Question:
Has anyone loss over 300 lbs from WLS?
I am 24 years old and weight 468 with a BMI of 72.2. According to the charts I need to lose 315 lbs to reach my goal weight. I will be having DS in a couple months and was wondering if it can be done. — Jenna M. (posted on June 4, 2002)
June 4, 2002
I've heard that the DS patients have a less likely chance to lose that much
weight than the RNY patients... Hope this helps somewhat...
— Heather H.
June 4, 2002
Click on "Find Peers" and check out my cousin-in-law's info. He
weighed a little more than you when he had his surgery, August 2000. In
March of this year he had a panniculectomy and body lift. Today he weighs
a little over 180. His name is Tony Rushing. He is my inspiration and
will talk to anybody about his weight loss. He is truly a wonderful
person.
— Chris S.
June 4, 2002
I had to clear something up even though I personally never taught the
virtues of the BPD/DS. I've had many a problem with mine. I do have to
correct a previous answer to this question though. The BPD/DS has as good
a weight loss record, if not better, than the RNY. I have no idea where
the previous poster got her info but it's wrong. Most of us have lost
close to 100% of our weight and some, like me, have lost even more than we
wanted to. Again, as you all know, I am not extolling it's virtues but
just trying to clear up wrong information.
— Barbara H.
June 4, 2002
Jenna, the DS is your BEST chance to lose that much weight without the risk
of staple line disruption, strictures, leakages and constant dietary
vigilence after surgery. I started at 494 and am down to 270, having a
bowl of frozen yogurt or ice cream everyday if I so choose. The next 60
pounds I have to lose is coming directly from excess skin on my legs and
arms, which a plastic surgeon is removing and the final 14 will be mine
when I am better able to exercise. (This hanging skin on my legs makes it
difficult to do anything aerobic except bike.) You will do just fine.
Remember the RNY gives you a 'pouch', the DS gives you a smaller, fully
functioning stomach. The RNY has two set options, distal and proximal,
which leaves little to the surgeon's discretion as to how much common
channel to leave. The DS is individualized to you, your weight, your
genetics, etc., and will give you a percentage of common channel, based on
the entire length of your intestine. That is why the DS takes so much
longer to do. People may claim that the RNY is the 'gold standard', and it
is superior to procedures that just affect the stomach like VGB. But the
DS is the superior procedure for giving you lasting results without the
need for a 'diet' mentality afterwards. Good Luck to you!
— merri B.
June 4, 2002
I cannot speak for those patients who have had DS. I had open RNY in Feb.
2001 and started at a top weight of 670 lbs. the day before surgery with a
BMI of 71.0%. As of 05/31/02, I have lost a total of 407 lbs. and I am now
at about a 27% BMI with only 18 lbs to reach my doctor's goal weight for me
(I am 6' 10" tall - that is why my goal weight is 245 lbs.) I have
not had any skin removal surgeries - although I would like to. I assume
once these were done, I would probably be below goal right now. In short,
to answer your question, yes you can lose over 300 lbs. or even over 400
lbs. with WLS. I wish you the best of luck.
— Juan C.
June 4, 2002
Hi! I had an open DS and have lost 100 lbs. in 5 1/2 months. A girl who
had her surgery with the same surgeon has lost over 300 lbs. in eighteen
months. She recently had a tummy tuck and lost another 30+ with that. So,
yes, it is very possible. You are going for the very best!
— grammie5
June 5, 2002
Hi. I hate to even say anything as I don't want to add to controversy and
I know you already chose the DS. But for others who may read this
question, I want to clear up the bad rep DS'ers give to the RNY. First, as
to your question, I had the RNY almost a year ago now and am down 190
pounds. And I KNOW that I can lose the rest (to almost 300 down) in the
next year. I've learned what I can do to lose and what I can do to stop
loss. But unlike the earlier poster said, I don't have the least bit of
"dieter's mentality." And I'd like anyone to tell me how my
stomach is less "fully functioning" than anyone elses! I pretty
much eat like a "normal person". After the first 8 months or so
it's no longer teeny tiny portions. I can eat two pieces of thin pizza. I
can eat a hot dog and fries. I just don't choose to do so very often. AND
I can also eat a bowl of ice cream everyday. In fact, I went through a two
week period of ice cream addiction in which I did just that. Believe it or
not, but the ice cream shop is on the way home from the gym and I'd stop
every night after working out. Go figure!! Hehe. So..I'm saying that I
think each type of operation can get you where your going, and each has
drawbacks. My choice worked for me, because I just can't stand taking
vitamins and often forget to do so. I know that I have a little bit more
leeway that way since I just had a medial RNY. So...good luck to you with
what you choose. You can do it!
— Tracy L.
June 5, 2002
Let's add more controversy--heeheehee! I had my medial RNY 6 weeks ago. I
do not have a 'dieter's mentality' at all! I eat healthy, high protein
foods at this stage and don't feel deprived at all! I will admit, I know
NOTHING about DS/BPD as my insurance doesn't cover the procedure. There
are many, many people that have lost a lot of weight from both surgeries--I
really don't think one is better than the other. Check out Big Pete's
page, Baron's page and you may also want to check out WLS400plus@yahoo
groups.com--everyone there either weighed over 400lbs or had a high BMI
over 60.0. PS--don't pay attention to the charts, I'm supposed to weigh
113 lbs according to one chart and that won't ever happen! Good Luck!
— jenn2002
June 5, 2002
Tracy, by 'fully functioning' stomach, I mean that with the DS, the pyloric
valve that release food from the stomach into the small intestine is kept
intact, whereas in the RNY, it is completely voided from the digestive
process. This is what allows the 'dumping' process that RNY bariatric
surgeons claim is a 'tool' to help people stop eating sweets. By 'diet
mentality', I am refering to the constant barage of posts about sugar free
products, artificial sweetner use, limiting carbohydrates and other
components that I think of as 'dieting'. Not every RNY-er 'dumps' but, you
will NEVER see a 'dumping' issue for someone with a DS, whereas you do see
them with the RNY.
— merri B.
June 5, 2002
All this drama about which is best but no one is discussing the nutritional
ramifications of either surgery. We discuss diet mentality, dumping, and
losing all the weight but how many DSers are getting enough nutrition,
B-12, iron, calcium? There are a lot of the rumors that need to be
addressed.
— Jeannet
June 5, 2002
look at this profile...this lady is
amazing..http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/profile.phtml?N=Williams960055966
— cherokey55
June 5, 2002
Jeane T. You're right although, I did say that I don't advocate the BPD/DS
at all and thought, if someone wanted, they could look up my profile. I
don't know about the problems with the RNY but I do know of many BPD/DSers
who have severe iron problems due to anemia. I also have a few other
vitamin problems as well. Thanks for asking about it and if anyone needs to
know anything further, they can visit my profile, then visit Merri's. They
are a huge contrast and it can give both sides.
— Barbara H.
June 5, 2002
Let me clear up the rumors about nutrition and vitamins for DS-ers. The
malabsorption portion of both RNY and DS procedure operates in the same
way: small intestine is bypassed causing fewer nutrients to be absorbed.
The length of small intestine available for absorption (and production of
certain vitamins) is what determines the amount of vitamin supplements one
might need to take. ALL of us need at least a multi-vitamin, and most of
us should be taking additional calcium, Vitamin D and Vitamin A. The
dosage will vary, again, depending on the length of intestine and our
personal body chemistry. The two major causes of vitamin deficiency is
people not being compliant with taking the nutritional supplements
recommended by their doctor and doctors who are ignorant of the nutritional
requirements of the people they have just done surgery on. There are a
many surgeons who just do the surgery and prescribe the same protocol
someone told them about 7 years ago and they haven't read a medical journal
article since. The specialty of bariatric surgery is a surgeon who can
also intelligently manage the aftercare, which should include vigilent and
periodic blood and urine chemistry studies to determine how our individual
bodies are handling the restriction of absorption. I am two years post op
and am within normal limits on my chemistry evaluations. On a couple of
occasions, however, the doctor has recommended that I boost my Vitamin D or
Calcium and I have been religious in doing so. We cannot expect to go
against nature by messing with the system that has us absorb nutrition and
then expect to walk away without having to do something to compensate for
the loss. People who do pay a terrible price. But the procedures
themselves are not the issue. There are some people with the DS who have
the same amount of bypassed intestine as the proximal RNY-er and some, like
myself, who had 91% of my small intestine bypassed. Education about the
nutritional supplement requirements and patient compliance are the deciding
factors. By the way, I am a little anemic right now, but only because I
lost 4 units of blood during the panniculectomy and mastopexy. I got two
units of blood and am currently taking iron supplements and my hemoglobin
is rising weekly. But I just had my other chemistry done and every thing
was A-OK and I feel GREAT!!!
— merri B.
June 7, 2002
My insurance company paid for the RNY for me without a hassle. My
insurance company will not pay for the BD/DS. I know that because I
obtained a copy of their Medical Policy Regarding Bariatric Surgery when I
was investigating options. The policy states that the risk of death down
the road from liver failure is too high resulting from the BD/DS, so
therefore the company will not cover it. The same medical policy states
the conditions under which the RNY is covered. In retrospect, even though
I began at a high weight, I'm glad that I had the RNY procedure. Of
course, your mileage may vary. All the best to you on your journey.
— CaseyinLA
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