Question:
IS 90 CM'S CONSIDERED DISTAL FOR A 300+ PERSON?
I was just wondering what kind of results a person would have if 90 cm's were bypassed ...anybody out there that was over 300 or even 350 and had 90 cm's bypassed? My surgeon says that this is DISTAL. He bypasses 25, 75, 90 cm's. Just curious! I mean I don't want to go through this and don't loose enough to tell it. My surgery is Monday ...5-19-03..quick responses would be greatly appreciated!!! Tanky — Marsha P. (posted on May 14, 2003)
May 14, 2003
I had 100cm bypassed, and my surgeon considers this proximal. The more a
person weighs, the more he bypasses.
— Diana L.
May 14, 2003
I had 150 done. BCBS consideres over 150 to be distal!
— star .
May 14, 2003
150 and less is considered proximal. I fail to see how anyone can lose
weight with only 25 bypassed but there are some people on here that have
only had 75 bypassed and have gotten really good results.
— Delores S.
May 14, 2003
I'm 120cms bypassed (or 4 feet). Kaiser considers this proximal...they
don't use the term "medial", which 120 would be for some. I
started at 276 lbs.....now 175 lbs. at a year post-op. 150 and over is
distal.
— [Deactivated Member]
May 14, 2003
I started at 336 and was bypassed 75. I have very good results at 8 months
out I weigh 206.
— Kristy J.
May 14, 2003
I had 150 cm bypassed. Started at 324. Today 155. I think you'll be fine
with 90. Ask your surgeon what his success rate is with that amount. The
less bypassed, the less issues you have with malabsorption. Good luck and
God Bless!
— Kimberly L.
May 14, 2003
Your weight has nothing to do with it as far as whether you are distal or
proximal, its the length bypassed. 150 or more cm bypassed is distal.
100-150 is considered either proximal on the lower end, or medial on the
higher end. You would be considered proximal and should still be able to
lose weight well. Just think of it as better health as less bypassed means
more absorbtion of the vitamins and nutrients from food and less potential
long term problems down the road.
— Cindy R.
May 14, 2003
My surgeon bypasses 150 cm and considers it a "short" distal. He
refuses to bypass more because of the absorption issues even though it is
easier to lose more and faster with more intestines bypassed. He has over
20 years experience doing bariatric surgery and has found that this is the
optimal amount to bypass, allowing good weight loss but not causing too
much malabsorption.
— Patty_Butler
May 14, 2003
After reading all of the replys to this questions I feel like I am alone.
I am still pre-op, but my doctor told me they bypass 150 cm of one side of
the Y, I can't remember the exact term she used. Then they decide how much
to bypass on the other side of the Y, depending on your BMI. If you have a
BMI of 40 they bypass 100 cm, if your BMI is 50 they bypass 150 cm, if your
BMI is 60 or more they bypass 200 cm. Does this seem like a lot to anyone
else?
— Maria S
May 14, 2003
My operation was proximal and I had 150cm bypassed.
— jerzeygirl71
May 16, 2003
Marsha I have a good friend who started out 350-400 and stopped losing at
before she reached the 200 lb mark. Now she diets just like a pre-op,
exercises, and can't manage to drop below 200. She a post op of 2+ year
out. I don't think she abuses her tool, I think she didn't have a bypass
extreme enough for her weight. And that does happen. Have you ever asked
a lot of post ops how much they had bypassed? The response I usually get
is "I don't know?" Some doctors don't bypass hardly anything.
If the average bariatric surgeon bypass 120-150 cm it should tell you
something when yours thinks bypassing 90 is "the extreme distal".
I'm not trying to preach but I think you need to do a LOT of research.
Its hard enough to get insurance to pay for WLS, imagine trying to get them
to pay for your revision to have more bypassed in the event that you didn't
lose down to your goal weight?? And from my perspective I think its harder
to be a post-op who feels like a failure because they still are
"fat" than a pre-op who can't find funding. For the latter there
is still hope, for the post-op they feel they've lost their only chance at
a normal life at a normal weight. A good reason to be an informed consumer
who will be confident in her decision. Good luck!
— Shelly S.
May 17, 2003
I just now got around to asking my surgeon's nurse whether I'm distal or
proximal, how much was bypassed. Eeeeeks!!! I'm a long limb RNY with 200cm
bypassed, dissected (not transected) with a vertical stapleline. Michelle
"Vitalady" Curran tells me "EGAD, you are distal." I'm
even more happy that I am now doing protein shakes and a good vitamin
regimen...guess there's a reason I feel better with more energy these days.
Go figure.
— Anna L.
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