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When we have our first weight loss surgery, we go from a stomach that can hold at least as much as a 2-liter bottle of soda. That big stomach is reduced down to not much more than the bottle cap on the 2-liter bottle. We get full very quickly and lose very quickly.
But as the years go by, we manage to eat enough calories to gain weight even with a very reduced stomach. The revision might have taken you from a eight ounce stomach down to a four ounce stomach, but that is a a very little difference. So there is no drastic change in the amount of food that it takes to fill up.
Most people graze during the day, eat high calorie foods in small amounts, drink with their food, and lose very little after revision. The only way to lose weight now is to count calories and burn calories. It takes 10 calories per day to maintain one pound. If I want to stay at my goal of 136, I aim for 1360 calories a day. If I start eating 160 calories a day, I gain back up to 160. it is easy to and just an extra slice of bread or a few cookies will send my scale soaring up.
Real life begins where your comfort zone ends
Had Lap RNY Dec 2004. Starting weight 411 lbs. By Dec 2006, I'd lost down to 250 lbs. Weight slowly increased over the years for various reasons and fluctuated between 280-300 lbs, but after starting menopause 1st part of 2020 & contracting covid-19 in Oct 2020, my weight started and kept ballooning, so I decided in Jul 2021 to have revision surgery. I was told I would have common channel shortening, but was ill-informed on the actual procedure, so I wasn't fully aware at all of its effectiveness or lack thereof. Needless to say...fast forward to Dec 2, 2021 (pre-op appt), I now weighed 340 lbs! Lost 10 lbs during my 2 week pre-op diet. Had common channel shortening surgery & gallbladder removal on Dec 22nd. I'm 24 days post op and I've only lost 16-17 lbs and that's because I'm only consuming very little. 1-2 protein shakes/day, 1 scrambled egg, a few tbsp of tuna, salmon, or turkey, 1/2 pack instant oatmeal, baked fish, low fat yogurt, protein water, and chicken broth for the most part is what my diet has consisted of. Most days, I'm struggling with drinking and eating much at all, so my daily caloric intake at this point MIGHT be 500 calories, but probably less. Granted, because I've been in a good amount of pain post-op, I've done very little to no exercise since. Still...considering the small amount of liquids/foods I'm consuming, I would've thought the weight loss would be more significant. Anyone have any thoughts, knowledge, advice or experience in this situation? My doctor is now saying revision weight loss will be way less than the original bypass, but I'm now wondering if this procedure is even effective to get me out of the 300's to the low 200's?? The weight loss I've experienced so far, I honestly feel as though I did it on my own without help of the common channel shortening! Clearly I have a LOT of weight to lose, so why do a procedure on a 340 lb individual that may possibly only result in 20-30 lb weight loss? I will be asking these questions at my next appointment in 2 weeks, but ANY response will be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks in advance...
Hey there! I had a sleeve to bypass revision on November 12th! How have you done so far?
Hello! I had a VGS in 2013 and just this past November I had a sleeve revision to a RNY due to complications since a pregnancy in 2019. I've gone from 254 to 225 since my surgery, and I feel like I'm losing weight soooo much slower since the last time. I seem to lose a few pounds and then not lose any for like 8 days..and then lose a little more. I also feel like I can eat more than I should be able to. I'm not pushing it, and I watch what I'm eating, but I feel like I should be getting full much quicker. Is it possible, the surgery didn't work like it should of? Is that even a thing? Could my pouch have stretched already? I'm just a little freaked I guess, because the recovery was A Lot more painful this time around, and I don't want this to fail! Anyone have any knowledge or advice?
ask your dr for a barium swallow, you most likely have reflux...and possibly other things. if so you should qualify for revision as your lap band was medically necessary I assume. check your specific insurance policy
If you have a specific question for me, PM me or I will not see it, as I don't check responses on the forums and don't have anything forwarded to my email.
Hi! Almost 20 years ago, I found this community got a lot of support through my first journey. I lost over 150 lbs, twice. The first 150 lbs melted off after surgery with exercise and dietary changes. The second 150+ lbs was my ex-husband. Once I had my breast reconstruction and tummy tuck, it was the beginning of the end. Anyway, all these years later, it has become clear to me that I need medical intervention again to help me set up restrictions and lifestyle changes to return to a healthier weight and hopefully longer life. I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, reflux, beginning COPD, lots of body pains mostly muscular and arthritis (had hip replacement in Dec. 2020), anxiety, depression, peri-menopause and recently pre-diabetic condition. Most of of these are controlled with medication (HBD, Cholesterol, reflux). Before I decided to have the hip replacement I was trying to decide between moving forward with revision or hip. The first surgeon I saw was not warm or encouraging. The first thing he said to me when he walked in the room was, "Welcome to the club of failed VBG, but good luck getting your insurance to cover revision." Yeah, I'll pass, dude. So, now I'm ready to try again but am looking for any tips, suggestions, advice. I'm trying with UT-Health this time. Thanks for reading. T
Hi all,
I was banded in 2006 and have successfully maintained a weight loss of about 100 lbs since then, sitting at about 5'5", 175 lbs now. The problem is, the band has given me digestive issues since the beginning, and it has continued to get worse in the last year. I can never tell when I am going to have an issue digesting, I have started waking up in the night with an acidic stomach, and these things cause me to have very poor eating habits. I am sure I have kept off the weight because I just eat very little.
I would like to see a surgeon about a revision, but am afraid that I would be told I could not have it replaced because my BMI is too low. My concern is that if the band is removed, I may revert to old habits and wind up gaining the weight back over the next several years.
Has anyone experienced this? If so, were you able to replace the band with another bariatric option?
Highest Weight/1st WLS visit/Day of Surgery/Current/Goal
Contact member services to see if they know of a surgeon in your area who accepts Medicaid.
Real life begins where your comfort zone ends
I was just told by my Doctor that I have surgery scheduled for January 27 immediately due to ECG showing severe damage to esophagus due to Gerd and regurgitation. I've had double pneumonia as a result of the GERD, and Hernia. Has anyone been approved with Medicaid for revision from sleeve to bypass? If so how long was the approval process?
