Help Reversal

Okay, so I have a lot of complications from the surgery (way too many to go into on a message without it beign a book) but the main thing is severe gastroparesis that has caused me to need a feeding tube to support nutrition permanently. So now to the problem. I had my yearly appt with my surgeon and he is thinking it is time to seriously consider reversing my RNY and maybe going to lap band or restricted anastomosis (really hard to explain but I would go lap band). He is worried that by just reversing the surgery, I would gain weight and so he would liek to consider a lap band cause then we can fill and defill it as needed. I have severe nausea that causes me to throw up daily and he is hoping by putting my stuff back together, it might reduce the nausea and therefore the throwing up. He is afraid if I continue down this path, I will not have an esophagus left as my teeth are already going to hell from it. He hopes that by putting the stomach back and the intestine I could absorb more easily because I would have the 5 feet of intestine back and with the lap band he could leave the stomach a little bigger therefore helping to eleviate my nausea or at least reduce it. Now for what I was told as statistics. I have a 65% chance of this actually doing any good and a 15 % chance of it completely curing the problem. I am afraid to do this big of a surgery and have it do nothing!!!!!! I am scarred to have the reversal. So what I need from you. Any advice at all from anyone who has had a reversal and anyone who had a lap band cause I don't know as much about that one. Also, I don't know if the odds are worth it or not. I know, no esophogus bad, but I just don't know if there is a better answer out there and it just has not been found yet. Anything would be great, I am just at a lost and a little scarred (okay ALOT scared). Thanks

alannah

I am truly sorry to hear you're having all of these problems.  I would get the reversal for that reason alone if it were me.  You did get the surgery to enhance your quality of life and that just isn't happening. 

I have had the lap band since Dec. 12, 2007.  I couldn't be happier with it.  I know, I know, lots of people say that.  I happy to confirm I really mean it.  It's not the fastest way to loose weight but I have been blessed with a trouble free journey and have been at goal for about 3 months now.  The big thing that you would have to do is be patient as they need to get you to the right fill level.  Not knowing how your stomach is going to react to the surgery and during the time you are waiting, you may have to either count calories or accept you may gain a little weight until you reach the right fill level. 

As for the throwing up...not only may you end up with no esophagus BUT you could end up with esophagial cancer.  This is a cancer that my dad died of and by the time you get symptoms it's too late.  One of the major causes of this cancer is untreated GERD/heartburn.  I remember him drinking Maylox like it was water.  Of course, at the time we didn't have the knowledge we learned as we lost him.  Throwing up is just another way for the stomach acid to get into the esphagus and that stomach acid is what causes the problem.

So, I have to ask you, is not reversing this surgery worth your life?  If there is a chance that you can get better and possibly keep the weight off, wouldn't it be worth doing it?  For me the answer would be a resounding YES but I also know we must each travel our own journeys.  Good luck and may God be with you.

I have decided I am going to do the reversal (or revision not sure what to call it since I would go to a lap band to make sure I cannot eat too much). As far as weight, thankfully I am at goal (actually under, hence the feeding tube) and so I may have to gain a little but at least the weight loss time is not there. I am looking at having it done in Jan 2010. We are waiting cause I cannot have it during the summer (okay well I could but with that much time off of work and such, I think winter is best) and it will be before I start nurisng school and will give me time to put money away. I want to feel better, I just worry that I may not or god forbid I have a complication from this surgery. Thanks for the reply

Alannah

I'm glad that you're getting it done.  Those of us who have lived the life of the obese have had to endure enough.  Hopefully things will work out this time.  I know with the lap band there is usually not very many complications and those are mostly user error.  I know that your situation is different and I'll keep you in my prayers.  Keep me posted on how you're doing. 

Have you looked into the DS. There are lots of revisions from lapbands and RNY and may be worth your effort to research that surgery.  Sorry you are having so many problems and hope they resolve.

Alannah,
Ok, I just posted (see below) this today on the IL forum, and then I started searching for other forums for people who have had complications with the surgery.  I really didn't think there was anyone else out there because between my original surgeon and the new surgeon, I have only heard how rare these problems are, and no one around me has these problems either.  I'm sorry that you are suffering and I do feel your pain.  I'm not sure what has happened with you since this post, but I just wanted you to know that you are not alone, and I am glad that I am not alone...read my post below and feel free to contact me if you want.

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Hi everyone,
I don't post too often, but I do read a lot of your posts and sometimes chime in if I feel I can help.  I had RNY on 10/30/07, and I was fine until about Feb/Mar 2008, and then the problems started, lots of stenosis (I have lost track of how many EGD's I have had, maybe 8-10 in 2008), I have had 3 more surgeries since my original surgery, the last one in November by Dr. Alverdy to do an exploratory with possible reversal of gastric bypass, which they ended up having to do. I don't want to scare people who are thinking about the surgery, believe it or not, I do not have any regrets and I would do it all over again, and keep in mind that I am the exception, not the rule for complications.  I guess my anatomy just does not work with this surgery, it made me very sick, several trips to ER/admissions to the hospital, I think the scariest was the malnutrition (from not being able to eat due to symptoms) and having to get a central line to get IV nutrition at home, it has been a long road...now I am faced with a whole set of problems/emotions I have never had in my whole life...not being able to eat enough, trying not to lose anymore weight (that's a mind melter there), and having people tell you that you are too thin and telling you to eat more.  I want to eat more, I am just still recovering from the last surgery, and I am still having some intestinal complications from that.  I have a wonderful support group, really great friends there, but I mostly go to support others, I don't talk about my issues because I don't want to scare people, and there isn't anyone there with these problems, I almost feel like it would be offensive for me to talk about how I need to gain weight and eat more calories!  I just didn't know if there was anyone else out there with any of these issues. Thanks for listening :)