Bandy2sleeve

Hi Lilian, I can't give you any feedback regarding the financial side of things as I'm not in the US, but as a revision from Band to Gastric Sleeve patient, I can tell you that it is just so completely different eating with the sleeve compared to the band. I had my revision just over two months ago and even though I measure out all my food and know I am eating the required amount for my sleeve - I feel like I can eat so much more than I did with my band because I don't get that stuck feeling and have to go and relieve it after eating. I realise everybody has a different experience as all our bodies are different, but if I had known more about the sleeve procedure I would have chosen it hands down over the band. I hope that your health fund helps you find a way to get the revision because it sounds like you are tired of that stuck feeling all the time as I was? I used to say to people that I could never get my band removed also - as I would just put the weight back on - but two months later I am almost back to my goal weight. My revision was due to band slippage and damage caused, not because it wasn't keeping the weight off.

I had reflux with the band but none with my sleeve. ,my surgeon waits 3 month's between band removal amd sleeving. The band was causing my reflux because it was too tight. I cant believe the difference with the sleeve. I WISH i had it years ago. I feel so normal again. Sent from my SM-T355Y using BariatricPal mobile app

Faithmel, I was exactly the same as you. Left hospital with a pain scale of a 1 (if even). Could drink normally. I was so concerned that I was thinking my surgeon might not have even performed the sleeve operation, as that was how normal I felt. I am now almost 6 weeks post op. Can still drink normally, but when I eat my stomach just tells me I'm full and i stop eating. I also avoid drinking 1/2 hour before or after a meal as advised. I know that everybodys experience is totally different. Check with your surgeon if you are worried, but sounds like you are heading in the right direction.

I am also a revision from the Gastric Band and was sleeved 4 weeks ago. I had the same thoughts as you, but have just moved onto the normal foods phase. I can't tell you how nice it is to be able to eat and not have that "elephant's foot feeling" on your chest. I hope that you have the same experience in a couple of weeks time? I think the great thing for us revision patients is that we are already used to not being able to eat large amounts of food - so the ability to be able to eat without pain is a huge bonus in itself. Not everybody can eat every food, so there may end up being things which your new stomach might not tolerate - but you also might be able to eat foods with your sleeve that you had difficulty eating with your band. Hang in there, better days are around the corner for you :-)

Can anybody tell me if the size of a sleeved stomach is a standard thing or does it vary from person to person? I had my band removed three months ago and gained back 21lbs in that time - so am worried that my sleeve will be bigger than a standard sleeve because I dont have that much weight to lose. I just dont want to be able to eat larger portion sizes than I could with the band as I know that is what kept my weight off for 10 years. I hear about everybody being happy with the conversion but if there is anybody in a similar situation to me who could tell me how much they lost after surgery and whether they actually lost more than their goal weight because they were not that overweight at the time of revision. Thank you in advance kind people. Sent from my SM-G955F using BariatricPal mobile app

Badwolf... Im not extremely overweight either (10kgs above goal prior to revision surgery) and I have also exercised and remained fit right up until my revision surgery. Get your surgeons advice as he is likely to know what will be best in your own situation. I eat all my protein and drink all my water and have protein shakes etc but my energy levels are still really low. As I said Im only 3.5 weeks out but could not imagine running a marathon in 5 weeks despite my good fitness levels.

All bodies are different when it comes to recovery time. Im 3 weeks post op and have no pain whatsoever, but feel light headed often because of the reduced calories my body now consumes. I would suspect that your energy levels would be not high enough to run a marathon 8 weeks out. If I were you, I would complete your marathon prior to your surgery and allow your body the time it needs to recover - however long that might be.

When I had my band I experienced one quite severe blockage. I drank some fizzy drink which induced lots of burping and cleared the blockage. Sent from my SM-G955F using BariatricPal mobile app

Outsidematchinginside - I asked the question originally and the reference to size in my asking relates to the volume the new stomach can can actually hold - not specifically how big it is. It IS important because it gives people a good indication of exactly how much their new stomach can hold. I previously had a lap band so never could eat massive volume anyway. My portion sizes with the sleeve will be relatively similar - thank goodness. Sent from my SM-G955F using BariatricPal mobile app

My sleeve surgery is now behind me. Surgeon took 2.5 hours because of all the scaring my band caused. But the pain after this surgery was far less for me than when the band was removed. I'm now day 3 and reckon my pain scale is a 2 if even. I can sleep easily on my left hand side and am feeling great. Had my barium swallow to confirm there were no leaks before moving to clear fluid diet. Now on liquid diet and feeling great. Getting to know my sleeve still. NOt sure if it doesn't like lactose anymore or it's just the reaction to the liquid from the barium swallow, but slight runs when going to the toilet as from last night and again this morning. Happens after I have diary... but surgeon says give it a couple of days to settle. I'm having lactose free diet at the moment, just in case. I can't believe that the band cause so much internal damage to me, I wish i had looked into this revision years ago. Hope all the other May 25ers are doing well, as well as those about to be sleeved shortly.

Mine is the size of a banana holds 250mls - so no different to any first time sleever. It all depends on the size of the boogie your surgeon uses.

I have now had my procedure and my sleeve is the size of a banana. Hope all goes well for you Allie.

I wouldn't be able to have the supplements you have shown as they have fruits and vegetables in my do not eat list. In addition to the shakes i take, I also have to restrict the amount of carbs I have from fruits and vegetables. All fruits are actually out of bounds during my two week pre-op diet. :-(

I have had my band removed 3 months ago and my sleeve surgery is this Thursday. I have really struggled without my band for the last 3 months and really miss the signal which used to go to my brain to tell it I was full. With my band I often forgot to eat - without my band I am constantly thinking of food and find I am worst from 4pm in the afternoon. I have NO off switch with bread. As far as the surgery goes I will be able to tell you more after Thursday - I have had no.reflux but lots of burping and bad gas since I had my band removed. Not sure if that is because my stomach is not used to having much food in it from when I was banded for 11 years - but thats really been my only issue thus far. Sent from my SM-G955F using BariatricPal mobile app

@Alimap300 @bilisgfy @justJoan looks like we are all May 25 surgery date (apologies if I left anybody out - but please shout out so I know who my May 25 sleeve buddies are). Lovely to know that there are some other people out there going through exactly the same thoughts fears and realities I'm about to go through on Thursday. I am suffering badly with gas... from both ends. Apologies for the TMI - but neither have ever been an issue for me before, so not sure if it's the liquid diet - my stomach still readjusting after band removal.. but hope it gets better on the other side :-)

The liquid diet makes me feel very light headed too. I am towards the end of.my second week, but walked to the park with my hubby and 3 year old son and nearly fainted. I would say that its either sodium levels or my body dealing with so little food. I came home and had a berocca performance and that set me straight. Be particularly careful when you wake up during the night and if you start to feel light headed get down on the floor and crawl back to bed if necessary. It might not stop you fainting, but it will stop the risk of injury from potentially falling into a door frame or onto the floor if you do faint. Sent from my SM-G955F using BariatricPal mobile app

Its the carbs that cause the major issues. Im struggling with the pre op diet too... only thing getting me through is my surgery date is this Thursday. Be kind to yourself it is hard, but will be so worth it. Sent from my SM-G955F using BariatricPal mobile app

Have you guys seen the Ulla's - it's a little way of reminding to drink more water. I'ver ordered one even if it just helps to get me into a better habit with water https://store.bariatricpal.com/products/ulla-hydration-reminder-bottle-attachment-available-in-7-colors

Apologies Sara, it was actually @Kimberlee725 I was just typing very late at night here, so my brain had obviously switched off. Sorry :-)

Oh Amy, I feel for you. Thats tough to wake up in such pain. The three months without my band have been the toughest of my journey to date as I quickly gained a few kgs and reminded myself of why there is no.other option than surgery to help me. All I can say is to try and.maybe increase your physical activity as your little helper wont be with you for a.few mo months. Keeping busy and away from food prep is also good - but hard of you're a mum like me. I find its not what I eat, but how much of it. Sent from my SM-G955F using BariatricPal mobile app

Im not morbidly obese and Im revising. I reached my goal weight with the band and kept it off for 7 years but one little overfill ruined everything for me. I couldn't even swallow my own saliva and had reflux like I never thought possible. Barium swallow revealed slipped band and surgeon suggested revision after removal. The last three months without my band "off switch" have been so bad for me. Food and I are never going to be friends without some additional help for me. I accept that now and while people tell me how "stupid" I am for doing this when I dont look overweight - they dont know about my issues with food behind closed doors. Sent from my SM-G955F using BariatricPal mobile app

I had my band removed early March (to be sleeved next week) but had pain where my port was for about 4-6 weeks post op. My surgeon said this is totally normal and just goes away over time. Sent from my SM-G955F using BariatricPal mobile app

Sara - how bad is your reflux with the sleeve. I dont have any reflux without my band now.. but I noticd I burp more than I used to and a bit worried this might mean I have issues with reflux after my sleeve operation next week? Sent from my SM-G955F using BariatricPal mobile app

Had my band removed three months ago. Sleeve revision surgery scheduled for May 25. I'm starting to get majorly nervous now. Very worried about the pain I will be in post surgery. I'm wondering if it will be lessened because I have already had my band removed and recovered from that? I'm on day four of Optifast two week diet today and I am absolutely starving.

Thanks so. much for your feedback. I am actually worried about having fat around my liver. The dietician thinks I will be fine as I havent gained very much weight since having my band removed in March. But I am just hanging out to have back that full sensation I had with my band. Head hunger for me was controllable when I knew my stomach couldn't handle it. Im very scared about post operative pain, but just the thought that this time next week my surrgery could be over is so awesome. Sent from my SM-G955F using BariatricPal mobile app