revisions and more revisions

In 2009 I had a lapband put in in Monterrey Mexico...  I lost 150lbs.....  Starting weight 240 with a BMI of 52 down to 98 lbs in 15 months, perfect BMI of 20.48.   Hated all the puking.  The Gastric Sleeve had got popular so I spoke with Dr. Almanza in Tijuana...  He said it was the way to go.. no more puking would not gain back the weight, would not ruin my tummy tuck or boob job...   So in 2011 I had the revision.   In 2013, I email and called their office telling them I was gaining weight, what could be done..  I was up 20lbs...  no response...  now 1 year more.. I am up another 25 lbs...   to 145lbs and a BMI of 29.  I cant afford to keep revising, I cant afford to gain...   I just want the cycle to stop...   Now considering the Mini gastric or the DS...  Though I am led toward the DS as it seems more restrictive..   Has anyone been down this path.....   choice made?   how about people greater than 5 years out?   are you still maintaining easily?  Recommendations for Mexican surgeons for this procedure, who actually take your calls after you walk out the door?

Thanks in advance

Janet

And just on a side note I have talked with a couple Mexican doctors and even though my BMI is only 29 with no risk factors...   they both think this is the way to go.....  for a permanent weight loss...  Obviously after 5 years I have figured out how and what to eat, so I am a bit a head of the game...   my fears lie in weight gain down the road, and post op issues due to the previous two procedures...  It is funny how I cant even finish an appetizer but I can gain gobs of weight...  LOL 

I know someone is going to call me "mean" or a "*****", but I cannot let it go by...

Sorry, I would disagree with your assertion that "obviously after 5 years I have figured out how and what to eat".  If you are gaining weight with a sleeve, you have NOT learned those things.  

As Dr Phil says, "You cannot change what you don't acknowledge."

Lora

There is probably no such thing as a permanent procedure.  If I wanted to, I could probably eat past my DS; at 4 years out, I have gained and lost 30 lbs at a clip if I stopped paying attention and gave into my compulsive overeating habits.  If you lost that much weight with the lapband, I would be reluctant about having a distal procedure.  You do not want to be on the wrong end of malnutrition and too much weight loss (even if it sounds like a dream come true).

DS is NOT a magic bullet for many people; we still have to pay attention to what we eat - so I am worried when you say "maintaining easily".  Maintaining - yes.  Easily - well, easier than before the surgery.  I still hate having to watch what I eat, and I do.  But instead of having to stay under 800 calories to maintain, I can stay around 1800-2000, which is a lot better!  I originally thought the DS meant I would never have to diet, but it didn't.  For my husband, it did, but he is now struggling to keep his weight stable and avoid losing too much.

Thanks Kate, I would argue that yes I lost the weight with a lapband but I puked all the time..  that seems to be malabsorption at its finest.   When I could absorb food again..  ie the sleeve...  I started gaining....  I guess I am looking for that something that allows me to enjoy food a little bit but that doesn't keep me in the gym 40 hrs a week. 

The DS is NOT "more restrictive". The DS has the exact same stomach as the Sleeve---the DS stomach IS a Sleeve! What the DS has is major malabsorption, which means you also have to do some major supplementation. DO NOT get a DS unless you can commit to taking vitamins and minerals 4+ times a day, and getting about 20 vials of blood drawn for extensive lab work every six months or so.

Unless you have some medical issues related to your regain, I doubt any ethical surgeon will revise you with a BMI of 29.

Interesting I have contacted about 6 that I have known of for years from Mexico(and the most well known), absolutely everyone will do the revision...   Do you think I should wait till I am a BMI of 52 again?  Revisions do not require the same BMI as initial...   If you do that then I get to have another tummy tuck, boob job, thigh job and all.  Being proactive seems a much better option then ignoring the situation.   Ignoring the situation made us all fat in the first place......  My question was about long term,  obviously I am not a newbie to bariatric surgery...  finding the one that works best is the key in this every changing world.  again Lapband has a major malabsorption issue to.....   and destroys your teeth..... They all have pros and cons...  Iam more interested if anyone has experienced DS from a revision standpoint versus an intitial procedure.  And there take on it...  Taking vitamins, bloodwork and etc..  is all minimal...  I have already been the hell of two surgeries and losing all the weight...  I can read about what is required...  but again I want more a personal aspects of DS as a revision and how it went and where people are today....  

Just a side note,  after speaking to 5 doctors over the phone.... I chose one...   mainly he was the most honest and straightforward.    He did feel the DS was the right procedure,  however with a modification.   He said he would NOT shorten my small intestine all the way to 1 meter,   he would only shorten it to 1 1/2 meters giving me much better absorption of nutrients.   He honestly said that at my current BMI I could lose to much weight and become malnutritioned and underweight and it truly could cause death.  He felt I definitely needed the malabsorption aspect of the surgery, but not so severe.   He said the majority of the 40 lbs would come off in the first 3-4 months,  and the rest over 12-18 months...  I could live with this...  as he did say he could always shorten the small intestine down the road if need be...  but for now... why take a chance.   Honest Surgeon.  He stated no guarantees but it was the best chance of  long term maintenance.  I have surgery next Friday!  and luckily because of my BMI I don't have to do the yucky pre diet too..  So I am going to eat my favorite meals this week, and prepare mentally for the long liquid phase which I certainly and not looking forward to...  The only thing worse is the LEAK test...  OMG,,,  Just thinking about it almost makes me puke....   LOL  :o)

Glad to hear you've found something you feel comfortable with :) 

"again Lapband has a major malabsorption issue to (SIC).... and destroys your teeth....."  This is a direct quote of what YOU said.  I do not believe I am misinterpreting your words.  You claim that your Lapband is malabsorptive and that it also destroyed your teeth.  Both statements are patently false. 

In my not so humble opinion, you DO have much to learn before proceeding into yet another weight loss surgery. 

You also sound suspiciously familiar.  I believe you are a reincarnation of a trouble maker I've recently read on other forums.  I believe a huge Flounce and Fit is coming.  We'll see if I'm right.