Band to sleeve success question....

[luvzpitbullz 41]

Im wondering if anyone has been banded, lost a bunch of weight and then regained and lost again with the sleeve? Make sense? Sorry, dont know how else to say it. = ) I've seen on here band to sleeve that have been successful but it seems like most have either been unsuccessful with the band or got close to goal and revised to lose those last few pounds. Im trying to find someone who is in my prediciment or close to.

I was banded 2006, lost 125 lbs and was at goal. After 3 years, the weight started creeping back on. Unbeknownst to me, I had a slip (couldnt afford to see my doc) and I probably lived with the slip upwards of 3 years before I finally presented to the ER without being able to even swallow saliva. By that point, I had put back about 80lbs of weight.

I was scheduled for band removal with revision to RNY on Sept 12,2013 but woke up with no band and no RNY. Doc says my intestines are on the wrong side and he couldnt do the bypass. So immediatley I asked for the sleeve and was approved and my surgery is 11/5.

I guess my question is, has anyone else had success with another surgery and then success again after regain? Does the fact that I had success with the band work in my favor? Or does the fact that I regained most of my weight with the band work against my potential success with the sleeve?

Thanks in advance!

Kayla

[PrettyLilButterfly 124]

I was banded 9/2011. I lost 60 lbs but then the weight loss halted. I noticed how easy it was to gain weight. I did teeter totter 5-10 lbs up, then down..then up again.

I had my band in 12/2012 and in the blink of an eye lost 40 lbs. I have been at my goal weight since June.

Personally, I found life with the band more....depressing. I found myself wanting to eat more..to 'cheat', to have slider foods, to not be as focused. With the sleeve, life is just wonderful, less complicated and I am more focused to maintaining my weight loss.

I don't know that I answered your question, but I wanted you to understand how I saw the 2 surgeries.

Good luck to you on your surgery, you will NOT regret it. And you will hit your goals! Please keep us posted.

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

I was banded at about 270 in 2001; lost down to about 200 in a year and never got any further -. i started having issues with reflux etc... well, to be honest I had those issues pretty early on but i reached the point where it was intolerable.

I had Fluid removed in 2002 and eventually regained up to 332.

I finally had the band removed in 2011 and was sleeved when my REAL success began. not sure if that helps - but the band really never did work well for me. If you were successful with the band, you can surely be successful with the sleeve.

[Ms.AntiBand 2,984]

Yes. I lost weight with the band a few times, but as my profile "my story" shows the band is a dangerous medical joke and shoud be ..Banned!

I was 104 with band. Within a year of being unbanded I gain 86 lbs.

I'm sleeved and healthier than I've ever been. Close to a safe goal and my only regret is getting the band and not the sleeve 10 years ago.

I AM. VERY. HAPPY.

[luvzpitbullz 41]

Great info! That was exactly what I was looking for. That really helps me get even more excited to get this show on the road. I honestly can't believe they even do the band anymore. It seems like the complications far outweigh the success....across the board! Thanks again, gals.

[Sweettart702 8]

It's so reassuring to read threads like this one. I had Lapband in 2009, revision surgery in 2010, then had it removed in 2012. I have since regained the 90 pounds I lost with the Lapband and just anxiously awaiting my sleeve!

[H@ppiness 2]

I've had the band for 8 years. I've been empty for 2. Still get stuck and sick constantly. Having band removed and going to the sleeve on Monday! I'm excited so ready to feel good and keep it off this time. I've gained all but 18 pounds back.

[Kristina J. 581]

I had pretty much the exact thing you're asking about! Lol I was banded in '03 and lost 100lbs. I was within 20lbs of goal. Weight was creeping back on and we discovered a slip in '05. I had to have my band removed at that time because of erosions. I was actually rebanded a year later after gaining back all the 100 I had lost, plus another 20!! With the second band, I was like most revisions, where I just never had much success. I lost 60, gained 20. Lost 40, gained 30. I went on like that for 7 years before finally getting a revision to sleeve in May this year. I've been really successful, and as of today, I've lost 100lbs and am just 20 from goal again!!

And if I can do it, anyone can! I work hard, but weight loss has always been a struggle for me. Feel free to inbox me if you have more questions, since I think I'm kinda the exact situation you were looking for! Lol

[asauv 6]

i was banded in2003 and went from 217-110 lbs and regained to 157. revision to sleeve on 9/16 and was 157 at time. i am now 135. so far, so good and still losing

[luvzpitbullz 41]

I had pretty much the exact thing you're asking about! Lol I was banded in '03 and lost 100lbs. I was within 20lbs of goal. Weight was creeping back on and we discovered a slip in '05. I had to have my band removed at that time because of erosions. I was actually rebanded a year later after gaining back all the 100 I had lost' date=' plus another 20!! With the second band, I was like most revisions, where I just never had much success. I lost 60, gained 20. Lost 40, gained 30. I went on like that for 7 years before finally getting a revision to sleeve in May this year. I've been really successful, and as of today, I've lost 100lbs and am just 20 from goal again!! And if I can do it, anyone can! I work hard, but weight loss has always been a struggle for me. Feel free to inbox me if you have more questions, since I think I'm kinda the exact situation you were looking for! Lol [/quote'] you look amazing! When I first discovered my slip, I wanted to be rebanded right away. I didn't even want to consider another surgery. But my surgeon told me about only having about a 50% chance of losing my excess weight. At first I just figured I could beat the statistics but then I started really doing the research and found people generally aren't very successful after an issue with the band and the likelihood of another problem cropping up is quite high. I'm so glad I'm approved to be sleeved. 13 more days!! I can only hope to be as successful as you have been. Can I ask what your starting weight was in May? I'm 5'8 and 242. I got to 157 with the band but I would be thrilled to get to 180 or less.

Thank you everyone for sharing! I'm so excited.

[TanyaB 25]

Was banded in 2008. Lost 90 lbs until it slipped. Regained about 70. Had the band out in August 2013 and got the sleeve October 3. Have lost 21 pounds in 3 weeks. Very pleased with the sleeve. It's a much different and much better experience. Definitely worth your time. Best of luck!

[denise633 86]

In December 2008 I had the band and lost 60 lbs...... In July 2011 the band eroded and I had to have it removed......I gained almost all of the weight back and decided on the sleeve.....I had the sleeve 8/29/13 and I have lost 32lbs in 6 weeks....I couldn't be happier with the surgery

[stangslayerws6 1]

I was banded in July 2008. My weight was 370 pounds. I did excellent with my band and was down to 195 pounds by Dec 2011 (Mainly on slider foods and horrible food choices). I was at my goal and decided to go to my surgeon to ask for a slight unfill because I did not want to keep losing weight. (I was looking anorexic) My surgeon became concerned that I may have a slippage so we had it checked out. When I did the barium swallow test, we found that my band was WAY too tight (4.7cc in a 14cc band). Just the slightest whisper of Fluid was going through the band and my esophagus was dilated. He did a complete unfill in my band for 3 months to give my esophagus a rest. I gained weight at an alarming rate (10 pounds in the 1st 7 days) I was back up to 235 pounds by the time we started adding .5cc back to the band every 2 months. I never, ever got my good restriction back. I had a complete unfill again May 2013 and was up to 294 pounds by Sept of 2013. I had my sleeve revision Nov 7th 2013. I will be 3 weeks out tomorrow. I am doing the puree and soft foods step right now. I am not sure if it is because I was so used to not being able to eat anything with my band, but I feel like I can eat far too much at this point. I hope this changes once I get to go back to solid foods. Any comments on how your feeling of being full was better after the puree stage will be much appreciated

[SoniaRenota 10]

I actually lost with the band then after 6 years started gaining due to issues with not finding a full doctor near my house or in my city. I was revised to the sleeve this May and have lost 65 lbs already! So happy it was a huge success!

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

I was banded in July 2008. My weight was 370 pounds. I did excellent with my band and was down to 195 pounds by Dec 2011 (Mainly on slider foods and horrible food choices). I was at my goal and decided to go to my surgeon to ask for a slight unfill because I did not want to keep losing weight. (I was looking anorexic) My surgeon became concerned that I may have a slippage so we had it checked out. When I did the barium swallow test, we found that my band was WAY too tight (4.7cc in a 14cc band). Just the slightest whisper of Fluid was going through the band and my esophagus was dilated. He did a complete unfill in my band for 3 months to give my esophagus a rest. I gained weight at an alarming rate (10 pounds in the 1st 7 days) I was back up to 235 pounds by the time we started adding .5cc back to the band every 2 months. I never, ever got my good restriction back. I had a complete unfill again May 2013 and was up to 294 pounds by Sept of 2013. I had my sleeve revision Nov 7th 2013. I will be 3 weeks out tomorrow. I am doing the puree and soft foods step right now. I am not sure if it is because I was so used to not being able to eat anything with my band, but I feel like I can eat far too much at this point. I hope this changes once I get to go back to solid foods. Any comments on how your feeling of being full was better after the puree stage will be much appreciated

I revised after 10 years with the band.

During the soft food phases you really don't feel much restriction. In fact, the first 6 weeks, eat by the measuring cup and scale because this surgery causes some temporary nerve damage and you may not be able "feel" a full tummy in those early weeks.