Think I am done

 
One of the best revision surgeons in the world is John Husted in Phoenix, AZ.  I see on the boards all the time people going to him from all over the country.  He's one of 4 surgeons that can take down bypass and revise to DS and he's one of 2 that can do it via lap vs. full open.  He's also one of two surgeons in the world that can do the Vergito.

Not that you necessarily want to revise to another surgery type but if you are going to take down your bypass you seriously need a fantastic revision surgeon.  Risks can be high anyway let alone not having someone very experienced.

I have his cell # if you are interested.  I met him when I went to a consult on behalf of a friend in Conn.  I was living in Phoenix at the time.

What you said about your heart palpatations and feeling dizzy and shakey. Do you think perhaps it might be reactive hypoglycemia? I have symptoms like that that hit me out of the blue, seemingly. I feel as if my blood sugar has crashed, and in fact I have to eat something in order to feel better. I didn't know this but apparently there is something called late dumping that occurs 1-3 hours after eating.

My biggest problems I'm experiencing, apart from the fact that I've gained back ALL the weight, is B12 anemia and severe dumping. I very seriously considering revision to DS, but I haven't made that choice as of yet.

Lynda

Marie....

I feel your pain I went from a 22 to an 8 in 6 months...My father said I look like a skeleton...  I can eat a few solid things but not a whole lot...normally soft and mashed items and weak and tired too.  Sometimes my vitamins stay and sometimes they don't.  Now I am pregnant and forcing myself to eat constantly getting sick but I thought it was the price on paid for surgery.  Some have it and some don't.  What did your surgeon say?

I moved from the state where I had my surgery and cannot find a surgeon to see me here.....My gastro Dr is baffled.

 What any surgeon would say....some patients don't tolerate meat as well as others and that I should find other recipes high in protein to fill the void. I told him I wasn't satisfied with the surgery and his reply was that he only has done one reversal in his career! And I wasn't a candidate for one...he seems to think my weight loss will taper off now that I'm reaching my one year post-op. While I was waiting to see him there were several patients waiting and they all had different problems to share. One lady was actually on a feeding tube, and looked worn out, frustrated and thinner than me. There was a lady two years out and told me that she could eat somedays and other days she just can't even smell foods. It seems we all have horror to share and not everyone has the same outcome. I hope you can find a new surgeon soon. I tried to switch surgeons and could not find any to take me on. I know exactly how you feel!!!!!
                                                                            Love, Marie.

Marie, Julie, and to all others that are suffering out there...I read your posts, and it IS heartbreaking.  I have an awesome family, husband and kids that are so supportive.  It does start to feel like the physical symptoms put you out on an island alone, and it is so frustrating.  I have known this for some time now, but the missing link falls on these doctors and surgeons who practice doing the surgery, which is NOT a complicated feat, but they DO NOT have an understanding of how the digestive system works, and how to recognize the signs and symptoms when what they have done is not working and causing the digestive system to fail!  I think more time and training needs to be taken to prevent these problems and to SEE the problem and not become so arrogant that when a patient become ill, to say that it must be the patient, or worse, to say it is "not real" or "in the patient's head"!  I don't mean to rant, but I think we all need a separate support group or something, for most of us these problems are going to be permanent, and even the best of medical care can only try and do procedures to improve our quality of life.  I have already had my RNY reversed.  I am a medical professional, but not a doctor.  My advice is only based on my personal experience, believe in yourselves, don't let someone tell you that nothing is wrong when you know something IS WRONG.  My experience may not be the same as everyone, but I am struck by the similarities, and that scares me.  I also did a lot of research before having this surgery, attended support group, but in my experience, people don't go to support group to talk about how horribly ill they are after the surgery.  In my environment there is this "cult" of "believers", and a pressure to be a "star" so that you belong to this group of achievers.  I know that sounds extreme, but I am curious if other people have found similar attitudes.  I pray for all of you, and hope in this new year that we all find health and happiness.  I am always open to talk.  Take care, Jules

I m so very glad to see your common sense response to people.  I too have had a disasterous response to a DS.  Two years out, I ended up in hospital in Toronto.  I  spent 25 days in hospital on TPN before surgery could be performed to increase my Common Channel length by 100cm.  No on knows yet what the long term health effects will be for me, and I try not to think about it.  Did you start a seperate support group for those of us who have had great difficulties?  Could you email me, if you have, at

[email protected]

Many thanks;
Anne

Please include me if you are able to set up a small complications group

Julie...has any MD ordered an MRI for you? If not PLEASE push for one. There may very well be something else going on not related to the surgery. That just happened to a coworker of mine. Had the surgery a few years ago. Her problems were assumed related to the surgery. Never had an MRI. Unfortunately she was finally diagnosed with pancreatic cancer when it was too late to treat. I don't mean to scare you but this was her experience.

Hi thank you for writing I am so blessed that there are so many people who care  It makes my heart feel good . I have had a MRI done and nothing.  Every test comes out that they cant find anything so frustrating Im dealing with it a little better now that it has had time to sink into my head so all the Dr. are doing now is doing there best to make me comfortable . I hope you are doing well.  I want to thank you for possibilities  trust me there is nothing that could scare me what scares me is the not knowing . I have to say that through all this i am a stronger person so i am grateful for that ..
Thank you
Julie

I am so thankful to find out that there are others out there who are suffering as I am.  I'm almost ten years out and my health has gradually declined to barely tolerable on a daily basis.  I've had cat scans, x-ray's, MRI's, barium swallows, etc., and they can't find anything wrong.  My bariatric surgeon quit doing these surgeries a couple of years after doing mine, and the treatment center closed down and there are no bariatric surgeons in my area.  The closest one is six hours away.
A few years ago, I started having pain that radiated from my chest into my arms everytime I would overeat any fats or sugars.  Instead of 'dumping' I would have pain that felt like a heart attack.  Now I have pain all over my body and my blood sugars are all over the place and are never stable. 
The only way I can feel halfway normal on a daily basis is to only eat proteins and veggies.  No carbs whatsoever or else my blood sugar levels go crazy and the pain starts all over again. 
I would give anything to go back in time and never have had this surgery.  I'm too far out to be reversed so I know I just have to settle for misery the rest of my days. 
I try to discourage anyone I can from having this surgery, but people are 'dying to be thin' and they don't listen to me.  All they care about is a 'quick fix' and to be thin quickly without hardly putting in any effort.  They don't have the courage to do it on their own without surgery and it just breaks my heart that these people are putting their lives on the line, even after I tell them what could happen to them.

Thank you for posting this and for all your replies!

Hopefully some great bariatric surgeon will find a cure someday and help us all.