I developed aspiration pneumonia from the lap band...I was very successful with it...lost almost 80 pounds and kept it off for 6 years, I was put into the hospital and as a side to the pneumonia I was told I had to have my band removed, That was April 20 and I have gained upwards of 40 pounds with no end in sight, I am very seriously considering having the surgery for the gastric sleeve. I have sent many folks to Mexico where I had my surgery and they all got the sleeve and are doing very well. One person I know is not doing well....,after she got home she had appendicitis, after that surgery she had to have a hernia removed and is not losing weight. She is trying to talk me out of it saying that it is different if it is revision as opposed to being the first bariatric surgery one has, She also has terrible GERD but had that prior to the sleeve surgery,

I am hoping I can find someone(s) who have had the sleeve as a revision and find out how it went so that I can be an informed patient. I am 5 months out from the removal of the band,,,do not have gerd, never had it, I am 64 years old and finally in good health...a few minor issues but nothing to prevent my having the surgery.

Thanks in advance to your help.

Lois

I am a revision from band to sleeve. I got the band in 2012 and everything was fine for the first 2 years. I lost about 80 lbs. Then in mid-2014 I started throwing up everything including liquids. We tried adjusting the band for about 6 months and never could get it right. So I decided I wanted the sleeve instead. I had a hiatal hernia repair at the same time I had my band surgery which got rid of my GERD.

I had the surgery June 1st to have the band removed and the sleeve done. My surgeon did it all in one surgery. I had no complications. The worst part was the really uncomfortable hospital bed and the drain I had in the hospital. I only had 2 doses of pain meds in the hospital and one was for a headache. I needed no pain meds at home.

I do not miss that band at all. I do not miss throwing up. I'm very happy with the sleeve. I have a little larger than normal sleeve because I had some scar tissue around the esophagus and he lined up the sleeve with that so I would have less of a risk for leaks. I don't miss the port at all. I don't miss the fills and the needles.

I eat about 4-5 oz of Protein and a serving of veggies at each meal. I've eaten more veggies in the past 3 months than I had in the previous 8 years. My tastes changed too. I can't stand ice cream now and sweets don't bother me. I can eat chicken again - I never could with the band no matter how it was prepared.

I'm 52. And today my PCP took me off my BP medication because my BP readings for the past 3 days have been really low - average of 109/63 and I was getting light headed.

Thanks for your response,,,you are telling me what i was hoping to hear. As well as I did with the band I expect to do that well with the sleeve. I had the band removed here in St augustine and couldn't afford to have the sleeve done here. I don't have any health insurance. It is much cheaper in Mexico and the care I got was wonderful. It sounds like you had no adverse affects which is very encouraging to me...I appreciate your taking the time to respond. Good luck!!