Band to sleeve failure HELP PLEASE

[lollipop 0]

I think because I had the band to sleeve so what they did was remove the band and do the sleeve I think that there was a lot of swelling therefor my Boogey was larger than everybody else's cause everyone that had their surgery at the same time as me had lost a lot of weight

[Band07 374]

I know this is an older post but I'm wondering if there are any updates? I'm in the same situation. Did AMAZING with my band and LOVED it! I honestly don't even have a good reason for having it removed other than I was just uncertain of what the future would hold with it and I was sick of feeling stuck oh and of coarse everyone said such GREAT things about the sleeve! I had band to sleeve surgery at 169 lbs and today (1 yr 4 months later) I'm 177. I don't want to hear anything about my calories or my exercise, I maintained 150 lbs (which is perfect for me!) for over 5 years with my band so I know what to do and how to do it, I just want to know if anyone is having any experiences with being resleeved because I saw for myself my x-ray post sleeve and my "sleeve" did not look like it was supposed too due to my band and the scar tissue. I've NEVER had restriction and never lost any hunger, in fact I'm 10x more hungry than I ever was with my band and removing the band was honestly like opening the door to eat much more than I ever could before.

[CowgirlJane 14,261]

I read a couple of the recent replies siince this thread was revised. My 2 cents - the sleeve NEVER felt as restrictive for me as the band did. I had to wrap my head around the idea that I COULD still over eat with sleeve (heck, I could overeat with band obviously!) but it did work very well for me as a tool to manage my food intake.

It is dissappointing to wind up with a larger sleeve than some, but, I do not believe that means you cant do this. Even with a "bigger sleeve" if you eat DENSE Protein first, don't graze, stay hydrated and get active you will lose.

One of my "learnings" is that I do still feel hunger, but it is okay, I will live. That sounds wacky, but I was so hungry for so long, I didn't realize I have almost a phobia of it. weird. but, normal people do get hungry, they live with it, then they eat a little (not too much) and are no longer hungry for awhile. novel concept, and one I finally experience with the sleeve.

Best of luck to all.

[LSF 264]

I had the revision 2 days ago and am worried that this will happen to me also. The only saving grace I gave is the nutritionist gave me a plan before the surgery and to do it as well once I'm back to solid foods. For what my out of pocket expense this is, I'm praying that this will help me in this journey

[BeagleLover 1,020]

@@Susan.davis, I suggest you go to a Bariatric Center of Excellence for a second opinion, bringing the results of all the tests with you. I don't think it's a good idea to go back to the same surgeon for a "do-over".

[LeanerLena5426 61]

@@Susan.davis, I suggest you go to a Bariatric Center of Excellence for a second opinion, bringing the results of all the tests with you. I don't think it's a good idea to go back to the same surgeon for a "do-over".

@@BeagleLover I agree! I wish I hadn't gone back to the same surgeon. I'll always wonder if I would have had different results with someone else.

@@Band07 there's not much for me to update, things are pretty much the same. I have very little restriction, VERY little. And to be honest, that's depressing (especially because I was self-pay, so I feel really guilty and "stupid" for spending all that money instead of just doing it myself). But, as @@CowgirlJane said, if I eat dense Protein first my restriction is much better. So all is not lost! It's just not as easy for me as it is for some, I have to use a lot of willpower and make very careful choices. There's no signal for me to stop eating after a few bites, I can eat almost as much as I could eat pre-surgury. And my weight loss is slow. But I stick with dense Protein first, I don't drink my calories (actually I've eliminated all added sugars--too addictive for me), I eat lots of fresh veggies, drink lots of Water, and exercise. So the weight IS coming off!

Also, as tough as it is not having restriction, it's also a relief sometimes. It's nice to be able to eat raw veggies, or a steak, without getting "stuck." It's nice to be able to have dinner out with friends without any worry of getting "the slimes" or only being able to eat a bite or two and having to explain myself to everyone. It's nice not feeling starving AND full at the same time--which I often felt with the band! That's the good part of the situation. I basically feel normal, like I didn't have surgery at all. And that does have some advantages, too.

[Swampdoggie 477]

I'm in the same boat. I keep seeing how some people can't get their Protein or liquids in and are never hungry yadda yadda. I don't feel the 're s friction like I did with the band but I am extremely careful about portions and eating the right things. But I am not losing and I am hungry. One difference is that I do get full faster, but I could eat a helluva lot more than I do without problem.

[Band07 374]

I requested a copy of my X-rays that I had taken at my one year follow up, I just got them Tuesday and what I have in no way looks anything like a "sleeve." I'm not sure why that is though at my apt I was told that everything was good. It's definitely easy to see why I feel like I didn't even have surgery though. I'm looking into what my options are for resleeving.

[CowgirlJane 14,261]

I want to share that this is so important. Most people have less restriction as time goes on. I got sick with the flu/fever and was SO HUNGRY I felt like I could eat endlessly. i felt so sick I was just eating whatever.. cold Cereal, a piece of bread, whatever. anyway, as soon as I went back to eating properly...voila... it was like the sleeve worked again! I am 3 years from my revision so I am simply sharing this experience so you realize you are not alone, this is true of MANY of us.

I mostly want to comment on the final paragraph though. Isn't it just a joy, blessing and pleasure to be able to eat salads, raw veggies, steak etc - you know, normal food - without fear of getting stuck, eyes watering, horrible puking? I LOVE having a smaller, less hungry tummy that seems to function pretty close to the way a normal stomach should work.

For me, the sleeve is what I had hoped the band would be, but just didn't work that way for me. For the first time in decades, I feel normal.

. But, as @@CowgirlJane said, if I eat dense Protein first my restriction is much better. So all is not lost! It's just not as easy for me as it is for some, I have to use a lot of willpower and make very careful choices. There's no signal for me to stop eating after a few bites, I can eat almost as much as I could eat pre-surgury. And my weight loss is slow. But I stick with dense Protein first, I don't drink my calories (actually I've eliminated all added sugars--too addictive for me), I eat lots of fresh veggies, drink lots of Water, and exercise. So the weight IS coming off!

Also, as tough as it is not having restriction, it's also a relief sometimes. It's nice to be able to eat raw veggies, or a steak, without getting "stuck." It's nice to be able to have dinner out with friends without any worry of getting "the slimes" or only being able to eat a bite or two and having to explain myself to everyone. It's nice not feeling starving AND full at the same time--which I often felt with the band! That's the good part of the situation. I basically feel normal, like I didn't have surgery at all. And that does have some advantages, too.