My surgery date is fast approaching and I'm curious if anyone can compare the pain levels after the sleeve to the pain after the lap band. Thanks!

Hello wright616,

My band to sleeve revision was last July 28. My band and my sleeve were performed by the same surgeon and he put in the band for "eternity." Unfortunately, that worked against me when it had to come out 6 years later. The band did not slip but I couldn't keep down anything by the end and the vomiting caused serious problems with my esophogus. I had a significant amount of scar tissue around the port and my surgery took 3 hours (about 1.5 hours longer than anticipated). In spite of the more extensive surgery, my hospital stay was the standard 36-hours. I can tell you that I felt very little "general" pain. Actually, the whole experience would have been very easy on me with one exception: there was a lot -- A LOT -- of discomfort where the port was removed. It was about the size of a grapefruit. I made the pain worse because I pulled the area once trying to get off the hospital bed to go to the bathroom on the first night. I pulled it again, badly, when I tried to get off the couch on the second day I was home. After that, the area hurt for about 2 solid weeks and then was just sore for another week after that. Walking helped for all the reasons that you've probably heard: pain management, accelerating the anethesia out of the body, weight loss, etc. I had absolutely no trouble walking from the first time that the nurse got me out of bed. That localized area burned while I walked but it wasn't unbearable, just persistent. Honestly, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. No hesitation. No regrets. I wish you all the best with your surgery.

Good luck!

Embrace

Thank you for sharing your experience

My revision was 4 days ago. I had the same surgeon that put in my band. It feels like the same recovery. During surgery they saw that my band had slightly slipped and a hernia had formed which he removed. I was sent home the next day. The pain feels more like a cramping sensation. It hurts getting in & out of bed and off the couch. It also hurts when I cough or sneeze. I'm already getting sick of the liquid diet but its more important that I follow the plan so my sleeve can heal

Thanks! My surgery is in 2 days and that information is very helpful.

You will be fine!! As I read the posts from the people that are getting the sleeve the first time vs the revisions, it seems like the people with the revisions are dealing with it fine. I think because we already went through it before we kind of know what to expect. Haven't started eating food yet- that's what makes me nervous now

Embrace,

Do you mind me asking about your weight history? Starting when you got your revision and current, for example? I have a consultation in the works and am just wanting to be sure I'm making the right choice for myself. Thx!!

Not at all Ypsibander.

When I did the sleeve revision I was within 1 pound of my high when I band done six years earlier.

July 19 - Started the revision pre-op liquid diet: 212 pounds

July 27 (Night before surgery): 203

July 29 - Left the hospital: 200

February 21 (been a lengthy plateau): 168

The doctor says that I'm losing weight more slowly than most of his other sleeve patients. I suspect my body's metabolism had slowed significantly because I was throwing up most food during the entire year before the band was removed - even slider foods didn't always stay down. It's taken several months for me to figure out a key to getting the scale to budge. I'm working out 4 days a week and walking approximately 10,000 more steps a day. Working out has produced a lot of change in body shape. I'm down nearly 3 sizes. It's still slow going but even so this is the best decision that I ever made. My last labs are fantastic. Blood sugar is in the 80s and my health is remarkable.

Good luck with your consultation.

The removal of the band is definitely the harder part of the surgery. Where they remove the port and the scar tissue around it is where you will feel some pain afterword. I have had the band, a band revision, band removal and sleeve and the removal was the most difficult. But just rest and know it will get better. Good luck!