Banded: Should I Switch To The Sleeve?

[waygook 0]

So a little background.

I am banded and have been for over 2 years. I am 20lbs from goal but can't get any closer (been same weight for 15 months up and down 5 lbs). Though I have been banded for 2 years I am still having to deal with fills etc on a reg basis. It's not a problem here because with my doctor it is cheap. However I am moving to another country soon and since I wasnt banded there the fills will probably cost a fortune. Another problem is my fills are hard to do. My port is hard to access and thus fills would probably be even more expensive since I must be under an xray machine to get a fill.

My doctor gave me the option of getting the sleeve instead of keeping the band. It would be better for maintenance for sure but I am not sure if I should do it or not.

There is nothing wrong with my band right now and I could wait HOWEVER my doctor is offering a good price since it is a revision from the band ( which he put in me). If I wait and get it done later somewhere else I will be paying more than $5,000 more then what I can pay now ( and traveling back to my doc is not an option because it is on the other side of the world. THe flight plus needing to stay in the same country for weeks to heal isnt worth it).

So reasons to yes

• no more fills
  
• save hundreds not getting fills
  
• no more band in my stomach
  
• no yearly tests to make sure the band isnt stretched, have erosion etc
  
• easier to hide from people ( no one knows im banded either)
  
• can help me reach my goal weight
  

Reasons to no

• there is nothing wrong with my band
  
• I have lost weight but just not at my goal
  
• I am used to the lifestyle with the band
  
• I am freaked out by cutting and taking out some of my stomach
  

So I am hoping some band to sleeve people will help give me some insight but anyones thoughts on this would be great.

Should I switch to the sleeve to get rid of future what ifs?

[waygook 0]

hmmmm no one went from band to sleeve?

[Shoppingbeemom 31]

I have not gone from band to sleeve, but my cousin got the band and did well for about 2 years. Then the band started to have complications. She is the reason I chose the sleeve. She now doesn't have the money to fix her problem. I don't want to tell you to have a surgery, but you may want to think about checking the Dr.s before you get to your new home. I love having my sleeve, and my cousin wishes she had the sleeve instead. She fears that the band has done perminent damage to her stomache.