kellybee63

Hi Sleevers,

I got a lap band in February of 2010. Everything went well and there were no complications; however, I never felt satisfied and my feeling of satiety wasn't ... Satisfying? I think that's the best way I can explain it! Still, I was exercising daily, so I did lose a lot of weight. Pre lap band surgery I was 278, and by June, 2010, I was down to 212. Then, on July 13, 2010, I was diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer. My band had to be unfilled, as I was going to be doing 8 rounds of chemo. Long story short, since my band was refilled (gradually) starting in the spring of 2011, I have had no success and am back up to 254. My band has been either too tight -- where I am throwing up protein shakes -- or too loose, where I can eat the whole pizza, as it were. And there has been no rhyme or reason as to when it's going to be tight or loose. My surgeon removed all fluid this past spring, and though an EGD didn't show any problems, I am STILL throwing up, often. My surgeon says that about 10% of band patients have "device intolerance," which isn't a very satisfying explanation as to why this has been such a failure. In any case, he recommended the sleeve, and my surgery is June 3rd, 2013.

My fears about the sleeve are that I will have the same issues with it that I had with the band -- eating small bites, eating slowly, and most of all being satisfied with small amounts of food, when everyone else at the table will be eating the amount of food that -- in my HEAD -- I want to eat. A very wise friend told me, "No one ever got fat from being hungry," and I really agree with that. Even though I might not be physically hungry after consuming a half cup of food, I still wanted more and found ways to get more. This time, I HAVE to make the mental shift to being satisfied, physically and mentally, with the amount and kind of food I'm supposed to eat.

I would be grateful to hear from folks with similar experiences!

Beth