Revisions: Gastric Bypass to Gastric Sleeve

[one_more_time 145]

I would like to hear from those of you who originally had Gastric Bypass surgery and then revised to the Gastric Sleeve.

My bypass surgery was December 2005. I managed to lose about 80-90 lbs. (size 24/26W down to a size 10/12). Unfortunately...my success was short lived and I never reached my goal weight of 145 lbs. My recent endoscopy showed my bowels were twisted...esphogus was messed up and my pouch was made too large. Had a few issues with terminal gas..lol...acid reflux...digestion issues...etc.

Was sleeved on 2/10...and so far so good. My surgeon specializes in revisions so im very confident that I will not only have better success this time...but I will also reach and/or pass my goal of 145. He went in and corrected all of the previous mistakes from my first surgery as well as ensuring my new stomach is nice and small.

What has it been like for those of you who made the switch?

[Threetimesacharm 1,400]

How is the gastric tummy made to a sleeve tummy? I thought the stomach pouch is made to only hold a few ounces and then is directly connected to the bowel.

[elfnow 277]

The stomach still exists - they could go back in and re-route the tubes and re-connect the stomach and just cut part of it off... But TBH this is the first time I have heard of such a feat actually being done.

OP I wish I had more help for you, but with the VERY extensive work your surgeon(s) have done, you are in a very small subset of WLS patients!!

Does your hospital have a support group?

[Georgia 2,911]

Now, THIS is a first for me! I've heard of lap and to sleeve, lap and to RNY, Sleeve to RNY, but never RNY to sleeve!!!

That's very interesting since most Drs. Consider sleeve a "first step" in many cases. And if you had acid reflux they DO RNY to correct the GERD from the sleeve.

Best of luck. I hope you get some relief from the issues you were having and lose the weight you expect.

[one_more_time 145]

Its been 9 years roughly since I had the bypass. He basically went in and converted my old pouch into a sleeve. Again...my previous doctor made my first pouch too large so over time it kind of reformed itself. It wasnt aa big as my original stomach...but almost. He deals with a lot of revisions and has revised a lot of my first doctors patients because she is kind of infamous for large pouches. I never had any restriction. I can tell the difference this time around. And no hunger due to the removal of the gherlin production. Gastric Bypasses are converted to sleeves all the time about 50% of his patients are revisions.

[one_more_time 145]

Just curious to hear of other experiences.....but Im good...dont really need a support group...but there quite a few in my area. Wow...didnt know this was so "rare"...well in Dallas it isnt. Have an ex coworker who is about to have hers converted...we had the same surgeon...(bypass) and she us having the same issues.

[elfnow 277]

I think maybe it's comparatively rare everywhere but where your first doctor is! It sounds like you're in kind of a "bubble" of people who have had this type of revision.... I know you said you don't need a support group but "looking for others' experiences" is pretty much what a support group would be about... And it sounds like there's plenty of individuals in your area!

[Kindle 8,667]

So did he reconnect your duodenum to your sleeve? Or are you still bypassed with just a smaller stomach pouch (sleeve)

[one_more_time 145]

So did he reconnect your duodenum to your sleeve? Or are you still bypassed with just a smaller stomach pouch (sleeve)

Still bypassed.....just "sleeved" my exsisting pouch and removed the "hunger" hormone production.

[gmanbat 5,889]

How does your procedure differ from the Duodenal Switch?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duodenal_switch