Hi, my name is Lisa and I had my band out in Jan since I had a lot of issues with gerd and regaining ALL my weight back. I'm still waiting on my final approval to go forward with the gastric sleeve in (surgery slated for April). I only lost about 40 lbs with the band :-( I'm hopeful the sleeve will allow me to lose more weight because I really feel like this type of WLS is my only option to even have a remote chance of losing and keeping my weight off. I do understand now more than ever that this is just a tool. I'm still so scared I won't lose a significant amount of weight and/or regain. Has anyone out there had the band removed and is now sleeved? Did you lose more weight with the sleeve? What else could you tell me about the sleeve?

I had a lap band for 10 years with constant complications. Also gained all the weight (50 lbs) back and then some (15+).

Just did lap-band to sleeve revision in one surgery 8 weeks ago. I am too new to give long-term advice but I a so happy to have that "THING" out of me. From day one after sleeve surgery I felt better and today it feels so good not to have content pain from the lap band.

But what I can tell you is that for me, eating with the sleeve is very different than a lap-band. With the band, if I could chew it long enough I could eat most anything and usually a lot more than I needed. But when I moved to food with the sleeve, I kept eating too much, and would vomit. The lap band gave me an immediate notice if I didn't chew or ate too fast. But not so with the sleeve. My tiny sleeved stomach would fill up with such a SMALL amount of food post-op. Like 2 level tablespoons full. Eating too much might only be ONE teaspoon too much. Our new swollen tummy is very small and tender. So be prepared that eating is different with a sleeve than a band. At least for me it was. And unfortunately, I was a slow learner!

"But what I can tell you is that for me, eating with the sleeve is very different than a lap-band. With the band, if I could chew it long enough I could eat most anything and usually a lot more than I needed. But when I moved to food with the sleeve, I kept eating too much, and would vomit. The lap band gave me an immediate notice if I didn't chew or ate too fast. But not so with the sleeve. My tiny sleeved stomach would fill up with such a SMALL amount of food post-op. Like 2 level tablespoons full. Eating too much might only be ONE teaspoon too much. Our new swollen tummy is very small and tender. So be prepared that eating is different with a sleeve than a band. At least for me it was. And unfortunately, I was a slow learner!"

Hope you don't mind me asking. How is your hunger like? Do you actually measure your meal or are there signs before you get to the point of having to purge? jake

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Hi Jake, We are all here to help each other.

The thing I had to learn is that everyone is different. The speed of recovery from surgery and what we can eat and when. And right after surgery is very different from where I am today at 8 weeks post-op and I'm guessing it will change again and again. The band seemed different. I was eating most things pretty soon as long as I chewed like crazy.

Like the band surgery, I had no real hunger for weeks. Someone told me, the sleeve (and all WLS) allows us to hit the pause button while we figure out how to make serious life style changes. Eventually that honeymoon is over, just like the band. I say this for me, cuz this is my last chance to get it together.

With the sleeve I was on mushies longer than most cuz I kept vomiting. When I could eat mushies I did measure out a small amount but it turned out to be too much. Realized too late. Also if I went too fast I'd vomit and believe me it didn't feel like I was eating fast. So to answer your question, no I didn't seem to have any clues that I had eaten too much or fast. ((but some sleevers do) I kept having a band mentality, thinking I would know immediately. So I had to learn, to eat a very small amount slowly, just a few tiny spoonfuls and then wait. It was a while before i could eat 4 oz and even now I can't eat 4 oz of chicken at one sitting. I have to be careful about introducing new foods. There are some in my January group that are eating salads and all foods. The only vegetable I can eat is steamed broccoli and steamed squash. Still no raw fruit. I also can't eat Protein and vegetables at one sitting. I have to eat the protein, then wait 30-40 minutes and eat cooked vegetables. I expect at some point that will change when the swelling from surgery is gone. Also I have been told that it can take 2, even 3 months for the sleeve to heal completely. The band healing is much faster.

Today I feel real hunger. With the band I could get satiated when hungry with a small amount but it always hurt so bad. The sleeve at 8 weeks does not hurt at all. If I feel real hunger I eat 2 oz of chicken (I weighed it initially but now I know what 2oz is) and slowly eat it. Within 10 minutes I am no longer hungry for hours. At first I could only eat 1/2 cooked egg taking 30 minutes to eat the egg and then I wouldn't be hungry for hours. Now I can eat one egg.

My Doc and NUT told me that eventually I will be able to eat more and then to plan on 3 meals with Snacks. But for now, they told me to eat when I have real hunger. Keep track of protein etc. And get the fluids in.

Doc said I probably had more swelling than some (the vomiting didn't help) which is why my tiny little tummy couldn't hold more than a few tablespoons.

Having said all this, the sleeve is much easier than the band and it doesn't hurt. What they don't tell you with the band is that after surgery, when all is healed, the band has far more complications than bypass, sleeve and RYN. Because a foreign object is in your body can erode, slip, break, etc. The sleeve once it is healed has very few complication risks. Now no one told me that when I got the band. I am SO glad my band is gone. No more tightness and pain in my stomach, no more port moving around tugging at me. Do you feel that freedom from the band too?

Probably TMI, but there you have it.

Best to you!

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Oh, I just noticed you still have a lap-band. I'm sorry if I bad mouthed the band. It works great for so many, it just didn't work for me. All the best to you.

Thanks for your post... I to am having my band removed and am going to the sleeve. I am scheduled for surgery on March 18. I am so excited but was definitely wondering about the differences. My band slipped and has not had a fill for 4 years so I am hoping to have good success. If you don't mind me asking is the weight coming off? My doctor said most people who convert from the band to the sleeve don't lose weight the same as someone who's never had surgery. Thanks for posting all your info.

Bewell, Thank you so much for the information, it really helped. I have dilation of the esophagus and pouch and see a surgeon this Wednesday to seek band to sleeve revision. I was one of the lucky ones where the band helped me loose over 100 lbs. I have, however, gained 30 lbs.and recently discovered the issue with my esophagus and pouch.

I'm excited about the sleeve, but, a little scared. I won't know exactly what happens next til this Wednesday, but, I can't wait to get on with my weight loss journey. Thanks again for the information. jake

Thanks for your post... I to am having my band removed and am going to the sleeve. I am scheduled for surgery on March 18. I am so excited but was definitely wondering about the differences. My band slipped and has not had a fill for 4 years so I am hoping to have good success. If you don't mind me asking is the weight coming off? My doctor said most people who convert from the band to the sleeve don't lose weight the same as someone who's never had surgery. Thanks for posting all your info.

I am also having lap band converted to sleeve on 3/18. Was hoping we could be support to each other. Have u started pre-op liquids? I started friday.

Thanks everyone, this is a lot of good info! I'm meeting with my surgeon today and now have a few more questions to add. I'll report back on what he says. Thanks again!