Revision after VBG -- too risky? Worth it?

I had an open VBG 20 years ago. Recent endoscopy shows the staple line has totally unzippered (I knew that 16 years ago) -- and there is some erosion near the original staple line. So they recommended I see a bariatric doc. I have some pain which I don't know if it's related to the old surgery. I have no diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. However, I have regained weight. My BMI isn't over 35 but it's not too far away. If the bariatric doc recommends revision surgery to a RNY and insurance covers it, should I do it? Should I leave well enough alone? I never thought I'd be in this scenario again ... thinking of WLS. In fact, even though this VBG failed and I had unrestricted eating for 16 years, 7 of those years I was able to get to my ideal weight through a lot of hard work and exercise. Then, it just went off the rails and here I am again. I want to get off the merry go round and be healthy again. Right now I don't have any health condiitions related to obesity. I exercise regularly. I'm just at a higher weight than I should be and can't seem to get it off.

For anyone who has had revision after VBG, what kind did you have and was doing it the right decision? I'm really stumped. Thanks for any responses.

I revised from VBG to RNY and it saved my life!!!  I suffered from severe GERD was created by my VBG.  I suffered for 25 years and no doctor would touch me.  I developed Barrett's Esophagus and had 6 tumors removed.  I was well on my way to developing cancer of the esophagus.

VBG is TERRIBLE surgery.  Most of us vomit daily and resort to eating slider foods, causing weight gain.  The surgery causes major scar tissue from the hole they punch through your stomach and damage from the band adhering to organs or eroding. Many doctors refuse to do the VBG anymore because of the mechanical failure rate  and the suffering the patients have endured.

Run, don't walk to a revision surgeon.  Make sure he is familiar with this revision as it can get very complicated.  My original VBG surgeon botched the surgery so badly that my new surgeon at Mayo Clinic could not identify what kind of surgery he performed on me.  I had multiple complications and they gave me a  1 in 4 chance of not surviving the revision.  

I had my revision 6 years ago.  Because of all the complications I had with VBG, I am  religious about following the post WLS rules. I don't ever want to go back to the pain and poor health I had after that surgery.  I am 15 pounds below my goal weight and healthier than I have ever been.  Revision to RNY was absolutely the right choice for me.

Just wanted to add that my BMI was 36 when I had my revision.  I was approved ( after much fighting with my insurance) because of my GERD and the VBG was ruled a mechanical failure.

Whoa .. a 1 in 4 chance of surviving the revision? That totally scares me.

I don't have GERD. I imagine I am full of scar tissue. I guess I'll see what the surgeon says and go from there. It will be very hard finding someone who is versed in revisions after a VBG. What was your recovery time like, if you don't mind me asking?

You can't use me as an example.  My situation was not the norm.  My first surgeon was a quack that totally screwed up my stomach.  The "1 in 4 chance" was because I had so much damage to my stomach that my new surgeon said that I was likely develop leaks and go septic.   I was in surgery for over 6 hours.  Much of that time was spent just trying to figure out where the good tissue was.  My revision does not look like anyone else's.  They did what they had to do to make it work.  Prior to being referred  Mayo Clinic, I had seen 7 specialists who would not touch me and said that they had never seen anything like my situation.  They did not even know where to begin.

I was in the hospital for over a week, mostly watching for signs of sepsis.  I developed a fever and infection which also kept me in the hospital longer than usual.  I had a hard recovery because of the complications from my original surgery.

I think most revisions can be done without opening you up (laproscopic) and I have heard the average hospital stay is about three days.  The recovery should be similar to what you went through with the VBG.

If you have erosion you need to see a bariatric doc. ASAP. My girlfriend had erosion from lapband. It is very serious.