Debating possible Revision: Opinions anyone?

Misty M.
on 1/23/14 12:55 am - Renton, WA

Hi all! 

I am looking into a possible revision in Seattle (Swedish) . My story is like many: RNY is 2006 (though for some reason, my pouch was made LARGER than normal- an unusual thing that the surgeon I used did at the time for "younger" patients.). My pouch was, in 2010, twice the size of a normal pouch. But it was initially that large. I have had a lot of stomach issues- mostly now an IBS type thing. Also, it appears as though I have episodic hypoglycemia. I am ALWAYS hungry. 

 

I lost 113 lbs in the beginning. I kept it all off for years, staying within 10 lbs of my lowest weight...until I was in a car accident, had a baby, and now have gained back about 55 of those pounds- most since the accident.

 

The main reason I am looking at revision (possible RNY- RNY to correct the pouch) is because I am constantly hungry, have trouble keeping my blood sugar even keel (though I keep testing negative for diabetes), and because of the IBS (no control, no food pattern, just misery!). The weight gain is almost irrelevant, but like all of us, I'd like to lose weight. My BMI hovers on 40, and I'd like to lose (in a perfect world) another 100 lbs from where I'm at today (which would give me a BMI of 24, on the high end of normal weight).  I'm not really interested in a lap band, and the DS seems extreme. I'm meeting with Dr. McMahon at Swedish in the next couple weeks. 

What I'm really interested in is: for those of you who have had revisions, what is your life like now? Did you have the same malabsorbtion issues as before? What about hair loss? Total weight loss? Any advice, opinions, and the like would be greatly appreciated. By the way, my insurance covers it with medical necessity. 

 

Misty        

 

Bella0821
on 1/24/14 10:04 am

I can only offer advice as to what i felt was right as far as me because it was good.  i too had the RnY, gained the weight back with a Baby and car accident.  I am having my revision DS done in 2 weeks. I chose this option because the long term stats are very successfull for the DS.  Hope this help 

    
MsBatt
on 1/25/14 4:56 am

Getting your pylorus back *might* correct your blood sugar issues. Also, getting a Sleeved stomach (like the VSG or the DS) removes most of the tissue that produces the 'hunger hormone', ghrelin. For either of these, you'll need a revision specialist, however.

Amy Farrah Fowler
on 1/25/14 1:05 pm

Doesn't sound like you've received accurate information about the DS at Swedish, but that's often the case anywhere they can't do the surgery, and there is NO SURGEON at Swedish, in Seattle, or even in WA that can do the REVISION from RNY to DS. 

That said, one surgery that IS extreme, is ERNY, which is very likely what you may get if they revise that RNY. It is the worste of both words - you will have the malabsorpion of calories for life like the DS, but not the ability to eat like a DSer because you have a pouch that doesn't have your own pyloric valve any more. 

If you want an end to blood sugar problems and dumping, and if the IBS type stuff is from food just emptying out of the stomach, and to also lose the regain, then the DS is how I would address it.

If the stoma on your pouch has stretched and is part of the problem, then understand that rose, stomaphyx and any or the "stoma fixing" procedures are all bunk - none of them work. 

If it were me, I'd contact Dr Kesheshian in CA and get another opinion on what would be the most likely way to address your specific issues. I like Swedish, but when it comes to bariatric and ESPECIALLY this revision, they have too limited of tools in their toolbox, and you deserve what is best for you, not easiest or cheapest or merely available nearby. Please get a second opinion from a surgeon that does them all especially the tricky RNY to DS revision. 

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