Question:
I have revision questions.............help!

I had a VBG in April of 2001. Everything went well, until this past September when I discovered I had a tear in my staple line. I was devastated! To date I have gained back about 25 lbs. I want to have a revision, but not sure which surgery I should have. I am considering having my VBG repaired. I would like input from anyone who has had a revision. Is it o.k.to search for another surgeon to do your revision? Thanks!    — Dina P. (posted on December 4, 2002)

December 4, 2002
Hi Dina. I had a revision from a stomach stapling, which is similar to a VBG. My surgery was way back in 1984. I lost about 80 lbs initially w/ the first surgery, but even though my staples did not come loose, I stilly began to slowly regain. When I went in to have my revision, I had regained all but 10 pounds that I had lost. In Sept. of 2001, I was revised to a lap rny/ I am so thrilled w/ this surgery I cannot tell you. I am able to eat normally and healthy, something that was difficult w/ the stomach stapling. I am at goal and feel great. If I can help you in any way please let me know. Patti Meadows -104 lbs.
   — peppermintp

December 4, 2002
Dina, I too had a VBG in 1995 and a staple line disruption several years after that. I was revised to RNY in July 2002 and am very happy with this surgery (At 5 months post-op I have lost half of my excess weight). That being said, yes you can have surgery to repair your disruption without revising the type of surgery. When I started researching, I knew I wanted to have the RNY because I have a family member that had great success with it and I wanted the transected stomach so that I would not have to worry about disruptions again. There is a lady on this site that did have her VBG repaired, but she ended up gaining the weight back again and finally had the revision to RNY done. I came across her name while researching. Lisa Breuwet: <br> http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/profile.phtml?N=B983843741 <br> And yes you can try to find another surgeon if you are not happy with your current one. Some of them don't want to do repairs or revisions but there are some out there that will take you as a patient. I used the same surgeon for both my surgeries. Good Luck.
   — Ali M