goregalore

I haven't had the bypass revision but I am waiting for my insurance approval for it. So I'll give you all the info I have from all my pre-ops and such. I also wanted to mention I had decided on a band to sleeve revision since beginning of last December but after my esophageal manomtry test came back, my surgeon recommends the bypass.
A. Do I have to jump through all the hoops again with the psychologist, nutritionist etc. if I do this? I want to move quickly if I do this.
I switched surgeons from the one who did my lap band in 2010 because he doesn't do revisions and I did have to see the nutritionist and psychologist again. I knocked out both appointments in about an hour in the same building so it was no big deal. I had to go through a ton of pre-op tests I didn't have to do for the lap band but it could be surgeon specific.
B. Having just had 2 surgeries in October do I have to get all new blood work etc?
From what I understand and have been told, bloodwork lasts 30 days... So I would say yes to more bloodwork.
C. Do most bypass patients spend 2 night in the hospital
My husband spent 1 night total and my surgeon told me to expect 2-3 nights total because I'm a revision and recovery can be harder.
D. In revision, how long did you have to do all liquids?
My surgeon requires a 3 day pre-op liquid diet and 1 week clear liquids, 1 week full liquids, 2 weeks pureed. He said by 5 weeks out, I should be on solids no problem.
E. Post-op....how long liquids until puree's then finally solids?
See above.
That's all I can really answer. Hope it helps some!

I was 258lb on 3/23 and I'm bouncing between 209 and 213 since 6/9 so ALMOST 50lbs. Almost...

I was 258lb on 3/23 and I'm bouncing between 209 and 213 since 6/9 so ALMOST 50lbs. Almost...

My two cents are research, research, research. I was banded in 2010 and I would frequent all the lap band boards, I would see all the success and before and afters, and I wanted that. I wanted that so bad...
What I didn't research was the complications and fail rates of the band. I did everything I was supposed to... 6 week fills, no carbonated drinks, low sugar, low carb, and it still just didn't work. After over 2 full years of vomiting, damaged esophagus, and band slippage, and extra surgeries...not to mention only a 30lb loss, I gave up. I got a complete unfill and started researching revisions.
Please do the research! Most surgeons won't perform the lap band because of the fail rates and revision amounts. But best of luck to you and whatever you think is best!

Whichever WLS you choose, my advice is to inform yourself of risks and complications, and ask yourself "if X occurred, can I live with that?" For a lapband, "X" could be a slip, erosion, permanent damage to your esophegous, reflux..: For the sleeve, "X" could be leakage, infection, ulcers, reflux.... I'm not sure what the risks are for the other WLS since I never considered those.
Let me use Lasik surgery as an analogy. I was really eager to get Lasik surgery so I could free myself of my annoying glasses. But when I saw there was a very tiny percentage of risk that one could go blind with the surgery, I decided that that was a risk I could not take. Because you cannot ever predict what side of the statistics you will fall on, and losing my sight would completely render my life and my children's lives horrific, I made peace with my glasses, because I was not willing to assume all the risks listed on the information sheet for Lasik.
I was willing to assume all the risks associated with the lapband so I went ahead with that surgery. Everything was rainbows and unicorns the first year. But then I developed complications (atrial fibrillation brought on by the band's involvement with the vagus nerve), so I became of the people that falls on the bad side of the statistics. That said, heart problems were not (yet) listed as one of the risks from this surgery, but I'm sure as more longterm data gets collected, it will show up one day on the patient information sheet.
From where I am today, I would not advise in good faith for anyone to get a lapband. ( But this would not have been my attitude two years ago.) What I would advise is that you keep on researching, and whenever you read a story about a complication due to WLS, ask yourself if you are willing to live with that complication. You may be someone who never experiences any complication from any of the WLS, but you may not be. No one can predict outcome, so if you are seriously considering WLS, imagine yourself in the situation of someone with a complication, and ask yourself if you are willing to live that way.

hi I was banded in June 2008 lost all my weight and kept it off. Started having problems in 2014 and found out my band had eroded. I was devastated. The band was hard work! I was successful but I had lots of fills and still threw up a lot with weird things like meat but could eat a sleeve of Oreos. I was revised to bypass on May 21, 2014 so I just hit a year. I'm doing awesome wish I had had the bypass first. It's so much easier and I'm so much healthier!!! Crazy but true!!! I was anemic with the band but not with the bypass. Please message me for my info if you want. I who used to be a huge advocate for the band now am anti band and pro bypass. Best thing ever was getting my bypass I'm thinner, healthier and happier than I have ever been!!!!

I don't dump over anything. I had a hardcore sugar addiction before my bypass revision and thus far I don't have cravings for sugar. I don't do a low carb diet so I do eat fruits so maybe that takes care of the sweet tooth I have. I never have cravings for cake or Cookies or anything I was struggling with just a few months ago... Just my two cents.

I share a very similar story too! Got the lap band in 2010 and went through two years of fills with no "sweet spot". Lost about 35 lbs total and had problem after problem. Got a complete unfilled in 2012 and still got stuck and vomited weekly.
I researched revisions at the end of last year and was sold on the sleeve. I met with my surgeon and he was all on board with the sleeve. I went for several GI pre op tests and one came back that the band had damaged my esophagus... Because of this my surgeon felt I would be unsuccessful with the sleeve. I'm now 9 weeks post op bypass and loving it! Down almost 45 lbs.
Very long story short, discuss your decision with your surgeon and make sure he thinks you'd be successful with the sleeve.

I share a very similar story too! Got the lap band in 2010 and went through two years of fills with no "sweet spot". Lost about 35 lbs total and had problem after problem. Got a complete unfilled in 2012 and still got stuck and vomited weekly.
I researched revisions at the end of last year and was sold on the sleeve. I met with my surgeon and he was all on board with the sleeve. I went for several GI pre op tests and one came back that the band had damaged my esophagus... Because of this my surgeon felt I would be unsuccessful with the sleeve. I'm now 9 weeks post op bypass and loving it! Down almost 45 lbs.
Very long story short, discuss your decision with your surgeon and make sure he thinks you'd be successful with the sleeve.

I was supposed to check in at 1045am for a 1215pm surgery. Ended up having my surgery after 9 pm because of an emergency right before mine... Good times.
Best of luck to you and your surgeon and here's hoping for a quick and easy recovery for ya.

I know one of the reasons people choose bypass over sleeve is acid reflux or GERD. From what I've read if you have reflux before surgery it gets much worse. It also seems that some folks with the lap band or sleeve eventually get a revision to the bypass, which is the gold standard in bariatric surgery...but many, many people are happy and successful with the sleeve. Sounds like something you may wanna sit down with your surgeon and together decide. I was set on the sleeve until my pre op GI tests came back and the lap band had damaged my esophagus. He told me I may have issues with the sleeve and suggested the bypass.
Best of luck on your decision and your surgery!

I don't think the fact that she "only" has a 100 lbs to lose is a good deciding factor. I've seen many lightweights chose to get the bypass and are successful with it.

I know one of the reasons people choose bypass over sleeve is acid reflux or GERD. From what I've read if you have reflux before surgery it gets much worse. It also seems that some folks with the lap band or sleeve eventually get a revision to the bypass, which is the gold standard in bariatric surgery...but many, many people are happy and successful with the sleeve. Sounds like something you may wanna sit down with your surgeon and together decide. I was set on the sleeve until my pre op GI tests came back and the lap band had damaged my esophagus. He told me I may have issues with the sleeve and suggested the bypass.
Best of luck on your decision and your surgery!

The gas pains are incredible and awful. There are no real ways around them and, for me, no pain killer touched them. I refused the morphine after the first night because there was just no point. I walked hourly and it didn't really help. I'm at the end of 4 days out and still have some gas pains in my upper shoulders but it is a blessing compared to those first 24-36 hours. Hang in there guys, it'll be worth it for all of us! I know when I get a little down, I Google before and after pics or come to these forums sites and look at everyone's pictures. It's very motivating to know I'm gonna be there!

Day 3 post op for me today. Man those first 48 hours after were no joke. I had severe, non-exiting gas pains. I walked the halls hourly and it was slow going! Better today but still having some discomfort. I'm a lap band to bypass revision with a hernia repair. My middle section is tender but I'd take it over those gas pains anyday...yikes. Fluids and Protein are flowing down slow and easy, happy to not have any nausea.
Good luck all!

It happens. I had all my pre-op tests done on Feb 4th. My PCP had my chest xray, EKG, and bloodwork faxed to my surgeons office Feb 5th...after faxing these tests FOUR additional times to the surgeons office, they finally "have everything" to send to my insurance. It has been absolutely ridiculous... I'm giving them a call tomorrow to check for a 5th time if they really have everything. Be annoying as much as you need to be... This is your surgery, not theirs.

I was actually set on having the sleeve until my surgeon found out my esophagus is weak from the esophageal manomtry test he requires pre-op. I've had a complete unfill for over two years and still get stuck very often. He mentioned the sleeve may act more like the band and cause me issues so recommended the bypass.

Oh good! I've tracked my weight in LiveStrong and followed their program so I have 2 years of weight tracking along with my laundry list of other attempts during that time. All my doctor weights correspond to my records so I was hoping this would be enough. My doctor did prescribe me wellbutrin for stress at work in hopes it would also work for weightloss and I've been on that for a year and a half. This med is used for that and my dad actually did lose a lot of weight with it. I only lost like 10 pounds when I first started it though. I'm still taking it but only because it works so good for stress. Trying to make sure I have all my records in order so I'm not having to guess and estimate at my surgeon visit. I go on Thursday. I've already scheduled my pulmonary, psychology and nutritionist and will have all those completed by the 19th. I'm hoping I can get the surgery sometime in march. I'll update after my appointment too. I'm told this insurance is actually one of the easiest to work with

I actually had my first consult last Wednesday. The six consecutive month non-surgical weight attempt was actually taken care of between my psych evaluation and my chat with the nutritionist. I discussed and they documented the different "fad" diets and weight loss attempts I've tried and failed at and that, apparently, is good enough to satisfy the insurance requirements. I do have to go through many pre-op tests but I believe that's because I'm band to sleeve revision. Good luck both of you!