A warning for VSG folks that were previously banded

I had a band in 12/06 and in all fairness to me, it would not be known just how bad the band was until 2 years later. I was one of the guinea pigs for lap bands.  18 months later in 2008 I revised to a sleeve.

 

When I revised to a sleeve my surgeon suggested bypass, we knew I had minimal esophageal damage (The sphincter at the base of my esophagus was shot due to the band.) but I refused.  I hate bypass, I think it sets people up for failure, it is very unforgiving, and I refused. I knew a sleeve could potentially make reflux worse but I was willing to take the chance.  I wanted a sleeve and not bypass.

 

If I had a do-over I would still get a sleeve again.  But...  My reflux is severe.  Not because of the sleeve it is as I mentioned before, the sphincter at the base of my esophagus is shot and that is what keeps stomach acid in the stomach instead of in the esophagus. The band just keeps on giving and giving!

 

So in October I had an upper endoscopy and the doctor didn't say much, just erosive gastritis and gave me a different PPI.  The experience with THAT particular doctor was a horror!  I will never do a repeat of that one with HIM again.  Three people in the room, the nurse giving the meds, the doctor doing the endo an the dude that holds you down and prevents you from fighting.  It was horrible but... that was *that* particular doctor.

 

I work for a bariatric surgeon in Mexico and I still follow up with him as well as working for him and he wanted a repeat endo at 3 months.  No way!  I refused.  Either the PPI worked or it didn't, another upper endo was not going to fix anything.  We finally compromised, HE would do it and I do trust him so I went ahead and did that.

 

Well, what the US doctor did not tell me is that after all these years my esophagus is now shot.  The top of it is extremely dilated and the lower 1/2 is a sigmoid esophagus, it looks like a tube sock filled with marbles.  It is such severe damage that has happened since my sleeve that he is suggesting bypass and/or eventually tube feedings.

 

My sleeve did not necessarily cause the damage.  It could have contributed but it wasn't the original cause.  The original cause was the band.  I think most vets who were banded and now sleeved know how severe the damage can be on your esophagus with a band.  But, what I did not know is that the damage is PROGRESSIVE!!!

As I wrote above, the band causes esophageal damage, even after you get the band removed and regardless of surgery type that damage can continue.  It does not just stop because you remove the band.  That, I did not know.

 

So if you ever had a band I would start looking at an upper endo starting about 2 years post op and make sure this didn't happen to you, too.  Sadly, there is not a lot that can be done to reverse the damage... well, there is nothing that can be done to reverse the damage. But bypass might end up your only option someday and it's just something you should know about.

 

How does a bypass set people up for failure?

"The dude that holds you down"? I've had two EGDs and never had anyone hold me down.

It's well and good to share your experiences--people should be aware that any surgery comes with risks and possible complications--but your narrative is suspect and comes across as fear-mongering.

I agree with your assessment, Kate. I find it curious that this person indicates they work for a bariatic  surgeon, yet they are completely biased against a surgery that is pretty much tailor made for their situation. It's  too bad that they did not take the opportunity to reduce the acid producing capacity by utilizing a very effective tool. This is a prime example of how prejudices can lead one astray and I hope others can learn from this mistake. 

Jen

HA!  I came here, told my story, was as honest as I could be, and this is the response?  Honestly, what is wrong with you?  You appear to be a very unhappy person to attack like this.

 

I HATE bypass, I have ALWAYS hated bypass.  They only malabsorb calories for months but they malabsorb nutrition for life.  I don't like the risks vs. the complications.  I'm STILL not going to get it and that is  my choice.  I have the right, it is my body.

 

You are just unbelievable.  Have a happy life.

The stoma dilates for one and there is no really excellent fix for that.  If any of us COULD do this without restriction, we would have.  When the stoma in a bypass person dilates, their restriction is severely affected.

 

I have had 5 EGDs and that is the only time that has happened.  I thought I made it clear it was THAT surgeon and not standard.  My apologies if I didn't.

 

You are free to believe anything you wish.  I have a f/b page for regain/revision.  I am a revision, some are regainers, some are both.  MANY of our previously banded people have massively severe esophageal damage.  The co founder of my page is looking at having her esophagus removed and replaced with colon tissue. That surgery has a 25% mortality rate.

 

I am looking at bypass and since this is progressive, I stand a pretty good chance at a feeding tube in my future.  There are many people that were previously banded that have gastroparesis, vagus nerve damage, esophageal damage.. but right.  that's just fear mongering.

 

Whatever.

Count me in among those that don't understand your bias against RNY.

You blame the doctor, but clearly you would have been better off  following his advice and not your ill informed prejudice, and just had bypass. Which, it sounds like you still should do. I'm sorry you've had to suffer for years because of this.

Whoooo thare, you all are so anxious to jump in and bash that now you are making up nonsense.

 

I blame the doctor for none of this.  I did explain that I don't care for his upper endos, so what?  How in the world is that blaming him for my issues?  

 

What happened to everyone here?  People here used to be nice, happy, NORMAL.  Sheesh... now I know why so many people don't post here anymore.

Anyone who has severe damage to their esophagus and GERD that refuses to have a life saving RNY surgery because they "hate RNY surgery because it sets people up for failure" is insane.  

I had VBG in 1986.  The surgeon mutilated my stomach.  I suffered for 25 years with pain and severe GERD and no doctor wuld help me (my surgeon had disappeared).  The sphincter in my esophagus was destroyed.  I had stomach acid flowing freely into my mouth.  All my teeth were loose and I had acid sores the size of dimes on my gums and in my throat. The pain was excruciating.  I was on the strongest dose of PPI before overdose with no relief. I had 6 tumors removed and was diagnosed with Barrett's Esophagus.  I went to 6 specialists that looked at my case and told me to go home and get my affairs in order.  They had never seen anything like this and there was nothing they could do for me.  I was a case of esophageal cancer waiting to happen.  

I was finally referred to Mayo Clinic where Dr. Sarr looked at me and thought RNY would work to stop the acid, but I had such damage to my stomach from the first surgery and years of acid that I had a 1 in 4 chance never waking up from surgery.  I took the chance on RNY.  It was  no-brainer.  I was in surgery for 7 hours ( working around severe scar tissue).  My RNY does not look like most but I woke up from surgery GERD free and without pain.  

I am 5 years out (almost 6 years) and I am still within 5 pounds of my lowest weight.  RNY saved my life and did NOT set me up for failure. I'm healthier than I have ever been. 

I hope anyone reading this realizes that your problems were exacerbated by not following your surgeon's recommendations.  RNY could have cured your problem.  VSG is known to make those issues worse and yet you chose that surgery, why?.  Unfounded fear is no reason to put your health in jeopardy.

In addition, I have to have an endoscopy yearly to check for new cancerous lesions and I have NEVER had anyone "hold me down".

"I hate bypass, I think it sets people up for failure, it is very unforgiving, and I refused. I knew a sleeve could potentially make reflux worse but I was willing to take the chance.  I wanted a sleeve and not bypass."

A bypass would have prevented further damage, but to each his own.

I am another bypass patient almost 8 years out who had a BMI of 53 and now I maintain at a BMI of 22 with no health issues. It did not set me up for failure. Stop trying to scare people.

We all get to make our own choices. Hopefully others will learn from your experiences with the band and the VSG.