Surgery Scheduled! Revision Sleeve to Bypass

[shoregirl75 102]

I got my surgery date yesterday! I am scheduled for September 10th. I am having a revision from a Gastric Sleeve to Bypass! I had my sleeve 5 years ago. I did really well the first year and lost over 90lbs. I was never able to reach my goal weight and seemed to hit a wall after a year. I couldn't lose anymore and struggled to maintain even with slight diet changes. I have regained about 50lbs and I am struggling with reflux again.

I wished I had picked the bypass from the beginning. There was so much hype about the sleeve at the time but not as much long term data. Now I can compare and understand the bypass has better long term results. I am feeling a sense of relief just getting the surgery date that is what I need to do and I can get back to a place were I am happy with myself and maintain it.

Any revisions out there that can share there experience with a revision from sleeve to bypass?

[Bryn910 519]

Congrats! I am 6 days post op from sleeve to bypass so I don’t have enough experience yet but my recovery is easier than the sleeve thus far.

i too was a bit pressured into the sleeve vs. bypass 7 years ago. I never even heard of it back then. Only the band and bypass; I wanted the bypass for the restriction & malabsorption.

i didn’t lost about 40 pounds with my sleeve and gained it all back. I also had no restriction after about a year. GERD also developed

welcome to the revision crew!

[Road Runner 66]

I had a revision from band to bypass 12/17 and I’m very happy with my weight loss.

Congratulations on your surgery date. This is your first step to anew you!!

[Jillagain 12]

I am having my sleeve revision to bypass tomorrow morning. I never thought I'd be doing this again, but 4 years later, here I am. Fingers crossed for no more reflux and more weight loss!

Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

[Bryn910 519]

5 minutes ago, Jillagain said:

I am having my sleeve revision to bypass tomorrow morning. I never thought I'd be doing this again, but 4 years later, here I am. Fingers crossed for no more reflux and more weight loss!

Sent from my SM-G960U using BariatricPal mobile app

Good luck!

[Em_Jay75 81]

Good luck!

[Tmusselman 9]

On 5/16/2018 at 10:40 AM, shoregirl75 said:

I got my surgery date yesterday! I am scheduled for September 10th. I am having a revision from a Gastric Sleeve to Bypass! I had my sleeve 5 years ago. I did really well the first year and lost over 90lbs. I was never able to reach my goal weight and seemed to hit a wall after a year. I couldn't lose anymore and struggled to maintain even with slight diet changes. I have regained about 50lbs and I am struggling with reflux again.

I wished I had picked the bypass from the beginning. There was so much hype about the sleeve at the time but not as much long term data. Now I can compare and understand the bypass has better long term results. I am feeling a sense of relief just getting the surgery date that is what I need to do and I can get back to a place were I am happy with myself and maintain it.

Any revisions out there that can share there experience with a revision from sleeve to bypass?

Your story sounds exactly like mine. I'm seeing more and more sleeve revision posts so I don't think the sleeve was the magical surgery everyone thought it would be. I too felt pressured to have the sleeve over the bypass. I'll be almost exactly 4 years out from my sleeve surgery in July when I'm scheduled for my revision to the bypass. Hoping second time around is the last time. Good luck to you.

[miss_smiles 192]

SAME!!!! I had the sleeve March 2016, just over 2 years ago, and now I am getting the bypass on May 30th. I lost about 50lbs and gained it all back and more. I too wish I had the bypass to begin with. Good luck everyone, and keep us all posted.

[Chicken Lady 102]

Waiting to schedule my sleeve to bypass too. I’m almost 2years out. Been struggling with reflux since surgery. Dr found significant stricture (1cm marshmallow couldn’t pass through)...

[Matt Z 4,140]

On 5/16/2018 at 10:40 AM, shoregirl75 said:

I got my surgery date yesterday! I am scheduled for September 10th. I am having a revision from a Gastric Sleeve to Bypass! I had my sleeve 5 years ago. I did really well the first year and lost over 90lbs. I was never able to reach my goal weight and seemed to hit a wall after a year. I couldn't lose anymore and struggled to maintain even with slight diet changes. I have regained about 50lbs and I am struggling with reflux again.

I wished I had picked the bypass from the beginning. There was so much hype about the sleeve at the time but not as much long term data. Now I can compare and understand the bypass has better long term results. I am feeling a sense of relief just getting the surgery date that is what I need to do and I can get back to a place were I am happy with myself and maintain it.

Any revisions out there that can share there experience with a revision from sleeve to bypass?

Banded in 2011 and Bypass March 21st 2018. I too wish I went for the bypass up front. Just be ready for the potential slower weight loss due to you already having some of the restriction already. Congrats and good luck!

[miss_smiles 192]

2 hours ago, Matt Z said:

Banded in 2011 and Bypass March 21st 2018. I too wish I went for the bypass up front. Just be ready for the potential slower weight loss due to you already having some of the restriction already. Congrats and good luck!

I went from about 230 to 180 in 6 months, do you think losing 50 pounds having a revision in that time period is possible? Or is weight loss really slower?

[Matt Z 4,140]

1 hour ago, miss_smiles said:

I went from about 230 to 180 in 6 months, do you think losing 50 pounds having a revision in that time period is possible? Or is weight loss really slower?

Everyone is going to be different, but, I just go from the logical standpoint. Going from zero restriction and zero malabsorption to both, you have a much higher potential for drastic weight loss than going from some level of restriction already, adjusting your restriction and adding malabsorption. So my warning is based on some logic and some personal and anecdotal evidence, but clearly not what's going to occur for all, BUT, in my opinion, it's better to be aware of the potential differences.

I'm down 46 lbs since March 2nd, not as fast as others I've talked to, but not super slow by any means.
So, sure 50 lbs in 6 months is more than possible. And the required dietary changes are going to help prevent regain. As with all WLS, it's a tool to help change habits.

Edited May 22, 2018 by Matt Z

[jmart_RN 18]

I had my revision from sleeve to bypass on May 22 due to severe GERD. It seems that I've been reading people having revision 2 years post sleeve. I was originally banded in April 2009 then had revision from band to sleeve in April 2016 and now revision from sleeve to bypass last week. I wish I had skipped the sleeve and just gone straight to bypass and I would've avoided all the pain I had with GERD and I would not have had to get a third surgery. I must say that I feel great and no longer have GERD. My recovery has gone much smoother, meaning that I was back at work after one week. I asked my surgeon at my one week follow up if he actually did anything because I feel pretty good and am pretty much back to normal. I know is still have to take it easy for another four weeks but after that he said I had no restrictions.

[Melixxa 125]

I'm so happy to have found this thread!
It's been five years since my sleeve surgery, which I honestly look back on as a really positive experience. I lost 80 pounds after all, and kept it off for three years. But I was still 30 pounds from my goal, and I have regained 30 more pounds, too.
A few years back, I belonged to a Facebook support group for sleevers who all had our surgery in the summer of 2013. The first time I raised the question of revision was at about the two-year mark, and people jumped all over me. I remember one woman in particular asking, "What is wrong with you?" It was so hurtful. We can be so smug and judgmental when we first finally get a handle on our weight. I see it all over this board.
But the reality is that I was hungry--not head hungry--but like I would have killed for a even a boiled egg or an apple--on my trip home from the hospital! The sleeve made it easier for sure, but losing that initial 80 pounds felt very much like white-knuckle dieting, and I never experienced the "I-sometimes-forget-to-eat" kind of honeymoon that other sleevers reported. It happens, I'm told, that some people just never do lose their appetites, even for a brief time. The grehlin changes that we hope will happen just never do in some cases.
I have been thinking long and hard about revising to a mini-bypass. But information on this topic seems so scarce. I think many folks feel shamed into silence, which makes me sad. Ironically, the FB group where my feelings were so hurt is now full of people feeling disappointed and guilty about regain and dreaming of revision.
Please keep the stories coming, the good and the bad. And congratulations to all the above posters who are experiencing success, and best wishes to everyone considering another surgery!

[mikavick 13]

Hello All, I had sleeve surgery in 2011 i I lost a total of a 160 pounds I gained 60 back. And I am still over weight I am currently going for my revision to a bypass on June 13. I am a little worried. But I am hoping going through the sleeve process will help me through it. I guess my question is does it help the process being through the sleeve in the past?