I am new to this site and not sure where to post sorry if you may see it twice....

Hi there, I am Melissa from the Chicago area but originally from NY. I was banded almost 10 years ago and moved away from my hometown to start a new life here in Chicago almost 6 years ago now. When I was first banded, there was not much support and I found some folks online to help. I met with a nutritionist who did not have an office and I had to go to random locations to see her. There were no of ill schedules and I had only 1 or 2 fills total in NY.

When I moved I found a surgeon to help and had another 1 or 2 fills and was unfolded just over 3 years ago when I was pregnant. I am now 45 and have basically ignored my band until I started gaining weight and started having pain. I have tried on my own to lose weight and have run in 5k races and regular workouts but I have yet to be successful. I am a career Mom and commute just about 3 hours per day and I have very little time to be thinking day and night about exercise and diet. It kills me to say this after making some serious efforts over the years. I am starting to snap at the seams so to speak and I am worried every day about the damage this band may have done. I feel internal pinching, I still can't eat chicken, fish or rice but pasta and chips slide down pretty good. I eat and have no issues with veggies and eat them every day. I am not a soda drinker but I am never too far away from my last cup of coffee.

I was in a great deal of pain this past November and I was having a particularly stressful time. I made an appointment with the surgeon here in Chicago and put myself on mushies. I think I may have done something while working out that triggered this all. I am currently 270 and put on 15 lbs in the past 3 months. My weight had remained at 257 since the day of my surgery 10 years ago, except while I was pregnant and I weighed 270 as I do now.

I am very scared. I am scared to remove the band, I am scared to keep it in, I am scared to get a new surgery and mostly I am scared of not being here to raise and support my little boy who is now 3 years old and deserves a mom who can get out and have fun. I push myself but I balance too many things. I feel like I should lose weight and then have the band removed and keep it off by myself. That would take watching my portions at. Every meal, fully dedicating over 1-2 hours per day to exercise and keeping a perfect schedule where everything is in balance...my work, my son, my house, my husband, my commute...everything. I think that is unrealistic and I do not know where to turn.

I did get to see the surgeon here who said that my band was placed well and that he saw the barium...so why the pain? No answer. I was STUNNED when he said there was nothing wrong and did I want to get a new surgery. Apparently I do qualify but I want a second opinion. I am not sure where to go from here and would love to hear your thoughts.

You wentthr ough all of that to get the band and did not lose any weight? Have you considered disbanding and having the sleeve?

I am a revisionista, had my band remove and sleeve done on September 10, 2012. It was the absolute best decision I could have made. I had my band for 5 years kept off 60 pounds but knew that I could not keep the band forever. The sleeve is soooo much better in 4 months I lost 60 pounds, I really am at my goal weight, maybe a few more pounds we'll see.

You can eat way more foods with the sleeve, nothing gets stuck, you can eat chicken, life is wonderful!! Good Luck in your decision, I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

Thanks for responding, Did you have this done in 1 surgery? What was your recovery like and did the band.do any internal damage?