Why is everyone converting from band to sleeve?

[Bandy2sleeve 40]

I don't think I ever learnt to eat healthy with the Band. All it enabled me to do was to control my portion sizes. I lost over 60kgs with my band and kept it off for 10+ years. I hadn't had a fill for over 3 years until last December. Who would have thought that .25ml could stop me from even swallowing my saliva? Had a barium swallow and it showed that my band had slipped. My surgeon said that the gastric band is great but definitely not forever. I"m on the two week Optifast phase now - due to be sleeved May 25 and it can't come soon enough for me. :-)

[hermione53 157]

Good luck to you, bandy2sleeve! You'll do great!

[Bandy2sleeve 40]

45 minutes ago, hermione53 said:

Good luck to you, bandy2sleeve! You'll do great!

Thanks hermione53.... very nervous and unsure of things here now. From what I have read on this wonderful forum, my feelings seem to have been shared by many among us who have happily made the transition from a band to a sleeve. My surgeon seems to think that I will be angry with him down the track that he didn't suggest it sooner.

[Allie1958 8]

I got the band 10 years ago and until this past year could say nothing but good about it. I lost 100 lbs and have kept it off with some moderate effort due to the band. I'm 5'7" and 168 lbs. In February of this year I got pneumonia which caused acute renal failure. I was in the hospital 5 days! Didn't know it was due to band slippage until a few days ago. So before I go further, I just want to say, take any acid reflux you may have in the future very seriously! This can lead to pneumonia. This coming Friday I'm having the band removed and getting the sleeve. But even though it was a rude awaking to find that the lap band is NOT forever as I was told, I would still do it again (minus the pneumonia!). I've had a great 10 years of good health because of the band. Just watch out for acid reflux.

[Sunnymommy 14]

Were you having reflux due to band slippage? Is that what caused the pneumonia?

[Allie1958 8]

Yes, it was due to the slippage. I basically have a herniated stomach right now. The doctor took out all of the fill on Wednesday and now there's no reflux. I actually had a really bad case of acid reflux about 5 years ago as well. I was on the strongest prescriptions possible and they finally had to do an endoscopy (had to go under anesthesia) only to find it was the band that was too tight! So it pays to be educated and very careful on the reflux. I could have avoided an endoscopy and hospital stay if I had known. Other than that I was really happy with the success of the band. Just wish it was forever...