Question:
Does this surgery really cause obnoxious body odor, gas and diarreah?
I was told that this surgery would cause really obnoxious body odor, gas and diarrhea. Was also told that this could keep a lot of people away from me because of this. — Denise M. (posted on November 25, 2001)
November 25, 2001
for the RNY I may have a bit more gas than pre op but its a small
difference and not a problem. The DS duodneal switch can cause some of
these problems with diarrea and gas. I havent heard anyone getting
offensive body odors. Now some of the old surgeries that are not done
anymore had these problems but they were discontinued foor safety and
effectivness reasons. The current RNY is safe and effective. Read my
profile for details of my new life.
— bob-haller
November 25, 2001
I don't think my gas is any worse than it was pre-op. As for diahrea,
well, that hasn't been a problem, rather the opposite seems to be the case.
I've been constipated once or twice, but haven't had a problem the other
way at all.
— Dee P.
November 25, 2001
I am one week post op and would like to say YES DAMN IT!!! But I've been
told that a lot of this has to do with the anesthesia and pain killers. I
pray this changes soon! Good Luck! :-)
— [Anonymous]
November 25, 2001
It all depends on what you eat, I am 6 weeks post-op and rarely have had
any gas at all. So my answer is "no way"!
— [Anonymous]
November 25, 2001
I had open RNY and I have not had any offensive body odor. I have not had
anymore gas post-op then I did pre-op and I have occasionally had loose
stools, dut I wouldn't characterize them as diahria. I have also been
constipated a couple of times. And, I do burp or have little bubbles come
up from my tummy now and again. I think it all is connected to what you
eat, how fast you eat it and how much you eat. I like refried beans, but
beans have always given me gas, so I don't eat a lot of them. Apple juice
will create gas and loose stools for me. You just have to experiment with
foods and find out how your body responds to them. If you don't like the
results, don't eat those foods again or wait a few weeks and try them
again.
— Susan M.
November 25, 2001
If you have a very distal procedure, the odor from gas or your bathroom
will be much worse. That's true. However, if you avoid a few things, that
improves. As for some body odor that "oozes" out of us or
something? I've met ONE person who had such an odor, and hideous breath,
even many years post-op. However, she keeps herself in a perpetual state
of malnourishment, eats butter by the stick (& I'm not against
reasonable use of fats!), and eats whipping cream by the bowl. She has a
very foul odor, even though I know she is clean. But as to just HAVING an
odor? No.
— vitalady
November 25, 2001
A lot of my jealous friends said these things would happen to me if I went
through with the surgery. The reality? Yes, my bowel movements smell
different (not more unpleasant; just different). Gas is actually much less
as compared with post-op when I was constantly pigging out. And diarrhea?
Don't get it at all unless I eat the wrong things like sugar. The
"foul smells" are actually only bad for about 2-3 months after
your surgery, since your body is trying to adjust to what has been done to
it. I have NEVER had anyone else comment on me smelling bad or anything
and now, 9 months out, I smell almost the exact same as pre-surgery. Hope
the info. helps.
— [Anonymous]
November 25, 2001
I had a lap DS ten months ago and, since it is a distal procedure (as is a
distal RNY), the bm's are smellier for the most part and I can have smelly
gas at times (it is NOT a regular occurance and I haven't had to take any
products to help reduce this, etc.). I do not get diahhrea --- My bowels
were 'loose' in the first weeks post-op and every now and then they will
become loose (not diahhrea but not as solid as usual), perhaps due to what
I eat and/or high stress. As far as body odor goes, I have NONE -- just as
pre-op (unless I don't shower for weeks on end LOL). I haven't experienced
any foul odors other than ocassional gas/flatulence and don't have bad
breath, etc. due to the surgery. My bms are usually regular and I have 1-2
in the morning upon waking -- that's it! :) If I'm really stressed out (I
have IBS/spastic colon), I could have one in the afternoon or evening but,
once again, this is not common. So, from my experience -- the bathroom
odor is more powerful, sometimes it *can* linger a little longer (to the
point where an air freshener is needed but this isn't always the case);
Ocassional gas/flatulence *can* be pretty powerful (especially if one was
NOT a farter pre-op -- I never was) but there are products that can help
reduce this effect (charcol, devrom, flagyl, etc.). That's about it!
Everyone's experience may not be the same but I have not had obnoxious
odors post-op and would make the decision to have this surgery again in a
heartbeat! All the best, (lap DS with gallbladder removal, January 25,
2001/Dr. Gagner/Mt. Sinai/NYC/preop: 307 lbs/bmi45; NOW: 201 lbs/size
sweet 16
— Teresa N.
November 25, 2001
According to the way my surgeon explained it, it depends on which procedure
you are having. If you are having the Duodenal Switch, then yes, you will
have more odors. I just had the Proximal RNY, and do not have any abnormal
odors. Hope this helps!
— Wendy H.
November 25, 2001
I had an rny three years ago and I've never had any body odor
problems. But, when I over eat carbs, I do have a problem with gas,
diarrhea and foul smelling feces. The problem is directly related to
carb sonsumption. The more carbs...the bigger the problem. A while back,
I experimented and ate no carbs for three days...and....I had absolutely,
none of the problems! Yet, another reason for me to strictly limit those
carbs........
— [Anonymous]
November 26, 2001
I am 7 weeks post op and eat almost what ever I want, except sweets, and
have had none of the problems you ask about.
— Donna P.
November 26, 2001
At two years postop Duodenal Switch, the answer is no for me. I go to
regular group meetings with DS patients and have never noticed an odor
problem ever. The best thing to do is to go to some group meeting, see and
ask for yourself. Don't listen to what people or surgeons *say* is true.
Go to the source. Meet the people yourself.<br>Thousands of people
have weight loss surgery. If this were true, there would be an aweful lot
of people staying in their homes, away from people. When in fact, the
exact opposite is true. After surgery, people are far more active and are
out doing more than ever before.<br>Dont get me wrong, things ARE
different after surgery. You can't change your digestive system and expect
things to be the same, but odor, gas & diahrrea are not keeping people
from their daily functions. There are exceptions to every rule, but for
the majority, this problem is nonexistant. (http://www.mywls.com)
— [Deactivated Member]
November 26, 2001
Well, I totally disagree with WENDY below!!!!! The DS doesn't
automatically make you smell. I agree with other posts here it depends on
what your body does and somewhat what you eat. I only Smell when I eat too
many carbs and Beans. I never had BO and I only smell when in the
bathroom. I had The Ds and from what I learned from my surgon and my
research is that the RNY and THe DS are very simular in the intestine part
of the surgery. (That's the only place they are simular) I have never had
direhia only soft stools even when comsuming a lot of fat. Good luck and
Don't let the RNY'ers here fool you or scare you into thinking the DS is
not a good surgery, it is!!!! Do the research for yourself. What ever you
choose will be right for you.
— [Anonymous]
November 26, 2001
I'm lactose intolerant. If I eat any milk products I don't even want to be
around me. Easy solution, I stay away from milk products or use lactose
free products. I think you just find out what foods do what to you, whether
positive or negative and then go from there. Your digestive system is
totally changed and you have to relearn what works for you.
— Helen B.
November 26, 2001
Sugar gives me gas. I have had no problem with unpleasant odors. I do
know of one man at work who does have a very bad odor problem. He farts
openly in meetings (I can't believe I am tellin you this...he really is
disgusting) and then blames it on his weight loss surgery. This was
another reason I didn't tell any of my coworkers about my own surgery.
Anyway...I believe it is really his food choices that cause his gas. He
eats donuts in the morning, burgers and fries for lunch. I think he has a
death wish. All that gas must be terribly painful! If I eat anything with
sugar I get terrible cramps from the gas. I eat to avoid feeling bad, and
normally do not have any problems. I know I do not have any body odor.
— Anne G.
November 26, 2001
I had proximal RNY and find that I now have less gas than before. I don't
have diarrhea or body odor. You may notice, though, that when you change
your diet to include more protein your BMs smell different. If you have
been eating a lot of fruits and veggies before, it may smell worse to you.
I have read that meat causes different odors than fruits and veggies. Not
that ANY of it is REALLY pleasant! LOL
— ctyst
November 26, 2001
Wow, How Ironic this question would come up. I stay on the Atkins diet,
protein protein protein, and have done well and lost a lot of weight. But
last night I caved and ate a few cookies with my mom, felt ok last night.
Today was another story. I was shopping and all of a sudden I got this
rumble in my lower abdominals and knew that I as going to crap myself. I
ran to my van, drove home like a maniac, and despite not being just 1 foot
from the bathroom, I had an accident. lol, My point, I think it depends
on what you eat. Obviously sugar and I do not mix, it may be something
different for you post op. But as for odor. I have never smelled better.
I a 100 lbs ago, took 2 showers a day to avoid odors, and still had them.
Now with just 80lbs to go, I don't have odors, and my husband can attest to
that. People are always going to give you the negative, regardless of it's
factuality. Negative and misery love company.
— [Anonymous]
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