Band to Sleeve, Still Nervous wife not thrilled

[rosstheboss 21]

Well back again, I have my Results Review to set up my revision Tuesday. My wife is not thrilled with the thought. It doesn't help that I had foot surgery 2 weeks ago, the Bone has healed well but the incision is still sore, So she is not excited and is very fearful of the revision, She would prefer I just have the band taken out. I am looking to have the revision done in may and would do both the removal and revision at one time. It doesn't help that she had lunch with a friend who's husband is in medical surgical equipment and told her about how they do the surgery etc. and she thinks I well be depressed as we entertain a lot and I wont be able to eat.

I too am still thinking going back and forth with this. Again I have such a long history of Family and personal struggle with weight.

The band was a good decision in that i have kept off a good amount of weight for 8 Years, and have adopted a much better life style. (I can't wait to get back to the gym and pool.) But the band has had it's issues, I am going to be 60 this year also. For some time now I drink Protein Shakes and have to drink with meals as the pouch is painful even if i have a few bites - due to pouch issues. I am concerned that with out anything I might regain more weight. I know that Eventually will need knee replacement and can't afford to be any heaver. I see other family members who are now older and very overweight having so many issues to get around. I also have friends who have struggled with weight up and down 100/lbs and can not consider WLS as they now have other medical issues. The older one gets the more harder to recover etc. Also I've reached my out of pocket max for the year. (Knee injections, Foot Surgery, and all the Pre Op tests)

I have kind of been thinking about this for years wanting to get these last Lbs off but also somewhat comfortable with how I am. But with so many visits to have Fluid put in and out and now my band is empty and Dr.says no more fills and the band needs to come out. My primary care Dr is OK with it but says realize you can have a huge thanksgiving meal. My Knee Dr set a letter that I needed it also.

I have been so compliant insurance has agreed to pay for the revision. I have been praying and thinking on this for some time. My thought was that if ins approved it I would go ahead and now that they have i am concerned that i am tempting fate, as I am generally in good shape but would be helpful to looks additional 30/lbs or so.

My Daughter was also banded a number of years ago but regained her weight , she actually was the first to start the revision process as she has 2 friends who have the sleeve a few yrs ago and have done well. She started WW back in Aug, while she started the revision process. Ultimately she was not approved Because of non compliance but has now lost 85/lbs on her own! She is very strict but she too is thinking she may need to do something later as she has been through this before and doesn't know if she can keep it off. She is encouraging me to get the sleeve as she know how I work out and have kept a good amount of weight off, She thinks I will do well with it. She says her friends who are a few years out generally eat 1/2 of what is served in a restaurant (Which is often what I do, unless its a salad). Even thought i don't have any fill I have some restriction but am definitely more hungry.

Hopefully my Dr will put both of us at ease

Any words of encouragement?

[Navigating the Wilderness 824]

If your stats are still accurate, I would not think you would want to go through the surgery to lose 30 more pounds at 6'1". Especially if you are doing it to help with looks. But that is my feeling, and as long as you are comfortable with it, don't let anything get in your way!

[rosstheboss 21]

Thanks. Yea I've been hanging around this 250-260 for years. But coming from 300 plus and needing the band out I'm so concerned about just having the band removed without any revision. As the band is empty it's more comfortable but getting harder. I'm Am concerned long term about the band.

[Gigi_Girl 77]

I would support your decision to have the band removed and be sleeved.

I am in a similar situation. I did well with the band for a while (originally banded in 2008), but have slowly been regaining and have the pouch and stuck issues. I finished jumping through hoops for my PCP to write a letter of approval which included a cardiologist exam, echo and stress test to validate that my heart would handle sedation. I am age 60 and know that it is better to have additional surgery now rather than to wait until later years. I am scheduled for April 12 and looking forward to it.

[rosstheboss 21]

I would support your decision to have the band removed and be sleeved.
I am in a similar situation. I did well with the band for a while (originally banded in 2008), but have slowly been regaining and have the pouch and stuck issues. I finished jumping through hoops for my PCP to write a letter of approval which included a cardiologist exam, echo and stress test to validate that my heart would handle sedation. I am age 60 and know that it is better to have additional surgery now rather than to wait until later years. I am scheduled for April 12 and looking forward to it.

Thanks. We were banded around the same time too. So many tests but they want yo minimize potent problems. All my tests went well. I know this will be hard but would rather do it now than regret it later

[shots95 16]

I am one month postop from a lap band which gave me problems and did not solve the weight problem. Lap band was performed 10 years ago and started giving me problems about four months ago. Surgeon opened up the band and I went up to 280 pounds. After the gastric sleeve and removal of the lap band in one procedure, I have lost 25 pounds since my highest weight recording in the surgeon's office. The greatest thing about the gastric sleeve is I have absolutely no hunger. You are supposed to be eating 80 to 90 g of Protein a day after surgery but I rarely get that much in. It takes time for your "fat mind" to get adjusted to the new eating. I still enjoy watching those food Network shows that show all these restaurants that have the "20 pound hamburgers" knowing I no longer can have. I have to plan for the day of my meal selections. My wife is now also getting the gastric sleeve in about three months. My blood sugar is improving and I am feeling better. I have knee problems but the weight loss has been beneficial in that area. I highly recommend the surgery. Have tried multiple diets, Weight watchers and all sorts of gimmicks without success. I am 66 years old and the metabolism has slowed down tremendously. Literally starvation dieting would be the only other option other than the gastric sleeve.

[Dan 0]

I am in the same situation. I had the band put in in 2007 and had some good initial success (went from 260 to 210 and I am only 5'6") but had constant problems with the band. Surgeon determined it had slipped so I had it removed in 2014 and quickly regained all of my weight and then some. High weight was 279. I have investigated the sleeve and have been approved for the surgery with Medicare covering most of the cost. I have been on pre-op diet and am now at 262. My wife would prefer that I try to continue to diet rather than have the sleeve. I have struggled with weight my entire life and remember the weight related issues my mother had in her late 70's so I feel that I have no choice unless I am willing to take the risk of similar weight related issues. At this point, I fell that I need to move forward before I get any older.

Surgery date is 7/3 four days before my 71st birthday. To say the least, I am very nervous about this but feel that the only rational decision is to go forward with the surgery.

[Blater 17]

Just came across this 6 year study on the effectiveness of a revision.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/28347647/?i=24&from=gastric sleeve

[Dwarfmidget 5]

My journey started with me at 388 pounds. Lap band was in for 8 years before it scare tissued to my stomach. In 8 years I had lost about 140 pounds. Flew down to Mexicali and had VSG revision, band our and revision same day! Would not change a thing and would never look back. I now hover in the 190-200 range, a few pounds up and a few down. Had absolutely no issue with the revision and in fact the second day walked down the street to the shopping Mall 4 long blocks away just to air my head..... If your thinking about it stop, JUST DO IT! It changed my life..... Will your also....

Edited June 19, 2017 by Dwarfmidget