bolivister

As I'm sure most of you ex banders, you probably had to battle between the bypass or the sleeve. I have spoke with three different Bariatric surgeons and I have gotten differing opinions of which surgery I should do. One thing I know for sure is I want my band out. But I don't want the same symptoms I had with the band to occur with this new surgery. One doctor says if you get the sleeve then you will still have the reflux. But the bypass is a larger surgery and may have longterm risks. How did you decide which one to do? Any help would be appreciated it!

Hi there, I went in for a second opinion this past week and the doctor said if I experienced reflux with the band then I will experience reflux with the sleeve. She said that most patients with the sleeve have reflux and will be on medication possibly for the rest of their lives. I'm starting to lean towards the bypass with that information. So my question is, do you have reflux? And if so, is it as bad as when you had the band? Can you sleep at night or it is minor? Any help would be great, thanks!

Well guys just an update on me. I had the surgery last Thursday and I'm already out of the hospital. Each day gets easier. I feel a weight lifted off of me. It's nice to not have the band in there anymore. But now I have a dip where the band was. It's a pretty big dip in my stomach. Could be just inflamed from the surgery still but does anyone else have that?

I just had mine on Thursday morning and was out Saturday morning. Two nights I think minimum but don't push it if you need to stay longer.

Thank you everyone for your posts. I decided to go with the bypass. Thursday is surgery day! Please keep me in your thought and prayers.

Unjury Chocolate, yum!

HI TLP1212, thanks for the reply. What caused your reflux with the band? I had a dilated pouch, so that started my reflux, so I'm wondering if I'll still have it, if I get sleeved. And what is the recovery time with the bypass?

Thank you Hope floats. Did you doctor tell you that you will have reflux for the rest of your life or is this just a temporary thing? What is causing it?

Thanks for your reply! I'm a little confused, you said the band ended your reflux but it sounds like it is worse now with the sleeve? Did you doctor say what the reason you are getting reflux?

My doctor said he does not do drains. Thank goodness!

Congratulations! Loved the video, you look great. Especially liked the side by side pics from last year to this year. Keep it going lady!

I'm on day 3 and totally feel your pain. Unfortunately my doctor's office didn't send me my pre op diet til 2 days before and I was not prepared. So tomorrow I can finally make it to the grocery store to buy all the sugar free items. Stay strong and if you need to vent, just msg me!

Gas pain in shoulder? Is that from the anaesthesia?

Hi there, how are you feeling now that it's been 3 days out?

I'm trying to be optimistic about the sleeve but I'm having a bit of deja vu to when I got banded. I was banded back in 2008. I have not had the best experience. Only lost 40 pounds, then put it back on when I was having horrible reflux and the doctor opened my band. Got it retighten to only have the same symptoms come back to find out I had a dilated pouch from a slipped band. I was so fed up with all the bad issues from the band (consistent vomiting, having to stand up to eat a bite, consistently going back to dr to get a "sweet spot" I never found, chocking at night from reflux). I just wanted the band out! However my doctor highly recommended that I did not do that and consider putting band back into place or the sleeve. Before I make another huge step I want to hear it from people that have been in my shoes. I need to know the honest truth of the bad that comes along with the sleeve. I wish I would have known the bad that came with the band but when you are desperate to lose weight you only dream of the goal of being thin and want to hear only the good. But I have to be realistic and know there is no easy solution to losing weight. Please let me know what you wish you would have known before you got sleeved. Do you still vomit like the band? Do you have acid reflux? Are you scared to eat in public worrying if you can get anything down? Does you stomach stretch back out? Any help would be appreciated!

Well I just got back from my doctor's appointment and I feel more nervous now about the surgery. I felt confident and certain after reading everyone's postings, and I can't thank you enough for the feedback. I went in there feeling good but still had questions. I know my doctor is being honest with me and that is what I want since I had such a hard time with the band. But he said certain things that made me think twice. I don't want to discourage any sleevers out there so my apologies if it does. He told me that statistically that 20% of sleevers in 5 years will gain weight. And could lead to another surgery whether it's resleeving or doing another WLS. That scared me. I can't keep going through surgery every 5 years. Grant it I hope I am the 80% that succeeds but I have to be realistic. Sigh, any words of wisdom?

I'm doing it one surgery.

Thanks for your reply Asherje. Sounds like you had a similar experience that I had. Are you glad you got sleeved? I know it's pretty early still but does it feel similar to the band or what are the differences?

I have another question for you ex banders. What are the food differences from band to sleeve. I know with the band I couldn't eat rice or salad. Anything off limits with the sleeve?

2-3 weeks before returning to work?! I was only planning to take off 5 days. My doctor made it seem like I'd be fine and dandy. Is this true? Will I need to plan for more time off?

Thank you all for your responses. This has been really helpful and makes me feel more confident about getting the sleeve. I am meeting the doctor this week so I will make a final decision. Wish me luck!

Mary, there is a gastric sleeve site (like this one) where there are banders that went to sleeve: www.verticalsleevetalk.com. I too am am contemplating to get the sleeve but it is due to complications with the band. I haven't had success with the band and only lost 40 pounds due to a dilated pouch. So it's between fixing the band or going to sleeve. I'm having a hard time trying to figure out what to do but I'm leaning towards the sleeve. Best of luck to you.

Thank you Wallace, congrats on making the decision and for your honesty. What does the doctor say about your reflux? Is it for ever or is because you just had the surgery? I don't want to be taking pills everyday for the rest of my life, so I'm wondering if it's a long term thing. Also, what happens if you drink too quickly or over drink?

Great post CowgirlJane, and congrats on the success. Very insightful information, my surgeon hasn't talked about the long term effects with me as detailed as yours, which is scary. So things to think about and writing my questions down to ask him when I go in next week. As for me, my current BMI is 32 and hoping to lose 50 pounds to be at a healthy BMI. Doesn't seem a lot but I would be over the moon if I could get there and stay there. How motivated am I....good question. I feel so beaten down with the band fiasco that I'm skeptical. I know I will be super motivated once I'm losing weight, I think we all are. Once the pounds come off and see it, you are going want to keep going. But in the long run... I know there are going to be some rough times so I hoping to maintain at a healthy weight and never go back. And you are absolutely right, we can never be normal. That is when we would slip back to old habits. That being said, this forum has given me hope and motivation so thank you everyone that is replying!

Thanks so much for the reply Heatherr. So that is the first I'm hearing that about liquids so I'm intrigued. So if you are working out and are dehydrated, what happens if you drink a lot of Water. Will it come back up? Do you hear it guzzling in your throat like it going down a funnel? Also, when you are full, does it feel the same like the band. I always felt it in my upper chest. Same feeling?