Hi everyone!! Well, I'm now 5 1/2 years out from having the LapBand surgery. I've lost about 43 lbs. I was not covered for band fill adjustments post op. I was told otherwise before I making the forever, life changing decision. Needless to say, I'm frustrated, confused, and feel "stuck".

The past 5 days/nights I've been online researching the long term effects the band (has caused) and the sleeve (can cause).

I want the band removed. The information I've found and the symptoms that people say they have evperienced or currently experiencing...I found myself relating to the symptoms, signs, complaints and discomforts.

Actually, it's like a "light switch" went on in my head!! It all made/makes sense!! The joint pain, 2 broken feet, heartburn, back aches/pains, low Vitamin D and B-12 levels...D level was only 18 when it should be at least 55...Holy Crap!!

Anyhow, if I get the band removed and have no replacement "Hello 43lbs" or I could decide the Vertical Sleeve route and lose 85% of my stomach risking the chance of making a more "permanent" decision.

Under the supervision of one of my Dr.'s advice, the band was a "better choice" being that the anti-depressants I am on would absorb more effectively than if I had the Gastric Bypass. Well, apparently it doesn't make a difference now does it?

How do I "weigh" my decision? Ultimately it is my desision.

Is there anyone else out there like me? Lol...

Opinions/suggestions?

Thanks...

AM I EVEN DOING THIS RIGHT??

You're doing it perfectly. Well, don't post in all caps...some consider that shouting. There is an entire section of this forum devoted to band to sleeve revisions, and quite a few of the frequent posters here actually did just that.

I wish you luck on your journey. I went straight for the sleeve, with no band in between. Yes, it's a big decision to donate 85% of your tummy to a landfill, but it definitely works. I won't sing the praises here, but do your research and see what other bandsters have to say about their revision to sleeved life.

Good luck with whatever decision you make!

Hi-

There are lots of us out there - LilMissDiva and Tiffykins are prolific writers on the board. You can look through the revision forum (about 1/2 way down on the mainpage) to get the names of more of us and you can follow our posts for lots of info.

Personally, I am thrilled with my revision. Had a great surgeon and lost all the weight that the lap band promised, but never delivered. The sleeve really works. The lap band SUCKED.

Do your homework and good luck!!

Well, tomorrow I'll find out. I'm a 6-year Bandster who has had nothing but grief with the thing. PBing, vomiting, unable to eat solid proteins, esophageal stacking, reflux, dehydration leading to a monstrous kidney stone, you name it. I am having a revision to a sleeve tomorrow, and never considered the by-pass for more than a few seconds. My mother is a retired nursing instructor, and she said that no one should get the by-pass unless they weigh a 1,000 pounds. Osteoporosis is BAD in my family, and I can't even consider a malabsorptive procedure like the by-pass. The only thing my mom wants me to ask the surgeon about is B-12 shots, since the fundus of the stomach makes the intrinsic factor, which enables us to absorb B-12. That's all she's concerned about. For me, the sleeve is the only option. Good luck with your research. It's a very personal and individualized decision.

Thnak you all for the informative feedback.

Now I feel less "crazy" and more confident toward my decision to have the revisional surgery toward the LapBand.

Thanks!!

I had the band and it was a disaster!! I threw up, the food got stuck and finally had emergency surgery to remove it after a full slip.

The sleeve was everything the band was supposed to be. I eat, am in control, and have thrown up ONCE in the past year (my fault). I LOVE LOVIE LOVE my sleeve. The best decision I have ever made. Yes, it's permanent but it SHOULD be. My weight had to come off and I want to keep it off. Unfortunately, I had to have 3 separate surgeries (band in/out/sleeve). In my decision, the band should be taken off the market.

Best wishes on your final decision. It took me over a year and a half of deciding to finally have my lap band removed and revise to the Sleeve. Lots of my friends from another website were doing it, and I didn't want that to be the reason I did. I needed to make that decision for myself.

I struggled for almost 3 years with my lap band. I'd lost about 50 Lbs with it and once that was off it slowly crept back up to within Lbs of my surgery weight. No bueno. I was just miserable and unhappy. I was never able to find my "sweet spot" others talk about. I'd had well over 20 fills/unfills. I had terrible night coughs and would PB constantly. The band and me just didn't work.

I was revised to the Sleeve on 9/15/10. That was my new birth as I now look at it. I'm nowhere near the same person today that I was on that day. I'm happy, I'm thin, I'm healthy, and I don't have to worry about what the future holds anymore with the band around my stomach. It's tucked nicely in half (thats how the surgeon had to remove it!) in a box in my closet. There it rest in pieces. LMAO!

If you'd like, feel free to friend me, send me questions or simply look around and read many of our stories. There's a great deal many of us amazing band to sleeve folks here and I don't think there's one I've seen that isn't glad at some point they did it.