Going thru the process of lap band to Gastric Sleeve

[Gendy 27]

Hello everyone, I am new to this but want to get more involved as I take my journey to Gastric Sleeve. I am 49 years old and had the band put in in January of 2009. I lost 80 pounds, but gained back 30 pounds. I've had the band revised as it was leaking the saline solution in 2013. I now am ready to get rid of the band and all it's issues and move on to the Gastric Sleeve. In reading the forum, it sounds as if most of the people are pretty happy with the Sleeve. I just have to go to the dietician one more time and then can get my paper work submitted to the insurance company. I'm nervous that they won't approve me. I look forward to talking with everyone.

[stacielynntate 88]

Good luck to you. I was banded in 2008 lost 121 lbs en had my son in 2011. The last 3 1/2 years have been no fun, food getting stuck, anything I ate or drank I most likely threw it up, 24/7 acid reflux. Open the band, fill the band, so many test basically my body didn't like the band any more. I out back on 80 lbs between pregnancy and the struggles after. I had my revision surgery on 6/18/14 and down 32 lbs so far. I wish i did it sooner ( my dr wanted to last year but I put it off out of fear). It is nice to eat and drink with no issue, no acid reflux. My dr did find my port was embedded into my muscle so took a little to get out. As far for scar tissue he was happy there was not a lot and was able to remove it all.

[Gendy 27]

Thanks for the great response. I too have had problems with the band, filling and loosening and filling again. I now have heart burn and food keeps getting stuck. I don't understand why as this started within the last 2 months. I'm ready for a change. I hope I don't have problems with removing the band. The port was just put in 2 years ago when my band started leaking so I'm thinking there shouldn't be a problem.

[nowornever14 36]

Hi Gendy and welcome.

I got my band in 2004 (10 years now) and had the exact same trouble like Stacielynntate. Horrific acid reflux, food stuck, vomiting all that went in and so on. My surgeon suggested the sleeve but I was only thinking about getting the band out. I had lost 100 pound in the first 5 years but gained back 30 to 40 pound over the last 5 years. So dieting is what I did for the last 5 years to keep is below 40 pounds but I am really ready now to get the sleeve and hope to have the same luck that it works for me without trouble, like acid reflux. Because that actually was my worst nightmare with the band. Not being able to sleep more than 30 minutes before all came up again.

So yes I am hopeful and nervous at the same time. Where do you get the revision done?

[Gendy 27]

Nowornever14 - I am having my revision done in IL. It's with the same doctor that originally did my band. I really like him and know he'll do a good job. I just hope I can get the band removed and the sleeve done in the same operation. I have real bad heartburn and hope that goes away with the sleeve. I've heard good things about that. Good luck to you on your journey.

[stacielynntate 88]

Hi Gendy and welcome. I got my band in 2004 (10 years now) and had the exact same trouble like Stacielynntate. Horrific acid reflux, food stuck, vomiting all that went in and so on. My surgeon suggested the sleeve but I was only thinking about getting the band out. I had lost 100 pound in the first 5 years but gained back 30 to 40 pound over the last 5 years. So dieting is what I did for the last 5 years to keep is below 40 pounds but I am really ready now to get the sleeve and hope to have the same luck that it works for me without trouble, like acid reflux. Because that actually was my worst nightmare with the band. Not being able to sleep more than 30 minutes before all came up again. So yes I am hopeful and nervous at the same time. Where do you get the revision done?

I feel you on the acid reflux. Knock on wood I'm 2 months out an no issues with it.

[KattattaK 45]

Oh my goodness!!! Same probs with my band. Had it done in 2005. Lost a substantial amount of weight. It stopped working a few years later. Turned out it had a slow leak. I haven't had a fill in several years. My current doc suggested revision to band over a year ago, but I've been so afraid of what the outcome will be. Hoping to be encouraged to make my mind up concerning revision, and hoping to be brave enough to have surgery for band removal sooner rather than later.

[LSF 264]

I'm on the same path as the rest of you. Just worried about the insurance more than anything else

[Gendy 27]

lfein229 - That's what I'm worried about also. I meet with the Dr on Oct 1 and then the paperwork can be submitted. Good luck to you.