Any Sleeve to RNY converters?

Have any of you had Bypass after a sleeve (for any reason?)

Had a sleeve in May 2016, very successful . Fast forward and my GERD is getting worse and worse as I get smaller , so we are trying some new medications but it is looking like I may end up with RNY to fix the GERD. Have any of you converted sleeve to RNY to successfully treat gerd/reflux? If not, did you convert sleeve the RNY ( I'm guessing for lack of weight loss) and have success or any troubles ? I wanted to avoid bypass but it looks inevitable. In just a tad more nervous now since the procedure is slightly different than a bypass from the start. Did any of you have the conversion to fix the GERD and have it not fix it? That is my biggest fear! Thanks! I haven't been to the forums in over a year! Lol. Hopefully I stuck this in the correct area.

I converted to RNY from VSG in July, 2016 because of serve GERD that occurred after my VSG. My GERD is about 85% resolved, and when I do have an acid flare, Zantac brings it back under control. What medications are you trying? If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask. I'm pretty much an open book.

Oh thank you so much!

I've been on protonix for the entierity of the sleeve. It is the only ppi that doesn't give interactions with another drug i am on

They put me on carafate just 2 days ago, 4*a day.

I got an email back today from the office to go in for a a gastro x-ray test for anatomy. Not sure if they will check my sleeve or for ulcers or what. I'm hoping it's not a swallow test like after surgery since that was horrific tasting. Hah. After that I'll talk to the surgeon . I'm not sure if they are trying to figure out other surgeries / flap repair etc , since they really do not like doing bypass in the practice especially since I'm at a lower weight now!

Basically the carafate should help build the lining up in the stomach.

I've had gerd since I was a kid, so I'm not surprised

I'll think of a few questions and wrote back tonight. Just unloading my car atm :) I'm a tad bummed yours wasn't totally solved with it, but if I can pop a pepcid or something super quick I'm ok with that!

More of my questions will be about the difference in the surgery and recovery from your sleeve compared to the RNY, weight loss after the conversion, regrets, and complications etc.

I'll write soon!

I too had the conversion and my GERD although much better has not been totally resolved. I can tolerate it much more now then I was able to when I had the VSG. Good Luck

Feel free to ask specific questions but here's my thoughts on the issues you've identified.

My recovery was significantly better with my conversion to RNY. That may be because I was 120lb lighter at the time and EVERYTHING was easier for me. My surgery was at 11:30 and I was out of recovery and in a room by 8:00 (due solely to the hospital trying to find a room for me). I was up and walking that night. The next morning when my surgeon came to check on me, they had to send an aide to find me since I was wandering the halls. I was in the hospital for 3 nights, at my choosing. I could have left after 2. He also made me drink these things called Impact shakes for 2 weeks prior to my surgery. I truly believe they helped with my recovery. It was really a simple procedure.

As far as weight loss goes, I was about 12 lbs from goal when I converted. I was at goal previously but developed a pretty bad Ritz cracker habit in the months leading up to my conversion since the crackers helped control my acid. My doctor told me that I was unlikely to lose a significant amount of weight solely due to the revision and that it could take a year to get the 12 lbs off. It didn't but it wasn't quick.

No regrets. I do have some "complications," if that's what you want to call them. I had no food issues with my sleeve. Now I do. I having Dumping Syndrome. I also have reactive hypoglycemia, so I really, really, really have to watch the amount of sugar I eat, or I'm in for a world of hurt. But really, that's it.

Again, if you have specific questions, let me know!!

Hi,

I am a three time revision! Band 2003 to sleeve 2008 to bypass 3 months ago. I had really bad GERD and was on several meds and still aspirating in my sleep. It is about 90% better than before and I have also lost another 37 pounds since surgery since I no longer feel the need to eat bread to sooth my throat. My surgeon also fixed a hernia which was causing swallowing problems.

Look around on OH. Sleeve to RNY for gerd is really common.

Unfortunately, I think too many surgeons are doing the sleeve on people who are not good candidates because of a history of gerd.

The sleeve is less complicated and more profitable for their practise and so it's proof of how important it is to be your own best advocate! Surgeons do not always put the patients' interests before their own.

Nobody should be having revisions a year or two after their first surgery!

I was one of the lucky few who had no GERD/Reflux prior to the sleeve. It developed about 8 months post surgery. I had to fill out an extensive questionnaire before my surgery and if I would have identified GERD or my EGD had reflected any reflux my surgeon would not have agreed to VSG. I agree that you need to be your own advocate and do your research BEFORE you walk in for your initial appointment. I never would have agreed to VSG if I had a history of reflux.

Howdy,

The surgeons know more now than they did when I got the sleeve in 2008. It was relatively new then and it was a great option for me when I had it done and they removed the lapband that prolapsed that I had from 2003. I liked the restriction from the sleeve. I hated the reflux though.....:(