OrganicLife
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jul 22, 2015
- Messages
- 78
Hello everyone. I was on here last December reading up on revisions. Some may remember me, most may not. I am an unusual case. I had a band erosion into my stomach, and a severe infection around the port site. This was in 2009. I'll try to cover everything quickly as to not bore anyone with all the details. Went to a bariatric surgeon in NJ (I live in NJ), and he was able to remove the port, the band and suture back my stomach together. A sleeve at the time was not advised, because the stomach had to heal from being cut in half basically and the infection. He said at least 6 months to heal before anything can be done. So, I started doing research, and found the surgery that I thought would be the best option for me from a life long history of ups and downs with my weight losses and gains.
I found a surgeon that could perform the DS by lap. I wanted lap, because 20 years prior I had open surgery on my thoracic cavity, and didn't want to go through that pain and recovery again. Sent the surgeon my operative reports from 20 years ago, and from the surgery to remove the lapband 6 months prior. Fast forward....I had the surgery, BUT, didn't get the DS. I received a bipartition in 2010. Was told because of the severe adhesions all through my insides, the surgeon felt, for my safety, the DS could not be done by lap safely, especially concerning the duodenal and I said I didn't want to be opened. Plus there was the surgery time. My surgery was for over 4 hours to get all the adhesions out. So, I cried and was told that I should be able to loose weight with this. I was devastated.
Last year, I started looking into having a revision. Gained almost all my weight back (almost 6 years later), there is hardly any restriction at this point with this sleeve. I can't overeat, but I can eat my dinner. So, I Called and contacted several surgeons. With my insurance, I would only be able to have it done in NJ. The NJ revision surgeon said he would not be able to do this for me. So, I contacted another surgeon in California, based on recommendations. I sent him my operative reports from my surgeries, and he said it would have to be done open because he's never revised anyone with my type of plumbing. Murphy's law. I came to terms with the fact that in order for me to fix me, it will have to be done open, and I will just have to deal with the recovery to make myself healthy and for the surgery to be done safely. What's another scar anyway...can't be any worse then what I have now. Insurance was a huge issue. Was not able to use my insurance at all. It would have to be self pay. Don't have that kind of cash to self pay at that time. So, another hurdle I will have to get over.
Now, almost a year later, I have refinanced my homes, and have the funds to self pay to finally have this done. I am now researching 3 top revision surgeons.
My angel devil on my shoulders that are talking into my ears are telling me to go back to the surgeon who performed the bipartition, because he would know how to reverse it. He is also an excellent revision surgeon and a DS surgeon as well. Since it will be done open, then he would be able to do the DS. He said open was the only way to go with my adhesions safely. Then the angel devil again says to me, go to either surgeons in CA for the revision. They have the experience in complicated revisions as well, however, they have never done anything with a bipartition. All three will be expensive. One surgeon I can drive to, the other two I will have to fly to and possibly stay in CA for 2 weeks. One note, I was told in CA, if my hospital stay is longer then 4-5 days (if there are complications), then the hospital bill starts going up. I'm not worried about that at this point. If it happens, then I will deal with payments. I mean, what can they do, toss me onto the street if I don't pay right then and there for the additional days?
I am waiting to hear back from the original surgeon, to see if he will do this. I believe he is away on conference right now. I know the other 2 can perform this, although I would have to contact them again, and start the paperwork again (which ever one it will be).
Has anyone on here had a revision of a bipartition? If so, which surgeon did they go to for it? And what were their results? I know I am probably one of just a handful of people that have this. I feel like I don't fit in to any forums or boards anywhere. Odd ball. I KNOW that the DS is the only surgery that will give me the best chance at having a healthier life, for the rest of my life.
Thx for reading this post. What are your thoughts?
I found a surgeon that could perform the DS by lap. I wanted lap, because 20 years prior I had open surgery on my thoracic cavity, and didn't want to go through that pain and recovery again. Sent the surgeon my operative reports from 20 years ago, and from the surgery to remove the lapband 6 months prior. Fast forward....I had the surgery, BUT, didn't get the DS. I received a bipartition in 2010. Was told because of the severe adhesions all through my insides, the surgeon felt, for my safety, the DS could not be done by lap safely, especially concerning the duodenal and I said I didn't want to be opened. Plus there was the surgery time. My surgery was for over 4 hours to get all the adhesions out. So, I cried and was told that I should be able to loose weight with this. I was devastated.
Last year, I started looking into having a revision. Gained almost all my weight back (almost 6 years later), there is hardly any restriction at this point with this sleeve. I can't overeat, but I can eat my dinner. So, I Called and contacted several surgeons. With my insurance, I would only be able to have it done in NJ. The NJ revision surgeon said he would not be able to do this for me. So, I contacted another surgeon in California, based on recommendations. I sent him my operative reports from my surgeries, and he said it would have to be done open because he's never revised anyone with my type of plumbing. Murphy's law. I came to terms with the fact that in order for me to fix me, it will have to be done open, and I will just have to deal with the recovery to make myself healthy and for the surgery to be done safely. What's another scar anyway...can't be any worse then what I have now. Insurance was a huge issue. Was not able to use my insurance at all. It would have to be self pay. Don't have that kind of cash to self pay at that time. So, another hurdle I will have to get over.
Now, almost a year later, I have refinanced my homes, and have the funds to self pay to finally have this done. I am now researching 3 top revision surgeons.
My angel devil on my shoulders that are talking into my ears are telling me to go back to the surgeon who performed the bipartition, because he would know how to reverse it. He is also an excellent revision surgeon and a DS surgeon as well. Since it will be done open, then he would be able to do the DS. He said open was the only way to go with my adhesions safely. Then the angel devil again says to me, go to either surgeons in CA for the revision. They have the experience in complicated revisions as well, however, they have never done anything with a bipartition. All three will be expensive. One surgeon I can drive to, the other two I will have to fly to and possibly stay in CA for 2 weeks. One note, I was told in CA, if my hospital stay is longer then 4-5 days (if there are complications), then the hospital bill starts going up. I'm not worried about that at this point. If it happens, then I will deal with payments. I mean, what can they do, toss me onto the street if I don't pay right then and there for the additional days?
I am waiting to hear back from the original surgeon, to see if he will do this. I believe he is away on conference right now. I know the other 2 can perform this, although I would have to contact them again, and start the paperwork again (which ever one it will be).
Has anyone on here had a revision of a bipartition? If so, which surgeon did they go to for it? And what were their results? I know I am probably one of just a handful of people that have this. I feel like I don't fit in to any forums or boards anywhere. Odd ball. I KNOW that the DS is the only surgery that will give me the best chance at having a healthier life, for the rest of my life.
Thx for reading this post. What are your thoughts?
