ObesityHelp

I had my Fobi Pouch surgery nine years ago and now have a leak.  Also, my ring is enbeded into my pouch/small intestine.  I am in the process of scheduling surgery.  I hope I can afford it. 

Thank you for your post, I had my surgery done in 1998 by Dr Fobi and have just developed a sharp pain near original drainage incision. I have moved to VA since my surgery and I am in the process of finding a surgeon familiar wih the pouch. I have a gut feel (no pun intended) this is going to bring on a revision for me. I've lost 190# and have kept 150 off. So I am ok with that. Please let us know how you are doing.  

Hi, I'm seven days post-op from what was to have been a "revision" to my Fobi Pouch which was performed by Dr. Fobi in 1992.  Although the whole weight gain, etc. was NOT due to the Fobi procedure (Bless Dr. Fobi!) but due to a fistula forming that reconnected the pouch to my former stomach and caused the  hunger hormones to be released (I consider that a matter of sh*t just happens and get over it), I am walking your path. 

Kuldeep Singh, MD did my procedure and was the only one of three with any "familiarity" of the Fobi pouch in the mid-Atlantic *****turned my calls. He'd never "revised" a Fobi and just flew by his brilliance and the seat of his pants, CT scans, an Upper GI, and my complete faith in him.

My procedure ultimately involved the repair of a huge hiatal hernia (undiagnosed by Kaiser), the removal of my gall bladder (there was sludge and surgery would eventually become necessary), and the disconnection of the tissue.

I have about six incisions, it only looks like stitches were required in one but the steri strips still cover all but one.  The drain came out on day 3 and I was sent home sans drain (thank God).  On Day 1, post op, I felt like I'd been hit by a car, Day 2, a Mack truck, Day 3, car, by Day 4, smaller moving vehicle.  The worst of the pain seems to come from my lower right abdomen and happens depending upon how I move which makes rolling over in bed something awful.

Diet wise, I am NOT hungry and the cravings are gone - hurray for the hormones being gone.  I'm being kept on liquids for two weeks to be on the safe side but I really don't miss much.  I've got my supply of Whole Foods 365 protein powder, soy milk, and Naked Protein Zone or whatever it is called.  I've learned how to make refried bean soup (little beef bouillion, taco bell hot sauce).  I am sticking to the same things I am sure of and adding little by little.  I would like some Whole Foods Tomato Bisque - maybe I can get my son to go pick up some tomorrow.  If I feel up to it, I may venture outside the house and take a walk down the block to the store tomorrow. 

The pain is the hindrance to the physical activity but I am home alone so I do have to do much on my own.  I've gone downstairs to visit my neighbors a couple of times.  I've done some minor household chores according to how I feel.  My biggest frustration is related to the pain and the limitations that come from it.  I'm on morphine which limits my ability to think which means I can't THINK. If I can't THINK, I can't RESEARCH, I can't WRITE.  So my "real" life is put on hold.  But thank God for morphine.   

I am still quite swollen although nothing like when I came out of surgery.  I know I've lost weight but the weight loss doesn't show in my mid section where I needed to lose it yet. 

I'm using myfitnesspal.com to log my food which is a requirement prior to my follow up with Dr. Singh next week.  I haven't had any dumping, no nausea. I will give you one very useful bit of advice. You can have STOMACH FREEZE.  It's akin to BRAIN FREEZE over cold? LMAO.  Since I can only drink down so much which makes the protein requirement had to do, I've been using less liquid in the shakes but really really wanted lots of ice yesterday.  I took a blessful swig and just wanted to cry.  Oh well, trial and error. Ha Ha  It could be worse. I AM laughing.

Kate

You are welcome.  Is Dr. Fobi still practicing?
If he is, could you please give me the information needed to contact him for an appointment.  The surgeon I had has retired.  He had studied with Dr. Fobi and Dr. Rouex in France.

I had the fobi pouch surgery done in 2001.  I have heard that the silastic ring needs to be removed.  I am afraid to even have tests done to see what is going on inside.  I have good and bad days with foods.  Some days I can eat a small meal, and then some I can only eat soft foods.  I still vomit up mucus at the end of a meal and some foods that do agree with me one day, don't the next.  Can you tell me what tests need to be redone to check out the status of my pouch?

 I had the fobi pouch done seven years ago and have run into problem this year. I constantly through ump I'm underweight have lost 15 pllus pounds this year. I saw a gastroenterologist he is concerned about my ring. I'm going to dr fobi on Monday. My gastroenterologist believes the ring is responsible for my stricture and I won't be able to eat gastric bypass normal until after it is removed. I pray insurance covers this I am also worried about missing work.

 I saw dr fobi. I had an obstruction caused by the ring. They removed it. Now I'm paranoid I'm going I gain weight back. I am still in flux and have a hematoma but I am strictly watching what I eat. I weigh 135 now and I'm hoping to balance out at 130 to 125. Thanks!

Actually i was gaining more weight back then i should have been and i was only 4 years into the surgery. That was the main reason i decided to see if that was normal, which it wasnt. dr fobi did tests and sure enough they saw my fistula, basically my stomach was separating into 2 pouches causing me to have 2 stomachs. Unfortunately due to insurance issues dr fobi was not able to do my revision (thats a whole other story). i did have a wonderful dr (DR Leport) here in Fountain Valley, CA perfrom my revision just over a week ago 4/25. There were more risks involved in this surgery, as after surgery the dr told me, he performed the correction of the fistual, removed a small part of my stomach and also removed scar tissue lesions..3 procedures in all. If you are planning to go through your insurance i will say it was a small battle to find someone that is able to revise a fobi procedure since it is a bit different than normal bypass. If you dont have a leakage most doctors will point you toward the band over bypass and it seems insurance is less likely to approve those these days. I am now 7 days into my revision and have lost nearly 10 pounds. Hopefully progress will continue and i can get to where i need to be. I hope this information helps. Let me know if you have any other questions..and good luck! :)

No problem. Yes, they did an endoscopy which showed the fistula. But the fistula is very very rare and only happens to a small percentage of patients..i just happened to be one of those people. Band over bypass is actually a much less invasive procedure and requires less time for recovery. They actually do the lap band over your already bypassed stomach, making it even smaller. Carnie Wilson recently had this done and documents it on her new tv show. This was something i would have considered if i didn't have the leakage.

I am feeling pretty good so far and moving around as much as possible. The pain and discomfort is no worse than the first time so at least i knew what to expect. Right now the mental part seems to be getting to me..what i wouldnt give for a cheeseburger or some pizza right now. I have also fought this as a life long battle and i know its not going to be easy. I'll continue to stay positive and hopefully rech my goal soon! I hope the same for you as well :)