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Hey all, I have a small hernia and GERD from sleeve surgery. My insurance is FEP Blue of MD. My doctor submitted a pre cert and FEP Blue said I needed behavioral health and nutrition visits to approve even though it’s a revision due to complications. My doctor then canceled the pre authorization and Re enrolled me to start the whole program over with again. Does this seem right ? I feel like I’ve seen other people have a very seamless process when having a complication based revision. I feel like the insurance and the doctors office is not properly communicating with me or each other. Any advice ?

Hey! I haven't logged on in so long and was also curious how everyone is doing too. Here's an update on my life over a year post op. Here is a photo of me way before my bypass, I think I wasn't at my heaviest yet but definitely pushing 320 lbs vs me last month while on vacation. I've lost about 130 lbs so far and am working on losing the last 9-10 lbs. I am finding this is when things are getting real. The honeymoon phase everyone talked about it over and I didn't even realize it until it was gone haha! It's not a bad thing, it just means that you can never give up, even after weight loss. Half of the battle is over, now it's a new battle and I think it will last for the rest of my life because I have to work hard every day to fight my obesity. I can eat pretty normally now. I aim for 1600-1700 cals a day but some days I might even get 1900 depending on how calorie dense my food is, then I tend to eat less calories the next day if that does happen. I walk 3-4 miles most days, gym 1-2 times a week and try to do some kind of outdoor activity on the weekend, usually hiking. I have been going slowly but I'm not unhappy with my progress. I'm just trying to watch my weight and enjoy how far I've come because I feel like a completely different person I can't even explain it... I am also able to eat more than 60 grams of protein a day now which is great because I lost a lot of muscle mass while losing all the weight after surgery. I eat 80-100 grams of protein a day. I am working on building my muscles back up, especially the muscles around my knees to help with my mobility (my being 340 lbs wrecked my knees). I am in physical therapy for my knees and do strength training with my boyfriend twice a week now. The thing I struggle with the most is tracking water but now that the summer is coming, I think it'll be easier to get in enough fluids since it's so hot where I live. I don't get food stuck anymore, very rarely if I've eaten too fast or food that is too hot will get stuck. I can still eat naughty foods in moderation too, too much sugar and fat makes me dump. Dumping for me means rapid heartbeat, dizzy, frequent urination, yawning, and nausea. I have been out of therapy for a while and would like to go back, especially as my ability to eat larger portions returns. I still actively have to think and fight using food as a coping mechanism but I am pretty hopeful and just keep reminding myself not to give up. How is everyone's vitamin levels and blood work? Anyone deficient in anything/have advice on what to get checked? I have gotten colds way more frequently but it's only been in the last 3 months, could just be the seasons but historically I rarely got sick.

Thanks so much for all your replies. I did try the phentermine but that didn’t work because I mainly snack at night and it wears off before then. And unfortunately with my other meds that’s the only one I was able to try so now she has me trying sleeping pills thinking if I can sleep through the night I won’t get up and snack but I think I need a stronger MG cause they don’t work. Another dr told me I can try taking like one and a half but I haven’t tried it yet cause I also read that it’s not good to take this medicine every night so I want to talk to her about that. I talked to a surgeon and he was very surprised that I am able to eat a whole 6 inch sandwich now at only two years out. That was his way of knowing how much my stomach can hold I guess was to ask how many inches of that I could eat if we went to a sandwich shop. I told him that I have been able to eat more than expected at every given stage from day one but when the hunger was gone I was able to eat what I was expected to. But after hunger returned it’s like I had no help without the restriction. I definitely couldn’t get my moneys worth at an all you can eat buffet anymore after surgery BUT, I could eat a normal serving pretty early out if I chose to. He said that I definitely need a smaller pouch which they can do with the bypass so that sounded promising that maybe it could be different?? I just wonder if like others have mentioned if all or part of the work needs to be done in my head. I am by no means opposed to trying therapy. I keep trying to find a therapist and even put a call in to see if the surgeon has any pull with one because in my area they are just not accepting new patients other than for the evaluations for surgery. He’s hasn’t called back yet but I am getting another opinion about whether going with bypass will be okay with my psyc meds since they advised against it the first time around so I will also ask him if he knows anyone that he can get me into. i have read on here that the revision weight loss is slower. I forgot about that. I hope it will still be as much though if I’m patient. I guess I am wondering if my hunger will go away the second time?? I just don’t want to yo yo down then right back up again like I did this time. I already know I sorta let everyone else down along with myself that was rooting me on and it has been very embarrassing to publicly fail at this. I almost think it would be easier to stay heavy than to fail at this again.

I'm so mad. I mean, how did it go from "we're sure this is the problem and this will fix it" to one doctor saying "I don't think this is the problem but I don't know what else it could be because all the tests are negative for anything else" and then the other doctor saying basically "well, now I have to think about if we're going to do the revision or not". Like WHAT??? Regardless of the reason for the polyps (and they both assured me over and over that the high PPI was causing them since I had NO polyps pre-surgery) the fact is, I still have horrible GERD that turns into gastritis and esophagitis if left untreated or if the PPI dose is lowered. And the revision to bypass will take care of that. SO it seems to me the revision is still warranted for that alone. I'm literally at my wits end with all this. My weight has completely stalled, I have had to really scale back my work outs, and I'm just super irritated by all of this.

I had Surgery the 5 th . Gastric Bypass with Hiatal Hernia repair. I also struggle with having energy ( when I first wake up) then I start doing normal things like laundry and then I am drained. I hope this gets better, I would like to start exercising more

I agree with Arabesque. Letting old habits slip back in is what causes weight gain. If you let that happen again after bypass, then yes, you'll gain weight again. So you'll need to really monitor yourself this time around. Even at almost eight years out, I have to watch myself like a hawk or my weight will start heading north. Arabesque is also right when she says that weight loss is almost always slower after revision - BUT...you can lose the weight again if you really work at it!!

I know it sucks, but you definitely want to be sure it is and will fix the problem before moving onto another surgery. I will say, I had HORRIBLE GERD pre-op. I mean I was on 2 PPI's PLUS still eating tums daily. I would still wake up in the middle of the night with acid draining out of my throat almost vomiting it up.. Didn't matter what I ate, how long I waited for bed. I tried everything. Anyway, point is... bypass and fixing the hiatal hernia COMPLETELY resolved the issue. I am 13 months post op and have not had one hint of acid problems since literally the day of my surgery. I had to stay on low dose pepcid during recovery and then he took me off of it at 2 months post- op and I have never looked back. Off all meds and haven't had a single tums. So, I REALLY hope it works for you too if that is what is best for you! You have been on a roller coaster ride and I really hope they get it figured out and you start feeling good! Wishing you the very best!!❤️

Oh dude, that suuuuuucks. 😢 I'd be ready to kick someone too. "I don't know" is an inadequate non-diagnosis for putting the breaks on the revision.

Will a revision help you to lose weight again? Yes but your weight loss will likely be at a slower rate than after your initial surgery. Will it help you keep the weight off in the future? Well, like your first surgery, that depends on you. The revision will offer more physical restrictions though many of these fade like your appetite returns & you’re able to eat larger portions. What the revision surgery, like your initial surgery, won’t do is anything about changing your head & your thinking about food, your eating habits, food choices, etc. That’s the work you have to do: establish a new relationship with food & a new sustainable way of eating that supports you maintaining a lower weight without hindering or limiting how you want to live your life. The one thing we all have in common is that our old way of eating & how we looked at food did us no favours. It led to us all being obese & affected our health. Many find a therapist helpful in understanding your eating habits & relationship with food. Your surgeon or their team should be able to recommend someone if this is a path you’d like to try.

So after my surgery to remove the last of the polyps on the 14th, my GI surgeon said he's clearing me foe revision surgery, but said he doesn't really want me to have the surgery. I asked why and he said "At first, I was sure you had the polyps because of the PPI, but now I don't think that's the case" so I said "Ok, so what's causing them?" and he said "I really don't know. I think maybe you might just be someone who makes polyps" and I said "I don't see how that's the case. I've never had any before, and I didn't have any when I had the sleeve surgery. I didn't start getting them until the GERD, gastritis, and esophagitis started and I had to go on the really high PPI for a long amount of time" and he said "I'm clearing you for the surgery, but like I said, I don't think you should have it". So I called my bariatric surgeon's office today and talked to them about this and now my surgeon said he needs to talk to the GI surgeon and then "think about what to do about the surgery" and will let me know if the revision is going to happen or now. Ok, WHAT??? How is this real life right now? They BOTH agreed the polyps were caused by the 80mg of Nexium I have to take every day just to keep the GERD at bay. They BOTH agreed a revision was necessary to get rid of the GERD and to keep the gastritis and esophagitis from coming back again. They BOTH agreed that the revision would solve my issues and let me get back to my life. All of the polyps and lining that were tested all came back negative for everything. And now that I'm finally able to have the revision, I might not get it??? The insurance approved it 2 months ago!!! Who knew THAT wouldn't be the fight I'd have for the revision?!?! I don't know what to do. Now I'm in yet another holding pattern and I don't even understand why. I can't stay on high amounts of PPI forever. I'm so upset. I thought I was at the end of this nightmare. I just don't understand what the issue is.

Here, they call one surgery to another a revision. yup - fingers crossed.

Well I thought it was called a revision when you went from sleeve to bypass but today they called it a conversion. Regardless, yes, I believe I am gonna do it. I have an appointment with another doctor just to make sure they think it’s a good option for me too but assuming so it’s fingers crossed it works better the second time around.

Hi. Sooooo - I had a band fitted in 2006 and had it worked great for 16 years; I went from 280lbs to 91lbs and it was great. My band slipped a year ago and i've regained quite a bit of it back. I'm having a bypass on June 1st and I do sometimes think 'will this work a second time around'? have a great surgeon here in the UK and I was satisfied the bypass was the best option for me. I'm going to give it my best shot as I know I cannot go back to how I was before. This has to work as there isn't really anywhere else to go from a bypass. Are you having a revision?

I think I would be sleeve to bypass conversion or revision whichever you want to call it. I had my sleeve two years ago and lost down to 168 stayed there for about two months and then the appetite came back and I’ve gained it all back. I am wondering if the bypass would be any different for me. Is it ever successful the second time around. Has anyone lost weight with revision and kept it off.

Calcium citrate is preferred for better absorption, however I was told calcium carbonate is fine - it just has to be taken with food for optimal absorption. Not sure if the same goes for bypass patients, other surgery centers may also have different recommendations.

chews, chewables, and liquids should all be fine. Bypass patients are usually told not to take gummies, but the other versions you mentioned are fine. Make sure your calcium supplements are calcium citrate, because we don't absorb calcium carbonate well (the person above mentioned Adora - maybe those are OK for sleeve patients, but not bypass patients). The Bariatric Fusion ones the other poster mentioned are fine for bypassers, though. The first few months post-op I took Bariatric Advantage calcium chews, those are fine for us too (later I just took calcium citrate tablets)

I’m day 4 recovery. I feel awful. The pain, itchiness, dizziness, lack of fluids and protein. I am so mad I wish I never did this. I’m in a bad place and don’t see a way out. I feel deceived by my surgeon and overall left alone and let down. I need help

Could you please share your favorite supplements brand for multi vitamins/iron/calcium and why they’ve worked best for you? I need to order some and am confused between chews (like Starbursts?) and liquid (better absorption?) and chewables (chalky?). I care most about proper absorption bc I’m having gastric bypass and want to keep my levels healthy. Thanks all!

Hi everyone; i'm in the UK and having my surgery (gastric bypass) on 1st June. A little nervous but mostly excited ☺️ - glad to have found this site 👍

as others have said, weight loss after revisions is almost always slower than after a virgin surgery. Plus you're starting at a lower BMI to boot (and starting BMI is another factor in how fast or slow the weight loss is). Honestly, even given that, you're still losing faster than most people who've had a revision (and even faster than some of us slow-pokes who had a virgin surgery!). You are doing great - I'd quit worrying about it. Stay if the scale if it's playing with your mind too much - maybe just weigh once a week or a couple of times a month. If the general trend is down, you're good.

Hi guys! Yesterday was the beginning of month 8 for me. I’ve been doing a lot of reflection. I am hoping to reach 100 lbs by year 1. Which will be on 8/22/23. I’m about 20 lbs away…give or take. I have to keep reminding myself of a few things along the way: 1. My surgery is a revision because my lapband slipped and eroded. I was warned weight loss would be slower than the first time…and it is. (No comparison shopping for me! Lol) 2. I’m older than I was when I first had surgery. That also makes a really big difference. 3. I have to make sure I am keeping myself aware of the difference between stalling out because my body is adjusting and stalling out because I am making the wrong choices in terms of eating and movement…that last has been happening more than not. 4. Beating myself up has never helped me. It doesn’t motivate me, it doesn’t make me make better choices, it doesn’t guarantee that I’ll do what needs doing. It just makes me feel bad. 5. Giving myself grace doesn’t mean allowing myself to eat anything and not move my body. It means I will acknowledge when I’ve gone off path, where I need to improve, and taking those next steps to do that WITHOUT first making myself feel like s**t. My stats so far: Total loss from pre-surgery to now 81. Loss needed to meet my year 1 goal, 19. Loss needed to reach my ultimate goal, 36. I’ve lost a total of 50 inches all around! which is great. Thats all for me. And its a lot. Lol. Thanks for reading if you got through it all. I hope you all have/have had a great month eight! (Hey that rhymes!)

You're losing much faster than I did (I averaged about 2 pounds/1kg per week), and I wasn't a revision patient. Just be patient and kind to yourself and stick to your plan and you'll get where you want to be.