Question:
Which WLS is considered the best and what is your diet like afterwards?

I am very scared to have a WLS, but I think I am more frightened of ending up like my mom. What WLS is considered the best, or is that a decision that is based on your specific body? Also, how much can you eat afterwards? What makes you lose all the weight?    — Vicki C. (posted on July 2, 1999)

July 2, 1999
There's as many different procedures as you have pounds to lose. My husband and I had the distal gastric bypass. It included a stapled stomach and a RNY type of bypass. The distal is the most radical of this type performed, I believe. We are fully supplemented, and our food has almost no value, except recreational. We are completely dependent upon our supplements for nutrition, which is a blessing and a curse. We eat anything we want, except milk and sugar, and stay at the bottom of our weight range. I'm nearing hte 5 year mark, he's nearly 4. It's like a dream come true to eat chips and have it cost me "nothing" in weight. The trade off is that we must be faithful to our nutrtition or we will become very, very ill and ultimately die. For me, it was well worth that risk as my days were severely numbered at the time. I've already lived 3 more years that I thought I would! I'm steady at 112 lbs or so, I've lived to see and celebrate my grandson's 1st birthday and I wouldn't trade it for anything. Pass me another glass of protein, would you?
   — vitalady

July 2, 1999
WLS is person-specific. Some people do better with one kind, other people respond to a different procedure. For me, RNY was best and I went for open vs. LAP because the waiting list for the laparoscopic surgery was too long. RNY combines the smaller stomach pouch (like the vertical banding VBG) with a bypass. This two step approach means that you a) take in less food (the pouch is about one ounce but for some reason you can eat about 4 ounces after a few months... that doesn't mean it stretches) and b) you absorb fewer calories. That second part means you absorb less nutrition so you have to be careful to eat a high protein diet and takevitamins after surgery or you risk malnutrition and anemia. There are variations on these procedures: silastic ring on your smaller stomach (food exits slower) and a duodenal switch (I have NO idea what that is) and the Fobi pouch (Dr. Fobi in California did Roseanne's surgery). You can look some of these things up on the web. I had surgery last december and so far have lost 127 pounds and feel terrific. I didn't find the surgery extremely painful (mostly uncomfortable) and recovery was just a few weeks. It's not the "easy way" to lose weight, but it DOES work. Good luck... have a consult with a physician who knows about this stuff. DON"T listen to horror stories about somebody's Aunt Edith who ate still her staples blew out or any other urban legend. Join the OSSG list at onelist.com and listen to those folks and the ones here o this good site. Susan [email protected]
   — Susan C.

July 2, 1999
Dear Vicky, Do you weigh over 100 lbs what you should? Have you done research into WLS? WLS is the last hope for the morbidly obese. There is no diet or exercise plan that will work for us. Do you fit this category? What has happen to your Mom? Only you can make this discision. Let us hear from you. The ammount of food depends on the wls you decide to get. Good luck to you Carol Taylor
   — Carol T.

July 5, 1999
Dear Vickey: Being scared is very normal. You need support at this time. Your first question is: What WLS is the best. I guess the answer would be different for many people. I have the Open RNY with a Silastic Ring. This surgery is wonderful because I never feel hungry. I had the surgery on April 24th, and I have lost 55 pounds now. I have not felt hungry at all. As far as my diet, this is also very different for everyone. Some doctors put their patients on special diets afterwards, and some do not. Some doctors want their patients to be on a diet, and some patients will not. (there is a difference here). As for me, I am on a ALL Protein Diet. My doctor has explained that as long as I have some form of sugar in my system, my weight loss would be slowed down. Since I want to lose the weight as fast as possible, I have cut out all forms of sugar, natural and statches and added of course. Since I am never hungry, the all protein diet is fine with me. I eat lots of meat, cheese, eggs. I will continue this diet until the doctor tells me to stop. It won't be forever, just until I lose the weight I want too. I am followed up very closely with the doctor, so he is keeping his eyes on me. If you have any other further questions, please feel free to write me. Paula in St.Pete [email protected]
   — Paula D.

July 16, 1999
Most people will tell you that the one they chose is the best. It really depends on your body, your eating pattern and your long term goals, age, medical condition. I had the VBG and chose this because it was less invasive with the same success rate. I believe that for my age (31) and my eating pattern (more of a bulk eater than a sweet eater) that it was the best for me. I don't have to deal with mal-nutrition, long term vitamins, dumping syndrome, and I have lost 150 pounds in 1 year. I am still continuing to lose. I hope this helps, however, you are the only one to make this decision and you should consult a Dr. to help you make it. One that does both WLS is preferrable. That way you know he is basing his opinion on what is truely best for you and not his bank account.
   — Donna D.