Do you wish you had the sleeve?

I'd go with the sleeve.  Only reason I didn't is because it wasn't covered by my insurance, so I went with RNY.

I am happy with RNY.  I had the band in 09 and had it removed 8 months ago.

My ins. did not do sleeve until this January. 

I did not want to wait till January to get sleeve (revised in August) because I was really deprsesed with the weight gain and co morbidities returning. 

I think if you have history of reflux, sleeve will make it worse.

 NO way!  In my support group we have both RNY and Sleeves, and the sleeves have not lost nearly the weight the RNY's have.  In fact, none of them, NOT EVEN ONE, have reached goal in the year I have been attending the group.  Most of them, many at least, are gaining.  

Plus with the sleeve they remove your stomach.  No thanks!  If there was a real issue I could have my surgery reversed, but not the sleeve!  I am  having really bad iron absorption issues and I highly doubt it will lead to reversal, but at least I know that I won't die....I can have it undone.

My doc feels that I need RNY after Band , because if I "failed" one restrictive procedure it would be way to hard for me to be successful with another. we are planning on taking out the band and converting to RNY if for any reason he feels he can't do that he will do the sleeve. I honestly feel RNY would be better for me

I am only 6 months out.  I decided to do the RNY because of the hormone changes in the gut that helps with diabetes.  The sleeve did not offer that. 

That is significant for those with diabetes, and in that regard, RNY would be the only choice I would have considered.  My brother has diabetes, and I think his issues, amputations, also helped guide me.  I do stay a little concerned about the need for NSAIDs.  I just hope there will be an alternative if I needed a medication.

I regret rny. Had no idea the restrictions, I wwanted sleeve n was approved for sleeve til Dr sent me to diff Dr (were military..) when referred out the sleeve was not an option. So suprise rny.

 I had RNY in 2007.  The malabsorption slows down at about two years, but does not go away completely.  I still have a ridiciously easy time maintaining my goal weight.  I don't dump, I never get hungry, I eat what I want, I enjoy everything I eat, I have lots of energy and feel great.  My labs are all great, I take a Centrum and two or three chewable calcium tablets everyday.  I love my RNY.

Me too...although I have to work hard in maintenance.  BUT TODAY....I am half a pound from my lowest weight again - 2 .5 from my goal.  This time I will live there.  You are right about not being hungry.  I  still need to deal with the root causes for my hunger....I'm still working on that.

I think the most important thing to look at is why the band hasn't worked for you and what other issues it has caused. I was banded in March 2009 and revised to RNY this past January. My reason for revising was in order to have enough restriction to even maintain the weight I lost (which was just under half of what I wanted to lose), I developed very bad GERD. This caused another issue because I would aspirate at night into my lungs and developed chronic bronchitis. I had two episodes of severe bronchitis within 9 months putting me out of commission for a week each time. I was using Symbacort and omeprazole daily just to keep my symptoms under control so I could breathe.

When I first started exploring revision, I wanted the sleeve. But because of all the above issues, my surgeon said that it could continue to cause the same issues I was dealing with with the band. And because my metabolism was so slow, I needed the malabsorption of RNY. So I went with RNY.

So for you, just look at the issues you are having with the band and what might come up with the sleeve vs. RNY. I would have loved to have had the sleeve because I have arthritis and can't take NSAIDS now. For me, this is the biggest drawback to RNY.

Keep reading and asking questions and you will find the right procedure for you.