Band-over-Bypass Questions???

I had a gastric bypass on October, 2001, which was very successful initially. As a lot here have commented, my first five years were really good. After that I began slowly gaining weight, and even when I have not gained all the weight I certainly gained a lot, almost 3/4 of it. I went three years ago to a doctor specialized in revisions in Boston and he said that certainly I could have a revision because the stoma was enlarged (I guess it was the exit of my stomach) from 10 to 20 mm. He also said that my pouch was fine and measured 6 cm, when in surgery 10 yrs before was reduced 4 cm. He said that this happened either for overeating or having sodas. I cut out the sodas right at that time, even the diet ones. I still could not tolerate overeating so it had to be that the reason of that stretched. I asked for a band-over-bypass but he did not do it at that point and did not believe it was possible. I did not want a major surgery again so he recommended sclero-therapy. I had it and lost some weight but not much. My health insurance changes beginning July and the new one cover any revisions. This doctor is now doing band-over-bypass and he is one of the bests revision doctors in New England.  I am so excited I have an appointment in two weeks. I would like to read about your experiences have been with this. I have been reading some of your postings and it seems is the best decision right now. Could you please share? Thanks!

I know of several BOB (band over bypass) patients but don't see them post here much any more. I know one of them lost all the weight she'd regained plus some more and the last time I heard from her, about 6 months ago, she was doing fine with maintenance.

PM Heathercross. She posted a couple of days ago about her 2 year BOB anniversary. 

Hi Selena,

I had a BOB in March of 2012 and have lost down to 20 lbs. under my goal.  Never in a million years did I think I would get this skinny.  I am actually about 15-20 lbs. less than my lowest with the RNY.  I love my band most of the time, I have had some issues but have found them all to be my fault.  I don't concentrate on eating when I eat and will take too big of a bite then I'll get swollen and have to have fluid taken out.  This doesn't seem to happen to my other BOB friends and they can tell you more about their experience (Heather is awesome and will answer all questions).  No matter what I go through, I would not change a thing.  Having a band over a small pouch is a huge adjustment in how you eat and think.....please be ready for that.  I will answer any questions you have with my experience only, keep in mind we are all different and and react differently to the band.

Hi Selena....I am heather cross.  I just celebrated my 2 year BOB anniversary this weekend and I am 11 yrs out from my RNY.  I have lost 80lbs, all I regained.  I am the opposite of you, my stoma is fine, my pouch has stretched, so, I am not sure how the BOB will work for you still "cannot overeat".  I am not a doctor, but, its your stoma and not your pouch, you might want to consider an RNY revision instead of a BOB.  I'd explore all options in your case and you will know more once you speak to the surgeon. Good Luck.  Heather

Thank you for your responses. This has been a long a difficult process for all of us. I was a chubby kid and lost weight during my teenage years. Then in my twenties I got married had a hard divorce after and instead of stopping eating like some depressed people do I turned to the opposite. I had the gastric bypass on 2001, because I reached the 300# and at the first five or six years I could diet fine and lost 130 and kept my weight. At some point the exit of my pouch expanded making difficult for me to keep dieting. The doctor said that it was due to either overeating or the sodas. I am inclined to think it was the sodas. Also, in 2008 I began having problems and vomiting every vegetable I ate and got more difficult to diet. My surgeon did a study and found that I had adhesions in my intestine. He had to do another surgery and clean all that area. At that point I already have gained a lot of weight because I could only hold more fattening food, so that was what I ate. I tried to diet but it was hard with an enlarged exit. Still I tried and lost some weight. Then ending the 2010, I went for a revision to another surgeon but the doctor told me that he did not do BOB and that he could re-do my bypass, but my pouch was 6 cm and the outlet 20 mm so I did not want to do another invasive surgery. He found the real problem and you already read my previous posting. Now he does this type of revision and is covered by my health insurance. I also have a girlfriend that went into surgery at the same time as me but she opted for lap-band due to the vitamins and minerals absorption. She was right, she lost all her weight and never had problems with absorption, when I had problems and lost lots of my hair. Her doctor opened her lap band last year because of a hiatal hernia and  she has gained 30 pounds. But she was in a steady weight for more than 10 yrs. She is so depressed but her lap-band really worked for her. I know that we are all different but I would like to hear about your experiences and learned from them. I read Heather's posting and I really admire her, but at the end of her last posting it turned into an argument about her eating habits.I also read about the sleeve and I do not think that is for me. I need the follow up and the tightening process will help to keep me on guard and watching myself. My appointment is on July 11th and then I will know what the process will be. Anyways thanks a lot for your comments and I would appreciate your help on this process.

Thanks Heather, I just read your comment after I posted mine. I talked to my surgeon and he offered to do a gastri bypass revision but I really do not want to redo my bypass. I need the restriction that I had and there is no guaranty that my outlet or stoma will not expand again. That was what I lost the restriction. I think that the band will offer that restriction. I have learned to eat half portions since I had my bypass and my pouch do not tolerate big portions, but I do not want my organs cut again and to have problems with vitamins and minerals absorption again. I want something that keep me all the time on track. I have to confess that I learned lately that I have night eating syndrome. I keep my diet perfectly during the day and at night I feel really hungry. I began binging and eating lots of carbs at night and that helped my weight gain. Also, I learned that this has a reason, not just because I have a sweet tooth. I used to have depression and this problem is a consequence of that. People that diet a lot mess up their hormones. This syndrome means that we lack serotonin and melatonin on the brain which I already knew due to my depression. I just began taking my natural supplements again and at the time that I am suppose to take them. Also, I am walking and working out again. All this is helping with that problem. I need to lose 95 pounds to go back to my healthy weight. I will be happy with at least reaching 75# and getting to 185# or be under the 200#. I look to skinny on 165 and a size 8-10 because I am 5'6" and have a big frame. I have decided to do the BOB, I know what is required to do and I am committed to do it. I do not want to be obese all my adult life and I think this will help on that. I just want to learn from your experiences and do not make the same mistakes I already did.