Ariel, I am an MGB patient, having had surgery almost 3 years ago.  After having lost over 200 pounds with very few problems, I am truly satisfied with my decision.   I did a lot of research before making my decision.  I saw a doctor who does the "open" surgery first, and quickly decided this was not for me!  I researched the RNY, and was even on a waiting list for Emory Hospital's program.  I just happened across the CLOS.net website, and the more I read, the more I knew this was the surgery for me!  The statistics relating the lower death rate, shorter surgery and recovery time, the excellent follow-up and support after surgery, and, most importantly the fact that it is reversible if I made a terrible mistake, all convinced me that I was making the right decision. I, too, wondered why more people weren't aware of this. I believe the negative comments are coming from those who are not really educated as to the benefits and track record of this surgery.  I see so many problems posted on Obesity Help by people with terrible side effects, but I am totally pleased that I do not experience the diarrhea, throwing up or even more serious complications that I see requiring hospitalization! The Discovery Health Channel program on the surgery of actor Gil Girard seems to be putting out the word.  The MGB also has lots of patients who come from Canada since their health insurance program covers the MGB. I have met many MGB'ers and have gotten to know even more on the Yahoo support board, and I have yet to find anyone dissatisfied with their choice. I'm sure you could find answers to your questions at CLOS.net. One thing confusing to me, though, is the posts I see on here by folks who say they had the MGB but with doctors I have never heard of.  It is my understanding the the TRUE MGB was developed by Dr. Robert Rutledge and is performed by only him in Las Vegas and two other surgeons trained by him working out of Michigan and Florida.  I am curious as to whether these other docs are specialists in the procedure. Maybe on of the people who posted on here will explain that.    Sandy

My doc submitted it as an open r-n-y. I don't think it was the classic MGB because he said it was a less invasive and less incisional way of doing the traditional r-n-y. Plus, this doc doesn't do the lap, only open. Eh, doesn't bother me much. A smaller incision and less recovery time? I am all about that.

He didn't tell you before the surgery?? I shouldn't complain, neither did mine!  What was done during the surgery? Did he just loop the intestines and join them to the pouch, or did he sever them and then join them? There is another surgery out now where the pouch is much like that if the Mini bypass, but nothing is done with the intestines. It is a long narrow pouch rather then a small round one.  They did it through one small open incision? Mine was done lap, through 5 one in*****isions.  Make sure to check your medical records as to how this was recorded. My doctor did not tell me that he was doing the "mini" on me. He even submitted it to my insurance as a laproscopic weight loss surgery, so two years later when I had complications and needed a revision I had to fight a battle with the insurance company because they did not even have it in my records that I had the "mini".

Nan, I am not familiar with this procedure.  The Mini Gastric Bypass is a procedure developed by Dr. Robert Rutledge who now works out of Las Vegas.  He has two other docs in Michigan and Florida who have been trained by him to perform the procedure.  Go to CLOS. net to learn more about this.  I have lost over 200 pounds and am very happy with my choice. Sandy

Hi. I am not here to tell anyone which surgery to have or not to have.  It is a very personal decision that everyone has to make for themselves.  I just hope that everyone that is considering having some form of weightloss surgery, does  A LOT of research before making a decision on which to go with.

There is not one surgery that is right for everyone.  You must do enough research so that you are 100% comfortable with the surgery you have choosen & you must have 100% confidence in your surgeon. I had lap RNY on July 6, 2004 & I am 100% satisfied with every aspect.  I love my surgeon & his program & I am satisfied with the results of my surgery.  I am also 100% sure that I made the best decision for ME.  I did look into the mini gastric bypass before looking into the RNY.  I attended a seminar by Dr. Rutledge in Greensboro, NC, when he was still here in NC.  I will admit that I was impressed with everything that I saw & heard.  Fortunately for me, a lady that I knew was there & a couple of weeks after the seminar I saw her at a seminar for RNY.  She is a doctor & she informed me that Dr. Rutledge was NOT medical board certified in the state of North Carolina.  That was something that was NEVER mentioned in his seminar nor in any of the information that I was given.  My mother is a nurse, so I grew up around the medical profession.  For me personally, I don't care what other information that anyone could provide about Dr. Rutledge, I would never let him touch me.  You could provide me with good and/or bad information about Dr. Rutledge and it wouldn't matter.  I will never let any doctor that can't get certified by the medical board touch me.  That fact & that fact alone is why I choose not to use Dr. Rutledge or to use anyone that he had trained to do that surgery. You have to look at all the facts & I am so glad that I had someone to show me all the facts before I made my decision.  It is my understanding that Dr. Rutledge is the doctor that came up with this procedure.  I know that it has worked for many people, but just like with the other forms of weightloss surgeries, it hasn't worked for everyone that has had. Again, I am not here to say don't do it.  I am just here offering some information that I found when I first looked into weightloss surgery.  Just as I wouldn't have known some of this had I not spoken with another doctor, someone on here might not know some of this either. But please, don't make your decision to choose or not choose the mini gastric bypass based on what I or anyone else has said here.  Please do your own research & make your decision based on the facts that YOU find for yourself. Good luck to everyone here & I hope that I haven't upset anyone with my posting. Julie 248/140