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There really was no weighing the pros and cons. The potential complications from GERD include Barretts esophagus that could lead to esophageal cancer. It wasn't a risk I was worth taking. Also, my GERD was so bad, I had no quality of life. I coughed up acid when I was sleeping and exercising. Finally, I have a gene mutation that affects that rate I metabolize PPIs. Really, the only one that works for me at all is Dexilant and it's not covered under my insurance. When my surgeon looked at me and told me if I was a family member I would have had surgery already, my decision was made.
FYI, I went from a VSG that was perfect (except I developed GERD which tried to kill me) to an RNY with "complications" I dump and have reactive hypoglycemia and sadly, I still have acid that's pretty much controlled with Prevacid (a precursor to Dexilant that I can buy OTC), but I would have made the same decision. The fear of esophageal cancer was too much for me.
Oooohhhhhmyyyyygosshh. Threaded to your esophagus?! ?
i did find out today I have to do the Manometry too. I HATE that test and to be honest it's steering me in the direction of just dealing with GERD. Although in addition to taking Prilosec, I've already chewed 6 tums today.
Thank you you so much for your input. It does help knowing it's a "normal" process before determining if the conversation necessary.
would you mind sharing how you weighed the pros and cons of GERD vs. complications related to the bypass? Thank you!
I had to have a manometry test and 24 hour pH test which is similar to the Bravo, but significantly worse (it involves a sensor threaded into your esophagus through your nose which records changes in pH levels. The test revealed that my acid was 409% higher than normal. Once I hod those 2 tests (and the barium swallow) I was approved for revision in 24 hours.
hi i really would love to chat with you. i am scheduled revise from vsg to rny on oct 1. had vsg sept 2011 was successful but put on wait over last 2 years but not at my highest at all still 70 below that. would like to lose 30 more. what has been the key to your success? i exercise 3-4 times week orange theory but i think my pouch may have expanded - i feel hungry a lot. my issue is extreme GERD. i would really like to know more about what plan you followed and your journey post revision. thank you so much.
Yes, I am definitely not enjoying food right now. I love healthy food and being creative but pureed food is not exciting. It's a chore to have to eat right now. I wish I was one of those people that didn't get hungry after surgery but no such luck. My pulled muscle is being a major pain too. I actually think I may have cracked my rib when I sneezed. Not sure if they can even do anything about that so I'll just suck it up for now. I go in on Wednesday to get my stupid foot checked out by a sports doctor. I love exercising and being active so I can't wait to get off restrictions.
I'm down 10# since surgery, I'm shooting to be down 20 by the time I go back to work on sept 5th. Fingers crossed!
Great job, we'll get through the rough patches of recovery soon!
Kelly
Oh you poor girl...Sooo sorry you have the craziness right now!! But as I like to say "this too shall pass" , sometimes slow as hell but it will. Awesome news about home buying and your pod cast is a great idea!! So many people feel hopeless , alone and ashamed and should not feel that way and its so nice to know that they are not alone and should not let others make them feel less important!! So good for you I think it will help alot of folks!
I agree with you 100% about the way alot of US companies treat their employees. I think we are far behind other countries and I wonder if we will see more moving in that direction, more time for vacation, family, just life in general.I would hope so. And I do feel blessed when it comes to what my company offers and I think its a sign that this was meant to be for me. My sister in law worked for a global company in the HR dept and she used to tell me all the benefits those employees overseas got... she was like "We are letting a few of them go and we have to allow time off with PAY for them to look for another job!! And she was like that get a few months off a year...she was like why am I living here..
It sounds like your company got it right as well!! We live in FL , there are way to many cool things to do and its evil to keep us locked up and with limited time off haha.
Stacey
Yep I live in Brandon!! I was FLOORED when I saw your post said Tampa.. I have seen soo many others from all over I thought wow what are the odds that I started talking to you and you live close!!!
Thank you again for the support.. I feel like counting down the hours to the 30th with the appointment to get the fluid out and start planning surgeries!!
Stay strong.. fight the slumlord and on to the NEW HOME..YAY!!! Keep me posted, Talk to ya later!!
Hello!
I have developed GERD after having my sleeve surgery in 2013. Today I met with my surgeon to go over the results of the fluoroscopy I had last week, which shows every swallow of the barium coming right back up the esophagus. Before we discuss options of how to fix this, he wants me to have an endoscopy with BRAVO chip which is a procedure where they will place a chip in my esophagus to test for acid levels.
What did your surgeon require? What steps did you take when determining how to fix your GERD caused by the sleeve?
Hi, I was sleeved in 2011. I lost 140,but regained 40. I'm still obese and considering revision. So as I've been reading up on revision and sleeve research that's happened since I was sleeved, I was shocked to find a JAMA article (November 2015 "Long-term Metabolic Effects of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy") and saw that nearly HALF of sleeve patients regain "significant" weight by 5 years post surgery. Excess weight loss is at 77% 1 year out, but drops to 56% 5 years out.
So this made me realize there must be a lot of sleeve patients like me that were "early adopters" and are now realizing the sleeve wasn't quite what we had hoped. There were no long-term studies back when I did my surgery. I'm still really really glad I did it. I've kept off 100 lbs, which is awesome. I'm very grateful.
I've been struggling with weight loss these past few years. I've been on back-on-track, HMR, and other commercial and medical diets. I've finally called my surgery to discuss revision options.
Is the gastric bypass the most common revision option for sleeve patients? I'm sure my sleeve has stretched a bit over the years, so perhaps re-sleeving will be sufficient? Is it possible to have too much scar tissue and not be able to have a revision? I've had a lot of surgeries... (gallbladder out, ovary out, thyroid out... just slowly removing parts, haha)
I want to study up and be ready with good questions when I see my surgeon in a couple of weeks.
Thanks for your input.
That is exactly what happened to me minus the throwing up and add in a severe case of GERD. My surgeon says the hernia fix is only temporary and we would be back in the same place 2-3 years later. We submitted the revision to both my insurances and they have both approved. Now, I am just waiting on a surgery date. I told my surgeon if I never lost another pound I wouldn't care as long as the GERD is corrected.
Good luck,
Heather
Kelly,
I have the same thoughts. Sometimes I'm sad because food was so enjoyable for me and everything revolves around it. Other times I worry that I'm not losing fast enough and yet I've lost 15# since the surgery. It really is an emotional rollercoaster. And I'm still in pain on the one side and exhausted but I'm going to push myself to walk because I know that will help both the healing and my mental state. Good luck to you. Talk soon!
Kimberly
