I'm Just Starting the Process and Need a Buddy/Mentor...

[gobeit 17]

I'm in Delaware and I will probably be having surgery late Feb or March 2016. My doctor is Dr. Irgau at CHRIAS. I have a million questions and started out wanting the band but my doctor has recommended the Gastric Sleeve.

I'm also wondering about folks that had one surgery in mind and then were recommended to switch by the physician. I'm absolutely sure this is what I want to do but I'm really conflicted about the type of surgery. I want to make the right choice. Medically, I think the sleeve is probably the answer. I'm very concerned about the time out of work and being down and unable to take care of my kids.

[ShrinkingPeach 1,291]

What are your concerns about the sleeve vs. the band? What was your reasoning for wanting the band?

I personally chose the sleeve because I didn't want a foreign object placed inside me and I didn't want to have the adjustments having to be made on a regular basis. I also had read quite a bit about the slipping that can happen with the band and I only wanted to have surgery once.

Your time out of work will depend on a few things. How quickly you recover from surgery and the type of activity your job requires. I took 11 days but have a desk job where I do walk around at times and really could have returned after a week. I recover pretty quickly and was off pain meds at day 3. I was still in the end grateful for the extra time to rest.

You won't be able to lift and such after surgery for a bit so if you can have help with the kids that would be great but you will be back at it pretty quickly. Rest where you can and don't overdo it, you do need time to heal so take it if you can.

If you have more questions you can always ask! Good luck!

[gobeit 17]

@@ShrinkingPeach thanks for the insight! I have a desk job and my kids are all teen or almost teenage - so no heavy lifting My middle child is Autistic and goes nuts when the routines change so that's more my concern for down time. Although, he's my real driver for doing all of this as he will likely live with me through his adult years. I need to be here, healthy and able to function well for him for the years to come.

I also have the same foreign body concerns. I can't even wear a pair of earrings that aren't gold or I have a reaction... I've wondered what my body will think of the band contraption.

My only reasoning for wanting the band - or so I told myself initially - was the decreased downtime. In considering it more I felt like I was hanging on to an element of control. Filling and decreasing, if issues arose it was potentially reversible... but after considering those factors fully and talking to my doctor I realized this process isn't something you can turn on and off. It's a commitment for life with any option you choose. That's what finally turned me around and allowed me to commit to the sleeve with my doctor.

I'm becoming more sure of the decision to sleeve vs. band all the time. This decision is so huge. I didn't want to feel like I was making a decision on a whim because of a conversation with my doctor. I'm glad you responded - the information from folks in the same situation I've found myself in really helps.

Edited September 17, 2015 by gobeit

[ShrinkingPeach 1,291]

As yu do your research you will also find that more and more people are having to have revisions from lap band to sleeve due to slipping of the band. There are tons of people out there who have done just fine with the bands, don't get me wrong but yeah my preference is still the sleeve.

I agree that in thinking of the sleeve, it is a very permanent decision but I am committed to do this and I like that it is irreversible. I have waited too late in life to do this as it is and I want to make the most of it.

Also an FYI, I was done as an outpatient so that may help if your surgeon does the same for your routine at home. I had surgery at 7:30am and was home by 1:26 pm. I had no post-op issues and while that isn't always the case for everyone, it really went great. I was tired but driving myself to the store 5 days post-op.

The surgery itself is a really amazing process. The recovery takes time but has truly not been bad at all.