I am really happy for you.  I am just hesitant to have my stomach cut for 40 or 50 lbs.  If I was where I used to be, at 350 or even 300 I would do it in a heart beat.  Of course there is no guarantee I won't go there again.  I will look forward to hearing how things go and you can let me know what it feels like to have the sleeve as opposed to a band.  BTW, did your band ever work right for you?  Mine did for a long time, but when it went bad, it was so bad.

Stay in touch,
Corliss

Thanks for your reply Natalie.  Are you or were you one who had problems not overeating when you had either or both of your bands?  I don't believe I caused my slip, (i didn't according to my surgeon) but I did eat large amounts of softs at the time of day when the band would open (a very short window around noon each day) before it got so bad I couldn't eat anything and puked my saliva up.  I couldn't even keep down liquids at the last.  Landed me in the hospital.  How much do you have left to loose at this time?  Will your insurance be covering the sleeve?  I am afraid my insurance won't cover unless I gain more weight which I certainly hope not to do.  If I do gain it though, I don't think I have any choice but to have another surgery and I am thinking it will probably be the sleeve for all the reasons you stated.  I need all the info like yours I can get.  I certainly wish you the best with your sleeve.  Has a date been set for the sleeve?

Corliss

Hi,  I am in the same boat.  I had my band removed in emergency surgery Sept. 19.  I gained up to 220 in no time. I am now low carbing and have lost 5 lbs.  I am leaning toward the sleeve.  I had my surgery in Mexico with my removal here in states.  My insurance did cover the removal and my understanding is that it also covers banding, the sleeve and RNY.  I will not have RNY or DS at this point due to the problems my daughter had from RNY.  I have heard that Dr. Husted and Dr. Pleatman who is in Bloomington Michigan are the best with revision from band.  Dr. pleatman does lots of sleeves. I know historically Husted was big on the DS.  Since he has loads of experience in DS I would think that he would be very expert on the VSG.  If my insurance doesn't cover and I decid to have sleeve I will go to Dr. Zapata in Monterrey, Dr. Rumbaut in Monterrey or Dr. Alvarez in Piedras Negras just over the line from San Antonio.  Dr. Alvarez does 2 sleeves for every band.  Those are the only surgeries he does.  His patient coordinator was banded and lost her band then sleeved almost 3 years ago.  She loves her sleeve.    I know Dr. Zapata because he checked out my band for me and pulled out all the fluid when I first started having such bad problems.  He is a great guy.  He is represented by Ready4Achange and they are good folks.  I went through them to see Dr. Sanchez when I had my band.  I loved that band as long as it did well, but my body didn't like it.  I did not have a slip, my stomach occluded, but no slip.  My local doc doesn't do the sleeve or I would have him do it since insurance should cover.  Insurance might not cover since I am not a hundred lbs overweight.  Hopefully I won't be, but who knows.

Good luck to you,
Corliss
(Mahage)

I don't believe they can remove a sleeve.  Maybe modify it to a RNY or even Band it, but no such thing as removing it to my knowledge.

Thanks, Corliss

Hi Babs,  I just found your post and boy do you sound like me.  I loved my band till it went bad.  Maybe I need to start a thread called good bands gone bad!  I lost to goal but the last 30-50 lbs was very unhealthy weight loss because it was due to puking all the time.  I too got to the point that I could only eat junk then only ice cream and soup when I was lucky.  The last few months I puked water every morning whether I drank any or not.  It was awful.  I am glad I had it, but I am glad it is gone.  The only problem now is I am gaining weight like crazy.  I am searching for info from people who have been banded and have now revised to sleeve.  I will not have RNY or DS.  Way too risky.  My daughter almost died 2 years out.  I may have another band placed instead but I am leaning toward sleeve today, yest. I was leaning toward another band.

Thanks
Corliss