Frostyauggie

Can you share with me what your experience going from Sleeve to RNY has been like? I am trying the medical managed weight loss option right now but so far it’s not helping with the reflux. What are the biggest differences to you between the two procedures and how they affect your daily life? Thanks for sharing.

I still have GERD and take a PPI twice daily with the RNY which sucks but my esophagitis when last checked went from a grade D to a grade A which is really good.
I also have no problems with keeping my weight stable. The VSG was great but I struggled in maintenance keeping it steady. My weight fluctuated a lot more and the lowest I got was 164.8 for a day, lol. I could usually maintain 175ish but was constantly stressed out. I would say I ate around 1000-1200 calories to stay in that range and under 1000 to stay in high 160s. RNY has been much easier to maintain my weight. I now weigh 154 and my weight fluctuates between 152-155. I have no problems or stress maintaining it !! This makes my daily life much easier because I dont constantly think about it anymore. I would even say I eat more now then what I did with VSG which sounds crazy but its true.
I have dumping syndrome which keeps me away from heavy carbs and sugar. I do eat these things in small amounts and usually dont have any problems but I have to be very careful of when and how I am eating those things.
I am less interested in food with RNY. Some days its a chore to eat ! I think this comes down to not being able to eat whatever I want when I want so if the food isnt great I really dont want to bother with it. My mind set has become totally different in regards on how I view and look at food.
I am 14 months out from my revision and 4 years from my VSG.
Good luck to you !

Sorry I can’t offer any help in regards to a revision to bypass & rheumatoid arthritis. I did find the article below about managing methotrexate side effects. (I was interested because I have a non bariatric friend who takes it for RA too.) May be worth another conversation with the bariatric surgeon in regards to the suggestion that taking folic acid can reduce side effects. Repairing your hernia may alleviate some of your reflux issues too.
It’s unfortunate that while it’s helpful managing arthritic pain, methotrexate can also cause weight gain. ☹️
https://www.arthritis.org/health-wellness/treatment/treatment-plan/disease-management/methotrexate-managing-side-effects

Just had my surgery on June 4th. I have been able to drink and pee with no problem, the worst has been that gas pain. I had two hernia repairs (one being a hiatal), they say that repair causes some of the more intense gas pain. It’s taken me about 24 hours to work through that. I can drink a lot more fluids than I would have expected, though I have learned to take it slowwwwww since the added liquids to the air in your body causes pressure that’s uncomfortable.

I had the revision surgery on May 19 and I have had no issues. With a sleeve I had issues swallowing and had to stay in the hospital another night. Basically I had no pain except a headache a couple days later. I’ve tolerated everything just fine. Frankly it was just much easier than the sleeve.

Recovery was so much easier for me after bypass. My energy level was much higher then it had been with the sleeve. I didn’t get all the mood or hormone fluctuations and so that was easier! I knew what to expect and that things would pass. It was so much better.

I thought it was easier than the sleeve but I recovered really well on both of them...I didn't have the gassy pain that I have heard folks talk about...same with the bypass...I was only in the hospital about 24 hours after surgery for the by-pass...then I flew home...that was interesting as I missed my connecting flight and had to spend another night away from home. But the room was comfortable at the hotel and I slept hard...lol
I tend to feel really good and then over do it by lifting something really heavy like grandkids or bending over gardening...I have to let the weeds go for another week or so.
My insurance did NOT cover either surgery...that's why I went to Mexico and had it done. $8k vs. $28k. Plus I have a friend that went first and she said the experience was fine; she was never scared or anything like that. The hospital was clean...there was a language barrier but it has inspired me to learn Spanish after being down there. The first time I went to Tijuana in 2011; most recently I went to Juarez. Both times I wasn't scared and it was fine.
Maybe consider that if you get denied. Plus, I decided to get the surgery around April 16th and had the surgery May 19th...it was pretty quick!
Not sure with the hiatal hernia and acid reflux how the Mexico thing would go. I would think that with those issues, it would be covered. But you never know with insurance.
Best wishes