Band vs. Sleeve? Why did you pick band?

[Rainydayz 3]

I'm still on the fence between the band and the sleeve. I'm way more educated on the band so far but am going to a sleeve seminar next week. I've started all my prelim. stuff so I could just as easily switch over to sleeve. My insurance will cover both. Why did you pick band? (Other than the insurance wouldn't cover it.) Thanks!

[syrup71 0]

Me personally, by the time I found out about the sleeve, I was already knee deep and finished with my ins requirements for the band. I didnt even hear about the sleeve until I went to take my chest xray when I spoke with a nurse and she said her friend was now getting the sleeve after being banded. Honestly, if I had more time to research it, I might have picked the sleeve because I hear there is not as much problems with spitting up but time was my reason, purely. However if insurance wont cover it then I would have picked the band in the long run.

[chellietaz 0]

I am newly banded; I get my first adjustment in the morning. But for me, I liked that if needed the band can be reversed/removed. And with the sleeve, well it was just too permanent. it just scared me to know it could not be undone if needed. and the band is soo common now. They know so much more about it....I don't know, the sleeve just scared me to death!!!!!!!!!! And the healing time and expense is so much better than the sleeve. I don't know if my Ins would have paid for it or not.... Just do ALL the research and do what is right or feels right for YOU!

I'm still on the fence between the band and the sleeve. I'm way more educated on the band so far but am going to a sleeve seminar next week. I've started all my prelim. stuff so I could just as easily switch over to sleeve. My insurance will cover both. Why did you pick band? (Other than the insurance wouldn't cover it.) Thanks!

[newbandlady 3]

Never heard of the sleeve until after I had already decided on the band. But for me I did not want anything cut out of me. Nothing permanent. If it didn't work or I had problems I wanted to be able to have it taken back out.

[ElfiePoo 109]

Figured I'd just link to my post in a similar thread.

[cantdecide 1]

I have three kids and am undecided about if I want more. My surgeon didn't know of anyone or any studies of people who have been pregnant after a sleeve.

[Rainydayz 3]

I have three kids and am undecided about if I want more. My surgeon didn't know of anyone or any studies of people who have been pregnant after a sleeve.

check out obesityhelp.com. There is at least one pregnant women on the sleeve forum right now and there are several discussions about others.

[amberakamom 13]

I just want a tool, not a whole new stomach.

It is adjustable for my specific needs at that specific time.

It can be reversed if there are complications.

Complications are very rare.

I WANT to do the work it takes to lose weight.

I don't want to lose muscle mass, just fat.

Hopefully I will lose slower and have a bit less loose skin.

More time to adjust, psychologically.

I can still eat small portions of all my favorites.

I do not want the mal-absorption that comes with gastric bypass.

5 years post-op, lap-band patients statistically have the same amount of weight loss as other surgeries.

Quick recovery.

[Rainydayz 3]

Thanks for all the input. I'm still undecided. I have a sleeve seminar scheduled so I can ask more questions. My main concern is the slipping, erosion possibilities that seem to grow as time goes by. Plus I don't like the idea of having to crush meds and not take any time-released meds the rest of my life. But with the sleeve I worry about the fact that it is not reversible even though I have yet to find someone that would reverse it if they could, plus the recovery is harder. Still trying to decide.

[ElfiePoo 109]

even though I have yet to find someone that would reverse it if they could, plus the recovery is harder. Still trying to decide.

Rainy,

If someone tells you they can reverse it, then they're not doing a sleeve. Sleeve involves removing most of the stomach and there's just no way to put it back.

Have you checked out verticalsleevetalk.com yet? Perhaps you'll find some of your answers there. I know I did.

.

[BayougirlMrsS 3,935]

I guess like everything else in life... there are pros and cons. For me, I know about the sleeve, by friend had it done. She has had great success with it. This is what i can say about the band (for me).

I love the fact that my stomach is still in one piece and having time to adjust with my band as for as eating habits (as i got fills).

But on the other hand, it is a pain in the butt to have to go back and forth to get filled and then unfilled (never got unfilled) till you get the "sweet spot".

All in all i don't see how you could go wrong with either. You have taken the first step to a new heather you and you should be proud. Life will never be the same.

Banded 11-10-09: Beginning weight 223, now 152 as of this morning. 71lbs gone FOREVER....

Good luck

[Manatee 4]

I had the sleeve after two slips, a revision, and a band removal.

I strongly recommend those considering the band to go look at the 2005,2006,2007 etc forums and see how the thing holds up long-term.

[Rainydayz 3]

Rainy,

If someone tells you they can reverse it, then they're not doing a sleeve. Sleeve involves removing most of the stomach and there's just no way to put it back.

Have you checked out verticalsleevetalk.com yet? Perhaps you'll find some of your answers there. I know I did.

.

Yes I know what a sleeve is. What makes you think I thought it could be reversed? You must not have read my post closely.

[Rainydayz 3]

I had the sleeve after two slips, a revision, and a band removal.

I strongly recommend those considering the band to go look at the 2005,2006,2007 etc forums and see how the thing holds up long-term.

Great advice. The more I learn the more I'm leaning toward the sleeve.

[Rainydayz 3]

I just want a tool, not a whole new stomach.

It is adjustable for my specific needs at that specific time.

It can be reversed if there are complications.

Complications are very rare.

I WANT to do the work it takes to lose weight.

I don't want to lose muscle mass, just fat.

Hopefully I will lose slower and have a bit less loose skin.

More time to adjust, psychologically.

I can still eat small portions of all my favorites.

I do not want the mal-absorption that comes with gastric bypass.

5 years post-op, lap-band patients statistically have the same amount of weight loss as other surgeries.

Quick recovery.

That sounds exactly like me a few weeks ago. I know I don't want the problems associated with the bypass so the choice is between the sleeve and the band. I had decided on the band because of the reversibility of it. But now I'm reading so many posts from people who have had it "reversed" that are still living with problems created by the band. If I'm remembering correctly someone here still has phrenic nerve pain from the scar tissue and someone else could not have theirs removed because it had eroded too far into their stomach. Over on the sleeve board there are more stories of people who abandoned the band and got sleeved because of problems with the band. Like I said before I haven't read one post of anyone that regretting the sleeve and wishes they could reverse it. (At least anyone who is over the recovery period). If you know of any please let me know where to read about them. I want to have all the info.