I just joined this group! Since July 2012 I have been taking all the steps in order to get a lapband. After asking my doctor's office if I can change from a band to a sleeve and being told that it would have to be ABSOLUTELY medically necessary I decided to get a sleeve. It was a huge deal deciding on the band and even a bigger one deciding on the sleeve. Hoping to get a date for May. Any people in the same situation I am. I feel like joining this group is making it official. lol I always look at boards, However, I never actually pictured myself writing on one.

I attended pre op meetings for my VSG. In thee meetings there were dissatisfied lap band patients working their way through insurance requirements to have the band removed and the sleeve applied. Many complaints about the band . Life long need for fill adjustments, feeling sick all the time, the discomfort of the implant and being unable to lay or sit certain ways. Unable to eat dense foods without it getting stuck or causing them to vomit. Protein is dense and what you post op need the most of.

I have been reading all stories just like that. I really wish I would have thought about this before. I wasted all that time researching the band!

Welcome Caaattt! There's even a forum here about people who have had revision from the lap band so I'm sure you'll get a lot of useful information. Hope you get your May date!

Congrats and welcome!!! I started out researching the band...but i've heard so many horrible stories about it that I started looking into other things and came acrossed the sleeve. It seemed great and all of the stars lined up. I did it and im 6 months out and have no regrets. I love my sleeve!!! Good luck!!!!

Our hospital just started doing gastric surgeries last fall. I have researched them all and feel that VSG is the best choice for me too. I've heard some horror stories about the band. My son had the sleeve done 12/17/12 and is down a total of 94 lbs (pre-op diet and after surgery). The results have been tremendous and I feel comfortable with my choice Congrats on making your choice!!