consdering revision to bypass but feel guilty about it

I don't think you have anything to feel guilty about.  Honestly, I think the manufacturer of the band should feel guilty for selling people a medical device that frequently does not work as advertised.  I think surgeons should feel guilty for performing an operation on patients that frequently does not produce good results and has a high complication rate as well.

I understand your feelings. I felt guilty and like a failure but let me tell ya i now feel guilty for not converting to bypass earlier. I went last week to the beach and raced my son down the beach, rode carnival rides and have seen their eating habits change as well.  You are the only one who can make the decision whether or not bypass is right for you. I waited 3 yrs after getting my band out of fear, and if you are that way that is okay too. You are the only person that knows what is best for you. Research and research some more and make the decision you are most comfortable with.

I am having RNY done on 6/25, I've actually wanted WLS for many years but never had insurance that would cover enough of it until now.  A long time ago I wanted the lapband, I've had 2 friends that have had it done and they both have had many problems.  One of them actually just had her band removed and when they removed it they found a lot of stomach erosion.  Honestly, I'm glad I didn't have the option of getting it until now otherwise I would have made that same decision.  When I met with my surgeon we talked about all options (even though I didn't want the band) and he told me he typically doesn't recommend the band and they are doing more removals than anything.  I say go for it!!!  Best of luck to you!!!

I just read your post.  I was shocked to read what you are feeling.  It was like you were telling my story. The only difference is that I had RNY over 3 years ago.  The day of the surgery I knew something was wrong when I accidentally drank a big gulp of water and nothing happened. No pain, no problem. I finally switch pcp and gave up on my surgeon.  Today my pcp is sending me for tests to see what happened with my surgery as I never felt a restriction, dumping syndrome and my weightloss was very slow.  My surgery weight was 366 and I went down to 278 after 18 months of diet and gym.  I am up to 308 again due to lack of exercise and motivation. But today I am starting to pay attention to me again. My health is important.  Im done with surgeries but it would be nice to get some answers. Maybe my stoma was left a little too big is what I have been suggesting all these years.  who knows. 

From reading all the posts, you are no alone.  You are not a failure. We just have to work a lot harder and get 2nd opinions ;) Good luck to you. You are beautiful♥

The fact that you didn't have problems drinking water doesn't mean anything was wrong.  Drinking water is not supposed to be painful after RNY.  Most people don't dump, either; only about 30% of RNY patients do.  If your stoma was too large, that would actually make you more likely to dump, not less likely to, because sugary food would enter the small intestine even faster.  But if you were eating a lot of foods you expected to dump on, that might have something to do with your rate of weight loss.

I think getting some tests done to see if something was wrong with your surgery is a good idea.  Are you going to have an endoscopy?

Amber, I too was a lap-band to bypass conversion. I had my band surgery in March 2008. I lost 90 pounds but then began having problems with anything solid I ate. Even with the band totally empty I could not eat. So for the last three years I have stuck to soft foods, slider foods and developed a huge ice-cream addiction. My band finally slipped this year and my surgeon and I decided that RNY was the best way to go. It has not been easy, and I am losing slower than most but I am eating healthier than I have in years. I miss my ice-cream and sugar, and have a ton of head stuff to deal with but ivan losing weight. I think I have slower loss because I am eating so much more than I have in the past three years. I log everything and take my supplements and get my protein in.

Don't feel guilty, the band just did not work for you. Best of luck and please post an update after you speak with your surgeon.

Christine

 I revised. Band in 2007 to RNY in 2011. I thought it was safer. Had surgery due to kinked port and stopped losing. I gave up. I then gained 30 pounds and asked for a revision. I am excited and at goal. I love Dr Blackstone and her team for fighting for and with me to get healthy. Good luck.

My story is so similar to Ksan's. 

I had a lap band in 2007 and had the port revised several times d/t it being kinked.  Plus, after the last revision, I had a post op infection and needed antibiotics and then developed a very painful seroma where the surgeon removed my old port . I was so miserable!! I did not lose any more weight either.  I was ashamed for a long time to go back to the doctor.  I did feel like a faillure but  I finally got up enough nerve to talk to the doc and  dietician about it. She told me that a lot of patients have revision surgery after lap band because for many people,  they do not work.  So, I signed back up for a weight loss seminar, went through the steps that my physician and insurance required and I am finally through the paperwork and will have my revision on July 31.   

I was very scared to tell ppl I was having the band out and having rny. I thought I'd hear "ANOTHER WLS?!" I didn't... I don't think I heard it even once. People in my life knew that is was causing constant problems... and it's total bunk! I got nothing but support. Besides - why do you have to tell ppl? Keep it on the DL if you want. Don't feel guilty. My doctor says her office TAKES OUT 3 a week! I have a blog and it talks about revision a little. I'm no writer, but you're welcome to take a gander. There's also a group on FB called: Failed Lapbands and realie bands. There's lots of support there. Some people decided to get it out with no revision... but most revised to another surgery. Check it out.

Thank you so much everyone for you posts. I feel for the first time in a long time very encouraged! I will post an update after my appointment july 2nd