Hi All,

I had my first post op appointment yesterday since my staples and drain were removed. During my appointment I told the doctor that I really didn't feel much different. He explained to me that because of my anatomy he wasn't able to get as "close" as he would've liked. He said that we are not out of options just yet because I could always get re-sleeved ? As you can imagine this was very disheartening. Has this happened to anyone else, I can't imagine going through surgery twice. I don't regret the decision I made to have the surgery but so far my experience has not been fun. Unfortunately, right after surgery I ended up with pneumonia and was readmitted for an additional five days.

The problem with my anatomy is a result from a MVA that required exploratory surgery 20 yrs ago leaving me with severe scar tissue making my Sleeve surgery difficult. My procedure took over 3 1/2 hrs to be completed and my abdomen looks like I'd been shot 9 times with all the incisions. My Dr made ever attempt to completed the surgery and remove as much scar tissue as possible - for that I am grateful but l have to admit I am very, very upset. I am afraid that I will not be successful and it will take me much longer to loose the weight.

I've never heard of anyone having the "sleeve" procedure done twice. I've only heard of people revising from the "sleeve" to a full gastric bypass, or duodenal switch.

Thanks for the quick response. That's what I thought. I didn't think it could be performed twice. Plus, I can't imagine my insurance company approving it, again.

Thx Tara

It seems like I have heard of someone having it redone - maybe with a Dr from Mexico. Check that forum.

You're still only getting liquids right? I didn't feel any restriction until I started solids and now I wish my restriction wasn't so much.. give yourself time, I felt hungry and everything for a long while after surgery. I even said I thought he made my sleeve too big. He didn't, I read my op report and he used a 32 bougie..

Give yourself until 6 weeks when u start having some solids.

Yes, my surgeon does "resleeves". Usually it's due to a surgery that was just not done properly, however, this does not appear to be the case in your situation. At this point I'd say don't fret too much about the difference. I'm assuming that even though the results were less than ideal, he wouldn't have gone through with the surgery if he felt the change wouldn't be signifigant.

No, I started with mushy food after 10 days without any problem. I'll be six weeks post op tomorrow but I've been eating pretty much anything I want without incident and in moderation of course.

I'm going to stop by the office today and I will ask for a copy of my reports. I have no idea as to what size bougie was used. I think that information will be good to have. Thanks!

Dr Kelly was Doing a revision the week after I was there with a guy who admittedly stretched his through always over eating. I guess he did great for a year and then started just falling back into habits and stretched.

Oh ok, I hope this gets resolved for you. How has your hunger been? Is it reduced? What about your weight loss so far? When u ask about the bougie size, I wonder if the Dr. could say about how much stomache he was able to remove.

My thoughts are with you!

I thought that the sleeve didn't stretch like a by-pass. Am I wrong on that?

what is a bougie?

It can but supposed to be not as much

I thought that the sleeve didn't stretch like a by-pass. Am I wrong on that?

This is the guide tube that is inserted in to the persons throat down to the stomach to help guide the new stomach size - usually anywhere from a 30-42. If you look around the forums there are examples of size.

what is a bougie?

I am pretty positive I didn't get to have one of those used on me I saw that in a video before my surgery and have been worried ever since cuz im sure they didn't use that in Mexico

Immediately after surgery my dr came and saw me with pictures he had taken during the procedure. There are 3 big a4 glossy prints, one of my new stomach with bougie still in, one of the stomach that was removed an filled with saline to test the staples and to show me how big it was and one of my stomach after he had sewn all the tissue back to it and made it all pretty. I still have the pics. Ask your surgeon if he takes pictures and if he has yours. It may help you for future surgeries, if you need them.

I believe you will be as successful as you allow yourself to be - as successful as you allow yourself to believe you will be. Sounds like freakin' pollyanna, but you are already fearing failure. You have to stop thinking that way! (um, maybe I just read in what you said as I think though too....)

I was sleeved, got pneumonia, sleeved again as I had a leak and then had pneumonia last month again. I also am currently running a temp and scared what if I have pneumonia AGAIN? grrrrr! The point is - if I can get through all of that, and I've lost 90 lbs., you can do it too. Do what you are supposed to do - be mindful whenever you eat, stop eating whenever you are satisfied/not until you are engorged, workout, track your intake, Protein first, Water, etc. etc. etc.

With the scar tissue that you had inside of you, if your dr. was able to clean that out, you might not know what the results are until your body heals which could take some time. So in that time, here's your challenge: concentrate on success. Not on the fear of "what if". I do the same thing and people get so frustrated with me. You cannot assume you will fail! So stop that sort of thought right now ok? The moment you start to consider that is another moment that takes you away from reaching your goals. It's time to work on the head and know one thing - YOU CAN DO THIS!

I understand what you are feeling. But give yourself a shot at success before you assume you are going to fail pls.

Hope that helps. Best of luck.