I'm trying to be optimistic about the sleeve but I'm having a bit of deja vu to when I got banded. I was banded back in 2008. I have not had the best experience. Only lost 40 pounds, then put it back on when I was having horrible reflux and the doctor opened my band. Got it retighten to only have the same symptoms come back to find out I had a dilated pouch from a slipped band. I was so fed up with all the bad issues from the band (consistent vomiting, having to stand up to eat a bite, consistently going back to dr to get a "sweet spot" I never found, chocking at night from reflux). I just wanted the band out!

However my doctor highly recommended that I did not do that and consider putting band back into place or the sleeve. Before I make another huge step I want to hear it from people that have been in my shoes. I need to know the honest truth of the bad that comes along with the sleeve. I wish I would have known the bad that came with the band but when you are desperate to lose weight you only dream of the goal of being thin and want to hear only the good. But I have to be realistic and know there is no easy solution to losing weight. Please let me know what you wish you would have known before you got sleeved. Do you still vomit like the band? Do you have acid reflux? Are you scared to eat in public worrying if you can get anything down? Does you stomach stretch back out? Any help would be appreciated!

My only regret is not getting the sleeve in the first place! Not that it was an option in 2007 when I got the band.

I don't miss worrying every time I ate that it wouldn't "work" and I'd end up sliming and vomiting for hours after eating just a few bites. Or going out to eat with friends and worrying that I'd have to rush to the restroom to vomit.

I don't know if I'm just lucky or what but I haven't found anything that I can't eat or that my sleeve won't tolerate. I eat normal foods, just a lot less. If I feel like having a Peanut Butter sandwich, I can have it. It will only be half of one or less but I don't have to worry that I'll be sick.

I have only vomited once and it was from eating too much and too fast. And it wasn't hours and hours of vomiting like with the band. I vomited a tiny bit once and it was done. Lesson learned.

I can't guzzle Water but then again I couldn't with the band either. So no difference there for me.

I LOVE that I am able to take pills now and not worry they'll get stuck. I take huge Vitamins and they go down with no problem. I had become Vitamin deficient with the band from all the vomiting not being able to eat a normal diet. I just went yesterday for my 3 month checkup after sleeve surgery and my doctor said my bloodwork came back "perfect". It was a huge relief.

I didn't realize how "normal" I would feel now. I can't eat much at all and yeah, sometimes that gets attention I don't really want, but I eat normal foods without getting stuck and I can just sit through a meal with friends or family and enjoy the conversation and not worry or have everybody freak out if I have to quickly head to the restroom to vomit like I used to. My stomach doesn't make the crazy noises anymore like it did with the band. All the gurgling and loud noises it made as the food slowly drained into my stomach.

I'm happy and better yet, healthy now.

Oh and I forgot one more thing. No more fills and unfills. I went for a one week checkup, a 1 month checkup and now a 3 month checkup. I don't go back until one year. I'm not in and out of the doctor's office getting fills put in and getting too tight and going back to get some out. I'm not having to have a fluoroscope done. I'm living my life and eating better and besides eating a way smaller amount, I'm forgetting I even had surgery. I feel like a better version of myself and I'm getting better (and slimmer!) each day.