Ruen-Y Failure
I am so sorry you have having such a bad time. You condition really does sound serious and needs surgical intervention. I don't know why your dr. is being such a jerk. I am in St. Augustine and there is a Dr. here who seems to fix others mistakes.
I had the stapling in 1988. not a RNY I did well for 5 yrs and then just started gaining wt again
in 08 they discovered that I didn't have the jejeunum correctly connected and fixed that which only caused me to GAIN more wt!!
While in St Augustine I found US Bariatric and Dr. Robert Marema he does accept medicare.
He also had me undergo more test to make sure my staples didn't pop or if I was leaking..THose are grounds for immediate surgery.! I don't know why your Dr. doesn't know that.
Dr. Marema seems very nice and knowlegable . check his website.
I am having a revision surgery Tomorrow June 1st.
I will tell you more after.
I wish you the best. But please go see someone cause leaking food is not good.
Does anyone know of an RV part near St. Augustine that rents lots by the month? Until I know how everything is going to go I don't want to sign a lease. The closer to St. Augustine, the better.
And Jamie, thank you so much for spreading the word for me!
![](http://images.obesityhelp.com/_shared/images/smiley/msn/cool2.gif)
I had my surgery with Dr. Marema at Flagler Hospital on Wed. June 1st. I was in the hospital
wed, thur fri and was discharged sat. So far so good.
As for rentals did you try to google st. Augustine monthly rentals or trailer parks?
If you contact dr. Marema's office they have a list of places some with discounts
call customer relation dept 904-819-4789 for more info
also www.flaglerhospital.org
if you want to write to me directly at [email protected]
I see Dr. Marema post op on june 9th.
He was great. The staff in his office are wonderful and the hospital nurses were the best.
I wish you all the bbest
You are more than welcome, Darlene!!!!
Please keep us posted on how everything goes, OK?
-Jamie
RNY 2/26/2002 DS 12/29/2011
HW 317 SW 263 BMI 45.1
SW 298 CW 192 BMI 32.9~60% EWL
LW 151 in 2003
TT 4/9/2003
Normal BMI 24.8 is my GOAL!!!
GBP (RNY) 2/26/02 298 lbs, TT 4/9/03 151 lbs, DS 12/29/11
HW 317 SW 263 BMI 45.1/CW 192 BMI 32.9/GW 145 ~ Normal BMI 24.8
**Revision Journey started 3/2009 Approved 12/12/11**
![](http://images.obesityhelp.com/_shared/images/smiley/msn/bighug.gif)
-Jamie
RNY 2/26/2002 DS 12/29/2011
HW 317 SW 263 BMI 45.1
SW 298 CW 192 BMI 32.9~60% EWL
LW 151 in 2003
TT 4/9/2003
Normal BMI 24.8 is my GOAL!!!
GBP (RNY) 2/26/02 298 lbs, TT 4/9/03 151 lbs, DS 12/29/11
HW 317 SW 263 BMI 45.1/CW 192 BMI 32.9/GW 145 ~ Normal BMI 24.8
**Revision Journey started 3/2009 Approved 12/12/11**
It's always hard for us to figure out exactly what's going on when docs give you little bits and pieces of info and then you pass them on to us, sort of like the old telephone game, but here's what I think:
You had your RNY back in 2000, when most surgeons didn't separate the pouch from the blind stomach, they just stapled across. Eventually some of the stapled popped out, as you put it, and now you have a connection between the pouch and the rest of your stomach that isn't supposed to be there. That's a fistula, as Jamie said, and it means that your gastric bypass is now useless because nothing is being bypassed anymore - the entire stomach and intestine are back in business.
That explains your major weight regain, and there is NOTHING you can do to fix this problem. It's a mechanical breakdown of your prior surgery. There is no amount of exercise, special diet products, etc that will address this (and I am always deeply suspicious of any doctor who sells products such as these).
So, what are your options?
1. you can go on as you are. Your choice, but with the understanding that for all intents and purposes you no longer have a functioning bariatric operation.
2. you can get your old RNY fixed, with the understanding that if it's redone the same way, it will probably break down again at some point.
3. you can get your broken down RNY converted to a DS, which I personally think is your best option.
I won't really name Stomaphyx as an option, as it doesn't work even under the best of cir****tances, and has no hope of working in your case because it isn't designed to fix a popped out staple line. It would be completely inappropriate for your situation.
So what I would recommend is that you come on over to the DS forum and learn more about it. I would also recommend reading all you can on dsfacts.com, which has lots of good information. You will need a surgeon experienced not just with the DS, but with REVISIONS of RNY to DS, and you will not find anyone in GA who will do this (there is an excellent DS surgeon in GA, Dr. Smith, but he doesn't do RNY to DS revisions). Many people travel for revision surgery, it can definitely be done, but you have to have the right surgeon lined up.
As far as insurance goes, it sounds like you should be able to get covered because you have a mechanical failure of your prior surgery, but I'm not the insurance expert. But first things first, figure out what you want to do, and then figure out how to go about it.
Larra
PS and get all your medical records, esp those that document the mechanical failure of your RNY. You're going to need them.
I had my original RNY in 1989 and did very well for 6-7 years. Then gradually I started battling my weight again and my diabetes and hypertension came back with a vengeance. In recent years I developed stomach pain and reactive hypoglycemia.
Out of desperation I looked into the Stomaphyx and had the EGD which showed a major gastrogastric fistula. That physician recommended redoing the RNY but my new insurance would not cover WSL. Later she offered me the ROSE.
In my researching of all this I ran across the DS. I had a revision 5 months ago with Dr.Keshishian in California and he saved my life.
I'm losing weight slowly....people with revisions generally do......my diabetes and hypertension are gone and I feel great!
Research all of your options! I can't emphasize that enough. Get second and third opinions.
Good luck.
It means so much to me that you would all come together and help me figure out what was going on. Now....All I have to do is find a surgeon that will give me the DS and take Medicare...Wish me luck! Thank you all for your help!
Darlene