So now, I'm 4-1/2 years post op and have lived with my sleeve a long time now. . What I've written below may not be something you want to hear, but it's a story that need to be told.

I lost 85 lbs with my VSG surgery in 2008, and for several years was very happy. I always thought my sleeve was a bit bigger than the doc told me it would be, but it did drastically reduce the volume of food I could put in my stomach. So I kept the weight off pretty well, even tho I never really reached my goal weight of 210. 220- 225 seemed to be my "floor", but staying there - or within striking distance was pretty easy. I'm 6-1 so that's not a bad spot for me. If it my weight began creeping up, it was easy for me to cut back a little and the weight would fall off.

But about a year ago my weight started creeping up 230, 240, 250... now 258. And some of my old co-morbidities began to return. Knee pain, cholesterol etc. And it was weight I could no longer seem to lose. And a developed a chronic cough. So a month ago, I visited my surgeon who had me do an upper GI. Uh-oh. Apparently the upper portion of my sleeve near my esophagus developed a big bulge where food can be trapped. And a visit to my PCP, confirmed that I have laryngopharyngeal reflux - the reason for my cough. The food trapped in a cul-de-sac in my sleeve was coming to see me in the night.

The fix is pretty easy. A revision. Trim it off, staple it up, pull out the excess. Basically the same procedure as before - just less stomach tissue to remove. So here we go again.... this time insurance will pay for it. I will be starting from a lower high weight this time. And hopefully after the revision the tissue won't be as stretchy. Also the bougie size he used before was a 40. He's dropping down to a 36 this time.

What I have learned over several years of intense interest in bariatric surgery is this: your sleeve or pouch WILL stretch. It's just a fact. Most people do rebound a bit. That being said, I would and will do it again in a heartbeat. I love being thinner.

Approved and date is set for July 25th

Is he just revising the bulge or the whole sleeve,My doc said he is only doing the bulge cuz the sleeve looks good. a small part of me wonders if it will be enough...he used a 38 bougie.

I asked him this question. He told me he would not know till he gets in there and has a look. Because he is using a smaller bougie, 36 instead of 40, I believe he will tighten the whole thing. Either that, or he will leave me with 2 different diameters, and an odd spot in the staple line (if you think about it).

Thank you for talking about this. I'm sorry that some people are acting like it is from something yiundid wrong. You have explained it very well and now we are better informed about what to expect.

And I'm a happy camper too. This happens in a small % of patients. He will be using a 36 bougie this time instead of a 40. Most of my sleeve is fine. There is just a herniated bulge just under my stomach/esophagus junction (gastroesophageal sphincter). The theory is that once this gets tightened up, the tissue will not be so elastic.

I'm not really a grazer (too busy) and everything was hunky dory until the weight gain started a year ago.

Thank you for your candidness, I wish you the best of luck and a fast recovery.

Thank you for talking about this. I'm sorry that some people are acting like it is from something yiundid wrong. You have explained it very well and now we are better informed about what to expect.

Thank you. But any apologetics to me are completely unnecessary. I have very thick skin and besides, I really do understand the nature of such questions. People want to know ways to avoid having this happen. Have I "done something wrong"?

Probably. I can't be good all the time

Thank you. But any apologetics to me are completely unnecessary. I have very thick skin and besides' date=' I really do understand the nature of such questions. People want to know ways to avoid having this happen. Have I "done something wrong"?

Probably. I can't be good all the time [/quote']

Our bodies do strange things at times.

Glade they figured out what was wrong and can help you. All the best to you.