Question:
New Endoscopic Gastric Bypass Repair/Revision in Boston - anyone had it?
I read an article online about Dr. Christopher Thompson at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston doing this new procedure to make your stretched-out pouch smaller, plus make the stoma (exit to intestines) smaller too, thereby making you feel full longer. It's for people who have gained weight back. I have an appt for a consultation, in April, but has anyone else had this done? If you type "endoscopic gastric bypass repair" into Google, you'll get the article. It's a brand-new porcedure. No surgical scar -- they go down your throat with a teeny tiny sewing kit while you're under general anesthesia. I don't know much more about it, but I definitely want it done!! I had RNY in 2001 and have gained back 50 lbs. Too horrifying for words. Please contact me if you know anything about this!! Thanks. — snazzytoes88 (posted on January 1, 2006)
January 1, 2006
It will be interesting to find out if its working successfully. Since this
problem has been around for years, and surgeons have failed to fix it. Its
a problem still that doctors generally do not address with their patients
who are having an RNY.
— star .
January 2, 2006
If you have the revision to loose the 50 Lbs you gained back and you loose
them again. Few years later you gain the same weight back again, what are
you going to do then.? Did the doctor tells you that you need a revision?
Please think about it before you make any decision.
— Dani96
January 2, 2006
To Danielle -- Well, let's look at it logically. If I do nothing, and just
keep trying unsuccessfully to lose weight, I will definitely stay this way
forever. Or die from obesity. However, if I get a revision/repair and lose
weight, great! If i gain it back (which of course I have no intention of
doing, Just Like Before), at least I took a shot at improving my life. You
sound like someone who has not regained any weight and can't IMAGINE doing
so, after all we went through to get the surgery originally. I felt like
that too. Then it started to creep back on. Yes, I know it's popular to
scream at me that it's my own damn fault... and I don't deserve a second
chance because I'm just a big ol' pig... but supposing someone said that to
you, before you had your surgery? YOU know that you tried absolutely
everything to lose weight, and gastric bypass was your only resort... to
skinny people, that looks like 'cheating,' "the easy way out."
And my revision procedure could look like it's "rewarding" me for
gaining weight. I don't pretend to know the answer to all this... All I
know is that I am just as POWERLESS over my food issues/weight now as I was
before the original RNY. I would never, ever volunteer for more medical
procedures otherwise!!! And I never, ever would've believed that this
(gaining weight) would happen to me. I thought I was 'cured." But
supposing, due to surgical technicalities, my pouch and stoma are just
plain larger than yours? That if you (or anyone -- I'm speaking generally
here) had MY insides, you would be exactly in my position?? Kind of scary,
isn't it? So please, everyone, before you judge me too harshly for gaining
weight, please remember how YOU felt before surgery, and how hurtful it was
to be told that you just need willpower. Or that you'll fail again. I HAVE
thought about this procedure, believe me! I have spent the past 2 years
doing nothing but trying to lose weight, and I think that my pouch and
stoma are flapping about in there, demanding food all the time! I may be
wrong, but it makes sense to check this out and correct it if possible.
— snazzytoes88
January 2, 2006
I wish you all the best. It is not easy to ask for help when you
"Supposedly" had the last attempt at weight lose. I am 4 months
out and have hit a stand still. I am trying to get a hold on things before
they get out of control. I pray you have success and lose your 50 pounds.
Keep your head up and let me know how you do.
— shantrism
January 2, 2006
hey congratulations on doing this a second time i am 5 weeks from my
surgery date of feb 7 '06 and the financing hasn't come in ( the lord WILL
provide) yet im running up bills that will take me months to pay off (i am
refi my house to the hilt and was turned down by the company that i have my
mortgage thru right now and am now going thru anotherr company its been a
nightmare for me ) and i ssay that after all this you are willing to go
thru the program and the waiting and the doubt again then good for you i
hope that you make it! do what you need to do and god bless you in the
process
— donna m
January 3, 2006
So many people have gained back the weight and some like never really even
got close to goal. I thought everyone lost the weight but not so. Thank
you for writing about this. I am 2 and half years out and sadly never went
below a size 22. My Doc kept saying I was on a plateau and would be fine.
Not so and now I am desperatley trying to find some help. I have been
given medication to help but it just messes up my sytem and drives me
crazy. I hope I can find someone in NJ to help me. My surgeon wants to
only address my pouch and from some folks on this site that is a total
waste of time and money. I am going to do some research. I am determined
to experience "normal" weight even if I am a little overweight
would be fine but not this. God bless you and I wish you much success.
— [Deactivated Member]
January 17, 2006
Hi There,
I found your question when I was trying to find others who have had the
repair done. The only person I found is a woman in VA, whom I met in the
pre op room at Brigham and Womens. I had the repair done yesterday,
procedure itself was very tolerable, took a little over an hour and went
home a few hours after that. I can tell already that I feel full just
from 2 oz of water, hoping some of this info helps you. Feel free to email
me w/any questions...anyone.
— jbmisner
February 19, 2006
just a follow up, I did have the repair and have since been informed it did
not work. have the option of retrying again...no explanation really was
given, just gave me a follow up visit in April....very disappointed :(
— jbmisner
February 19, 2006
Hi Jennifer, I'm soooo sorry that you are having trouble with your
endoscopic procedure. Can you tell us what makes you or the doctor think
that it didn't work? Did you go for a follow-up test or something? Please
let us know... How dreadful for you!! I am really, really banking on this
thing working! I have my first appt. with Dr. Thompson on April 3.
— snazzytoes88
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