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Valapp, Hi and thank you for replying. I saw my doctor and after describing the symptoms of reflux, coughing/aspirating at night and terrible heart burn he will proceed on doing a RNY. I had so many questions for him but forgot them all even after writing them down..that being said really my questions are nothing anyone can answer since we are all different. Question for you: how long did you stay in the hospital? When were you allowed to return to work. If any complications that you might have encountered what were they? I have lots of people that are trying to change my mind to just removing the lap band and letting it be...however they've never been obese >200lbs and I know myself ...I will be going through the RNY.
Dr removed all fluid from the lap band and I felt an immediate relief. However I feel that were the band is placed it has to be raw....because the horrible heartburn in the opening of the stomach has been horrible..but thankfully the tums works!
Evelyn
Hi there,
I'm from Manitoba. I was sleeved 7 yrs ago Feb 2012 in Richmond, BC but due to my unresolved medical issues including Sleep Apnea, Hypertension. Oh, not to mention that Post surgery I developed GERD and was recently diagnosed with Severe Osteoarthritis of the spine. Now today with my weight at 275lbs, I am still not at goal(135lbs to go) and in far too great pain & discomfort. I need to consider a revision to Bypass or a Conversion to the full DS surgery.
Don't get me wrong, my sleeve has been the best to me since I was 429 lbs on my surgery day with my highest over 500lbs and barely living(my lowest at 247lbs). Yes, I have regained (30lbs so far). With my spine in such condition, I simply cannot afford the lbs. I've had enough of the excruciating pain and all the medication that I'm on. I have tried "Rebooting my Sleeve" to no avail. So it's just not enough anymore..
Out of Country/Self-Paying is out of the question.
What are my options? Is Revision even an option for me? Where do I start? Im not sure i qualify for the program in my home province since I had surgery Out-of-Province but I've heard Alberta has a Revision Program, is this true? I'm aware that Ontario does the DS Surgery but is that only for ON residents? If not, who do I contact?
Please Help me.
Thank you in advance
I'm unclear about exactly what you're referring to when you say you had a revision. Did you revise to RnY? Or did you revise to an E-Rny? Or from a sleeve? Or lapband?
As far as your Afib goes though, I can't imagine any bariatric surgery that causes atrial fibrillation. Maybe it uncovered something pre-existing?
Or even more likely, it may be related to dumping syndrome as Hala pointed out. What have you been eating? Do you log your food and maybe have a record of what you were eating that day? Because that would really help us here to give a better answer.
I'm not trying to minimize your Afib. I've got heart problems myself and my Mom recently went through over two straight weeks in Afib so believe me I know it's a scary thing. Just thinking out loud here because if it was a result of dumping syndrome (and rapid heartbeat IS a symptom of dumping) you'll be able to actually control your episodes.
Have you had other episodes in the past four months?
After 6 weeks of nausea and vomiting, I was diagnosed with a gallstone trapped in the common bile duct. Exactly two months post RNY, on Jan 28, 2019 I had emergency gall bladder surgery with exploration of the common bile duct as the trapped stone had to be removed. Our physical anatomy changes make this more challenging as otherwise an ERCP scope could be used. Now I am moving forward with no nausea and finally able to advance my diet.
I don't think I have AFib, but I get a really fast heartbeat when I eat foods I have allergies to, or foods I have intolerances to. Or if I eat too fast. Or the food I ate had too much sugar and I experienced dumping. Or when my BS drops during Hypoglycemia or reactive hypoglycemia episode.
I am over 10 uyear post op, so I developed type of aversion to foods that I shouldn't be eating anyway. I also slow down my eating, which also helps with eating too much.
Hala. RNY 5/14/2008; Happy At Goal =HAG
"I can eat or do anything I want to - as long as I am willing to deal with the consequences"
"Failure is not falling down, It is not getting up once you fell... So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again...."
Having the same procedure hopefully in 2 weeks. Could you please tell me how its been going for you since the your procedure.
I got my lap band in 2009. In 2015 I started having terrible reflux like you. I knew I wanted to get rid of the lap band. I researched and found a doctor experienced in revisions. He sent me for a scope and after seeing the results agreed it had to be removed. He said he would only do the RNY due to my reflux. In July 2015, I had the revision to RNY and it was the best decision I ever made. I have been at my goal weight since Sept., 2016. I have no reflux and have been off blood pressure meds since right after the surgery. Glad you are seeing the doctor tomorrow. You will feel so much better after that evil lap band is gone!
HW 280
CW 168
Goal 165
I had to have a medically necessary band to RNY revision..
I had to the 6 month medically monitored weight loss program through my surgeon before they'd make application to my insurance for coverage of the procedure...
I recently had surgery 10/29/2018, Gastric Bypass revision and Hiatal Hernia. I was told the day after surgery that I had a Gastric Fistula that was discovered during surgery. Previous to surgery my doctor said, "he is going to make my pouch very tight". At my one-week post op visit with the doctor, I mentioned I was having skip heart beats. He did not answer with a concern. Two weeks later I called 911 because my heart was racing. Went to emergency heart rate very high over 132 beats. I was told I have AFIB. I have never had any problems with my heart before surgery.
My question to the Forum, has anyone experienced this type of problem?
Hi Ziggy,
I am almost 4 weeks after my revision surgery. It was a revision from Lap-Band placed in 2009; everything was fine at the beginning, however after 5 years I started having a horrible reflux and since I had to eat soft creamy stuff to alleviate the acidity I started gaining weight; the reflux was progressively increasing to the point I had too sleep on a sitting position for almost a year.
I finally went to another surgeon, since the previous did not accepted my insurance anymore. My surgeon recommended to remove the band and going for gastric by pass instead of sleeve, since one of the complications of the sleeve is also reflux. My GI doctor agreed with that.
I had the Lap-Band removed and the gastric by pass done on the same day and my surgeon said the band and the stitches were very hard to remove, but still with patience it was done.
It is not true anymore that you have to get the band removed and wait 4-6 weeks for the other surgery to be done. That may be decided at the time of the surgery, on a case by case basis. It was a possibility in my case, but my surgeon told me that if was possible and safe to complete the removal and the conversion at the same time, she will do it.
I am doing great after my surgery; the process is the same you learned the time you went for the band. Eating and exercising properly. It is your second chance and you already know the surgery is 50% of the process, the rest is on you.
A nurse I meet at the hospital had the same experience as you; her band removed and for months she went without it and of course she gained weight; it is just physics since you do not have the restraint anymore and we, people who needed bariatric surgery are not like others people who don't have problems with weight and food addictions. Now this nurse is doing great with a healthy weight and lifestyle.
Go back to your surgeon to complete your revision; o change surgeons if you think it is a better option.
The best of luck 
