So, 13 years ago, I weighed 350 pounds. I made a commitment to change, and lost 100 pounds through dieting. After that, in Sept. 2013, I had a sleeve procedure and hernia fix (without complications) and went from 250 down to 155 (my lowest) in 2016. That's when the problems began. I have been suffering with terrible on and off gastritis, constant GERD and reflux, stomach ulcers, and my hiatal hernia needs repair again. I have had two recent endoscopies,including one with a Bravo probe, and the surgeon claims the only way to permanently fix the problem to to revise from a sleeve to RNY.
The problem is, I do NOT want full on bypass. I am terrified. I like my life as it is, and I can't imagine going through the surgical recovery process again. I am remarried now, and have a ten year old daughter, and I can't imagine what our family meals/vacations/birthday parties are going to look like post-RNY. I am at the point with my sleeve that I have reincoporated most foods, and eat relatively normally.
All of this decision making stress has made me go off the rails with my eating plan, and I have regained almost all the weight I lost (back up to 230 pounds), partially because I have been eating everything in sight, preparing for the moment after which I will "never be able to eat normally" again. I approach every meal with a "last supper" mentality. I enjoy food and beer and traveling, and I don't want to constantly be the odd man out at functions.
I am tempted to have the revision for purely vanity reasons - a quick weight loss fix for what I've regained. Nothing I am currently suffering is imminently dangerous, nor is it constant - I have excruciating flare ups. My surgeon will not fix my hernia without doing the whole conversion, because he claims it's "useless" to fix one without doing the other.
So, here's what I ask everyone...to anyone who's had the revision...is it worth it? I'm tempted to just keep taking my double dose nexium and drinking my Gaviscon, and enjoying my life as normal. I have a husband who loves and accepts me, and I don't want to do this and risk my life for a surgery simply for appearance's sake. If I can live with my current pain, can't I ride this out with my little sleeve which worked so well until depression made me abuse it? Do I just get back on track, or go under the knife? I have never been so torn. Please help!!!
Thank you for listening