Question:
For those of you that only have a staple line, and are not transected, are you happy

with your choice & results?    — Valerie B. (posted on March 4, 2003)

March 4, 2003
I'm happy I've lost weight and I don't want to regain. If I had a choice between transection and intact stomach with staple line remaining intact. I'll choose the latter. If I had to choose between having one operation and having two (if I get an SLD), I'd choose one operation. Then of course you have to consider insurance issues. I've read a two-year study on SLD for VBG and a doctor found that there was no difference in weight loss between those who had SLD and those who did not. It goes on to say the true frequency of SLD is really unknown and may go unreported unless a particular doctor routinely examines the patient. I'm a big worrier and either way my mind would not totally be at rest. I might worry about SLD & regain or I'd worry about needing my entire stomach for a future illness or what might happen since there were no long term studies of what happens with transection. It's just six of one and 1/2 dozen of the other. Now, one thing I've often thought of is if I do get SLD and still manage to keep my weight off via my change of eating and exercising and then not have the malabsortion issue, I'll be getting the best of both worlds! Good luck to you!
   — Lisa N M.

March 4, 2003
I just have a staple line im 6 weeks and so far im doin ok but i think about a disruption alot..hopefully it wont happen tho
   — christine S.

March 4, 2003
I was required to attend an informational seminar prior to surgery and the way the surgery was explained at the seminar was that the stomach would be transected. I met my surgeon the day before surgery and he explained he would not be transecting the stomach but would be using just rows of staples. I hadn't research the difference between these two options so I didn't know any better. I wish I was transected. Although I know a staple line disruption is a rather rare occurance it's constantly in the back of my mind. If I had it to do over again I'd choose to be transected. (Open, non-transected, distal RNY 10 months ago, pre-op 5'6'' 263 lbs, now 155 lbs, 15 lbs to goal)
   — Kelly S.

March 5, 2003
If given the choice, it is better to be transected. I speak from experience as I had SLD at 9 mos postop. And I had 8 rows of staples. My surgeon did not transect at the time I had surgery (Nov 2000) and two months later he began transecting. I always felt cheated because I wanted to be transected. I felt it was permanent and that is what I wanted. I was almost relieved when my staples came undone and I had a revision to a transected pouch. Yes, I had two surgeries and I would rather have only had one but I am sooooo glad I am transected now! I would have always worried that someday my staples would go and I wouldn't be able to get fixed again plus I would regain. Luckily, I didn't regain because I had the revision as soon as the SLD was discovered. I just had an upper GI (at 15 mos after revision) and all is well now. Very small pouch and I am very happy about that. It is the size of one vertebrae in my spine. The picture showed the spine and the pouch was about the size of the space between the vertebrae. Some surgeons still don't transect but if you have a choice, choose transection. By the way, SLD is not as rare as they say. It just goes undetected in may since there are no symptons other than eating a lot more and possibly heart burn again.
   — Mylou52