How To Make This Decision?

[Swift Kate 72]

Thanks Deb and Marguerite, it is a tough one. I have been reading about Lila so know she went through so much. My surgeon said he wouldn't know whether he could proceed with the sleeve until the actual surgery as he could assess the damage to he stomach then. He said there was a two thirds chance he could do it iin one surgery. I too have had most of my Fluid removed from the band and am back to finding food control difficult, have upped my I walking to compensate as I don't want to put back on what I did manage to lose with the band. I feel I'm going a little crazy as this is all consuming at the moment. Cheers.

[Elissa55 8]

Jane' date='

That is exactly my dilemma and I thank you for your honest and candid response. My doctor recognizes how little I eat but repeatedly cites that the sleeve will reduce appetite and cravings, but that is not my problem. He also states that recent research shows that metabolism slows with the band and metabolism will rise a bit with the sleeve. However, I already have an autoimmune thyroid disease and minimal metabolism as it is, so I can't bank on the sleeve increasing my metabolism all that much.

I am having more and more discomfort with the band and feel that eventually I will have to have it removed either way, just not sure if I should go for the conversion. I feel very comfortable with my doctor, but I have to admit a part of me thinks he is just looking as the profit he will make from an addition procedure.[/quote']

Hello,

Just saw something on your post about having a thyroid problem. I know there are two kids and one makes you gain weight-could that be counteracting your routine keeping you dormant on your weight loss? Just a thought?

[CowgirlJane 14,261]

This is an old thread revived. I am at goal, the sleeve has been amazing. Never in my life did I imagine this success. I am not sure that it is true for everyone to get this result, but my personal experience is awesome. It was a lot of work too - the sleeve just made it possible for me to do that work!

I feel like a million bucks, honestly, if I had to get the DS to get these results - I would do it. When I was considering surgery, I was so scared, but now that I am on the other side... well... the benefits are worth the risk. Pick the surgery that you can 1. live with and 2. has a good chance of success for your personal situation.

I can't even begin to tell you how much better it is to weigh in the 150s then the 300+++ range. Physically, I am a different human being.

[DebH 1]

I am approaching my 2 year anniversary with the lap band and have only lost 30 lbs which occurred in the first 3-4 months. Needless to say I am yet again feeling like a complete weight loss failure despite eating next to nothing, exercising regularly, and following up closely with surgeon, nutritionist and endocrinologist. Now my surgeon tells me it is not me that failed, but the band, and he is suggesting that I convert to the sleeve. I am not yet convinced that this will be any better for me. I was never an overeater prior to the lap band and was guaranteed that the band would work which it didn't. Now I am being told that I will have success with the sleeve, but I just can't understand how it would be any different since I hardly eat anything at this point anyway. I do not know if I am physically and emotionally up for the issues that would occur if I went through with this surgery and failed yet again.

I would appreciate any feedback from others that may have had similar experiences and how you came to decide on the conversion.

I wanted to thank you all for the very good information you have shared with me over the past several months. I did finally decide to have the band removed and converted to the sleeve, just this past Wed. 3/20. Ihad a rough couple of days but feel like I am coming out on the other side of the surgery part. While I hate the liquid diet weeks I know that I will get through them and am trying to stay guardedly optimistic that I will have more success with the sleeve than I did with the band.

[libbyb 17]

Hi debH. Please keep my informed of your weight loss. My story is exactly yours! I am having a revision in a month but so scared it won't work, like the band

[CowgirlJane 14,261]

Congrats Deb - I know how scary this is. We are here to give you support as you move forward as a sleevie. Honestly, it saved my life I am so glad I didn't give up just because of that lousy crapband!

[DebH 1]

Congrats Deb - I know how scary this is. We are here to give you support as you move forward as a sleevie. Honestly' date=' it saved my life I am so glad I didn't give up just because of that lousy crapband![/quote']

I am feeling pretty well but still feel very tired. I am thinking it could still be the anesthesia working out of my system since my operation was over 3 hours. I am having some intermittent pain that begins in my diaphragm area gradually moves around my torso, then fades as quick as it came. I am really not sure if this is indicative of a problem or just how my body is handling the gas. Did you ever have any such pain? I am walking and moving around quite a bit and definitely fell better moving, but the pain has hit while walking and I had to stop and wait for it to pass.