I have the band and am looking to revise to sleeve next month (pending approval).

I've read many sleeve success stories and they can be encouraging. However, the stories from people feeling like the procedure didn't work for them, and those who have not lost weight or gained it back, are causing me to wonder if this is the right thing for me to do.

The types of posts that worry me are those that say things like:

1. I don't have any restriction and I never did
2. I used to have restriction but now I don't
3. It took a long time to get restriction
4. I can eat more with the sleeve than I could with the band
5. I can eat whatever I want.

I don't want that! I want something to stop me from eating because I seem unable to stop myself!

I'm starting to wonder how effective this procedure will really be....Will I be the reason the sleeve fails, just like I was the reason I failed with the band?

I lost 40 pounds with band and have 40 to go. I have not lost the second 40 and have not been able to get the band adjustment correct (always too loose or throwing up everything I eat). I'm not miserable with the band and it has helped me to keep the 40 pounds off nicely. I just have not lost any more than that. I can, and do, eat too many calories everyday (1300-1500 about 100--120 carbs because I can) and I don't exercise much because I have lost my motiviation. Obviously, I'm the reason I have not lost weight (I know that and don't need to be told) - but I did think the band would help me to eat less than that! I don't eat slider foods, except maybe my Protein drinks and FF Greek yogurt. I don't eat a lot of junk - I just eat too much, plus the occasional nibble of something bad - today it was 1 brownie bite, yesterday it was 9 tortilla chips, the day before that it was more cheese than I sould have had on a salad, tomorrow it will be something like too much salad dressing.

I do realize that I have to show some self-control - but that is why I failed with traditional diets. I can show self-control for a while, but then I give up.

Am I doomed to fail no matter what I do? Is the sleeve really that much different or better than the band or traditional dieting? I realize I have to do the work, but I honestly thought WLS was going to make it ieasier to eat less.

Maybe I'm just ranting. I am feeling pretty discouraged and hopeless. I want to believe in the sleeve, but I also do not want to set myself up for disappointment.

Were you disapointed? Maybe this sleeve thing is too good to be true?

Thank you for your response. I saw my regular doctor today who said she wants me to request a copy of the OP report and the post op leak test. Then I read your post....how funny.

The nurse at the doctor told me they used the same size bougie (14) that they use with all sleeves.

Who knows, I was asleep.

How do you feel after you eat denser protein like meats? I do believe most eat 5 to 6 times a day ( at least I do) small meals about 3-4 hours apart this keeps hunger at bay