Another post

[Dee-Texas 5]

My family and a few others know I' had the lapband in 2007. Of course they noticed I lost weight (75lbs) but never got to goal. They never said anything negative and I was happy being 75 lbs down amd not really stressing about weight loss anymore....just coasting.

18 months ago starting to have problems...had upper GI and Endo 3 months ago and found....dilation of esophagus, prolasp of my stomach through the band. Port had flipped because of adhesions...my symptoms were extreme weight loss for 3 months then weight gain with nausea. And just feeling...not right. None of my family knew any of this except my husband. Now ..I'm telling some of my family since I'm having surgery to let them know....we're a close family. I'm really having a hard time explaining why I'm having the band out and going to a sleeve...since nothing really shows on the outside except I'm gaining weight because I can't keep solid Protein down and eat more slider foods. My siblings are asking why I don't just see if I can unfill and let it all go back like before...and they say surgery is dangerous.

I'm just second guessing myself all over again. Maybe I want someone to tell me I can wait and everything will be fine....then I wonder how much damage waiting longer will do. I'm soooo feeakimg confused and scared of making the wrong decision like I did with the band..even though I thought amd was told it was the best thing out there for PERMANENT weight loss. My surgery date is Feb. 28th, 2013.

Thanks for listening to my crazy ramblimgs.

[JP69 116]

There are a lot of people on this forum that have switched to the sleeve. So hopefully someone has had similar problems. It sounds like you are having problems with your band. If so it probably should come out. Getting sleeved st the same time makes sense cause you'll already be under and it will help you get back on track with your weight loss. It's a big decision and only one you can make. There's positive and negative people out there. Go with what you truly want and hopefully everyone will support you.

Good luck:)

[sleeveconvert 55]

Re-read your opening complications-- the google and internet doctors- the family- you have allowed to cause doubt and fear, Don't have the YEARS of experience that you pay for from professionals. This is a no brainer ! You cannot leave it as is. At minimum you have to remove the band. The conversion is where you need to decide to stand up or not. Are you doing this for your health or for another reason ? You have to be strong in your conviction - ONLY you will experience it, tough thru if necessary. The decision is what's in your best interest long term. Only you can decide.

[SylviaMom 83]

Unfortunately, the band is a temporary device. The data is showing high complication rates for long term bandsters and honestly, having had both, my only regret is not having the sleeve sooner. Compared with the torture I experienced with the band (including a serious erosion that I didn't even know about until I went for my revision), the health benefits of the sleeve significantly outweigh the risks...at least for me. Good luck in your journey and know that there will always be naysayers, but you need to make your own decisions about your health based on soul searching and consultation with your docs.