marlena

Hello all, My name is marlena, I'm 24yrs old and I was banded in 2004 with an Inamed (smaller/older) lap band. My gastric surgeon (who has been supportive every step of the way and has seen me through more over/under fills and ulcers then anyone) has drawn the line at the sleeve. He says we should do a barium swallow followed by a gastroscopy once again (have been through this twice before to no avail) to judge why I am having such little success and so many problems. I have so far (in 4 years) lost 20kgs from my start weight and I’m sitting at 115kgs. My all time low was 100kgs on my 5'10 frame achieved by being so overfilled I would eat and throw up just like a bulimic after every meal as nothing would go down. My surgeon keeps saying that the sleeve is irreversible and while I come to him now to be "unfilled" when my reflux keeps me awake at night - the sleeve is no better for reflux then the band. He thinks the sleeve is actually worse for it and potentially will mean my gastric juices will do nothing but come straight up every time. He also mentioned the C word. There seems to be research out there at the moment tracking different types of cancers that have been "induced" if you will by surgeries such as the bypass; and the sleeve is such new territory that the findings should be a huge consideration for me. His argument about pregnancy with the sleeve has also made me think; he says I increase the risk of being undernourished during pregnancy and breast feeding with the sleeve as I won’t be able to eat as much as I should. I have taken 2 appointments specifically to discuss having a sleeve done and he keeps pointing at me saying it is too new and once done he cannot undo it. In his words he doesn’t want me to "come crying to him asking him to undo the sleeve" when I hit a rocky road, and I have been guilty of this with him in the past with the band out of sheer frustration!!! I actually cried during our appointment today :thumbup: I have never known restriction with my band, all I get is from being unrestricted to totally over restricted - no in-between ever!! also I have had several episodes per night even with 1ml in my band where I wake up to throw up this brown clotted looking material and sleep with 4 pillows so I'm in a sitting position in bed....surely this isn’t how the band is meant to work?! Help me please?!?!?! Absolutely any advice would be so greatly appreciated... Thanks for your time if you’re still with me Marlena

thanks for all ur posts. i had my first consult with a different surgeon this week and i now remember why i chose my initial surgeon to begin with - the new dr was good but so very arrogant and critical of my other surgeon. he kept looking down at me like i failed my band and somehow it was my surgeons inferior skill or something. it might just be my imagination? It turns out i have a massive hernia that needs repair and during this surgery i can opt for having the band replaced then and there or removed with a sleeve to be booked in at a later time. So now comes decision time, do i get a new band and try again or do i skip that part and go the sleeve? I'm sitting on the fence a little here as 2 surgeons have recomended a 2nd band in preference to the sleeve... What does everyone think? cheers Marlena

I think i will call around the sydney area for surgeons tomorrow and call down the list - maybe book in a few appointments. I think ive lost a little confidence with my surgeon and that i should slink away from him quietly since ive already added to his failure stats... Im very positive about the sleeve atm - i think the thing i miss most when im restricted is Water and being able to drink it cold - i have not done this since 2004 as it just hurts too much (please tell me this isnt a problem with the sleeve?!) Thanks Jacqui, i think ive seen u on an aussie support group maybe? im on the market for a new surgeon so if you know of any that do the sleeve or maybe which surgeon ur friend used i would love the details if you dont mind? Thanks Marlena

MacMadame, Thank you thank you, I was feeling a little down and out after my second failed attempt at talking my surgeon round the sleeve for me. He was honest in saying he hasnt performed all that many sleeves, but those patients that did the revision surgery were unsuccessful and had a hard time adjusting to the sleeve as it cannot be let out like the band. He even refered me to another weight loss surgeon to have the sleeve done and get a second opinion as he trusts this surgeon more than any other - so in that regard I do believe he has my best interests at heart. He seems to think my reflux will only get worse with the sleeve and warns me about food coming straight back up at night if im not careful and have digested the food properly. Have you ever had an issue with any of this happening? The pregnancy bit is a relief, as i read more on this fabulous web site im compiling a list to take with me so i can ask the right questions and make sure im getting the right answers. Just a quick question, i think adjusting with the band to feeling full around the bra line/chest area took a long time with me - is the new "full" sensation the same with the sleeve or is it more like the old tummy full non banded people feel? Thanks Marlena

Hi there Jack, I was thinking I ought to see another surgeon re the sleeve in any event, just to see if I get the same sort of feedback. I dont really follow any one type of program, I do try to eat well and in moderation... I occasionally go through the Optifast phase then try my hand at wieght watchers but havent been successful on the grand scale. I spend most of my time fill-less as i dont tolerate restriction due to the reflux and throwing up. I just keep at it just in case something begins to function properly.... Thanks for the reply Marlena