Thinking about getting gastric sleeve

[sbailey1 25]

Hi everyone! I am new here and really could use some support! I am calling my dr tomorrow about getting the gastric sleeve. I have been going back and forth for a few years now, but I think it's time. Can you please tell me why you picked this over lap band or bypass? What is it that made you decide on the sleeve? Thanks so much!

[Amanda Nicole Hosaflook 65]

I feel weird having something implanted in me. I also heard a lot of people had slipping issues with the band. There are very good success rates for the sleeve so that's why I chose that. And the no dumping syndrome!

[awold0 246]

When I started thinking about wls I started wanting the lap band. I visited with 2 doctors and with the amount of weight I needed to loose they both said they would not do the lap band for me. I then started researching about the sleeve and thought my doctor knew what was best for me. I have to say there was a lot of issues with the lap band that I was starting to hear about. slippage and erosion. That kind of turned me off because I had heard a lot of people getting a revision years after lap band. So I went ahead with my surgeons direction and I could not be happier.

[ribearty 544]

Hi, congratulations on making a decision to have weight loss surgery. When you meet with your doctor, they will examine you and ask you what surgery you are thinking about and then give you their opinion of what surgery they believe is the best surgery for you.

I am a revision patient from a lap band to the sleeve. I had my band in July '07. At that time the band was the only surgery I qualified for at a BMI of 35. By lap band standards I was a success because I lost 50% of my excess weight loss. I never found the "sweet spot". I wound up having my band overfilled to get restriction. In the beginning my doctor did not have the equipment to do fluoroscopy to see if it was too tight. This resulted in me throwing up a lot due to tightness. I also started to eat more slider foods, which don't fill you up, because I knew I could tolerate them. I then began to have major heartburn and was on prescription medicines for them for over three years. I was in graduate school and working full time so didn't have time to give this the attention it needed. When I saw my lapband doctor, he told me that my band was in the proper position etc.

Earlier this year, I asked him about a different surgery, and he referred me to my sleeve surgeon. My sleeve surgeon performed an EGD and found my band had prolapsed. Additional tests revealed it was causing problems with how my esophagus was functioning. Since I have had my sleeve. I have had no heartburn.

I am 7 weeks out from having my band removed and the sleeve performed. I feel so much better now. I have not thrown up since my surgery and have not encountered any food which I am allowed that has not agreed with me.

[sbailey1 25]

Thanks so much everyone who took the time to reply. I really appreciate this so much. I am calling my dr in the morning to get an appointment to discuss this with him.

[southernsoul 773]

I chose the sleeve because I wanted to keep as much of the natural digestion process in place & avoid the malabsorption issues I heard can happen with bypass. I didn't want the band inside me with the need for adjustments and fills, and the risk of slipping. I don't really have a firm final goal number in mind yet, but I've lost about 60% of my excess weight in 6 months (if I end up around 175-180, that is) and I'm pretty happy with that.

[MisFit 10]

I chose the sleeve because there was no malabsorption and I was not willing to have a lap band. Having a foreign object in my body that required maintenance was repellant. Five days post-op and I have very little pain or difficulty. I am still on a liquid diet and have no idea what I've lost. I have very little energy, and it doesn't concern me as this adjustment is so new, and my body is recovering from the trauma of surgery. I am consuming what I've been told to consume - including Vitamins. I am very optimistic, and I would encourage anyone considering this procedure to shop carefully for a surgeon / hospital. Pre-op was an incredibly positive experience for me because I had, and continue to have, so much confidence in my surgeon, his staff and his hospital affiliation. If you do your homework, the 'test' will most likely be a breeze! Best wishes!