Question:
Trying to find any reliable studies/ statistics on post op RNY's 5-10yrs?

If you can offer any info on web sites or if you are a Post-OP patient of 5-10 years of Open RNY, I would like to hear from you. Donna LaPan    — Donna L. (posted on November 15, 2002)

November 14, 2002
Well 30% of OPENS will have had one or more hernia repair surgeries. In opens the muscle wall is cut. Compared with LAP where near zero will end up with a hernia and follow up surgery. Long term some regain weight. I look at it this way. In ten years the drug companies should have a safe and effective weight loss drug. I needed help for weight NOW, and will deal with long term when it arrives. I wouldnt oif been around long term WITHOUT surgery.
   — bob-haller

November 15, 2002
There was a woman at our last support group meeting who was 9 years post-op open RNY. She didn't tell us how much weight she had lost and kept off or anything but she was thin. She did say that she had been struggling with low iron for quite a while. I know my surgeons always tell us that the best long term data that they have seen has come from people that have had most of their stomach removed for one reason or another. They essentially have had the RNY but not necessarily for weight loss purposes. Other than that, I haven't heard much about long term statistics.
   — Tanya B.

November 15, 2002
I don't know whether there are any studies that go as long as five or ten years out. NIH did a study that went three years out, back around 1991, when they signaled their approval of the RNY procedure based on success in keeping most of the excess weight off (though NIH noted that some weight was creeping back on many of the study participants). There are a few post-ops kicking around here who are more than five years out, but very few.<P>From my reading, which included the part of the vitalady.com website that discusses specific nutritional deficiencies we must always watch out for and take protein and vitamin supplements to avoid, I'm not aware of any information out there to suggest that the RNY (open or lap) is unhealthy long-term, UNLESS you blow off the need to take proper supplements and keep your lab results monitored for the rest of your life. It's not enough to get good lab results for the first year or two and think you've got your vitamin supplement routine all figured out. This surgery requires a lifetime of tracking your lab values and adjusting your supplements accordingly(which is how some longer-term post-ops learned the hard way that Tums and Viactiv are inadequate calcium supplements for them in the long run -- proudly announcing your good lab values at six months or a year out means diddly when it comes to actual calcium absorption in your bones). Problem also is, a lot of WLS surgeons don't track their patients for much longer than a year or so, so this leaves the supplement issue in the hands of patients who are told different things by different docs (hence the debate on what type of calcium to take). Unfortunately, we're really kind of "out to sea" here without adequate studies in the area of what vitamin supplements are best to take, and how much of a problem protein malabsorption really is for us. The important point is, though, that with proper supplementation, all those potential questions and problems CAN be addressed while you're still healthy, and you CAN keep yourself that way.<P>If you're rightly concerned about the long run, I'd focus my reading on the best ways to make up for the specific nutritional deficiencies that occur with WLS. And I *wouldn't* just take one doc's word, or one nutritionist's word, on what to take by way of supplements. Very few of them actually know, but they *all* think they do. I also wouldn't go by what any post-op less than two years out has to say, as some of these deficiencies take years to appear in lab work or overall health. You have to educate yourself about those issues and be vigilant in tracking your own health. Research the lab tests that you should be requesting (don't take your bariatric doc's word alone), and educate your primary care physicians over the course of your lifetime about what's needed (and to repeat, don't walk away from your bariatric surgeon after a year or two figuring you've got it all down).<P>I recommend you go to yahoo.com and search their OSSG groups (which are obesity surgery discussion groups), and join the protein group and the vitamins/supplements group. Those groups really opened my eyes to the long-term issues. You'll learn tons by lurking and reading there! :)
   — Suzy C.

November 15, 2002
A nurse at Presby is 20+ years ouit RNY. She had one of the first RNYs around here. She looks good, DEFINETELY not MO although a bit chunky. Her Labs are fine and she is happy. Lost 150 pounds. Although her desk sits directly across from th vending machines. She says they call to her o she carries her lunch and carries no money at work. I suggestewd they get some real long termers to speak at our support group meeting.
   — bob-haller

November 16, 2002
Here are some stats comparing RNY, VBG, and DS. http://gr-ds.com/Comparison_Table.htm The reasons I'm so in favor of DS is because of long-term maintenance and quality of life. I hope you will look into it! :)
   — Chris T.