I check this forum out every so often and I have notice that compared to the other forums there is little activity on this forum.  I had the mini-gastric bypass 7 1/2 years ago in NC by Dr. Rutledge.  Next month I am having a revision to the RNY.  Although, I am having a revision to a different surgery type I do like reading about other people experiences with this surgery and I do answer questions for people considering the surgery.  I will see a few people post 1 or 2 times and never again.  Or people don't discuss what is going on much post-op as in other forums.  If anyone can tell me why so little interaction with this forum I would love to know why?

I have been researching Lap Band and MGB for a couple of years.  I am now with a company that will cover WLS.  Having a heck of a time finding a doctor in the tri-state area.  If anyone can help please let me know. I even went to CLOS.net but they no longer take insurance and I cannot self pay.  Wish I could but life gets in the way of that. Kelly

my mom had the MGB over 6 years ago, i had the MGB 3 years ago on 8-31, both by dr. r.  because of extensive previous abdominal surgery, my sister was not a candidate for the MGB and therefore had an open RNY over 4 years ago.  i can only speak from our family's experiences, but my mom and i have had nothing but smooth sailing from the jump, whereas my sister has had a lot of trouble with weight regain.  she gets very depressed when she eats with my mom and i, comments on how careful she has to be about her diet, whereas my mom and i eat like "normal" people. i went from a high of 312 down to a low of about 120, which was too low, me being 5'8", but my body quickly caught on to the fact, and i maintained a weight of 145-155 (about a size 8) for over a year before getting pregnant.  i am 36 weeks pregnant tomorrow and have had an amazingly easy pregnancy, weight gain about 30 pounds, which i am fine with.  i know that had i gotten pregnant before the surgery, it would have been a whole different animal.  hope this gives you a little more about the good side of MGB.

Dr. Rutledge left NC for family reasons - not because he was run out of town.  One person and one person only made a complaint against Dr. R and has made it her life's goal to discredit him.  His license was not revoked in NC.  He only recently let it lapse since he is now based in Nevada and fully licensed to practice there and was actively pursued the a hospital in NC ti establish a CLOS center there and train a surgeon.  Please do not believe these urban myths but go straight to a good source of information - the many post-ops who are completely satisfied with the procedure and its results.  CLOS does not attempt to hide anything and openly discuss any complications from this and other surgeries.  Thanks for your defense of this wonderful procedure Grizz.

That with a BMI under 40 I need a Duodenal Switch as I need a nuclear bomb to kill a mouse.  I just wanted to say that I think you are WAY off base by being offended by this statement. The statement was made for YOUR health and best interests. The DS is an expensive, complicated, risky surgery. The post operative life of the DS poses life long complication risks.  The heavier we are, the more sick we are, the more desperate we are, the more RISKS we are willing to take. I one who was at deaths door pre op I wasnt worried about complications like death or malnutrition. I needed weight loss immediately regardless of the out come. Most people with a BMI under 40 are not in immenent danger of obesity (and certainly not all my mother is a life long chubby person who is dying young from it.) Today a person's life could be uncomfortable, unhappy, painfull BUT liveable as a lightweight BUT 5 years from now they could be dying from surgery complications. Its a possibility, and not a far fetched one either.  Everyone who is unhealthy from their weight needs to get it OFF regardless of their BMI (which as a rule means nothing) There are no weight loss methods that do not require some type of life change, commitment or risk. How much you are willing to change, commit or risk determines HOW you will lose weight. That's a very personal decision. I do notice that the people who have long term regret over getting RNY were mostly pre op SSMO or lightweight. Just a personal observation and not a stat of anykind. Good luck at whatever you choose :) PK