Question:
I'm having a upper Gi next week to check my pouch. I have been told

that some people have a second bariatric bypass after they gain some of their weight back if they are still very heavy. I had my first surgery 6/03. I lost 140 lbs and never got below 300 lbs. The last year I have gained about 30 lbs back. I have tried to loose the weight back and it stays stable as long as I exercise, other health problems like bad coughs and knee problems have made exercise hard to do for some periods of time off and on. During the off times I slowly start to gain weight. I'm now 58 so maybe my metabolism has slowed. Anyway now I'm highly considering a second bypass. Has anyone done this? I tolerated the first one very well and popped right back. What was your experience?    — LaurieM9 (posted on September 16, 2008)

September 16, 2008
I myself have never heard about anyone being able to have a second bypass operation. I was wondering if perhaps you might have had the gastric sleeve surgery. I know that they do this for people who are over 60 BMI often because they are not physically able to tolerate the full bypass until they have lost some of their weight - it is the first stage in a two part bypass. The first stage they take out about 90% of the stomach, leaving a "sleeve" or long thin pouch. Then, after the person has lost a lot of weight or until they stop losing any more weight, they proceed with the second part of the surgery - the rerouting of the intestines. They say they notice that a lot of people do great with just the first part of the surgery, but most need the 2nd stage. I had the gastric sleeve done (September 5), but am hoping not to have to have the 2nd stage. Good luck!
   — Wendy M.

September 16, 2008
No, I had the whole thing in 2005. I haven't talked to my doctor yet since she's on maternity leave but I have talked to the physician's assistant and she said that they do second bypasses. It depends on my pouch. It might be a lap band this time. Any other experiences?
   — LaurieM9

September 17, 2008
Before my surgery, I had to attend a seminar. During the Q&A with the surgeon, someone asked if a person can have the bypass more than once. The surgeon said that is not possible because once it is done, there is nothing left to do it again. However, he said those who have had the bypass and regain weight later on can still do the lap band. From what I have been reading on this site, there are revisions that could possibly be done. But as to a 2nd bypass, I don't think it is possible since the the stomach is already cut and the portion of the intestines involved is already removed. Plus the stomach pouch would be too thin to go through another bypass. Think of it, the stomach was already stretched out in the 1st place, it was cut to be made smaller then stretched out again. Even with some revisions there is the chance of complications such as tearing and bleeding.
   — ImanAbdulaziz

September 17, 2008
I think you might be mixing up "bariatric bypass" with "weight loss surgery." Once you've had a bypass, you've had a bypass and they can't do it again. However, you can have a second weight loss surgery which, as you mentioned, would most likely be lap band. But lap band IS NOT bypass surgery... it's a type of weight loss surgery, but it does not bypass any intestines thus is not a bypass surgery.
   — mrsidknee

September 17, 2008
I have heard of revisions to RNY or Stomaphyx to make the pouch smaller, however, have not heard of multiple bypasses. My surgeon does do several LapBands over previous gastric bypasses per month. Good luck, Dawn Vickers, RN, BLC, CLC
   — DawnVic

September 17, 2008
I have heard of Stomaphyx, which you can Google, or may be a Lap-Band over the RNY, or a "repair" to your existig RNY.
   — Gina S.

September 17, 2008
I went to my own doctor today and she said that usually it is a lap band, but the physician's assistance said sometimes they take out more intestines or redo the stomach because it is stretched out. That is why they are doing an upper GI to check what is happening with my pouch. Obviously it is stretched out because I can eat alot more than I could at first, though nothing like I did before I had the first surgery. I'll keep you posted on what my doctor says in October.
   — LaurieM9