Hello world!

I am a current lapbander in the process of getting

a revision to the sleeve as of july 8th! I have been doing quite extensive research and i am quite curious if there is much of a difference in the restriction feeling between the band and sleeve?

It seems what i have read, most virgin sleevers experience a "tightness in chest" feeling which lets them know their full (or over full)

Anybody care to share what they have gathered the true difference between the two are? Wether it be from personal experience or personal opinion?

As a lapbander, the tightness in chest is all too painful in my experience and was not exactly what i want to look forward to the 2nd time around. Any opinions or factual statements would be most of help! Thanks!

It is pretty painful when you are full. I had my sleeve surgery 1/9/13 and even now sometimes i get that full feeling. I quickly learned how to avoid it because it isn't like it comes on after eating one spoonfull too many. It is gradual and I learned pretty early on when to stop eating/ drinking. does that make sense?

For me..no comparison. With the band restriction=pain while still feeling the drive to eat. With the sleeve I feel like I have eaten enough..satiated. I suspect one of the differences is education...I understand much better how to eat now (low carb) that I didn't with the band.

I was banded for 3 1/2 yrs prior to my sleeve revision last year (almost a yr out). While the amt of restriction is similar (I can eat about as much as when my band was at it's premium (not that that was very long, actually)), the feeling u get being full is not really the same. food got stuck in my esophagus, so I felt more chest "pain" when I ate too fast or 1 bite too much. I immediately vomited (hence the slipped band) and it relieved it.

Now when I've had 1 bite too much, my stomach (basically the lower part of my chest) hurts some. But it's really hard to induce vomiting. Something thats a long drawn out and often fruitless option. So I haven't vomited much since being sleeved. U'd think I'd have learned to eat slower with my band but alas, I haven't.

So, u will have similar restriction but a different "full" feeling. Not sure if that was ur actual question or not so sorry if I didn't answer ur question. Good luck to u. So glad I don't vomit everyday anymore. And I can eat everything - everything without getting "stuck".

I had the lapband for 4 years, had it removed last year and am 18 days post op with the sleeve. I don't think it compares at all. The lapband was a discomfort all it's own with that tightening, stuck pressure of what your eating pushing through your band. The sleeve is definitely more of a full or overfull ache. Not at all similar in my experience...

Thank you ALL for the thoughtful responses. I think i may have a better understanding with such different replies. I love this board. Thank you for taking the time to reply. :-) :-) very much appreciated!!!!!

I should mention I was banded for 10 long years but only had fluild/fill for 2. Been sleeved for 2.5 years so I feel a good basis for comparison.

I attend a support group oin which two of the members are band to sleeve converts. Both are very happy with their decision.

I was banded for 8 years and now I'm 2 1/2 months post op from revision to the sleeve. There is no comparison in the feeling I get when full. I was miserable just about every time I ate with the band. I had extreme chest discomfort. I was not one who could wait and let it pass. I had to run to the restroom most of the time after one bite and was still hungry. In the beginning the band was great. Then I got over restricted about 2 years out had fluid removed and could never get back to the green zone. With the sleeve I haven't found anything that gives me trouble. I still eat small amounts. I do have acid reflux which I have never had b4 but I find if I eat 5 small meals a day it's better. As far as the full feeling goes toe it's much like before I was banded. Honestly I don't push it that far. I have noticed on a few occasions I get nauseated if I eat too much. It usually passes after 30 min to an hour. I was having extreme abd pain pre gastric sleeve. Hurt so bad I would go to the er every other month and get no answers. Since the sleeve I have not experienced that thank god. Pre lap band I was 312. I had gotten to 165ish in 2 years. Over the past 6 years I got back up to 266. Pre op gastric sleeve I was 266. Now 2 1/2 months later I'm at 227. Weight loss has been slower but it is coming off and I'm not miserable.

This is a great thread. I'm a band to sleeve revision and I've been wondering about the very same thing.

For me..no comparison. With the band restriction=pain while still feeling the drive to eat. With the sleeve I feel like I have eaten enough..satiated. I suspect one of the differences is education...I understand much better how to eat now (low carb) that I didn't with the band.

I am in agreement with CowgirlJane. I was just sleeved on 4/9/14, but I already feel exactly how she feels. With the band I could be sliming and bent over the toilet, but still thinking about the food left on my plate and how once the food got unstuck I would try to eat it. With the sleeve I feel satiated. I eat slow and steady and once I feel satisfied I can stop without the uncontrollable urge to keep eating. I feel more in control. This is the best decision I've ever made. So happy. Good luck on your July surgery!

For me..no comparison. With the band restriction=pain while still feeling the drive to eat. With the sleeve I feel like I have eaten enough..satiated. I suspect one of the differences is education...I understand much better how to eat now (low carb) that I didn't with the band.

I am in agreement with CowgirlJane. I was just sleeved on 4/9/14, but I already feel exactly how she feels. With the band I could be sliming and bent over the toilet, but still thinking about the food left on my plate and how once the food got unstuck I would try to eat it. With the sleeve I feel satiated. I eat slow and steady and once I feel satisfied I can stop without the uncontrollable urge to keep eating. I feel more in control. This is the best decision I've ever made. So happy. Good luck on your July surgery!

Oh my word, I cannot tell you how good it is to hear this With the band, if I get something stuck I'm miserable. First there's the pain and then the slime and then the vomiting. But worst of all is that I'm still hungry but I cannot take a single bite because my chest hurts and it's swollen around my band so every bite would be agony...etc. etc.!

It's just so nice to hear how different the sleeve is. July 17th cannot come fast enough