Is the sleeve right for me?

[tohealth 8]

Hi,

Thank you in advance for any help on here. I know that every person has his/her own journey but would really appreciate any insight.

I am seven years into a failed lapband, weighing a mere 10 lbs. less now than I did when I had surgery. I take almost full accountability for the failure, as I really did not understand that I would be unable to drink while eating, and I also thought that hunger would disappear. (I do believe I might have been under-educated by my dr., as the lapband was all the rage at the time, but it was my responsibility, ultimately.)

After I got the band, months of tightening resulted in little to no change in my ability to eat, so I gave up and learned to eat with and around the band on the occasion that it seemed restrictive. Obviously, no success was had.

Anyway, I am now 40 with a BMI of 39, and I am miserable. My dr. tightened me last month, after I finally returned to him, and now I can barely eat at all, especially in the morning or after even one drink the previous day. Every meal presents me with a challenge. However, I am still hungry, so I am eating around the band. Again, no success is really being had. I continue to feel like a failure, and I am starting to worry about having this thing inside me forever.

My dr. thinks the sleeve is the right option for me, but I am terrified of making another mistake. I have read that after the honeymoon period, all the hunger returns. I have read that people who did not lose with the band should really do the duodenal switch, but that seems a little risky for me (I have a family history of all sorts of cancers of the digestive system, and I do not think I want to mess with so much of it now, in case I ever need surgery for cancer).

My dr. recommends a band removal followed by 3-4 months of recovery before anything else. I will probably get approval for the removal but will then have to wait for approval for the next procedure, and I will actually need to probably gain a few pounds, oh irony of ironies.

Ugh. Any info or opinions would be appreciated. Thank you!

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

I had the band for 10 years, found myself weghing about 40# more than I started. I revised to the sleeve 4 years ago and maintaining 150#weight loss.

I think the sleeve is easier to live with. Less hunger, less pain...HOWEVER...don't be fooled into thinking that the hunger reduction lasts forever. Many of us experience the return to hunger.

I choose a bariatric practice with lots of support and education which I think helped me be more successful with the sleeve.

I think you should research the sleeve and bypass - both good choices.

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[kaitlynm 335]

I have never had the band, but I would worry that you will fall into some of the same traps as your band with the sleeve. You can easily eat around it with the wrong foods. You will need to make the decision about following the rules, or no WLS will help. I still crave sweets with the sleeve, and it takes a lot of willpower to stay away from them. I track everything I eat, plus work out every day. So far it is going well, but it is not easy.

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

I don't think any WLS eliminates cravings or some of those other things. Even gastric bypass, not everyone "dumps " and I think some that do initially don't later. No matter which procedure. ...it isn't easy for most of us.

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[feliciadawn 22]

Hi! I have been banded for around 5 years and I have a lot of the same concerns. I am getting more and more excited and comfortable with the idea of the sleeve after reading the posts on here, going to my nutrition classes, and dealing with my stupid band which is even now as I type stuck after trying to eat lunch. I can't wait to get this stupid thing out of me. What happens now that i can't eat my lunch is I will still be hungry, leading me to grab something unhealthy that I know will not get stuck.. At this point I think my band is actually preventing me from losing. Good luck!

[A_new_sara 136]

Hi! I have been banded for around 5 years and I have a lot of the same concerns. I am getting more and more excited and comfortable with the idea of the sleeve after reading the posts on here, going to my nutrition classes, and dealing with my stupid band which is even now as I type stuck after trying to eat lunch. I can't wait to get this stupid thing out of me. What happens now that i can't eat my lunch is I will still be hungry, leading me to grab something unhealthy that I know will not get stuck.. At this point I think my band is actually preventing me from losing. Good luck!

You are literally telling my story, only difference is I've had my band 7 years. I try so hard to eat healthy but I break and just want to rid the hunger. I've started Keto, it's helping some. High fat which means it's generally slider. But I can't eat the meats. Doreen 20 lbs in 2 months, but I can't wait to get this damn thing out.

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