Question:
With regard to the Distal RNY, I am seeing conflicting reports

on this website with regard to the "bathroom issues" that can occur after the Distal RNY. Now folks, as a pre-op, I need your help. (I do have a call into surgeon's office, but I'd rather hear from folks who've lived it.)I promise I looked in the library already for this, and I found only about 20 responses total! Please, if you've had a DISTAL RNY, please tell me straignt - do you have really foul smelling bm's? I can't tell you how much I'd appreciate your feedback on this. Thanks in advance for taking the time.    — Annie E. (posted on July 18, 2002)

July 18, 2002
Annie - I had a 60" distal RNY 08/28/01 (-97 lbs) and yes my BM's do smell horrible (just ask my husband), but that is because the surgery is working. The reason being is that the BM's you have now don't have digested foods since we have malabsorption the food does not get digested (I hope this makes any sense). Also, the more sugar you eat and carbs you eat, the more gas you will "release". Good luck and I hope this helps.
   — trtorrey

July 18, 2002
I had a RNY and don't have that problem. Often people have the problem when they eat a lot of left-overs. These foods build up more gas, so learning to cook small amounts is important. My doc said he decides to go proximal or distal based on the BMI. My BMI was 39 so I had about three feet of intestine moved about to do my RNY.
   — Thomas M.

July 18, 2002
Not me. I had 180 cm bypassed for my RNY in February of this year. My BM's smell no worse, if not better than they did before. My only problem these days is actually producing one. Ouch. ~Paula M. 5 mos post op -99.5 pounds.
   — PaulaM

July 18, 2002
I had 150cm bypassed (about 70" or a little over 5.5 feet). My BM's are no more smelly then pre-op. I very rarely get gas, and if I do, it's not different. I sure don't go as often as pre-op :-)
   — Sandra C.

July 18, 2002
My surgery is extremely distal (Duodenal Switch), and I was left with only 100 cm. of common channel. My bm's really smell bad. Sometimes, they smell worse than others depending on what I've had to eat, but they never smell good. Now, do they smell worse than before surgery? Usually, yes, they do. The smell is stronger. Given the fact that much of my food is passing through without much digestion, this is not surprising. Now, is it unbearable? Nope - a spritz of Medi-Aire, or a few lit matches and the odor is gone. Is it well worth the trade-off for the (reasonably) effortless weight loss? Oh yeah - I'd take twice as smelly and still be content.
   — kateseidel

July 18, 2002
I had distal RNY, removal of 150 cm on May 28th, then the removal of another foot of intestine on June 28th due to some complication. DO my BMs smell worse now? Yes, I think they do. I am also frequently in ketosis, so I'm not sure if that may be causing it and if, possibly, the bathroom odor thing is temporary.
   — NicoleG

July 18, 2002
I had a 40" distal. (true distal measures common channel, not bypassed amount). IN a word, YES. Fortunately, my husband is also distal. It can be unpleasant, but as time goes on, you learn what gives you gas and avoid those things when you need to. As for BM's, don't believe that all distals have diarrhea, as it certainly is not true!
   — vitalady