From: Sue Suchocki <suesuch@...>
Subject: RE: [awls] Hi Everyone
To: awls@yahoogroups.com
Received: Thursday, 20 August, 2009, 8:25 PM

 

Welcome Danielle. I am Sue and I am from Brisbane. I had a sleeve in May 2008 and have lost 30 kg (and I am keeping it off!), taking me to my goal weight. I have been more than happy with my surgery, my surgeon and the clinic.

 

Although I had a sleeve, I was speaking with my surgeon on Monday and he is doing quite a few conversions now. There doesn’t seem to be any added risks if the Dr is knowledgeable and successful with the sleeve op. My doctor trained in Europe and has had no leaks. If your surgeon hasn’t trained in the sleeve, shop around! You will also find that anyone who is not familiar with it will focus on it being dangerous. As with any surgery there are risks but I believe that it is leakage (which is picked up quickly) and normal wound infection that are the main concerns of a sleeve. If you get past this there should not be any more complications.

 

Danielle, do you mind me asking did you have any underlying problems or if it is due to the surgery and what type of meds you are on? Also, what made you make the decision to go to a bypass so soon? What was your weight loss with the band and how much more do you want to lose. It is interesting hearing people’s stories.

 

Hope I haven’t asked too many questions. Just answer what you feel comfortable sharing.

 

Sue

 

 

 

From: awls@yahoogroups. com [mailto:awls@ yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of danielle.benn83
Sent: Thursday, 20 August 2009 6:31 PM
To: awls@yahoogroups.. com
Subject: [awls] Hi Everyone

 

 

Hi there. My name is Danielle. I am new to this group and this is my first post.

I have been reading about the confusion about converting a LapBand to a Sleeve. I have had this operation done in March of this year and although it does usually work very well in the majority of cases. I have had all sorts of trouble. Mind you, not with the procedure it's self but with weight loss. I was put on medication which has severly hampered my efforts to lose weight.

My surgeon in Brisbane was more than happy to convert me to a sleeve in one surgery. The surgery it's self went very smoothly with no complications. I had a very easy recovery. It was just the dam medication that prevented the weight loss.

I am nearly off of that medication now and am planning to have the Gastric Bypass surgery at the end of November. I am very excited and I am looking forward to it very much.

So it summary a conversion from LapBand to Sleeve can be done and it can be done in one surgery but you will need to talk to your surgeon about this. He or She may not feel comfortable doing this.

Good luck finding a surgeon and with your surgey.

Danielle from Bundaberg.