Appointment with surgeon on Tuesday- any advice

[Hargs]

Hi all

I was fitted with a gastric band four years ago which slipped and was removed one year later. I have regained a lot of my weight back but not all of it. My bmi is 30 which I know is low for gastric sleeve surgery but I am eligible because I have weight loss surgery before.

Do you have any advice about what I should ask the surgeon on Tuesday? Or do you have any advice? I am researching as much as I can

 

[Sashie1977]

I had my band removed and it was revised to a sleeve at the same time. However, they didn't realise how tight my band actually was and because food won't go through the horrible scar tissue, I am now having my sleeve revised to a bypass. Make sure they do a barium swallow to make sure the fluid/food isn't sitting in a pool and not going anywhere but up! Good luck x

 

[Hargs]

Thank you. I will ask that. I have had my band out for over three years now. I never even imagined there would be scare tissue until I started researching - how naive! Where did u have your surgery?

 

[Sashie1977]

It depends how tight your band was, mine was so tight it cut through my stomach. I had an awful time with it but I had it in me from 2007 to 2012. I went private for my band at The Nuffield in Glasgow and private for my sleeve at Murrayfield in Edinburgh.

Good luck x

 

[Hargs]

Well my band has slipped and I could not drink or eat for 3 weeks- I was neglected by the company I got the band with. My gp referred me to a surgeon and got it sorted. I nearly lost my stomach (and my life) because the band was tight it looked like it had cut off the blood supply to my stomach- thankfully they didn't take my stomach they left me 24 hours to see if the stomach returned to normal and I has a second investigative op the day after my band was removed. I know that it sounds totally crazy wanting to go through any more surgery after that but I can't control my weight on my own

 

[Sashie1977]

I was exactly the same. That's why they did the sleeve, they removed 85% of my stomach. Unfortunately it's the scar tissue from the band that is the problem now.

Was your appointment today? How did you get on? xx

 

[Hargs]

Yes I had my appointment I was not really filled with confidence to be honest. Everything the surgeon say is that he has never had any problems but I needed to know what was in place in case of problems and I needed to be sure of what would happen in worst case scenario. It's great that the surgeon has not had any experience of complications - it means he can do his job well - right?
Where did you have your surgery and who with? What problems are you having with the scar tissue?

 

[Hargs]

Sorry I have asked where u had your surgery - I did not read above post.

 

[Sashie1977]

Did you ask him if he has done many revisions? My team have done many band to sleeve revisions, but not many band to sleeve to bypass! lol I am unique but I have every confidence in them.

The scar tissue has been caused by the tightness of my band and the slippage over a very long period of time. When they removed my band there was an impression of the band left around my stomach. The scar tissue is very hard and tough, difficult to remove which is why they are now bypassing it.

 

[Hargs]

Yes he replied - lots. I wanted to pin him down to exact numbers. He specialises with revisions so should be ok with scar tissue. I am unsure how much the band may have scared my stomach.

You sound like you have had such a tough time. I am sorry to hear that x

 

[Hargs]

I thought I had replied to this but when I have just looked it was not there.

I did not realise that the scarring could be so bad. I am so sorry to hear that you have had such a difficult time x x

 

[Sashie1977]

Thanks, hopefully by this time tomorrow it will be all over and I have no more probs!

I hope you manage to get sorted too, don't let them fob you off xx

 

[Hargs]

I will be thinking of u. I am sure it will be great And u will be feeling much better in no time. Are you finding this yourself? The information I have had from the companies I have researched is that there is cover for 90 days but any re operations after that have to be paid for privately. Are you a private patient or nhs?

 

[Sashie1977]

I have been private all the way from band to bypass. NHS wouldn't look at me. My band surgeon wasn't interested and said the only thing he could do was remove my band....fullstop! I went to another private hospital for a second opinion. Their opinion was to remove the band and do the sleeve in one go. So I paid for a band removal and sleeve revision. I don't have to pay for my bypass which is wonderful as it is within a year of my sleeve surgery. I also have another full year's aftercare. I can't fault Spire Murrayfield whatsoever.

 

[Hargs]

That is expensive! My band was removed privately but I was referred to them by the nhs so did not pay. My care was outstanding- that was a Spire hospital.
Do you get a years cover on extra operations with Spire Murrayfield?

 

[Sashie1977]

I am not sure. I have been to see the plastic surgeon about a tummy tuck and I was told I would get a year's aftercare with him so I am assuming you might. Can't be sure though. Sorry!

 

[Hargs]

Thanks. I think to feel 100% confidence I need to know there is something in place if something goes wrong

 

[Sashie1977]

Of course you do. You have to ask them everything and make sure you get the answers you want. Good luck xx

 

[Hargs]

Thanks

Best of luck 2moro- let us know how you get on x

 

[Sashie1977]

Thank you, I will do xx