Question:
what happens to the unused portion of your stomach & intestines? do they become necro

w    — jeanne J. (posted on June 23, 2000)

June 23, 2000
In RNY procedures, the blood supply to the "unused" portion of the stomach and small intestine is uninterrupted, so they do not become necrotic. There are rare cases in which weight loss exceeds the expected amount and the patient's health begins to be compromised. In those cases, the RNY can be completely reversible because the still-functional stomach and small intestine are present.
   — Diana T.

June 24, 2000
In my case my stomach was transected so there is not going to be any chance of reversal. My Dr. said that it basically atrophies. It is like anything else that you don't use. It is there but it is not going to do anything, good or bad. It just hangs around...LOL. No biggie to me. I am feeling great and losing weight!
   — S S.

June 24, 2000
Was just quoting my Dr., a bariatric surgeon AND Chief of Staff at St. Luke's in Phoenix....That is what the man said. I think it is safe to assume he knows what he is talking about.
   — S S.

June 24, 2000
Hi! I asked my surgeon that very question and he said that in the RNY the lower portion of the stomach continues to produce digestive enzymes which drain into thelower end of the Y which drains into the reconnected small intestine and out they go. No big deal(according to him)!!!
   — Becky H.

June 24, 2000
I just wanted to add this additional comment. I had a lap RNY and the "unused portion" of my stomach was completely transected. My surgeon, who specializes in the laparascopic procedure, chooses this particular approach over simply stapling the area, and he states that there is absolutely no difference or problem involved in reversing the procedure whether the area is stapled or transected. Every surgeon's opinion and approach differs however...I wanted to clarify my previous response. Thanks.
   — Diana T.