Question:
Would I regain it all?

Michelle, I don't understand your answer. If I had a breakdown, would I regain all the weight IF I was very careful to not overeat? Once the weight is off and I am used to eating small portions I was thinking maybe I could just really monitor myself. Is it a given that regain will happen. Also, this is a two in one question..do most insurance companies cover the revisions or not? Thanks for replies.    — Dawn M. (posted on March 10, 2002)

March 10, 2002
BJ, no offense but it's only wise to think ahead at how you would or could deal with the more frequent complications. Yes, I am going to ask for a transection. Then my concern will be of making sure I don't get ulcers; however, I am certain that my surgeon will okay me to take Pepcid or Mylanta once or twice daily, forever. Mylanta contains a lot of calcium so it might even be "good" for me. Additionally, I think your statistics are incorrect. Actually, I am hoping you are right and I am incorrect : ). I've read in many differnt places that the statistics are as follows: -Staple line disruptions- 30% -Ulcers-20% That is a substantial risk. I am not afraid of the Staple line breakdown per se. It's the insurance issue. I don't think you understood the point about my husband's insurance company changing each year. His job every year goes with a completely different company to get introductory rates. I run the risk of having a staple line disruption and then being denied coverage to fix it. That would leave me in quite a situation! That is why I am asking if I would definitely regain all my weight and can I live with a staple line disruption. When I go in all my bases are going to be covered and then I will leave the outcome to God. : ) Dawn
   — Dawn M.

March 10, 2002
Many surgeons won't do transections when they are just beginning their practice. Experienced surgeons do the transection. My thought is if you want it done right, go to a specialist. Why take the chance. And I've seen people regain ALL their weight with the staple line failed. And they fail a <b>LOT
   — Frank M.

March 10, 2002
Not all experienced Drs do transection. It seems to pretty much be an individual choice with the dr. But to say only newbies or general surgeons don't transact isn't factual. Actually, specialists are only specialists in this surgery by practice, since it's a fairly simple technical surgery and any general surgeon is qualified for the basic rny operation.
   — Becky K.

March 10, 2002
I'm not an ins expert AT ALL. WE see lots of revisions covered in these parts. May be how the letters are written or the insurances offered. Beyond me! Mine did, and they did it based on my doc's letter saying what WOULD happen if I regained & that regain was a sure thing. So, I only gained 12#. Then, part 2, overeating is a relative term. If you are losing or maintaining your wt (AND your feeling of satisfaction) with a 1 oz pouch, so are eating 1-4 oz meals (depending on where you are with things), AND you have intact malabsorption, as soon as you mess with that formula, the loss stops or regain occurs. If you had full use of your stomach again, 4 oz of food would not - in any way - satisfy you. AND the food would be processed through the normal channels, full digested, therefore fully absorbed. Then, you would be as you were pre-op. So, just portion control & dieting would give you the same result as it always has before: regain. I don't LIKE those odds, mind you, but that's the reality of putting our disease in remission. A mechanical failure can undo remission.
   — vitalady

March 11, 2002
While we are on the subject, does anyone know what the real stats are on this kind of thing? Is there a website I could go to that has them listed?
   — ScatCat