Hi! I lost almost 140 lbs w/my sleeve but have slowly regained 35 lbs over the last 3 years. I'm scared I'll be back to where I started at this rate.
Since my original bariatric surgeon passed away, I went to see another WLS doc and he performed an endoscopy. Said I have a hernia, reflux, kink in my sleeve and stretched out sleeve, so that is why I'm gaining weight. He recommends a revision from sleeve to bypass. He also said the surgeon who did my sleeve had a different (inferior) technique for doing sleeves, thus this Dr. does a lot of revisions for my original surgeon. Insurance has approved but I'll have out of network coverage.
Here is my concern: In the waiting room of this surgeon's office, it just so happened there were 5 revision patients, and they told horror stories of complications, and ending up in severe pain, kinked intestines, needing additional emergency surgeries, not being able to eat, pain months after, regret, etc. I'll be honest....it scares me!! I asked this surgeon about those patients, and the doc said it was flukes, that there are a few people who have complications, but they may not be following directions, or maybe they had numerous WLS before, etc.
I'm scared if I do go forward with my planned revision, I could end up in worse health and have regrets, but I am scared if I don't, I'll end up where I started 5 years ago....very unhappy!!
Would love to hear from a good number of folks who have had sleeve to bypass revisions, and what your experience was? Thank you in advance!!