I want the lap band removed (placed in 2008 by different surgeon) but I am still struggling with the decision to get the sleeve.

Ultimately I know the decision is mine and I have to do what I think is right but I'd like some practical (not philosophical) advice.

To me the main purpose of any WSL should be to improve one's quality of life. If losing weight does that - great. If your medical conditions improve - great. If you can do things you couldn't do before - great. And finally - if you look and feel better - great.

My band is unfilled now and I can eat most anything. It is a crap shoot though as to when I get stuck or feel very uncomfortable and need to make myself throw up. I also get left shoulder pain.

I was diagnosed with GERD many years ago and have been on nexium for about 10 years - so I have no heartburn or symptoms of GERD despite reducing my nexium to 20 mg and only taking it every other day. During this time I have slept elevated.

At age 64 I have chronic back pain and arthritis. Tylenol is not effective. My weight doesn't keep me from doing anything - more so the back pain and arthritis (neither of which improved with my weight loss with the band).

So that brings me to my dilemma:

I am at a BMI of 35 and the surgeon says I can expect to lose about 45 pounds. And I won't be able to take NSAIDS for life to treat my pain.

I have also read that about 1/3 of those who didn't have acid reflux develop it after the sleeve.

I have also heard the word "stuck" and vomiting with referral to the sleeve.

Then there are all the foods (even healthy ones) that one cannot eat after the sleeve.

So, I guess what I am trying to decide is if the sleeve will improve the quality of my life or create problems I don't have now without benefits to my medical conditions (that's asking a lot for 45 pounds).

Any advice - especially from those who didn't have a lot of weigh to lose?

Rats I accidentally dropped my post.

So, I was banded in 2008 also and was not very successful. I didn't work very well with it, was always either hungry or stuck and never losing weight. I thought long and hard about getting sleeved and I'm glad I did. I have had no complications, surgery was easy and if not painless than much easier than other surgeries I've had. I am losing weight slowly and I really feel a lot less hunger post op. Its kind of miraculous.

My goal was to become healthier and I am on my way. I have been taken off my bp meds and just look and feel better, more energy, more focus.

I don't know how old you are, I'm 50, and I've struggled much of my adult life. If I knew at 36, when I ruptured a disk in my back, what I know now, I would have done it then and saved myself all the misery, pain, depression, meds, lost time with family, etc. In my opinion, it was totally worth it. Its not what I would call easy. But worth it.

OH, right, 64. I can read, doy. That's a tougher call, I think, esp for 45 pounds.

I got reflux after the sleeve but its not bad enough that I need a prescription yet. I take an over the counter pill at night and I'm good . I'm 3 weeks out- have not vomited and I truly believe that having the band first already prepared my to eat slow and I recognize the signs to stop eating. My weight loss is slow- I haven't been exercising yet because I've been so busy getting caught up at work. My energy level is through the roof. I'm not sleeping much because I'm not tired and am still wide awake during the day. I have Plantar Facitis and am praying that the doctor can help me with that because come springtime, I love walking the track. I don't want to give that up!!