Question:
For RNY Patients who Weighed 350+ at Surgery

Did you have a proximal or distal bypass? If you had distal, was your pre-op weight what clinched having a distal? For those who had proximal, what is your surgeon's stance on how close you will get to your ideal weight?    — [Anonymous] (posted on October 6, 2000)

October 6, 2000
Those two terms really confuse people, these terms really don't have any significant meaning. What is important to find out from your doctor is how much will he be bypassing?? In measurment terms not proximal or distal terms. My doctor bypassed 200 centimeters, which he does for most of his patients because he found that amount achieves the weight loss needed.
   — christine L.

October 6, 2000
I weighed 345 pre-op, 355 at discharge. All this discussion has led me to call my surgeon to find out my bypass numbers. I was told that the length of my roux limb is 56 inches and that my SB (small bowel? The secretary didn't know) length is 168 inches. Anyone who can tell me what in the heck this means in terms of proximal or distal, please let me know! Thanks.
   — [Deactivated Member]

October 6, 2000
I weighed 394 lbs preop and had RNY on March 28, 2000. My surgeon bypassed 152.4 cm (which is 5 feet) and I've heard this length called proximal, medial and distal. His office has some kind of formula that they use to determine "goal" weight and it has something to do with preop weight, meaning the more you weighed the higher your goal weight will be. They have my goal weight at 230 lbs and will consider the surgery "successful" if I reach that weight. Even though that would be a 164 pound weight loss for me I've set my own goal at anything under 200.
   — Kellie L.

October 10, 2000
My daughter weighed 406 lbs. pre-op, and had a lap proximal RNY in January. She has lost 160 lbs. in the past 10 months and is still experiencing a steady weight loss. I had the same surgery in March...pre-op weight 312, and have lost 96 lbs. at 7 months. The key to successful weight loss is due primarily to strictly following the post-op regimen, particularly in proximal procedures which do not rely on malabsorption as the primary mechanism for achieving weight loss. Our surgeon's statement is that achievement of weight loss goal can be anticipated by most patients if they do not vary from the regimen; almost everyone can expect an approximate 10 lb. regain from their lowest weight as the body "readjusts"; and approximately 10% of patients will regain a "moderate amount of weight" over the long-term, not as a failure of the surgery but simply because they gradually revert to all their original bad eating habits. The end results are clearly up to each patient; your surgeon has only provided you with a tool which will open a 12-18 month window of opportunity for maximal weight loss. What happens after that point will depend on your motivation and continuing performance.
   — Diana T.

October 11, 2000
3 of us are going in for 2- lap RNY distal 1- open RNY distal the highest BMI out of the 3 of us is 44 one is 41 the other 39 So I do not think you must be really over weight to have them suggest a distal My Doctor only does distal he has found long term this is the best for keeping off the weight.. I personally do not want to go thru major surgery only to regain this weight in a few years time and with a distal you can eat I am not going to sit here and debate which is the best surgery it all depends on the person and their Doctors preferances
   — Kathleen M.

October 12, 2000
Hi, I was 376lbs the day of my proximal rny.(Oct 5th 1999) It has been one year and I am 192lbs. I am still losing about 7-10 pounds a month.
   — devine299

October 13, 2000
My beginning weight was 367 and gained 15 while in hospital (water weight from IV's) I'm now 10 months post-op and down 164 pounds.. Dr. Husted does anywhere from 4 1/2 foot to 7 1/2 foot bypass depending on your beginning weight.. I'm closer to the the 7 foot range.. Which by some surgeons thinking is still proximal I thought it was more medial but who knows? So far it's working great for me... So it must have been just what the doctor ordered.. :-) as far as weight loss in the Fobi Pouch .. The typical patient will lose 70% of their excess weight, and <b>half of the patients will lose more than that</B>. And since I'm now well over 75% now, I truly believe I'll loose 100% of my excess weight and make my goal..
   — Victoria B.