Lap Band over Gastric Bypass

I know that this should be posted in the Revision Forum ... or ... the lap band forum ... or the RNY Forum, but I figure this is where most everyone originally looks, so I am posting here.  I had RNY Gastric Bypass done in June 2008.  I wound up with a stricture, so my surgeon had to stretch it out ... 3 times.  On the third pass, he said that he had stretched it out quite a ways, enough to make it bleed.  After that, I was doing ok for while, could at least eat without throwing up.  After some time, I noticed that I never got the "full sensation", never understood why.  I went back to my surgeon several times, told to keep a food journal, eat protien first, blah blah blah ... Typical surgeon response.  After quite some time and several tests, they decided to send me to a gastrologist (sp) and you'll never guess.  They had stretched the Stoma hole so wide that it was not even slowing the food down, but sending it straight past the pouch into my intestines.  I do not ever feel full, I can eat anything and not dump, and I am not losing weight anymore (I stopped at about 100 lbs lost and although great, still have about 75-80 to go).  I feel like a failure and spend a good amount of my time depressed about it.

I got a referrel to another surgeon who said that we should put a LapBand at the base of the pouch, to basically, slow the food down and give me that full sensation.  I talked to my original surgeon and he said that he had heard of that, but that he would not perform that type of procedure because, although the least intrusive, also would likely have problems with the band slipping as he didn't know where the other surgeon would be able to attach it to.  He mentioned other forms of revision, including to DS and sleeve, but mentioned that those were more risky since they were going in and "rearranging" things again.

I am at wits end.  Has anyone had the LapBand put over their bypass, did it work, were there any complications that I should worry about, or should I just give up and try to live with it as it is?  I am not against a different type of revision, just trying to figure out what is the best for me to do.  Also, if the lapband idea is stupid, what would you all recommend.  I am open to any ideas.

Any advice would be appreciated.  Thank you for listening.

I would suggest you look into the DS and get the REAL facts on the DS. It's not any more risky than the RNY. Talk to a surgeon that does all forms of WLS. Most surgeons that don't do the DS don't recomend it and will tell you it's riskier etc because if you go with the DS they lose business!

 Do a lot of reading and determine what would be best for you.  I think if I had to do it all over again, I'd have the DS or the sleeve.  The folks I know who have had either operation (not covered by my insurance) have done so well.  I managed to lose 85 pounds with my bypass, but I really wish I could lose more.  I think I too have a fairly wide open anastomosis.

Linda

I personally would look into the DS.  I would not want a lapband myself.  They are very likely to slip- the company that makes them reports 24% of patients have a slipped band.  Not always, but sometimes it requires a second surgery to fix it.  There are just so many things that can go wrong with them.

Kelly

"I feel like a failure and spend a good amount of my time depressed about it."

You did not fail.  Your surgery failed.  Check out the DS for yourself and talk to people that have had revisions. 

I don't think the band is going to last all that long. I'd look at DS. It's a riskier surgery, yes. But it's 100x more effective.

Like the other posters, I was going to suggest looking into the sleeve or DS. If you only have 75-80 lbs to go, maybe they can reverse it into a sleeve but if not, definitely suggest DS over lapband anyday.

Ditto what everyone else said.  No point in going with the "less invasive" method if it ends up not working or slipping and causing you even more problems (and therefore ends up MORE invasive in the long run).

Personally, I'd rather do nothing than get a band.

Look at DS & VSG.  Post on the DS board if you want and the DS peeps can point you in the direction of a good revision surgeon where you can get an opinion from someone who is skilled enough to revise you if that's what you choose.

Good luck!

If I was in your situation I would suggest looking into DS I would never go to a band...If anything was to ever go wrong with my RNY I would revise to a DS...I think everyone above me has given you good advice...Please just research everything you can and make the best choice for you...

Check out www.DSFACTS.com (they also have a great list of accredited surgeons) and then go to the DS and the revisions forums here to ask any questions you may still have.