Gastric Sleeve Revision Surgery

[Grek79Ital 18]

The decission to have Weight Loss Surgery was not a easy one, but it was a logical decission. I was a 33 yo Male, 5ft11in 302 pounds.

I have been battling with weight loss for many years, I have tried all diets and spent thousands and thousands of dollars on them, Nutrisystem x3 times, Weight Watchers, Slim Fast, Herbal Life, Nutripia Fresh food Delivery, GNC Total Lean.

I have lost weight on all those diets, but nothing significant. I suffer from bulging disks in my back and have had 2 arthoscopic right knee surgeries which prevent me from excercising.

My family has a history of Obesity, Cardiac, Hight Blood Pressure, Diabetes, High Cholestorol. I see myself gaining weight, and slowing down, I am tired, and my whole body is in pain, all the time.

I wasnt able to do things I wanted to do, because my body just wouldnt do it, The attempt at just normal walks, i would be in pain.

So I was discussing the options with my boyfriend, he mentioned to me that a radio DJ from local radio station Z100 had weight loss surgery, and I looked him up, at this point, I never heard of the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, I only knew of the Lap Band, and the Bypass, which both, I was not happy about, I heard about huge failures from the Lap Band, and I didnt like the idea of re routing my intestines, let alone did I ever think i was a candidate for weight loss surgery either.

So I decided to google the radio DJ, and looked up where he had the surgery, I landed on the website of New York Bariatric Group, after browsing their website, and learning about different types of surgeries, I filled out the quick contact form to make an appointment for a consulation, they promptly called me back the next day and I made an appointment for March 14, 2012.

March 14, 2012, I had an appointment with Dr. Spencer Holover for initial consultation, he explained every surgery in detail and told me, I didnt have to make a decission on the actual procedure I wanted, until my last appointment, when it is time to make the surgery date. Which i was relieved about, because I had my own research to do (which I highly recommend).

I left the office, feeling very informed, and not pressured into making a rapid huge decission, The office staff was extremely welcoming, and pleasant to deal with, they handed me a folder with information in it, and told me, all I had to do, was fill out the information in the folder, and they would handle everything on my behalf, and they did.

During the 6 months required by my insurance, I did my own research, which consisted of a lot of self made videos from people who actually had the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, Bypass, and Lap Band, and I started leaning towards the Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy, it seemd the most successful, with minimal complications, and I liked the fact of still keeping my anatomy, just less of it. Up until the 5 month, I stll have never made the decission, I tossed the idea around with the psychologist, until I sat down and said, it was the Vertical Sleeve gastrectomy I was going to have.

I was sleeved September 18th, 2012, I did well, initially, over the time I went from 302 pounds to my lowest weight of 226, as time went by, I starting being able to eat more, and i was putting weight on again, and i was feeling less and and less restriction, initially i went back to the surgeon and they said to see the nutritionist, and in my mind i am like here we go again, being pushed off to a nutritionist, they aren't going to tell me anything i don't already know, i have always felt that they aren't helpful at all, and they all happen to be super skinny lol, i eventually stopped going to the doctor and just dealt with it, fast forward to 2015, and i have gained 40+ pounds and said I have to go back to the surgeon, he ordered a endoscopy and the results showed stretching in the top and bottom of my stomach, and they said there are options available which were Band over sleeve, revision of the sleeve or bypass, I already knew i didn't want the band or the bypass, so I said lets revise the sleeve.

My revision surgery is scheduled for 1/25/16, insurance approval was a breeze, I have GHI/Blue Cross Blue Shield, I needed to get pulmonary, cardiac, psych evals, but other than that, everything was good, wish me luck!

Anyone here gone through a revision?

[Dontjudgeme 1]

I'm having the same issues as you. I had my sleeve done in 2012. My lowest weight was 174 but now I'm up to 197. Since having my sleeve I've never missed a beat with barfing. I recently had a endoscopy and a upper gi but the doctor said I was stretched but couldn't tell why I've gained weight. I don't eat a lot. He's sending me to a weightless doctor. He said if things don't change with the barfing and heartburn we will consider going to the bypass.

I didn't realize that you could revise the sleeve. Have you looked at the risk? What's the recovery time? How much weight does the doctor think you will lose with the revised sleeve? Keep us posted afterwards. I'm thinking I should go to another doctor. I would love to follow your journey. Good luck on the 25th!!

[Grek79Ital 18]

The risks are the same, except, if you sleeve to much, you can end up with a blockage and then they would need to do a bypass, the surgeon told me that i should expect to get back on track with the revision, I will definitely keep this thread updated, right now I am doing the pre surgical diet, :-(

[Scottyd1264 73]

Just so I understand, they are going to make your stomach even smaller? I think I read that the bypass was reversible

[Grek79Ital 18]

Scottyd1264, they are fixing what is wrong with the sleeve, and by that, making it smaller.

[Grek79Ital 18]

Hello, so I am 1 day post op, surgeon said everything went well, I didn't speak to him, he spoke to my husband and said he took a lot of stomach out, I dunno what that means since this was a revision, have to wait till I see him feb 3, I feel fine except am really bloated, like really a lot of gas, and very sore, don't remember all this from the sleeve on 2012.

[Scottyd1264 73]

Good luck and rest

[Grek79Ital 18]

HELLO RESTRICTION, Where have you been??

So, I am 4 days post op, and man do I feel restriction, I can have like 3 teaspoons of tuna, and I am looking at it with the face of defeat, lol.

I am also not hungry and I do not look forward to taking pills, Vitamins, etc. I need to retrain myself now, to concentrate on Protein and liquids, they want me to consume 64oz of Fluid, I was like yah ok, I am lucky if I get in 16 ounces, with a struggle.

I have my post op appointment on feb 3rd, i have lost weight already, I was 256 as of today, I started around 269, according to my scale.

[Kaishek 10]

This is really interesting, so many people on the boards claim that it is impossible to stretch a sleeve.

[Grek79Ital 18]

I thought the same thing, but i have done research and it is possible, I seen a few youtube videos of people who have gone through the same thing that I have gone through.

I have to say, I have extremely happy with my results so far,

My presurgical weight according to my doctor was 276 ( my scale said 269 ) Right now today I weigh 247, I think it is positive results so far.

[bikerchick519 202]

It is definitely possible to stretch the sleeve. I had my sleeve in Nov. 2011 and now I have an appointment next week to see about a revision to bypass. I'm only hoping my insurance approves it and doesn't make me do the 6 month diet and all that. I'm dying to see what insurance says. I initially lost 88 pounds and then gained 35, lost 10 and now I can't seem to lose at all, lots of acid reflux.

[Dontjudgeme 1]

@@Grek79Ital, I'm so happy that your surgery went well and your seeing results!! Two questions for you.

-Did your insurance cover the revision?

-Did you use the same doctor from your original surgery?

Sorry to ask so many questions but I'm trying to see what is my best option.

[Dontjudgeme 1]

@@bikerchick519,

Please keep us posted on what your doctor says next month. Like you I am still after 4 years still vomiting and have the worst heartburn. My doctor wants me to work with a dietitian before we consider revision to bypass. I just want relief and I want to start back losing the weight. At least the weight I've gained.

[Grek79Ital 18]

Yes, my insurance covered the revision and i did use the same doctor that did my original surgery for the revision, I honestly don't think it was his fault, nothing went wrong with what he did.

[bikerchick519 202]

may42012 my doctor here in the U.S. said he'd do the revision to bypass but my insurance is very unlikely to pay (even though they say they will) since my bmi is low. I'd have to do the 6 month supervised diet, psych and nutrition classes. If I can afford it I may just go back to Mexico but the revision is expensive. I'm just worried that after 6 months they can still deny the revision and I've wasted all that time.