SeattleLady

Thanks for sharing! It's truly a daily lifetime of making choices. Please keep sharing!




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I got the sleeve in Dec 2016 and lost a lot of weight very quickly, about 120 lbs in maybe 6 or 7 months. Then I had some personal and professional setbacks and ended up screwing up the program and over the next few years put almost everything back on.
Then last November I had revision to bypass and again the weight loss was pretty quick - not as fast as before but still very acceptable. I am now lower than the lowest weight I was with the sleeve, and have kept it off longer as well. And I continue to lose, so we'll see where the endpoint is.

Thank you! That’s a really good thought!😁

I am approaching 1 year of my sleeve to RNY revision. Although I am not as far out as you are, I wanted to post that I am SO happy about my revision and love that you posted about it. To live free of severe gerd is wonderful as well as the additional weight loss. As you noted, it is incredible to feel so normal, even before I had any WLS surgery.

Three years ago I was revised from VSG to RNY for GERD. I’m very pleased that I am still GERD free and no new problems (let’s hope it stays that way)
Everything feels very normal now and I can barely feel any major difference from VSG let alone life prior to WLS. I know it’s different but I’ve settled in.

I moved early 2021 so I’m establishing care with a new bariatric practice for continued yearly monitoring/testing.

I don’t see a lot of revision postings by anyone as far out as I am, so if anyone is out there please let all know how it’s going and if anyone has questions feel free to ask ❤️

Today is my 2-year surgiversary. I've lost 200 pounds from my highest weight -- a staggering amount when you think about it. I'm literally (less than) half the person I used to be. I should be on top of the world, right?! I don't want to dismiss the many scale and non-scale victories I've had, but it's not all rainbows and butterflies.
When I catch a glimpse of myself in a mirror, I'm taken aback by two things: how small I am, and how freaking ugly. I was certainly never beautiful -- not even "pretty for a fat chick" or "would be cute if I lost some weight" -- but now, I look downright scary. I probably look 10 years older than when I was fat. My hair was already fine and flat before surgery, and now I've lost a lot of it and it hasn't grown back and it's a mess no matter what I do. Ironically, people often tell me I look great, which is obviously code for "not fat anymore." Sometimes, before saying I look great, they ask me if I'm sick or if I lost weight on purpose. I don't know what the point of that is; if I said I lost weight because I'm sick, would they instead say, "You look like $h!t"?
When I imagined my life after surgery, I thought I would be the same person, but smaller. The same person, but able to wear non-plus sized clothes, fit into an airplane seat without a seatbelt extender, not have to check the weight limit on furniture and ladders. The same person, but without hypertension and diabetes.
I guess, deep down, I knew that wouldn't be the case, because that's a big part of what held me back from having the surgery for so many years. I didn't want my life to revolve around my pouch. I didn't want to give up my favorite foods and think so hard about everything I eat. I definitely didn't want to turn into one of those boring a-holes who never shut up about their diet and exercise regimen.
But here I am, and I feel like weight loss has taken over my life. I spend so much time and energy preparing and eating healthy foods, working out, keeping up with my supplements, that I don't have room for anything else. There was a period of time after my surgery when I felt great and full of energy, but now I'm tired all the time, and despite being in the best shape of my life, I feel weak because I no longer have 300+ pounds to throw around. People used to be surprised by my strength, but now I struggle to open pickle jars and heavy doors. (Yes, I've had my bloodwork checked and everything is great; the working theory is that the bradycardia due to rapid, massive weight loss is what's causing these problems.)
I used to be incredibly devoted to my job, and most people would describe me as the hardest worker they knew (maybe a workaholic), and now I just don't have the same drive that I used to because I'm so focused on my weight. I feel like I'm letting everyone down because I'm no longer up for spending all my free time working. I think I was a better human being when I was fat.
If I -- with the benefit of the hindsight I have now -- could go back in time to two years ago, when my morbidly obese self arrived at the hospital, and still had time to change my mind, would I still go through with having the surgery? 100% yes, without hesitation.

Last night, I felt something that only existed in the lives of other fat people? My stomach fat has fallen down and a rash has started !
I need revision based on 2 hernias and GERD! I stopped fighting for my revision due to moving, starting a new job and depression. My former bartric surgeon stated, "you need a robotic revision." He was no help at all. As of today, my new PCP has referred me to a specialist.
Now, it's just a matter of how do I pay for it. I have insurance but is a tangled mess. It will get done. I am just holding on and doing the paperwork. One day at a time.
Sent from my SM-G996U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

Last night, I felt something that only existed in the lives of other fat people? My stomach fat has fallen down and a rash has started !
I need revision based on 2 hernias and GERD! I stopped fighting for my revision due to moving, starting a new job and depression. My former bartric surgeon stated, "you need a robotic revision." He was no help at all. As of today, my new PCP has referred me to a specialist.
Now, it's just a matter of how do I pay for it. I have insurance but is a tangled mess. It will get done. I am just holding on and doing the paperwork. One day at a time.
Sent from my SM-G996U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

Last night, I felt something that only existed in the lives of other fat people? My stomach fat has fallen down and a rash has started !
I need revision based on 2 hernias and GERD! I stopped fighting for my revision due to moving, starting a new job and depression. My former bartric surgeon stated, "you need a robotic revision." He was no help at all. As of today, my new PCP has referred me to a specialist.
Now, it's just a matter of how do I pay for it. I have insurance but is a tangled mess. It will get done. I am just holding on and doing the paperwork. One day at a time.
Sent from my SM-G996U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

Last night, I felt something that only existed in the lives of other fat people? My stomach fat has fallen down and a rash has started !
I need revision based on 2 hernias and GERD! I stopped fighting for my revision due to moving, starting a new job and depression. My former bartric surgeon stated, "you need a robotic revision." He was no help at all. As of today, my new PCP has referred me to a specialist.
Now, it's just a matter of how do I pay for it. I have insurance but is a tangled mess. It will get done. I am just holding on and doing the paperwork. One day at a time.
Sent from my SM-G996U1 using BariatricPal mobile app

I had RNY in 1990 and regained all I lost. I always blamed myself but now know that the surgery failed due to a fistula between pouch and stomach. I didn't know that revision was even possible until 2020, just before the pandemic struck. I started the bariatric program in early 2021. I discovered that I am a food addict with trigger foods: sugar, wheat flour, rice, white potatoes, and processed food. I cut out those foods and the result was fantastic! I lost 70 lbs prior to surgery. Despite this success, I went ahead with laparoscopic revision surgery on 12/21/21 at age 73. I weighed 247 at the time of surgery, down from 317.
Unfortunately, I fell in that very tiny group of bariatric surgical patients that develop serious complications. Ten days after my revision surgery, I was airlifted back to the hospital with peritonitis and sepsis, caused by a rupture of the jejunum below the anastomosis. I was hospitalized for 7 weeks and underwent three endoscopic procedures and two open surgeries before they finally found and corrected a residual abscess. I left the hospital with a 15-cm long open surgical wound, which took 8 more weeks to fully close.
I am now fully recovered and am back to exercising daily. The endoscopic procedures stretched the new anastomosis so I have no more restriction than I had pre-surgery, so I still have to be very careful about what I consume. I typically go through month-long stalls and then drop a few pounds. I do lose inches during the stalls. I've dropped from size 32/4X to size 20/XL and now weigh 214 lbs., just past the 100 lb loss mark.
After being on a restricted diet for over 16 months I struggle with near-irresistible cravings in the afternoon and evenings. The clinic wants me to limit intake to 800 calories. 😱 It is daunting because I know I will never be able to go on a "maintenance" diet and must continue to avoid my trigger foods forever. Even when I choose Protein Snacks in response to cravings, each snack adds 100 or more calories to the daily total so my daily calorie count is between 900-1200 calories. (I will gain weight at 1500 calories.) I've done a trial of weight loss drug Contrave but had to discontinue due to side effects.
This is a horror story, but don't let it dissuade you from your revision. Complications are extremely rare.

I found this video very helpful in explaining some reason you may need to revise from VSG to RNY

I was sleeved in Dec. 2016 and did very very well at first - dropped about 120 lbs total in about 6 months or so. Then had some personal and professional problems and stopped taking care of myself, and slowly started gaining weight. I ended up gaining almost all of it back and I had the revision to bypass in Nov. 2021. Doctor told me I could be re-sleeved if I wanted, but I had GERD both before and after sleeve so he strongly recommended bypass which I agreed with. It's going very well again, albeit a little slower than with the sleeve. I'm down nearly 100 lbs and very pleased with the results.

I’m so glad you have had an awesome journey.
After my sleeve, there were things that I couldn’t do either. One of them being Water. Plain water just doesn’t sit well with me. I drink zero calories propel.
I can’t do soda because the carbonation gets “stuck” in my chest…frankly, I’m glad. It has kept me away from coke for 4 years! Lol
Good luck to you!

No one will advocate for you like you is my favorite quote ! Continue to step on toes legs and arms for your health. There’s a reason why there’s revisions. If you don't like the answers your receiving keep looking! I was told a revision wasn’t needed back in 2018 , to just go back to the liver shrinking diet. I have pcos & hypothyroidism. I met a Dr that recommended duodenal switch . Aug 22, 2022 I had my revision. So far I’m very happy with my decision to keep searching for a surgeon that would understand my health needs. Best of luck to you!

Why were you told no to a revision? Are there health concerns, or does that surgeon just not do them? I wouldn't worry about stepping on toes. This is your body and health. Talk to as many doctors as you need to until you find one that understands your needs and concerns and makes you feel comfortable. Also, I started with my PCP. She signed off right away for me to do the surgery. I contacted a few surgeons until I found one I liked. My PCP was very good at getting all the blood work, ECG, and pre op stats like blood sugar, bp, etc... She communicated really well with the surgeon's office and it made things go so much smoother.

You will do great! This bypass is the best thing I've done for myself and I am already at a lower weight (by over 10 lbs) than I achieved with the band many years before over a much longer period of time. One thing I learned is you have to get the right Multi-Vitamin. I originally bought a MVM from this site and though it was touted to be the bomb, my labs came back veeeeerrrrry low on Iron. The MVM I bought originally did not have near what my dietician said we need. She recommended Celebrate One 45 multi and I started taking and my followup blood labs are stop on!
My body is transforming into a body I haven't had most of my adult life and thanks to light workouts each day (15 -20 minutes) I am not getting the "melted wax" look that so many of us significantly overweight women get after bypass and weight loss. My doctor said it's due to sticking with good hydration in addition to working out so my skin stays healthy by being hydrated and can suck in as I slowly lose the weight.
I am very excited for you. Please check in from time to time.
Blessings,
Mary

When it comes to Medical Tourism, I believe the issue with American doctors not providing care after the fact that you had a surgery in a foreign country, is a liability issue. If the surgery that took place in another country was done inappropriately, etc... the American doctors, if they choose to revise the surgery, or provide care, becomes entangled into the original surgeons "problems" with the surgery, and can face a lawsuit, etc. It's due to foreign surgeons being governed by different medical entities than in the US. It's a huge liability thing. I have a friend who went to Mexico and got her VSG and her primary care doctor told her no one will touch her stomach here if she ever has issues.
I truly hope you find a way around all of the medical bureaucracies that you're up against, and get your revision.
Best Wishes! 🤗

This seems nuts to me. Is there a nutritionist? I would talk to them.

Not a fan of the shakes but saying Protein doesnt matter and to only eat one meal a day is a little out there in my view.

Thank you for posting!

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This was over a month ago. How are things going? Did your surgeon give you goals?
Do you still believe that your decision to have revision was sound? Thanks for sharing so much info already.

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Hey well the way I'm feeling now is a big change compare to when I got the sleeve no vomiting no acid reflux laying down food actually staying down I prayed to God so much that I cry because I had a long time I didn't feel this relief, you know beside the normal surgery pain like gas an incision I'm doing pretty good

So far so good im loving my rny now beside the gas pain from surgery but no acid reflux episode so far thanks god.

Had the revision a few days ago. I went from vsg to rny. From day one with the sleeve, I was hungry. I don't know why. From beginning to end, the most I could eat was 10 oz with my sleeve, and I still lost weight but I remember it being a struggle to keep under 1200 cal. So with the RNY, the recovery pain isn't much different than the sleeve. Every pain was doable. I didn't feel nauseous, never threw up when I was in the hospital. I do feel like I did 1000 sit-ups. GasX helped a lot. I felt like I could've walked out of the hospital that evening but I had to stay overnight (due to insurance). I walked out of there at 11 am the next day. It's been 4 days, and I'm not hungry at all. The two days of clear liquid for pre-op was difficult, but now 4 days post-op RNY there is zero hunger. It's a new feeling for me.
Some notes for the curious: I had a urinary catheter while asleep. My revision took less than 1.5hrs. I had a serious dry mouth and a sore throat that made me want to eat more ice chips and drink more Water, which is good. No nausea, I took Aprepitant 40mg capsule two hours before. That helps with post-op nausea and vomiting. If any of you have any questions, please just ask and I will share my experience.