Search the Community

Has anyone seen stats on the incidence of leaks specific in AGB - VSG revisions? I mean universal stats, not any particular revision surgeon's stats. My grandfather died of sepsis from a stomach ulceration, and an aunt recently spent 12 weeks in the hospital after a surgeon nicked her esophagus during a procedure to remove a tumor. It's definitely a risk that is close to home. (If you can't tell, I'm one of those analytical/data sponge type people!) It makes sense that 2-in-1 might lead to hier rates of complication, and the rationale for doing a revision in 2 separate surgeries make perfect sense. I wonder why the tendency is to do them in a single procedure. I'm also adding to my list of questions for the surgeon -- does he take precautions for this, what type of staple technique does he use, assuming I have significant scar tissue, what changes? Etc.

I'll do my best. I'm 3 months out and your mileage may vary... I've read many reports of consistent restriction from VSG vs. tha random restriction I had from AGB. Is your restriction consistent? Is it consistent both in terms of times of day you can eat and types of food you can eat? Does VSG seem to be effected by the same variables as AGB? (e.g. flying, stress, humidity, PMS/water retention...)The retriction is extremely consistent. I seem to be a little tighter first thing in the morning, but it isn't too bad. I am able to eat the same quantity at every meal, but I seem to want to eat a little more often in the afternoon. For example, I am more likely to have a snack or 2 in the afternoon than I am in the morning. The amount I eat in one sitting is no different. With AGB "stuck" foods caused me discomfort or pain, often quite a bit of pain, and often for a fairly long time. Does food stick with VSG? I've read about people brining stuff up, but is this because of failure to pass through some stoma, or is it because of eating more than you can hold? Or both? Does it hurt like it did with your band? When it comes up, is it "saliva + stuck bits" like with the band, or is it actual vomit?I never vomitted withe the band and I do not vomit with the sleeve. When I eat too much (and that is the only time I am uncomfortable) I am very uncomfortable for about 15 minutes. I wouldn't call it pain so much as it feels like I have to burp and it is stuck. SOmetimes I get a wave of nausea. Sometimes I get a flushed feeling along with some exhaustion as if my stomach just demanded that all my blood and energy be diverted to my stomach to process my food. It's not the same feeling that you have with the band. Also, I only get this feeling when I eat too much and I don't chew very well. With the band EVERYTHING got stuck because of the texture, dryness, etc. I know some dumping can occur with VSG - do you dump? Is it on specific foods, or random?I haven't had any terrible reactions to food. I have foud that I don't like the taste of anything sweet now, but a small piece of cake does not send me to the toilet. What period is the greatest risk for developing a leak? I see references to 2 weeks, 2 months... I was told 2 weeks, but I think there may be risk up to 2 months, because that is how long it would take for incisions to completely heal. Is leak the (currently known) most likely complication of VSG? I see people talking about leaks, and pOuch stretching, but that's about it. Surely there's something else out there...I have not heard of much else besides complications from leaks. There are strictures that some people get when their pouch heals too narrow in the middle. There are peripheral effects like dehydration, and Vitamin deficiency. WIthout the need for fills, what does your post-op care look like? Do you have periodoc leak tests as a bandster might have period fluoro or xray?My US doctor does not have flouro or barium swallow as part of their follow up protocol. My MX surgeon recommends a barium swallow at 3 months, which I have not had yet. The US protocol is a series of bloodwork to make sure you are not nutrient deficient. It is my understanding that a leak would be apparent in profound discomfort, fever, etc. What do you like best about your VSG?What do you like least about your VSG?I love that it works. Sounds like your band experience has been good, but mine just didn't work. 2 things about the sleeve are tough for me: 1) that I needed a sleeve at all. 2) the recovery is so much harder than the band. The sleeve really forces you to eat less - this is a good thing, but it is so hard to get your mind adjusted to your new reality. I think having a bad befoer is helpful because you are used to not drinking with food, taking small bites, etc. What did you not know going in, that you wish you did?I devoured the posts on this board, so there were not a lot of surprises. I think that the experience of going through it is different than reading about it. I keep reading "recovery is a lot harder than with the band," but no one really elaborates. Can someone please share their comparison of recovery?liquids for 3 weeks. That is rough. Also, your stomach is so much more damaged with VSG that you simply can't eat the way you did after band surgery. Remember that after band surgery you could eat fairly normally for several weeks before you got your first fill? This is extreme restriction and serious stomach altering from day 1. You may be horribly exhausted for 6 weeks or so. You will be desperate to eat something after the liquid phase and you will be very disappointed when you find you can't tolerate hardly any food at all. It is a very tough mental transition. How hard did you find the transition in terns of behavior? I'm assuming there are shared rules such as chewing to goo, small bites, waiting between bites, etc.Same rules apply. I think it varies with each person as far as how hard it is. I find those rules easy to follow. The hard part for me was dealing with the restricted post-op diet. It is a tough emotional ride the first month. Do you have a "soft stop" with VSG? (I never had one with AGB, but I'm wondering if it exists with VSG)Don't know what a "soft stop" is? Did anyone out thyere have a difficult revision due to scar tissue/etc. with the band?There are a few people on this board who have. I had my band for 3.5 years and I had adhesions on my liver and stomach. These were corrected in my surgery and it was not presented as being excessively dangerous. I went to a VERY experienced surgeon with regard to revision. My surgery took about 90 minutes. Any bathroom problems? (e.g. the terrible stinkies DSers are known for)No - I have been really regular (for the most part) since surgery. I also found that my gas is not very smelly at all. Must be my new diet? It seems like most people encounter significant heartburn. Is reflux an issue with VSG? Is the heartburn long term, or does it resolve after a while?Yes, acid is a problem. My doc said to take an omeprazole based acid reducer for several months after surgery, whether I have symptoms or not. I had acid issues (even with the PPI) for the first month. I have since switched to Zegerid OTC and have had no problem at all. I may try to wean off the acid reducer around the 6 month mark. Some people take them forever, some people don't. I did not have any acid probelms with the band or before the band. Are your food intolerances (if any) the same as with your AGB?Not at all. I found that my band was really picky with dry food or certain textures. I did not eat chicken for 3.5 years because I could not get it down with the band. Right now, all food goes down just fine. The difference is what you feel like after the food is safely in your stomach. Sugar makes me queasy. Chicken is my new favorite :-) Best of luck on your decision

And personally i just cant do the proyein powders ANY flavor i gag anyway they r made.....i have bought everything from protein pudding to unflavored but i just cant drink them.....i have great results and like the Isopure clear from GNC it is $5 a bottle w 40 grams of protein and taste good, can also b used as a clear liquid! Also the first cpl days were pure hell for me, but i also had the revision, my friend had just the sleeve and she did awesome. The first week u will b sore and tired, make sure to get b12 that saved me and nade me feel sooooo much better!

I agree about taste changing after surgery, I always bought the costco one and loved it, now I tolerate them because I have so much. Whatever you get now, get enough to just get by till surgery, just incase. P.s isopure are nasty to me, I only tried one and anytime I think a out trying another kind in my fridge I get nauseous. Revision 1/31/13 by Dr Cabrera and Venezuela in MX

I'm not understanding your post. It says you had lapband surgery in 2009. Are you thinking about a revision surgery?

Good thing you are in Georgia instead of Fall River Mass. That would bring us a whole new set of problems Hope your insides smooth down and recover, then if you want to revise, your body will be healed enough to let you..

patty: What was the population of this country when the founding fathers worked their magic? What was the standard mode of travel? How did they get across great rivers and the great divide? If it were only as simple as you'd like to make it, we'd all be very happy campers. It just is not that simple when there are so many people who comprise such a vast area of land. Problems come up and they must be solved for the good of the state and the good of the people. It absolutely would never get done if we all just chose up sides and donated a few bucks. If you prefer living in a country like you suggest, why don't you find a little island and live there? If you want to be an American, and you want to live here, don't you want it to be better? It won't be better if everyone just decides to stop paying their taxes. And it is disengenuous to say that everything can be run on donations. I get that you resent welfare. I get that you think that there are too many people who depend on it their whole lives. Why don't you get involved in revising the programs instead of just making the claim that they're unfair because you have to help pay for them. Someone also seemed to be suggesting that black people and Indians are primarily the ones on welfare in this country. I think that there are more white people on welfare than any other race in this country but that may depend wholly on which programs you are researching.

L2L- just read that you're revision was okay'd .YAY!!!!!!!!!!! Now you'll be just fine. I've always found Friday the 13th to be lucky. May it be for you as well! Hang in there.

i am so sorry to hear this. i just had a revision and i can't imagine what it would be like to have to live with a slipped band. can you appeal the insurance now that you've gained the weight? before my revision i was living on soups and ice cream too. i totally get it. luckily, i only had about 6 weeks of living that way. you really need to push for the surgery. there must be a way to make them see that it IS necessary for your health and well-being! that said, i am impressed at how you are taking the bull by the horns instead of letting it kick you in the rear. i am rooting for you and i'm here if you need support. f

I have complained about his comments more than once and blocked him...his post still show up. Deleting the tread would be a good idea. I had my RNY revision with only 60lbs to go...I have co-morbidities....this I making me doubt my choices...joining this site included.

All good here also. Hi from Australia. Band to bypass revision Starting weight was 229.3 lb /104 kg now 185lb/ 84 kg. surgery was 13 may. Just starting to feel hungry a little more than before. Have no trouble with any food. Although I haven't tried anything naughty. Doing 60 gm of protien from food and just starting to get all my water in. Only problem I have had was urinary tract infection. All good here!!!

I am seeing a surgeon tomorrow for advice on a revision so will take it from there. I always believed that the stomach could never return to its complete original size so that is why I was so shocked at what my gastro doc told me. He said it looked large and normal sized so that combined with my short lived restriction I would be very curious to know what's what inside. I need to research more about the fundus...it looks like it might play a huge part too. Thank you for your help Xx

I had revision surgery bypass to bypass on 12/23/13 and I'm having a lot of left side pain. I can't bend over, sleep on my side, or ride in the car to long. I have no desire to eat or drink forcing myself. I am on soft foods now. I know I got to do better or there will be no wait loss.I am in the same boat. Had surgery January 6. Lots of left side pain. Today was the first day I actually got in and out of bed by myself. If I stay up too long, I get nauseous from the pain. I'm struggling getting enough fluids in. Everything tastes bad.

Hello all. I am a December gastric bypass post op. I originally had the gastric sleeve surgery on September 2nd 2013. I was having horrible acid reflux that was resulting to me aspirating gastric acid almost every night. So, I just had a revision surgery to the gastric bypass on December 10th 2013.

I had revision surgery bypass to bypass on 12/23/13 and I'm having a lot of left side pain. I can't bend over, sleep on my side, or ride in the car to long. I have no desire to eat or drink forcing myself. I am on soft foods now. I know I got to do better or there will be no wait loss.

Well I had my surgery today. I'm very bummed they couldn't do the sleeve today. There was too much scar tissue, so they only removed my lap band. I will go back in two months to have the revision to sleeve and v the hernia repair. I'm in a fair amount of pain right now, feeling disappointed, I know its best this way. Ill keep you posted. Hope all you who were sleeved today are doing ok. Hugs! Jen

Hi NH-Pam, I have 'choking' from the band at night and a lot of vomiting during the day and night. I had gastroscopy and it proved that my esophagus is all pebly instead of smooth. The Doctor took biopsy and luckily I don't have cancer. He loosened the band and suggested revision surgery. Now it is up to me to decide whether it will be sleeve or mini GBP. Did you have revision and if you did how is it with the reflux now?

Yay Deb! Seeing family is always good. Glad you are losing. Take it slow and easy as you get used to your band's new rules! Melody, my 2 cents. Without any form of WLS, you know what will happen. You do. I do. We all do. Else we would not be here working our bands. I'd not hesitate to revise to another procedure now that I've "been to "Paris" as it were. I don't want to go back to the land of high blood pressure, the road to diabetes, heart disease, and not liking my body. Talk, talk, talk to your surgeon. If he has to remove the band, and he can revise during the same operation, why not? Why risk two surgeries? But, if you revise and leave us here at LBT, as Jim Carrey would say in the Grinch, "I'll hunt you down and gut you like a fish!"

Well, Good news Blis Ok'ed me after all for the band revision surgery to sleeve today. So I won't have to sign all my rights away after all to have the surgery. Though I am still self pay the Blis coverage will still be in effect for this surgery. YAY! After all I've been through with this band I was worried to have this hanging over my head and possibly change my surgery plans. Now to just take the class I missed due to this upset and I'm on for being sleeved June 20th!!!!!!!

Washington (CNN) -- President Obama blasted Senate Republicans on Monday for blocking a small-business assistance bill, calling their opposition "pure partisan politics." The country needs a "full-scale attack" on economic sluggishness, he said at the White House. "While we have taken a series of measures and come a long way ... too many Americans are still looking for work, and too many communities are far from being whole again," he said. The president also said his economic team is "hard at work" on a series of new measure designed both to spark short-term hiring and lay the foundation for long-term economic growth. Among other things, Obama said the administration will continue to push for an extension of middle class tax cuts, new incentives for clean energy research and development, and initiatives to help rebuild infrastructure. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, released a statement immediately after Obama's remarks criticizing the president and Democratic congressional leaders for dramatically increasing the size of the national debt while doing little to restore stronger economic growth. "Instead of growing jobs as promised, Washington Democrats have grown the size of the national debt, the federal government and the unemployment rate," McConnell said. "It's no surprise that most Americans think the country is on the wrong track and that Democrat policies have failed to do anything to fix their top concern, the economy." Growing economic jitters amid new signs of a slow recovery remain a top political issue in the runup to November's midterm elections. The U.S. economy sputtered to a near stop in the second quarter, according to estimates from the government released Friday, although the slowdown wasn't as bad as many had feared. The nation's gross domestic product, the broadest measure of economic activity, was revised sharply lower to an annual growth rate of 1.6 percent in the three months ending in June. The initial reading had been for a 2.4 percent growth rate in the period. The bill currently stuck in the Senate authorizes the creation of a $30 billion lending fund. The Treasury Department would run the program, which would deliver cheap capital to community banks, defined as those with less than $10 billion in total assets. The idea is that community banks are the ones that do the bulk of lending to small businesses and so by pumping capital into them, it will get in the hands of Main Street businesses. Other key components of the bill would provide $12 billion worth of tax relief for small businesses between 2010 and 2020, according to an estimate from the Joint Committee on Taxation. The bill also increases Small Business Administration loan limits and extends loan sweeteners through the end of the year. It offers several tax cuts for small businesses, to both encourage investment and entrepreneurship. The legislation also provides $1.5 billion in grants to state lending programs that can't rely on depleted state coffers for more cash. This bill is paid for and doesn't add to the deficit. The republicans are always yapping about small business but when they have a chance to vote for this bill they don't. More evidence that they just want the economy to get worse to improve their chances in November. How very sad that some will be duped to voting for these people. And to Mitch - I have this to say: This is the best you've got? Pres. Obama slams you for holding up this bill even for a vote and all you can do is say the democrats have increased the deficit? Hey, Mitch, why don't you tell us how much the deficit will increase with that unnecessary tax cut for the rich you support? Huh? What's that I hear? The silence is deafening.

Something to consider when thinking about getting a revision to a vertical sleeve or a bypass. In both of these surgeries, the stomach continues to produce ghrelin (bypass) or learns how to start producing it again after the stomach is removed (vertical sleeve). They are beginning to see a number of bypass and sleeve patients come back for a band in order to control this hunger. In the case of bypass and sleeve, you still have to control what you put in your mouth and how much. Neither surgery absolves the patient of responsibility. If the posts on a few other forums (mainly bypass and sleeve people) are any indication, many of these people only lose the weight they would have as a result of surgery but never lose the rest. Quite a few end up gaining the weight back. Yes there are some successful people, but if you read their posts it's because they understand that they still have to use self-control and put in the hard work. WLS...whether band, bypass or sleeve...is not a magic bullet. At some point *we* have to put in the hard work and if we don't/won't, well then we'll just have to get used to being fat for the rest of our lives. .

Bambiv, I too am afraid of failing. I had gastric sleeve 18 months ago and never could get below 190. That was at the 9month mark and I has lost 50 lbs. Then the pounds started slowly adding on until I hit 200 again. That's when my dr suggested we look at a revision. I had bypass done on 6/28/2012. I CAN'T fail at this as it is the only option I have left. I have to get the weight off. After the first surgery I never joined a forum or support group. I now realize how important it is going to be to help me be successful. I now feel like I'm reading blogs, forums, or Internet searches all the time trying to make sure I'm doing what I need to do and feeling the way I'm supposed to feel. You will do amazing and I wish you the best I your weightloss journey.

I am finally approved ...revision surgery at 51!!!!! December 28th is the date.....yay!!!!

I turned 56 in September, had revision from lap band to Bypass on December 18th. Best decision ever!!

I'm 51 and having surgery on the April 27th....excited and terrified . Revision band to bypass. I was feeling like I was too old to start all over but this group gives me hope Sent from my iPad using the BariatricPal App