ChocoSnowBunny

Unfortunately, revisions tend not to do all that well for regain problems - I like to think about it as your stomach started out being able to hold 32-64 oz, and after WLS it can hold 1-4 oz typically; even after it stretches some and/or adapts, its capacity of maybe 4-8 oz is still just a fraction of what it was, and we have gotten used to living with that. So, going with a "do over" revision just doesn't have the same power as the first time around. Further, the bypass is difficult to work with, so typically the best they can do is to either put a band around the pouch to restrict it, or tighten up the stoma, neither of which have a great track record of success.
Probably your best shot at getting on track again and losing a substantial amount in a revision is to look into a duodenal switch (DS) which has much better regain resistance than the RNY or sleeve. Unfortunately, that is a very difficult revision, that maybe a half dozen or so surgeons around the country can do. Fortunately, two of them are here in CA - Dr. Ara Keshishian in the Glendale/Pasadena area, and Dr. John Rabkin in SF. I have seen several patients come through our support group over the years that have had quite reasonable success with that revision, so it is definitely worth a look.
The other approach that you might find is to convert your (conventional) proximal RNY to a distal RNY, which basically involves moving the pouch much farther down the intestine, bypassing more of it. It does not have a great reputation for being trouble free (from what i have seen, most insurance will not cover it as a primary WLS procedure, but will consider it for a revision.) I suspect that a big problem with it is that the surgeons don't really appreciate the nutritional/supplement differences with it, (it is much closer to a DS than an RNY in supplement needs) and the patients suffer as a result as they may not get the aftercare that they need over the years. The DS tends to be much less of a problem in this regard as the surgeons who do it do so as their primary or preferred procedure, so they know all of its subtle needs by experience.
Good luck in finding a solution to your problems,

Hello everyone, I just got told today my duodenal switch surgery is April 5th. I finally got my surgery date. It may be a while. But it will be here before I know it. My high Protein low carb diet starts March 22nd. Can't wait to get started. Can't wait to get to know all of you.

Sherie

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Hi! I know it’s been a few years but I was hoping you could give insight about IEHP covering your surgery! I’m located in the HD!

Omgosh, ChocoSnowBunny, it looks like i posted twice to you, i'm sorry, i'm still trying to learn this site.

Hi ChocoSnowBunny, First, so sorry to hear you had cancer, I can't even imagine how devastating that can be and praying you never have to go through that again. Second, I'm so glad you went for another opinion. My surgeon told me not to be hard on myself because of gaining weight back because it was the surgery that failed not the other way around. Patients with a very high BMI that have the gastric bypass, will most likely gain half or all weight back because it's not the right surgery but back in 2006, even though the duodenal switch was being done, it wasn't as popular as the gastric bypass. I researched this and my doctor was right. My BMI was 55 back then. Don't be hard on yourself anymore and there is nothing wrong with you.
I hope you get your appointment soon. My best to you and I'm excited to hear about your journey also.

I am so incredibly happy for you. I had Gastric Bypass in 2001. Most weight lost AFTER bypass (279) SW (before surgery) - 345 CW - 315. After enduring stage 4 breast cancer in 2010, I gained most of my weight back. I decided to return to my original doctor and request testing to find out if something went wrong with my original surgery. I was told everything was still in tact and I just need to start from SCRATCH! But I explained that I was able to eat a heck of a lot more. And that I would like options as to what can be done to tighten and/or revise my surgery.

I believe my doctor was so eager to NOT have any "revisions" needed that he just sent me away - RUDELY! So I decided to ask around and seek a second opinion (of course - years later- because I believed there was something wrong with me). I followed his advise - but still believed something was wrong. Fast forward. I met a woman in my SAME situation and she referred me to her doctor for help. NOW, I am just waiting for an appointment.

I will be researching the duodenal switch. I was never given this as an option. I am so excited for you.

Hi, I'm new to this site. I was hoping to hear from anyone who has had a revision from RNY to Duodenal Switch? I had Gastric Bypass surgery in 2006 but have gained half the weight back that I lost. The weight I lost was good but not near my goal weight. I'm scheduled for revision surgery 8/12/21. Thank you!

I had my gastric bypass 2017/2018 I can’t remember right now but I too have struggled and found myself addicted to pain meds which began a few years prior when I got my sleeve done. I struggled with low energy since my diagnosis of sleep apnea I began taking them for my back pain but abused them to help me stay up throughout the day just to make it through a day of work. When my body changed after the bypass where I was always tired during the day and couldn’t sleep at night I began an addiction to sleeping pills. I am struggling right now as we speak it’s been 9 months due to pregnancy I just had my baby in May and I’ve already found myself back to taking pills to help me get through the day along with my back pain. At this point I haven’t started taking any Vitamins yet or trying to do things differently because all I feel is tired no energy completely down and not wanting to do anything. I only got through these last weeks because I began taking these pills. Now I find myself depressed because the doctor will no longer prescribe them. I know it’s nothing compared to what you went through but I just wanted to share my story and say my life has changed as well since the surgeries and I still continue to struggle.

I had RNY in 2002. Old school style. And I fought for my life in 2015.. I'm pretty stable right now but hate what I've done to myself and hate being sick all the time. I'm still fighting to get about 20lbs off of regain while fighting malnutrition arms deficiencies. I get sick all the time after eating or if I don't or can't eat. I'd love to make internet friends with someone who understands too.
Sorry I have never posted on a blog before and hit something that made this post before i was done..I had gastric bypass rouxny in 2001. I was 260 at a height of 5'4". I had 3 young children and was ashamed to go most places they wanted to go..camping, amusement parks, flying etc due to my being obese and having the comorbidities that go with it such as ankle, knee, joint pain from the weight my legs were carrying and shoulder/neck pain from the set of boobs I was carrying. I went in to see the surgeon in November 2000. I weighed 240 and didnt have the BMI i should have to qualify for bypass surgery to be covered by my insurance. The doc said "you came at a great time! It's the holidays go home eat whatever you want and come back to see me after the first of the year" So I did and I gained the 10 pounds i needed plus another 10 pounds. I was qualified for surgery. I had to pass a basic psychological exam which I told the truth at(i was doing it to enjoy having fun with my kids and get healthy not for vanity)Do you know back then they didnt tell you that you needed to drink Protein Shakes or take supplements the rest of your life. I know you are not believing me right now but its true. Thats why I would like to talk to anyone who had the same surgery same year I did. I adjusted to my new life of eating 2 oz of baby food, had the diararrhea all the time when i ate something i wasnt suppose to. All the normal things they still can not change. Gastric bypass is not a "cheaters program" it is a lifestyle adjustment not only for you but for your family also. I had just lost my way I expressed my emotions all my life at 33. I felt like I lost my best friend. I didnt know how to replace it so i ended up with alchohol addiction for 5 straight years of my kids most precious lives that I had this surgery to enjoy with. Totally f****d up I know. Then I became addicted to pain killers..then some street drugs..you see where all this is going right? I was the perfect goal weight of 140 why wasnt I happy and enjoying my family? Fast forward from 2002(it took me a year to lose the weight and have abdominal plasty) to 2016. My kids are grown now and my husband took a job over 12 hours away from my family and the only "real live" friends I knew. Something broke in me that I started exhibiting physically. From April -August just 5 months I was down to 93 pounds hadnt eaten by mouth in 5 months because I was now consitpated instead of diararrhea and when i couldnt put anything more down I stopped eating. For 2 years i was labeled as "failure to thrive". Any specialist be gastroenterologist to neurologists to psychiatrists could not figure out what was wrong with me. I literally had every test done possible in those 2 years. Finally I was sent to a gastric bypass surgeon who said "this is why they dont do those surgeries anymore" Well hello did someone notify me a patient who had been through it that progress had been made and things were totally different now? ABSOLUTELY NOT. to be continued...

Hi..my name is Glenda J Pierce and I just found this forum by searching things they dont tell you about gastric bypass. This is my story and I am wondering if anyone who had gastric bypass when it was in early stages of RNY in 2001has experienced any of the same issues and are afraid to talk about it because you are ashamed. I was for 15 years until it started making me sick..I came near death in april 2016. First let me preface this by fianlly getting sent to a Gastric Bypass Surgeon who literally said to me"this is why they dont do those kind of surgeries anymore".

I had my original bypass Nov 2009. Lost well, but regained it all. Since 2009 procedures and best practices have changed, so my surgeon updated my ..situation... to industry standard plus further distallized my anastamosis to allow for some Mal absorption again to get the weight back off.

My thoughts are with you and your family.
On getting back to weight loss, don't think the below as a weight loss diet because weight loss diets end. Then one returns to the 'normal' diet which results in weight gain. This is just the old habits reasserting.
Get back on your post-op plan. Return to the good habits you learned during the early post-op months. Whatever you do now, it won't be fast weight loss, but if you are consistent you will get where you want to be. Then you need to continue on plan consistently for the rest of your life.
If you're inclined increase your activity or even :gasp: exercise. Exercise is not my thing, but I am active(ish).
Good luck,
Tek

I am so sorry for your loss

I have been wondering the same. I had mine 20 years ago and seriously need help. Nothing is working.

Hi my name is Heather and I had RNY on 11/18/13. I am looking to connect with other African American women who had RNY. Any takers?

Do any of you know if anything can be done after gastric bypass? I had gastric 10yrs ago and within the last year have put the weight back on after my grandma died.