Hello there,

I had the VBG in 1982 at 17, although I only knew it as my stapled stomach. It was successful and life changing. I did gradually begin to eat around the restriction, opting for the soft and easy foods. But I was active and healthy even with a substantial gain. I had no intention of revision.

In 2004, the GERD snuck in. It was mild and easily managed at first but by 2010, I began treatment with a GI doc. Endoscopy showed moderate reflux and small hiatal hernia. GI doc sent me home with a prescription the usual warnings. The GERD did not improve and I began to have respiratory problems. I had stopped smoking years before and had no allergies, but mother died of copd at 46 so it didn't seem crazy that I would develop late stage asthma.

As my respiratory disease rapidly worsened, my pulmonologist began to run every test he could find to explain my condition. At that point, my dx was asthma but nothing supported it. I had an exhaustive panel of allergy tests, tests for Alpha1 (a genetic disorder), bronchoscopy, biopsy of lung tissue-all negative. I had smoked for years with no respiratory problems and there no problems for 10 years after I quit. A baseline xray was normal and each successive one showed progressive scarring. I had been having regular episodes of micro aspiration which is when reflux is so forceful that you inhale tiny amounts of digestive juices. I purchased an adjustable bed but the damage was done. I was diagnosed with obstructive and restrictive lung disease or COPD. The aspirating was killing me. I was hospitalized often for pneumonia or such.

I am now fully disabled with about a 45% lung capacity. Chronic lack of physical activity has led to more weight gain which exacerbates the other problems. My Come to Jesus moment occurred last year when I was taken by ambulance to the hospital with sepsis and aspiration pneumonia. As soon as I recovered I went to see my surgeon, who told me that RNY is the only solution for the GERD. I have always been wary of bypass procedures. Dumping syndrome terrifies me. I don't do well with remembering to take pills so the idea of handfuls of bulky vitamins is not appealing. BUT...

The alternative is even less appealing so I am fully on board. My surgery is Monday, and for the first time in a long time, I can imagine playing with my grandkids and going to the mall again and living long enough to see my son graduate from college!

I have nothing to lose and everything to gain. I will keep you all posted.

Thanks for your reply..were you able to get insurance coverage..I would be coming from the DC area...I am doing the footwork to revise to distal bypass but would prefer a DS..my surgeon here says it is too complicated..How are you doing with your revision?

How many people do you know who have had bad experiences revising to a Distal ..has anyone done well with this? The surgeon I met with in DC area said going to DS is too complicated as I got my original bypass 20 years ago and it was done in a different way, and that distal would be a good solution. Also..who is the New York surgeon *****vises to DS? Thanks..

Stacy,

I have been approved for revision from VSG to Bypass. Are you saying that you still experiencing acid reflux? While I'm waiting for revision in Sept, my new PPI medicine has help suppressed my acid reflux. Also, I'm make sure to not overeat, do eat late at night. As as result, I starting to second guess myself regarding conversion to bypass or just stay on PPI long term. My terrified of getting the late dumping aka reactive hypoglycemia or earlier dumping. Even though the bypas my help my mild acid reflux, I'm not to thrilled about the dumping. I love my sleeve but not the gerd. Plus, I have a small sliding hiatal hernia that my surgeon tells me that it has no impact on my gerd

They put a lap band on top of the stomach that is left so that there is a feeling of restriction again. It has all of the problems of traditional lap band and only helps with weight loss if the person reduces their food intake. The average weight loss with band over bypass, called BOB is 20 pounds.

Singer Carnie Wilson had band over bypass in 2012. She lost 150 pounds with her first weight loss surgery in 1999. Then had band over bypass in 2012 after having gone back to weighing over 300 pounds. She lost 30 pounds of the regain with the band over bypass in 2012.

For me the only way to keep from regain after weight loss surgery is to diet for the rest of my life. If I slack off, then the scale will start to go back up. For me, it is the same as before surgery, but after surgery, the dieting actually works.