Mid West

Hi. I'm in the UK too and up until this morning, I was having my band removed and a sleeve performed on 10/10. However, I've now decided to go for the bypass - same date, one day after you. Let me know how you go.

Thanks guys. Good luck to you all too Lx

I guess I should change my user name to UK-Bypasser :-) Operation to remove the band and have the bypass is 10th October (next Thursday, eek!) Wish me luck! :-) Lx

Good luck everbody - mine's next Thursday, 10/10 :-)

Hi guys. I currently have a band and I'm having a revision on 10th October. I was all set for a sleeve but having seen my bariatric nurse today, I'm considering a bypass. My mum thinks I should have the bypass as I'm a grazer and the sleeves don't help as much with that - also I read a report that said the standard advice for people revising from bands was for them to go to bypass. I'd really like to hear people's experiences of their bypass, good and bad to help me make a decision. Thanks :-) Lx

I went to see my bariatric nurse today and my mum came with me. I asked all the remaining questions I had about the sleeve and my mum brought up the bypass. She thinks this will be better for me because there's more information on it, it has been done for the last 40 years. Also I'm a grazer and the sleeve isn't supposed to work so well for us. Also the recommended revision for people who have had bands is the bypass. So now I'm thinking perhaps I'll have the bypass instead. But all my research so far has been on the sleeve. Does anyone have any advice or input they'd like to share on their decision?

Oops, my spelling! Lol

Sending good thoughts - let us know how you get on :-) Lx

I'm so sorry to read that - hugs and best wishes from the UK. Lx

Hi guys. I'm having my revision on 10th October - was all set for a sleeve but having seen my bariatric nurse today, I'm considering a bypass. My mum thinks I should have the bypass as I'm a grazer and the sleeves don't help as much with that - also I read a report that said the standard advice for people revising from bands was for them to go to bypass. I'd really like to hear people's experiences.

I went to see my bariatric nurse today and my mum came with me. I asked all the remaining questions I had about the sleeve and my mum brought up the bypass. She thinks this will be better for me because there's more information on it, it has been done for the last 40 years. Also I'm a grazer and the sleeve isn't supposed to work so well for us. Also the recommended revision for people who have had bands is the bypass. So now I'm thinking perhaps I'll have the bypass instead. But all my research so far has been on the sleeve. Does anyone have any advice or input they'd like to share?

Thanks for your replies guys, all really helpful. Because I'm self-funding and becuase my surgeon is happy to perform either operation, I have choice. And sometimes I wonder if that's a good thing! Lol.

Do you really think the sleeve will help us keep it off? I mean, it's still such a relatively new procedure without much data to fall back on. I have read about people gaining the weight back but then I do understand that earlier procedures left the stomach much bigger and that could account for some people's regain. I KNOW that I can lose weight, I've done it enough times. I lost 126lb last year - but I never keep it off. Will the sleeve help us to do that? Lx

Good luck - having my band out and sleeve done on 10/10

They're only bad if they've gone green

Thanks for all your replies guys. They have made me feel a lot more positive and I had a lovely long chat with the Psych lady today who was really helpful. Day two of cottage cheese diet almost completed :-) 12 days til operation!

Thanks everyone, there's some fab stories here. Well done, you're all an inspiration!

I'm expecting a lot of soreness as they're taking my band out and fitting a sleeve at the same time. They say the most painful bit afterwards will be at the port site of the band....eek! :-)

Hi, I had my band in 2010. No slippage but not a great deal of success either. Having the band out and sleeve fitted on 10/10 :-) Good luck with yours.

Thanks everyone for your replies. My only doubt really is self-doubt. I haven't managed to maintain my weight with diet and exercise in the past; hence looking for help from a sleeve. If diet and exercise are key, aren't I just doomed to put it all back on again? Feeling despondent today but off to see the Surgeon's Psych lady soon so maybe that'll help. Lx

Hi. I'm due to have my op on 10th October. I'm 16 stone, BMI of 40. I'm 41, have been dieting since my early teens. I currently have a gastric band which will be removed at the same time. I've lost weight in various ways over the years and put it back on, although haven't ever got back up to my heaviest which was 20.7 stone. My F&F think what I'm doing is too drastic. They all have weight problems too so understand the struggle but still, they don't want me to do it - because I'm a grazer and I like my wine, they think the sleeve won't work for me. Any thoughts/your stories appreciated :-) Lx

Yes I agree, their intentions are good and they don't want to see us in pain or in danger. I think it'll be better when it's done and we're all just moving on. At the moment, they want me to change my mind :-)

I asked him about research and he couldn't point me to any. I think it's something that doctors are just starting to notice. He also says that some surgeons don't report it as they don't want to admit they gave patient a useless first surgery with the band :-) But I'm glad I'm not the only one who's heard it

I had my band in 2010 and am around four stone lighter but no thanks to the band. We never reached a fill point between being able to eat anything and nothing going down. My hospital doesn't even offer bands anymore. So it's coming out and I'm having a sleeve revision on 10th October :-)

Hi. I had a band three years ago and I'm having it removed and a sleeve performed on 10th October. My dietician said there's some evidence that people who go from band to sleeve are less successful than those who just go straight to sleeve. However this hasn't put me off and I just wondered if anyone else had gone from band to sleeve and what your experiences are. Lx