Fistula????

I have a "significant" fistula that was diagnosed by endoscopy plus slow digestion in the original stomach. I have been told it will not close on its own. The GI dr wants to repair with endoscope and the surgeon want to do it too, my PCP tried medications that were no help. I am so torn.

I had my RNY 19 years ago and have had weight gain for about the past 5.

Fistulas are *******s, end of story. My father has one (not WLS related...hes not had any WLS, but delt with horrid diveritulitus).

If they can fix it, let them fix it. The longer it goes the harder to close

Yes I will be getting it fixed. I am torn about which way to do it, the guy that did the endoscopy wants to do it that way and the surgeon thinks surgically is better. I cant find anything reasonably current about which is better.

The surgeon also wants to my Y more distal for greater weight loss.

Well knowning the choices and your current stats, I would go the surgical route and allow the surgeon improve on the bypass. Plus as my surgeon used to say... A look inside can help catch other problems that may have been missed.

Thank you

What is it you are "torn" about? Fear of surgery, in general, or something specific?

What meds have you had?

How long had the fistula?

How much weight lost and gained?

Which option to take. The GI (endoscopic guy) wants to close it via endoscopy and he says that will make it like my original RNY. There was no stretching of the pouch or enastimosis. The bariatric surgeon thinks it would be better to do it via OPEN surgery because of the scar tissue and he wants to my my Y more distal (back door revision).

There was a lot of inflammation at first so the MD gave me antibiotics, anti inflammation drugs and time. They were hoping the whole would shrink or close on its own.

The fistula was originally found about 8 months ago they wanted to give it time for the inflammation to reduce and were hoping it would get smaller on its own. It got much larger.

My stats

SW 565

LW was 305

CW 355

Do a LOT of research on the distal part. I never read anything about distal revisions that are good. They don't have much weight loss, and have a LOT of complications, particularly in the bathroom department.

Thank you I will

I have no idea which procedure would be better to close it. But get it closed as soon as you can. You'll feel a lot, lot better.