Band vs Sleeve

[dramastarr 9]

Ok, I was banded 10/29/10, my progress has been pretty good. I started out last summer weighing 292 and now I weigh 228 and can wear a size 14. I have enjoyed the weight loss, but I now keep hearing about how much better the sleeve is. Then I went and got a fill and it was too tight they ended up taking more Fluid out than they put in. So for the month I have only lost 1pound. I am ok with that cause at least I didn't gain anything and I did take advantage of being able to eat more.( I'm still a fat girl at heart, hell I wanted a burger.) Plus I'm a teacher and off for the summer so I am up more at night sometime I have a snack, but back to the point. A lot of people have been saying the sleeve is better because you have no fill issues and the weight loss is better. I am just scared that I won't reach my goal of 170. So people have said that they gained their weight back. And some people who had the band got it removed to get the sleeve. What do you guys think?

[Melissannde 41]

You've lost, what 68 lbs in 9 months? That's just about average, considering loss with the band is about 1 to 2 lbs a week.

I've been banded a little more than 2 years, have lost about 200 lbs and am still very slowly losing. I'm about 175 and also in 14/16. You must be a bit taller than me. ::grin::

Regain can happen with ALL surgeries. There is lowest attainable weight and then there's lowest maintainable weight. Not the same number.

There is no perfect WLS, they all have problems. Yes, many with the sleeve do very well, but there are some who do not. I saw a post on weightysecrets from a sleevester with issues. I know of a local sleevester who is having problems getting fluids and Protein down.

If your band is working for you, run with it. If you start having problems with it to the point that you need it removed, then look into the possibility of revising to a sleeve. JMO, YMMV.

I was speaking to a nurse who has worked in the bariatric field for many many years, and she has seen surgeries rise and fall in popularity. She says that the sleeve is the "new darling" of the WLS field right now, but eventually something new and better (??) will come along and the sleeve will become less popular. It's a cycle.

[Cocoabean 430]

We second guess ourselves all the time. It is human nature. Even sleeve patients have issues. All procedures have issues. It is too late to change your choice now, so I'd say work with your band to the best of your ability. If for some reason you need to revise, then look at the sleeve.

For me, it wasn't an option. My insurance didn't cover at the time I made my decision, still doesn't, and I cannot afford to self pay.

[Dave_NW 92]

If you only have another 50 or so pounds to lose, getting sleeved at this point would be overkill. Your band is working for you, so stay the course, re-focus your efforts, and let it do its job. If anything, you may want to look into getting counseling for your food issues - from what you said about still being a fat girl and being so quick to eat more and cheat and such, you may have some food or image issues you may want to see about resolving. (Not judging, just offering ideas.)

I originally wanted to get sleeved because I didn't want to be responsible for my own weight loss. I'd hear how much easier it is for sleevers to lose weight, and how much more weight they lose, compared to bandsters. I heard all the BS about how band patients only lose around 50% or their excess weight, and so forth. Now as a bandster, I've lost over a hundred pounds in just seven months. Say what??? How did that happen? Oh yeah, I worked WITH my band, and we did it together - one pound at a time. Looking back, I'm glad my insurance wouldn't pay for me to be sleeved. Where I am now is a much better place, and I'm excited about my future.

Good luck!

Dave

[dramastarr 9]

You guys are right. I have to use the band as a tool and not just a magic genie. I was just going through the ups and downs of weight loss blues last night is all. I will not allow myself to be discourage based on whats hot and new.

[Jachut 487]

You can do it with the band, absolutely.

The main advantages I see with the sleeve are more around the lack of a physical thing around your stomach - especially from a medical sense. I got my band unfilled for my big bowel resection, but I've started filling again. I wonder, for example, what would have happened whilst I was in hopsital several times with bowel obstructions had I needed my stomach drained and decompressed - they sure as eggs wouldnt have been worried about disturbing my band, but what if I'd had Fluid in it? I wonder what's going to happen in the future - I'm having genetic testing for Lynch syndrome and if its positive, I'll have yearly gastroscopies - how do you do that with a band? It'll have to be unfilled every single time and because I'm on the light side of normal weight (and I like it that way!) my doctor is going to be difficult about filling it again - ridiculous, they are the ones that tell you that you NEED restriction to keep the weight off! I dont want to ahve that fight once a year! At this point in time, I'd love to have a sleeve that cant be undone, cant be taken out becuase its in the way of medical treatment.

Then again, I got so skinny that I truly needed my band unfilled for a while there, I would have become skeletal without that safety valve.

But weight loss wise, the band works just fine if you work it well, like any surgery. Sleeves result in fast initial weight loss but like anything, that peters out over time and you can outeat it if you are determined to.