Want sleeve gastrectomy revision

Please don't bash me. I had my surgery in April 2013. I had no complications with the sleeve at all. I started at 247 & the day of surgery was 235. My lowest was 204. I am now 225. I failed the surgery. I take blame. I was doing so well & thought I was a failure compared to others but now that I look back I was doing ok. After a while I started eating more at one sitting. Not alot but more than I should. I am sure that I have stretched my sleeve somewhat. I have even took phentermine twice since my surgery. Losing and gaining this same 20 lbs. I am so disappointed in myself. I am ashamed to even go places anymore. Everyone expected me to become skinny. I feel like this will be my life till I die. I wanted to talk to my Dr about a revision and have an appt next Thursday. His office apparently does not do revision surgeries. My insurance will even pay for it... I of course want someone who is very experienced with sleeve revision. I live in the Nashville area and have been researching Dr. Christopher Sanborn in Chattanooga. Has anyone else in the Nashville area had a sleeve revision that was only due to slow weight loss and regain? Who did you use? Was the insurance process difficult? Thanks for any input. Im terrified that I ruined my one and only chance.

you need to work the tool you have

With respect, you don't know her situation.  You haven't seen her X-rays.  You don't know the shape of her stomach and you don't know what the surgeon did. Many sleeves stretch because, in an effort to avoid leaks, many doctors leave too much fundus at the top, or the antrum is too big.  Yes, she conceded that ON OCCASION she overate.  Who among us hasn't?  Research shows sleeve - like regualr stomachs -- can take occasional overeating.  This many not be her "fault," and, even if it were, it's because she is an imperfect compulsive over-eater struggling like all of us.

If her sleeve is severely stretched, no, she can't use her tool, because her tool is broken and ineffective. Happens A LOT.

Telling her to use her tool is tantamount to telling her she's a screw up.  I know you didn't mean it that way and that your intentions are good, but I've sen a lot of these posts and I'm pretty sure they don't help the person asking the question.

She's clearly hurting and looking for support, not an excuse.

Forgive my bluntness, but I had to say this.

You could have saved your comment. Just because you had a successful surgery does not mean it happens for everyone. Thank you.

Since you have a Sleeve and it isn't working for you, your most logical revision would be to the Duodenal Switch. The DS has a Sleeved stomach (which you've already got), plus an intestinal bypass that really changes how you metabolize food. The DS has the very BEST long-term, maintained weight-loss stats. I suggest you contact Dr. Boyce in the Knoxville area---he's both a good DS surgeon and a revision specialist.

Don't tell yoursel you're a failure! YOU ARE NOT---you simply didn't get the best surgery for YOUR body.

I'm sorry about your situation.  You're not alone, I assure you.  You're thinking the right way that you need to find someone with experience, as a revision is much more complicated than the original procedure.

You may need to look outside of Tennessee.  Dr. Kesheshian near Los Angeles is well known/respected for doing re-sleeves.  It would be worth a plane ride if it means your health, happiness and safety.  Plus you can go to Disneyland when you're out here!

Hang in there. You're not alone.  And please don't beat yourself up.  Everyone of us is on this board because we we have either physical and/or emotional disorder that we could not address on our own.

I'm sorry about your situation.  You're not alone, I assure you.  You're thinking the right way that you need to find someone with experience, as a revision is much more complicated than the original procedure.

You may need to look outside of Tennessee.  Dr. Kesheshian near Los Angeles is well known/respected for doing re-sleeves.  It would be worth a plane ride if it means your health, happiness and safety.  Plus you can go to Disneyland when you're out here!

Hang in there. You're not alone.  And please don't beat yourself up.  Everyone of us is on this board because we we have either physical and/or emotional disorder that we could not address on our own.

Thank you very much Marquismark....I will update soon! I appreciate your positivity!

Good luck!

I have been right where you are. ashamed and embarrassed. I had RNY surgery in 2002. I lost 100 pounds and never reached goal but did get down to 175. I maintained that for 5 years then gained back to 240 over the next 5 years. 2012

I first looked in to the Apollo Over stitch and ERNY (tightening up my stoma and removing more intestine) Neither have proven longterm success. I did not want to face another surgery in 5 more years.

I revised to DS with Dr. Ara Keshishian. I lost all excess weight. I was down to 117 but have bounced back (as expected) to 125. I have been holding here. When I went to him for a consult the first thing he said to me was I did not fail the surgery did. It lifted the stigma of shame.

Some Dr's say they revise WLS but they do not tell you DS is not something they can do. There are only a few Vetted RNY to DS Surgeons.

Go to dsfacts.com for more information. This may not e the surgery for you but learn your options and make an informed choice.

Do not settle for what a Dr can do but get what is best for you.

Give yourself a break you have nothing to be ashamed of. You are not alone.

Good luck

Whitney