The RNY pouchie after two years out? Compared to lapband??

I've been thinking way too much tonight! I have also been reading the book, The Success Habits of WLS Patients.   I am thinking that the pouch after two years would be the same as being lapbanded? We know the first two years we RNYers experience "dumping" then that may go away.   Why is it that some people who have the RNY have some struggles after the second year?  Isn't the pouch just like the banded stomach?     I want to know more about RNYers after the two years.  Some people have the lapband and do great with it and lose over 100 lbs.  So why would it get difficult for RNYers after the two year mark when lapbanders reallt begin where we get after two years? Lisa

A lot of RNYers don't dump at all.  Ever.  It's not guaranteed.  I work with 5 people who had the RNY and it got easier for them a couple years post-op.  Are you talking about regain?  2 of my friends gained back to MO, 1 is still heavy but she is really big boned and 6ft tall to start with, and 1 is pretty normal.  They are all still glad they had the surgery. From what I've observed, the regain is bad habits.  And the natural ageing of the surgery.  Over time, you can eat more and your body learns to compensate for some of your malabsorbtion.  Surgery helps but you have to do your part too.  If you don't, there's a good chance you will be heavy again. I don't know anyone who has had real success with the LAPBand.  Pretty much the most you can expect to lose and keep off is 50% of your excess weight.  I've seen people post who have done better than that but I don't personally know any success stories.  The RNY usually does much better than 50%. Check out the revision board and do some reading.  The graduates board too.  It's good for you to find out what's going on with people further out.  Check out Pubmed and read the actual medical studies as well.  You can get a good idea what to expect. 

Thanks for responding.  I am reading that book and I do understand that a person has to be committed to this with the life long changes forever if they want to keep the weight off.  I do get that.  What doesn't make sense to me is if the stomach is so small, forever, how can a person even waqnt to eat.  I would think it would be like being banded?  See what I mean.  I guess there ay not be an answer.....maybe I'll ask my surgeon about what the stomach does after two years.   Thanks for your response.  It is all so interesting.  There are so many facets to all the surgeries.  I sure am thakful we have WLS to give us a tool to a healthier life!  :O)

I think Tammy Bishop, a local woman is profiled in that book.  She's a lovely person.

They operate on your guts, not your head!  The stomach or pouch is very elastic and it does stretch some over time.  Even if you don't overeat!

You can outeat all WLS.  With the band it's things like icecream.  With the RNY it's drinking with meals to eat more. Or eating lots of carbs for any of the WLS.  Sugar is always the enemy.  My friends *****gained, it's carbs/candy.  All the time.  They still can't eat much at a time but it's all the wrong things.  I feel bad for them because they have sabotaged themselves.  Every now and then they go on diets and it's always salads, never the protein they need.  They chose to forget or ignore all the rules. Malabsorbtion is the biggest reason why the RNY is not like the band.  You will always malabsorb some fat/protein with the RNY.  There is no malabsorbtion with the band.

In other words, those of us who DO follow the rules will have a pouchie that keeps us fro getting hungry....like the band does from the beginning........with the rny we have the extra motivation NOT to eat that junk in the first two years due to dumping.  So, My pouchie WILL restrict food for life IF I follow the rules!    This makes sense to me and it is what I thought.  Sometimes I just start thinking too much and get all consumed with how it actually works.....not how it initially works, but down the road.   Thanks for you help!   Lisa

Hi Lisa, I was considering the LAP at first then after much research decided on the RNY because both surgeries could be undone if needed. The main reason I went with RNY was the lap could rub on your stomach lining and wear in down at that could not be fixed. I would attend a lap support group meeting through PNC to get more info. But most testimony I heard found alot of people dissappointed in the slow results and having to contestly get their lap bands adjusted.

If you follow the rules long term, you will be fine.  But it's not always easy.  You'll hear people talk about head hunger.  And that's true about the band.  Those fills aren't cheap.

Don't quote me on this but I heard there is a hormone that can contribute to your hunger.  When you first get RNY that hormone isn't showing up as much but as time goes on it comes back.  I don't know how well I'm explaining this, but it's something else you can look into and read up on.

I had RNY two and a half years ago and never was a big time "dumper:.  I dump even less now than I did as a recent post-op.  I lost over 100 pounds and have not had any problems losing or keeping it off.

I think you might be referrring to gherlin, the hormone that makes one feel hungry. I don't know if gherlin is removed during RNY or not. Of course it's not with lapband. I'd like my gherlin switch removed!