Gastric Bypass RNY has ruinned my life.

August 2002 I weighed 320 pounds I am 5'7" tall, I had RNY surgery at OHSU by Dr.Deveney and Dr. Macabee. Looking back now, I was a beautiful woman who had no health issues from the weight I had a great life and a great job. Since surgery, 2 months postop I started getting the sick, all food would make me so disfunctional, nausea, and exhausted. More and more medicationswere added to help combat the horrible symptoms but it just masked the pain. It got so bad that I had to guit my job, go one social security disability, and have a feeding tube installed into my stomach. I was under 100 pounds. My health deteriated so fast that I when from having a beautiful smile with nice teeth, now I have no teeth, a full set of dentures at such a young age. My doctors had me on so many medications that I was litterally addicted to narcotics. I started having seizures and I barely have any memory of the last 7 yrs of my life. I am 39 yrs old, off all the medications, I have had to gain weight to survive, but I live with daily pain and I haven't really left the house or socialized for 5 yrs now. I don't know how to live like this anymore, this is not really living. I feel like such a failure.

I am sorry you have had such diffiuclty with the rny surgery.  I think we all go into weight loss surgeries knowing that there is some risk involved.  It is a matter of weighing our current or growing weight related illnesses with the risks associated with the chosen surgery (or that surgery adivised to us by our doctors). 

I know that I was facing some weight related illnesses and chose to have lapband surgery to help me.  There are times when I wish I had chosen rny and other times when I am very happy with this choice.  I have  had some complicaiton (port flipped and overfills) and needed to get them taken care of (the port flip needed a second surgery).  In all if I didn't lose another pound or had additional complications I would be satisfied with my choice. 

It was the right amount of risk with the right amount of payoff and so far it has served me well.  I have lost 83 pounds in just over a year. I have some hair loss but my activity levels have exploded.  I can travel with relative comfort on airplanes.   I no longer take high blood pressure medicines.  People look at me and smile as apposed to look and then look away quickly.  

From your description it sounds like you have had a hard time and I hope that you can figure out a way to gain some happiness with your surgery.  Have you thought about a revision?  Have you discussed your frustrations with your doctors?  I wish you well!

Tina

Tricia,

I pulled up the OR board because I am going to be doing some business travel In Eugene next month (I live In Houston) and came across your post. I am so sorry you are having such a difficult time, my heart really goes out to you. You are not a failure, the surgery failed you not the other way around. I could go on and on about this but it won't do you any good. Are you getting any counseling?  Have you posted on any other boards on OH? The complication forum? I have been on there myself. You are not alone, your life is worth living, you just need to lean how to again. You are in  thoughts and prayers...... Katrina 

Thank you Katrina,

That was very sweet of you to reply to my post. I am not getting any counselling because I can not afford it. I am unable to afford my medications to at this time. Medicare quit covering anti depression and anti anxiety medication. Government run health are is not all its cracked up to be...

Anyway, I am going day by day now and some are good and some are not.

Trish

It sounds like you do need to post on the complications board. I have never really heard of anyone else having these kinds of problems.

I wonder what  caused all these problems? Were you just not able to keep food down?

Then please please get replacement. I did and I get covered for everything. I am so sorry you are going through this :*(

Oh Boy!!!, I just ran accross your post as I was looking for a oregon plastic surgeon, I am so so sorry for all your complications, I don't  know what kind of follow ups you have had after surgery, but I do know that the vitamins -supplements you must take since you had your rny have changed , It totally sounds like you have not been getting the right supplements, iron, b-12, protein, mult vit, calcium...you HAVE to take all of these FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE!!! As for ssdi, I too am on that, I went on mostly because of my weight, I weighed 400 lb.s prior to my gastric bypass almost 2 yr.s ago, I have to say, at 5'7 320, you were quite a bit smaller, but the weight would of eventually caught up with you, I didn't have alot of problems because of my weight until I hit 40 (i'm  now 44) then it seems like it just went downhill fast, type 2 diabeties, back-joint problems etc etc. The dr's who prescribed all the medications, were they the same ones who did your surgery? I feel sick, you didn't fail, and the rny didn't fail you either, your surgeon failed you, you needed (and still do) Follow up care. the seizures , nausea, exhaustion, those are almost always related to vitamin deficiancy, you should be on sevate, or it's equivalent which is a iron -multi supp made specifically for gastric bypass patients. when was the last time you had a full blood work up done ?  , what supp's are you taking? I am sorry to sound like such a preacher, but reading your post made me hurt for you, it sounds as though you've given up, you solound like me before I had my surgery and it just not supposed to be that way! please please find a good doctor NOW one who is familiar with what gastric bypass patients need for follow up care, just any gp isn't going to cut it. please post back or p.m message me, I would be happy to try and help you, you are way to young to give up on life, I am sure you have people who love you and care. good luck and I hope to hear back from you soon, Susan