Hi, I had my surgery, rny in feb. of 2004 I believe. I had it open, a lot of pain the first 6 weeks or so.  My doctor was awesome.  I loved that I was losing weight, but hated how I felt every time I ate anything.  I have regained  some weight but manage to diet and get most back off, back to dieting again, which is one of the reasons I had surgery, tired of dieting.  I am glad not to weigh as much, but in some ways sorry .  I thought it was easier to lose weight before surgery.  I still hate feeling bad everytime I eat the wrong thing.  I also think the person above was a jerk, and had no need to respond the way they did.  I have had problems with my teeth alot of cavities, and pain sometimes.  I also have been having muscle pain lately.  In the last 6 weeks or so, I feel like I have over -excersized .  The muscles in my upper arms, thighs, and even butt hurt when I even just stand up.  I don't know if it is fibromyalgia, but I guess I'm going to have to go  see.  I don't know which is worse, the way I felt at 332 lbs. or the thought of having to have false teeth, and the possibility of having pain the rest of my life.  I have small kids and it is starting to worry me that I won't be able to move by the time they grow up, so what part of my life did I improve by having the surgery.  I don't know if I would have this surgery if I had known any of this, but would definitely tell anyone I care about not to.   Can you tell my off-hand how I can tell if it is fibromyalgia?  They didn't tell my I could end up with any of these problems, and when I ask my general physician if it causes any of it, she says no.  I honestly don't think they have a clue.  My surgeon moved out of state, so I haven't been able to ask him any questions.   I think I may e-mail his office to see if I can get a response.  He used to e-mail me back every  time I did in the past. 

Yes, I had the Nissan fundoplication back in 1998 for severe acid reflux but no hiatal hernia - I just had severe spasms of my LES - the sphinxter that stopped the acid from coming up - it just came up all the time - the sphinxter just opened and closed whenever it felt like instead of just after eating causing unbearable reflux.  It came on real fast - very strange - I was diagnose with an ulcer, the ulcer healed and then the reflux started - backwards of anything they ever saw.  Within 6 weeks, I had lost 35 pounds because I couldn't keep any food down - I just vomitted mouthfuls of acid all day long - lost all my top teeth.   I was put on really strong acid suppressors, PPI's - nothing helped.  I was on Prilosec 4 times per day and something called Propulsid also.  Finally after 6 months, I had the surgery and I was reflux free.

Then in 2006, I started researching WLS and it was tough to find someone that would do it and was capable of doing it.  Lap band was out - not an option with the Nissan - I didn't want it anyway.   After about 1 1/2 years, I went to the surgeon that did my Nissan since he started doing gastric bypass about 6 years prior but do to insurance reasons, he was out.  So, I kept looking.  I then went to a 3 others but didnt' feel comfortable with any of them.  I felt that I needed someone with a ton of experience and someone that had experience with a prior Nissan.  I then found my current surgeon and he had the experience and was known for difficult cases.  So, I proceeded.  He did tell me that the Nissan might have to be reversed in order to make the pouch for the gastric bypass but that I should still be reflux free afterwards since most gastric bypass patients are and to make sure, I would just take my protonix for life as a precaution - I also have a history of ulcers, so taking   a PPI, would be a good idea anyway.  So, I am now 3 years out and no reflux, no ulcers.

During the gastric bypass, my esophagus tore during the take down but my surgeon was able to sew it back up easily through a scope.  I was on fluids and mushies for an extra 2 weeks but all went fine after that.

Just make sure you find a very experienced surgeon and make sure they have worked on someone with a Nissan before.

To get solid advice on both I would do some lurking on the RNY and DS forums. Also maybe grab a couple vets from each and chat to them. Another thing I would look into is dsfacts.com and other sites compared the two surgeries. See what works best for you.

Thanks to all who shared their regrets.  It's important to go into this with eyes wide open. 

I too am a Realize Band failure.  My band was installed Aug. 2008 and removed April 2011 (erosion).  I am now looking into a sleeve.