Question:
Research on long term health consequences of WLS?
I am having lap RNY gastric bypass at the end of April. I was driving today and wondering about the long, long term health risks of WLS. I have carefully researched the short term complications but does anyone have any information on potential long term health risks? — spiritofjulia (posted on April 5, 2006)
April 5, 2006
There is a book, The Success Habits of WLS Patients by Colleen M Cook..She
is 10 years post op. I jsu got this book and so far it reads like my own
biography. She has done alot research for this book and the years after
WLS. I think this would be a big help to you to read now. I have a
website through Bariatrics.com that you can order these books from It is
www.lifechoicewls.com Please check out the many products for WLS patients.
This is a site they set up for local support groups but anyone can order
from it.
Best Wishes for your upcoming surgery. It is so worth it!!
Vera
— vhoupt
April 5, 2006
First long term many would die from being MO. It takes a averae of 15 years
off our lives:( I have met and spoke to happy healthy post ops out over 20
years. None were skinny but not MO either. EVERYTHING in lfe is a trade
off:(
— bob-haller
April 5, 2006
My mom is 30 years post op Mason Shunt. When I began researching WLS she
began looking into info for long term post ops. She contacted Dr. Mason
via email with some questions. He has done several long term studies on
his patients. (Followed their medical history and such) Anyhow, he is in
his 80's and retired for the most part but is still on staff at some
hospital in Illinois. Some of this research may be published, you would
just have to look. The Mason Shunt procedure that my mother had is almost
identical to the transected RNY so the research should be beneficial. Good
luck
— RebeccaP
April 6, 2006
The main things we're seeing are nutritional issues (iron, calcium, D,
protein, B-vites) and hypoglycemia. The nutritional issues can be
prevented. I'm coming up on 12 yrs and work with a LOT of "us".
I'm, um, getting older now and facing more issues that just come along with
all these birthdays. These are the ones I see on a daily basis. In the
olden days, kidney and liver problems were found many, many years later,
but today we know a bit more about nutrition, hydration and so we don't see
many of those any more. You could watch on the Grad list, which is people
1+ years out and see what you see. Some of our 20+ year post-ops struggle
with iron, calcium, D issues, but many times, new information snaps them
out of it. The link is: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG
— vitalady
April 7, 2006
The unknown answers to this question has been my main reason for not ever
getting WLS. Unfortunately, now I have diabetes and high cholesterol. I
spoke to my GP who is an Internist and he highly recommended the surgery.
I asked him about long term affects and he said, anytime you have something
that interferes with an internal part of your body you risk the chance of
getting cancer of that organ. I.E. smoking - lung cancer. He said the
only problem possibly forseen is the irritation caused in stapling or
banding the stomach, may be cancer causing. However, that is not proven.
— Katy P.
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