Hello everyone, I went to my first consultation. I am a little scared of the sleeve now. I was so excited, but after going to this, I am now fearful of the sleeve leaking. I know like this it is complications with everything, but I just want to know if anyone has had this fear at all. The doctor talked about long term effects. Has anyone had their sleeve longer than 10 years and if so how are things going ?

Any feed back would be wonderful! I love the support here!!

I'm in Raliegh and am two weeks out now, no regrets. I went in for lap band thank goodness a gentleman in the waiting room told me about the sleeve. Good luck.

Thanks Rootman! I agree wholeheartly. I am doing more research now. I personally still feel good about the sleeve, even though he does more lapband surgerys. Is their any food or limitations you have when eating? I know with the gastric bypass it is a lot of foods that are not reccommended, such as sweets (because of the dumping effect), which has to be terrible at times. Thanks for all the info

I agree with Helen above. Nothing is forbiden, my tastes and appetite are just changed. I basically eat WHAT I want. I have read that you SHOULD steer clear of cellery and coconut becasue of the Fiber that may ball up in the small sleeve space, and others have chimed in and said they eat it regularly - so who knows. Out of all the choices the only thing I choose NOT to eat much of is bread, becasue it's so filling and high cal and as a carb burns up fast and provides little in the long term. I'd rather get some longer lasting Protein.

Being about 14 months out I am surprised at how much I CAN eat, I thought I'd SUFFER forever eating just spoonfuls of a stuff for a meal. I don't do ANY protein shots or diet shakes any more. I eat a regular SENSIBLE portion now, and what is a SENSIBLE portion and what is typically served are two entirly different things. At a restaurant I share an entree with the wife and sometimes even after eating a portion each we can get 1 or 2 MORE meals out of ONE entree - portions are THAT out of control. No wonder we're a bunch of lard a$$es.

It works for me and thousands of others. But you make your OWN choice because you HAVE to have the drive and desire to make a change in order for it to work. let someone talk you in to it and you may just be heading for failure. Keep investigating and asking questions and make up your own mind.

I was one of those who went to Mexico for surgery. I even have insurance and elected to NOT be forced to jump through hoops and wiat them out for approval. I had the money so made the appointment and did the deed in less than a month start to finish. Again, it works for me. IANAL, IANAD,

Also for me the cost was a factor. My insurance didn't cover any baratrics so I had to pay out of pocket. For me in Kentucky the Band and the Sleeve were the same price but the sleeve would be a one time cost proceedure whereas I'd have to pay for each band adjustment. All that info along with that sleeved patients lose 20-30% MORE weight than a band in a year. Also, 30-40% of all band patients fail and have revision surgery to the band. I'm pretty sure the sleeve is going to continue gaining momentum as a the perferred surgery other than a By-Pass. I foresee band placements greatly decressing over time...

I have had a leak. I did not get sick with it, just had very bad shoulder pain. After it was discovered, I ended up with pneumonia and fluid on my lungs. I don't believe they go in and restaple it. Mine was allowed to heal on it's own (NPO for 2 1/2 months). I have heard of them placing a stent (jasleeve is going through this right now) and also going in MONTHS later when it wouldn't heal on it's own and using surgical glue. Risks and complications can happen with any surgery. The lapband seems to have alot of long term complications where the sleeve seems to have them early out if you have them. They say 1% complication rate for the sleeve.

I have heard this 1% complication rate mentioned, but I have read through several "studies" and frankly, I think the complication rate is probably closer to 3%. I don't know if 1% is just leaks or where that number comes from. The complication rate is said to be higher if you are a band to sleeve revision.

It is a much lower complication rate then the band because pretty much all the sleeve complications happen right up front, whereas the band problems tend to get worse with time. I don't know the actual stats on the band, but I personally think that nearly EVERYBODY will eventually have to have theirs out - just a matter of time.

My understanding is that there are no long term data on the sleeve since its only been used alone for WLS for around 6 years. Now I also was told this used to be the first state of a Gastric By Pass in people so add that in and its been around for a real long time. As someone suggested, you can get the stats of your specific surgeon. Mine had only had 2 leaks out of 6000 surgeries so I was confortable with that. Besides, if you do have a leak they fix it with a scope down the throat and don't recut you open. As with any surgery there is risk and you can see from the many people on this fourm, we took the plunge and haven't looked back.

Is there a website to check out doctors records, or do you just have to ask the doctor?

BTW, I don't see how the sleeve can be any more dangerous than my Mimi or my stepdad having their stomachs removed for ulcers. My mimi had 3/4 of hers done in the 60's, and never had complicaitons.

I have had a leak. I did not get sick with it, just had very bad shoulder pain. After it was discovered, I ended up with pneumonia and Fluid on my lungs. I don't believe they go in and restaple it. Mine was allowed to heal on it's own (NPO for 2 1/2 months). I have heard of them placing a stent (jasleeve is going through this right now) and also going in MONTHS later when it wouldn't heal on it's own and using surgical glue. Risks and complications can happen with any surgery. The lapband seems to have alot of long term complications where the sleeve seems to have them early out if you have them. They say 1% complication rate for the sleeve.

Do you know if doctors ever use suture instead of staples. I'm worried about allergies. When I had my c-sections, the staples irritated me. I would be a lot happier with suture.

Jewels,

Before I made the decision to have my surgery, I did a LOT of research. My first cousin IS a bariatric surgeon. He didn't do my surgery (insurance wouldn't cover my surgery so went to Mexico).

He said that he has done Lap Band, Roux N Y s and Vertical Gastric Sleeves. In his experience, he says he has had almost NO complications with his VGS patients. No leaks, almost no problems at all. His recommendation for me was the sleeve. His feeling is that most surgeons have found that the complication rate for sleeves is far below any other type of procedure. He trained at Mayo Clinic and continues to do his continueing education at Mayo in Rochster, MN. which is a center of excellence.

People still get the band because their surgery won't pay for the sleeve and they don't have the money to get it done out of pocket, even in Mexico. I have a friend who had the band just a few days after I was sleeved, and she has had problems, readjustments and has lost really very little weight comparatively. It will always be around because people need options...Kathe

Do you know if doctors ever use suture instead of staples. I'm worried about allergies. When I had my c-sections, the staples irritated me. I would be a lot happier with suture.

The skin irritation from staples isn't something you'll have to worry about with stomach staples. Typically, staples on the outside of the body are stainless steel or nickel plated. The ones they use on the inside are titanium.

They staple, sew and glue the stomach, typically.

I have contact dermatitis to nickel, so that's one of the questions I asked. The staples used inside your body are surgical staples, made of a different material. Your stomach tissue will grow over the staples, so no risk of setting off the alarms at the airport and I didn't find any reports of anyone having allergies to the surgical staples. I've read every link I can find, both before and after surgery, to see what the reaction rate is, and I cannot find it mentioned in any study.

Jewels, I think what the others above have posted addresses your issue well. I personally have been sleeved for 8 months.

There is nothing that I CAN'T eat. BUT there is lots that I CHOOSE not to eat. I don't routinely eat lettuce salads anymore, because my capacity is so limited, I need to eat my Protein first. If I have room after I eat my protein, then I eat my veggies (with the exception of potatoes, I don't usually eat potatoes).

If I can eat my protein AND my veggies (very rare) then I will nibble on something with lots of carbs, like bread or potatoes. But I usually don't have room for anything after the protein and veggies. Also when I say "nibble" that is exactly what it is, a nibble. One or two bites is usually all I can manage after I have eaten my protein and veggies!

When my hubbie and I go out to eat, we have started sharing a meal. If the restaurant gives a choice in the size of the entree (Lots of restaurants will let you order a Steak in 8 oz, 10 oz or 16 ounce) we will order the large entree to split (although we split somewhere like 30/70, with me getting the 30% of the steak). Bill then eats the bread, the potato and the salad. Usually just the meat is all I can handle. Once in a while I will have a bite of his potato or bread. Sometimes I will order a dish of cottage cheese to go with my entree. But it is all about getting enough protein!

Good advice here. Go get the sleeve. I had mine done July 26th 2011. I have lost 108 pounds. I am at 182 right now & trying to stop losing weight. But I enjoy life now.

I went and had my first consult with the surgeon I have picked yesterday. (Dr. David Kim, Fort Worth TX). I asked him about leaks and he said he has had 2 leaks out of 1500 sleeves over 6 years. He REALLY stresses the eating of liquids after and allowing your tummy to heal. He does the staples with sutures on the sleeves and staples on the incisions. He actually had some of the staples in a jar so you can see them and then stapled to this weird rubbery plastic stuff. They were very little and I got rough with them to see if they hurt in any way. They did not. Uhm, I had visions of the staples from a STAPLE GUN, hahaha, so it was nice to get my hands on them. I had previously met with another surgeon who PUSHED the lap band. NO WAY I WAS GETTING A LAP BAND!!! I have complete confidence in Dr. Kim and his record for the sleeve so I feel good about this. I think what I am trying to say is you may want to find the surgeon you can use who has done the most sleeves with the least amount of complications. I am still waiting to hear back on the 6 mo supervised diet. One day insurance tells me I don't need it but then someone says I do. Enjoy your journey!

I love my sleeve! I am so happy I didn't choose the lapband. This is an individual choice that we all make. I watched my neighbor who had a band 3 years ago go through the process and she still looks like she hasn't lost much weight. in a quick period of time. She saids she loves her band. To eachs own.

Thanks to everyone who replied. I absolutely love this forum. @Pecan Brown-I went to UNC chapel Hill. I am pretty sure I am sticking with the sleeve. I am excited about proceeding and moving forward with this. I know over time people will stop getting the lap band because of the issues in the end.