Hello fellow weight loss pals,

well im in a bit of a dilemma.. to start off I had a gastric banding done in the year 2008. Since then I have lost about 660 pounds. I was happy with the banding until last year when I was diagnosed with a hiatus hernia. Now to fix the hiatus the docs here suggest that I have to take out the band else the hiatus can always reoccur. My fear obviously is the weight gain once the band is out, to which the doctors have suggested to do a gastric sleeve. Now my apprehensions for this are:

1) Gastric banding is a reversible procedure however a sleeve is permanent. How does it affect the life in future

2) I don't have any children yet, but would a sleeve be a hindrance if and when I do get pregnant in terms of the diet I need to follow, the nutrition required for the fetus and the quantities????

3) Is the sleeve same as having a band in terms of eating habits. the reflux?? or is there a difference???

4) I have read that even with the sleeve there are chances of putting on the weight again?? is that true???

I would really appreciate if someone could throw some light on these issues

Await your help and suggestions.

Love,

Gia

Hi! WoW, your Wright loss eh the band is way beyond the best Ive ever heard. Amazing. It sounds like it's something you're committed to maintaining. From this perspective, you're going to find A LOT of people on this site who will wholeheartedly endorse your decision to consider the sleeve. We are generally a bunch of passionate sleeve-lovers, if you will. If you speak with folks immediately post -op who've had complications, you'll surely hear some criticism, but we've all seen how those folks tend to love their sleeves in the long run. So here are my thoughts:

1) Yes, the sleeves permanent. Thank God, because I don't want my fat loss to be reversible! You can still, however, eat 'around' your sleeve by grazing or making bad food choices, similar to the band.

2) staying slim gives you your best chance to conceive and maintain a healthy pregnancy. I agreed not to get pregnant for 12 months after surgery, but I am 4 weeks pregnant at 6 months out. I have had to start eating more so I don't lose too fast. I added 350 calories to vet up to 1200 very clean calories per day, and I intend to add 300 more with each trimester. No problems. BTW, we were faithfully using birth control when we conceived.

3) from what I've read, yes he procedures are similar. However, I'm not sue if you can create a feeling of fullness with the band just by drinking like you can with the sleeve. I still have to drink quite slowly, and I wait for 60 minutes after eating to begin drinking. I have never had reflux with my sleeve.

4) there are chances of regaining weight with every surgery, but that risk isn't higher with the sleeve to my knowledge. If you can maintain your weight loss after banding, I believe you will every successful with the sleeve. Hopefully some of the many band-to-sleeve revisions on this site will chime in. Best wishes! And be sure to check out the forum on this site about revisions like you!

hey thanks a ton for your reply Ziggypbang. Sorry but there has been a typo.. I meant to write 66 pounds...some typo eh????

Thanks though for your suggestions.. they were definitely helpful. After the band, joining this site has been my best decision so far.

hey thanks a ton for your reply Ziggypbang. Sorry but there has been a typo.. I meant to write 66 pounds...some typo eh????

Thanks though for your suggestions.. they were definitely helpful. After the band, joining this site has been my best decision so far.

Ha ha! 66 is still awesome! I was typing on my phone so my post had tons of typos, too! On the other hand can you imagine living as an 800 pound woman? I am VERY glad for you that this was never the case! :-)

True that.. that would really be insane.