Question:
Help! If you had a complication with your first surgery can you still get a revision?

I had a VBG in 1997. I got a blockage in my intestines which caused a rupture in my intestines and I became "septic". I required emergency surgery and all was repaired, but the wound had to heal from the inside out and it took five months to close. I was very healthy before this and am very healthy now, except for the extra weight. I have no heart problems, or high blood pressure, or diabetes. I lost maybe 60 lbs within a year, but I throw up all the time and it has gotten worse. I had an upper gi which showed a small leak. I saw a surgeon, the one who had ordered the upper gi, and before he had talked to me he wrote has leak, has GERD, needs roux en y on the report from the upper gi. Now, when I went to talk to him and I told him what happened with my first surgery (the complications), he said I wasn't a good candidate. I asked about the leak and he said it was small whereas before he knew all this, he seemed to think I needed the revision. So, this really threw me off. I feel like maybe he didn't want to deal with this. Has anyone had any experience like this? What happened? Did you go on to have a revision and how did it turn out? Please help, I'm going to see another surgeon next week and see what his opinion is about this. I can't go on throwing up every other day for the rest of my life. I would appreciate any advice or suggestions. Also, any doctors you might know of who have dealt with this. I am in Houston, TX. Thanks!    — Michele :. (posted on March 16, 2001)

March 16, 2001
If you had stomach cancer, would they go in & fix it? Yes. You may be higher risk than someone else, but you should be able to find a surgeon who can go in ONCE and fix it correctly for you. With your history, hopefully they will take extra precautions to avoid trouble.
   — vitalady