livelyterry

It will be one of the best decisions you've made. I had my band since 2004, had the same issues all those years, finally had it removed last year. Like you, I had lots of trauma and scar tissue from it. Going in, my doc said it would be a 50/50 chance that we could do the sleeve during the same surgery, but it was so bad, we had to wait. I waited 3 months, had the sleeve done last January, and have not regretted it. I have lost about 37 pounds. It doesn't sound like much but I only need to lose another 20 more. Your weight loss may be slower than the regular sleeve patient who never had the band. We have a pounch above the area caused by the band that allows us to eat a little more than the normal sleeve patient. Even so, I get full fast. Hope all goes well from here on out for you !

I swear I have a phantom port too! It feels like it's still there and I find myself feeling for it…lol I have a tiny lump there, but not like before..

I wish I could tell you my revision was done in one surgery, but unfortunately it took 2, with a 4 month wait before surgeries. But I had the band inside me for almost 10 years, so it caused a lot of scar tissue that had to be cleaned up. Hopefully since you haven't had the band in very long, it will be ok. I'm glad you have a surgeon who is making the decision on what to do when he opens you up. Mine was the same way. He said I had a 50/50 chance. I hear stories of surgeons who promise they can do it in one surgery. That's scary because they are taking risks on people who have a mess inside.

Negative thinking from the beginning is not good. No offense, but you must change your thought process. The sleeve is very different from the band. I can tell you from experience. You will do great ! Now let's put our big girl panties on, and be positive !!!

Here is a youtube by Dr. Alvarez that addresses your concerns: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-10cnaFkTbM

I am a slow loser too, and I just realized how much I hate exercise. I guess it's not so much "hating" it, but getting bored with the same thing all the time. Have you done Zumba before? Maybe if it is something you will enjoy and stick with, It will kick you back into the groove. Sounds like you know what to do, just need some positive feedback. Drink your Water and keep up the good work. Time marches on, whether we are losing slow or fast. Even if you only lose 5 pounds a month for the next year, that's 60 pounds down !

I just noticed you're looking for a surgeon in Mexico. Mine was done by Guillermo Alvarez in Piedres Negres, Mexico. Go to Endobariatric.com He is highly regarded by his patients and has a really good track record.

There are a lot of people doing revisions from band to sleeve. Are you wanting to have it done near your home? Have insurance that will pay for it? Self pay? I had my band for 10 years, had it removed last year and had the sleeve done 4 weeks ago. It is awesome, nothing like the band. I haven't thrown up once, and am on soft foods now. I've lost almost 20 pounds so far. Best thing I've done.

Listen to what he says, because if you had a lot of damage inside, you are more prone to having a leak and complications. I know how you feel because I went thru the same thing, having to wait between surgeries, but the last thing you want is to have a leak. The 3 months allows the stomach to return to more of a normal shape, so the docs can get a nice surgical line. I had my sleeve Jan 13th, and am doing fantastic. I feel so good and am dropping weight. worth the wait, believe me.

New post up on my blog. I'm two weeks out and on Phase 2, full liquids, for those interested: http://www.band2sleevejourney.com/uncategorized/vsg-full-liquids-12814-weight-193/

I just went thru the same thing. Oct had band removed, sleeved 3 weeks ago. It is like night and day. You will love it.

I guess that's why most surgeons do it in 2 sessions. I would do exactly as he says, because you probably have a lot of swollen and scar tissue and he's concerned about a leak. My surgeon did my revision in 2 sessions, and I had to wait 3 months between surgeries.

Pain on the left is normal. It's also where they take the excised stomach out and there are more stitches there. You should be drinking more than 20 oz. I'm 2 weeks out and drinking 64 oz a day. I've been doing this since day 3 or 4. It takes work. You don't want to get dehydrated. That could be why you're so tired.

I had my revision 1/13/14. Not much pain. The only acid issue I had was the day after surgery. Doc said the stomach is very swollen and there is no place for the acid to go. Once the swelling goes down, it gets better. I am on acid blocker for 10 days and have had no more trouble with acid now. I forgot to take them one day, and had no problems. It is much better than the band. I had mine for 10 years, and what a joke. That band caused me nothing but problems. So far, sleeve is great...

My doc used the same scars as when he previously removed the band. They look about the same length except the one on the left that he had to made slightly bigger.

Dr. Alvarez explained it this way: The bottom of the stomach has a hole where food goes through to the intestine. The cottage cheese test isn't accurate because some of it can leak through that hole. It's like trying to measure something by putting it into a funnel.

I love that, "like a ninja"….lol

I had my surgery this past Monday and still have some gas pain in my back/shoulder but it's a lot better than the first night. Just walk walk walk and it will go away.

I won't really be seeing a local doc for my follow up unless something comes up, but even still, I am only 2 hours away from my Mexico surgeon, Dr. Alvarez. So if I were to have an issue, I would probably just run back down there. I can imagine how scary it would be living so far away and having your surgery in Mexico.

Just wanted to let everyone know I had my surgery Monday, and came home today. We waited 3 1/2 months between having the band out and getting my sleeve. Doc said everything went exceptionally well, no pouch above where the band was located, and he was able to use the 32 Fr bougie and get a good staple line. woohoooo I'm feeling pretty good except some acid issues, but he gave me some meds for that and they are really helping. Also have a sore area on left side, as is to be expected. Feels like a torn muscle, and I guess technically it is, as that is where they remove the portion of the stomach that is dissected. Anyway, that's my update! Terry

I think you will find some good responses here. I had my band out a few months ago, and am going for the VSG in 2 weeks. I had many of the same issues as you with keeping food down, getting stuck, etc. I have never had an issue with heartburn. I am not sure what to tell you as far as what's going to happen 30 years after you've had a sleeve. But if you remove the band and gain all your weight back, there are studies on what obesity can do to your body. I guess you have to weigh the options (no pun intended) Yes it seems extreme to have more than half your stomach removed. But you are still getting nutrition and there is no malabsorption involved like with R & Y or DS. Yes it's a risk, but I figure, every time I walk out of my house, I'm taking a risk. The band was supposed to work, it didn't. Now I have to do what's best for me.

Hi everyone ! I am currently going through my band to sleeve revision. I had the band removed Oct 1, and am having my sleeve done January 13th in Mexico. I had the privilege of coming across a blog last week by a fellow sleever who is a year and a half out. She faithfully blogged and told her story once a week for over a year. It was very encouraging to me and I couldn't put it down after I started reading. Her blog is at http://www.queenofcrop.com/about/ I thought I would attempt to do the same, and at some point, maybe it will help someone else in their journey. So if you are interested, here it is: http://www.band2sleevejourney.com

Thanks for taking a look at the blog. I will tweak it as I go. Looking forward to reading yours too. Let me know when it's up.

I feel like I'm there with you. Great writer you are...

Let us know how you are doing in the next few days. Fingers crossed, you will be fine!