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Anytime that I see someone contemplating a revision, I would advise getting a second (and even third) opinion, both from the perspective that revisions are typically more complicated than a virgin surgery, and also the reasons for the revisions are more varied, and this is where the perspectives of different surgeons with different experiences is most valuable. Strictures and twists like you are describing are an indicator of technique problems (which isn't to say that there is something particularly quirky with your individual anatomy that would have caused problems with any surgeon, just that they are frequently associated) so it is quite possible that another surgeon who is more experienced specifically with the sleeve and sleeve related surgeries may have some other ideas of how to tackle your problem. There are some surgeons out there who routinely perform some very complex revisions (such as converting a problematic RNY to a DS) and this is the type of doc that you would like to consult with, as they would be best able to straighten out your sleeve (and if they concur that an RNY is the best approach for your particular problem, that provides a lot of confidence in deciding to go that route.) I tend to like DS surgeons for sleeve problems as they typically have a lot more experience with the sleeve and correcting sleeve problems (as the sleeve is a part of the DS, most of them have been doing sleeves for over twenty years, while most bariatric surgeons have been doing them part time for 5-10 years, and some less. https://www.dsfacts.com/duodenal-switch-surgeons.php gives a very incomplete listing of DS surgeons, and unfortunately, there aren't any very close to you - NY/NJ/PA area is the closest, but probably worth the effort; most can do initial consults over phone and email. Dr. Roslin in NYC and Dr. Greenbaum in NJ both have good reputations in the DS world for complex revisions. As a side note, the mini bypass isn't often done in the States as US insurance rarely approves it, and it has never been accepted by the ASMBS.

with the mini bypass they only make one anastomosis so it's a quicker, safer surgery, With the RNY they make two anastomosis (where they bypass the intestines).

We both had 2 different surgeons and hospitals. I love my surgeon. He and his team have been great and trying to fix this. What is difference between bypass and mini bypass? Glad you are doing well!!

I'm so sorry to hear about all your complications. Can I ask where you and your sister had surgery? You've both had a lot of problems. I had the sleeve in 2011 and then had horrible acid reflux. I revised to the mini bypass because I was told that would fix it. I'm one of the few unfortunate ones that it didn't fix and got way worse. I'm 6 days post op with a revision to rny. So far no complications and no acid reflux. If I were you I'd probably get the rny with a different surgeon than you had the first time. Good luck.

I had revision surgery Feb 3rd (6 days ago) from mgb to full bypass due to acid reflux. I have felt from the beginning I could probably drink as much as I want and don't have to take tiny sips like I did with the mgb. I even had a protein shake and some cream soup today, a day early, with no problems. The doctor said he didn't do anything to my pouch other than fix the hiatal hernia. I'm guessing that's why I'm having such an easy time drinking whatever I want. I'm not complaining but just wondering if anyone else with the same revision has had this experience.

Hello everyone this is probably going to be long but really could use the input. Nov 2019 I had the gastric sleeve done. Since this I have had nothing but troubles. 10 days after surgery I was admitted due to blood in my belly and a hematoma on my spleen. They fixed that and discharged 3 days later. I have not been able to eat much more then let's say a chicken nugget(less then an ounce of anything including liquids) I got dehydrated was admitted again 29 days post op. Stayed for 12 days got a picc line with tpn since I can not eat or drink much. During this stay had endoscopy and they stretched a stricture lower part of stomach to intestines from 15mm to 25ish mm. Went home no change still not able to eat. Had another endoscopy and stretch this time my stomach was twisted and she tried stretching to 30mm but was only able to get to about 28mm. Went home still no change to eating and drinking. On the 16th of January I had another endoscopy stretch. Stomach was twisted again and was barely able to stretch it at all. I aspirated during the procedure. I woke up to them telling me to keep coughing to get it up. They observed me for 3hrs was on 4liters of oxygen at first then 2. I got up to pee with help my oxygen corrected itself. They said there was no need to keep me I only aspirated a tiny amount. They let me go home (2 hr drive home) I was freezing hole way hubby cranked up heat. Took temp when I got home and found I had a fever of 102.6 went to local er where they did xray and ct found I had developed pneumonia and I also had a pulmonary embolism. They felt I should go back to hospital where this happened and I stayed there for 6 days. 5 days of iv antibiotics and heparin for embolism then discharged on lovonox to continue for 6 months to a yr. I still have no change so now its crunch time it has been 3 months since and cant eat or drink much at all. They want to do another stretch which I would need to come off the lovanox which is putting my life at risk. Not to mention I have had it done 3 times and it has not helped. Also if it doesnt work i would need to have the bypass revision which means 2 procedures putting me at risk 2 times) Surgeon says only other option is revision to bypass(unless he sees scar tissue and can fix. But i have to agree to bypass incase there is no scar tissue or it cant be fixed) My family is up in arms it's hard either way. I dont want anymore procedures but I need to get stomach fixed and I need to get back to work. 3 months no pay we cant take this financially anymore. So for me I feel like they need to do the bypass and I hope for the best and have minimal complications. However the rest of family is worried I will have more complications than I have currently. Plus my sister had bypass and has had to have 15 different repairs(this makes them more worried) I could really use some insight on this what would you do? What do you think I should do?

I went to several surgical groups to talk to people who have had sleeve/bypass. 2 of the girls in the group have desk jobs and they said they returned to work within a few days. I also have a friend who did sleeve and she was back at work in the hospital within a week. I guess it just depends on how you feel. But the consensus seems to be from those I talked to that it's pretty easy to get back to a job, especially one behind a desk. Good luck. 👍

Had by Bypass on the 16th Dec. Lost 15lb in the first month and 4 lb in the last month! I'm disabled with reduced mobility ( in a wheelchair) so realize it will be slow going. My surgeon at my checkup actually advised me to get out walking! Anyway even though I thought I would have lost more and it does upset me, I have just got to realize it is going just not as fast as I liked.😁

OK I just read the literature from one brand of bariatric vitamin (this was NOT an objective medical research report - it was issued by the company that makes this particular vitamin - so being a former librarian at a research university, I'm never 100% confident of that type of source). Anyway, it says it has a much higher dosage of B12 in its multivitamin than is present in standard multivitamins. I read in another place that RNY patients absorb less than 1% of the B12 they take in through their stomachs (because intrinsic factor is produced in the lower part of the stomach and the duodenum, both of which are bypass during RNY surgery). so perhaps these bariatric vitamins account for that by including super mega doses of B12, knowing that their RNY patients are only going to absorb 1% (or less) of it. I'm not sure - but I've always heard we ("we" as in RNY patients - not sleeve) should take it sublingually or via injection, because of the lack of intrinsic factor needed to absorb it.

Had my band to MGB on 14th Jan. Doing great. Down about 20lb from surgery date. Have had no issues at all, never an issue getting water down. 2 weeks liquid and nearly finished 2 weeks blended. It’s been easier than I thought, especially compared to eating with the band. Only thing I worry about is the amount I can eat already. As I went from band to bypass the surgeon had to leave a bigger pouch. I feel I can eat a lot and be hungry again quite quickly. Hopefully this will change when I move to more solid food. I’m surprised I feel hungry quite a bit, and not just head hunger.

I just had a revision from mgb to full bypass on Monday Feb 3rd. I just flew home last night. I went to Dr. Illan and he and his staff are amazing. They are very good about answering all your questions and catering to your companion if you bring one. All my husbands meals were brought right to my room. The hospital is sparkling clean and very modern. You can check it out on facebook at Hospital BC. There are videos of the hospital and testimonials from patients. Dr. Illan and his staff are the best!

Hi Aqua... did you have the sleeve, lap and or complete bariatric bypass?

I am!!! So glad to hear that. I decided to go with him over everyone else (and I looked worldwide) because of the absolute detail and reasoning he had behind why I needed a full gastric bypass and not a mini, like so many other doctors were recommending (it seems like this is the popular choice now, especially in Mexico). Edit: no disrespect to the mini gastric bypass! I just felt like it wasn't quite right for me despite having so many doctors tell me so. I had a couple of doctors recommend the full bypass but only Dr. Kaur did so with reasons that were connected to other health issues I have, which made me feel more secure in choosing him.

The part of the stomach that produces the hunger hormone ghrelin gets removed in both sleeve and bypass, but after a year or two (or even faster) your body finds a way to make you feel hungry again. That's why establishing good eating habits for as long as you can is essential.

Hi I'm new here. I have had gastric bypass 10 months ago. Since I started working out over a month and a half ago intensely doing an hour and a half of cardio and a half hour of weights I have not lost any weight. I am curious of why that would be happening

Full liquids I can only get in an oz. I have little 4oz yogurts (noose brand) and I can only do 1oz also. Water is the only liquid I drink with no type of sweetener in it and I can drink a 12oz nestle bottle in two hours and be comfortable if I push it any faster I’ll feel like liquid in my throat and burp a lot. I had the sleeve. I think with RNY ur fluids go through faster right? So that’s why u can handle more. With the sleeve ours has to sit until the cable opens. Idk what it’s called I forgot. Starts with a p I think. As where RNY bypasses that part and goes straight through. My surgeon really pushes sleeve only. He is getting patients that had bypass 10-12 years ago and even 5 years out they r having to be converted to duodenal switch. His nurse that has been working with him for many years has had multiple twisted bowels and blocked bowels with her bypass. And unless it s center of excellence or an accredited teaching surgeon. The surgeons lose contact with there patients after the first year. My surgeon has follow up and blood work every 6 months after the first year to year three. And then after year three every year. 

Originally, I was going to go for the sleeve surgery. My friend has already had it done and I've heard very little complaints from her. I also thought it would be nice to have something to 'share' with her. I joke that bypass is 'Frankenstein-ing your insides', but I am also a bit serious about it, too. The sleeve seems like it was just an easier procedure and I was told that you lose your hunger hormones, which seems helpful, too. However, after talking to my doctor, I was recommended to do bypass due to my acid reflux & heart burn becoming worse after the sleeve. I was also told that there is a higher percent of weight loss to be expected when going with bypass over sleeve. He warned me of possible dumping with the bypass (but since being on these forums and talking to others, it seems to happen from having either surgery). He also said that it really only happens when eating food you shouldn't be eating in the first place, and I felt that. He said I could choose either, but I'm set on bypass.

I originally went with sleeve for the same reasons many have posted here - I didn't like the idea of my intestines being rerouted, I didn't want the vitamin regimen for the rest of my life, and it just seemed more extreme than what I needed. However, I'm now less than a month away from getting a revision to gastric bypass, and I try not to feel angry that I didn't do that from the start (mostly because I've paid for 2 surgeries). Unfortunately I had to self-pay in Mexico, and my experience with that is that the doctors will basically agree with what you want and rarely take the time to consider your own personal needs. I live in Japan and there really isn't any doctor or program for me to use here, so I was stuck. The reality was even though I didn't have any co-morbidities, I had 150 pounds to lose and was a sugar addict. Bypass was probably the option I should have gone with from the beginning. But now I'm getting my surgery done in Tallinn (Estonia) from a very reputable place, and one of the reasons why I chose it is because the surgeon had a very specific plan for ME, as opposed to himself, like so many other surgeons. One thing I know from my failed sleeve is that being (or having been) obese is like being an alcoholic - once one, always one (your fat cells never disappear, they just shrink, waiting to be filled again). You have to be vigilant about what your triggers are and how to avoid them. There will never be a time in the future when you can go back to how you were - it's just too easy to fall off the wagon. I know now that it's normal to always feel a little bit hungry, that if I feel full then I've eaten too much, and that I can never eat sweet things - once I start it's hard to stop. It's just better if I never start.

Hi guys, I hope this amazing community can help my mom and family that’s been going through some great hardships due to serious medical problems: my mother had a massive heart attack and while at the hospital had lung and kidney failure which led to a 2-month stay...she then had heart surgery (triple bypass) but her kidneys aren’t working and she’s been on hemodialysis 3 days a week for 4+ hours a day and that took a huge financial toll on the whole family. They’re behind on rent, car payments, car insurance, electrical bills, credit cards, banks, loans, everything together is close to $15000! If you guys could please come together and help her would be great ❤️ You can see photos of late bills on the GoFundMe account I set up for them and photos of the mother after surgery and during dialysis which has been tough for her. Thank you all for your help ❤️ https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-a-family-going-through-financial-trouble?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf+share-flow-1

I plan to have the lap band surgery. It does not seem to be as popular as the gastric sleeve or bypass surgeries but it seems the least invasive to me. Also, I am a late starter since I am 71. I am a food addict and eat often when I am not hungry. I know this surgery will be a tool and I will be making serious changes in my food. I have heart disease and type 2 diabetes. My goal is to correct the diabetes and lessen the work my heart has to do. I have done all steps except the psych evaluation and that is next week. I hope to have my surgery in early April.

I will check back in Tuesday night or Wednesday. Good luck to you. I am really looking forward the surgery. Not having talked with the surgeon yet, I am thinking I will probably go with the bypass since I have had GERD issues. Logical choice it would seem.

I struggled with this long before bariatric surgery was ever hope for being an option and when I fought to lose weight alone. But even when I got there couldn’t stay there. Partly due to lifelong chronic illness and disability, metabolic disorders, inability to exercise, etc. but I struggled with being a member of the clean plate club, with not having a sense of hungry or full which I often wondered had to do with being on the autism spectrum. I also never rejected food if a friend offered. And the one person I trusted and thought was a true friend, like a sister, mocked me for it and turned on me. I make sure to portion out and prepare exactly what I am going to eat. What will fit my pouch based on the stage I’m in. Does it work perfectly in the early stages? Not as simple since you need to be more aware of how your pouch reacts to foods with each new thing you introduce. Some people advance quick some slow. So it’s different across the board. I tried to be mindful and if I couldn’t eat it, I tossed the rest out the window for the birds (I hate waste) I use the little plates that came with my corelle dish set, I think they are appetizer plates. And the small bowls. Never prepare and put in front of you more than your pouch can handle and you will still feel that you are cleaning your plate. i thought I had works on this years ago but now I’m learning to change my mindset on portions. And eating what I need. I still don’t have that judgment of hungry or full so I just track my daily calories and protein so I stay on track and in my daily goal range, I also stick to low carb options because I know carbs trigger cravings for me. And I don’t want to tempt that monster. its not easy and I hope to keep this as a permanent way of eating. I honestly thought I had made good changes before but it wasn’t enough without the tool of gastric bypass surgery.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I can see the decision between sleeve or bypass is going to be a tough one.

My friend and i had ours done on Feb 3rd!! (bypass)

My lap band had slipped and a large hiatal hernia resulted. Rather than to try to reposition the band my surgeon suggested a revision to RNY. I'm glad I took his suggestion--I'm not quite three months out and am already down 36 pounds!