Any Band to Sleeve Success Stories Out There?!?

[HELLCATT81 88]

I had the band for 5 years. I lost 110 pounds and gained all of it back (due to my own bad eating). I noticed with the band, more ppl gain the weight back because you can still eat a lot if you can get it by that band. Recently (really recently as in just a month), I got sleeved. I've lost 40pounds. I've noticed you can't get a lot of food in period. I gave seen ppl who gained weight back with the sleeve but the percentage is low compared to the band. It's, once again, going to be determined by how you approach food. So far, I've noticed a different in the two in terms of food intake.

Are you happy with it compared to the band?

[calitexan 5]

So far I am. I haven't had the throwing up issues I had with the band. The gas is horrible but when I walk or stand up it gets better.

[HELLCATT81 88]

Oh good. I have a desk job so might be walking around a lot

[Pinkgirl1234 761]

I am scheduled for an upper Fi with Barium,Endoscopy ...had a CAT scan that showed a mild hiatal hernia....sick all the time especially at night I feel the band clenching...I awaken in pain or gasping....I need this revision to sleeve or bypass...not sure if it is the sleeve because I have to see what the results of these tests unveil....the band is a nightmare...it will cause mild to severe damage long term...believe me....

[HELLCATT81 88]

Yah it's the DEVIL!

[HELLCATT81 88]

I keep reading stuff online that the band to sleeve doesn't have as good a success rate as Virgin gastric patients that get the sleeve.... maybe I should quit reading stuff cause I'm getting a little discouraged

[titan05 174]

Hellcat- I am a revision and at 7 weeks I have already lost more than I did with lap-band. No way I will ever be able to eat the way I used to. lunch was about 6 bites and I was full. I am now worried about losing too much weight.

[Pinkgirl1234 761]

This is a post by one of our fellow members in another post..I must say she makes a lot of sense and I am keeping my options open.....to revision to bypass....it is something I have to consider because the lapband has done a number on me.....endoscopy and upper GI will tell me all I need to know

I had the exact same experience as you. I had my heart set on the sleeve and was told and shown all the data on revisions because of redux/Gerd. I had a little more time than you so I ended up going to see another gastroenterologist for a second opinion.

My fear had everything to do with the idea that bypass might be more invasive and the malabsorption concerns. Everyone tried scaring me out of moving forward.

My bariatric specialist asked me the following questions:

1. Why do you have the opinion that bypass is more invasive that sleeve. I responded be caused of the rerouting. She reminded me that to remove 85 percent is very invasive.

Bypass is the gold standard of WLS. People who go thru the sleeve and suffer from Gerd after usually end up revising to bypass.

Bypass is in fact reversible. Once your stomach is gone, you cannot get it back.

2. What about the malabsorption scares you, after all it is designed to help you lose more weight.

I responded with some of the horror stories about people who didn't get their proper Vitamins.

She educated me about why malabsorption is a good thing and as long as I take my supplements: multi Vitamin, Calcium, Vitamin D and B12 and follow up with labs to check progress, I won't have any problems.

By the way, with the band and the sleeve you have to take supplements and go have labs regularly as well.

After that one session with her and lots of time on line, I was feeling so much better about having WLS overall. I got excited, I was not scared any longer and I knew my success was completely up to me.

By the way, I have not had 1 episode of reflux nor have I had to take any meds for it since 30 days post op, no more type 2 diabetes, no more high cholesterol, no more high blood pressure, no more sleep apnea, and last but the most important, no more stage 3 kidney disease.

Don't be afraid, do some research if you need to. See if you can get in sooner and talk to a bariatrician if you are worried.

You have worked way too hard to get to this place and you have to already know that the diet yo yo thing will only cost you more time lost down the road. Haven't you been there already?

[HELLCATT81 88]

Hellcat- I am a revision and at 7 weeks I have already lost more than I did with lap-band. No way I will ever be able to eat the way I used to. lunch was about 6 bites and I was full. I am now worried about losing too much weight.

I would love to have that problem

[Mzjamison79 2]

i was 262 when i had my revision. I had it on 03/13/2014. I had a breast reduction on 12/23/2014 and I just had my complete abdominoplasty on 08/11/2015. I am currently 189. so i feel like I am a success story

[HELLCATT81 88]

Do you plan on losing more weight? Why did you do an abdominoplasty so quick? Just wondering

[Mzjamison79 2]

My goal weight was 180. I am happy with 189. The skin was cause to many issues and my insurance covered it

[HELLCATT81 88]

Oh nice. I hope if I lose a lot my insurance will cover skin removal cause I know I'll need it

[Mzjamison79 2]

if it is medically necessary they will. I an theb insurance specialist for a bariatric center

[HELLCATT81 88]

Oh cool! Well you lost a lot!! Congratz!!

Edited August 20, 2015 by HELLCATT81