Question:
Aynone happy with their RNY?
After the long journey of pre-testing I finaly got a fate...June 24th, Aetna US Healthcare denied me yesterday for the DS operation. Would like to hear from others who have had the RNY, complications after, weight loss etc. when people mention the distal RNY are they refering to the amount of intestine bypassed, can't realy find info on this. Not sure if I should appeal Aetna's decision and go for RNY. — jane O. (posted on May 21, 2003)
May 20, 2003
See my profile I am VERY HAPPY with my RNY. It saved both me and my wifes
lives.
— bob-haller
May 20, 2003
I think the majority of rny'ers are very happy. I know I am. I know we
hear of several of our AMOS brothers and sisters that have complications
but when you consider the percentage out of all of us that have had it
compared to all who are doing well it is small. There is tons of info
about this here at the site but it does take some time to manuver thru it.
Happy hunting!!!!! and Good luck on your journey.
— Delores S.
May 20, 2003
VERY HAPPY, NOTHING TASTES AS GOOD AS THIN FEELS.
— JODI B.
May 20, 2003
Thrilled! I'm 21 months post-op and would not change my decision in any
way.
— mom2jtx3
May 20, 2003
Very, very happy with my RNY, done laparoscopically on 10/29/03. No
complications, no problems. Best thing I've ever done for myself. The
only regret is that I didn't do it sooner!
— koogy
May 20, 2003
Hi there, I'm sorry to hear that things haven't gone along as you planned.
I don't know much about the DS but I have never done anything for myself as
wonderful as having the RNY. I had no complications at all. I have lost
94lbs to date since 07/31/02 I started as a "light" weight in
many peoples eyes. My profile is pretty detailed as to how my week by week
has gone. I want people to be able to get a complete picture of one
person's experience. I wish I could have found more complete profles when
I was researching, so I wanted to make the effort at the very least monthly
to update. Best of luck to you on whatever you choose. Bottom line. I
couldn't be happier. Penny Collins (20lbs to goal)
— pcollin4
May 20, 2003
I had my proximal RnY June 3 last year. I'm not quite a year out, and am
down 154.5 pounds. I have no qualms, no regrets and every day has affirmed
THIS surgery was the BEST surgery for ME. Good luck to you! Whatever
surgery you choose, and/or decide to go with - remember it's a tool as
effective as you make it (usually!).
— Mendi M.
May 20, 2003
Jane, *LORL, LORL, LORL (means "laugh out REAL LOUD*) ...and you ask
if I'm happy with the RNY? Well, I must ditto my brother and sister, Bob
and Lisa and other posties...I am ECSTATICALLY HAPPRY with MY RNY!! Can't
you tell by reading my profile? You're welcome to read my profile. *G*
Considering all I've been through, it saved my life as well and relieved me
of soo many life-threatening medical conditions. If I think about it too
long, I'll burst out in tears...really. I'll begin to start thinking about
those that are still suffering now and even those who are pre-op and having
troubles with their insurance companies and are in agonizing pain...I hurt
for them and pray for them. I'd do this again and again in a heartbeat!!
The *minor* complication I had was NOT because of the surgery or
surgeon(s)...it was the result of a certain anesthesiologist. I'm 8.5
months out and have lost ~105 lbs. Playing tennis (amateur), aerobics 3
times/week, brisk walk on my job, and try to be a good example everywhere I
go. I'm also fanatical when it comes to THIS website!! I live and breathe
AMOS LOL! The distal does mean that about 150cm or more of the intestines
are bypassed. I had a proximal because I was/am what the AMOS community
calls a *lighweight*. 5' 2" tall. To go for the RNY is a personal
decision though. Everyone's body and/or weight loss is different, but
overall we have basically made or own decisions based on research and our
individual "quirks" meaning how the discipline might help us.
Some gain, some lose-the bottom line is making sure you get with a
reputable, qualified and board certified in bariatric surgery. Of
particular importance, IMHO, would be to make sure the surgeon has an
aftercare program and/or support group. Hope this helps and best wishes on
your journey! LAP RNY 9/3/02 265/160/115-126 and counting...Hadiyah
McCutcheon, a.k.a.~
— yourdivaness
May 20, 2003
I had approximately the same BMI as you do now when I began my search for
surgery: 45.8. Over the past 8 months I have lost 106 pounds with my
proximal LAP RNY. I have not regretted the decision. I have few, if any
problems, I do dump, although it took seven months and a slice of lemon
meringue pie to find this out. I have excellent food tolerances. I was
afraid that since it was a malabsorbtive procedure that I would have
chronic diarrhea. I do not. In fact, I am faced more with constipation
and must monitor my fiber and water intake. I am well on my way to my goal
and hope to see you achieve yours as well. Even those where I work who
were distal have no complaints with their decision. If you do decide that
this is the path for you, I do not think you will regret it. God speed.
— Rhonda V.
May 21, 2003
— Jazzy
May 21, 2003
Jane,
I'm so happy having done it, I had the open RYN, and it's been a complete
life change. I haven't had any complications, other then at the 8 month
post op month I need to have my gall bladder removed. Other then that, It's
awesome, I'm healthy ! Gosh it's taken a year to say that, and I love and
feel good about myself.
So I'm TOTALLY happy with MY RYN !!
Post op 12 months down 131 pounds
— tannedtigress
May 21, 2003
Words can't even begin to tell you how happy I am! I have never felt so
alive! I did not have any medical problems, just a few mental trying to
adjust, but it passed. I had open RNY 8mo post-op and have lost 120#, only
13# left until goal! Good luck to you :o)
— Sandy M.
May 21, 2003
I too wanted the DS but was approved for the RNY and I must say, I truly
can't imagine being any happier with it than I am my RNY. I've lost 150+
pounds in 10 months and my life has changed so much! I am considered a
medial/distal bypass (150 cm). Good luck to you!
— [Deactivated Member]
May 21, 2003
Jane, I had my RNY August 1, 2002. I am almost 10 months out and have lost
141 lbs! I had lost 100 pounds at 6 months out. I had Aetuna US
Healthcare and it took about 3 weeks to get approved. Honestly, I have had
NO complications whatsoever. I would DEFINITELY appeal and go for the RNY.
It is the "Gold Standard" of bariatric surgeries. I hope this
helps, darlin.
— Egyptianeyesdiva
May 21, 2003
Am I happy with my RNY.... hmmm I am 'happy' that I had WLS. If I could go
back and do it all over again; I certainly would FIGHT for the DS over the
RNY. You can 'skip' the level one appeal and go directly to the LEvel
two; what do you have to loose except 30/60 days? Other carriers' such as
BCBS that use 'not' to approve the DS are starting too... So I would say at
least APPEAL for the DS since this is the surgery you originally wanted;
and it doesnt cost you anything to appeal.. Why would I do it over? Over
all I have had NO complications... surgey went well, I have lost over 148
pounds. MY PROBLEM is that I have a non-functional pouch. One cause of
this (and IT IS RARE but does happen and if YOUR the one it happens tooo
you are in for a bumpy ride) THe opening the surgeon makes to make yuor
RNY normally shrinks; some times too much, this is where you get people who
have strictures; on the other hand of the coin; for the few that dont
strink; you have a non functional pouch; have no food limiations. This
does make your WL journey harder. With choosing the DS.. this problem is
elimated 100% because your valuve is your original one. Granted both
surgery have pros/cons. You had decided the DS was for you.. So appeal...
IF you loose on appeal or go for the RNY IT IS NOT a second best surgery.
It is a good surgery, and for most successful. But like any
risks/complications... you hope they dont happen to you but if they do..
you are the one that has to live with them.
— star .
May 21, 2003
Oh Yes, I am so happy and THANKFUL for my RNY. I am 1 year out and down
140 pounds. No complications !!! Some surgeons have a different option
about what makes you distal. I am bypassed 150 cm. My surgeon calls that
Medical. I have a chart that shows the differences. I will email it to
you.
— Sharon H.
May 21, 2003
Absolutly happy with my RNY. No complications and I have lost 227
pounds,17 months post-op. The only thing I regret is that I did not
research enough. I didn't know about distal and proxminal when I had my
consultation. I just found out that my surgeon does only proxminal (120cc
bypassed) at my weight of 472 pounds I would have requested 150 or 175
bypassed.
— bbjnay
May 21, 2003
I am happy and blessed. Open distal RNY, -164, 3 lbs. to goal, surgery
date 02/23/02
— Oldsoul
May 21, 2003
Hi Jane! Yes, I'm happy with my RNY. I see you have a 46 BMI; mine was 42
when I was approved for the RNY (open), and I am about a year out now, at
goal for almost three months already (total weight loss: 128 lbs., current
BMI: 22).<P>I don't know why you wanted to do the DS over the RNY.
If it was fear of weight re-gain being more of a problem with the RNY, I
hear ya. I have the impression -- just an impression -- that re-gain may
be more of a problem, long-term, with the RNY than with the DS in many
cases (yes, I know it's individual, though!). On the other hand, you've
got more malabsorption with the DS (though I'm sure DSers would hasten to
add they can supplement just fine for that, thanks!). I think that for
most of us, re-learning our eating and exercise habits, and sticking with
them, is a big MUST for the RNY to succeed in the long term, or there is a
danger of at least partial weight re-gain. It's worth thinking long and
hard about, in terms of your decision whether to appeal (and what to do,
ultimately). I felt I could make those habit changes successfully if I
just had some serious backup, which -- so far -- I find the pouch has given
me. But, pre-op, I was a binger, not a grazer, so the limited pouch
capacity was a real good solution for that. To the extent I'm tempted to
graze now, especially on sweets (and, I don't "dump", so that's a
problem), I find I have to work at this surgery a bit now, on that old
"head hunger" thing. But, so far, it's not too hard, and I
darned well know what I need to do to stay at goal. It's hard to predict
where you'll be as a post-op, but my personal theory is, if you had success
for any extended period of time with diets in the past (but just couldn't
make those darned lifestyle changes), you can succeed with the RNY if you
work at identifying what you'll change *this* time, because you'll have
some serious backup in the pouch (and malabsorption). If you don't have
much faith you can really make those lifestyle changes as dramatically as
you need to, maybe the DS is the better route to go in the long run. Just
a vague impression here, and no disrespect intended to anyone's particular
surgery choice or experience. :-)
— Suzy C.
May 21, 2003
Jane,
I am estatic with the resutls of my Open RNY. I will be 18 months post-op
in a week and it has been the most incredible 18 months of my life. I
started at 346 pounds and I now weigh 165. I lost 12o of those 181 pounds
in 6 months. I had my tummy tuck in February and I'm looking forward to
trying to convince my insurance that it's medically necessary to fix my
thighs. Life is grand. The pain wasn't bad after the RNY - in fact, to
me, the tummy tuck was worse. And as far as eating is concerned, I eat
almost anything I want. The key word is want - I don't eat or want bread,
pasta, rice, sweets and chips. I drank 40 - 60 ounces of Classic Coke a
day before surgery and now there is no way I would even sip one - they just
don't appeal to me. Distal refers to the amount of small intestine
bypassed - my doctor bypasses 150 cm which he considers a short dista. It
has worked great for me. I wanted the RNY and if I had it to do over
again, this is definitely the route I would take. Good luck with your
decision and your surgery.
— Patty_Butler
May 21, 2003
I are deliriously happy with my proximal lap RNY. You can see from my
profile that I started out as a "lightweight" with a BMI of about
42. Now I am at goal and thrilled. I have no problems of any sort with
the WLS I chose.
— Kathy J.
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