Question:
PLEASE HELP needing Roux-en-y revision !!

My husband had Roux-en-y surgery at the end of Feb this year. He has gone from 330 to 162 (he is 6'1") and is continuing to lose. We have been in the hosp several times for ballooning, dehydration, gall bladder removal, PICC line, PICC line infection....the list goes on. They finally told us that he has an ulcer that is consuming 1/3 of his pouch and that there is also a lot of chronic inflamation in his pouch. His surgeon told him the only thing they can do to fix the ulcer (we have tried diff meds and the ulcer keeps growing) is to do revision surgery and cut the ulcer out. The doctor said she would have to cut a portion of his pouch out so it would be even smaller than it is now. This would mean he would have to start from scratch with the insurance,diet, weight loss...everything. The last thing we want is for him to lose more weight. His shoulder bones already stick out and he has constant tailbone and back pain from fat/muscle loss. Please tell me there is another option. Have any of you had the revision and if so, who was the doctor who did it and how did it work for you? Is there a revision that they can do to make the pouch bigger by using the bypassed stomach? Thanks sooo much. This has been a complete nightmare from day 1 sooo much so, in fact that he is questioning whether life is worth it. :(    — help_my_hubby (posted on October 27, 2009)

October 27, 2009
I want you to know I have been following your posts. I don't have any advice, but I know there will be those on this site who can help. What I can do is promise you I will commit to praying for you and your family and ask many others to do the same. You are not alone.
   — dasie

October 27, 2009
The RNY isn't the only surgery for weight loss. There are others, however, it depends on where the ulcer is and how large it is. The others are: Vertical Gasterctomy with Duodenal Switch (DS), Vertical Gastrectomy (VG), and LapBand. Follow my directions on this website I will give you and you can look at the different ones and how they are done and maybe the revision will work for one of these. Go to www.lapsf.com ON THE LEFT SIDE BLUE BOX CLICK "WEIGHT LOSS AND REVISIONAL SURGERIES" THEN CLICK "INTRO-WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS", SCROLL DOWN TO WHERE YOU SEE THE PICTURE OF A STOMACH-CLICK HERE TO VIEW "THE SURGERY COMPARISON CHART". PRINT THIS EMAIL SO YOU CAN FOLLOW MY INSTRUCTIONS.
   — Kristy

October 27, 2009
If you haven't alrealdy, I hope you'll get a second opinion from a very reputable doctor before doing anything else major. God bless!
   — Janell C.

October 27, 2009
Find out from your doctor office if they can do reversal of RNY and use the stomach that was bypassed. I did ask at my last support group if RNY is reversable. The nurse said that although it is not done routinely, that it can be done. I would think that they could help you with this. If not, seek help elsewhere. He is having serious issues. His health is more important at this point than weight loss. I wish you well and pray for healing.
   — Cindy W.

October 28, 2009
This is not a revision it is a correction of a problem. they need to submit it to the insurance as a needed surgery to fix a problem of the ulcer. Not a revision of the pouch. With my insurance it would be covered under the original autherization since it is a problem reulting from the first surgery just like if they put in a heart stint that failed. Call your insurance and see if you can make some head way. I know mine gave me a person to advocate for me in this type of situationa and she was great.
   — trible