Anyone have a sleeve fail and did bypass? HELP

[peacheeie 14]

Hi all!! Ok, Short, sweet and to the point, I had a band for 7 years, no problems until port needed to be revised. Band removed (much to my surprise)! After band was removed, I gained 50 lbs!! sleeve surgery in January....I have felt HARDLY ANY restriction and kept remembering right before I went in for the sleeve, I looked at the surgeon and said "a banana sized stomach"? he looked at me and said "yes, and if you need another band in the future we can do that"....this is when I was being wheeled into surgery! This comment has been on my mind for 3 months and the fact that I really feel no restriction has really had me wondering so I went to another surgeon with my reports, tests, etc. told me in his opinion, my stomach is larger than normal and that's most likely why I have not felt restriction. I have to go for an endoscopy to look at the scar tissue...depending on the results, he may be able to make my sleeve smaller OR if there is too much scar tissue, he may have to do a bypass. I'm really freaked out by this news and I truly do not want to go through this again plus, insurance will not likely pay for another surgery. I honestly am just researching bypass now since it could be an option for me. The surgeon today did not in any way bash or put down my doctor that did the sleeve, in fact, he said it looked good! And, he said that the scar tissue could have been why my stomach was left larger. I forgot to mention that since January 9th, I have lost about 20 lbs...that's it! I'm exercising, drinking my Water, doing my Protein and just started eating normal food...if that's what you call it! I'm just looking for some advice, words of wisdom from anyone who has been in my shoes. Thanks so much

Dee

[Martene81 383]

I'm in the pre op stage so I can't offer any help but I'd like to follow the thread because I'm trying to decide between the sleeve or bypass. I've heard a lot more people talk about little or no restrictions with the sleeve so for that reason am leaning more towards bypass so I don't have to go through another surgery in the future.

hopefully someone can offer some advice on how to help so you don't have to go through another surgery.

[emma88 19]

I haven't had the sleeve done but I do have a lap band and I'm on my pre op diet to remove the lap band and do gastric by pass my surgeon informed me in my case because of the lap band and scar tissue I would be better off with gastric it's also looked at as the gold standard I realize gastric bypass is scarey but it's been around the longest and that's what I'm going for

[peacheeie 14]

That's good to hear. I'm happy for you and I wish my surgeon had discussed this with me. I feel so let down and I'm mad I may have to go through all this red tape again. Unfortunately, insurance most likely won't pay for another surgery and self pay is not an option at this point. My new doctor (which is the one who did my band 7 years ago) will be taking care of me from now on. I, for some reason, was meant to go through this journey. I have not figured that out yet because this information is still so new for me and I'm still absorbing the fact that I was not given what I paid for or what I was told I was getting. I feel betrayed. my next step is to have the endoscopy done so we can see if there is actual scar tissue that would have kept the surgeon from giving me a smaller stomach. If there is not, I will at that time take it up with him but for now, I have to just absorb this fact and trust me it is not an easy one.

[woo woo 872]

You have lost 20 pounds already, that's a very decent loss for someone coming off a band revision. Especially considering you only had 50 to lose. That's already nearly half your extra weight.

I would focus on following my program and getting my exercise etc and give it some time before thinking about another surgery.

It seems a bit premature for all this drama and feeling betrayed.

Just my opinion. Good luck either way.

Edited March 17, 2015 by woo woo

[peacheeie 14]

You have lost 20 pounds already, that's a very decent loss for someone coming off a band revision. Especially considering you only had 50 to lose. That's already nearly half your extra weight.

I would focus on following my program and getting my exercise etc and give it some time before thinking about another surgery.

It seems a bit premature for all this drama and feeling betrayed.

Just my opinion. Good luck either way.

Your are absolutely correct and I remind myself of that everyday...I am thankful for being healthy enough to really focus on my routine and my program. It was a "gut feeling" when my surgeon had said before surgery that if I needed a lap band down the road, that would be an option. Those words have stayed with me and prob was not the wisest of things to tell your patient before being wheeled into sleeve surgery!!! I fought the insurance company for months to get this surgery and there are so many other factors that happened so that is why I feel betrayed and let down. Thank you for your opinions and I truly appreciate everyone's thoughts....that's why I posted...ty????