Question:
If I get this surgery and for some reason am not satisfied, can I have it undone?
I have been researching this and I think most of my questions have been answered except can the RNY be undone if for some reason I change my mind. — Nicole C. (posted on December 21, 2002)
December 21, 2002
Someone can correct me if I am wrong but I do believe it can be reversed if
needed. I don't think they do reversles only if you just want it done. It
has to be medically necessary. I wouldn't have this surgery reversed for
anything. It is the greatest. I am 5 and 1/2 months out and started at
253 lbs. I now weigh 172. That is -81 lbs. Woooo Hoooo. You will love
your new life. Good Luck!!
— DRutherford
December 21, 2002
Yes it can but its EXTREMLY rare. My surgeon has never done a reversal. To
get insurance to pay for the reversal it would have to be considered
medically necessary, just like getting approval for your original surgery.
Beyond that a reversal will lead to regaining all the weight, and because
of scar tissue its riskier than the original surgery, Basically its
permanent. If you specifically want something easily reversed look into the
lap band. But even then weight regain, and insurance hoops will be a
problem.
<P> I seriously doubt you will want reversed after a few months have
passed. Theres nothing better than watching that scale drop. <P> I
recomend you buy a book, like ythe one barb thompson a member here wrote.
It covers so much.<P>http://www.wlscenter.com/<P> Whatever you
decide good luck. WLS saved both my life and that of my wife Jen. I like
nearly every other RNY would have surgery again in a instant.
— bob-haller
December 21, 2002
The surgery cannot truly be undone in that you can never be exactly as you
were before. Plus trying to take down the surgery is EXTREMELY risky - much
more so than the original surgery. Many docs will not do a reversal, and
those who do prefer to do it only on their own surgeries. You must regard
this as a permanent and irreversible step. Really, it IS.
— Michelle O.
December 21, 2002
EVERYONE IS RIGHT. Especially the last poster (Michelle). Only in for
"life threatening" problem will they undo it. HOWEVER you are
PERMANATELY changed. NEVER will your insides be as they were. (Heck I've
had non WLS surgery that has "tried" to be reversersed
"somewhat" because of my health- and I am left worse than before
surgery). NEVER go into WLS thinking, "I can have it reversed if I
want". BULL! Once your guts are cut and rearanged, you will never be
what you were. KEEP RESEARCHING! I hope that no one will go into this
thinking it can be reversed. Keep dieting! However you were probally just
asking and not serious. ;) I know all to well how bad you can be when you
have to have things reversed. Thankfully my WLS surgeon was skilled and did
it right the first time. But if for some reason I wanted it reversed (and
could pay for it myself) I would gain ALL my weight back AND TONS MORE. My
metabolism is already slowed down greatly because of the low calorie
consumption these last almost 20 months. I don't imagine I could ever
exercise enough to burn what I did pre op. Good luck to you!
— Danmark
December 21, 2002
My surgeon tells his patients (and we have to sign a paper) that this
surgery Laporscopic RNY cannot be reversed. If in extreme medical
conditions it could possible be "revised" but that our stomachs
and everything would NEVER be the same as it was before surgery. Be very
sure that this is what you want. Most everyone does experience some regret
and depression afterwards and wishing they had not done the surgery
(especially me) but these feelings tend to be temporary once we finally get
used to how our new bodies work.
Patty
— Patricia C.
December 21, 2002
Ditto to what everyone has said. I just want to enforce that trying to get
inurance to pay for that reversal will be like begging the devil. I'm
guessing only in the case of much more serious life threatening problems,
than caused you to have the surgery in the first place, will the insurance
cover it. It would most likley only occur on a person who absolutely
cannot stop the weight loss and is becoming so severely undernourished to
approach anorexia, is my guess.<p>Recently someone posted that her
doctor was talking about possibly having to reverse because of severe
problems and she was devastated at the thought of losing the wonderful tool
that gave her a new life. I believe if you follow the rules and eat right
and take the meds you need and follow up with your doctor, the chance you
would need reversal is so small it's not even on the charts.<p>If you
have these kinds of thoughts you are not ready to go forward with this
surgery - in my opinion. I also still have concerns and questions what
things will be like afterwards as far as eating but have asked enough
questions to feel comfortable that I have a reasonably good idea what to
expect and the rest will be trial and error based on what my body will
tolerate. I look at the fact that many thousands of people have had this
surgery and have managed to work through the eating changes and I do not
see myself as any different than those people. There will be good and bad
times I am sure, but those exist with how I eat now. Heck I probably dump
now (many things go through undigested and fast), from eating too much too
fast, more than I will after surgery. Once I throw up that will keep me
being careful. I detest throwing up.<p>Please get some counseling to
work through your questions and concerns before proceeding. You have to be
on-board and committed to making this work or it will turn out disasterous.
My thoughts are with you!
— zoedogcbr
December 21, 2002
If you get a lap band (adjustable gastric band), you can get it completely
reversed with no ill effects on your body. That's the only surgery that's
actually reversible to the extent that your body will be essentially the
same as if you never had it done.
These other surgeries can be reversed to a certain extent but you will
always have some residual effects.
— M. B.
December 21, 2002
I saw your post and I was not going to respond because I did not want to
upset you or make you mad, but I kept looking at it and I had to say
something. Do not be offended. This is a MAJOR LIFE CHANGING OPERATION.
Some people die during this surgery and some people have majjor
complications afterward.Not trying to scare these are just the realities
of this and any kind of surgery. This is not something you take litely. I
spent six years researching WLS before I finally made my mind up to do it.
My health was getting worse and the risk of surgery were better than the
risk I was given with my health problems so I went for it. I decided to do
it ONLY AFTER HAVING MAJOR KNOWLEDGE OF WLS. Yes, in some cases surgery can
be reversed, but if you are going into this with the thought that you are
not going to like it DON"T DO IT. After surgery your insides will
never be the same again if they have to reverse it. You will be functional,
but there is no telling what affects you will have after being reveresed.
DO NOT HAVE THIS SURGERY UNTIL YOU ARE SURE. PLEASE JUST WAIT IF YOU ARE
NOT SURE. I wish you well and please people who read this and think I am
being mean DO NOT SEND ME HATE MAIL. I am not being mean. Just being
honest. If you need to talk about this please feel free to contact me. I am
more than happy to try to calm your fears or share my knowledge and
strentgh with you.
— Skyedancer4u1
December 21, 2002
I suggest you attend some support group meetings to help with your fear of
what life will be like post op. Out of the 85,000 or more members here I
can think of only a couple who were reversed. The most notable Barb Henson.
It appears her original surgeon made a error. She finally got reversed and
is doing well. Technically the RNY can be reversed, but you wouldnt be
exactly how you started, but close. Surgeons have patients sign those this
is permanent and NOT reversible because some have a rough first month or so
and a few demand a reversal. Do look as this as permanent, because it is.
But then go look at the befores and after pictures and ask yourself if any
of those people would want to regain all the weight...
— bob-haller
December 22, 2002
You all didn't have to jump on me I am only in the researching stage I
don't know what I want to do yet that's why I am asking questions. My
goodness!!
— Nicole C.
December 22, 2002
Nicole,
I am sorry that you feel like we were jumping down your throat. I believe
we were all being honest and open and thourgh with our information. We have
had the surgery already and by no means are experts, but we do know what we
know and you asked and we answered. We just wanted you to know the hard
facts. There are some people who are under the impression that this is like
a light switch and you can turn it on and off and it is just not so. You
could have written me to my personal email and not my surgery page and made
it look like I was just really evil answering your question if you felt
like I was being mean to you. I was merely answering your question. This is
the last time I will ever answer a question on the Q&A board. I wish
you well and good luck with whatever you decide to do.
— Skyedancer4u1
December 22, 2002
The second time I saw my surgeon I told him I needed to ask him a really
weird question. During surgery he takes the residual stomach out. No issue
there with reversals! :)So I asked, "Does anyone ever want their
stomach back?" He smiled at that question and asked me in what
instance did I think they would need it back. Stomach cancer or ulcers in
your pouch? He said that would be very rare. I have read some pretty
gnarley stories on here about complications that people have encountered
during and after this surgery and all but one person so far said even if
they knew that they would encounter the same complications they would have
it done all over again. The book by Barbara Thompson is excellent in
answering probably everything anyone could think to ask. It has helped me a
lot. I won't even lend it out but carry it around with me like some
talisman, and will until I get through this surgery! I had a bunch of
questions about everything but that is all part of the learning process.
You have every right to ask anything you'd like to ask. If I had to vote I
would side with just considering this irreversible. Best of luck to you in
your search for answers to help you understand this more clearly!
— Joy A.
December 22, 2002
Nicole- It is good you ask this question! You need to know everything
before you decide to go through with it. It would be a shame if someone had
the RNY surgery and thought it was reversable because they never asked.
Like most of the posters said though...once you get it, you are pretty much
"stuck" with it. Which actually is a good thing, because if we
reversed it, we would probably and most likely gain all of our weight back.
The RNY is very very drastic, and just be careful in making your decision.
RESEARCH A LOT! I am glad I had the surgery, but it isn't always an easy
road. Good Luck! (open RNY 7/23/02 -95 lbs)
— Shawnie S.
December 22, 2002
I've read and re read all the posts. I don't believe anyone jumped on you.
We are all scared that "perhaps" in the back of your mind you are
thinking that if you have the surgery you can have it reversed for whatever
reason. Most people on this site are caring people and hate to see anyone
make a mistake and get hurt.
— Danmark
December 22, 2002
Nicole - Sorry you felt jumped on - we were just concerned you would go
forward with a misconception and did not want you to find out the reality
afterwards. In answer to your original question - NO the surgery can not
be undone because you change your mind. I do not believe any surgeon would
"undo" it other than for life threatening reasons. Good Luck in
your continued research and decision making process.
— zoedogcbr
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