I was banded in January of '06. Lost almost 100 lbs in 9 mos which was awesome, but then something happened? Not sure what, but things just changed. Food started getting stuck all the time, I was having trouble even eating minced, moist chicken. I was PBing a lot and getting constant esophageal spasms....OUCHIE!!! All this and it started out of nowhere. I didn't have any sort of adjustment. After about another six months of struggling with it and having fill removed/added, my pshyche was just done....I guess I sort of gave up. (I know...shame on me!)

Now it's 2010, I still have this useless band that's unfilled and I'm still having esophageal spasms and getting food stuck. I told my surgeon and they didn't do anything. I'm worried I may have adhesions or the band has slipped. I've gained soooo much weight. I weigh 75lbs more now than I did before my banding and I am just crying.

I'm fairly young and I have been wanting to get revised to an RNY, but I am terrified of the mal-absorption and vitamin deficiencies that come with it. The restriction of the band, when it was working like it was supposed to, was great and very helpful....but then it just went all ape-sh*t on me.

I learned about VSG recently and have been doing a lot of reading about it. I've read many people's comments and suggestions and been to many sites and I have not heard anybody say the regret getting revised to the Sleeve. I know after reading everything that I want the Sleeve instead of RNY. Although the thought of another surgery scares me, the fact that there isn't any bypassing of intestines is a relief for me.

I just started with a new employer. I'm a Nurse and the Surgeons at the hospital I work for down in San Diego, CA do the VSG. My insurance kicks in in two months and I am HOPING that they will cover VSG. Some insurances will only cover banding and RNY. I am crossing my fingers and toes.

Any suggestions, tips, or comments are welcome.

By the way....a question for those of you who have or do have the band still. Do any of you experience a numbness and/or pinching sensation where your port is? Sometimes when I am sitting down, I get this pinching sensation beneath the port site and then the whole area goes numb? Just wondering.

Welcome

I was all about the band until I further researched VSG

Don't feel bad about giving up...I did the exact same thing! I got a major leak and since I was self pay, I gave up too. Over two years after they found my leak, I started having serious pain (tubing came disconnected and was poking me in the abdomen). Luckily, I do not have a weight loss exclusion on my insurance anymore and my revison is next month. If your band does have a problem (slip, leak, etc), most insurances with cover it. We will be cheering for you!