Coundown to healthier me: -110 lbs 5/18/06 (start 4/19/05)

[Phlegm]

Since they bypass the stomach and some of the intestine, do they take them out or left them floating in there?

[Mop]

If I understod right from the seminar they romove 2/3's of them and take them out completly

[liquidstayce]

A lot of weight loss surgery patients crindge when people tell them that it is the easy way out because the general population just lacks the correct information. I find the best way to fight that from people that I actually care about or are generally interested to just educate as much as possible as I've done in this thread. I don't preach this surgery for anyone but I am happy to lay out the facts, the good and the bad.

Seems more like the pouch is just an assist to diet and exercise.

EXACTLY! Plus add in all the behavioral and mental changes that you still need to overcome on your own as well. They physical part is cake compared to those.
It is more work then I have ever done. The pre-op process alone is exausting and takes time. You need to have psychiatric evaluations, nutrional evaluations, and a whole slew of testing (some very unpleasant) to make sure you are ok for surgery.
In some cases you also have to be on a medically supervised diet for 6 months prior as well.

[liquidstayce]

Since they bypass the stomach and some of the intestine, do they take them out or left them floating in there?

Nothing is removed. They might take out your gall bladder at the same time but that is only if you have gall stones.

You can watch the video of it here: http://tuvok.diversehost.net:8080/ramge ... /lapgbp.rm

In my case for the Lap(minimally invasive) RNY - 4 small incisions (three are less than 1/2 inch & 1 is a 1/4 inch in size) are made on the abdominal wall. The stomach is divided by a stapler device into a small (15 to 30 cc or approxiametly 1 oz) pouch. The distal stomach is not removed in this type of procedure! The small intestine is divided and the distal part is stapled to the pouch. The small intestine downstream is hooked up with the previous cut intestine so that the food can then mix with the bile and pancreatic fluids for digestion.

It is more of just like a reworking of your plumbing.

[liquidstayce]

Found a great animation here: http://www.barixclinics.com/how_it_work ... urgery.jsp

[belfior]

I call it the "Call Center Surgery"

But it works sometimes, but person has to be dedicated.

[liquidstayce]

Hi Belfy~
Actually most are dedicated just after. To go through something this drastic you have to be. It is NOT the easy way out as you can see if you read through even some of the info I posted. However, when the honeymoon is gone and when the big weight loss stops and you are only getting a lb here and there that is when problems can happen. People come down from that inital high which lasts about 12-18 months. The problem arises if they have not taken advantage of that inital window of opportunity to make the behavioral changes along with the weight loss.

Your comment about that it works sometimes can be somewhat quantified..
What is the success rate (statistic) of persons undergoing bariatric surgery? These are NOT easy statistics to come by, as many patients fail mostly at following up with their surgeon's group so that accurate statistics can be compiled. However, from what is available, this is what "I" have concluded (you're conclusions from the same data, may vary - which is what makes science so interesting to me :-) ):

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It seems that about 85 - 90% of diets fail the morbidly (MO) and super-morbidly obese (SMO). The average dieter is considered a 'success' if they lose 10% of their excess weight. In the MO/SMO, that amounts to a paltry 25 to 40 pounds (on average), which is not enough to alleviate the health concerns created by being MO/SMO.

Bariatric surgery is considered successful if the patient loses between 50 and 75% of their excess weight, depending on the surgery performed, surgical group performing, the patient's mental health AND their starting weight. It is further considered a success if the patient maintains a loss of at least 48% over the long term (5+ years), even with a weight regain of 5 to 10 percent over that time.

"With gastric bypass, as well as the biliopancreatic diversion and duodenal switch, weight loss is rapid and substantial. Excess weight loss one year after surgery is generally 70% or more. Studies have found that 5 years after gastric bypass surgery most individuals will have maintained 48 to 74% of their excess weight loss. One study found that even 14 years after surgery, average excess weight loss for over 600 gastric bypass patients exceeded 50%." [beyondchange-obesity.com/obResearch/surgeryATool.html]

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Bariatric surgery remains the only durable treatment for extreme overweight and can dramatically improve health and quality of life for morbidly obese individuals, says UAB bariatric surgeon John J. Gleysteen, MD, who notes that at 5-year follow up, medically supervised weight-loss programs report a 96% failure rate.

For patients undergoing bariatric surgery, mean excess weight lost ranges from 50% to 75%. After 14 years, excess weight loss still exceeds 50% in many patients, reports the American Society for Bariatric Surgery.

With United States obesity rates reaching epidemic proportions — currently, more than 14 million Americans are morbidly obese — national demand for surgery is soaring. In 2002, the number of bariatric procedures jumped 40%, to 80,000. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the number of surgeries topped 120,000 in 2003.....Peak weight loss occurs about 1 year postprocedure; after 5 years, many patients regain some weight, with most maintaining about 50% of excess weight lost" [health.uab.edu/4docs/show.asp?durki=64602]
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With the Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, 70% or more of patients achieve success, as defined by a loss of 50% of excess weight maintained at 1 year. The mean weight loss is 60% to 85% of excess body weight at 3 years of follow-up. A small amount of weight regain can be expected after the weight nadir, but at least one study has shown maintained success at 3 years in 72% of patients (11,13)." [postgradmed.com/issues/2004/01_04/mattison.htm]
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Mayo Clin Proc. 2000 Jul;75(7):673-80

Prospective evaluation of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass as primary operation for medically complicated obesity.

Balsiger BM, Kennedy FP, Abu-Lebdeh HS, Collazo-Clavell M, Jensen MD, O'Brien T, Hensrud DD, Dinneen SF, Thompson GB, Que FG, Williams DE, Clark MM, Grant JE, Frick MS, Mueller RA, Mai JL, Sarr MG.

Division of Gastroenterologic and General Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. 55905, USA.

OBJECTIVE: To determine prospectively the results of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) used as the primary weight-reducing operation in patients with medically complicated ("morbid") obesity. The RYGB procedure combines the advantages of a restrictive physiology (pouch of 10 mL) and a "dumping physiology" for high-energy liquids without requiring an externally reinforced (banded) stoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between April 1987 and December 1998, a total of 191 consecutive patients with morbid obesity (median weight, 138 kg [range, 91-240 kg]; median body mass index, 49 kg/m2 [range, 36-74 kg/m2]), all of whom had directly weight-related morbidity, underwent RYGB and prospective follow-up. RESULTS: Hospital mortality was 0.5% (1/191), and hospital morbidity occurred in 10.5% (20/191). Good long-term weight loss was achieved, and patients adapted well to the required new eating habits. The mean +/- SD weight loss at 1 year after operation (113 patients) was 52 +/- 1 kg or 68% +/- 2% of initial excess body weight. By 3 years postoperatively (74 patients), weight loss was still 66% +/- 2% of excess body weight. Overall, 53 (72%) of 74 patients had achieved and maintained a weight loss of 50% or more of their preoperative excess body weight 3 years after the operation. In addition, only 1 (1%) of 98 patients had persistent postoperative vomiting 1 or more times per week. CONCLUSION: We believe that RYGB is a safe, effective procedure for most patients with morbid obesity and thus may be the current procedure of choice in patients requiring bariatrics++ surgery for morbid obesity."
MID: 10907381 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=Abstract&list_uids=10907381]

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A couple of interesting studies I ran across, but am not posting showed that oddly enough, people who suffered from depression often had more significant weight-loss the first year, though without treatment, had the highest incidences of regain over the long term. And those with more friends and confidants, a greater history of diet attempts, and greater sexual satisfaction tended towards greater success at weight loss. Whereas, those who reported sexual abuse in childhood, poor current sexual satisfaction, and those who shied away from follow-ups with healthcare professionals tended towards a higher failure rate with weight loss surgery.

[liquidstayce]

5/9/05 update - down 20lbs but really not feeling good this weekend and today. Surgeon had me come in for some blood work and urine analysis to rule out anything serious like an infection, leak, or blockage. I'm sure its just a stomach bug but he is being cautious since I am just three weeks post op tomorrow.

[liquidstayce]

Still waiting for results but feeling back to my old self today. I plan to get back to working out tomorrow.

[Snacpak]

Hey Stacy (and Dana)! Haven't talked to you guys in a long long time but ran across this board when I was checking long forgotten bookmarks. Wish you success in your endevour! Drop me an email sometime: Snac_pak@comcast.net

[Mop]

wowzah Hi Snac!

[liquidstayce]

Hi Bruce!!!!! I miss you!! Hope things are going well. Do you use IM anymore?

[Gidan]

So any updates LS? How are things going out there?

[liquidstayce]

Worked out yesterday for an hour .. cardio plus resistance training
Today did 30 min of cardio plus abs
Things are going great! I'm down about 26lbs. Getting in more calories and more variety of food.

The pain I had was not a stomach virus it was a gall bladder motility issue. It's also inflammed. This was an issue prior to surgery but it was never found. I went through a bunch of tests - Cat Scan (had an allergic reaction - not fun) and Nuc Medicine - CCK-HIDA. I may need to have my gall bladder removed but they will evaluate again in 6 weeks unless I get another bad attack. So far the last few days have been fine though.

[KILL]

I just had my gall bladder removed last week. Sucked


On a positive note, I now have 4 kewl new scars. Looks like I was in a knife fight with some mexicans.

[Mop]

true dat, mexicans always go for the kidneys.

[liquidstayce]

I just had my gall bladder removed last week. Sucked


On a positive note, I now have 4 kewl new scars. Looks like I was in a knife fight with some mexicans.

You have the same scars as I do from my weight loss surgery! That surgery was done laparoscopic as well. It's amazing how much they can do with just those little instruments. If I have my gall bladder removed they will do it the same way. So how long did it take you to recover? Were you in and out of the hospital the same day or did they make you stay overnight? Did you have gall stones or was it a motility/inflamation issue? It's good you got it out. At least you won't have to deal with pain anymore. Hope you are feeling better by now!

and lol@ mexican comment

[KILL]

I started having gallstone attacks around 4 years ago. I havent had what I would call a severe attack for about 2 years, but I had a couple mild attacks two weeks ago and decided it just wasnt worth dealing with anymore and scheduled the surgery. Doc said it was definatly a good thing I did, 'cause apparently it wasnt looking so good when he removed it.

I had to stay overnight. They kept me pretty doped up on demerol the first day, so I slept for most of it. Second day sucked. Would rather have slept that one off too, but they cut off my demerol supply. /shakefist

Was pretty slow getting up, walking around, etc for about 3 days. Been 7 now and other than the staples in my gut, I feel pretty good.

[Darcler]

I'm having my gallbladder out on Friday. I'm freaking the hell out. I dont want to go to sleep, I have the fear of not waking up or that the paralytic will work but the pain medicine will not.
The way the nurse explained it to me today is I go in EARLY Friday, surgery at 9:15, I leave later that day, if they dont have to take stones out of my duct.
I have stones, it was never inflammed.
I got them in my 5th month of pregnancy, I swear to goD I was having a heart attack. They called it heartburn, gave me some mylanta and sent me home. The next day I was back and they took xrays and were like "oh lookie there, its like a nice slush you have in there" But they couldnt do surgery for me because I was pregnant.
The last attack I had was 7 months pregnant, then nothing for a year. I had the pains again a couple days last week. So we are getting this sucker out Friday.

[liquidstayce]

Wow.. we are all a mess! FUCKING GALL BLADDERS!
I started having mild pain last night and its carried through to today. Each hour it seems to be getting worse. I have an ice pack on my side. I can feel the swelling if I touch my side and it radiates to my back. Dana is trying keep me sane.
I really hope this attack stops soon. I've got a full day of work tomorrow =(
Today was awful. I had to stand up and pace back and forth during meetings.

[Gidan]

I dont know about inflammed gallbladders, but if you have stones, laying on your right side helped a little to help the stone get away from the duct and back in the little goofy pouch.
Another thing that was amazing was bending over. I was having a HORRID attack the other night, to the point where laying wasnt helping and it was only getting worse. I woke Gid up at 4:30am to take me to the hospital, I was pacing around the apartment, he was taking his time, took a piss, got dressed, made a bottle for Hailey, I was ready to go and he told me to put some pants on (I forgot) and I bent down to pick up a pair of PJ pants from the floor and I stood up.....no pain. At all. I was still short on breath because I was hyperventalating(omgsp?) but I was like WTF. I felt bad for waking him up for nothing.

So I go into surgery in 7 hours. I cant sleep...I'm scared

~Darcler

[liquidstayce]

Not sure if you are in yet but don't be scared. GB surgery is so very very common.
Just think of it like a good nap =) When you wake up you will have good drugs. No problem. The bonus.. you will never have to deal with gall bladder issues again.
Let us know how things go.

[araby]

Good Luck Darcler

Stacy, I'm so happy for you =)

[Darcler]

Someone shoto me plrase. I hurt, thugh drugs rae rstarting to kicj in a lttle bit, I need ab=nother nap.

[leah]

omg best post ever

sorry you're in pain though, we're rootin' for ya :/