band2sleeve

I totally agree with you. The Lap-band and RNY were my only options at the time with insurance. VSG wasn't even mentioned in my pre-surgery consultation. I had read some information on it but, it was considered experimental so, I didn't give it much thought. My doctor does his best to steer everyone away from the band at this point. He has seen way too many complications. Good luck with your insurance. It's too bad they make it so hard to navigate. Hopefully, they will realize that you are better off with the band out and the sleeve done. Shelli

Hi Jaymie, I'm only 2 weeks out from my band to sleeve revision so, I really can't tell you how well the band is helping with my weight loss. I was banded for 2 years. I lost 90# but gained back 20# while being unfilled. My problem was I could never achieve the "sweet spot" I was either too loose and could eat anything and quickly gain or too tight and would puke up everything and have horrible acid reflux. My doctor has been trying to convince me to revise to the sleeve for about a year. I needed that year to do a lot of research to see if it was going to be right for me. After my last complete unfill, I decided it was time. So far, so good! It is like night and day. I can eat without getting stuck, I haven't puked once, No more acid reflux and it doesn't hurt to eat like it did with my band. Right now, only 2 weeks out, I'm happy I've made the switch. I still have 15# to loose and I hope the sleeve will help me with that. However, at this point, I will be thrilled to just maintain my weight loss. In all the research I did, I found that the vast majority of people that went from the band to the sleeve are extremely happy with the switch. My doctor won't even do the band anymore because of all the problems associated with them. My revision was done in one surgery. It was much easier than my band surgery. Less pain and I'm feeling like myself much faster. The 1st week out I was very fatigued but not in pain. As a matter of fact, I haven't used any pain meds since coming home from the hospital. I know that everyone recovers in a different way. I guess I've been lucky. Good luck in you decision. If you have any other questions just ask. People on this board are very helpful and friendly. Shelli

I can't complain at all about pain. I was kept in the hospital for 3 days. The 1st day I was on morphine. I hated that. It made me very tired, confused and itchy. They took me off it on day 2 and gave me something else via my I.V. (not sure what) When I left the hospital on day 3, they sent me home with a prescription of Tylenol with codine. Fortunately, I never needed to take any of it. I was easily fatiqued the 1st week home but I could nap all I wanted. It felt like I had done a bunch of sit-ups but that was as sore as I got. I remember feeling like you are describing after my band surgery. The gas they fill you up with during the Lap surgery can settle in you for a time. Mine settled in my chest and shoulder the 1st time around. This time, no problems like that. My doctor has me off work for 4 weeks because I have to lift 50+ #'s on a regular basis. He doesn't want me doing that for at least 4 weeks. My work requires that I come back at full capacity. I'm enjoying my time off. I'm two weeks out now and feel much more energy. My suggestion to you is to take it as easy as you can for as long as you can. Your body is telling you it needs more time to catch up and heal. Best of luck to you. I hope you feel more like yourself soon. Shelli

In the 2 years that I had the band, I had about 30 fills/unfills. A couple of them complete unfills. Most were done under fluro at almost $1000.00 a pop. I think the insurance company was sick of paying for my fills/unfills. We could never find my "sweet spot" I was either too loose and could eat anything and everything and quickly gain weight or, I was too tight and couldn't keep a thing down and had terrible acid reflux. My doctor had been suggesting the revision for about a year. I had to do a lot of research first before I felt comfortable with the revision. On my last unfill, I told him I was ready. He wrote the letter and 1 1/2 weeks later I had the approval and my surgery scheduled. I commented to him that he must be a good letter writer. He just laughed and said I had good insurance. My fear was that we might change insurance providers next year with my work contract. The insurance company they wanted to change to doesn't offer ANY WEIGHT LOSS related coverage. I felt pressured to get something done before that happened. I knew I couln't live with the band at $1000.00 a fill/unfill. I feel so much better with it out. I was sick of being sick at almost every meal and feeling the pain with being stuck all the time. I'm hoping this works out much better. At this point I just don't want to gain back what I have already lost. If I loose the additional 15# to get to goal, that would be a bonus. I hope this answers your question. Also, my surgeon found a hernia just above my band upon removal. He fixed that and commented that the hernia might have been a factor in my terrible acid reflux. So far, no reflux! YEAH! Shelli

I am 2 weeks out from my band to sleeve revision. I had a lot of problems like you. However, it was a much easier decision for me because my insurance paid for it. I am 15# from goal at the time of my revision. I couldn't live with the band any longer and I certainly didn't want to gain all my weight back. I did a lot of research and found that band to sleeve revisioners are over all quite happy with there decision. From my experience in just 2 weeks, it is like night and day. No more puking, no more acid reflux, no more being very tight in the morning, no more pain while eating! I wish you the best in your decision. I'm glad I did it. Shelli

I have Security Health Insurance. My revision approval went through in about a week and a half. I didn't have to do ANYTHING! I just had to schedule my surgery and show up. I didn't even have to do a pre-op diet. Good luck to you. I think it would be crazy of them to make you do another 6 month diet. What a bunch of bull! Shelli

I am 2 weeks out from my band to sleeve revision. So far, it is going really well. It is really nice not to have acid reflux, no puking, not being overly tight in the morning, not hurting when I eat etc. I was one of the lucky ones. My insurance approved my revision right away. I didn't have to jump through ANY hoops. I didn't even have to do a pre-op diet. The only thing I had to do was schedule my surgery and show up. I am also happy to report that I had an uncomplicated surgery and so far, an easy recovery. I'm thankful to have the band out. It caused me a lot of misery in the 2 years I had it. I only wish that the sleeve had been an option when I went and got the band. It would have saved me a lot of grief. Good luck in your research. I found that this site and Obesity Help.com were two great sources of information from people just like me who were struggling with the band and their decision. I know that having revision surgery is scary. However,I'm glad I made the decision. Shelli

Good for you! Are you planning on revising to the sleeve? I am 2 weeks out from my band to sleeve revision. My doctor did it in one surgery. So far, so good! I wish you a speedy recovery. Shelli

I didn't read your thread until the day after your surgery. I hope everything went well. I can completely relate to your nervousness going into the surgery date. I am exactly 2 weeks out from my band to sleeve revision. Unlike you, I didn't have to do a pre-op diet. I am only about 15# from goal and so the doctor didn't require a pre-op diet. Lucky me. I still remember how hard it was when I had my band surgery. So far, my sleeve is SO SUPERIOR to my band. It is sooooo nice to get up in the morning and not be so tight that I can't even drink. It is so nice not getting food stuck all the time. It is so nice not having acid reflux. It is so nice to be able to eat meat again. It is so nice not having it hurt to eat. The list goes on and on. My recovery has been so easy. Less pain than with the band placement. I didn't even need any pain meds when I got home from the hospital. My hospital stay was 3 days. My doctor is careful about leak checks. I hope your recovery is as simple as mine and that you enjoy the sleeve over the band. Like I said, I'm only 2 weeks out, but so far, so good! Get some rest and give us an update when you feel up to it. Shelli

Hi Teri, I have had my band for a little over 2 years. I have lost 90# but regained 20# of it. I do not have a slip or erosion or any major complication. My band is just too fickle. I am either way too tight or way too loose. I can't find a happy medium. I have had almost 30 fills/unfills. I am either unable to eat and throw up everything and have terrible acid reflux or I am too loose and can eat a horse. My doctor submitted my revision request and I got a reply in less that 2 week. I am approved for the revision with absolutely no hoops to jump through. I don't even have to do a liquid diet before the surgery because I'm at a normal weight. I also had a complete physical this summer so I don't have to have any pre-op tests. I'm having my revision on Sept 20th. I hope you have as much good fortune as I did with insurance. I have Security health through my work. Shelli

I had my band put in in July of 2009. I will be having revision surgery on Sept 20th. My surgeon plans to do it in one operation unless he sees too much scar tissue. I'm hoping to have it done in just one surgery. Shelli

Hi everyone, This is only the 2nd time I have posted on this website. The last time was about a year ago when my LapBand doctor first mentioned a revision to the sleeve. I have been trying my best to keep my band for the last two years and now I think I just want it out. I have read several of your posts and can relate to many of them. I have been banded a little over 2 years. In those 2 years, I have had 11 fills and 11 unfills ( 2 complete unfills ). My doctor says he has adjusted me more than all his band patients combined in those 2 years. I can't find that "sweet spot" I am either too loose and can eat a horse ( and gain weight ) or I am too tight and get terrible acid reflux that keeps me upright in a chair at night choking on my acid. I can only eat slider foods and even puke them up on a regular basis. Everything seems to affect my band and how tight it is. ie. my TOM, my stress level, how hydrated I am, the humidity in the air, the list goes on and on. I can never tell what to expect from day to day. One thing that is consistant - I can never eat until about noon. There are a few days when I can eat just fine and then the next day I'm puking up everything. I can also relate to everyone's fears and frustrations at getting a second surgery. Initially, I really wanted the sleeve. However, my insurance would only cover the band or RNY. The sleeve was considered experimental. I chose the band because I didn't want my insides rerouted. It scared me too much. The sleeve also scares me a bit because they are cutting out so much of your stomach and you can't get it back. The band sounded safe because it was reversable. Never mind they don't really tell you about all the damage it can do to your insides while it is in there. I believed the band was for me and now I'm sick of dealing with it. I have been fairly successful with the band. I lost 93# but then put 20# back on when I started having all the problems. However, the weight loss hasn't been healthy in my opinion. I loose weight when I'm too tight because I can't eat anything and I gain when I'm too loose because I can and do eat. I'm also sick of the pain that comes along with the band. That awful feeling of being stuck that, for me, can last for 4-6 hours before it finally passes or I thow up. Ouch! I have now learned to puke on demand. Isn't that a feat to be proud of! I feel like the band has made me unhealthy because I only eat food that is bad for me and I can't tolerate anything like Protein or fruits and veggies. I live on junk and protein supplements. My doctor again suggested a revision to the sleeve. He is writing a letter to my insurance to see if they will cover it. Another concern I have is the fact that we may loose or change insurance at my job. What the heck will I do if I loose my insurance coverage with all the adjustments I need. I would like to get the sleeve an skip all the hassle and upkeep with the band. I am about 25# from my goal weight and would like to loose this and then maintain. Do you think the sleeve is right for me? My questions to those of you who have traded your bands for the sleeve are: Are there any foods you can't tolerate with the sleeve? Did you have acid reflux with the band? Do you have it with the sleeve? Did you have any complications during your sleeve surgery? Can you swollow pills now? Do you still get "stuck" on food? What is the best thing you can say about your sleeve? What is the worst thing you have experienced with your sleeve? Would you do it again? Sorry if this is long. Any questions you can answer will definately help me on my decision if I get approved by insurance. Shelli

Hi, I am new to this board. I was banded in July of 09. I have had a lot of problems with my band. It seems that as soon as my band gets tight enough to give me a little restricion, I get terrible acid reflux. I can't eat or drink anything for about 3-4 hours before going to bed. I need to sleep sitting in a chair and I often wake up choking on acid. I choke so violently that I end up puking. This in turn irratates my band and I get so tight that I can't keep any food down. Even liquids become a problem for me. I have been in for unfill after unfill. I have had 2 complete unfills. Currently I'm unfilled and my doctor said that it looks as if my band may have slipped. I am waiting a month for him to check it again and then start to fill me again. He said this is the last time he will try to fill me because I have had so many problems. He is talking about converting me to the sleeve. My question is: for those of you who experienced acid reflux with the band, do you have problems with acid reflux with the sleeve? That is my biggest fear. I certainly don't want to get the sleeve and have the same problems with acid reflux. I am on a daily dose of prilosec (generic) and when the reflux gets bad, I also take malox to help with the symptoms. I am afraid to loose my band but I can't live like this. Shelli