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Had my RNY in 8/2004.  Lost 80 pounds in the first 6 months.  Was watching everything I ate, exercising 2 or more hours a day, then stalled for about 3 months.  I was having trouble balance my life with small children, volunteer, home school work, and 2-3 hours of exercise every day.  Once I couldn't keep up with the 4:30 a.m. workouts, the weight started creeping back on.  At 18 months out, I had my 6th child and things just went downhill from there.  I ended up gaining back 60 of the 80.  Still at 41.2 BMI.  I don't know that insurance will cover a revision or whether a doctor will allow me to have one, but need to start somewhere.  I did lose a little weight last year, but again with winter, wasn't working out a lot and weigh crept back on.  Going to a seminar this week.

I have Cigna and if they don't cover, I'm wondering what my out of pocket will be.  Just a ball park figure--not exact cost.  I've got some money aside but if there are lots of follow up visits that won't be covered I'm not sure I can afford all of that.  I'm hoping that if a lap band is the suggested revision it could be outpatient.

My original surgery was in Lawton, OK and I went for the first 5 months for support group meetings but was never contacted by surgeon for follow ups or anything.  Do any of you guys have any info for me?  Not sure if I ate through it or what.  I was never "not hungry" and did pretty well with the self control until about 9 months post op when I had stalled for so very long. 

Please give me some suggestions.  I live in Northeast Oklahoma.

T

First thing to check, get an EGD and Upper GI done. I had my surgery in 2002 but had no follow up because of distance. About 7 years ago I started gaining weight back, fast, 30lbs in one month and slower after that. A bariatric surgeon finally came to my area and I went to see him due to Acid Reflux. I was convinced I had failed my surgery not that my surgery had failed me. Guess what. My old stomach and new stomach are best friends again! It's like I never had gastric bypass. AND I have severe BILE reflux. Now I am seeing his dietician and remembering a lot of the basics again. I will be having a RNY diversion. Which is a close cousin of gastric bypass and having a portion of my stomach removed due to polyps. I will basically be having another gastric bypass. I will stay in the hospital for a week, be off work for 3, have to take more vitamins, get more protein, run the risk of worse complications, and run the risk of having severe malabsorption issues. (Blindness, nervous system problems, and death!)

I am not doing this for the weight loss. It's not worth it just to lose weight.  I am fairly healthy thank God. I could live the rest of my days obese. However, I cannot live with the pain of this bile reflux. I am miserable. Think Acid Reflux on crack!

Anyway, that is my story and my suggestion. Rule out a mechanical failure. After that it's getting back to basics. Start the diet from scratch. My doctor recommends the clear liquids for as long as you can stand to help jump start things. I'll be on the clear liquid 2-4 weeks before surgery, depending on how much more he wants me to lose. Keep a food journal. Sparkpeople or myfitnesspal are both great and the mobile apps have a barcode scanner. Also, try for 80 grams protein. That's what I'm being told now by the nutritionist. I've also noticed since I cut out sodas two months ago I am not having as much head hunger. Maybe the gassy carbonation made my stomach feel like it was empty. I don't know. Just some suggestions. Take what you can use! :) Good luck!

I had surgery in 2007 R N Y  LOST about 90 pounds and kept that off for a while finnaly I desided I needed help I dont want to be where I was so I contacted my surgons office got a appointment took day off work went down there and was basicly crying when I came out !! he didnt do anything for me ..he just said the oly thing that could do is put me on a back on track progranthat would cost me about 1500 dollors for 8 weeks and see a diatision and theropist !! I have tried dieting ..and cant do it thats why I had surgery !! now thay want me to starve myself on there foods ..I desided am not going by there foods I want to eat normal ..so I feel like there isnt anyone to help me ...I eat healthy and am eating more protiens now trying for 60 or more a day ..

I had rny 8/2000 at the time I didn't know I was only the 23rd patient. I had no complications but have gained 100 lbs back most of it emotional reasons and some my own. The 1st surgeon I went to turned out I dont think he wanted to do a revision. He said my pouch was still small and the best he could do was shorten the roux-en limb 2 more feet and at best I would lose 20 lbs if I worked at it. So I searched found another surgeon willing to trasect my stomach, and do something up top (minor) where original surgery was. Apparently they have come along way and the piece up top feeds into the other part of my stomach causing hunger hormones to be released. So I found a surgeon, am working on quitting smoking. I had a previous nodule om my lung very small that I have a ct scan for yearly. The nodule is the same but they found something else so no I have to jump through hoops to get clearance. I cancelled all my other testing until I get this done. I would have had surgery in june with no problem . Getting frustrated thinking about waiting until after the summer.What state do you live in? Please keep me posted and good luck!

Shirley,

What kind of surgery did you have? I had the RNY Gastric Bypass on 3/27/2002. I developed an ulcer on my staple line a month after but that was the extent of my complications. I had an upper GI Friday and an EGD (endoscopy) yesterday. My dr. (hopefully my new surgeon soon) came in and told me that my stomach has completely reconnected. It's as if I never had the surgery! On one hand I am ticked but on the other hand relieved that it wasn't all me. ( I know it was me some but it's great to know there is more than just my weakness to blame!)

I meet with Dr. El Djouzi on the 17th so hopefully I will find out more then. He said there are ways to work around the exclusion policy in my insurance, he called it a diversion. I don't know if that's another surgery or if he means we are going to distract the insurance :)

I'll keep you all posted!