Gastric Bypass/Revision nearly killed me

I'm so sorry that you've experienced so many bad complications, it sounds truly horrible and I applaud your courage in writing this post & your proactive nature in seeking further care.  Did your original surgeon not leave your stomach sewn off, yet intact as a remnant?  I believe that's standard procedure.  Why couldn't someone simply reconnect your intestines & esophagus back to your stomach?  I ask because all of the revision patients I've seen on the DS forum who go from an RNY to the DS.  I didn't read your other replies first, I'm not sure if anyone else has suggested this.  From what I understand of the posts by those revision patients, their revision doctors told them that normal stomach functioning almost always eventually resumes following it being used again with esophagus to top part of stomach & small intestine to pylorus valve at bottom of stomach.  This seems to be a MUCH better option than trying to make a new stomach out of your small intestine.  Did someone remove your original stomach?

I know that Dr. Rabkin in CA is one of *THE* best revision doctors in the world in bariatric surgeries.  He has often taken patients as revisions that other doctors would not "touch" with very good results.  I urge you to seek a consult with him prior to any other surgeries.

I wish you the very best of luck in health, Leslee.  I am going to make one more comment on this post for other pre-ops & lurkers in the event they don't know what I'm going to type.  Again, best of luck to you.  Prayers have been sent.
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For those who are researching WLS options, please know that it is perfectly safe to take all anti-inflammatories or any other medication with the duodenal switch specifically because your stomach is made into a sleeve (like the VSG), except that you also have malabsorption to aid in long-term maintenance.  The DS (duodenal switch) is the only WLS option that leaves one with a fully functioning normal stomach with malabsorption.

Leslee, thank you for sharing your story.  It amazes me the things that some surgeons NEGLECT to tell their patients.  I truly hope you find a doctor that can help you.

Leslee, I am so sorry to hear about your issues.  Thank you for sharing your story - it is so important that people know the good AND the bad.  I shudder at the thought that basic instructions from your surgeon could have kept these issues from happening.  It's shameful.

You've received a lot of good advice, so I won't repeat - but I hope to God you can find someone to help you.

Wishing you health...

Sharon

Thank you so much for your post.  I am 9 years post op and while I do remember being told to limit the NSAID's, I never knew the risk was so high.  I take them occasionally, but almost always during my periods each month.  Thank you so much for sharing your story and shedding light on this risk for so many of us.  I will be much more cautious about what I put in my pouch.  I hope your story has a positive outcome and that you find a surgeon who can resolve this issue.  Good luck.

 Thank you for posting this.  What a nightmare.  I think I just need to vent and that is how I found this posting.  
    My husband is currently lying in a hospital bed in severe pain after a gastric bypass revision.   He had surgery 6 years ago and lost 300lbs.  It has been hell ever since.  The last 6 years have included gastric ulcers, anorexia, malnutrition, etc.  He has vomited every day, many times a day.  He had a dialation done by a GI dr.  Finally we were so tired of it we found a new bariatric surgeon.  He rushed his surgery, planning to dialate and remove his gallbladder.  Turns out it was far worse than he had imagined.  He had to removed his gallbladder, re-do the entire site, and repair a hiatal hernia.  Thank God my husband is able to swallow liquids now.  He has lived off popsicles for over a month. He is so thin and frail right now and every bone in his body protrudes.   It makes me sick that this surgery is even available.  It's just wrong and it ruins so many lives.  Sometimes it seems that all the possible diseases you can get from obesity are far better than the nightmare of gastric bypass.  Thank you for spreading the word.  I hope it can save some lives.   
Jessica

 I am sorry to hear about your husband.  Was his need for a revision a direct result of taking Nsaids?  I had surgery over 7+ years ago and my surgeon threw the fear of god into us about ever taking Nsaids and all the gastrointestinal problems they cause, my bf's has Crohns and two rounds of intestinal surgery for blockages and she has been given the same warning about Nsaids.  I have never had any surgery related issues with rny, I am sorry that your husband is the one who did and I understand your feelings toward the surgery.

It makes me sick that this surgery is even available.  It's just wrong and it ruins so many lives.

I realize that your husband, and you, have been through a terrible experience. But please understand that less than ONE PER CENT of people who have the gastric bypass have such bad results. DO you really think that, if such results were typical, insurance companies would still be covering it?

I do think there are better forms of WLS than the gastric bypass, but I simply cannot agree that "all the possible diseases you can get from obesity are far better than the nightmare of gastric bypass."

I had my initial surgery done in 2003.  I am now due to a revision for multiple reasons but in the course of the past 11 years, haven taken NSAIDS many times.  I had NO IDEA I wasn't supposed to take them.  I wonder how much of my current situation I have caused myself simply because I did not know.  I am looking into a revision, for medical reasons, and will remember this new rule in my life.  THANK YOU!

What sort of revision are you planning? What medical problems do you have?

The problem with NSAIDs and the RNY/gastric bypass is this: NSAIDs work systematically, meaning it doesn't matter how they get into your system, they still have the same effects. In other words, it doesn't matter if you swallow them, rub them on your skin, or get them via IV. One of the side effects of NSAIDs is the thinning of the mucosal lining of the stomach. This can allow your own stomach acid to cause ulceration. This is true for anyone who takes NSAIDs. For most people, the risk is small, but if you have an RNY, you have a huge, 'blind' remnant stomach that can't be 'scoped to check for ulcers. This is why most surgeons tell their RNY patients to never take NSAIDs.

One reason I chose the DS was because it wouldn't leave me with a blind stomach, so I could still take NSAIDs. I simply can't function without them.

****hugs**** Thank you for coming back and continuing to share.