Past VB Gastroplasty patient

[former_vbg 198]

Ok, I just found this site today doing some google searching on the Vertical Sleeve and Dr. Stanley Hoehn from Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Kansas City.

I had Vertical Banded Gastroplasty back in 1998. The surgery went well, had no recovery issues, and lost a lot of weight in the first year, never quite reached my goal weight- but I was feeling much better than where I started out. I think I lost a little more than #100 and would like to have lost another 30# or so.

What went wrong? Researching this stuff on the internet wasn't there yet. I researched the surgeon, and did as much research the old fashioned way as possible. The challenge was that I didn't really have much for a post-surgery support network. I don't blame the surgeon, and I didn't realize how important this would be. There was no recommendation to work with a nutritionist or even a counselor and so basically, I have started to put the weight back on over the years. Sometimes loosing doing Atkins, and I have a very physically active lifestyle- but the weight usually still comes back.

Soooo.... a friend of mine had I think the gastric banding done a few years ago and she seemed happy with it. It took her awhile to loose it - but did reach her goal weight.

My question is if anyone has ever had the gastric bypass surgery and then had the sleeve done. I just finally got a copy of my surgery report from 1998 to take to the new surgeon so he can determine surgically if I am even a candidate. He does the banding, sleeve and RnY.

Any thoughts any cares to share would be appreciated. Thanks.

[Tiffykins 673]

The VBG surgery can be revised to the sleeve. It's risky just like with any revision so I would make sure your surgeon has revision experience. The issue will be scar tissue, and how much stomach tissue is salvageable once the VBG is taken down. RNY to VSG is super risky, and not recommended, I know of only 3 surgeons that perform RNY TO full DS. Most won't do a malabsorptive procedure(RNY) to a restrictive only(VSG) procedure unless there is something wrong with the RNY pouch and even then it's super complicated and not recommended. Reattaching that intestine is pretty tricky, and extremely complicated.

Best wishes in your research. I know several VBG patients that have revised to RNY with success but they struggle with regain, and stoma issues.

Keep us posted on what your surgeon says, and fingers crossed that you get good news ! ! !

[former_vbg 198]

The VBG surgery can be revised to the sleeve. It's risky just like with any revision so I would make sure your surgeon has revision experience. The issue will be scar tissue, and how much stomach tissue is salvageable once the VBG is taken down. RNY to VSG is super risky, and not recommended, I know of only 3 surgeons that perform RNY TO full DS. Most won't do a malabsorptive procedure(RNY) to a restrictive only(VSG) procedure unless there is something wrong with the RNY pouch and even then it's super complicated and not recommended. Reattaching that intestine is pretty tricky, and extremely complicated.

Best wishes in your research. I know several VBG patients that have revised to RNY with success but they struggle with regain, and stoma issues.

Keep us posted on what your surgeon says, and fingers crossed that you get good news ! ! !

Ok, I'm going to have to ask you to explain a few things to me. I'm not completely up to speed on all the acronyms. DS is ? and VSG, is that vertical sleeve gastroplasty?

What's also interesting is when I was doing research earlier today, I learned that the Dr. who did my surgery back then has since died (5 yrs ago and he was only 53 when he died). Also, that he had several lawsuits against him and even post death regarding doing different procedures than what he told the patients. He must have switched to doing Dudenal Switch or something.

[Tiffykins 673]

DS= Duodenal Switch, and VSG = Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy

I've heard of a lot of VBG surgeons getting sued over quack job surgeries, and messing up the surgery.

[former_vbg 198]

DS= Duodenal Switch, and VSG = Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy

I've heard of a lot of VBG surgeons getting sued over quack job surgeries, and messing up the surgery.

Yeah, his name was Dr. Timothy Sifers. I don't believe I received a different surgery- all the things I was finding on this seemed to all be a few years after I had my surgery. I'll report back what the new surgeon says after he reviews my surgery report. It will also depend on insurance approval. I don't have the funds to self-pay.