Revision questions.

All right guys I need some help......I had a RNY Distal five years ago. Everything went wonderful...got below goal weight......then got back up to where I should be. Recently I have started gaining back...and am starting to look into revision. I need to know what all is involved...what are my choices....costs.....too make things tougher....my surgeon has retired so I can't contact him....my PCP has moved his practice across country so he isn't any help either. I am from a small town and finding someone familiar with this procedure is close to impossible. I don't want to start at the beginning again. What is this endoscopic procedure? WHat arethe costs for any of this? DO insurances typically cover this if it is done right? WHat are the requirements to even have the revision done? DO you have to gain back so much? Any info would be greatly appreciated. Sharlene

I know nothing about revision. However, I suggest you provide a bit more detail regarding your weight gain. Starting to gain back weight and nearing morbid obesity are clearly very different. In either case, I offer you a clear head and commitment to personal goals and the strategies to reach them. Karen

I have gained 20 pounds in the last 6 months.

Please do not take my lack of any real response as anything other than not being able to find the words...'tis a rare event...I am speechless.

Twenty years from now I will recall where I was and what I was doing when they say "Do you remember the Karen was speechless?" Of course, when the question is posed concerning my cessation of lip-flapping, most will say "I guess I missed it>" Nowhere Man/PH/Jay

Is the BMI in your profile correct? If your BMI is currently 26.x, I would think that a revision would be an analogous to fixing a watch that is running slow by hitting w/ a sledge hammer. Revisions should be reserved for mechanical issues, SLD, enlarged stoma, etc. Finding a ethical surgeon who would revise a person with the stated BMI would another hurdle to overcome. Nowhere Man/PH/Jay

I must say I do not understand your guys responses??? Are you poking fun at me? Possibly I do not understand what a revision is.....Can I simply just get my stomache retightened or whatever it would be? I certainly don't believe I eat all that much....am wondering if perhaps something else may be wrong....but I am the only Gastric Bypass patient the Drs in this area have had, my previous PCP moved and my surgeon retired. So I feel like I am teaching them, and I am trying to figure things out on my own..... Sharlene

Sharlene, I think what you're experiencing is typical "bounce back" weight that is very common with long term post-ops. 20 lbs, IMHO, is nothing that requires a revision. A revision is just that, they literally do your surgery over. Bypass more of your intestine, cut into your pouch again, close up a failed stoma, etc... Revisions are meant to correct a bypass that, for whatever reason, failed mechanically. That's probably not the problem in your case. You say you don't htink you're eating much. Have you tried logging your food on Fitday to get a grip on what you're really eating? I find that once a month or so, I log my food for a few days, just to be sure I'm still on track. Also, what kind of exercise are you getting? I'm sure you're very worried right now, heck, I get worried if the scale bounces up 1-2 pounds, even though I know it's normal. 20lbs in 6 months is not something to shrug off, but by no means does it mean that anything's wrong with your tool. JMHO, take it for what it's worth...

Sharlene, You had your surgery 5 years ago, reached your goal and recently have experienced a weight gain of 20#. It seems to me that you have figured things out all by yourself! You have been successful, you have reached your goal, you have stayed successful for a long time...you HAVE figured it out! As for your gain of 20#, I disagree with those who may suggest bounce back, you are too far out post op for that kind of thing. I do suggest taking the simple but annoying step of writing every calorie that passes your lips down. Weighing and measuring your portions so that you can have an accurate count. It is amazing how much we under estimate our daily caloric intake...if nothing else, this could be an interesting experiment. Many use fit day to record, however the only risk in that is remembering what you ate and how much until you can get to a computer. Do some research about revision. You don't need surgery to maintain your weight! Sharlene, there is no secret! This thing is about lifestyle changes...not surgical procedures! The secret is that there is no secret to success...it's all in your hands, the power of knowledge, taking responsibility for your successes and challenges, and using every ounce of your inner strength every minute of every day to be who you want to be! ...and no, I am not poking fun at you. Karen

Karen, I agree... I guess I was using "bounce back" in a more general statement, not necessarily your body purposely putting a certain amount of weight back on shortly after reaching goal but more of a slight gain that needs to be addressed but not by surgery...