Hi! I lost almost 140 lbs w/my sleeve but have slowly regained 35 lbs over the last 3 years. I'm scared I'll be back to where I started at this rate.

Since my original bariatric surgeon passed away, I went to see another WLS doc and he performed an endoscopy. Said I have a hernia, reflux, kink in my sleeve and stretched out sleeve, so that is why I'm gaining weight. He recommends a revision from sleeve to bypass. He also said the surgeon who did my sleeve had a different (inferior) technique for doing sleeves, thus this Dr. does a lot of revisions for my original surgeon. Insurance has approved but I'll have out of network coverage.

Here is my concern: In the waiting room of this surgeon's office, it just so happened there were 5 revision patients, and they told horror stories of complications, and ending up in severe pain, kinked intestines, needing additional emergency surgeries, not being able to eat, pain months after, regret, etc. I'll be honest....it scares me!! I asked this surgeon about those patients, and the doc said it was flukes, that there are a few people who have complications, but they may not be following directions, or maybe they had numerous WLS before, etc.

I'm scared if I do go forward with my planned revision, I could end up in worse health and have regrets, but I am scared if I don't, I'll end up where I started 5 years ago....very unhappy!!

Would love to hear from a good number of folks who have had sleeve to bypass revisions, and what your experience was? Thank you in advance!!

Wow, greenlitego, that is scary! I'm sorry you had to go through all that. I'm glad you can eat now, but yikes! Ok, these are the stories that kind of freak me out....all the scar tissue that creates problems. I'm worried about that too.

4 hours ago, greenlitego70 said:

I had revision from sleeve to bypass. I also had lap band to sleeve before that. I had so many issues with the sleeve it wasn’t even funny. My stomach kept kinking and I vomited everything up. I tried a gastric stent and that did not work. Although the revision to bypass has been drastic (I was already down to 170lbs, I’m male) I had complications due to scar tissue from previous WLS that was preventing me from drinking and had to have a subsequent surgery to remove the scar tissue and a huge hematoma at one of my incisions. I lost over 20lbs while in the hospital (almost 3 weeks). They waited too long to put me on TPN. However, since then, aside from being fatigued and tired things have been going relatively well. My main concern is trying to eat enough calories in stage 3 that I at least maintain my weight. I really can’t afford to lose another pound. Does anyone out there have anything similar and have suggestions on higher calorie food to eat in this stage. I have 3 more weeks before I can then begin trialing “normal” food.

I know I got sidetracked a bit, but for what it’s worth, even though this has been a life changing surgery, at least I can eat now whereas I could not before so I don’t regret it.

Yogurt, banana & Nut butter (Cashew butter, peanut butter, almond butter, hazelnut butter, tahini) smoothies

Thanks MissPoodle. Congrats and very glad to hear you are doing well!!
1st q: Do you mind if I ask...was yours covered by insurance?
I have sought a couple 2nd opinions and they say it won't be covered (I have no bariatric benefits with my insurance; but the one said "fluke" doctor is able to get it covered under insurance because of GERD/hernia, etc. (I asked other docs' billing folks why they can't do the same....just their policy).
2nd q: did you see how many abdominal surgeries I've had? Have you or any of the folks who you know that just had the revision had as many?
Thanks again! Really appreciate the input!

I'm in Australia so different costs / insurances etc...we can get as many opinions as we like and choose our surgeon...so it was covered.
I'd only had one surgery prior to this. It's usually about where the surgeries were that are relevant not how many. So for for you it would be about your past sleeve/gallbladder surgery that matters. I'm not sure what surgeries were had by the other people w i know who had revisions...sorry

I had my sleeve to bypass revision in May of this year, 7 years after my sleeve. Wish I had it done sooner!

i have not experienced any complications. The worst side effect is that different food (their smells) can cause minor nausea. And that lasts only a few minutes lol.

Wondering if the loss was much slower with the revision. I would imagine metabolic system changed dramatically with the original surgery. I realize we are all different but just curious to know what the experience has been.

My wieght loss has been much faster with the revision although I was told it may be slower.

So far mine is slower but I'm only one week out from surgery. I didn't lose much on the pre op diet

You and I talked at length so hopefully my advice helped. Sleeve to RNY revision. That first doc did my revision and had been doing bypasses for 20 years, so is well respected in the industry. Now bedside manner is another thing... I’m 5 weeks out, and aside from sorting insurance out, no regrets :))

On 9/20/2018 at 2:25 PM, KristinaW said:

Hi! I lost almost 140 lbs w/my sleeve but have slowly regained 35 lbs over the last 3 years. I'm scared I'll be back to where I started at this rate.

Since my original bariatric surgeon passed away, I went to see another WLS doc and he performed an endoscopy. Said I have a hernia, reflux, kink in my sleeve and stretched out sleeve, so that is why I'm gaining weight. He recommends a revision from sleeve to bypass. He also said the surgeon who did my sleeve had a different (inferior) technique for doing sleeves, thus this Dr. does a lot of revisions for my original surgeon. Insurance has approved but I'll have out of network coverage.

Here is my concern: In the waiting room of this surgeon's office, it just so happened there were 5 revision patients, and they told horror stories of complications, and ending up in severe pain, kinked intestines, needing additional emergency surgeries, not being able to eat, pain months after, regret, etc. I'll be honest....it scares me!! I asked this surgeon about those patients, and the doc said it was flukes, that there are a few people who have complications, but they may not be following directions, or maybe they had numerous WLS before, etc.

I'm scared if I do go forward with my planned revision, I could end up in worse health and have regrets, but I am scared if I don't, I'll end up where I started 5 years ago....very unhappy!!

Would love to hear from a good number of folks who have had sleeve to bypass revisions, and what your experience was? Thank you in advance!!

I've had a Lap-band to bypass revision. Originally I wanted to revise to sleeve, but my Dr said I would most likely have the same complications. Revision is so far so good. Good luck

17 hours ago, ellie123 said:

You and I talked at length so hopefully my advice helped. Sleeve to RNY revision. That first doc did my revision and had been doing bypasses for 20 years, so is well respected in the industry. Now bedside manner is another thing... I’m 5 weeks out, and aside from sorting insurance out, no regrets :))

Our surgery date is the same. And our weight loss is only 2 lbs different!

6 minutes ago, GB in CA said:

Our surgery date is the same. And our weight loss is only 2 lbs different!

Oh really! Awesome! Congratulations dear Surgery Twin 8/22/18, on your new life!!! We took a brave step towards health, and may God bless us with wonderful results of health in a lean fit body. Are you a revision as well?

2 hours ago, ellie123 said:

Oh really! Awesome! Congratulations dear Surgery Twin 8/22/18, on your new life!!! We took a brave step towards health, and may God bless us with wonderful results of health in a lean fit body. Are you a revision as well?

Yes, revised from a lap-band though

On 9/26/2018 at 10:15 AM, Bryn910 said:

My wieght loss has been much faster with the revision although I was told it may be slower.

That is awesome! Congrats and thanks so much for sharing!! By chance, had you had many other abdominal surgeries? Just curious since I keep hearing a lot about scar tissue causing complications like intestinal blockage.

20 hours ago, ellie123 said:

You and I talked at length so hopefully my advice helped. Sleeve to RNY revision. That first doc did my revision and had been doing bypasses for 20 years, so is well respected in the industry. Now bedside manner is another thing... I’m 5 weeks out, and aside from sorting insurance out, no regrets :))

Your advice was so helpful Thank you!!

1 minute ago, KristinaW said:

That is awesome! Congrats and thanks so much for sharing!! By chance, had you had many other abdominal surgeries? Just curious since I keep hearing a lot about scar tissue causing complications like intestinal blockage.

Sure and thanks.

yes I had 4 abdominal surgeries before my revision and my surgeon did say there was some scar tissue but it only took him about 20 minutes longer than normal to perform the surgery. Not sure how common blockages are post op etc.