Band to sleeve failure HELP PLEASE

[Susan.davis 1]

Hi I had a band in 2009 - it was extremely successful. The band eroded when I was pregnant so I had to have it out last year. I was sleeved in February 2014 and I haven't had any restriction since day 1 ( I know all about slider foods/what I should be eating). I saw my surgeon yesterday. I was thinking of getting a bypass but he is talking about putting on another band. I'm having a barium swallow tomorrow. My questions are: has this happened to anyone else? Did you have another band or a bypass and what were the results. I would really appreciate some feedback - this situation is killing me:(

[Alfie 58]

Hi I had a band in 2009 - it was extremely successful. The band eroded when I was pregnant so I had to have it out last year. I was sleeved in February 2014 and I haven't had any restriction since day 1 ( I know all about slider foods/what I should be eating). I saw my surgeon yesterday. I was thinking of getting a bypass but he is talking about putting on another band. I'm having a barium swallow tomorrow. My questions are: has this happened to anyone else? Did you have another band or a bypass and what were the results. I would really appreciate some feedback - this situation is killing me:(

Well I'm not sleeved yet but I do have the band (getting it out soon). I did see another post somewhere that a woman had the same scenario as you and they then got the band. Could the doc have left your stomach too big?

[Alfie 58]

I found the thread. it's called "Lapband to sleeve but I left my band in" You can search for it in the Forums

[Susan.davis 1]

Thanks Alfie - I'll have a look now:)

[Leyanna 14]

Susan, I'd like to chime in that I have the same thing: very little restriction. I had my band removed due to complications and got the sleeve on 4/21/14, and I'm shocked at how much I can eat. Since I had my lapband removed immediately, I never attended sleeve classes, but I knew that what I could eat couldn't be right. My first day on solids and I remember thinking that there's no way I should be able to eat so much. My husband, who's attending the classes, explained to me that a pouch can be up to the size of a large banana. I guess I got the big banana. I'm going to follow your post to see how things work out for you! I hope for the best for you!

[Susan.davis 1]

Thanks Leyanna I had a barium swallow test today & I could hear the radiologist saying that's not normal - will be talking to my surgeon again tomorrow after he receives the report so I will let you no how I go:)

[johnsydney 65]

Hi there, I'm similar in the way of being able to eat a lot more than I thought, I eat a cup / 250ml of any food without any problem. I don't have any pain, slimes, reflux, or particular feelings of fullness, I just know I've had enough when I feel food backed up in my throat. I can drink right up until I eat and still get the whole cup in. My stomach doesn't rumble like it used to with the band. I do feel hunger but nothing like previously. I'm almost 8 weeks out. Do you have any restriction at all and do you feel hunger ?

Edited October 2, 2014 by johnsydney

[Susan.davis 1]

Hi Johnsydney - I only have very minimal restriction - i can eat anything at all without any problems at all:( I got the results from my barium swallow test today - basically any food goes straight through really fast - we are looking at putting a ring over the sleeve - it is not adjustable like a band but will apparently slow the food down if that makes sense ( it sounded good when my surgeon explained it lol ). It is a same day procedure (ie I don't stay in hospital overnight) & he will do it with no gap. I would prefer a mini bypass but we will see what happens

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

I would want to know the reason. I am suspicious of the whole ring or band over sleeve thing. Ask alot of questions. ..

In geneeal (not about OP) You plain and simple have less restriction with the sleeve

It takes an adjustment in mindset and one reason revisions don't lose as well as they tolerate that full esophagus feeling. .

[CowgirlJane 14,259]

However I am maintaining a very large weight loss post sleeve. ..so things are possible! !

[LeanerLena5426 61]

Hi I had a band in 2009 - it was extremely successful. The band eroded when I was pregnant so I had to have it out last year. I was sleeved in February 2014 and I haven't had any restriction since day 1 ( I know all about slider foods/what I should be eating). I saw my surgeon yesterday. I was thinking of getting a bypass but he is talking about putting on another band. I'm having a barium swallow tomorrow. My questions are: has this happened to anyone else? Did you have another band or a bypass and what were the results. I would really appreciate some feedback - this situation is killing me:(

I've been in the same boat--complications with the lap-band and revision to sleeve only to find no restriction. It sucks! What I was told, by my surgeon, is that the damage that was done by the lap-band (and the complications, such as erosion) caused a lot of scar tissue. So, he was not able to give me the small pouch I would have gotten if I'd started with the sleeve instead. The scar tissue makes it impossible to get the little staples through the stomach, so it affects where they can cut the stomach (for rny or sleeve) and that means a big pouch. It did for me, anyway. At least now that it's all been explained to me I don't blame myself as much. The first few months after the revision I knew I could eat a ton, and I felt like such a failure!

[Leyanna 14]

LeanerLena, thank you so much! The first thing my surgeon told me when I got out of surgery was "Wow, there was A LOT of scar tissue!" Now I get it. That's why I have a larger stomach. It makes me sad, but it is what it is. I'm doing the best I can with what I have. I'm so thankful for this thread. I never wanted to start my own thread because I saw some of the rude comments/finger pointers/blamers and I just didn't want to go there. Some people, I swear. Thank you Susan.davis for posting.

[LeanerLena5426 61]

LeanerLena, thank you so much! The first thing my surgeon told me when I got out of surgery was "Wow, there was A LOT of scar tissue!" Now I get it. That's why I have a larger stomach. It makes me sad, but it is what it is. I'm doing the best I can with what I have. I'm so thankful for this thread. I never wanted to start my own thread because I saw some of the rude comments/finger pointers/blamers and I just didn't want to go there. Some people, I swear. Thank you Susan.davis for posting.

Exactly! I've shed many a tear, believe me, feeling sorry for myself about "wasted" money, and self pity wishing I couldn't eat so much. But like you said, it is what it is. We still have smaller pouches than we'd have without any surgery at all (at least I hope??? sometimes it sure doesn't seem so...), and the rest we'll just have to do ourselves. Which we CAN, and we WILL do!!!!!!!

[camileigh 1]

I had a band to bypass revision about three months ago and am having the same problem with no restriction. I think I just expected more of a signal that I was full like the band gave me, but I can eat over a cup and get hungry often. It is what it is. I just have to remember and teach myself that this is a different game altogether than the band. You have to have different tactics and goals than before. I just wish it was a better tool than it is.

[lollipop 0]

Hi there I'm a band to sleeve and initially I did have a lot of restriction and I lost about 60 pounds I was 220 and then I went down to 164 then I got pregnant after year post the band post the sleeve sorry and now I'm still almost 35 pounds over what I was ...and I'm having a hard time losing....I thinking about getting resleeved!