Allie1958

I just found out last Wednesday that my Lap Band of 10 years slipped and needs to be removed. Surgery is scheduled this coming Friday, May 19th. I didn't know what the sleeve was a few days ago and now i'm having it done in 5 days! I found out that it was the Band (resulting from acid reflux) that gave me pneumonia this past Feb and put me in the hospital for 5 days (pneumonia leading to acute renal failure). It's nothing to mess with. Anyway, this is all so new. Not that I'm a wimp, but can anyone that's had both removal and sleeve at the same time tell me what to expect pain wise? I just want to prepare myself mentally. And how long were you out from work? I have a desk job. The nurse said 1-2 weeks. Is that accurate? Any feedback will help as this is so sudden and I haven't had time to wrap my head around it all.

Thanks so much, so happy to hear things went well for you. I actually had the surgery on June 2nd. All went very well and I was out the door within an hour after waking up. It went so well in fact that when I went in 3 days later for the mandatory saline IV i asked to confirm that the doc both took out the band and put in the sleeve. I fretted over this surgery for weeks and shouldn't have. I have not had any pain in my throat and no trouble swallowing. The only disappointment is that I have not lost any weight since the day of surgery. I lost most of my weight with the band and only had 15 lbs to lose so this was more of a preventative measure. However, I thought the final 15 would come off easier but I guess not! I'm still so glad i got it because I know I would be up 10 lbs by now with just the band coming out. My best to you!

My insurance doesn't cover bariatric either and I had to self pay. The cost was $12,000 for both band removal and sleeve in one surgery. This was done in Salt Lake City. I still have hope that insurance may pay for $6000 of it (band removal) since they should pay if it's considered "Equipment Failure" and is life threatening. My lap band slipped but once they took out the fill I didn't have acid reflux anymore so possibly not considered life threatening. I'm still waiting their decision. I was outpatient and an hour after waking up was out the door. Back to work in one week. I drank fresh veggie juices daily with the pre op and post op diet and that really helped my energy level (nutritionist OK'd it). To answer your question about throwing up, I had surgery on June 2 and haven't thrown up once which is quite different from the band -- yay! Everything has gone smoothly. My only disappointment is that I've only lost one pound since surgery. But the sleeve is helping me maintain my weight without any effort. I'm 169 lbs. and 5'7" so I'm going to have to work at it to lose my last 15 lbs. I was freaked out about losing 75% of my stomach as well -- it kept me up nights. It's strange but all fears were gone after surgery. I hope the same for you! Good luck!

I'm a little nervous that I'm finding most do this double procedure with a hospital stay. My doctor is planning on doing it as outpatient. Anyone had it done this way? Should I have a family member help me for a few days? In other words, how long before I can get to the bathroom by myself...lol.

Yes, the band/sleeve surgery-in-one was not as big a deal as I thought it would be either. And it was outpatient -- home that night. All my expectations were turned upside down. It was so easy that when I went in for IV 3 days later I asked to confirm that they put the sleeve in. No nausea, able to drink fine. So that was unexpected. But I expected to have more weight loss and haven't so far. That was also unexpected. One month later and I'm the exact same weight as the day of surgery. Although I'm 5'7" and 169 so I guess I'll have to put some effort into it. But still so happy I did it. Without the lap band I would have been up 10 lbs by now.

Well, surgery was last Friday; the band is now out and the sleeve in. Everything went smoothly, no complications. I actually feel great, though a little sore. No nausea (I took pills to prevent it) and have not had a hard time swallowing or any stomach pain whatsoever. It was outpatient and I was walking that night by myself to the bathroom. I stressed over this for three weeks before and shouldn't have. And I have no psychological stress like I thought I might have over losing most of my stomach. So glad that part's over. I am really tired of liquids though, and would give anything to munch on a cracker! I think one thing that has speeded up my recovery is I have been drinking fresh green veggies juices during prep (with consent of nutritionist) and the same plus fresh watermelon juice after the surgery. I highly recommend that to anyone who has a juicer--with your doctor's OK of course.

They messed up the scheduling and I won't have the surgery until Friday, June 2nd. I'm sorry to hear your band slipped. Did they take out all the fill? I've been 2 weeks without any fill so eating for the first time in 10 years like a normal person. I hate it! I've already gained 5 lbs. I'm dead set on getting the sleeve, no waffling there, yet the last 24 hours I've had extreme anxiety. Can't even sleep. The Lap Band is so flexible and reversible. With the sleeve it's a whole other ballgame. I think I just need to concentrate on the big picture and stop concentrating on next week! I hope your doctor will move it up for you ... good luck!

I'm in sort of the same boat but i have the opposite concern. I am 5'7" and weigh 170. I'm getting the band out and the sleeve in one surgery this coming Friday. I don't have my pre op appt with the doc until the day before and I was going to ask him if he could make the sleeve bigger to avoid acid reflux, dehydration and to hopefully decrease complications. I've had the fill completely out for 2 weeks and already gained 5 lbs! But I was successful in losing 85% of my weight on the band and kept it off 10 years so I don't know if I need such a small sleeve. But from what newbie says, maybe I don't have a choice.

They messed up the scheduling and I won't have the surgery until Friday, June 2nd. I'm sorry to hear your band slipped. Did they take out all the fill? I've been 2 weeks without any fill so eating for the first time in 10 years like a normal person. I hate it! I've already gained 5 lbs. I'm dead set on getting the sleeve, no waffling there, yet the last 24 hours I've had extreme anxiety. Can't even sleep. The Lap Band is so flexible and reversible. With the sleeve it's a whole other ballgame. I think I just need to concentrate on the big picture and stop concentrating on next week! I hope your doctor will move it up for you ... good luck!

I agree ... I'll take my bed over a hospital bed any day! Thanks to everyone for your comments. This helps me so much in knowing what to expect and how to prepare. I'm definitely going to require more help than I originally planned for.

The sleeve scares me, gastric bypass terrifies me. My friend's husband died 3 months after gastric bypass. The nurse practitioner took all the saline out of my band and I've had no acid reflux since then. I'm doing the lap band out/sleeve in as an outpatient surgery. A little nervous about that.... I really appreciate everyone's perspective.

So my Lap Band doctor retired a few years ago and I went to see a new Bariatric doctor to get a fill 3 days ago. The nurse practitioner looked at the Fluoroscope (sp?) and my band had slipped creating a stomach hernia. That's when I found out Lap Bands are not forever! They have an 8-10 year life and I'm at year 10. The NP briefly explained the sleeve and I decided that since the lap band has to come out, I should go ahead and get the sleeve at the same time which the doctor is willing to do. They called me the next day and have me scheduled this coming Friday! Is that normal? For the lap band we had mandatory classes to take for weeks! Part of me really wants to get this done and over with and the other part is just not ready mentally to go from what I thought would be a lap band fill to surgery in 9 days! I lost 100 lbs and have kept it off with some effort. I'm 5'7" and weigh 169 lbs. It's hard to explain to family why I'm having most of my stomach cut out when they look at me and see me normal physically. But I KNOW from battling obesity my whole life it will come back on. I feel health-wise, this is the right decision. On May 10 I didn't know what a sleeve was, and on May 19 I'm having it done. Anyone have some reassuring words of wisdom? My biggest worry is getting too much stomach cut out and battling malnourishment...

Yes, the Lap Band was very successful for me, weight wise. (Although I've worked at it which is why I've lost more than most bandsters.) But I know the weight will come back on once it's out. I talked to some of my family yesterday and surprisingly they were supportive. There was something mentally assuring knowing the Lap Band was reversible. That's what makes the Sleeve hard mentally - but after 5 days I'm starting to get used to the idea.

One more question ... was it outpatient or did you stay in the hospital? If so, how did you feel the day after surgery?

Thank you, that is really helpful...and reassuring!

Yes, it was due to the slippage. I basically have a herniated stomach right now. The doctor took out all of the fill on Wednesday and now there's no reflux. I actually had a really bad case of acid reflux about 5 years ago as well. I was on the strongest prescriptions possible and they finally had to do an endoscopy (had to go under anesthesia) only to find it was the band that was too tight! So it pays to be educated and very careful on the reflux. I could have avoided an endoscopy and hospital stay if I had known. Other than that I was really happy with the success of the band. Just wish it was forever...

I got the band 10 years ago and until this past year could say nothing but good about it. I lost 100 lbs and have kept it off with some moderate effort due to the band. I'm 5'7" and 168 lbs. In February of this year I got pneumonia which caused acute renal failure. I was in the hospital 5 days! Didn't know it was due to band slippage until a few days ago. So before I go further, I just want to say, take any acid reflux you may have in the future very seriously! This can lead to pneumonia. This coming Friday I'm having the band removed and getting the sleeve. But even though it was a rude awaking to find that the lap band is NOT forever as I was told, I would still do it again (minus the pneumonia!). I've had a great 10 years of good health because of the band. Just watch out for acid reflux.