Leyanna

In my opinion, YES. I switched from band to sleeve three years ago and it was the best decision ever.

LeanerLena, thank you so much! The first thing my surgeon told me when I got out of surgery was "Wow, there was A LOT of scar tissue!" Now I get it. That's why I have a larger stomach. It makes me sad, but it is what it is. I'm doing the best I can with what I have. I'm so thankful for this thread. I never wanted to start my own thread because I saw some of the rude comments/finger pointers/blamers and I just didn't want to go there. Some people, I swear. Thank you Susan.davis for posting.

Susan, I'd like to chime in that I have the same thing: very little restriction. I had my band removed due to complications and got the sleeve on 4/21/14, and I'm shocked at how much I can eat. Since I had my lapband removed immediately, I never attended sleeve classes, but I knew that what I could eat couldn't be right. My first day on solids and I remember thinking that there's no way I should be able to eat so much. My husband, who's attending the classes, explained to me that a pouch can be up to the size of a large banana. I guess I got the big banana. I'm going to follow your post to see how things work out for you! I hope for the best for you!

Same thing happened to me. I had my band unfilled at 10 weeks preggo and kept it unfilled for 4 years and two children, where I gained back 80% of my weight during that time. Had major problems with reflux, even with the band unfilled. Kaiser performed an upper GI and 2 weeks later I had my band removed and revised to the sleeve. So far I'm really loving the sleeve.

Yes, lifting objects is a huge concern. Until you're four weeks out, you can't lift more than 10 lbs. because your surgeon will cut straight through the muscle in your lower right abdomen (where he or she will pull out your lapband and 85% of your stomach) and it will be painful and fragile in that area. Last thing you want to do is tear it open. I couldn't carry my kids for four weeks and it was SO HARD. My husband left on a business trip during my last week of recovery, and my surgeon okay'd me for lifing the toddler for diaper changes and getting in her in her car seat, but that was about it.

I'm six weeks post op and this is my second day on solid food with the sleeve. It's very different from the band. With the band, I got that stuck, uncomfortable feeling while, as you said, still feeling hungry. That was because the band left my stomach intact below the band and my tummy was telling my body that it was empty and wanted food. With the sleeve, I don't have that. I eat about 1/2 to 1 cup of food and I instinctively know to stop. I feel as if I've eaten a Thanksgiving meal and couldn't stomach another bite. For me, that's the difference between the band and the sleeve.

I'm not sure about South Sacramento. I noticed that MorethanJustaPrettyFace and I have the same doctor, Dr. Gary Belzberg in Harbor City, Ca. He is the best doctor of everness in Kaiser. Another doctor may not be so kind as Dr. Belzberg.

I should add that per the terms of my insurance, I paid $500 for the band to sleeve revision through Kaiser.

I got my lapband in 2007 in Mexico. After a year it just quit working and it stayed dormant in there for seven years and two children. In April of 2014, I went to my Kaiser general doctor who referred me to the bariatric surgeon of my choice (through Kaiser, of course). After an upper GI was done, it was determined that my lapband needed to go. It was old & rusty and doing irrepairable damage to my esophogus. I was scheduled for a revision to sleeve in 10 days and I don't think I met the BMI requirements. With Kaiser, it all depends which doctor you see. Some are great and want to help, others not so much. May I ask where you are located?

That's fantastic! Big congratulations on your success. Woo Hoo!

I'm 17 days out and have been stalled for a little over a week. That's how I found this post, because I was trying to find out what was going on. Looks like it's normal. Onward and upward... or shall I say "downward."