Question:
After 5 years 56% loss... 7 years 25% are morbidly obese again

Reading these numbers chill me, to go thru all this and end up fat again? These numbers come from books the 56% number from one of Dr Schauers patients wwho was published just recently, the 25% number from yesterday. Our bodies really insisit on being heavy, and thats sad... Are there any 10 year RNY bypass patients out there and how are you doing?    — bob-haller (posted on April 22, 2001)

April 22, 2001
This was one reason I chose a distal procedure with more malabsorption. The 10 and 20 year stats are great. You can read them on http://www.duodenalswitch.com ---->>
   — [Deactivated Member]

April 23, 2001
Bob, I selected my surgeon in large part based on his international recognition in the field of bariatric surgery, primarily laparascopic RNY. I contacted him regarding the statistics quoted in your post, and this was his reply: "...those statistics are totally false and they did not come from Dr. Schauer, as I know him personally. Our patients are maintaining 78% weight loss at 5 years and the same is true for (Drs.) Wittgrove and Clark at 7 years. Only around 10% regain some weight after 2-5 years." I hope that this will help to relieve some of your anxiety. :-)
   — Diana T.

April 23, 2001
The book I got the 56% loss is on loan but will be back this week. I will confirm this number and reference the author and page number. Dr Schauer introduced the author who is one of his patients at the last support group meeting. The 25% obese I am trying to remember where I saw that and will post it if I locate it.
   — bob-haller

April 24, 2001
A couple months ago I posted a question about the statistic I was given that 40% or rny patients regain "every pound". I got this statistic from the lady who did the psych. evaluation. I challenged it because it sounded so wrong. She insisted that was for the operation I was looking at, the rny. I was disturbed more about the inconsistency than the number itself and immediately emailed my surgeon. He eventually wrote me back and said that that was definitely an innaccurate statistic. He said he thinks she uses it during the psych. eval. for "shock value". Well, I was shocked, but mostly at the deliberate mis-information. This person is supposed to be an informed expert, and yet she's throwing bad numbers around. My only advice is try to find the source of the research before you trust any statistic you hear about WLS, even from your "team".
   — kcanges

June 7, 2001
Dear Bob, I had RNY 11 years ago. I was age 34 and I weighed in at 320 lbs. I had text book perfect surgery, so I was told, and very few problems during recovery. I lost weight rapidly and steadily, 100 lbs the first year. The second year following surgery I weighed 175 lbs. I continued to maintain that weight for two years and by the end of the fourth year following surgery I weighed 165 lbs. I remained at 165 for several months. I dropped to 160 lbs for a summer the year after that, but truly felt better and looked better at around 170 lbs. I weighed between 170 and 175 lbs the next 7 or 8 years. In 1999 I gained 10 lbs by the end of the year. In 2000 I weighed 185. I weighed in at the doctors office today at 195 lbs. This is the most I have weighed since a year and a half after the surgery, it is time to take it off. The weight I have gained in the last three years has come on very gradually. (8-10lbs a year) I have not changed my eating habits so that I have noticed, but my age and lack of exercise is probably the major cause of my weight gain. I am going to get back to basics, drink more water, increase my physical activity and follow the directions I was given following surgery. I think it really is true it gets harder to take pounds off the older I get. I certainly do not want to gain anymore, and I feel my best when I am 20 pounds lighter. I try not to be too hard on myself for letting some of the weight creep back on. I think most people in their mid-forties, even those who have never been obese find extra pounds creeping on at the end of a year. I know how far I have come. My health has greatly improved and I have had many positive changes in my life since my surgery. My surgery was and is a success. I was obese since childhood and without the surgery I think I would still weigh 300 lbs. The surgery enabled me to loose the weight and it gives me the power to maintain my weight, but it is still my choice. I can overeat,I can eat the wrong foods, I can go back to old habits and I can gain more weight. I am not sure I would ever weigh three hundred pounds again, but it might be possible. Overeating is uncomfortable imediately afterward, and the extra pounds are uncomfortable. Food is not as important to me as it once was, feeling good and being healthy has become a priority. I do not want to go back to where I was. The surgery made it possible for me to loose the weight, but the decission to keep it off is mine to make everyday.
   — Rose H.

July 9, 2001
Those stats are chilling indeed. And also quite true. After while some of us forget the basics and go back to our old eating habits. I did. And I gained 20 pounds. That scared the heck out of me and I started eating right and joined a gym! No way am I goint to let myself regain all that weight! I went through too much and I feel too good to become a victim of sel-sabotage. I'm happy to say that my efforts are paying off...and quickly....I've lost 10lbs. and I have every confidence that I can lose another 30lbs. and reach my goal weight.
   — [Anonymous]

July 15, 2002
I asked my doctor about those RNY stats and he said they were wrong. I guess different doctors have different opinions. I trust my surgeon and can't imagine putting enough in my pouch to gain back that much weight. Time will tell. Good luck.
   — Thomas M.