I think my VBG failed

I had VBG performed in February 2006.  At the time of the surgery, I weighed about 255 pounds.  My lowest weight was 175 pounds, which was fine with me.  In the past couple of months, my weight has shot up to 200 pounds.  YIKES!!!!  I had a CT of my abdomen today, it showed food in my entire stomach, not just the pouch portion like it should be.  I saw the general surgeon that helped me with the complications I had following my VBG (that's a whole other story), and he thinks the staple line may have become disrupted.  I am having an upper GI test tomorrow to find out for sure.  He said my options were to have the surgery revised to a RNY or the LAPBAND.  I definately don't want RNY.  Has anyone else had this experience?  Do you have to go through the whole deal with your insurance company again to get the revision?  I am so disappointed right now. 

Tabitha Harding

Tabitha; sorry to hear you are going through this! I know my insurance allowed me to have a revision Lap Band to VGS. I had to go through everything ALL over again, just like before. But I did not have any problems from my insurance company. You should be OK given the fact the health issues are not your fault.

Keep us posted. I am Praying for you!!

Tabitha, Know what you are going through. Your story sounds indentical to me. I started at 250 dropped to 155 and have now shot back up to 208. I have a surgery date for april 17 for revision. As i'm sitting here with you I just finished tring to eat some thing and it's not going down so I have make this quick. Yes you have to go through it all over. I don't know about you but I just found out Thursday that the insurance is inquiring into whether or not my BMI is high enough for revision. I'm praying for good news. I also have a large hyatial hernia that by the way seems to be a problem for most VBG people. This road has been a long hard one but I'm optomistic. Don't give up you have lots of company. Rusty

Thank you for your reply guys.  I am sure everything will work out for the best, I just hate the thought that maybe I will have to regain some of the weight to qualify BMI wise.  Did you have to go through the whole 6 months of dieting under doctor supervision?  As far as I am concerned, we are already on an enforced diet aren't we?  What kind of revision are you having Rusty? 

Tabitha

I am in the same situation. My VBG was April of 2006. I began at 254, got down to 155, but then got pregnant in 2007 and began gaining a lot. (As was the case with my prior 3 pregnancies as well). So here I am, at 225, 13 months after having my baby, and I cannot lose.

I have severe acid reflux, everything I eat that is dense protien gets stuck...well, all the same, usual malfunctions of the VBG.

I am seeking a revision right now. I truly want the DS, but would settle for the RNY. I never want to have to do this again, so I want the right surgery this go round!

I hope you get to get your revision!!!! (and ME TOO!!)

Good Luck Lisa,

     I found out today that my VBG staples have come apart when I got the results of my Upper GI test.  I am so mad.  My stomach is now back to its normal size.  My band is still in place but that doesn't do much. 

I wilsh you the best and keep us posted on your "new" journey.

Tabitha

It sounds like you have the same problem that happened to me.  I had my surgery in Jan 06, was a little bit heavier than your starting weight and the lowest I got was 235.  I had a GI done a couple weeks ago and the tech said he did not see a pouch, I thought he was crazy.  Well the EGD confirmed the same thing, my pouch is completely gone.  I have gone to a new surgeon and he wants to do a gastric sleeve.  I am waiting on insurance approval.

Think positive and it will all work out for the best!   

I had GI test today and I could see the pouch was bigger but not sure how much look like it was even pouch and stomach but still i could see the band so not sure what it will mean I am hoping to have a sleaving done I wanted a RNY but had problem back in JUNE 2004 . it is a little scary the whole thing but it the sleaving works then it will be worth it . I understand there is a higher rate of leakage. I guess that why this is not done as much as other surgery. it just ****** me off to have to go thur one more surgery !
you the best !!  Hang in there
allyson

are there signs and symptoms if you have stretched your line or your leaking?

I'm very sorry to hear of your wt regain problem.I'm confused as to what surgery you had a vertical gastectomy right? If so your stomach may not have been surgically cut down to a small enough size or it has streched over time. The wt gain is certainly  not your fault. I don't know much about RNY or band but I would suggest you consider having another doctor  to do your 2nd surgery. Just a thought....take care