I had a BPD 23 yrs ago!

I had a BPD done in May 1990. I no longer remember the Dr.'s name and since he retired a long, long time ago...I guess it doesn't matter. Would I recommend this surgery...yes and no. The first few yrs are hard, but then things all settle down, and the initial issues resolve themselves. Cholesterol, sugar, and BP have been excellent all these yrs. For the past few yrs. I have had to take 50,000 iu of Vita D EVERY DAY. I also in the last few yrs must get Infusions (IV) for IRON, to correct iron deficiency anemia. After this surgery, you cannot tolerate over the counter IRON.

If I could go back in time I would, daily take a teaspoon on Blackstrap Molasses for continued iron supply. I would NEVER FORGET MY DAILY VITAMINS/MINERALS. I would of had more (divided up thru the day) Liquid protein meals on top of the regular post op diet.  

In the past I have had endoscopy procedures done. They showed an ulcer at the beginning of my stomach (1991-92). Another one showed a large increase of H-Pylori bacteria. This is a common problem with such surgeries. So, this is another thing I would have changed, but we didn't have the knowledge then like we do now. I would have ALWAYS taken a probiotic. I have just started taking probiotics (per Dr. order this wk). If you have had this surgery or one similar please don't think you can drink alcohol. I do not drink, but of those I know who ignored this instruction they paid for it...dearly. My Dr. back then told me to always eat my steak as rare as possible, as digestion is much, much easier when it is more raw..than well cooked. He said this applies to those who have had the surgery. So learn to do this. It really does make a difference.

My latest problem is this: 

I had an endoscopy done this week. It was confirmed I have a 34cm-38cm Hiatal Hernia (first one ever). The more interesting find the Dr. said was I had a large mass of vegetable matter still in my stomach...going no where...just sitting. I had told a Dr or two in the past, that I had vomited black cherries, but how could that be, as I had blended some to make a shake a week earlier, but had eaten the last few I didn't blend....but how can you vomit food you had eaten a week earlier? They just raised their eyebrows, but did send me to a Gastrologist and he ordered the scope test to be done. Also, thru the internet I had seen that if the nerves in your feet are dead (which mine are), then you can also have this problem with the nerves in your stomach...hmmmm. I do not know if this is related to the BPD. I did not have 3/4 of my stomach removed which is normal for a BPD. I had only 1/2 removed. My stomach was not grossly enlarged. 

So, now my entire diet has been changed after the finding of food that will not empty out of my stomach. I am terribly bloated, have lost 1/3 of my hair this year (I have had 14 steroid shots into my scalp) and I have been terribly arthritic this year as well. I am 64 yrs old. My Dr has put me on a low residue diet....a diet that I had never heard of before in my life. It is more strict than a low-fiber diet. I am wondering now, should I have been 'leaning' more toward this kind of a diet...all these years???? Eliminate skins of all kinds, veggies and meat, well cooked my food, no raw food at all, and if I should have only had 'butter' lettuces, more tofu, no seeds at all. Things are so much more available nowadays. There is no surgery that they will do to remove all the stagnant food that won't leave my stomach. No wonder I am full before I ever eat a bit, and I look like I have a baseball of bloat most of the time. My husband wants me to get a juicer. I will ask my Dr. first. Raw food is raw food, blended or not. I cannot take any fiber. My meals now must have 1 gram of Fiber only. So is a high, or near high fiber diet BAD for BPD and the such...kind of surgeries, I'm not sure but I definitely would ask more questions and research more as I am not sure of the outcome of this latest problem. Evidently I am not moving out of my stomach....high fiber food. How long has this been going on? Is this a 'normal' problem seen in patients....later on? Can it be avoided with a corrected diet? I will keep you posted as I learn more. If my info can fore warn others and prevent this from happening then I want to help you who have had these kinds of surgery. I vomit so much I sleep alone in our guest suite as it is a faster route to the bathroom than in our master suite. So I cannot sleep in the same room as my husband, but we have been married 47 yrs. and he is understanding. I am now on prilosec, and that issue has calmed down. My best to all of you.

Hi there,

I think you're our only true BPD patient here. Welcome!  

I think I would concentrate on getting protein into my system and less fruit and veggies and grains, and fiber as you say. Whey protein isolate protein shakes using 1/2 & 1/2 or heavy whipping cream are a staple of mine and keep my protein and albumin ship shape. Also, eggs and Greek yogurt sweetened with Truvia or Splenda. Use sugar free syrups for more flavors. What other proteins have you found work best for you? I know I have trouble with meat and scrambled eggs, but deviled eggs are fine. lol Go figure.

I hope your docs can get you sorted out. If they repair your hernia, won't they clear your stomach of the fiber that's blocking things up?

Please keep us posted on how you're doing. I hope you'll post often here.

Gina 

Hi Everyone,

In the beginning I tolerated chicken and fish mostly. beef was okay, grounded, or med raw steaks. Cheese I stayed away from, it really has not agreed with me. Salads also seem to not agree very well with me. From the surgery, we were told we would get GERDS, and become lactose intolerant. That is true. The Dr. said he would write to the judge should anyone get a DUI, and explain that quick absorption happens, and makes patients drunk with one glass of wine...on a meter. He said it (letter) had got people out of trouble. I don't drink.... :D

I have never had to work, so many of the serious issues in the beginning I could deal with alone. My husband traveled often as well. I do not know how you can go back to work at first with all the issues that present themselves in the very beginning. After a few yrs. everything was back to normal. 

I have no clue what this new surgery is...that is being done now. I hope it is a better way to go.

I would however do it again. I believe my health..all around....is better than the people I know who have not gone thru a BPD. I have very good BP, sugar, cholesterol, and my health has been very good all these decades. I am thankful. Those 3 things were bad in my family and I didn't want the same issues. 

An excellent plastic surgeon is still in San Diego, a Dr Michael Roark. He is an artist at what he does. If I can remember or find the Dr's name. who did my surgery (BPD), I will post it. He was the 'head' surgeon, he taught others. He was in Santa Barbara, Ca.

They will not operate on my HH. They are more concerned with the large mass...left in my stomach. They say it is a unique case. I will see a specialist soon to work on my diet. I have no idea what they plan to do to rid my stomach of old content. I will ask next week after the 4th. 

I hope other 'older' surgery patients will join here.

Thank you everyone for your info, remarks, and best wishes. I will keep you posted on how they remove this mass in my stomach. It is very late, I will reread the replies, and if I missed something I will address it then. Sorry if I did. 

 

 

The new surgery is a vertical incision rather than a horizontal one. We have a sleeve with the natural inlets and outlets still in place. No pouch as with a manmade outlet to the intestines. Our sleeves are about the size and shape of a banana. If you're interested in reading more about it you can go to www.dsfacts.com. 

--gina

 

A picture is worth a thousand words---at least! (*grin*)

If you really have a Scopinaro BPD, you have a very large pouch, distal RNY. It looks like this:



A true DS (sometimes called a BPD with DS/duodenal switch) looks like this:

I know someone who had a complete gastrectomy with RNY also due the issue of remnant food. They're a year out from surgery whereas I'm nearly 3 years out from being sleeved and they've been known to out eat me. They eat pretty much everything.

I hope you stick around and keep us posted.

I really wish you could remember the name of your surgeon! I'm curious s to why you had the BPD without the DS.

Most of us here take 50,000 IU of Vit. D every day. It's pretty much the norm for DSers, and iron infusions are not uncommon. That's not because we can't tolerate OTC iron, it's just that it's not enough for some of us. I've switched to Proferrin, a form that's supposed to be much more absorbable. We'll find out next week when I get labs done. (*grin*)

Sure hope they can get your stomach problems resolved!

I'm sorry you are having so many problems, and hope your doctors can help you.

Many of the issues you are having are among the reasons the BPD has been replaced by the modern day BPD/Ds. Some things are the same - we also need large doses of vitamin D, and some people need iron infusions (though I haven't yet and I'm over 7 years post-op, and I can tolerate OTC iron just fine). But a lot of your problems are related to the BPD configuration, in particular the ulcers and maybe the retained food.

Since you probably have a short common channel, as that is how the BPD was generally constructed, I woudl worry about the low residue diet you mentioned causing protein deficiency. I hope your protein levels have been checked, and that your docs are aware of your protein malabsorption and taking it into account. If you are not allowed to eat meat, you will need to get more protein from other sources.

 

As far as H pylori goes, neither the BPD nor the DS cause this. About 20% of the adult population in the USA has H. pylori, having been colonized in childhood. It's even more common in other parts of the world. Many people don't know they have it and never have a problem with it, though I certainly agree that, now that you know you have it, it's best to treat it. It could be a contributing factor in your ulcer problem. But it's not your fault you have it, nor the fault of your surgery, and taking a probiotic would not have prevented it (though it's a good idea to take probiotics for other reasons).

Larra

Wow.. that is amazing 23 yrs ago... My understanding is the first DS was done in 1987 in the states.  I'm sorry you are having the problems you are having.  I think it's great that you are still going strong.  I hope that they figure out your problems.  My surgeon told me the BPD was totally different than today's DS.  I don't really know anything about it other than the comment he made. 

I agree with Major Mom... Up your liquid protein.  Unjury is a great Whey Protein Isolate which is easily absorbed by our bodies.  It is medical grade.

Best of luck to you!

I think it's very fortunate that you happened to find the DSers, despite the BPD and the BPD-DS being different surgeries. The reason is that the DSers in particular, seem to be some of the most informed of the WLS foks.

Part of the reason for that is because it's not the best known, or most common WLS, so many of us did a lot of research to find the DS, then had to fight insurance or self pay to get it. THEN, we have to continue to learn to take care of ourselves since many surgeons give lousy post op instructions (my surgeon only give RNY specific instructions, and he's not unusual). So we start out with a bit of warrior just to get the surgery we know is right, and then we have the benefit of learning from the surgery types and people that have gone before us, like you. 

It sounds like you have done a lot of learning the hard way. There are some very knowledgeable peeps around, and I hope you can also be helped with some of your issues.