no walking around to 'wait' for the food to go through...you just eat a little and THAT'S it. I WISH I WOULD HAVE DONE THIS FROM THE VERY BEGINNING (would have saved thousands, lol self-pay) but more than that, I think those of us who are revisions already have our tricks for eating. I know I pay more attention to how I eat, slowly, chewing everything to a pulp. This was just common for me, and it has helped me alot having the sleeve. Feel free to Private Message me if you have any questions! Hope this helped a little!

[annak4 1]

I think you would definitely need two weeks off of work. I had my sleeve on 12/22 and go back to work next week, 1/4. There is no way I could have gone back this week. I'm a HS counselor so I just used the holiday break as part of my recovery. Which didn't make for the best Christmas, but I HATE to miss work! I am a band revision as well and know that all I learned to do with the band will pay off with the sleeve. The eating guidelines are so much the same. I lost 70 lbs with the band but gained 40 back.

Good luck!

[wannabehealthy 0]

Sorry to hear about your complications. In a way, it's good this is happening now and your doc is giving you the option of revision. It must be hard to have the band anyways, being afraid of needles (all those fill/unfills!!) I'm sure the revision will go smoothly, as your band was not in for too long. I wish you luck and keep us posted on your decision/revision date.

[wannabehealthy 0]

I think you would definitely need two weeks off of work. I had my sleeve on 12/22 and go back to work next week, 1/4. There is no way I could have gone back this week. I'm a HS counselor so I just used the holiday break as part of my recovery. Which didn't make for the best Christmas, but I HATE to miss work! I am a band revision as well and know that all I learned to do with the band will pay off with the sleeve. The eating guidelines are so much the same. I lost 70 lbs with the band but gained 40 back.

Good luck!

I agree with you, I think a lot of the principles that I learned with the band will come in handy when I do get the sleeve. It's funny, but I really don't care so much about what I eat, I just always look for Protein first!

[Tracy46545 6]

When you go back to work is a very individual thing. I went back 1 week post surgery, but for me, going to work is very much like staying home in that I'm in a home environment with access to my fluids, Soups, etc. No strenous lifting or anything. I could even take a nap if I needed to while my patient napped. However, I still had days where I came home and could have taken a two hour nap! Fatigue is the surprising side affect of the surgery because with laproscopic surgery you tend to heal pretty fast, and you don't expect "tiredness" to affect you. As for being in the hospital one night. I had my revision from lapband to sleeve with Dr. Aceves in Mexicali, Mexico. He keeps his sleeve patients 3 nights in the hospital and checks for leaks with a different test each day. I felt very secure traveling on the fourth day knowing I had passed all my leak tests. I know I wouldn't have wanted to go home after only one night in the hospital but I guess everyone is different.

[FabBy50 0]

Hi I'm new to the sleeve thing, just got mine on Dec 30th. But already I LOVE the difference, granted I'm not eating yet. With the band I had trouble even drinking Water. food now that was awful. I did research on the sleeve before I did the band but not enough! If I would have I would have done the sleeve to start with.

Samie do you have a date yet? I really hope you get it done quickly!

Good luck, Bernadette

[TeacherToni 0]

Hi, I was sleeved a week ago, and I feel well enough to teach. I teach at a college, so I have another week before the new semester begins. When I made the appointment, I wanted to leave enough time in case there were complications. Last week was rough (I am a big baby when it comes to pain), but I feel great today!

[FabBy50 0]

[Hi Samie

Did you get a day set for your revision yet? I can tell you that you are making the right choice in getting the sleeve. I was banded in March, did great for awhile and then the problems started.

The sleeve is night and day difference from the band, all I ever did was "work" with the band. And I mean work!! I had trouble eating, drinking anything associated with food. It was awful.

I just turned 50 and wish I would have done this 10 years ago!! It is so much easier. You just pick what food you want and eat!! Amazing as that may sound it is true, I make sure I get my Protein, still struggle with getting enough water!!

Good luck on your journey!!!!! You will love your sleeve, it is like being a normal person. You eat until you are full, and that is it!!