Revision from VBG to ds

[weightlosssurgery1]

In 2000, I had the vetical banded gastroplasty (used mesh for stoma). Very soon after my surgery, the staple line broke down. I went to a few doctors later on and they said a revision to rny could not be done (Alberta does lap band, sleeve and rny). Fast forward 10 years. My barium test indicates that me staple line is completely broke down - with just the mesh remaining somewhere (was not evident in the tests so far would need further testing). In speaking with my doctor, he recommends doing the bottom portion of the DS and leaving the stomach as is. My question is NOT about surgery choice.My questions are, with regards to post surgery recovery, what do you think I should be prepared for with having the intestinal part of the DS without change in my stomach? What do you think I would have to be careful about in regards to eating? Any suggestion about recovery and eating would be most appreciated. Any weight loss predictions would be nice too. Please keep it as constructive as possible - we are in this battle together.
Thank you,
Shawna

[angelcake]

I had a 2 part DS, so my stomach wasn't touched either. I was in hospital for 4nights/5 days. The day of surgery and the day after were both nil by mouth (I was still very sleepy the day after). In hospital I had just broth or a yogurt (1 yogurt for the entire day), so in effect I had a 5 day pouch test (and yes I know I don't have a pouch).

Anyway, my surgeon wanted me on liquids and VERY soft food for a month. I had scrambled eggs, yogurt, runny chili, fish, etc. Try and get your vitamins lined up pre-op - you'll still probably want chewables for the first month and Vitalady does such a pack for DSers.

I had 6 weeks off work as it's still a major surgery and I wanted to have my bathroom routine together before going back. Plan your recovery as if it were a full DS and then hopefully you'll just be pleasantly surprises. Introduce foods slowly as you don't know how your reconfigured intestines will react.

WRT loss it'll be slow, but the longer you can stay on the Atkins wagon the better.

[Mary_J]

I also am a VBG to DS revision, with only the intestinal part of the DS. The mesh band made such a mess of scar tissue that none of the 3 well-known surgeons I contacted were willing to mess with my stomach. The option of the RnY was the only complete revision any would offer, but my surgeon was willing to do just the intestinal portion. I went from 325# to a low of about 127#. I'm currently about 140#, which is still well within normal BMI for my 5' 5" height (but I toy with the idea of working a little and dropping about 10 ).
My weightloss was easy, actually. I did low carb (under 50 net carbs) until I hit normal BMI, which took 17 months. I splurged a little about 1 day a week, and I splurged a LOT about 1 day a month. Once I hit normal BMI, I loosened the carb nazi control a little and continued to lose - it pretty much stopped when it wanted! Maintenance has been easy, I have no food issues, bathroom issues, gas issues, and I tolerate everything I eat except Cheez Its (who knows why those and no other crackers!) Just like someone who has had the complete DS, I felt like hell for a while post-op, went through the buyers remorse, was nauseated, but I was allowed to eat 'anything I could tolerate' at 9 days post-op (pretty common for my surgeon). I didn't WANT much except sherbert for a few days, though!