Torn Between The Two

[tsmyle 65]

Hi All. I am scheduled for my first consultation on 8/1 and I am torn btwn the LapBand and the sleeve. At the seminar, I was convinced that the band will be my choice, but since doing research I have changed my mind. What advice do you all have? I appreciate any help ypu can give. I am sooo ready to be healthy and take charge of my weight. I understand taAt surgery is NOT a quick fix, but a tool and I am soooo ready to learn how to use the tool to my advantage. Thanks in advance!

[TaiDyed 59]

I had the lap band in 2008. I am now in the process of starting the 2 week pre op diet to remove the band and have the sleeve on 8/6. I won't say don't get the band, but I will tell you that I had issues with it. I've heard great success stories for others, but unfortunately that didn't ring true here. The band is a tool. if you eat the wrong thing or too much, the "stuck" feeling can be very uncomfortable. I don't know what to expect from the sleeve, but have been told that there is a real element of satiation with the sleeve that didn't seem to ever occur with the band. I'm hoping that is true.

Back in 2008, the sleeve wasn't an option for me. It was either the band or bypass. I chose the band because it was less invasive and I liked the idea that I could have it removed later in life if necessary. If the sleeve was an option back then, I don't know if I would have chosen differently. It's impossible to know.

I hope others will chime in with their advice and insight. It is a big decision. Best of luck to you as you move forward in your journey.

[tsmyle 65]

I had the lap band in 2008. I am now in the process of starting the 2 week pre op diet to remove the band and have the sleeve on 8/6. I won't say don't get the band' date=' but I will tell you that I had issues with it. I've heard great success stories for others, but unfortunately that didn't ring true here. The band is a tool. if you eat the wrong thing or too much, the "stuck" feeling can be very uncomfortable. I don't know what to expect from the sleeve, but have been told that there is a real element of satiation with the sleeve that didn't seem to ever occur with the band. I'm hoping that is true.

Back in 2008, the sleeve wasn't an option for me. It was either the band or bypass. I chose the band because it was less invasive and I liked the idea that I could have it removed later in life if necessary. If the sleeve was an option back then, I don't know if I would have chosen differently. It's impossible to know.

I hope others will chime in with their advice and insight. It is a big decision. Best of luck to you as you move forward in your journey.[/quote']

Thank u so much for ur response. Im hoping I make the right choice as I dont want to regret it later. One of my concerns is the fact that I tend to gag almost everytime that I brush my teeth and I fear that will not be good if I choose the band (slippage).

[TaiDyed 59]

A band slip is definitely a concern. I had a mild slip which caused acid reflux issues for me. Not pleasant at all. If you do choose the band, just be prepared to really listen to your body. For me, all it took was one bite too much and it was like a clog in a pipe. I had to determine if it was going to come back up or if it was just a matter of time for it to pass through and go down. It's a very awkward feeling.

Keep us posted on your decision. And keep asking questions and doing research. We know there is no magic answer, but we all want to make the right choice to help us move on with our lives in a healthy and happy way.

[Bug 10]

I choose the sleeve over the band, mainly because I felt the band would have

to many future maintenance issue. I was approved for the bypass But.

change to the sleeve (Aug 6 2012). The bypass just seemed to have many

internal changes.

Good Luck

[TaiDyed 59]

I choose the sleeve over the band, mainly because I felt the band would have

to many future maintenance issue. I was approved for the bypass But.

change to the sleeve (Aug 6 2012). The bypass just seemed to have many

internal changes.

Good Luck

Hey there...I am set for 8/6 as well. Not to wish time away, but I'm really ready for the next 2 weeks to get over and done with!!

[traceyinflorida 499]

I had originally planned on doing the band. I thought it seemed the least invasive out of the surgeries and I liked the thought that if I really wanted to reverse it, it was an option. After further review I decided against it for the following reasons: I did not want a foreign object in my body over the long term (what would happen to it over time?); The process of going back and forth to the surgeon for fills and adjustments sounded very inconveinent and inefficient; Weight loss was significantly slower than with bypass or sleeve; optimum weight loss was not frequently acheived with the band; potenital for band slippage or errosion. However, there are plenty of people who have had great success with the sleeve.

I seem to see alot of band to sleeve revisions posted on this site. That speaks volumes to me that I think I made the right decision for me.

Good luck with your decision. Let us know what you decide and I wish you lots of success with whatever you choose!

[Lianne 34]

If you get the band get real used to throwing up, and you're pretty much guaranteed to have a least one more surgery. Weightloss requires MULTIBLE adjustments in most cases, and there is no guarantee that it will work. It's a foreign body that you can, and feel attached to the muscles of your stomach. Check the statistics. I wish I had before I got the band.

I find that the sleeve is very low maintenance, and easy to get used to. Not like the band that would be super tight in the morning, loose at night, and sometimes getting so tight that I couldn't even get Water down.

I wish you the best of luck.

[mickmick 5]

Besides what has already has been mentioned, there were three things that my surgeon said that stayed with me and led me to choose the sleeve. First, at some point the band WILL stop working. it might be 20 years from now but that was a real concern since I am in my 30's and in for the long haul. Second, there are lots of ways to cheat your band such as drinking with food to push the food thru so you can eat more. Last but prbably the most important to me, you have a foreign item in you. My husband had hernia repair with mesh. We found out three years later that the mesh had been recalled the day before surgery and his surgeon didnt know and used it. It can cause death but too risky to remove. It was an eye opener that made me scared to consider the lapband.

[mickmick 5]

Besides what has already has been mentioned, there were three things that my surgeon said that stayed with me and led me to choose the sleeve. First, at some point the band WILL stop working. it might be 20 years from now but that was a real concern since I am in my 30's and in for the long haul. Second, there are lots of ways to cheat your band such as drinking with food to push the food thru so you can eat more. Last but prbably the most important to me, you have a foreign item in you. My husband had hernia repair with mesh. We found out three years later that the mesh had been recalled the day before surgery and his surgeon didnt know and used it. It can cause death but too risky to remove. It was an eye opener that made me scared to consider the lapband.

[PEvette 297]

I had a lapband for 7 years before revising to the sleeve this year....

What they dont tell you about the band is that there is a 40% success rate, and there are some foods you will be unable to eat anymore, doesn't matter how far out you are, if you eat them they will make you sick, and some of those foods are actually healthy for you...

Once your doctor does your band, you are stuck getting fills and unfills, to find your sweet spot....my fills were covered unlimited for the first year....after the first year he charged me $150 per visit...that can add up...

My cousin wanted the lapband and I begged and begged her not to do it, but she just couldn't get over having part of her stomach removed, so she went ahead and got it...and now she is living the life I warned her about...

The lapband is the worst thing created, and eventually doctors are not going to do the procedure...well any doctor worth anything

[iegal 460]

I would scroll down and read the thread "Band to Gastric Sleeve revision". There you can get info from people who had the band...failed and now are in line for the sleeve. You can read about their storeis with the band, the frustrations, the second surgery due to failure of band.

You are a wise lady to do your research before deciding. I love my sleeve and have no regrets.

PS - I went in for a band too and surgeon suggested VSG. So glad he did