T'ville Newbie - Sleeve or Lap-band

Hey Pete,
I understand the reason for going to Cairns . The gap is huge. I was lucky and didn't pay any gap. The only cost was $800 for the Anaesthetist.
You have received some great advice from this forum. I researched the sleeve for12 months before actually saying yes to the operation. My GP was very encouraging and researched a lot for me. I spoke to other health specialists along the way - Heart Specialists, Dieticians etc, and all had positives to say about the success rate of the sleeve over the band. I took a long time to accept the facts of sleeving. That it was permanent, and my stomach was going to be so much smaller. I needed to be ready to end my relationship with my best friend "food".
The practice nurse at my surgeons referred me to some other sleevers. I should also have spoken to someone before they where sleeved to see if they echoed my fears etc. there have been different ideas on this forum about the advise their surgeons give on when to start Optifast. Mine wanted me to do it for a month. My dietian said 2 weeks. So I did 2 weeks and lost 10 kilos and shrunk my liver.I have lost 6.8 in the 1st week after the operation. These figures are great but remember they relate to me and my body. So never compare. I am over the liquid diet and into the mushy stage. Though I did find the liquid stage difficult as you appreciate there is not much on the shelves of the supermarket due to all the Floods in Qld so I had to make some interesting choices.I do feel great and am going back to work after Aust Day.

Hey there,

Congratulations on your decision, I really feel you have made the right decision for you.

The days till your op will fly past, can I make a suggestion - just keep researching this site whenever you get a chance, because it is like a Wikopedia for sleevers, any question you may have will have an answer on here somewhere, and if not you will definately receive a reply to any other questions you may have.

It is also great to know what to expect after the surgery, and little things along your journey that may crop up, all the answers will be on here somewhere.

Good Luck and I look forward to following your journey to your new life.

Regards

Muffincatt

Congratulations on getting your date!!

Carah

Hi All

Once again thanks for taking the time to write with your stories and experiances, they have all help (btw put a similar post on the same day on the banding together forum to get banders opinions and only had 3 replies in total - so this forum REALLY rocks and is very supportive!!)

Well after 2 days in Cairns doing the circuit of dietian, nurses, bloodtests, phycologist and meeting with the surgeon

I am booked in to get the sleeve !!!! (thanks to all here - but it was the best option for me)

The earliest i could get was 11 March but that will come soon enough.

Was really happy with the surgeon - has done gastric surgery for 20+ years and has done over 700 bands and has been doing sleeve for the last few years and it is becoming his preferred option (althought he still does many bands). Spend about an hour (or more) and took his time - answered all my questions and took me throught pro and cons of all the options , so Im booked in and ready to go.

To livelaughlove - hope your recovery is going well - would be happy to catch up at sometime if you want - reason I went to Cairns was the huge difference in cost - was quoted a gap of $8k in townsville and $3K to $3.5K in Cairns (all up including all out of pocket etc) - and $5k is a bit of money!! - also had heard good things about Dr Clapham for my GP, and as my partner work for Qantas flight are only $35 each way - so all up a good deal but with a surgeon I trust and have faith in. Not going because I have heard antyhing bad about the locals, infact I believe both Bovy and Baker are good surgeons!

The comparison of the two options that you used Aquarius is simialr to how the dietian I saw spoke of the difference. Wow - 8 days out - How is it going?

Thanks for you storey Kazzie - for all the same reasons the sleeve will be the best option for me too. I have been reading about this (most night) for ages, I feel I am well informed and I feel this is the fight move for me and whilst I have the same emotional mix as you I am equally determined this is the best move for me.

Spoggy - hope all going well,congrats on the improvements with your diabetes . I feel like I am being proactive with my health for the fisrt time in a few years ( have really let things slide in the last few!) and like almost all on here I am sure I won't be sorry.

Thanks again all - So that's it - I'm booked in

(Ps Does this mean I can make the most of the gap I have before start taking Optifast - or should I be good now??? Hmmm.....I'll keep you posted LOL)

Hi Pete and welcome to the site,

I think we all challenge the decision of lap band or sleeve. When i first approached my GP she never even mentioned a sleeve and immediately wrote out my referral to see the surgeon. I had a number of months to wait for my Private health insurance to kick in so did a lot of reading, internet sites and then found this forum. I had also met two people, one banded and one sleeved. I took on board any info i could get from any source but at the end of the day it was me who made the decision. When my insurance kicked in i decided to renew my referral to give me plenty of time and unfortunately my GP had left and i saw a new GP. I was given such a hard time, told to wait 3 months then come back, start a food diary, park my car away from destinations, join gyms etc. (as if I hadnt done all that for years) he told me i should look outside the square and i was too focused on a band. I did get my referral never to return to him again.......
I saw my surgeon who openly talked about both options and given that i want a permanent solution to my weight, a better freedom of food choices and looking to travel so didnt want the repeated visits of maintenance with a band I made the informed decision to have a sleeve with full support of my surgeon. I get sleeved 11th Feb and cant wait. I feel totally comfortable with my decision and know that it is still going to be hard work but I finally have a real chance of a healthy life. Whilst i am nervous, excited and scared all at once i have never doubted i am doing the right thing, always looking ahead and no time or energy to look back.
Good luck with your decision, keep us all posted.
Kazzie

Hey Pete,

I'm also a 'failed' lap band patient. I gave it 9 months and then had it removed. The way I saw it, if I hadn't lost at least 10kg in that time, I never would. The 'port' - where you have the injection to inflate the band - flipped inside my tummy, meaning I had to have another op to re-position it. I had so much time off of work, it was a joke.

I am now 8 days out of the gastric sleeve, and have lost the same amount of weight that I did in months with the band! The difference that I've found between the band and the sleeve in a nutshell is this -

- the band restricts your eating, but doesn't make you feel 'full' on the small amount of food you can eat (you graze non-stop trying to get a full feeling),

- the sleeve restricts your eating, AND it makes you feel full on the small amount of food you can eat!

Trust me Pete, if you've struggled with your weight for 30 years, no amount of will power will get you slim. Especially as you get older - do you honestly think you can keep up one and a half hours of exercise, 6 days per week, when you're in your 50's and 60's? No way.

Remember to ask for a great surgeon though - this is the difference between successful and unsuccessful sleeves. Make sure you get a qualified BARIATRIC SURGEON and not just a surgeon.

All the best,

Kris.

Hey Pete, This is my first post on this site ,though I have been reading it for a while. I live in Townsville also, and have had a Lap Band(failed) and was sleeved on 11th Jan,2011 in Tville at the Mater . I wanted to add a few things. I had loads of adjustments on my band, xrays,etc, and if it isnt a great Banding, more time in hospital in Cairns and time off work and travel to see the surgeon. I wonder why you want to go to Cairns when there are great surgeons here ?

Hello, I first went to the information night thinking I wanted a band but soon changed my mind while talking to the surgeon. Both procedures are using a tool to lose weight, it depends on how you use it and if you are will to change your habits and the way you think about food. I went for the sleeve mainly because of the percentage of being successful for me. BAnd 40% sleeve 80%, because I was a diabetic. notice was. My diabetes has gone after 3 months, my blood pressure tabs have been reduced. Great strides one could say. I also liked the sleeve becasue there was less maintenance. Yes the sleeve is permanent, but I also wanted permanent weight loss and permanent change of habits.

All procedures have a learning curve attached to them. It depends on how you handle it and what you are willing to change along the way.

On saying that I say" congratulations on being proactive about your health. You won't be sorry!"

Look forward to hearing what you have decided and your progress.

Hi Pete, I am hoping to 'upgrade' asap, but due the remoteness of where I live, I am on the search for a surgeon that with de-band and sleeve in one go. Goodluck with your appointments etc and look forward to reading about your journey!!
Emma

To Beckstar77, Longwaytogo, Soulcatcher,Buzzito, Peazles, Cartay and Janette

I am humbled that you all took the time to write your stories and help a stranger. I guess it goes to show what a great support group this is and that we are all on such similar journeys.

I feel much better about going to the doctor with the sleeve as my prefered option - I think I was heading that way but hearing from you all has really helped. I know this is only a tool to help weight loss but when I think of the band I worry as I am not a great at vomiting and the food restrictions may be hard!! LOL

Was considering the band first and if it didn't work or I got bad effects then moving to the sleeve, but the thought of spending $ and trying the band only to run the risk of failure is not very pleasant.

I have heard similar stories to yours Rebecca about it being easier to cheat the band - good luck with your op - I will keep an eye out for your updates on here

Emma your story is, I guess, one of my concerns with the band - I'm in townsville but my surgeon is in Cairns (luckily my partner is with Qantas - so airfares are cheap) regardless of that, taking time off to travel up and back if I need many adjustments will be extra dollars - let alone going through a second op as you now have to. Best of luck with the removal - when are you planning to "üpgrade" so to speak?

Thanks Karen for your experiance esp with your brother and what you have learned from others on this site. I realise what ever I do it is not a magic wand cure for fatness - but guess I am going throught a process of seeing the band as the best tool and now the sleeve..Good luck for you surgery

Buzzito - you made me laugh - HELLO I need to lose 50kg also and after 30years of being overweight I need something permanant too. Strange how the reversability of the band sounds good , but if it worked well I would never want it taken out!?!?!?!

Peazles - I take your point, I too think that is a good point for the band- Does anyone know if a sleeve is ever made too big?? and can it be re-operated to make it smaller?? _ Will note these point down to ask the surgeon..

Carah - I have read one of your threads about Cairns patients (several times while I was visiting this site and researching LOL) Thanks for your insight - obvioulsy you found Dr Clapman ok? - and it is fantasic for me to hear he offered/recomended the sleeve to you as this encourges me that it is an op he is familar with!! Monday is going to be a long day at work waiting till early Tuesday to fly up and see the dietian and the nurse and on Wednesday the phycologist and Dr Clapman before flying back on Wednesday arvo. It is great to see the fantactic weight loss you are having.....very jealous

Janette - thanks for your wishes and love the fact that you are below your goal!! Maybe oneday I too will be below my goal weight - seems like a dream at the moment - but I guess it continue to be a dream until I do something about it.

Sorry for the huge reply, but I wanted to acknowledge you all for taking the time to write. i promise I will update with where I am at regarding this on Wednesday, regardless of the decision the surgeon and I come too . Got a good felling about the sleeve.

Once again, thanks for helping.

Pete

HI Peter and welcome to the forum.

I was referred by my GP for banding, went along to the seminar where I learnt about a new procedure, sleeve gastrectomy. Well that was the end of banding for me, walked out of there that night, and knew I would have a sleeve.

I love the idea of permanent, very little followups, being about to eat and drink anything only in small potions, etc.

I love my sleeve, best decision I have ever made.

Good luck with your decision and journey.

Hi Peter and WELCOME to the site.

As a fellow patient of Dr Clapham's I thought I should say hello. I too originally considered the band. In fact, prior to meeting with Dr Clapham for the first time I hadn't actually heard of the sleeve before. I had many concerns and reservations regarding the band (eg. complications - slippages etc; not being able to eat a good range of foods; maintenance; travel time back to dr etc etc etc ... I'm sure you know them all).

Initially when Dr Clapham suggested sleeve surgery I was shocked. It seemed so, well ... permanent! But that's just the thing. When I enquired as to how many people willingly have their bands removed I discovered it was very very few. I suppose the reason that got us overweight the first time will quickly see us back there once again. Even yourself for example, all of that hard work and wonderful results with a personal trainer, however it was obviously very difficult to maintain in the longer term.

Keep an open mind and be prepared to ask a LOT of questions when you make the trip to Cairns. While I cannot advocate this surgery for everyone (or have any personal insight into banded life), I can happily inform you that this was the best decision I have ever made.

Wishing you all the very best, and I look forward to seeing you around the site.

Carah

Hi Peter

As you probably already realised before you posted on here, this isn't the place for unbiased debate on banding vs sleeving :P

The bad does have one advantage over the sleeve (and it's a huge one, if you ask me) - when you get sleeved, your tum is as tight as it is ever going to be, it gets looser from there on in. A band can be tightened, or loosened, for years down the track (everything being ok). Find yourself eating too much - go for a fill!
Each surgery has their own pro's and cons, read up on both and make your own, informed, decision. Goodluck!!

Hi Peter,

I went to my surgeon with the idea of having a band, but he advised me of the 3 surgery options available and told me to come back in 1 month with my decision. I definitely got the idea that he was no longer a fan of the band... so after much research I decided that a sleeve was my best option. My surgeon agreed.

Initially I was attracted to the band because it was reversible, but hello... with needing to lose 50kg and struggling with my weight all my life, I need something permanent! That was not the only reason though... I guess reading all the problems ppl have with fills and the time required off work to go to these appointments also was a factor....

Only you can decide what is best for yourself, but reading everyone's stories on here and on the other sites will help you with your decision.

Good luck with you appointment, don't forget to take a list of all your questions as your surgeon can help guide you with your decision.

Cheers

Hi Peter,

I think you'll find plenty of people who are former 'puke banders' on this site. There is a band to sleeve section.

When I was contemplating WLS I thought about the band, but didn't like the follow-ups. I live far enough away from my surgeon for adjustments to become a circus, and return visits in a short timeframe to be logistical nightmare. Or worse, embarrassing, as the easiest choice of surgeons visits close to home, but it's people I work with intermittently.

My brother has a band, and has had to have the device replaced. He cheats it, and from discussions with my surgeon this is fairly common.

Lots of the posts also mention a lag between band removal and sleeve date, due to ulcerations. Pouches, damage to nerves, inability to eat a normal diet (in smaller volume obviously) means some banders resort to eating crap because it's the only food they can tolerate.

If you have found a surgeon you trust, let them help you make the decision based on your lifestyle etc. I had consults with two different practices, have a friend who has had a sleeve recently, and know of various people who are failed lap banders. If there wasn't sleeving, I wouldn't be having WLS in three weeks time.

I know it's irreversible, but the consensus amongst the bariatric surgeons is that the new stomach will in time be like a pair of favorite jeans - a little forgiving sizing wise, but no more
than that. And you can still cheat, it is a tool, and not a magical 'cure'.

Everyone has their own decision making processes, this site was a big part of mine because there are so many positive people and stories. There is a chat session most times, and heaps of diaries, a secret mens business. You'll probably have your mind made up in no time, whatever you decide.

:-) Karyn

Hi Peter, just wanted to share with you a little story I call "My Life" . 18mths ago I too found an article about lapband and began the process of research and all that comes with it. Consequently I had a band put in in Nov 09. It was great to start with and I have lost 30kg, BUT it is hard work!! I need a fill now and i can't get into see that doctor for 3 weeks who is then a 4 hour drive away anyway, followed by my changing eating habits to things that will go down as I am about jack of getting things stuck and having that god almighty feeling that my chest may explode! I am now in the process of getting my band out and a sleeve done. I thought the band is what I needed at the time, but if I had my time again I would not even consider it. I wish you all the best with your decision and hope you find what you are looking for!!
Emma

Hi peter
The choice is an individualone but my dr originally mentioned the band to me but later advised the sleeve. She said with the band you have life long maintenance, getting filled and reduced whilst the sleeve is a one off thing.
I've heard people have much more vomiting issues with the band and having food get stuck. Also I've heard people can cheat the band by eating melting foods, cheesecake, chocolate, milkshakes ect, whilst the sleeve you only have x amount available in your tummy so it's harder to cheat.
I can't wait till I get sleeved, I just want the battle of the bulge to be over with once and for all!
Good luck with your decision,
Rebecca

Hi All

Im a 41year old guy . Living in Townsville. Have had weight "ïssues" since I was a teenager. Have tried all the same diets most of you have (high card, low card, high fat, low fat etc), Xenical, Reductil, willpower, giving in and trying to accept my fatness. LOL

I had some sucess with a personal trainer (dropped from 133kg to 88kg - an effort I am still proud of) but could not keep up 1.5 hours of cardio 6 days a week, and over a few years, and having to move away from my trainer I am now back at 125kg and have been between 115kg and 130kg for the last 3 years or so.

A few months ago I was , ironically, at the local Fish and Chips shop and picked up a mag and read an artical on Lap-band and a 10 year success story. That send me on a path of thought and research. From Oct 09 to a few weeks ago I was on the path to get a Lap-band, but now I am tossing up between the Lap-Band or the Gastric Sleeve op.
I realise this is a Gastric Sleeve support group but was wondering if any others have contemplated the lap-band before they went with the sleeve op and what helped make the decision. I know a few have had the band and for various reasons swapped to the sleeve- but should I try the band first??

I'm not sure I want to wait until my fills before I lose weight and not sure I like the reversable aspect of Lap-band only because I still hope to "do it on my own" oneday?!?!

Regardless I head to Cairns on Tuesday to meet my choosen doctor (Dr G Clapham) and I guess my discussion with him will help settle my decision. All I know is surgery is my best solution to this 30 year problem.

Thanks to all who write here, reading your stories are a great help and your sucesses inspire me to take action

Peter