Sleeve vs. lapband

[rockdutchess82 26]

Aetna approved in two weeks including a doctor's change in the middle and having to re review

[stacygrdnr 92]

Also I was really unaware that it decreased your hunger pains!

My hunger came back at the 6wk post op mark.. fyi

[NtvTxn 1,262]

Also I was really unaware that it decreased your hunger pains!

June 11th will be three years for me, I still don't get hungry. At about 12 months, maybe a little longer, I started what I call my 'new hunger', an empty feeling, something I can ignore if I need or want to. It is wonderful, I pray it will be this way forever.

[stacygrdnr 92]

June 11th will be three years for me' date=' I still don't get hungry. At about 12 months, maybe a little longer, I started what I call my 'new hunger', an empty feeling, something I can ignore if I need or want to. It is wonderful, I pray it will be this way forever. [/quote']

Not an "im starving" type of hunger but it's definitely hunger. I am able to ignore it as well but the feeling is still there

[cinward2001 141]

I consider myself a LapBand success (banded in 2006, reached goal 1 yr later, kept it off for 5+ yrs) and do NOT regret choosing the band at all. I think that, like any other WLS, you're going to find situations where it didn't work, either from complications or "user-error." Just as I'm sure there are plenty of people with VSG who have managed to "eat around" the sleeve...they're just not here posting about it.

For me, the Lapband taught me a different way of eating. I didn't PB and/or slime very often at all. The trips to the dr for fills was a good thing because they kept me accountable and with support. I liked knowing that it was adjustable and reversible.

When the weight started creeping up, those were MY mistakes. Reverting to drinking sweet tea and eating junk. Then, as I started to want to drop some weight again, I found that I'd kind of missed my "window of opportunity." Signals become muted, your body adapts, etc. Which ALSO happens with the sleeve. The band wasn't helping as much as it did in the first few years, but again, that was a lot my fault for changing back to old habits.

Why did I revert to a sleeve? In the last few months, I've started dealing with reflux and coughing at night. I also think I developed a lung abscess due to aspirating in my sleep (lung dr doesn't think the band was the cause...I do). So, in a nutshell, the band had lost its effectiveness while now causing some issues. I could have had saline removed but then my weight would increase even more...so I chose to remove the band while converting to a sleeve.

Would I recommend the band? Probably not. But I also don't want people thinking that the sleeve is the "miracle WLS" while the band is crap. You CAN fail with either one. You can also SUCCEED with either one. Both have their pros and cons and long-term, they BOTH ca have issues.

I think what's MORE important is YOU and the work you're willing to do to make ANY WLS a success. I honestly think that, by having the band, I'll do better as a sleever. Having lost a good chunk of weight, I had time to adjust to my new size, new way of eating, etc. I also got to experience re-gaining 25 lbs so that I KNOW I don't want to mess this up. Maybe if I'd been sleeved first, I never would have re-gained and all would have been great...or maybe I would have taken it for granted and then needed a band over VSG...or conversion to bypass.

[California_Chick95969 59]

Sleeve deffinatley..everyone has their own preference tho..but its the best one out their.id suggest u go to a seminar about all three ask ur doctor if they hold a seminar or a hospital around u tht does ..I was gonna go with lapband till I heard about the sleeve.n now im deff set on tht for sure..I went to one an was glad I did.between the seminar n online research it deff helped me decide which one was best for me..

[California_Chick95969 59]

My doctor was actually impressed with me when he asked which one I was wanting n I said sleeve..he was like wow!! Good thts the one I wud of chose for you..he said I see u deff done ur homework lolz

[ontoanewlife 15]

Hi Everyone!

I'm new here and I am almost finished with my 6m pre-op supervised nutrition program. Today I went to see my Dr. he told me he wanted me to research the sleeve. I had been set on the lapband now I'm not sure. Could you guys please give me some advice

I wanted permanent weight loss. The r-y to me had issues because of absorption. The lapband seemed to temporary and seemed it would be too easy to revert back.

The sleeve to me seemed to be the best option which was verified after a recent visit to my MD.

While waiting for my appt with MD, there were two women sitting on each side of me. They were discussing how they originally had lap bands and had lost weight but turned around and put the weight back on (80 lbs and 110 lbs). Now they were both seeing the MD to discuss having the sleeve done.

I'm glad I chose the sleeve because I don't want to go through that....

[buplee 556]

I know four people who have the LapBand. Each lost huge amounts of weight, but hated going in for fills. Three had complications (port infections requiring replacement). One got married and had all the Fluid removed and did not go back for a year and regained 90 of the 100 pounds he lost. The other two also grew weary of fills and stopped after maintaining weight loss for three years and have both regained a significant amount of weight. The final person did well and has no significant weight gain, but has slippage and erosion and is need of removal. Three of the people are now going through the process of revisions to the sleeve. All were afraid of going so drastically but all said they wished they had gone for the sleeve.

There is also a man in my support group who has had his band for 8 years, he lost 160lbs but it is now creeping up and he is also going for a revision.

It was the my wife, four friends/neighbors and this forum who helped me make the decision to get sleeved. I too was set on the band because it was reversible and less intrusive. My wife wanted me to have a more get it and forget it type surgery that did not require multiple fills. I was sleeved and I am now 65lbs lighter and shrinking after being sleeved on 2/19. My wife and I will be celebrating our 25th anniversary next month, and she said this is the best gift I could ever give her.

Good luck to you on your journey no matter what you decide.

Sent from my iPad using VST

[Rust E. Nale 2]

My insurance has discontinued installing the lapband due to how many reconstructions they have to perform. The lapband they have found can grow into your stomach and then your stomach grows around and over it. I had my sleeve done 2 1/2 months ago and I LOVE IT!!!

It is one of my top five things I have ever done!

[jmiller2013 6]

Sleeve all the way. Too much maintenance with lapband and too much reroutung with bypass. I'm two months out and eating normally, just not as much. Loving the results.