Apollo Overstitch Revision

Hi Everyone,

I was a former member of this site years ago when I had my original open RNY in NYC. I lost all of my weight and reached my goal of 125 less than a year after my surgery. I went on to have three more children (I had one before surgery) after surgery and did great with weight gain until my last child. I gained close to 50 pounds and could not take it off. I tried every diet out there. This led me to start researching options for a revision.

I am now living in NC and found a great surgeon here. He told me about the Apollo Overstit*****isionless surgery and I was thrilled. I was turned down by my insurance twice but the third time I was approved. I was soooooooo excited.

Well, I had the procedure done this past Monday (11/12/12) and I was out of the hospital the same day and up and about the next day. I had a massive sore throat and that was the only reason I needed to take pain meds. I had absolutely no soreness or aching in my stomach. I found it strange but figured it was normal.  Today is Saturday and I am able to drink a full bottle of water and protein shake in one gulp with no sensation of being full or uncomfortable. I was able to do this on Wednesday (just two days after procedure).  I am very frustrated. I tried eating some soup today to see if that would fill me up and nothing!!! 

I called my surgeon on Thursday and the PA said I am not going to feel the same restrictions as I did during my first surgery.  The problem is I have absolutely no restrictive feeling. I'm hoping somebody on here can share their experience with me. I was the first patient my surgeon performed this procedure on. Should I ask for proof it was done successfully? I'm seeing him for a postoperative visit on 11/20. 

Please share any experiences any of you might have had with this procedure. I know it is fairly new so there is not much information or patient feedback out there. Thanks so much for any advice you can provide!!

 

Marie

I just wanted to say keep searching for information to help assist you and for you to feel more comfortable with your decision. I wish you so much luck and am very glad u r not in any pain or discomfort. All the best, Anna

Thanks so much Anna.

Marie

I've seen plenty of feedback on it, but none of it good.

I'm curious if your insurance paid for it, since I've read that they seldom pay for overstitch, rose, or stomaphyx procedures because there is no actual weight loss from anything other than the liquid diet for the procedure. 

I have real issues with the surgeons that sell these ineffective pouch tightening procedures (or add the problematic band) to people who are desperate for help and take our money. I hope you don't recommend that "great surgeon" to others, as I think he's done you a disservice.

I'm sorry you're struggling, and hope you get some answers.

 

Hi,

Thanks for your reply. Yes, my insurance paid. They denied a revision twice for the ROSE procedure however; they approved the Apollo.

I'm considering notifying my insurance. I'm waiting for the four week period post-op. My surgeon indicates I will see results at the four to six week period but I'm not banking on it. It's been a very emotional ride and considering I work at the hospital where the surgery was performed is disheartening. I'm also looking into any recourse I may have on that end.

Marie

There is a suggested liquid diet to follow, however if you can tolerate certain foods you can eat them. I do eat scrambled eggs, deli turkey meat, mashed squashed a lot of the same diet post open RNY (first few months). I am not on a strict liquid only diet. I drink 1 protein shake in the morning to get in enough protein as to not lose muscle mass. Have been doing this since 1 week post procedure and I have lost almost 20lbs in 3 weeks so this Doctor has done it right.

I feel full after about 3 oz of food! And I very rarely feel hungry. If done by the right person it is the best procedure out there for us desperate people who dont deserve to be hungry all the time.

Since it appears it has been 5 years since your Apollo overstitch how are you doing? I would like to do this but really would like to know more details. Thanks

Hi,

I am actually having the stitch procedure on Friday (11/30).  I had reservations at first too because I was advised that my surgeon had not had much success with the overstitch procedure.  I was informed that he will be tightening the stoma and this is better than the overstitch.  I orginally had my RNY procesdure in '04 and lost 230lbs.  I've gain 100 of them back and want to lose 60 to 70 lbs now.  I am hoping that this procedure turns out better than what I am reading in some of the posts.  I've had the scalar therapy done 2x and that did nothing at all. With this procedure, they go in through your mouth and make scare tissue around the stoma and this is suppose to tighten the area.  Anyway, since my pouch is still intact, I am hoping the stitch to make my stoma opening smaller will make me lose weight again.  I will keep you posted.

The overstitch procedure is HOW they tighten the stoma, or at least attempt to. The problem is, so far none of the procedures they've come up with for tightening the stoma don't seem to WORK. Just how does your surgeon plan on doing this?

Sclerotherapy didn't work for you, and, while I hope otherwise, I doubt his 'stitching' procedure will either. It's time to consider a revision to the DS, if your pouch isn't already too damaged.

Thanks for your reply, All the best to you. Please keep me posted.

PS: Make sure you have Chloraseptic post-op. It will help a lot. Also, pain meds with narcotic will constipate you so ask about Miralax in your protein shakes as an option.