I Want To Hear From The Band To Vsg "veterans"

[PJ_Sleeve 45]

So tell me your story, The Good, The Bad, The Ugly! I am trying to gauge how the revisionistas are doing long term after the actual change over. My revision is scheduled on September 17th, which is exciting and nerve wracking at the same time. (A little Bandster history: Banded in 2007; Lost 127 Banded; Gained Back 107; issues started with hiatal hernia, etc., been struggling with fills ever since...always too tight or too loose.) I have never met or spoken with anyone who has the sleeve, so feel free to lend any advice and/or insight. Looking forward to hearing from you!

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

I am doing great. 7 months post op I hit my 100# loss mark - I am losing as well as a typical "virgin sleever". I think the sleeve is alot better then the band - I had one of those for 10 years!

I have alot of posts in this forum that tell more of my story if you want to read it. I was sleeved Dec 12, 2011 and am now too busy running around, riding my horse and enjoying life to retype it.

[band2sleeveinNoVA 5]

I had my band in March 2010 and was he same way up and down with Fluid in the band and then it slipped even though I'd never puked nor eaten bread or trigger foods. I was revised on 5/23 to the sleeve and I am loving it! Though recovery was a bit longer and more difficult (drinking for me was very painful at first and I lived off Popsicles). Now I can eat anything again in small portions which does get annoying sometimes because I know my body needs the calories to workout but there's definitely a hard stopping point. The band can also desensitize your stomach so my PA said that likely I will be able to eat more a bit sooner than someone who wasn't banded. All in all so much better! I returned to work on post-op day 6 and would have done 5 but it was a holiday, started running again on day 9 and was feeling good by day 12. I'm 9 weeks out and feel the best I've felt in a year! -30 lbs after gaining 25 with the slip. Good Luck!!!!

[Carollee57 3]

I was revised june 18 and havent slimed thrown up and I feel FULL FOR ONCE, dont miss that port at all :wub:

[lml32937 65]

I am now doing great.. I had a rocky post op for about 4 mos- I had a hard time increasing from liquids to mushies and soft foods- My body took a longer time to heal. Looking back I should have done the band removal and sleeve in 2 seperate surgeries and NOW I understand why but I was stubbborn, didnt want to take time off etc and waited and did it all at once- Having said that I LOVE my new life, my sleeve - TOTALLY regret the time and effort I put into the band- My sleeve feels natural- I feel like I eat like a normal person- I have gained a greater respect for my body and what goes in it- It has completely changed my life for the better....

[ConnieSings 12]

Well I am a 4 week Veteran... does that count?

I had the lap band in Feb 2010. Lost approx 40 lbs (50 to include pre op).

Stayed the same for approx 2 years... then had a horrible "stuck" feeling, vomiting almost anything else I tried to eat... and had the band unfilled in April of 2012.

Gained approx... 20 lbs back.

August 9, 2012 had the revision from band to sleeve. It was a diff surgery at almost 3 hours. I had a lot of scar tissue around the band and wrapped around my esophagus... also a kink in my esophagus...

My doctor being a very patient man worked a miracle in the operating room without having to do an open surgery... However, like I said, it took about 3 hours as opposed to the 1 hour normal sleeve surgery.

I've done well with no problem. I agree in that I believe the recovery is a little longer and it takes a little longer for the body to heal... I have gone really slow with soft to mushy food... as that is the Phase 3 that I am just now beginning to move into.

God Bless You on your journey...and I hope your revision goes well....