Question:
Has anyone heard of long term effects on the liver from the surgery?

I have seen alot of posts about enzyme numbers being off kilter, but what about 5-10-20 years after surgery? ARe there liver complications? I have 2 small kids, I want this surgery, but i want to be around for them more.    — 70down40togo (posted on January 6, 2005)

January 5, 2005
Well, I am speaking from the perspective of my husband. I have a lap band so my experience with this personally is none. As a bandster, I wouldn't have that issue. However, my husband who had an RNY 6 years ago has not had this problem. The problems that we see now are a stretched pouch and large opening. It has also been proven in research that many RNY patients begin to absorb again at the 3-5 year mark. However, this surgery is a tool. With lifestyle changes and better food choices, my husband has lost and kept off nearly 200 lbs. He looks and feels amazing. I have only been banded since 11/1/04 and I feel absolutely amazing and have lost 40 lbs. My weight loss is slower, but I experience less complications and the risk of 5-6 years down the line of having gained weight back. I must also add that if we had to do it all over again, we would still choose the RNY and the lap band for us. If you are MO and you want to be around for your children (we have 5) keep looking and researching the surgery. It is so worth it! But, you must choose what is best for you. Good Luck, Terri
   — Terri DesVignes-Henderson

January 5, 2005
Hi Pamela! You know - it really depends on which surgery you're pursuing (there are 6 types of WLS done), how compliant you are with post-op lifestyle requirements (diet, supplements, exercise), and that sort of thing. I can't speak to the RNY - I'm a BPD/DS post-op. It's very normal for DS post-ops who have wacky liver labs for up to 18 months post-op. Mine were slightly off kilter for about 12 months, and then leveled out to normal quite nicely. I had pretty significant fatty liver disease as a pre-op (pretty much anyone who is MO has some degree of it), and now none. I'm 2.5 years post-op. I've lost 210 lbs, and am healthy as can be. Your concerns about your children are valid, Pamela. We all have to go through the decision making process and how it will affect our loved ones. For me - I would be dead now if I hadn't had my DS - so yes, it was worth the risk for me to pursue my surgery. I travelled half way around the world - from Oregon to Spain - to have my surgery with one of the most gifted bariatric surgeons in the world. I really believe that if Dr. Baltasar hadn't been my surgeon I likely wouldn't have lived through surgery. I was one sick puppy. Anyway - it's a long story - if you want to read it - see my story over at www.duodenalswitch.com, then go to the Patients page, and look for my name - dina. Blessings, dina
   — Dina McBride

January 7, 2005
I have never heard of anyone developing liver disease post-op, however, I would think if they did it would either be due to vitamin/mineral deficiency or something hormonal going on. Pre-op, I was diagnosed with fatty liver disease. With that condition, if the patient doesn't lose weight, the condition of the liver can progress to cirrhosis and eventually to death, even if the person has never had a drop of alcohol to drink in their life. I had no testing done on me that would check for this condition. This was found by my PCP a few years before I had surgery due to him noticing that my liver was swollen. Many people who are morbidly obese can and will develop this condition, so is it possible that the person had a liver condition before surgery?
   — SnowWhiteDove459