Who has had problems with RNY???

Anemia, reactive hypoglycemia, incomplete weight loss and hardcore dumping syndrome. If I have half a glass of OJ or a banana it's game over. I'm wiped for the day. Forget candy bars and stuff. I'd be in a coma.

If I had it to do over again I'd have the Duodenal switch.

i apologize that I am giving you an answer to this question when I have not had a RNY.  I just wanted to briefly say that as a nurse of 30 years, I have cared for patients in the hospital who were admitted because of problems with their RNY countless numbers of times, and many of them are admitted repeatedly for the rest of their lives.  Malabsorption issues that require intravenous replacement of needed nurtritional elements.  That is precisely why I did not get RNY.  I'm not a fan of doctor office visits, etc. I hope only for the best for you.  Good luck in your quest..... Again, my apologies, I just wanted to share what I have seen first hand.

I am an RNY patient. I had the surgery 3 years ago and have not had any complications, what-so-ever...(Well, OK, I had one...Had to have my Gallbladder removed but that can happen with ANY weight loss, even non-surgical).

I do NOT dump, have NO reactive hypoglycemia, I work out at the gym and I eat nearly anything I want (That is HEALTHY! No fast food because I don't want it). But meat, a few bites of cake or ice cream for a special occasion, any of those things I can have. I am also a "no drunk" which means if I drink a glass of wine or some liqueur I have NO reaction. No buzz, no unconsciousness or silly behavior or anything....However I know my BAC level is still Waaaaaaaaaay above normal (even after just 1 half glass of wine) so I never drive. (D/S and RNY people process alcohol differently and can get a DUI after just 1 beer or glass of wine, even if you don't "feel it")

I can enjoy cereal with milk, all that good stuff. And I am pretty stable at around 120-128 lbs (I'm 5'3) with little to no loose skin (Genetics, luck, weight training at the gym who knows why). I take my vitamins daily, my calcium and extra D3.  I think many folks who don't post about problems is because they don't have any...I know I am often bad for not posting on these boards (My apologies) because everything is going so RIGHT.... No regain (I use common sense and don't the same crap I ate before) and have no complications.  You can have complications with ANY surgery from appendicitis to LapBand, VSG or D&S. Research your surgeon and do your homework.  I forgot to mention I am almost 50 too, so I am not a "young 'un" with magic healing properties.  At our local support group it is always the folks with Lap-Band that are having troubles and re-surgeries. Out of the 20 RNY folks I've met not a one of use has had problems (except maybe the gallbladder) or loose skin, and again, that can happen with ANY weight loss, surgical or not. 

I've tried to get some of the folks from my support group here to post, but they just don't have an interest, or prefer their "support" face to face at the local levels.  Just saying is all...Don't get all twisted up in the "horror stories" or This surgery or that surgery is bad or better than this one..... The surgery that WORKS, is the one that helps you lose weight and lead a NORMAL lifestyle.  Read the last two installments from this neat newsletter.... > http://www.obesityhelp.com/articles/why-i-support-bariatric- surgery/ 

This is written BY a bariatric surgeon and as he will tell you...ANY surgery has a risk. Oh, and as others have said, do NOT count on RNY to help you be "good" by causing "dumping".........Only about 30% of us DO dump, and I only get that queasy light headed feeling if I eat anything with sugar BEFORE I've had a good solid protein. 

Good luck, and don't let everyone "scare" you away..........Go for the surgery YOU and your SURGEON feel the best with.... (Well, OK, breaking my own rule....I would say honestly I would never have the Lap Band in me...I hear MORE problems and removals and additional surgeries with that, than with any other WLS).

Warmly,

Jackie

   I just want to say the first visit with my surgeon he said   :  " Its just a tool to help you get and maintain a healthy weight - you will regain if you do not change your habits - you will have about 1 year to do that ."    He repeated this every visit .

Hi Kat,

I'm almost 10 years out from a distal RNY. The big thing you have to remember when asking people about "which is the best" is that each individual person is just that, an individual. I had the RNY. My problems, which are few, are sometimes keeping my lab numbers where I'd like them to be. I do dump, sometimes, and usually it's my fault. I don't have diarrhea, I don't have constipation, I don't have many of the things some people get or have problems with. I do faithfully, daily, always take my supplements and drink 6 33-gram protein shakes daily.

Research your surgeon, your hospital. Find a support group, where you are face-to-face with people.

Sharon

starting 425; current 250; RNY 8/2003; Srikanth, Federal Way, Wa

Can I ask why you drink 6 x 33g protein shakes every day?    Do you eat as well?   

I drink 6 protein shakes daily to keep my protein levels at a reasonable level. As a distal (shortest common channel) RNY, for ME (& I stress this is for my body) this is what I need to keep even. Eating, which I do, I'm a big meat eater and other proteins, is a "for fun" kind of event. A bypassed rny is just NOT going to get sufficient protein (or other vitamins or minerals) from eating. Whey protein, mixed with water, is the best way to absorb protein. If you have had a doctor tell you differently, then I would kindly suggest you have a sit-down with him/her. Our docs are surgeons, they are cutters. They do not, typically, have a grasp on all the whys and wherefores of what you need for your particular body to function. There are surgeons who tell their patients that tums and vitamins are enough. Not so!

so the 6 a day (sometimes 7 if I'm feeling 'grazable') is the best way, for me, to get the protein that I malabsorb when I eat.

Sharon

Thankfully mine was proximal and in 9 years I've never had a protein shake or bar!  For me, eating my nutritional needs has always been a top priority and my protein levels have always been excellent.

I actually find this quite shocking and would love to know if there are there any other Proximal RNY'ers or DS'ers who have to supplement at this level to remain healthy?    I think pre-ops should be made aware if this is necessary.   All the DS'ers I know eat their protein and do fabulously, but I admit to not knowing any proximal RNY'ers IRL ...

just curious as to how all your labs look.  D3, iron, ferrous, B's, K1, pre-albumin, magnesium, Hep panel etc. My understanding is that even a proximal has had the stomach and part of the intestine bypassed, and that bypassed part (there's a chart that shows which vitamins etc are processed where in the intestine) is what causes bypass people to malabsorb.

The only thing I have a problem with is iron - I have infusions every 18 months or so and I have also had pernicious anaemia for about 20 years so RNY made no difference to that.

EVERYTHING else is absolutely great!   You seem to have the impression that you have information that the rest of us don't have and that we should all be living the life you do - not so!   I have never heard of ANYONE who supplements almost 200g of liquid protein over the food they consume at 10 years out (I can easily eat 100g per day) - your body must have such a hard time coping with 300g of protein a day!   I think your surgeon did you egregious damage!

I have a health degree and am well aware of what levels I need to remain healthy (and no, I don't rely on my surgeon to tell me!).

I am afraid I would find your lifestyle dysfunctional and am grateful that I am able to manage my lifestyle with an excellent protein first diet and just vitamin supplementation per my 6 monthly labs!