Question:
Is there anyone currently needing a revision and thinking about not doing it again?

I am 27 months post op. I had open surgery and was not transected. This was the best thing I ever did for myself. I started at 225 and got down to 140. I was so happy. About 6 months ago I started to notice I could eat again, alot. I have agained 20 pounds back. I saw my surgeon last week and saw the hole into my old stomach on the exray where the staples are not there anymore. I am trully devistated. Since I had the surgery "open", I will have to have it done the same way again. In addition, I am not sure if Anthem blue cross blue shield will pay for another surgery when I am not as heavy as I was,YET. My surgeon used two sets of 4 rows of staples for a total of 8 rows. He says that this happens to only 3%, however I do see alot of discussion about revisions. Is there anyone who chose not to have the operation again and is making it on their own? Is there anyone currently in the same delima as me? I battled my weight all my life and am not sure I can do it without my wonderful little stomach.    — kathy F. (posted on June 23, 2003)

June 22, 2003
I don't think of what you need to have done as a revision. I'd think of it as a repair of a staple line disruption. That might make it easier to get insurance approval. I don't really know, but thought I'd put that thought out there for you to consider.
   — garw

June 22, 2003
Is it something you are ready to tackle. I would think that now that you know that there is a disruption, and you're only dealing with 20 lbs so far (not trying to make light of it.) If I were you, I would use this to your advantage, I know that if I was able to maintain my weight with a 'normal' stomach, that I sure would brag that one up. You did all this hard work, imagine the satisfaction. I know, I know, I'm not in your situation, but try and look at it as a possitive experience, and maybe it will be. I am so sorry you have to be faced with a decision like this, but maybe it's because YOU CAN handle it! I'm not sure of this, but try and check out the OSSG groups on yahoo and see if there is a support group specifically for this.
   — Dana B.

June 23, 2003
If insurance paid for it in the first place, why shouldn't they pay for a complication from the surgery? I would for sure check with them! You could easily gain most of your weight back. Plus, can't this staple-line-disruption be dangerous? Good luck!
   — Caryn R.

June 23, 2003
Hi, Same thing happened to me and I didn't think twice about having the staple line repaired with transection this time. I had it open both times too. The recovery from the revision was so much easier than the original rny. Maybe it was the 68 lbs gone but the pain wasn't as bad and my incision healed very quickly the second time. I won't say it wasn't painful though. The surgeon didn't have to redo any of the intestinal bypass part just transect the pouch. Well, I should say "just transect the pouch" because it WAS major surgery again. Still, I couldn't bear the thought of not losing any more and I know I would have regained all my weight and maybe more. You have to make up your own mind if you want to undergo another surgery but as for me, I wouldn't hesitate to have it again and again and again if necessary. My insurance was AETNA and they paid for the revision because it was "corrective" surgery. There was no problem getting approved for it. I do think it is a shame that some surgeon's still don't transect. Although they say the failure of staple line is 3%, I'll bet if more people had upper GI's when they quit losing and are not at goal, there would be a lot of surprised surgeons. My opinion. Good luck to you in your decision.
   — Mylou52