Rny with 34 bmi to drastic ?

I have a bmi of 34 . I have a lap and with issues , esophagitis , gastritis , ulcers .. My question is, have any of you lighter weights had rny ? I'm worried about malabsorption and taking vitamins forever ( part of that stems from my band problems , I can't imagine swallowing a pill everyday ) hairloss , rerouting my insides, possible long term complications from rny. I need advice. My surgeon seems set of revising to rny instead of sleeve, which is what I was mentally prepared for . 

If you've already had a restriction only WLS such as the band or sleeve, then the RNY or the DS is the way to get your body to reset and start losing again. Also, if you're likely to get Type II diabetes, then the RNY or DS is a good idea. We do have to take vitamins, some of us take many. many vitamins, but it's worth it.  

--gina

I see that you were the same weight as me before your surgery. 

How has it been for you ? Did people ever tell you you didn't need it Bc you weren't that big? 

I'm curious about what to expect after surgery if I'm approved. 

I hadn't been obese that long but all the comorbidities were kicking in and I had done crazy things to keep my weight under the Army's limits for more than 30 years. My metabolism was shot, so I chose the Duodenal Switch over the RNY. I was told I looked too small etc. by medical techs as I was going through the various tests to get approved, so I decided not to tell anyone other than my immediate family what I was planning to do. I still haven't told people I work with. I tell them I eat low carb and high protein, which is a half truth. I will tell strangers about having surgery but not my professional associates. They're mostly military, retired military and they just won't get it. Anyway, my surgeon and the dietitian said I met the criteria and I met their indicators for having the most extreme WLS, the DS because I'm such a grazer / nibbler, I love protein, I don't mind taking loads of vitamins, and I needed something to overcome the low metabolism that comes with age and years of yo yo dieting. 

You see here on the lightweight group many successful RNY folks but we all have to work at it as the years go on. We think we've found the key: low carb, high protein (even protein shakes for life), vitamins, keep moving with moderate exercise, and staying hydrated. The RNY and DS really do require vitamins to stay healthy. You may hear horror stories about people losing their teeth after WLS. That's because they weren't taking their calcium. We need a lot of calcium citrate, not the cheep stuff you find in most calcium supplements, calcium carbonate. We also need to take vitamin D3, vitamin A (palmitate), and K1...all in dry forms not the cheep ones that come in squishy oil based capsules. There are plenty of place online and in stores to get the dry forms in high doses and we can help you with that. Most of us have issues with iron. I have been extremely successful just taking oral supplements but some end up having to get periodic iron infusions. The forms of iron for us are carbonyl iron and heme iron. Most others will constipate you. That's another difference between RNY and the DS; RNY folks tend to get constipated and DS tend to have loser stools and smelly gas. Most DSrs that take probiotics to counter the gas, go on and live normally.

There are always pros and cons. You just have to figure out what you're willing to do and not do to lose the weight, live healthy, and fight the comorbidities such as diabetes, high blood pressure, osteo arthritis, sleep apnea, etc.

Wishing the best luck with your decision, approval and future.  

--gina  

Thank you for all of your great information. I understand your decision not to tell anyone in your professional field about your surgery. I'm glad that you are part of a great support community. I'm sure you get support and you certainly have a lot of support and information to offer others like me, and I thank you for taking the time to reply. I appreciate all of your insite. I believe the only problem I have with taking all of the vitamins stems from my band and not being able to swallow most of the time . I will definatly look into getting the dry vitamins if I am approved . I love my teeth lol. Do the vitamins prevent hair loss or is that something all malabsorption patients experience ? 

The hair loss immediately post-op may be due to the anesthesia used during surgery and the hormone dump we all go through in the first few months. Some of us lose more than others but it usually grows back.

The hair loss you may have seen in people further post-op may be due to them not getting enough protein or skipping some important vitamins and minerals. I understand that low iron can also cause hair loss. RNY and DSrs both malabsorb protein, so we need to take in more than you might be used to. Taking in more protein than you're used to is a real issue when a RNYr's pouch or a DSr's sleeve is swollen and eating food is near impossible. That's why we drink protein shakes and make protein coffee. You might hear your surgeon and dietitian say no more protein shakes after a certain period of time. We have found that to be bad advice. Many of us here have chosen to continue protein shakes and we seem to do better than those that start eating dense food and stretch out their pouches and sleeves. Restriction of a small pouch/ sleeve and the malabsorption of a bypass work together. The longer you can keep your restriction working, the better.

--gina

Welcome to our LW Board!!!  Gina gave you lots of great advice!!!  I am 7+ years out with my RNY and it's the best decision I've ever made personally!! I've known some sleevers that have been successful but more RNY'ers.  I truly believe Drinking the Protein drinks are the key to success.

Taking pills aren't that bad.  Most of mine are pretty small and I buy them on line.  I did let my B12 get to low (laziness) and had to start getting B12 shots.  I'm going to have my labs checked soon.

We all lose some hair after WLS.  But myself and many others actually grew back thicker fuller hair.  I'm guessing the supplements and protein helped with that.

I had acid reflex before surgery.  I still take my Prilosec. Not for burning acid reflux but my pouch seems to churn more when I don't remember to take it.

Good Luck with your decision!!!

7 years out and still loving your rny sounds like it was a great choice for you. I'm praying for a quick approval so I can get my new life started . I've been looking at unjury but won't really know what I need until I have some nutrition classes .

thank you ladies for all of the helpful insite! 

It is much appreciated 

The one thing I have learned during my 7 years is that most Nutritionists  only know what the books say and have not lived it.  The basic rules that have kept me at my maintenance weight is High Protein (using GOOD Protein Powder as supplement) and very low carb.  I eat small numerous meals/snacks during the day. 

Early out our taste buds are a little wacky.  Everything is extra sweet, sour, spicy etc. What you can tolerate in the beginning might not be the best choice for you as far as Maintaining.  Early out I had to drink warm and use unflavored Protein (GNC Any Whey) because I couldn't deal with my taste buds.

I did really like the Unjury Chicken Broth but I haven't had it for years.  Syntrax and Matrix brands are all I use now.

I'm just reading around looking for advice so thank you, I'm a week and a half post op and I can't get any shakes down, I've tried every brand, every flavor, I just.cant. I gag, it's bad...And i was fine before. I just ordered the unflavored unjury and the chicken one too, it's my last hope, I really don't know what else to do. It helped me to read this and see there is still hope for me ?