I am so upset, I could just cry :-(

Nearly 2 yrs ago I decided I wanted the VSG and my insurance would not pay for it so I financed my way to Mexico and had it done there.  It seemed as though it was all ok, although my weight loss was not significant, I figured I was just a slow loser until recently when I finally realized I should have lost more weight by now.  So I decided to do a consult with Dr Cirangle and he has informed me that my stomach is such a mess that I can maybe revise to a RNY and it will potentially be open surgery, and that there is a 10% chance of a leak, etc, etc, he definetly stressed the risk involved in "fixing" my Mexico mistake.  I am worried, but have alot of weight to lose and 4 kids to raise!!!!  What do I do?
Thanks for any insight,
Diane

First of all, I'm so sorry you're not doing well.

What should you do? You should get a second and a third opinion. You should consider *all* your options for a revision ... including researching the crap out of both the RNY and the DS. Don't rely on your doc to do this for you.

And you should choose your surgeon very very very very very very (did I mention very?) carefully.

If you have a mess inside you, you'll want someone who is adept at fixing messes. There are only a handful of bariatric surgeons who have a reputation for handling the tough cases. Find them and consult with them before you allow anyone to cut you.

I had a VBG (old stomach stapling) 22 years ago, and had no idea what kind of mess I was inside. I knew I didn't want the RNY, though, and I *did* want the DS. I knew this would be my last WLS, regardless of the outcome. So I found a doctor who had a reputation of taking on the hard cases.

And then I traveled across the country in order for him to perform the surgery. There were local surgeons that would have revised me to an RNY, and even some who were willing to take on the VBG to DS revision ... but I wanted someone who had the experience to accomplish what I wanted to accomplish.

Please get other options. Please research all your options. You're worth it.

xoxo

You're in Dr. John Rabkin territory.

There you go. Make an appointment and see what he has to say. A VSG to DS revision is fairly straight forward. If your stomach is as much a mess as Criangle says it is, then you need some serious revision experience behind your surgeon.

I know Criangle performs the DS. Do you know why he suggested the RNY?

I wish the DS was an option but because I essentially have to have my stomach re-built RNY is my only option.  I was going to go and see Dr Rabkin until I met with Dr Cirangle and he showed me exactly why this was so and I feel like he is being honest with me regarding my options unfortunately.  As one person Pm-ed me Dr C is Scrupulously honest, and I know he does not need my money, so I guess he has no reason to lie.  I am just happy that there are people out there to fix what was broken :)

Please don't misunderstand! I wasn't calling Dr Criangle a liar. What on earth did I say that gave you that impression???

Different surgeons have different skill sets and different comfort levels in those skills. It's possible that Dr Rabkin has seen a situation very similar to yours and knows a way around the problem that Dr Criangle hasn't heard of or hasn't previously performed. In fact, it's not only possible but it's LIKELY, since Dr Rabkin is a revision *specialist*.

A second and third opinion wouldn't be a betrayal to Dr Criangle. This is your body and your revision. The surgeon will have operated on dozens more patients and you're the one that'll be living with what they do ... it's only smart to get more opinions. Rabkin may tell you exactly what Criangle told you, and then you'll KNOW. It's just a consult, you know?

If you "wish the DS was an option," it seems only logical (smart, prudent, proactive) to see if there's a surgeon out there that can give you what you want.

I don't blame you for "just being happy" that someone can fix what was broken. BUT ... if one person can fix it, then two people or five people can fix it. I can't imagine ending up with an RNY and wondering every day whether there were other options that would have worked that I missed out on. Options that would give me a better quality of life afterward. I can't imagine living with an RNY and wondering if a Dr that was just miles down the road could have given me what I had *really* wished for.

But........... we each go about this process in our own way.

Best of luck to you.

Kathy

No, I did not think you called him a liar!!!!  LOL I was referring to how I feel about surgeons now.  I am trying to separate them from what I experienced with this other surgeon, but it is hard.  Sorry, to have made you think I meant that you gave me the feeling of that, not at all :)

Hi!

My .02 is this:

Dr. Cirangle (sp) is an excellent Dr. but he is not who I would go to for a difficult revision. 

You are lucky, in your state there are 2 wold class revision surgeons:

Ara Keshishian, MD, FASMBS, FACS *
Email: [email protected]
Karim Zahriya, MD, FACS *
Email: [email protected]

Central Valley Bariatrics
Phone: 818-812-7222
Fax: 661-725-8051

 

Primary Office:
1808 Verdugo Blvd., Suite 413
Glendale, CA 91208

Satellite Office:
Delano Regional Medical Arts Building
1205 Garces Highway, Suite 303
Delano, CA 93215

 

 

John M. Rabkin, MD, FACS *
 

Pacific Laparoscopy
2250 Hayes Street, 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94117
Phone: 415-668-3200 or 1-888-848-8446 toll free
Fax: 415-668-2010
Email: [email protected]


If I were in your shoes, I would see either one or both of them before making a decision!  It is your life and your choice.  These 2 Dr.s have fixed worse messes than yours, I guarantee it!!

Good Luck to you!!

Michele

I agree with the previous poster...research your options!

I will echo the others. See a revision specialist. The easiest step should be going from VSG to DS, NOT  to RNY. 

Talk to the revision docs whose names come up most often on here, like Dr. Greenbaum. Don't settle for less, this is your life.

Hi I had a vbg 5 years ago I had wanted a rny at the time but had a blockage and had what i thought was vbg but never loss more than 30 lb and it took me a long time 5 years before I had the courage to see an other DOC. because I thought they would tell me it was my fault but I did finally go and I saw DR.Cirangle he told me pretty much the same thing as you so I put it out of my mind but it was hard to do so I saw another doc. and he did what seemed like every test and xray there was and now think he could do something for me . I am hoping for the rny and he Will try for that but if he can not do it then he will do the sleeve the worst that can happen is he would be unable to do any thing and that will be very bad but I think I have to give my self that chance and I plan to stick to the eating plan and work out a lot and then I can say I did my best. and I think It will work this time it is very hard but do not give up on your dream try to see someone else ask for them to really check you out and give you the risk  and then you will know what is best for you and your family . good luck to you !