My name is Holly, I am 34 years old, in November of 2004 I have the lap-band placed. I won't go into a lot of detail as I just started a blog on this site and wrote all about it there (A Winning Loser with VSG). Anyhow, for the past 2.5 years have developed serious issues due to the band, including pneumonia from aspiration, which required two hospital stays.

My GI doc has recommended I have the band removed, which I am all for! I meet back up with him next Friday (March 16) to go over results from a recent EGD, at that point he will make the referral to the bariatric surgeon. I already know my insurance covers bariatric surgery, and with all my issues, I have little doubt that I will have any issues with getting the procedure/s done.

I have done a ton of research on VSG and feel extremely encouraged by many of the results that are out there. It appears, from my research, that VSG is probably more what I had originally hoped for from the band. I have to say I would highly discourage others from having the band done. I know that there are those out there who have had success, but it seems there are more of those, like myself, who have had more issues than success.

I am excited to have found this site and to share my journey with all of you, and to be encouraged by all of you who have been there before .

Thanks for listening and all the encouragement I have gained from reading posts on here.

I am glad that you are able to get the VSG. Please let us know when you are set for surgery

Best of luck to you in your new journey!

I have to partially credit this site with my decision to get the VSG (originally I was thinking band) but thanks to my husband (a VSGer as well, he pushed me to research all options) and a couple of real-life people I have met, I knew that the band wasn't right for us and went ahead with the VSG. I'm now 16+ months post-op and my hubby is 1 year post-op and we have lost about 170lbs between the both of us and I can truthfully say that I haven't had any regrets. For us it was the best thing we could have ever done for ourselves.

I'm sorry your band has given you so many issues. You will find lots of posters here who have had revisions and they all say that the sleeve does what the band "promised" to do (but failed!)

Good luck with everything!

I feel ya. My band failed me and then shattered apart in my body. I was in serious pain. The sleeve has been amazing. I am a normal weight and I couldn't be happier. I wish you the best with everything!

Thanks everyone! Becca, thanks for sharing, I am glad to hear from someone else who has had a similar experience. I am sorry to hear that it shattered, that is horrible!

Hi VSG 4 Me. I got a lapband exactly 2 years ago. It has slipped, and cannot be filled without slipping again. I am scheduled for my revison to a sleeve on 3/27/2012.

Best of luck.