Thanks Applesauce,

The surgeon I spoke too also said I would have to remove band first and wait the
three month period before a sleeve could be done. It seems band to sleeve
conversions happen alot in the States but not so sure about here.

So Dr Padavan does conversions? great news, its alot of money to dish out yet
again but it would be worth every cent if it works, do you know anyone who had
surgery through him who is not getting the weightloss results for whatever
reason?

I guess my biggest fear with the sleeve is leaks and bleeding. Nobody knows yet
whether 10/15+yrs after sleeve whether problems occur.Lapbands are definitely
not all their cracked up to be longterm.


Nancci

--- In awls@yahoogroups.com, "kas123au" <kas123au@...> wrote:
>
> The best sleeve surgeon in Perth is Dr Padavan. It is about $2500 gap from
memory. You would need to check that amount. He has NEVER had a leak, and does
conversions all the time. He is the most experienced wls in the state if not the
country and did extensive training in the US before working here.
> do understand that I doubt even he will do a band to sleeve in one surgery. He
will just about guarantee make you wait at least 3 months between band removal
and sleeve being done. This is for your own benefit and no amount of "reasons"
you can come up with why any surgeon should do it all in one seems to ever work.
> Mr no gap scares the c r a p out of all his patients *LOL*
>
> Just so there is NO confusion and you understand this advise is coming from
somebody with a sleeve who has never had a band.
>
> applesauce
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: nancci_111
> To: awls@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 11:53 AM
> Subject: [awls] New Member looking for Sleeve Advice
>
>
> Hi Everyone,
>
> My name is Nancci and I'm from Perth and have been looking for an Australian
support group for a little while now that wasn't just a lapband site and that
some members had in fact had gastric sleeves and *fingers crossed* maybe even
conversions.
>
> I had lapband surgery in 2005 weighing in at 127kg which I lost about 60kgs
but endured much trauma in the onset in way of vomiting, too tight, then later
dehydration (ended up in hospital too find out the band had slipped and was then
rebanded with a Vanguard band in 2006.
>
> I've had no success with band No 2, no restriction yet, gained 20kgs back
and just recently found out that alot who have this band (info off on a couple
of different lapband forums) have similar issues regarding restriction. It
appears my previous surgeon didnt know much about that band either as at my 7ml
fill (6 months after rebanding) he told me off! as I was continually gaining
weight and told me "dont come back until you've lost some weight!".
>
> I havent gone back, in fact I decided too never go back again after my mum
suggested a few months back I find someone else closer to home. I found out
recently on some American sites many with a vanguard start to get restriction at
9.5/10ml.
>
> I have thankfully started with a new surgeon who is closer to home and have
had further fills (currently 8.5) but still no restriction. This Surgeon has me
now doing a barium/meal and gastroscopy to double check if all is ok. I plan to
give him a link to the sites that I got the information on the VG band at my
next appointment. Anyway I feel I've lost hope with Lapbands and it's longterm
appeal is waning considerably. I don't know if I can hack the extreme side
effects. I am looking at the sleeve as another option as it appears more
managable.
>
> I recently saw another surgeon (no 3) whose name I got off a gastric sleeve
forum, he came highly recommended but he said everything he could to try turning
me off having the sleeve, telling me there's an incredibly high death rate for
conversions and suggested I get rebanded if it appears the band has slipped
again and to come and see him after I find out.
>
> Im having a gastroscopy on the 19th to see whether there's a prob with band
(through surgeon No 2) but now after coming across that info on the net I'm
wondering whether I only need more fills to make it work better. Regardless I
have had a couple of moments of restriction at 8.5 but never any sense of
fullness/saitey because both those times I had food stuck that lead to barfing
and feeling hungry after and then 98% of the rest of the time I can eat as
though there is no band. I'm currently dieting and struggling, surgeon No 2 has
suggested I have only a hot drink in the morning, a tin of tuna for lunch and
nothing till dinner (fish/salad or vege). I'll be honest this is making me more
hungrier than ever and leading me towards bingeing after several days of this
diet.
>
> The sleeve surgeon admitted he has never done conversions (lapband to
sleeve) and this was another of his main concerns, felt it was too risky also
regarding scar tissue but he is happy to reband me at "no gap" if it actually
appears it has slipped or refer me to someone else for sleeve if I insisted on
it. The current surgeon (no 2) who does my fills is way too expensive for
rebanding surgery if that became necessary No 3 surgeon does both sleeve's and
lapbands for "no gap".
>
> I guess I'm not sure what I should do and whether anyone has been down a
similar path or can recommend a good Perth Sleeve Surgeon who has done
conversions who maybe a bit more confident. I really would like the band to work
but yet to find that elusive "sweet spot" and wondering whether "some" just
never do.
>