Question:
Anyone had Gastic Bypass reversed?

What happens if you loss too much weight? Is there ever a time you stop taking vitamins--after gaining some weight?    — Toby2 (posted on June 2, 2008)

June 2, 2008
I know they will tell you that gastric bypass can be reversed...but truly you do not want to go in thinking that way. First of all....who would want to go back in for major surgery to get it reversed? I certainly think it was a big enough decision to have this surgery in the first place! Also, I think it's a rarity for people to continue losing....some people have it in their heads that they'll wittle away to nothing...but that's not going to happen if you're steadily increasing your amounts per your surgeon's orders. Eventually you'll stable off and have to maintain by continuing to eat healthy high protein meals. You also need to keep an eye on your portions. This is a tool that can give you a lifetime of advantages....if treated with respect. Don't go in thinking it's a quick fix and that it will be the end of watching what you eat.....and don't go in thinking that you'll eventually stop taking the vitamins and supplements.....those are a lifetime thing..... and it's very important to do so. Not taking them because they seem inconvenient will only land you in trouble.....anemia, and a multitude of other issues. Do as you're told by your surgeon's office.....and heed the advice you get from your fellow OH supporters.....because they do know what they're talking about! Hugs....and best wishes....and keep asking questions....everyone is willing to help support you in this life changing decision! Cheryl
   — Cheryl K.

June 2, 2008
I know a person that got it reversed! just this past march. She has used her addiction to food on addiction to drugs and got down to a deathly low weight and her surgeon (who was also mine) told her only thing he could do is reverse it. but my surgeon said he has only done 5 out of over 5000 in the practice and all were cause of drugs
   — jaytown1234

June 2, 2008
It's a permanent surgery. Reversing it would probably be far worse and so costly than just leaving it alone and learning to live with it. I hear about some of the lighter weights (those starting wls barely 100 lbs overweight) and getting down to just nearly 100 lbs and worrying that it's too much. Most of us don't have that trouble and struggle to lose the last 10-20. But for the most part, your body slows the lost down and while it's rare that some people do go too low in weight...It does happen...As far as vitamins...PLEASE do not stop taking your vitamins ever!!! Unless carefully monitored by a doctor with complete labs. Malabsorption is REAL!!!! You can gain weight and still be malnurished from lack of vitamin absorption. I KNOW this first hand and intimately. You will never malabsorb calories or sugar...but your will always malabsorb vitamins and fats...Some of us worse than others... You will always have to take vitamins and supplements.
   — .Anita R.

June 2, 2008
You NEVER stop taking the vitamins! They are NOT to help you lose weight but to keep you HEALTHY! The reason you TAKE the vitamins after SOME weight loss procedures (like the gastric bypass and the duodenal switch) is because your intestinal tract has been SHORTENED and you CANNOT absorb enough of the vitamins form your FOOD. If you STOP taking the vitamins then you risk becoming MALNOURISHED which may even cause you to lose even MORE weight or even if you GAIN weight may make you ILL. DO NOT STOP TAKING THE VITAMINS, Please. I cannot say this in any way more strongly. They are for your HEALTH and NOT for weight loss! If you find that you have lost too much weight, then you need to do what some other folks have done and count yourself as BLESSED and eat some CANDY, CAKE and ICE CREAM. These are the things that got you INTO the mess that you are in right now. If you find that you need to gain some weight in the FUTURE, they can be your "Salvation." At NO time should you STOP taking your Vitamins. Please do not let the PANIC in this post put you off from following good advice. I have your best interest at heart here. I hope this helps, Hugh
   — hubarlow

June 2, 2008
If your dr is legit. He will not reverse the surgery unless it is a matter of life and death. If someone is doing drugs maybe they should seek a drug program first and get off the drugs and I bet they would start eating properly.
   — Joanc

June 2, 2008
I have not been able to understand where the dread of supplements comes from. I don't know about everyone else, but as a person who has tried to lose weight most of her life by means of a reduced calorie intake and knowintg that the only way that any weight loss is maintained is to continue the lower calorie intake, it makes sense that we need to supplement our nutrients, whether we have WLS or not. Even Weight Watchers and your nutritionist will tell you that if you must restrict yourself to 1200 - 1500 calories a day, there is no way you will be able to eat enough food to get all the vitamines and minerals that your body requires. With the decision to have RNY or some other WLS, which gives us a tool that makes it possible to live with a low calorie requirement without being so miserable all the time (ie never feeling full or saited, always feeling the need to eat) we add the additional components of replacing some of those unlimited amounts of vegetables that we were eating with the required protein servings and we have the malabsorption, so it makes sense that we should sort of double up on the supplements that we already needed in the first place. I too asked my surgeon about how does the body know when to stop and did I need to add anymore calories. Her answer was do not purposefully add calories and the body seems to have a built-in ability to keep us from starving, especially those of us who became morbidly obese and had so much trouble losing and maintaining weight in the first place. I am about 17 mos out with RNY and I reached what my body told me was goal around February and I have leveled off without having to add anything to my routine. I agree with Hugh; you must take the supplements forever, but you should anyway even if you don't do the surgery and even it you don't lose weight. Good luck in your quest for knowledge!
   — canim150