Question:
Has anyone had they're distal stomach removed with open RNY?

I have a condition called scleroderma, and because of that I have to have my distal stomach removed completely. Has anyone else? And does it effect my recovery time? It will be at the same time as my open RNY.    — Lisa B. (posted on September 29, 2001)

September 29, 2001
In this particular case, distal refers to the part of the stomach not used. Meaning distant from the stomach that is being used. Please give more details regarding your condition. Once the distal stomach is removed, how will the bypassed duodenum be re-attached? What about the digestive juices once the stomach is removed? I'm curious.
   — Kimberly L.

September 29, 2001
Hi, Barb! Yes, the DS involves a partial gastrectomy: the fundus, or storage area, of the stomach is permanantly removed, leaving the stomach a bannana shape. The lower antreum and pyloric valve are left intact, however and the stomach retains normal 'functionality' as pre-op, just significantly smaller. All the best, (laparoscopic BPD/DS with gallbladder removal, January 25, 2001),
   — Teresa N.

September 29, 2001
My distal stomach was removed (during revision) leaving me 1/2 oz pouch, so yep, resected. My choice, for a number of reasons. The stump of the jejunum is where it was, but not attached to anything. I have no gall bladder, either, so the pancreas has to do much of the work alone. Recovery was faster than with my original RNY, but then, I was in much better shape. Without ANY digestive juices or enzymes, and no intrinsic factor, the only thing I noticed was that my B12 fell more rapidly than it had in the 5.5 yrs my RNY was intact. I sorta expected it, so was watching and turned it around before it bottomed out. POst-op nutrition is an area of great interest to me, so I supplement around those elements that all RNY lose some, but I lost all. Very do-able. We supplement much like a person with stomach cancer, but they can afford to add wt, whereas we need to supplement in such a way that we promote wt loss.
   — vitalady