I want to hear your story

Hi all! 

    I just found out that my lap band has slipped and I will be needing a revision. Not sure whether I want VSG or RNY. I was hoping to hear back from some of you and have you tell me your experience with the sleeve (good or bad.) I already went to the revision board and a couple of others, but was hoping to hear it straight from the horses mouth- so to speak  .  Please share your story with me!

 

Jen~

I doubt that you will hear anything negative about the sleeve on this board.  The truth is that most of the people that post here are newbies themselves, and the sleeve is almost always fantastic in the first few years.  You will see that most people have little or no regret in choosing the sleeve, are losing weight at a fast clip (about the same rate as RNY) and are head over heals in love with their sleeve.  There are few exceptions, of course, but almost universally, people are pretty happy and would do it again in a heartbeat. 

I am further out, four years out and I can tell you that I too would still choose the sleeve hands down every time.  However, it is harder to maintain the weight loss than it was to achieve the weight loss.  I must always stay at least somewhat vigilant and follow the sleeve rules at least most of the time.  I lost 93 lbs. in 6.5 moths and have kept it off for 3.5 years.  I am 105 lbs. as of this morning and this is a perfect weight for my height and body structure. 

As you are researching your options, please understand that the sleeve is not standardized and choosing the right doctor for you has a great deal to do with your future success.  I would strongly advice you to spend at least as much time researching the best doctor and looking into the technical aspects of this surgery (and the vast difference between both techniques and outcomes).  I would strongly suggest that you find a doctor that whole heartedly believes in the sleeve and has done at least 300 of them.  I, personally, would only choose a doctor that makes a tight sleeve (many do not do this) and has an after care eating plan that leads most patients to 80-100 %EWL.  Many doctors believe that success is achieved at 50-70% EWL and that does seem to be the average weight loss with the sleeve.  I don't particularly like averages and wanted to find a partner in my surgeon to get me all the way to my goal.  I needed someone who believed it was doable and had a plan for getting me to my destination. 

Overall, I would tell you that the VSG has been a fantastic surgery for me and has changed my life for the better in every way.  You might want to look at my profile to see some before and after pictures to understand how much has really changed for me.  Good luck in your research.  Take your time, find the right procedure for you, and the right doctor -- than go for it.

Thank you so much Elina!

      I will take a peek at your pics. I have the utmost faith in my surgeon and I believe he is one of the best in the country which helps when it comes to being comfortable and trustworthy. It sounds like you are extremely happy with your life choice and have had great success! Thanks for replying! . I will keep y'all posted on my decision. 

 

Jen~

Elina, I just finished checking out your pics,

    I have to say, you look amazing! I can only imagine looking that good in a tight dress~ LOL. Very inspiring! 

Thank you. 

I think it is great that you found a surgeon you trust, it is a huge part of the journey.  Good luck on your decision making.

Hi Jen,

Im a band to sleeve revision and there are a lot of us all over the different boards.  I had my band 10 yrs.  I started having problems end of last year/beginning of this year.  I started aspirating and ended up a couple of times with aspiration pneumonia.  I went to my surgeon who sent me for upper gi...I had severe espoghogeal dilation.  Both he and head radiologist said band needed unfilled, to come out.  I was not a candidate for another band.  As my surgeon unfilled my band i cried.  He went over options with me and I went home crushed. I knew this was coming so id done my research and continued to do it during the 3 mos i had to wait.  Id started gaining wt and knew another surgery was in my future. I am one who never had any problems/issues with my band.

 

 

 

 

 

I chose the vsg for a few reasons.  I didnt want my insides re routed.  Also I have my best friend who had rny 11 yrs ago.  She put on 60lbs quick and tho shes taken it off, she had one helluva time...she had to diet.  She was in hell.  Then she was dx'd with stage 3 colon cancer at age 42.  Due to the chemo she lost the rest of the wt.  She said to me if she had to have surgery over again, she'd have gone with vsg.  Also I can eat pretty normal.  I do dump tho. Not all vsg pts do but I do.  I was also very afraid of problems down the road with rny. Im 48 and not a total spring chicken tho now I think i am lol. Also when I found out rny pts can eat sweets, drink pop etc further down the road, that defeated the purpose of such a harsh surgery.    

My small stomach makes it easier for me to stick with my program and make the right choices.  Sure it will mature and im almost 5 mos out but it will never go back to its original size.  That alone gives me hope!   In the end, its up to you and you have to go with what youre comfortable doing.  Its a life changing event regardless and whatever you choose, you have to live with.  I also was comfortable with the idea if that something happened with the vsg, i could be converted to ds..not that i want another surgery but i like having options.  Be well and good luck.                                   

Thank you for your response, Atia! 

      I have to admit, when my surgeon said that I needed to let them remove the band, I really wasn't that surprised or upset. I'm not sure why either. Maybe it's because I never really found that sweet spot or because of all the food that never wanted to go down. I think I had put too much trust in the P.A  that would do my fills. I believe my band was always too tight for a long time. I'm not blaming her, of course. Everyone has to be responsible for their own restriction and what feels right and/or wrong to them. In a perfect world I just wish I could eat the way I'm supposed to, not be hungry, and have no complications or doubts. I'm not looking for the miracle fix, at the same time, I want my new surgery to help me take control more. I kinda feel like I was trying just as hard to lose weight as I was pre-WLS with the lap band. Was the surgery itself pretty bad? (You can be honest.) I just wonder if, because they remove a lot of your stomach, if the pain is too much to bear. 

 

Jen~

I usually don't reply to these posts, but I'm 13 months post-op and down over 270 lbs. Its hard to imagine how different my life is, how much better I feel, how much more confidence I have, but the VSG has given me the opportunity to live life... more abundantly.

Tom

Hi Tom,

    Thank you so much for coming forward with your story. I am so happy for you  I have had my lap band for 3 years. I was 275 at my heaviest, and now I'm down to 215. I am grateful that I was able to have WLS but was hoping to lose at least 100 lbs. The lap band obviously isn't for me, but after hearing inspirational stories like yours, it gives me hope that I still may be able to achieve my weight loss goals along with living a happy, healthy, and more energetic life. Can I ask if you've had any complications with your VSG?

 

Jen~

The only real complication was that the post-op recovery was rough. For about a month I was slow getting back in the game. I think VSG had nothing to do with it. At my initial weight there would have been complications with any procedure.

When I decided to have WLS, I had basically given up all hope. My surgeon recommended VSG and I went with it. He said I should be able to lose at least 175 lbs (which sounded good to me) but my success was up to me.

I didn't believe I really needed psychotherapy counseling, but that puzzle piece has been of the highest value in this process for me.

Tom