Getting a Revision - but OMG NOT because of weight regain!!!!

[summerset 5,265]

This is something I read ever so often:

"I'm getting a revision - but NOT because of weight REGAIN!!!!"

Like, users on here are so very eager to point out and make sure everyone knows that they're not getting their revision because of "weight regain" or "insufficient weight loss". So, in a "supportive" community people needing a revision make sure to let everyone know in advance that it's because of reflux or other things but NOT because of weight issues. Wow.

Don't get me wrong. If someone is getting a revision it's absolutely fine to tell people why if you want to. In fact I think it's indeed very important to talk about revisions because of complications like reflux etc. since having surgery is no piece of cake and **** happens all the time (e. g. look at what happened to Alex only recently). However, what rubs me the wrong way is this "but NOT because of weight issues", as if that would be something... dirty or naughty or something to look down upon.

I'm not even sure how that makes me feel exactly. Angry? Sad? Pissed? Disgusted? Anyway, I can't help but being struck by the sky-high judgement level within the WLS community when it comes to struggling with weight/food issues after surgery and needing a revision because of weight regain or because of not-making-it-to-goal-weight (goal weight being of course BMI below 25).

Very curious about the reactions coming my way now.

[Cheeseburgh 3,080]

Getting a revision based on medical necessity (severe GERD) is a very important distinction and is helpful for everyone to be aware of. Secondly, everyone knows that revision surgeries are generally less effective when weight regain is involved, therefore the outcomes will be different. There is no expectation of weight loss.

You might want to contemplate why this angers you.

[summerset 5,265]

8 minutes ago, Cheeseburgh said:

You might want to contemplate why this angers you.

I'm not even sure if I feel really angry about this or not or if I even have any particular feeling about it at all.

However, I think sometimes I have some kind of a WTF-expression on my face when I read about someone getting a revision and emphasizing that it's not because of "weight". Like "You're getting a revision because of some serious sh*t and it's that important to make clear it's not because you've gained weight?!".

In the end, what does it tell about a community when its members feel the need to make absolutely and 110% clear in advance that they're getting their revision not because of "weight"?

[Cheeseburgh 3,080]

I apologize I isolated the word anger from your post, you do strike me as angry about it, my bad. It clearly bothers you and I am confused why.

I didn’t even know needing a revision for GERD was even a thing until I read about it last week.

This sh*t is hard, everyone knows how hard it is to lose weight and keep it off. If I needed a medical revision, I would be scared, frustrated and hope for support. I also would be very proud of my weight loss.

[summerset 5,265]

1 minute ago, Cheeseburgh said:

I apologize I isolated the word anger from your post, you do strike me as angry about it, my bad. It clearly bothers you and I am confused why.

It doesn't really bother me. But I actually kind of wondered why you singled out the word "anger", lol. 😃 I guess what I wrote in answer to your post about the WTF-moments is what describes it best.

"You're going to get surgery again, general anesthesia, risk of preoperative complications and all and this is what is important to you right now? To make sure that everyone on here knows you're not having surgery again because of weight regain. Ok."

Maybe I simply don't understand the reason behind it.

Quote

If I needed a medical revision, I would be scared, frustrated and hope for support.

Absolutely. And I personally don't think the reason for getting revision is important when it comes to giving support.

[catwoman7 11,214]

they probably say that because they feel like they've failed the surgery if the revision is due to weight gain. Whereas with a medical reason, like severe GERD - they don't feel that way.

[Healthy_life2 8,324]

2 hours ago, summerset said:

This is something I read ever so often:

"I'm getting a revision - but NOT because of weight REGAIN!!!!"

Like, users on here are so very eager to point out and make sure everyone knows that they're not getting their revision because of "weight regain" or "insufficient weight loss". So, in a "supportive" community people needing a revision make sure to let everyone know in advance that it's because of reflux or other things but NOT because of weight issues. Wow.

Don't get me wrong. If someone is getting a revision it's absolutely fine to tell people why if you want to. In fact I think it's indeed very important to talk about revisions because of complications like reflux etc. since having surgery is no piece of cake and **** happens all the time (e. g. look at what happened to Alex only recently). However, what rubs me the wrong way is this "but NOT because of weight issues", as if that would be something... dirty or naughty or something to look down upon.

I'm not even sure how that makes me feel exactly. Angry? Sad? Pissed? Disgusted? Anyway, I can't help but being struck by the sky-high judgement level within the WLS community when it comes to struggling with weight/food issues after surgery and needing a revision because of weight regain or because of not-making-it-to-goal-weight (goal weight being of course BMI below 25).

Very curious about the reactions coming my way now.

If a person posted, they had revision due to insufficient weight loss and not a surgey complication(GERD) would you have the same reaction?

[Orchids&Dragons 9,047]

From the posts I've seen, it's just a matter of being clear. We make friends here and we just want to be forthcoming. I've seen plenty of posts about revisions for additional weight loss, or band failure, or sleeve failure, etc. and it's not like people beat them up over it. I think people just want to explain why they're having another major surgery. People who don't want to provide details, just don't.

[Cheeseburgh 3,080]

2 hours ago, summerset said:

Absolutely. And I personally don't think the reason for getting revision is important when it comes to giving support.

I respectfully disagree. Severe GERD isn’t a joke, it’s painful, it carries an increased cancer risk and the reason for the revision is different. I’m glad people who choose to share their stories do so. I learn a lot just by reading, and like I stated earlier, I had no idea a revision for GERD was even a thing!

[summerset 5,265]

I don't understand what you're trying to tell me here.

Do you want to express that someone having revision because of GERD deserves support more than someone having revision because of regain? Because then we would actually really disagree.

Edited July 15, 2019 by summerset

[Cheeseburgh 3,080]

No.

[wish to be slim 15]

I am considering revision surgery to gastric bypass , but its for numerous reasons , all of which i have been open about because i value the honesty of people as everyones journey is not going to be the same , just as thinking of revision surgery is not an easy decision or one that i think anyone takes lightly . I had my band fitted in nov 2012 after many years of struggling with my weight , i had tried pretty much everything on the market but continued to struggle so looked into wls , after speaking to my then dr who supported me and new how hard i had tried and the negative effect it was having on me . I had to self fund , a cost of £7000 , for which i took out a bank loan . I had the band fitted and numerous fills and defills and managed to loose in total 49lbs , but i struggled to eat protein/salad etc and my struggles were never consistant , what i managed to eat one day i wouldnt necessarily be able to eat the next . Approximately 2 yrears ago i decided i had had enough so had all my Fluid taken out and try finishing my journey with the band just sitting there , it didnt work , i hit the menopause and lost a close family member and gradually put on weight so i was then only down 28lbs . After struggling again to loose i decided to find a clinic so i could have fills again and i guess start from scratch again drawing a line under what had past , my clinic is very supportive and during my first visit { in april} i told them of my weight struggles since being bullied at secondary school and how i felt like a failure , i broke down in tears and together we restarted my journey , but it hasnt been easy , i had a fill of 3mls , then 1ml and a further 1ml , but a few days after getting to the 5ml mark i couldnt even swallow liquid and the pain in the middle part of my chest was terrible , i had to wait a couple of days before my clinic could squeeze me in as my local hospitlal wouldnt touch me unless they deemed it life threatening ! Since then i have had 2 defills , each 1/2 ml so now have 4mls in , that intense pain is no more but my struggle to eat is just the same and sometimes get reflux , this morning i struggled with yoghurt , then later home made Soup neither with any lumps , surely that isnt right ? , the situation gets me down and i feel meal times are a battle ground , i continually feel tired and low , yet i am trying so hard to eat healthy , since april my weight loss has only been 7lbs . MY point is my reasons why i am now considering revision to bypass is really two fold , struggling with weight loss and problems just eating and after 7 years i am fed up with it all , i new the band was only a tool but i did not expect the problems and struggles i am enduring . I see my current gp tomorrow and an adviser to chat about revision in september , if i go ahead it is a big deal as i never went in for the band ever having to consider revsion , and the cost this time will be £11,000 which is also a very big deal along with the risks any surgery bring , i hope this hasnt been too long and drawn out but i just wanted to add to the current chat , i value all posts and the support it gives which otherwise none of us would have .

[FluffySaysForkIt! 823]

13 hours ago, summerset said:

In the end, what does it tell about a community when its members feel the need to make absolutely and 110% clear in advance that they're getting their revision not because of "weight"?

How did you surmise these (strangers) intentions/ feelings, let alone extrapolate that it was because the WLS community as a whole isn't supportive enough?

Edited July 16, 2019 by FluffySaysForkIt!

[summerset 5,265]

14 hours ago, FluffySaysForkIt! said:

How did you surmise these (strangers) intentions/ feelings, let alone extrapolate that it was because the WLS community as a whole isn't supportive enough?

So that is what you assume? Interesting.

Edited July 16, 2019 by summerset

[FluffySaysForkIt! 823]

No, I read it in your post.

You stated that you keep reading other people's posts as:

On 7/15/2019 at 7:27 AM, summerset said:

However, what rubs me the wrong way is this "but NOT because of weight issues", as if that would be something... dirty or naughty or something to look down upon.

Did these people tell you that is why they included that?

Edited July 16, 2019 by FluffySaysForkIt!