Don't know if I'm a DS revision candidate? (currently sleeved)
You are well to get this done as soon as you can. I know when I was discussing these options with Dr. Rabkin in making my DS/VSG decisions he told me that the best results for the second stage or VSG-revision DS comes from doing it early rather than waiting until all of the weight, or more, has been re-gained.
I would agree with the others that the DS seems to be the option for you since your problem is regain (which the DS is good at resisting) rather than insufficient loss. If you can no longer get the metabolic kick from the intense exercise then you need it from the DS and you will likely continue to have regain problems even if a simple re-sleeve got your weight back down again.
1st support group/seminar - 8/03 (has it been that long?)
Wife's DS - 5/05 w Dr. Robert Rabkin VSG on 5/9/11 by Dr. John Rabkin
The info you guys have given me in here has already springboarded my process, so many good links and started convos with docs.
My preference is for both affordable and good. lol. looks like I might be going out of the country, but there was something Diana Cox posted a while ago about a wellknown DS surgeon doing a self-pay discount to get hours in a new hospital.
We'll see!
thakns again
I'm a little surprised you dont' have much restriction. Your surgeon has a very good reputation and is known for small sleeves.
If I can't maintain my loss with just my sleeve, I can assure you will be in a DS surgeon's office forthwith. DS would be tough for me as I have 'issues' with supplements, but given the familial risk factors I have i'd have to make it work. I have great restriction when I eat dense food, though, and I've not had the 'white knuckle' experience you did. I'm also 5'3", and my sleeve was done with a 36f bougie.
Having said that, if I was in your position, I would do whatever I could to stop or slow the weight regain ahead of getting switched. I would go back to VSG basics -- journaling food and keeping carbs below 40, eating dense protein first then veggies, waiting an hour after eating to drink, exercising as much as you can, etc., to leave less work for the switch to do.