mylighthouse

Hello friends, My surgeon's assistant called today with the wonderful news....my bypass revision plus hernia surgery is scheduled for Tues morning on May 29th. Can hardly wait to put an end to my health woes! Just a little concerned because I was forewarned that it might be another open surgery, due to all of my prior surgeries/complications. Meeting with my NUT on Friday to refresh my memory on the beginner basics of eating, etc.

I reached my surgeon's goal weight already, but have continued to drop weight... and lately very quickly, because I cannot eat solids without severe pain. So yes, for me, GERD is the reason for converting to the bypass. Good luck with your revision as well

Had mild to sometimes moderate acid reflux before sleeve, which was on 11/14/16. Started having bad probs around Jan of this year, so over a year post sleeve. Five day hospital stay in Feb, endoscopy, scarring and erosions found....was very dehydrated when I went in, was having trouble w/ appetite, swallowing, food getting "stuck" and horrible pain. I have been on Protonix since sleeve...it doesn't help at all anymore. Here I am now, after another endoscopy and barium swallow test, which confirmed a nice sized hiatal hernia and GERD. Been on thin pureed soups for months. Going for scheduling of gastric bypass revision next week. Why has it taken so long to get something done? Well, for me, already have major nerve pain/scar tissue issues and think my surgeon didn't want to do another abdominal surgery (5 in 3 yrs is enough). Everyone is different, but please, if you have acid reflux issues now, SERIOUSLY consider going for the bypass! I was dead against it, now I wish I had done it and not the sleeve.

I am so sorry that you had this happen! I had my sleeve surgery 11/14/16, then started having problems/lots of gallbladder pain almost a year after that. Trips to ER before they finally discovered it was the good old gallbladder. I had probably lost around 100 lbs when it started giving me big probs...had it taken out about 13 months after sleeve surgery. Some people will have issues after rapid weight loss, others will not. It is definitely something that people need to be aware of. Posting/replying to OP because I can relate, but also, hanging out in gastric bypass topic because I will be having a revision soon I hope you feel better real soon and that everything clears up for you quickly. Thanks for sharing.

Wow! What a journey you have had! You are a strong person and a huge encouragement....thank you SO MUCH for sharing your story. I wish you the very best...stay positive and beautiful, inside and out. And, you look fantastic!

18 months post sleeve here. Have reached goal weight. Had mild acid reflux before the sleeve. Now I am having all kinds of issues....2 endoscopies, horrible GERD, other tests... and now need to go to get a manometry test. I was dead against a bypass but now I am looking at one afterall. Beginning to wish that I had the bypass in the first place.

@Frustr8 and @tanya27 ---yikes on the failed Nissen...fundoplication forhiatal hernia fix. And totally agree with you, Tanya.... the less procedures/surgeries, the better. Already 6 abdominal surgeries (3 open with complicated recoveries). Gastro to consult with my surgeon, surgeon has been with me through all of my surgeries... haven't talked to surgeon yet about the bypass, but I know he is not to keen on the idea of another abdominal surgery. Fun stuff.

Tanya, did they ever talk to you about just fixing the hernia and not doing the revision to bypass? I am just curious. I don't really want the Nissen procedure, as it is not a guaranteed fix for the GERD and all the crap that comes with it, plus the hernia could reoccur later, and if it did, I'd need to have the bypass anyway.

Hello Third time should definitely be the charm for you, I hope it goes well. I can relate, last 4+ months have been hell, horrible GERD, no solids for months...getting tired of pureed soups, as they at the only things that don't get "stuck" and cause severe pain, vomiting, etc. Tired of having to supplement w/ protein powder all the time. They missed the hiatal hernia (how?) with first endoscopy and hospital stay back in Feb. Had the barium swallow last month...radiologist saw the hernia right away. Had another endoscopy a week ago, confirmed fixed hiatal hernia (medium in size). Now I'm on more meds, waiting for blood work results to check for vitamin deficiencies.... and, not too thrilled that I will be needed to take a road trip to have the torture manometry test before they decide whether to do a Nissen procedure or just go ahead and do the revision to gastric bypass. I'm hoping for the latter. Had my sleeve back in Nov 2016. For me, I hope the 2nd time is the charm. Good luck w/ your surgery!

Can't give any advice/experience, just wanted to say that I will also need the sleeve to bypass revision soon. Apprehensive about it, but due to GERD, eat I probs, etc, it's time to get bit done. Wish you the best!

Brandi, It's hard for me to believe that I have been struggling with all kinds of problems/pain for months. I replied to your post back in Jan. Tomorrow morning I go in for the dilation procedure. My swallowing had gotten so bad that I can no longer get even my pureed thin soups down, even they are getting stuck in my throat and chest. Hurts like hell. I have been on soups for the past few months. My gastro is skeptical that the dilation will work for me. He's also going to take a closer look at my hiatal hernia that was discovered with barium swallow last month. Gastro says he will consult w/ my surgeon to do a revision to bypass if this doesn't work. Honestly scared of the bypass. I'm almost 18 months post sleeve. Down to 174 lbs from 334 lbs. Losing too quickly now, due to pain/gerd/swallowing difficulty/vomiting down 25 pounds since March. Thank you for sharing your experience, I hope that you are still getting excellent results/improvement since the bypass.

Yes, it feels great to be able to go down in sizes! From a size 28 to an 8/10 and 5 pounds to go. But, sadly, for me, I have become somewhat of a shopaholic (online). It is really ridiculous, especially since I am currently really only able to get to doctor's appointments and out for some quick grocery trips on Saturday. I mean, with my now extensive wardrobe, how often am I really going to wear all of these clothes? I really came to grips with my clothes buying problem a few weeks ago. Yes, it is true, food addiction can be replaced with shopping addiction, gambling, alcohol, etc, etc. Along another line, I am really pissed that I bought so many of these tops that billow out and make me look pregnant! Why did I buy them? Those are the style of clothes that I used to buy when I wanted to hide because I was so overweight. Is anyone else tired of all the billowy styles?

Way to go! You did awesome! You look super and it's wonderful that you have a supportive wife of 19 years...I know that helps in so many ways!

I was on Seroquel for several months. Lots of weight gain. However, I switched over to other meds way before WLS, so I can't answer as to how my life on Seroquel after WLS would be. I can say though, that I have lost over 150 pounds in 16 months, and I take bipolar meds.

Wtf? If someone wants to share their experience with different meds and how it relates to WLS, or for whatever reason, they can share, for goodness sake! If you don't want to share, then no one is going to make you. And I am pretty sure that most of us taking Lithium know what it is and what it's for. Also, I am a grown woman and if you ask my mother about my meds, she wouldn't have a clue.

Hahaaa! No, Fluffy, spicy shouldn't be a prob at all for your tummy. I see MANY of people on here that spice up everything post surgery. It's just me, I'm strange. It is also just so strange how the taste buds change (for many) after surgery.

That is great! It is good when you find something that really works for you. I imagine you will continue to do well on it. I had my sleeve 15 months ago and my bipolar meds really didn't seem to interfere with weight loss at all. Funny, because when I first started the bipolar meds about 10 years ago, the weight gain went way up!

Goodness, I remember when I took Lithium.... not a pleasant experience for me. I was on it for a month, but had to discontinue use and move on to something else. Yes, I did lose weight on Lithium, but it wasn't worth it, as I was constantly in the bathroom with severe stomach pain and diarrhea. It affects people diffrrently, as with most meds.

What a huge accomplishment, you look great! Congratulations on your success!

Hello friends, 15 months post sleeve here, have lost a lot of weight, almost to goal. I am having a lot of problems and may be facing a revision soon. Would be interested in your experiences/progress after revision surgery. Are you glad that you had the revision? How much has it helped with issues you were dealing with pre-revision? Thank you

@Suwade thanks, I will check it out.

I'm 15 months post gastric sleeve. Before surgery, I had bad acid reflux. I've been on Protonix since surgery. Over the last several weeks, nausea, vomiting, can't eat solid food, pain, GERD is awful. Got dehydrated, hospital 4 days; endoscopy revealed no stricture, but erosions, scar tissue and bad GERD. Now I am not very pleased that I am most likely facing a revision to gastric bypass. I never knew that with GERD it might be better to have the bypass instead of the sleeve.

You're looking great! Way to go and keep up the awesome work!

Way to go, you're looking super! Thank you for sharing the progress photos, very encouraging. Keep up the awesome work!

Ongoing constipation probs for me, so I know the feeling. Been to the ER multiple times. First, get lots of fluids, exercise if you can. Milk of magnesia worked amazingly well for me in the beginning. Grab the mint flavored one, regular and cherry are gross (my opinion). Miralax might help you. Both miralax and milk of magnesia were approved for me to safely use following surgery. Also, my surgeon said magnesium citrate was fine, even though it has carbonation. I have had to use it several times. Check with your surgeon if you wish, or, if you are avoiding it because you personally cannot tolerate carbonation, then that's understandable. Mag citrate works incredibly well, just stay close to the bathroom if you drink it, because it will clean you out. Key is to not let yourself get to the point of being backed up, dealing with severe abdominal pain, ER, or pissible bowel damage, you don't want that. Good luck!