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What type of surgery did you have? I got sleeved 14 years ago, and was revised to a bypass 56 days ago. You're best bet immediately after surgery is chewable vitamins. They have everything chewable now (no gummies for me, because they don't get as well absorbed with a bypass). I take Bariatric Fusion multivitamin 3 times a day because the bypass is a malabsorptive surgery. I take a calcium chew once a day, and an Iron once a day. The Iron I take isn't chewable, but I'm 3 months out now so, I'm feel ok when I take it. It really all depends on your surgery and how far out you are from it.

Mgoos1...apparently not many people read this site...I only got 1 response and I know there are many out there that have done revision surgery.

Did anyone who has revision from sleeve to bypass have Aetna insurance?

Hi All! After I completed all my testings and blood work, at my followup Friday (Aug 11th) they doctor's office went ahead to put me on the surgery calendar for Aug 28th. All paperwork was submitted to the insurance company that day as well. Today the office called to inform me that my sugery was APPROVED! They nor I expected a fast 1 day turn-a-round! Now my nerves kicked in. My pre-op diet starts the next week 20th. It consists of 3 protein shakes and 1 meal per day. I don't think I'll have any issues as the dietician informed me that I can break the one meal up any way I want to for that day. Thankfully, I still have restrictions from my sleeve surgery in 2017. Has anyone had the revision with success stories? Any tips? Any of you have upcoming revisions scheduled? Additional weight loss success? Has anyone had the surgery with little to no help at home? If so how was it for you? I would love to lose an additional 40-50 lbs. Thanks!

Waiting for insurance company to approve my revision surgery from sleeve to bypass due to severe reflux.

I am having a T.O.R.e procedure on the 6th. I was wondering if anyone here has had one or even heard of it (lol). Any advice would be helpful!! I had my bypass 11 years ago and made some bad choices which led me here.

My initial consultation was in March (don't remember the day), I got the revision surgery June 19th. BCBS will only pay for "one weight loss surgery per lifetime." I was told by some doctor's offices that since it was a revision, my insurance wouldn't cover. I called my insurance and spoke to a fantastic lady who really helped me out. I made the point that in 2009, when I got sleeved, BCBS for my school district wasn't covering WLS yet. It was private pay for me, and I had it done in Mexico (no hoops to jump through). So, technically, BCBS had never covered a WLS surgery me. She agreed. It was approved. Edit: I did have to follow a diet plan to lose weight before the surgery, I had to have an endoscopy, a barium swallow (to check for acid reflux), blood work, see a cardiologist, have a psyche eval (on the phone), and talk to a nut (on the phone). It was a little easier than virgin surgeries because it wasn't my first rodeo.

That really depends on your insurance. I have BCBS and for my initial surgery, I was approved a month after my initial consultation. For my revision, it took less time. Medicaid takes MONTHS. Other insurances have other timeframes. It really just depend on what you have.

I am a revision as well. Are you going lapband to something or VSG to bypass?

I am a revision as well. Are you going lapband to something or VSG to bypass?

I'm a sucker for shrimp cocktail. Extra horseradish please. In the early days, shrimp was rather difficult but over 2 years out from my revision, no problem (thank goodness).

I’m new here , Hi…!!! I got my surgery revision / conversion from VSG to Bypass on July 18th 2023. Looking to have partners to support each other in this journey 😀

I am set for a revision to bypass September 1st. I'll be happy to get relief from GERD.

I had this. Turns out, after my sleeve, I developed polyps all through my entire stomach. The GERD (which I had never had pre sleeve) became so bad it turned into gastritis and esophagitis. I had to take 80mg of Nexium daily and Pepcid for breakthrough GERD (and sometimes that didn't even help). The pain and burning were excruciating. Sent me to the ER more than once. 4 endoscopies and 1 revision to bypass later, and I'm doing great. Stay on top of this. Cut out anything tomato based, avoid any kind of fruit juice, spices (even the ones that aren't hot). Hummus helped a lot, keto bread also helped, and drinking protein shakes literally saved me on days when I couldn't keep anything down at all. The bariatric diet went out the window until this was under control. I had to stop working out because it would set things off. In the ER the first time, I had a barium swallow to confirm there were no leaks. Then I was referred to a GI specialist, who did an endoscopy and found I had A TON of polyps in various sizes. Once they were all removed, I had my revision to bypass and have had to stay on Nexium. But it was lowered to 40mg for 5 weeks, then 20mg for weeks 6-8, then I'll go off them completely. Definitely stay on top of this. It won't resolve on it's own, and if left untreated, it will absolutely get worse.

It will do both. From my first surgery I lost 150lbs. I was happy with the weight I had lost. Still had a lot more to go but the heartburn was such a hinderance. Nothing like walking in the treadmill and eating tums at the same time just to get through :). I am feeling so blessed to have found a surgeon that specialized in revisions and took me seriously. 5 days post op and no reflux!

I have not done well on the preop diet while traveling to move my daughter to college this week. I will let my surgeon know and see if she still wants to keep my surgery date. I’m a revision and she almost didn’t put me in the preop diet. I am back home on Subday and will have 5 full days to follow it without any hiccups. I am worried.

Sept 4 here! Revision sleeve to bypass. BC Canada.

The DS as a virgin procedure is more challenging to perform than a VSG or RNY, which is why relatively few bariatric surgeons offer it, despite its' demonstrably better performance (the RNY is "good enough" for most patients...) That's your first challenge - finding a reliable DS surgeon. Converting a VSG to a DS is straightforward for any DS surgeon, as the DS uses the VSG as its basis, so it's mainly a matter of adding the "switch" part - the malabsorptive part - to the VSG. Revising an RNY to a DS is another, much more complicated matter, and surgeons who can do that are few and far between. It used to be, a few years ago, that there was maybe a half dozen surgeons in the US that reliably did them, and I have seen references to a few more have joined the ranks in recent years. Rabkin and Keshishian in CA have both done them for many years, as has Roslin in NYC. I've heard that someone in Salt Lake has done some, along with some docs at Duke University in NC, possibly Kemmeter in MI. Some surgeons who don't do the DS will offer to revise to a distal RNY instead - that is a "long limb" RNY that has malabsorption more akin to the DS. However, it does not have a great reputation, and is usually not approved by US insurance as a primary procedure (but often will as a revision under the right circumstances.) My take on why it seems to be more problematic than the DS is that it is rarely done, and the surgeons and their practices aren't all that in tune with its' long term requirements. A DS, and by association the distal RNY, has a quite different nutritional and supplement requirement to the standard proximal RNY, which is well known to those in the DS world, but not all that well appreciated by those in the RNY world. Like with the RNY, and much more important with the DS, is to commit to having annual labs and follow ups for life - with the altered absorption and nutrition/supplement requirements, things can go askew in sometimes if you don't stay on top of them. Those who do stay on top of things typically have minimal long term problems. I would not go to MX for a procedure like this, as you really don't know what you will end up with. Historically, there has only been one reliable DS surgeon in MX - Gilberto Ungston - who, if not retired, is heading that way. He has trained a couple of others to do the DS, but I haven't heard of him doing the RNY to DS revision. There are, of course, the various horror stories of MX surgeries gone wrong, and in particular of those seeking a DS and getting "something else" (who knows what.) There are great, reputable surgeons down there for the VSG and RNY, but I wouldn't go there for something more complicated like a DS, unless it was someone well vetted in that procedure (such as Ungston,) - the differing legal systems leave one with no recourse is something doesn't go right (and the chances of that happening with something as complex and an RNY/DS revision are high there.) Good luck - it is a long search for what you need, and be prepared to travel. Being in CA myself, and my wife is a Rabkin DS, we have seen several successful revisions like this from both Rabkin and Keshishian, so it is viable when done by someone experienced with it. It, also, is not a simple outpatient procedure, and Rabkin's standard practice for travelling patients is to remain in town until at least the 10 day post op follow up. Most everything else can be done remotely (and they are set up for doing so.) Keshishian is similar in this regard.

I’m on day 3 post op conversion to bypass from sleeve. Best decision of my life. I was living off tums and I have not had a single bit of heartburn. It does seem different some how, maybe because I’ve been through this before and know that the first few stages is a bit the bullet until my insides are healed. If anyone asked me, I would simply say, I wish I hadn’t waited so long to get the revision.

I'm a revision sleeve to bypass. When I had my sleeve 14 years ago, the only thing I COULD NOT eat was eggs. IDK why. I could eat chicken and steak, but for some reason, eggs was a no go for me. I think eggs swell up in our tummies after we consume them.

I had an easier recovery with RNY vs VSG as well but did experience stricture (easily resolved) early on. GERD was resolved almost immediately. Not much hair loss but that’s really individual based. Constipation is always a concern but that’s what stool softeners are for and fully expect to need assistance with that long term. It’s been 4 yrs since revision (6 since VSG) and once you get into a routine life feels really normal.

I'm not sure how "northern" in Kentucky you are, but right across the river in Cincinnati there are many options. I had my procedure at JourneyLite in Evendale, OH...I'm not sure if they offer a VSG to DS revision, but you could call and ask. I felt very well taken care of by them.

Hello, I am trying to find a DS surgeon here in northern KY who can perform my surgery. The doctors I have found so far do the RnY but not the DS. Does anybody have any suggestion? Thanks.

Just a lil rave... As of this morning, I am officially down my first 50 lbs! I had a 3-week stall 2 weeks after my surgery. I had issues with my skin, with constipation, and this horrible stall. Because it's a revision, my weight loss is incredibly s-l-o-w (compared to virgin surgeries). I was so disappointed, having buyer's remorse, and all that. I've only lost 20 lbs in 45 days, but altogether (including my pre-op dieting) it's 50 whole pounds since May 11th!

For me, it was an easier recovery. No new food aversions. I didn't have any before with the sleeve either. My gerd is gone an that in itself made being able to stay on program much easier due to better sleep, no fake gnawing hunger signals due to excess acid... Etc. It was the best thing I've ever done. I've said this before on quite a few posts but I feel so normal now, like pre-WLS of any kind, and I still have restriction. At first, you will feel that your restriction is gone but it isn't, it's different than the sleeve. Also, like the sleeve, wait until you begin solids because the fluids will just go right through your system. I had a learning curve to determine when I was approaching fullness. With the sleeve it was a runny nose. With the revision, I can feel it more in my stomach. I still get the runny nose but that is far too late for me so I stop before that now. The signals are different. I have not dumped, and the only symptom I have is slight constipation so I take 1 tsp of MiraLAX in my coffee every morning. Some need more, some don't need it. My vitamins are the same, a multi-vitamin patch, and depending upon my blood tests (I take every 6 months), I may take an additional chewable ADEK vitamin.