Pros & Cons

[Molly3 495]

Hi all,

Can you please tell me what it's like having the sleeve? Does it feel weird or do you feel pretty much like you did before the surgery, except the eating?

Do you slime or get stuck like the band?

Do you vomit because the food doesn't agree with you or you've eaten way too much?

Do you get pains when you eat too much?

Are you starving or does the sleeve really curb your appetite?

Can you stretch your new stomach?

I really would like to know as much as possible, i've been searching this site for a while. I still can't decide if I should do the band or the sleeve!?

Any advice or info would be wonderful.

Thank you,

Molly

[rmeofone 43]

Hi Molly,

I'm two weeks out and down 21 lbs. already! I feel great ...still on liquid only diet, though. No vomiting and NO HUNGER!!!

It does hurt if I drink too quickly, but I think in time I'll learn my limits better.

My biggest comment would be that the sleeve removes the part of the stomach that produces hungry (ghrelin hormone) vs. the band that does not.

[lilbearzmom 584]

Hi all,

Can you please tell me what it's like having the sleeve? Does it feel weird or do you feel pretty much like you did before the surgery, except the eating?

Do you slime or get stuck like the band?

Do you vomit because the food doesn't agree with you or you've eaten way too much?

Do you get pains when you eat too much?

Are you starving or does the sleeve really curb your appetite?

Can you stretch your new stomach?

I really would like to know as much as possible, i've been searching this site for a while. I still can't decide if I should do the band or the sleeve!?

Any advice or info would be wonderful.

Thank you,

Molly

Hi Molly!

I was sleeved 6 1/2 weeks ago- I am on the regular diet which means I can have anything except fruits or vegetables with skin, nuts, popcorn, salads or raw vegetables- I will be able to add those things in mid-February.

In answer to your questions, it doesnt feel weird, really, but 1) obviously you can't eat as much (and your new tummy will tell you), 2) you can't gulp liquids like before (this may change over time, although I'm not sure) 3) the feeling of fullness is NOTHING like it was before surgery- this was a surprise to me because no one told me this before surgery. The fullness feeling is hard to describe because it's different for everyone. Just before I'm full up, I feel like I need to push my plate away. If it's something I really like and I take one bite too many, I feel a lump in my throat, like it's backed up in there.

I have never slimed- don't even really know what that is.

I have become nauseated/vomited twice since surgery, but I honestly have no idea why, I can't pinpoint it, but it went away quickly.

Yes, the sleeve has radically decreased my hunger. I don't feel hunger at all like I used to. For me, it's more of an "empty" feeling, something that is easily powered through and doesn't send you to the fridge eating everything in sight.

The sleeve most likely won't stretch unless you go crazy and stuff yourself beyond what it can handle on a regular basis. I don't see how this could happen because you would vomit well before then. People who gain weight back often are making bad choices and eating a lot of slider foods, which the sleeve won't hold onto effectively, they aren't exercising, etc., bascially falling back into unhealthy habits.

I would highly recommend the sleeve over the band. My experience has been stellar. I'm not a super-fast loser, but pretty happy with my results.

I would say IN MY OPINION maybe one of the things you might want to consider is that the sleeve is permanent, and they are removing a body part, unlike the band. Some people I'm sure are really turned off by that. I for one wasn't sorry to see most of my stomach go- it's caused me too many issues. LOL

Good luck to you, whatever you choose. This is a very personal decision, and you are doing the right thing by being as informed as possible.

-Kendra

[DonnaK. 5]

I know very few people having the band nowdays and most Bariatric surgeons don't recommend it. My husband had the sleeve in October and is doing very well. I had the sleeve on Monday and so far no regrets. At this point I have not felt hunger at all. My only challenge is getting enough liquid down in a day.

[iggychic 1,405]

Can you please tell me what it's like having the sleeve? Does it feel weird or do you feel pretty much like you did before the surgery, except the eating?

My experience was different than most. I had severe complications and have some issues because of those. I am pretty close energy wise to where I was, but my lungs were damaged and I have to be very careful not to get sick for a few years (if possible). If I do I have to go on antibiotics right away to avoid further lung issues.

Do you slime or get stuck like the band?

I have had just one issue with slime when eating a Protein bar that didn't agree with me. It was too sweet. I'm careful about what I eat and haven't had any other issues.

Do you vomit because the food doesn't agree with you or you've eaten way too much?

I don't eat too much. I follow my doc's recommendations and listen to my body and have never had an issue with vomiting.

Do you get pains when you eat too much?

I get the hiccups No actual pain because I never go over what I was told to eat. I feel no need to push it.

Are you starving or does the sleeve really curb your appetite?

No, but I never was. I ate cuz I was bored or something. But even with these tiny amounts I'm never starving.

Can you stretch your new stomach?

This is a medically debatable question. The easy answer is really, not much. They are leaving hard muscle which does not stretch easily. Typically you have early restriction due to swelling, etc, but by the end of a year your stomach will tolerate quite a bit more than it does initially (like 8 oz or so).

Personally I should have gotten a band. I had no comorbidities, do not eat to excess, and would have followed the rules to a T without risking my life to lose weight. I wish I'd have given that a try prior to taking this step.

[Nicolanz 1,484]

Hi all' date='

Can you please tell me what it's like having the sleeve? Does it feel weird or do you feel pretty much like you did before the surgery, except the eating?

Do you slime or get stuck like the band?

Do you vomit because the food doesn't agree with you or you've eaten way too much?

Do you get pains when you eat too much?

Are you starving or does the sleeve really curb your appetite?

Can you stretch your new stomach?

I really would like to know as much as possible, i've been searching this site for a while. I still can't decide if I should do the band or the sleeve!?

Any advice or info would be wonderful.

Thank you,

Molly[/quote']

I'm. 3 months out

I feel normal for the most part.

I do slime if I eat too fast or something high in carbs.

I have never vomited.

I do get an awful pain in my chest if I eat too much.

I still get hungry but only when I haven't eaten in about 4 hours. It's not ravenous like before surgery.

Not sure about stretching but I heard if you constantly eat too much the sleeve can stretch somewhat.

I've never met anyone who was successful with the band in the long term. I've personally met 3 who got it removed and there are tons of people who have converted on this site.

Good luck with your choice!

[ProudGrammy 8,322]

would like to know as much as possible

good golly Ms Molly

so many questions, so little time

I'll try and give brief explanations - i'm sure others will jump in with more info -

and correct me if i said something incorrect, or not clear

since you are on the sleeve board - people (me too) will be biased against the band - so many problems - erosion, slippage

there is a site here for people that have gone from band to sleeve. in other words ALLLL those people had mannny manny problems with the band - so they made the wise decision to convert to the sleeve

this site would not be necessary if the band was great

with the band - I "think" you have some "foreign object" in your body, and you are required to have "fills" which can be problematic

when you have the sleeve - 85% of your tummy is gone

i don't feel any weirder than i used to before i had the sleeve - you won't feel a difference!!!

you (I) do/will get pains in your tummy if/when you eat too much - so don't eat too much!!!

the sleeve will tell your tummy when you are full, and will not let you eat more

my surgeon told me to "eat until i was full" - then "stop 2 bites earlier!!

your NUT will guide you - tell you your proper small portion over the course of time - when i started ie - i was told to eat 1/3 C no more, amount (portions) gradually increase

many people have "sliming" vomitting, gas " they can explain that situation better than i can

i NEVER had any of those problems !!!!!

the only "major" problem i had (this is common though) i was dehydrated once having to go to hospital getting IV fluids

My surgeon & NUT told me you can not stretch your sleeve

after surgery, i was not hungry - for a while i had to "remind, push" myself to eat - my appetite was curbed

buttttt, in all honesty some people go through different experience - and might be hungry

they will need to explain that

"for me" after about 5-6 months - i did start to get my hunger/appetite back "to a point"

never starving!!!!

eating correct small portions to fill my/your small new tummy -tummy and i are happy campers

good luck with your wise decision to get the sleeve

continue to research, read, ask questions here - look on utube

take care

[joatsaint 2,814]

Just tossing in my 2 cents as well. When I started this adventure, I wanted to read as many people's experiences had as I could find. And the more recent the better.

Can you please tell me what it's like having the sleeve? Does it feel weird or do you feel pretty much like you did before the surgery, except the eating?

I feel the same physically, don't even notice it. If I had lost my memory and woke up today, I'd be like, "Did I get shot? What are these scars on my belly?" :-)

I don't have the same warning signs that I'm getting full, unlike pre-surgery. There's no, "Okay, I'm starting to feel full." It's more, take a bite, feel fine, take a bite, feel fine, take a bit, opps too much. So I have to eat slowly and take smaller bites. But I quickly learned how much I can comfortably eat (about 3 - 4oz.) and how long I need to wait between meals.

Do you slime or get stuck like the band?

Never had anything get stuck, I have almost slimed, but since I was taking very small bites, it was more like a burp. I've been very careful about how much I eat and how fast, since surgery.

Do you vomit because the food doesn't agree with you or you've eaten way too much?

I haven't over eaten to that extent, but I have felt uncomfortable, like gas trapped in my stomach.

Do you get pains when you eat too much?

No pain, just pressure. I take a very small sip of Water and burp - pressure gone.

Are you starving or does the sleeve really curb your appetite?

I can say I have not had an appetite since the surgery (30 plus days now). I do feel my stomach growling, letting me know it's empty. But no feelings of hunger anymore.

Can you stretch your new stomach?

My doc said I can stretch my stomach, but only a little, never to it's original size. But that doesn't mean I won't gain the weight back. I can eat lots of things, like ice cream, that will easily pass through my stomach and take in extra calories. If I let myself, I could overeat on Peanut Butter every day. And it has 100 calories per tablespoon. I could easily eat 4 to 6 tablespoons 3 to 4 times a day and overeat. So I have to make better food choices.

The sleeve is a tool to help you lose weight. It is not a magic fix, as much as I wish it were.

I really would like to know as much as possible, i've been searching this site for a while. I still can't decide if I should do the band or the sleeve!?

I have a friend who had the band and has had several complications since. He lost about 150lbs, but is still very overweight, and he has found ways to eat almost the same volume/bad foods. So it put me off of band surgery, seeing his experience. The main negative thing, in my case, was learning from my doc that I would still have the same obession to eat - caused by a hormone produced by the stomach (Ghrelin): en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghrelin

With sleeve surgery, the stomach is removed and with it, the much of the production of Ghrelin. I am sure that is why, even though I can feel my stomach growling, I don't feel the need to eat. Whereas before, I knew that no matter how big a meal I ate, about 2 hours later, I'd be raiding the fridge.

But in making such a life changing decision band/sleeve/RYN, it is best to talk with your doctor. He is the best person to evaluate your situation.

[Molly3 495]

This has been a great help, thank you everyone for taking the time to help me! I think I will check out a sleeve support group in my area.

THANK YOU-

Molly