gabbykittyvsg

Howdy from Mankato! I'm using Mayo Clinic Health System down here. Same surgeon as my vsg 7 years ago. I'm revising to bypass due to severe GERD

It sounds like you are using a very comprehensive program, similar to the one I'm a part of. It really does make a difference.

The primary doc I had at the time of my vsg was totally against it, at first but wasn't supportive either. I saw her in the hallway at the hospital the day after surgery and she said"you know you didn't really need the surgery". I'm not sure what my current primary thinks about my upcoming surgery but I'll find out when I go in for my pre-op physical in 2 weeks. This surgery (conversion to bypass) is necessary because of damage done by reflux so she can't really say much. I had another endoscopy done yesterday and the report noted the need for surgical intervention to fix the reflux.

I had a sleeve 7 years ago and wish I would have known about the high prevalence of damage due to acid reflux after the sleeve. I now need to revise to bypass to stop the damage from getting worse. If you have any history at all of reflux, I'd be talking to your doctor about doing a bypass instead

I'm on March 1st too

Ask for the nausea patch! There's soooooo much they can do to prevent nausea and throwing up after surgery

March 1st here. I'm revising from sleeve to bypass due to severe GERD.

From what I've read and experienced, there's no BMI requirement for revision due to complications such as GERD. Some have been able to get a revision based on BMI alone, but I think that's rare.

From what I gather, for most insurance companies, it just needs to be complications from the first surgery. I'm not even in the obese category.

I'm getting a revision from sleeve to bypass on March 1st. I'm praying this pandemic doesn't change plans! I'd love to lose about 30 pounds but that's not the reason for surgery, getting rid of the acid reflux is the goal!

I had a sleeve 7 years ago and am revising to bypass with a surgery date of March 1st. The process after approval for my sleeve was bittersweet. I was working with an elderly man who died suddenly, we were very good friends. He died just a few hours before my final pre-op appointment. My surgeon's final appointments are LONG (2 hours, one with the nurse and one with the surgeon) and as much as I tried to be happy, I just couldn't because I was so sad. This followed me to surgery day too. Here I am, surgery day #2 coming up on March 1st (68 days away!!!). I'm trying my best to enjoy this pre-op period. As a team, they decided I don't have to do the 10 day pre-op diet, but I'm going to do one anyhow. I'm going to do a week of 2 shakes and one lean protein, low carb meal per day, as a way of getting my mind in the game.

The only way a surgeon who I've never seen is going to operate on me is if it's an emergency. Follow your gut and find someone else. My surgeon meets with all her patient's multiple times before surgery. A week before surgery I'll see her for an hour long appointment. I had her do my VSG and she's doing my revision due to GERD. She's still having me do the big hour long appointment.

different brands of the powders have different results. My dietitian likes unjury for mixing in hot soups because it doesn't curdle. the higher quality powders are better for hot stuff

My insurance didn't require anything but proof of severe GERD to authorize my surgery. I have a Medicare advantage plan.

with your reflux, the sleeve is pretty much not a viable option for you. The sleeve creates a high pressure system that makes the reflux worse. My surgeon explained that with bypass most of the stomach that produces the acid is cut away and there isn't that high pressure system.

I don't have personal experience but have a very good friend who has severe RA and deals with it through meds and an anti-inflammatory diet. Rare sugar and few carbs help a ton, according to her. This is the kind of diet change we need to do with the bypass anyhow.

I'm a happy Mayo Clinic patient too! I live about 75 miles from the Rochester mothership. Mayo has a super strong presence in my town through the Mayo Clinic Health System so I don't have to go to Rochester. My surgeon is awesome, I had her for the sleeve and consulted with her as soon as I found out I had the hiatal hernia. She ordered the esophagram and endoscopy which showed the severe reflux and other damage. There was no doubt in my mind what I wanted to do to fix things and thankfully my surgeon had the same idea. I just got insurance approval and have a date of March 1st.

For a guy that sounds pretty normal.

Friday afternoon I got the phone call that my surgery was approved by insurance and was given a March 1st surgery date. The wait is longer than I expected but it makes sense since my surgeon needs more time to complete the bypass (revising from sleeve due to GERD) and a hiatal hernia repair. Financially it works out better for me too. It gives me time to pay some extra on bills since I'll be out for 2+ weeks. Between now and surgery day Inhave lots of appointments for labs, dietitian, pre-op physical with my PCP, and a huge appointment with my bariatric nurse and then a 1 hour appointment with my surgeon and another endoscopy. I get to do my surgeon's 10 day pre-op diet again. This is bringing back a lot of memories from when I had the sleeve 7 years ago. The post op diet has changed during that time. Food texture progression is much slower this time. I think that will be good though.

I have severe GERD and associated damage, no regain. Approval took 9 calendar days. Surgery is March 1st! My surgeon is having me do her 10 day pre op diet so I have that to look forward to. LOL

same here!! 20-30 pounds would be WONDERFUL but not the goal for me either.

I met with the dietitian yesterday. She said she was surprised when she first saw me on her schedule because I just saw her a few weeks ago for the annual visit, but then she saw my surgeon's notes. We talked a bit about how I felt about going through this process again, then we got down to business of talking about the post op diet progression. Things have changed since my sleeve 7 years ago, the diet progression is slower, which I think is a good thing. Last time the progression of full liquid to soft was rather abrupt in my opinion, but this time I'll be gradually thickening the texture of food over a few months. She mentioned baby food as an option and that got me thinking, they sell small blenders for this purpose. I found one that was used only once on Facebook Marketplace. I got it for $20, it's $60 on Amazon. My surgeon drew me a picture of the surgery and so did my dietitian who went into a lot more detail about a few specifics of how food passes through a RNY pouch vs a sleeve and how/why dumping happens. Her drawing and explanation made so many things click. I'm more determined than ever to make the most of this opportunity. Yes, I'm doing it for severe GERD, but I'd love to lose another 20-30 pounds too. I know most of the weight loss will come during the first few months when food is very limited. I called my insurance company and the rep I talked to was super nice and answered all my questions. She confirmed they got the request for preauthorization from my clinic. I'll know before Christmas!!! My insurance is generally super speedy so I'm thinking I'll know about approval in the next week or so. It can't come fast enough. Despite meds and better eating, I've had a few rather nasty attacks of reflux.

I just tried the Premier Protein bananas and cream shake tonight because I needed protein but solid food is irritating my esophagus today after a horrible attack of acid reflux this morning. The flavor is good and not overpowering at all. I'll be buying more for sure

I agree 100% with everything you said!!

A really good snack would be 1/2 cup sugar free Greek yogurt with some berries (frozen are usually cheaper-make sure they don't have added sugar). Look up low glycemic fruit and make your choices from fruit lower GI choices.