Prays or good vibes please
First, I would do this surgery again if I had too. I have NO REGRETS about my RNY.
Now the bad news. Many people who have RNY either regain weight or have other problems. This has happened to me. Sadly I am in Terminal Liver failure. I am not a candidate for liver replacement. I have autoimmune Hepatic Encephalitis, severe malnutrition (I am just bones) and my gallbladder "died" (went necrotic) A year after my surgery the doctors have diagnosed me with autoimmune hepatitis.... My liver no longer works, and I often have seizures and Alzheimer/dementia from all the toxins/ammonia built up in my blood stream.
Because I am an RNY patient (Had my surgery June 29 1010) of course I can have NO Tylenol or NSAIDS. I used to go o the gym and horseback riding post surgery but can no longer do that as I have broken bones. I have a tibial plateau fracture (Knee) I fell and dislocated my RT shoulder and broke it in 3 places. 3 months ago I had a grand Mal seizure and broke my left collar bone.
I am NOT trying to scare anyone, but please know there are many complications that can happen with RNY surgery. Hypoglycemia being one of the most common. (Yep, I have that too...And low blood sugar with a messed up liver makes for someone who can appear drunk, drugged or demented.) I am not any of those things. I am still me, logical and sane within my head but cannot get the words out without slurring or appearing "dumb".
Each surgery (RNY, D&S, Lap Band, etc) can ALL have complications. I take my vitamins and calcium and vitamin D3 daily but still have osteoporosis. I am 5'3 and have a VERY hard time keeping weight on me (On a good day I will weigh 110 lbs on a bad day only 100) I have no muscles anymore, I look like one of those starving people in another country.
I might have 2 weeks or 20 years it depends on my liver and kidneys. I have been in the hospital about 5 times now and have had every liver test known to mankind. (No I don't drink or do drugs) I am in between because protein puts a strain on the liver, but to much carbohydrates will put me in hypoglycemia. Do your research and know that your surgery "might" be more than you bargained for.....
There is never anything "attractive" about some all skin and literally bones. I have seizures and when I fall I break bones easily.
PS: The reason I said I would do the surgery again was that my PCP and Rheumatologist said I would have been dead within 3 years without losing weight. Personally I think it was the gallbladder that caused my current problems as it went necrotic and I had NO pain from it and no "normal" symptoms. I also had an autoimmune disease (dermatomyositis) before the surgery and had been on Enbrel and Methotrexate long before my RNY surgery, do who knows what caused what.
To my friends on here I haven't chatted to in years, now you know why. It is very hard to type on occasion and make logical sense. If anyone ever wants to know what HE (Hepatic Encephalitis) is, there is a wonderful video on YouTube called "Wrestling the Monster" >https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&c d=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB0QtwIwAGoVChMIqfHswuKayQIVSxUeCh02 xQOX&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DNQBXlrb 8Xmk&usg=AFQjCNFqP6e1miGIwi0QfRk-EEQRN7DJXg&sig2=37r2Vg2I9od apnaUiOqBdA&bvm=bv.107763241,d.dmo
Warmly and with love,
Jackie
Jackie,
I think the benefits of WLS certainly outweigh the risks. I, too, was one of the unlucky ones and ended up having to have a revision because my first pouch became so ulcerated that I couldn't even drink water and during the revision, they found that the intestine was very ulcerated too and so they let the pouch and small intestine rest for several months while I was fed first with lipids, a protein and fat substance given through my subclavian, and later, they put a tube feeding button in so that I could be fed through the tub with a partially digested liquid that went into the last section of my small intestine...finally, though, I was able to heal and over time, regain some of the weight that I had lost, which left me at times topping the scale at 70 pounds; I am 5'4" tall. My DH and family thought I was surely going to die. Now, whenever I feel anything out of the ordinary, I run to the doctor because I sure don't want anything else to happen.
I am so sorry you have ended up in liver failure. All of us read about the risks and none of us think it will happen to us, so when it does, we are in denial...or I was for a while.
I hope you gain strength and beat the odds and pull through like a champ. I say the same thing you say: even if I had known that I would end up with severe complications, I would still have the surgery done...that weight that I carried before surgery was killing me and I knew that I didn't have long so having he surgery gave me life again...even with the interruptions of health.
