Question:
What Are The Long Term Effects Of Gastric Bypass?

Does anyone know if there have been long term studies done of people who have had RNY gastric bypass? I am just curious to know if there are people out there that had it 20 years ago and are they healthy. I am only 37 so I would be curious to know if there are any negative long term effects.    — JenP (posted on February 15, 2008)

February 15, 2008
All i can say on this is i have an aunt that had the big cut about 30-35 years ago and she is still healthy, and still maintaining her weight. She weighed about 450 lbs before surgery and maintaining now about 130. She is turning 60 this year. Hopes this helps you. She was my inspiration for surgery.
   — Darlene G.

February 15, 2008
My wife had a gastric bypass in 1980. The vast majority of these have had revisions, if they are still alive. My wife had a RNY revision form this surgery in July 2007. The surgeon told me she only has 12 inches of intestines available to absorb nutirents, and was surprised she was still alive. She's always drank lots of water, ate well, took vitamins, and knew her body well. My surgeon shook his head in disbelief after the surgery. The current RNY surgery has only been done about 10 years to my knowledge, so a 20 year study could not have been done yet. DAVE
   — Dave Chambers

February 15, 2008
Yes people from back then are still healthy there are many people I know who are healthy they need to lose some weight but there surgery was a little bit different then ours today. But they look not too bad.
   — tl_morgan

February 15, 2008
My mother had this surgery done in 1989 and did wonderful. She was 58 at the time of surgery and they did not get the class and information that we get. She pass away in 2001 but it was from another medical problem.
   — carman

February 15, 2008
I think the problem with long-term studies is that although "weight loss surgery" has been done in various forms for over 20 years, the procedure keeps changing, so doing long-term research is much like comparing oranges to grapefruits. Just my 2 cents. Betsy
   — Betsy C.

February 15, 2008
Hi Jennifer again. This was another question my husband and I pondered with before I had surgery. Some people do really well, but sometimes we exchange one health issue for another. Take a few minutes to read my profile. I consider myself a huge success story. I had surgery, worked hard, and lost weight. I take my vitamins and calcium, see my doctor every year and keep an eye out for complications. Complications happen, and they did to me. That doesn't lessen my success, but they did happen. Every year I have had surgery of some type. The first two years I had other surgeries, like GYN issues and a TT, but I have struggeled with a gastric ulcer, and last year scar tissue caused an obstructed bowel that was a tough recovery, but went very well. Things happen, and the older we get, the more they happen, so you have to factor that in. I think if you are currently in good health, and you have a good surgeon and a successful, complication free initial surgery (no leaks or blood clots), then you have a good chance at a successful recovery and journey. Some people start right out of the gate with issues and complications. Be sure your surgeon is good and has a good success rate. Mine did. She was not perfect, but she is an excellent surgeon, and has done all my surgeries except the actual TT itself and my GYN issues. She has taken care of the ulcers and the scar tissue. Vitamins are the biggest long term issue that I know of. If you keep up with your vitamins and calcium, you should do well. Many women and men stop them, and that is just plain dangerous. Commit yourself to eating good foods, and moderation in your life. Surgery is such a great tool, but it comes with warnings: Misuse it and you lose, not weight, but success. Use your tool carefully if you get it, and be determined to listen to your body not your brain concerning hunger. Get a good book on wls. I always encourage people to buy 2 books, one as a testimonial journey and one from a surgical perspective. I did, and it answered a ton of questions I had. I saw the emotional side, and the academic side. There are good books out there on Amazon.com, so you don't even have to shop to find them. There is a lot of hope for good success, but you have to follow the rules, and it is also based, to some degree, on your current health now. Take care. Patricia P.
   — Patricia P

February 16, 2008
The first gastric Bypass surgerys (RNY) were done in the late 1970's in Europe and approved for the USA in the 1990's. Back then they cut you open with a insesion about 14" long and the hardest issues were recovery time for the cut and chance of infection. Today they use a surgical "Crazy" Glue to seal the 6 little insisions and that stops infection and reduces the stress of the open proceedure. The reason insurance will cover RNY is because it is proven. But, go to a lecture or several by different baratric surgeons and find out what they ahve to say. I studed and researched this surgery for 3 years before having it. It is a change in the whay you live for the rest of your live, but I would do it today if I was your age, but that is me. I waited until I was 62, and I just wished that I had it before. It would have made a big difference on my life back then. Not that it is not making things better than ever today for me. Do have a surgeon do your RNY if he will not talk openly about what he does and why and answer every question you have. Ask how many have died that he has done the surgery on and why. I did and I went with the honest surgeon. Of course my surgeon was one that had the surgery full open in the 90's himself, so I know he beleived in it.
   — William (Bill) wmil