Search the Community

I came back home after 5 days in the hospital for my duodenal switch revision. I weighed 23 lbs. more than when I left! I literally ate nothing during those 5 days. I had as little of the liquid diet components as possible. This weight was all IV fluids. I was on IV everyday for 5 days. I had IV infiltration due to a poor IV placement. I dropped 5 lbs. per day for 5 days. Don't gauge progress day by day. It is best to track your weight and look at the month to month change. You may even stall for a full month, but overall, you'll progress fine if you follow your diet.

I'm not going to read through every response so forgive any of these that are duplicates. The things I didn't know about before are fairly personal - not as in "won't share" but as in "specific to my situation". I was a revision, and so the only things that have surprised me are relative to my previous WLS, or the things you have to be living it to know whether or not they even apply to you. But I'm a researcher, and started looking into VSG about 5 years ago. Not a lot will escape those two conditions. However, I see a lot of new people "shocked" to learn lots of things, so here are some that I see come up a lot: You will probably lose a good amount of your hair (I'd estimate 20% - 40%) starting about 2 or 3 months after surgery. It's possible to dump with the sleeve. Most people seem surprised to learn this. In fact, there's already been a thread on it today. It's possible to develop intolerances to foods with the sleeve. Not "sleeve doesn't like it" but actual intolerances. Reflux is a fairly common side effect. Reflux over time can lead to additional issues such as Barret's. Reflux can be helped (I won't say controlled) by medications - PPIs and the like. PPIs are currently under a lot of scrutiny for their long-term effects, i.e. bone density. [*]Your tastes can change with this surgery. So can the foods that work for you. These aren't necessarily slow changes. You'll probably be eating low-carb, at least for a while, and that can bring its own complications: "Ketosis" breath Low potassium may result in muscular cramps particularly in the legs/feet Pooping might totally change. In too many ways than I can list here, but let's just say there aren't really any good ways. Etc. [*]You may have to take Fiber supplements and/or laxatives for quite some time, maybe permanently. But maybe you'll never need one. Just gotta wait and see. [*]Since this is not a malabsorptive procedure, it's still possible to gain weight. You're still accountable for the things you eat. I'm surprised to see others surprised by this. [*]When food doesn't "sit well" it can be surprisingly painful, and can hurt in places that initially won't make sense (referred pains). [*]You may or ay not have problems with nausea. I've had no nausea, and no vomiting -- but I've had my share of discomfort. [*]Your body will probably start to make new noises. Gurgles, burps that aren't burps (I call them nurps), etc. They may or may not go away. [*]Your hunger may significantly diminish, or go away completely. But it might also remain consistent. Our fundus is the primary place where Ghrelin is produced, but it's not the only place. Think this is only a good thing? Lots of studies right now are pretty consistently linking Ghrelin to things like memory and cognitive function, is in - not enough Ghrelin, so in 50 years you may be skinny & have no idea why. [*]Lots of aspects of general weightloss tend to be forgotten or overlooked: things like your feet get smaller, your fingers, etc. Medication dosages may also need to be recalibrated You will need to actively adjust your caloric intake (you won't have much say in it for a while, tho) to adjust for your shrinking body - needs can change by 1000 calories, easily. Don't get in a "rut" and assume things will be forever this way, or that. There's more, but that's all I can think of off the top of my Ghrelin-starved brain.

I never threw up. I never had nausea in the hospital. I did once feel like I might chuck (the first time I tried something thick & sticky - cream cheese, of all things), because it didn't want to go down. It wasn't really a stomach thing, it was an esophagus thing. I was a revision from a band so my issues were a bit different. They had to do magic with my scar tissue. And this caused some swelling in areas that don't really swell. So yeah - you can assume the worst, but it's actually very very common for people to not have any problems (way more common than I thought it was when I went in). You guys not pooping - unfortunately it happens. I'd say (not a Dr.) that as long as you aren't in discomfort, it's OK-ish. I mean, it's never great, but it's not horrible either. I pooped once or twice after surgery, then went either just under, or just over 2 weeks without pooping. Without having any urge to poop. Soluble Fiber + Miralax + as many fluids as you can manage. (You REALLY don't want to take additive fiber without increasing your fluids). And when I did poop, it wasn't nice. I felt like I pooped a sandpaper brick. Actually it felt like a pooped a huge sandpaper brick. And in reality, it was like a walnut. Yes, I looked. I wanted to see what 2 week old poop looked like, I guess. Or how alien the thing I just birthed really was. I was like "OMG - no... that's SO SMALL!" How our butts distort things like that, I have no idea, but they do. Wait until you have to poop, and it comes halfway out and gets stuck. Tell me what you do then.

If you keep that up, your band may slip and you may have no choice but to have a revision with sleeve done. Be careful and again, just remember why you did this. If the doctor has cleared you to eat, make better food choices, and eat foods that are high in protein and low in carbs. Eat to live, don't live to eat. Good luck.

Hello, was yours a revision from a different surgery or was sips your first surgery ?

My revision surgery from VSG to Bypass Went excellent. Not many issued, just post op pain which is normal. I get to come home today! I very happy about that especially. How is everyone else?

AZDee, I've read so many of your posts that I feel like I know you. I agree with your comments about scaring. That's initially one of the reasons I looked at Gutierrez -- his micro-surgical expertise. But now I'm trying to look at the big picture thanks to all of the honest, open feedback provided by you and others. I'm definitely concerned about scaring, technique (sculpting skills), infection rate and of course price. Because I need multiple procedures, pricing is a concern but doesn't trump the other considerations. I hate, hate, hate general anesthesia and really think twilight is a better option. But that's not enough to make me have the procedure performed in MX. Initially I too thought that affordability was only an option outside of the US, but I'm seeing more and more affordable options. I know the look I'm going for. As the girls on realself.com say, "I want to get snatched!" But..... I'm trying to be realistic about what is possible for my body type. I find that a lot of the drs. here (even in FL) give tummy tucks with a boxy shape. I'm in love with the curvy hour glass sculpting done in MX and DR. So I still have a lot more work to do. I really wanted to chat with you about your experience with Gutierrez since you're having some revision work done in TX. I read a review from someone else that wasn't thrilled with their work. Sigh..... Ally

Someone very close to me is 10 years out, has had and kept her success and never had a revision to bypass! HW 289 SW 262 VSG 5/2/18 Kaiser, Ontario - Dr. Chin

I am a Bariatric trilogy: Band at 29 years, did not loose much and regained. Sleeve at 37year, lost 70 and over 3 years regained it all. 3 weeks ago at 40 I revised to RNY. Very hopeful this will be forever.

I had my band unfilled last June. I only had 3.5 cc in my 11cc realize band and it was tight as a drum, only drops of barium would go through. I now have a GI motility disorder and still cannot eat most foods. I'm hoping to revise to VSG.

My surgeon tells you the risks and benefits of all 3, the good, the bad, and the ugly. Then makes you decide. After you've given him your response, if you ask, he'll tell you what he thinks is the best option but he wants the decision and therefore ultimately the responsibility to be made by the patient. But ultimately it is a very personal decision. How much do you need to lose? What are your health problems? How old are you? What are YOU comfortable with long term? I am a band that revised to RNY. If I knew then what I know now I would have started with RNY, but that's me. You can have success with any of the 3 surgeries if you are committed to making the lifestyle changes required....you can also fail with all 3, in fact it's reasonably easy to do so. Keep doing your research, ask questions. Talk to people that have had all 3 surgeries, if you can, talk to people that have had problems with the surgeries so you can see the good as well as the bad. Good luck!!!

One thing I have learned about plastic surgery is the amount of pain after surgery has a lot to do with your surgeon. When I had my arm surgery last year, it hurt like hell for at least the first 2 weeks. My surgeon did not mention arm support sleeves, I learned about those from a surgery support website, so I quickly ordered a pair which really helped a lot. My arms did not turn out as well as I would have hoped, they need a revision. The incision was not place correctly which lead to a 3 inch pulled area on both arms. My new surgeon will be doing the revision for this surgery also. Not worried about any pain with the revision as my new surgeon (Dr. Victor Gutierrez) is very gentle when handling tissue....

I had my band unfilled about 3 weeks ago and boy was it weird. The actual unfill was bizarre, I could always feel a pulling sensation on fills, but to have that much removed so quickly was so strange and I had a muscle spasm even! Not fun. I have a 12 cc band and had 8 1/2 in it with no restriction. My stomach felt weird for about 24 hours, I guess it was finally relaxing after being squished for 5 years! I'm revising in just 2 weeks so pretty excited.

I am on depression medication already, prior to the surgery, and i know will need to go back on it as soon as possible after. Anyone else have experience with this? When I had my band removed in March, I had to gradually step-down my anti-depressants to get them out of my system as much as possible, pre-surgery. That wasn't totally terrible, however, within a month, I had to be back on the medication, I was a big mess. I'm sure losing my band, of which I had lost 78 pounds of the 100 I needed to lose, didn't help. Not being able to revise to a sleeve due to severe erosion also was terrible. So, I had a major compounding of immediate issues, along with the regular "depressive" issues. Ugh. So anyways, anyone with experience in this regard, I would love to hear it. If you feel uncomfortable talking here in the forum, please PM me. Thanks so much! :thumbup:

Thank you, everyone! My doctor's take was I could go either way, but Bypass is the ultimate when it comes to many patients that have sleeves and need a revision due to heartburn. In my mind, If I could do one surgery and not a possible two, I thought that was the wise decision for me. She and the NP there also mention so many people really do have bypass but realize that social channels its is full of sleeve advocates, which does isolate a whole large group. So I stuck with bypass, but I have to say mentally I struggle with "why" still. Am I missing info? I am not sure!?! I am not questioning the want and need for surgery just that I am choosing the right one I do have a hiatal hernia so back to leaning to the bypass more for that reason as well..

I got lap band in 2013, and had it removed in 2021 due to developing horrible reflux. I'm in the process of revising to gastric bypass now. Lap band and sleeve are both high pressure systems that are known to cause reflux for a good amount of people. Unfortunately I wasn't aware of this when I was banded. Are you taking any PPI's to reduce stomach acid? That's fairly common after these procedures. I'd make contact with your surgeon to make them aware of what's happening.

I too am having revision surgery on 05/30 because I regained 200 lbs. yes, 200! It worked for me until it didn't and it seemed I gained weight no matter what or how little I ate so its time to do something different. I've had an endoscopy so we know what went wrong where with the surgery as a tool and I have had 14 years (12 as weight gaining) to examine my role in the failure of myself and my tool. I am determined not to make the same mistakes that I can control this time around. I am 53 and don't want to go into old age as a fat woman with a bad knee limited in how i live my life.

If your surgeon says he has complication rates anywhere near 20% RUN to a different surgeon.... Im a band to sleeve revision myself and my surgeon preferred to weight about a month between procedures so tissue could heal and would be healther when cutting/ stapling the sleeve

Hi there I was banded in August 2008 and lost 120lbs before getting pregnant in 2010. Since having my son in 2011 I have had any issues with acid reflux and not being able to get food down. I have had my bad filled/unfilled so many times and when it is empty no reflux issue but still food issues. Well finally a few weeks ago the surgeon has agreed to do the revision to sleeve if I want. The only thing that has be worried is he said my risk goes from less then 1% (never having WLS) to a 20% chance if leaking with a revision. Soy question for those that have gone through this have you had any issues with leakage? If so would you still do the surgery if you had to all over again? Thanks for taking the time to read and reply and best if luck to all of you.

I agree, make sure your surgeon has experience with revisions. When they are in there and start to remove the band they have to cut through the scar tissue to remove it and then they need to free up the part of your stomach to perform the sleeve. If they nick the stomach at all and expose gastric contents they will postpone the sleeve part at least for a couple of weeks to prevent an infection. It is a risk and it does depend on your scar tissue. Usually people do fine. It is a little tougher for the surgeon technique wise and well worth it! Good luck to you!

Think in terms of those who have the RNY gastric bypass, where the entire stomach is bypassed and set aside inactive. The stomach may atrophy over the years such that it is no longer viable, but that is over many years - people have the bypass reversed or revised to a sleeve or DS after several years and that stomach is entirely usable again.

i am going for a revision after gaining back one hundred pounds after gastric bypass.i will be having a lapband. one more appt with doctor and then waiting for approval frooom medicare/medicaid. am very nervous about losing weight presurgery diet. will i be able to do it? must get off 3meds that cuse weight gain before surgery will start weanig off in two days. am concerned about hypogycemia and hair loss and costs of diet. i hope my shopping costs go down as i will be eating less. i have leiminated sugaar adn white foods. must get off caffeine too. are htere any revisionists in here? thanku abbagirl

For those doing revision surgery - May I ask you your story??

I exercise four times per week. Running and cross-trainer. I have just went thru revision surgery and it is helping me combat this weight gain that I have struggled with since unfill, surgery, barely any fill, etc. If I didn't eat crap I probably would loose. But for me 153 is ok, not really where I liked previously. I felt more comfortable in a size 8 and 140 lbs. But until I am restricted I struggle? Go figure. I also am almost 4 years out so the doc said my stomach isn't a normal virgin one that would respond to the band like it did in the beginning. As long as I am restricted and keep my eating to 1 cup to 1.5 cups eating wise choices, exercising I was able to loose. best wishes to you. Dody

I'm on month number 15 from my sleeve surgery (revised from failed lap-band) and I've done well. I have lost 103 lbs. I've gone from my all time high of 249 down to 146 and i'm 5'1" but... I'm bored with food! I really tend to eat the same things day after day. I have literally eaten this same menu for over a year. The only time i sway is occasionally going out to eat and by that I mean like once a month, and I still only eat about seven bites of whatever it is. I need some new ideas. Here is a list of things I almost always eat. So tell me, what do you eat?? Breakfast (any one of the following) Yoplait light yogurt Quest vanilla Protein bar coffee Egg Beaters 2 pieces of bacon ....Or about every three weeks I will have a Starbucks sugar free, hazlenut, breve, latte. mmmmmm lunch (any one of the following) Lean Cuisine Garlic chicken egg rolls (200 cals) Tyson Chicken Breast salad on 5 crackers (250 cals) Mini Lunchable Tuna Snacks (or could be a meal) 24 Almonds Pictsweet Edamame (my favorite snack of all time! and only 110 calories) Sugar Free Jello Black Olives with Laughing Cow cheese wedge Pickles and cheese stick 100 Cal Smart Pop corn Supper Consists of about five bites of these meats... (always grilled) Chicken Steak Pork Salmon ...and about four bites of veggies. All of the following veggies made with onion and cut up bacon... Green Beans Yellow Squash Okra Asparagus Mixed Veggies Broccoli Cauliflower Armadillo eggs