My Story. Had the band (dr. ortiz) in Mexico 3 years ago. Problems of slippage, and was removed 4 months ago. Supposed to be rebanded in FIVE days, but with all my searching around for support, came across the sleeve people and now I think I really want that. I never thought I could be 'that extreme' but sounds like it may not be too bad. Don't know how much more it costs, even, until I can call on Monday.

Sure could use some advice from some of you who have been through what I've been through. I'd hate to think I could fail again with the band...already spend $8500 band, $3500 removal, and then next surgery $6,000 for rebanding. Going back to Dr. Ortiz.

I'm on a crunch now... helppppppp...what to do...:biggrin0::001_unsure::001_unsure:

Do you have more to lose?

You couldn't pay me to have another band. Sorry, but it's true.

I had a band for only 8 months, those months sucked the life out of me. The sleeve is truly fabulous, and the lack of maintenance, food restrictions, puking on Water makes the sleeve even better.

Seriously, life with the sleeve is so much better than the band. Definitely read all of the threads in the band to sleeve revision sub-forum.

Best wishes, and if you have specific questions feel free to post away if you can't find the answers.

Sleeves are typically a couple thousand more than bands, but it may be different since you are considered a "revision".

Bands are a night mare. If you had band problems before, you will again.

The sleeve has virtually no aftercare . No fill, no unfills, no food getting stuck,no throwing up, no days where certain foods just won't work. I eat whatever I want and living with the sleeve is effortless.

I am with Tiffy on this. You could not pay me to get another band.

Oh yeah, once you figure in the cost of fills/unfills for the band, I would be willing to bet that the sleeves ends up right around the same cost if not less expensive.

That's really great to hear, you all. I'll be able to pull the extra $2000 together. I will check out the band-to-sleeve forum--didn't know there was one, thanks.

Angie, by the time I lost my band my skin was hanging off of me...it scared me to death. I couldn't keep any food down and liquids went down slowly. Since then I've gained probably 30 lbs. I probably gained 10 in days just because I was so dehydrated. But my weight is creeping up on me.

I'm wondering how long the hospital stay is---longer than the band? They probably won't be in the office until Tuesday and I'm supposed to have my surgery on Friday. I really hope they can rearrange the surgeries. I'm confident, now, that I don't want the band. You know, one of the docs told me on the phone about the sleeve initially when I called, but I said no because I didn't know that much about. It just kind of seems the sleeve has more of a success rate...maybe that's what he was trying to get at.

Thanks for all your help! I'll keep you guys posted. You've lifted my spirits a lot.

Rollermom - I still have my band in but unfilled due to dilation. Let me know how your do as I have just emailed my doc to go ahead with the arrangments for a sleeve - kinda excited and scared at the same time.

I have to agree....the band was a nightmare for me! Couldn't eat anything healthy....it came right back up! I was sleeved 7 weeks ago and it's getting better every day! So happy I was sleeved!

I agree with the comment, if you had band problems before, you will again. Sadly, I think that's probably true.

And that's coming for someone who has a perfectly functioning trouble free band. Dont even know what I'm doing here, lol, except that I was asked to join for my perspective on exercise and now and again I do pop in.

I have to say, I love my band, but I dont have that sense of security with it. You read about soooooo many problems that I just think I believe deep down that some day, something will go wrong.

once you've been banded, you've made that leap into the unknown, you've faced the fact that you cant use food again the way you did and that you'll be eating small portions forever. My attitude towards food, portion sizes and what constitues a meal and normal eating are so different now (my kids reckon I starve them) and I really dont think I'd have a lot of trouble with the concept of sleeving being irreversible if it came to that for me.

That said, I eat about 1800 calories a day now to maintain and cant see why in the world I would need to be restricted as low as a sleeve restricts you. That's my only concern - long term nutrition and adjustability. But I still dont think I'd get another band if i have a slip or whatever.

I'm just so thankful I found this site, as I was supposed to be re-banded in two days. Now I'm set for the sleeve and really happy about my decision. Nice, though, that you haven't had any problems yet.

Rollermom

You have made the best possible decision, well as far as I'm concerned!! For me the band was a disaster, and I only had it 9 months. I had my revision, and now I'm 2 lbs from goal!!! I could not be happier with my decision. The sleeve is so easy and carefree, just eat and go. I felt it was a much easier transition than the band. I have been able to eat ALL foods, just smaller portions.

Please keep us posted, we care!!

Keep your fingers crossed for me that I will be able to get the sleeve! I was going to get a lap-band but couldn't because of the size of my hiatal hernia, so at this point I consider the sleeve my only other option- I really don't want a by-pass.