Lapband surgery vs sleeve recovery pain

[mememomma 14]

I had the lapband ten years. Getting the sleeve. Can anyone tell me how the post op pain compares from the band to sleeve? I figured it must be more because of the cutting involved.....

[Sandra Nuelken 419]

I had the lap band, then had it removed. Then I was sleeved the end of July. It is no more painful than the lap band or having it removed. In fact, I think the removal hurt more because of the port. I had absolutely no pain, in fact, I refused the pain pills. I was tired, guess the surgery makes you tired. I took about 2 weeks to get my strength up, kept trying to vacuum and realized that was not a good idea. I love the sleeve as there is no more filling - unfilling. I remembered the band diet quickly and fell into it easily. Good luck with your journey!

[mememomma 14]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate your response. My surgery is this Wednesday, October 9th! Ready for a healthier ME! Congrats on your success....we can do this!

[agwill 4]

How did your revision go? I’m going from band to sleeve on December 2. Anxiety is a little high just not sure what to expect.

[Sandra Nuelken 419]

I went from the band to the sleeve. I had the band out almost a year before the sleeve. I took no pain meds for the sleeve surgery. The pain pills were opiates and I refuse to take any under any circumstances. So the first night I took a Tylenol pm. Then I took nothing. The Band had more pain as you have the port so close and that hurts until it heals. I took a Tylenol 3 one night for it. The pain you have is again from gas and moving is the answer to make it go away. Pain meds won't make it go away just moving. I thought the sleeve was easy. The diet was a bit tedious too. One week of Clear Liquids, 2 weeks of full liquids, 3 weeks of softs. Then I introduced foods very gradually and actually didn't eat without concern for about 3 months. You have the feeling of a good fill and I didn't want to get sick. If you've been through the band in and the band out, this is not a big deal.

[LeeAnnfromNC 46]

1. I also had my revision from lapband to sleeve on October 9th . Band was put in place in April of 2012 and removed July 31, 2019. Sleeved on Oct 9, 2019. I love my sleeve. None of the procedures was particularly painful. I expected the sleeve to be more painful but it really wasn't. I think the worst of the three was having the lap band removed, at the incision site where the band came out.