Question:
DOES ANYONE KNOW THESE ANSWERS? Is it really true that rou-en-y may cause . . . . .

Could RNY cause breakdown of teeth, bones to become fragile over time (faster then without RNY), faster ageing after 5 years and increased arthritis pain? I am borderline diabetic, have knee pain and on and off (mostly on)low back pain (arthritis) is the worst. 5'5" weigh 240 lb and a very young looking grandma with no wrinkles (So okay, I am vain, as well as fat and sassy with a hell of a low back ache that I am sick of). - Grandma Mary    — Mary J. (posted on March 27, 2003)

March 27, 2003
Hi Sassy Grandma! Your questions pertains to a lack of calcium or problems with calcium absorption. RNY patients do have calcium absorption problems but it is easily managed with supplements. You need to take CALCIUM CITRATE. Tums is not effective in preventing osteoporosis. Please make sure when you purchase your calcium that it's Citrate and not Carbonate. Most brands available out there are carbonate and that's not what we RNYers need. My suggestion would be to buy the easy to swallow capsules from Michelle Curran at vitalady.com. Best wishes to you!
   — ronascott

March 27, 2003
I guess if you completely ignore the need to take supplements after surgery, and don't follow any kind of dietary guidelines, or don't do any kind of exercise, all kinds of terrible things could happen! I'm 47, so not a spring chicken. I had lap RNY 10/29/02. I'm losing slowly, only down about 50lbs and on a plateau. (Started as a lightweight with similiar statistics.) However, I am completely off Glucophage XR 2000mg daily, off 1 of 2 B/P meds and on the lowest dose of the other, and off medicine for high cholesterol. I take multivitamins, extra B12, folic acid, magnesium and calcuim citrate every day and will for the rest of my life! I now walk at least 3.5 miles (in about an hour) almost every single day, which helps strengthen my bones and muscles. My back used to hurt so bad I could barely walk around the block and I had some problems with one knee. No back pain or knee pain at all, now! The possibility of developing obesity related diseases down the road was pretty much a given before surgery. Thanks to my mom's "young looking genes" people in my office have told me I now look younger! I can't see how taking off a bunch of pounds that are stressing your joints could increase arthritis pain! I wouldn't believe those things unless someone showed me some studies done to prove it, and I doubt anything like that exists!
   — koogy

March 27, 2003
Malnutrition can cause these problems which is why we need to supplement for life and keep up with our lab work. Different surgeries have different levels of risk. I just read about the tooth thing recently. Can't remember where. The study did recommend adding a flouride rinse for life after surgery. Osteoporosis is a definite risk, but can be avoided by taking Calcium citrate (for RNY patients). I don't believe the faster aging, I'm healthier than ever, but around my eyes and jowls I LOOK a bit older since my fat is no longer filling out my wrinkles. I use to feel arthritis in my hands, knees and hip joints, but I didn't have a problem this winter at all, probably since my joints have 150 pounds less stress on them now.
   — mom2jtx3

March 27, 2003
Well my arthritus is spreading fast as a post op. I never had it in my hands before and at times it's really painful. And I have the beginning of osteroporosis. So I sure feel a heck of alot "more fragile" now.
   — Danmark

March 27, 2003
I wonder how many of us are like I was. I avoided all docs like the plague before WLS. As a post op I still dont enjoy going to docs but am taking more a interest in my health and appearance. This might uncover previously ignored troubles like teeth. Its just a theory but it could certinally apply to me.
   — bob-haller

March 27, 2003
I have heard about all of these 'side effects'. I think that is the wrong term to use to be honest. Okay..so obese people tend to "look" younger and that is because fat fills in the wrinkles. Think of looking at a heavier newborn baby as opposed to one that is 7 lbs., the heavier one is generally cuter. I had to do a LOT of self-realization in considering this surgery. Do I want to look younger? Is my appearance really THAT important to me? OR...do I want to feel better, be healthier and live longer? I think being able to be more active will in itself help one to feel & look younger. I long for the days of getting down on the floor or walking up 2+ flights of stairs and not being wiped out. My personality is young..I want it to be visible which just isn't happening the way I feel now. As for medical side effects, I believe this surgery (like all surgeries) has side effects. This means that post-op we must take care of ourselves. How many times I have pleaded that if I only had a second chance, I would take better care of my body. Well...now we are getting that chance and we must live up to our end of the bargain. Will it be easy..probably not. Will it be worth it... definitely! 18 more days & a wake up...oh I can't wait!!!
   — Diane S.

April 1, 2003
I had no wrinkles on my face preop and dont have wrinkles post op either. as a matter of fact I believe I look a good 10 years younger. Pre op a was a mess of aches and pains, arthritis, achilles tendonitis, back and knees. Now The achilles tendonitis is my only real ache, the rest are gone, I sleep better and feel better over all. I am taking care of my teeth, dentist every 6 months as usual. I am off my blood pressure meds. pre op off meds my bp was 210 / 100, now today at the dr. office my bp was 80 / 50, and I have been of meds for 6 mnhs.
   — **willow**