Starting All Over Again: RNY + TORE-G Revision

Hi Folks!

Eleven years ago I underwent RNY surgery, which brought me from 315 to 175, followed by lower-body lift surgery. These experiences altered the course of my whole life - for the better!

About two years, I began to gain weight, about two pounds a month, and was ravenously hungry. I had some restriction, but not nearly as much a previously, and had lost the mixed blessing of "dumping" which I really needed to help me restrict sugar and carbs. I wound up at 225 lbs!

My husband nagged and nagged me to get a follow-up endoscopy and colonoscopy. The physicians at UCLA suggested that if cir****tances were appropriate, they could do a TORE-G revision -- and I went for it. During endoscopy they found that the surgery had "held" and the pouch was only slightly enlarged, but the stoma had increased significantly. *sigh*

THAT was one week ago -- and I am down eight pounds and EXHAUSTED. I can tell you all that buyer's remorse is a THING LOL. I had it eleven years ago, an I had it last week, too. But I am already feeling better, though not fully recovered. I'll post my questions here, or answer yours if you like.

So the surgery was to shorten the stoma only?

Essentially yes, TORE+G's objective is to reduce the stoma and, by extension, the pouch, when RNYers have lost some restriction.

HOWEVER: The fundamental procedure is an extensive endocopy to visualize the esophagus, pouch, stoma, jejeunum, blind pouch, etc. Entirely trans-oral and performed under either mild sedation or plain old anesthesia, and literally bloodless.

I went to the doctor to see what could be done about sudden, significant weight gain, but there were (of course) other issues: night reflux, and waxy stool. I was already in need of an age-appropriate colonoscopy, so the doctor suggested that he perform an upper endoscopy to check for esophagal erosion, pouch issues, etc etc. while I was already prepped and "under."

When the doc was checking, he found that the anatomy was all healthy, but the pouch had enlarged somewhat, and the stoma increased to 2cm+, which correlates with weight gain, so he performed the agreed-upon stoma reduction.

I was ALSO told that excess-weight-loss with this revision is NOT very much -- in my case probably 15-20 pounds loss in the end.

I just had an EGD 2 weeks ago. I have an 8mm ulcer at the seam and they had to stretch my esophagas. I never got lower than 177#'s and now still eat a few bites, maybe 10, and I'm 8 yrs out.

How are they treating the ulcer, and the esophagus problem (other than stretching, and OMG how did they do that?)

simply with an egd. (Tube down the throat while under anesthesia) I have to take 3 medicines, one capsule morning, one at night and a liquid an hour before meals. That's gives it time to coat the stomach. Can't cheat and not wait, or it burns terribly.