Question:
Where can I find Long Term Post Ops?

I have been seriously considering WLS for myself, but one of the things that concerns me is that I just can't seem to find a whole lot of information on Long Term, people 5 -10 - even 15 years out. I know that these types of surgeries have been changing and progressing over the years, but I would really be interested in finding out some of the issues and concerns that have occurred with people further out than one or two years. Thanks --    — Karey H. (posted on August 20, 2002)

August 20, 2002
Unfortunately, the RNY operation (as we know it) has only been being performed for the last few years. That's why it's hard to find long-term post-ops. Most of the WLS folks that are long-termers had the JIB operation, which had an entirely different set of concerns than the RNY. The JIB was a much more dramatic operation with a greater chance of malabsorption, diarrhea, complications, etc. I guess we really are the "guinea pigs" in the WLS world. It's difficult to know what kinds of complications we will have 10-15 years down the road, but I am hopeful that they are less serious than living an obese life would have been.
   — Terissa R.

August 20, 2002
I am a 3 year post RNY. I have had absolutely no complications. Never threw up one time...never sick...lab reports are awesome. I lost 161 lbs in exactly 12 months. Went from a size 30 to size 4. I religiously take my two flintstone vitamins and 6 calcium citrate per day along with a sublingual b-12. I eat almost 100% protein with very little carbs....never potatoes, bread, rice..you know the "yummy" carbs. I still get hungry, I still fight my food choices (I still prefer high fat, high calorie foods). I exercise a minimum of 1 hour per day and some days 3 hours. I completely changed my food choices and my sedentary life style. I am happy with my new life, but it took some hard work to deal with food preferences. I still don't like to exercise, but I do it routinely. I still don't like chicken and fish, but I eat it routinely.
   — lee J.

August 20, 2002
Yes, changing. I've known a few at 20 yrs out from a primitive RNY. Most all have some sort of nutritional problems, BUT none of them were coached in how to prevent them. They're instructions were : "eat right". Um, well, disconnect your digestive system & that instruction won't carry you very far. It IS possible to remain healthy after these surgeries, AND hold a reasonable wt. I'm 8 yrs, and I have friend that I can SEE (in real life) up to about 12 years or so.
   — vitalady