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Several medical studies show that the weight loss at 12-18 months out is just a bit lower than that usually cited for RNY, but long-term, what matters more than which surgery someone has is how much they change their lifestyle. Here is one of the two studies I am aware of (the other isn't available, even just the abstract, on the Internet, but shows similar result in terms of initial weightloss but shows somewhat higher complication rates during the first 30 days, and shows fairly high long-term complication rates (which this study does not address) primarily from acid issues (reflux, ulcers, gastric pain)):
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22411569
Here is a study comparing mini to regular RNY:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1357700/
I know that there aren't many surgeons who do the mini-bypass. The ASMBS also does not endorse it because for those who DO have post-op leaks, the leaks have considerably more of the gastric juices than a leak from a regular RNY and therefore is a more dangerous complication.
Personally, if the ASMBS doesn't think it is worth the risks specific to that particular surgery, *I* wouldn't have it. Despite the "advertising" to the contrary, according to the surgeon's office that I sometimes do Psych evals for, the mini-bypass is NOT "easily reversible". It is nearly as complicated to reverse as the RNY.
Hope that helps.
Lora
14 years out; 190 pounds lost, 165 pound loss maintained
You don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
“Now that you're eating right and exercising you find you obsess about food quite a bit (which can both be good and bad). Here's how to avoid the ugly.”
Watching our waistlines can make us a little crazy and sometimes it feels like that's all we're thinking about. Get some clarity by focusing your energy on something else that will take a good amount of energy and that will give you a sense of accomplishment. Organize your closet: try on everything and purge, sort, and donate. Catch up on your scrapbooking: organize and caption photos, give extra photos to family and friends, and download and save your printed pictures to disc and store them away. By moving your mind to other worthwhile efforts, you'll realize you have more going on than dieting and that you can do anything you put your mind to.
Clueless about weight loss and weight loss surgery of any kind.
“You try to stay motivated to move and eat well but you just can't stay focused. Here's your microscope.”
You might need to take a step back. Ask yourself what you REALLY want. Not what your husband/wife wants, or what society wants, what YOU want and while you're at it, WHY you want it. Do you want to be thin, healthy, toned? Do you not want to worry about having a heart attack tomorrow? Do you think losing weight will help you get a better job, man, woman, or life? Be honest inside that noggin' of yours...no one has to know, but you do. Okay, now that you've decided the "what" and "why" you have to map out the HOW. Again, being brutally honest is the only way to get there. Most things in life worth anything are not easy to get, so you have to decide what you're willing to do to get them. But, if you have really decided to go for what you want, you may also need to make a plan for when things get tough. If you bail at the first twinge of discomfort, maybe you don't want this as much as you thought. Plan now for how much sacrifice of sameness, comfort, and schedule you can live with to make your goals happen.
Clueless about weight loss and weight loss surgery of any kind.
Robin
After six years on this journey, I think that the most important things that I've find to help maximize the weight loss opportunity and maintenance is developing and exercising awareness and accountability. I think that most of us that have had a serious weight issue also have had what I often refer to as 'Three Monkey Syndrome' aka 'Hear no evil, See no evil, Speak no evil.' This lack of awareness and accountability can and have had a crippling effect on many of us. The good news is that we can develop ways to be aware and in tune with what we consume and our level of activity. What we each do to become aware of our actions and the impact that they have on us varies depending on our needs at the time, but the need to be aware never goes away.
What do you do to be aware of your intake and activity?
Do you have things that you do to help you be accountable to yourself?
Have the tools you use to be aware and accountable changed over the course of your journey?
I look forward to hearing from you.
Barbara
ObesityHelp Coach and Support Group Leader
http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/bcumbo_group/
High-264, Current-148, Goal-145
“You know you need to eat better but you also know that as soon as hunger pang**** you'll throw in the towel. Here's how to go another round.”
When we think about a "diet", we quickly imagine ourselves crawling on hands and knees with only the strength to utter, "Need food...need food." Let's get real. First, forget "diets." Weird programs that have you eating only salad with no dressing and restrict everything you'd normally eat are not going to work. Eating a healthy diet is something you just need to learn, and something you'll probably enjoy once you figure it out. You'll need to re-educate your palette and before long you'll realize you don't need all those sauces, condiments, and gravies to enjoy your food. For many people, you can eat five to six times a day so hunger won't come around. You just need to eat good food the majority of the time, in portions that make sense, and keep treats to a minimum, but don't ban things you love. Get your workout in, go for a walk or engage in a physical activity on a regular basis and you'll find that only don't you feel deprived, but you'll be exhilarated by the healthy change you've created.
Clueless about weight loss and weight loss surgery of any kind.
“You've knit together a good routine of working out and eating well during the week, but don't have much structure on the weekends. Here's how not to unravel. ”
This way of thinking is actually pretty good because it gives you a sturdy foundation of eating well and exercising plus your brain knows it's not forever - a break is coming. But, (you knew there'd be one didn't you?) don't go so overboard that you undo everything during the week. It might seem impossible but if you're indulging in chain-style restaurant food, one meal can actually be like eating three meals at once - three really, really unhealthy meals. Your one over-indulgence can give you three days worth of artery clogging fat, sodium, and cholesterol. So, while it's good to shake up your routine occasionally, don't blow the top off all you've worked for.
Clueless about weight loss and weight loss surgery of any kind.
Question..can you get a copy of your tests reports and fax them over to Dr. Rutledge? He is the commander and chief of this surgery. He may have some advice for you. Go to http://clos.net and call his office, cell or however you can get in contact with him.
Clueless about weight loss and weight loss surgery of any kind.
Thank you Shoutjoy. I appreciate your support. I have done an Endoscopy and several other tests here in Toronto. Both specialists I saw confirm there is something wrong; however, both have stated they're not in a position to rectify this issue. One recommended doing a lapband but it left me wondering exactly how that would help me with the discomforts. There is a system here called the NETWORK. Basically, your MD has to refer you to this NETWORK in order for you to have weight loss surgery but I don't feel my doctor is listening. Its not about weight loss right now, its about addressing the discomforts and the issue I'm having on account of the MGB. I contacted the surgeon in the USA and his network and they all suggest I give up gluten, carbs, mold my diet but essentially have stated that unless I have money to "re-do" the surgery or "reverse" the surgery, they can't help me otherwise. A) I don't have $17,000 plus and B) I would not trust the same surgeon to do anything to me after this situation.
I will keep seeking medical care from whomever is willing to listen until this is rectifiied. Until then, I will see a nutritionist as you have suggested.
