Question:
Has anyone had this surgery longer than 5 or more years?

Any long term conditions develop after this time, due to vitamin, calcium deficiencies?    — Norma R. (posted on August 3, 2001)

August 2, 2001
I have an uncle who had his surgery 19 years ago...he hasn't had any significant problems in all that time. He developed a hernia a couple of times and had to have his gallbladder removed. He lost has his weight going from 550 to around 240. He says he's been in the 240-255 range for 17 years....he eats anything he wants, his pouch is just fine....he still can't eat large volumes of food. I also have a co-worker who had an open rny 10 years ago. She didn't lose a whole lot of weight, she went from 280 to 210, but she says that the weight loss improved her life and health considerably and she has had no significant problems in 10 years.
   — [Anonymous]

August 3, 2001
Yes, there are many of us 5+ yrs post-op. Good stories, mediocre stories, horror stories. I think ours are pretty good. 6 yrs, 7 yrs post op, I lost 150, marked at 109 lbs today. My husband lost 110, parks around 180 today. We are healthy EXCEPT for our bones. We were part of the "tums generation". Many of us will be advised to use tums or other "candy" type (carbonate) calciums which are not absorbable. Unfortuantely, my casual observation is that about 70% of us over 2 yrs out already have bone damage, EXCEPT those who took a LOT of calcium citrate. But I don't know any of them who are, say, 5 yrs out on citrate. So, yes, as Barb said, see how far out, what's the deal (and how well tested) and what program they followed. Some docs solve the deficiency issue by simply not ever testing those elements. We need THOROUGH testing quarterly for at least 2 yrs and 6 months for life, along with a dexa-scan 1 or 2 yrs out, then accordingly with the results.
   — vitalady

August 3, 2001
My mother is 8 years postop and looks soo good! She was 350 *i think* and now is a size 10/12 at 5'8". I hope great loss is hereditary! :)
   — jammie B.

August 4, 2001
All the people I know personaly who had the surgery 10 or more years ago (ball park figure) have ALL put most or all of the weight back on. That's one of the reasons I did'nt want to have the surgery if there was any other way to lose. I guess I'm still worried that this won't work for me, especially as I have'nt lost any weight in two weeks. :(
   — Danmark

August 4, 2001
This is how I see things. If I regain the weight down the road I can always have a revision. Of course this will hopefully never be a problem but if it is there is a solution. Besides my surgeon says that in 5 to 10 years there will be a drug out for weight thats safe and effective, so I can take it and add to the drug companies profits. I needed a solution today, and thats why I selected surgery. Down about 23 pounds in 2 weeks:)YEA!
   — bob-haller