revisional

Has anyone had revsinal surgery ? From a VBG TO an RNY?

I had a revision but both were RNY's. I know someone who did go from lap-band to RNY. I believe Dr. Jones did his revision. Sherri

Hello I went from the VBG to an RNY 12-21-05. There are some good things about it and bad. While I was a VBGer I couldn't eat healthy foods and threw up almost everyday for 7 years. I was very unhealthy and very ill by the time I saught revision. As an RNYer I can eat chicken beef salads, I haven't found much I can't eat. Now my labs are real good and I feel much healthier and happier. However there is a reason for I can eat anything I want. When they revised me and made my pouch smaller the tightness of the pouch at the top caused my stoma to dilate (get bigger)at the bottom. Think of a full balloon. If you squeeze it at the top it gets bigger on the bottom. As a result my stoma is more than 25mm and my pouch is virtually non existent. So food goes right through without stopping. I am never full and have to be in constant check when eating because I can eat way too much. I am also hungry about 1 hour after I eat, not head hunger, real hunger. This happened to me very early out I lost 25 pounds my first month but lost only 10 pounds total in the next 3 months. I made the mistake of not pushing the doctors to find out why this was happening. Everyone kept saying how revisions just lose slower and that it was impossible for my pouch to dilate so quickly. Well they were wrong, and I found this out after being out a year. I did lose 80 pounds during the year but that is not much considering I needed to lose 200. My surgeon said this is basically due to the malabsorption not the resriction. I am now going through insurance again to get repairs done so that my food is restricted and also to get my common channel shortened. I have hernias too that will be taken care of at the same time. Another difference between the VBG and RNY is the vitamins. You must keep taking them and getting all that you need or you will have problems. I had problems with taking the vitamins, they would make me nausiated all day long. So I tried many different kinds until I found what worked for me. I take 8 gummi vites (recommended from my surgeon) and crush my calcium citrate and eat it in sf pudding. I also take a vitamin D pill and b-12 once a month through injection. Many people don't have any trouble taking their vitamins so you have to find what works for you. I am in no way trying to scare you or saying that this will happen to you. I know of many people who have done great with the revision. I have seen more successful people that have gone from a VBG to a distal RNY rather than a proximal. There is a big difference and if you are interested your surgeon will be able to answer your questions about it. I am also not saying don't do it. Virtually all of the VBGs that my surgeon did have been revised. The surgery just plain isn't healthy, but they didn't know that back in '98 when I had mine done. In summary do your homework, ask questions, and then do what you think is best. If you have any more questions feel free to e-mail me at [email protected] Best of luck Micah