Revision with NO WEIGHT LOSS + Hernia Problem

Hi everyone - I saw a post similar to this but I will make my story as short as possible. I had a VGB about 6 yrs agao...I lost over 100 pounds but started to gain it all back with-in the last couple of years - I developed a hernia and I have had SEVERE acid reflux and vomiting along with a few other problems & a possible staple line disruption - I went in to have my hernia repaired and the surgeon suggested that instead of him repairing the hernia - he wanted me to go and see a specialist on having a revision - I am not sure (if anyone can clear this up for me it would be great) if gastric bypass is an RNY - but they are suppose to staple off my stomach (again) and re-attach my intestine. Anyhow - they called me today to tell me that they will do the surgery BUT he can only temporarily fix the hernia and I will have to have it repaired again once I heal from the surgery (I guess it is high risk for infection) and then they told me that I will NOT LOSE any weight - my reflux will be gone - but no weightloss - so now - I AM LOST - why would I have the surgery if I am not going to lose weight and I will have to have the hernia fixed 2 times - - BUT the problem is that if I do not do it now and I do have a staple line problem - then I may have to have an emergency surgery and it would be really nice not to throw up anymore - I also have a 2 year old daughter and I have NO idea how I can take care of her with my belly cut wide open...PLEASE - if anyone has any suggestions or have been down the same path - please let me know! I only have 2 weeks until my appointment to do all the testing for the surgery....Thanks....Crissy

Hi Crissy- What kind of explaination did they give you why you won't lose any weight. I had the exact same problem- VBG 5y ago, severe reflux and vomiting. I had a revision 11-2-04 and already lost 25 pounds. I don't understand why you wouldn't lose any. I only had 50-60 to lose. I had actually had a hernia repaired several years ago and they used mesh, my dr took it out and tried to stitch me back up without it, I may or maynot develop another one. Let me know if you have any questions. Kourt

Thanks for replying - Well - I only got to speak with a nurse so far - My appointment was with his nurse and then they called me to tell me that I was a candidate for a revision from the VBG to the RYN - but she told me that the doctor could only fix my hernia with a temporary mesh because if he used the stronger mesh - I could develop infection and that I will have to have fixed again later - then she told me that he can fix all my acid problems and vomiting problems - but she said that he does not expect that I will lose any weight because once you have already had a weight loss surgery, you know how to eat the bad stuff with out getting sick - like he is saying that because I failed at this one - I am already eating bad with a small pouch - I should be able to keep eating bad with this surgery also - something like that - anyhow - I have to go to a 3 hour class to listen to the procedure and she told me to try to catch him before the class started - and when I finally get to meet him is when I get scheduled for the surgery - I have read great things about him and at this point - I AM DESPERATE & HAPPY THAT someone is willing to touch me - I have read that the DS surgery is the best overall for weight loss and keeping it off - but I just do not want to go through all the HELL for nothing - Thanks again for listening everyone...I live in Wisconsin if any one has any ideas for me - Crissy

Hi Crissy, I can tell you that YES you do lose the weight after a revision.... I had a vbg done in 98 and was sick all the time throwing up had several dilatations, had a hernia, had that repaired and it came back... so I went to talk to my dr. and he said he could repair the hernia, do a rny and take out my gallbladder.... I did that on 8/3/04 and I am down 50 lbs as of today... I only had 80 to loose and I am only 4 months out..... You can not eat the same... believe me... I learned to survive on the bad foods with the vbg but with this surgery I tried some sweets and man did I pay for it.... very sick... Good luck Debra

Hi crissy, I just sent you a email but I thought since I read this post I would ask you which dr. is a specialist in revisions and where is he located. We share the same problem. I have a hernia and severe reflux also. I know just what you are going thru and I too would like to have a ds. I went to a meeting for some drs. in neenah and they do revisions but they only do rhyun Y(spell?)and I don't know if I can live with the restrictions of that surgery. I will be happy to share any info I get. I am still looking into this. I hope you will too. From everyone I have talked to, we will lose wt. with a revision, it's a tool and it will be up to us how we use it. hope I hear from you soon. Kathy from wi too.

Hey Crissy, Your appointment may have already taken place - I don't get to this board very often. I was in a similar situation a couple of years ago. I had VBG back in 1995 and by about 2000, my staple line had disrupted. I had lost 130 # with the VBG, but I eventually gained back 90. I underwent a revision to RNY in July 2002 and to date have lost 95 pounds and consider myself at goal. It's not that you have "learned to eat bad without getting sick", that's a load of garbage. If you have a staple line disruption the surgery failed you, not the other way around. For a medical professional, that lady was light on the professionalism! I eat normal, but I do limit my sugar, or try to at least. It's hard this time of year. The RNY will help with the acid reflux. I met a girl at my surgeon's support group who was totally cured of her GERD,in fact, that was one of the main reasons she had RNY. You do not say, but did you gain a lot of weight back? Ali

I need to know of a doctor who isn't scared to peform a revision surgery. I had my surgery of Dec 19, 2000 and I had lost about a 120 lbs. About a year and half later I had a given birth a my precious daughter. Now at a weight that I can't stand. I have seen a doctor and I am scared he's going to deny me having a revision. Also can someone please tell me what a staple line disruption is and can refer to very good Bariac Surgeon. Desperate

Dr. John W. Baker in Little Rock, Arkansas is a Wondeful surgeon. But I think he only does "Open" RNY.

I had revision 11/29/04 w/ dr. Naaman in Houston, TX. He has an extensive background in abdominal surgeries of all types. Along w/ the revision, I had a hernia repair (w/ mesh). Dr tells me the worst part of the recovery is the hernia portion because of the size/depth of the hernia.

LaKeshia, Hi, I am not sure where Keller, Texas is but I have a wonderful doctor in Houston, Texas who is not scared to do a revision. Matter of fact he is going to do mine. His name is Dr. Carlos Ferrari. He is registered on this web site and if you would like his number please email me and I will send it to you. He is a great doctor and has been doing this a long time. He is very quite but he knows alot about what he is doing. Give it a try and good luck! Christina