Question:
What happens to our Post-op body in 20 years??

Hi, I have been reading everyone's questions, answers, victories, problems, journals...etc... I would like to thank everyone for sharing! Allowing me into your lives has been a very enlightening experience. However, I do have a question about what happens to our bodies in 15,20, or 25 years after post-op. My question isn't about weight gain, maintenance, or weight loss. It's about what happens physically to our organs that have been by-passed? The ones that, although they secrete gastric juices..they basically lie stagnet. Please don't reply with: "What happens to your body if you don't have the surgery?" I want to know your thoughts or what you have learned...or from your experience if you are a 20 year post op. Thank you so much!! : )    — Courtney Durham (posted on October 28, 2002)

October 28, 2002
I really don't understand the question "what happens physically to our organs that have been by-passed?" Both sections of the stomach still have blood supply as does the duodenum and the beginning section of intestine. The stomach still produces gastric juices, the gallbladder (if you still have it) still produces bile and both drain (eventually) into the intestine that leads from the new pouch. <p> It's not like the "unused" part of the stomach is going to shrivel up if there's no food going through it...JR
   — John Rushton

October 28, 2002
Hi John, Sorry if my question seemed confusing to you. I honestly didn't know if the "unused" parts would shrivel up or not. I realize that there is still blood flow...but these organs are not being used for what they were intended. When I asked my doctor this question...his answer was: "Honestly, I don't know." I just wanted to see what other people have expereinced...read...heard..etc. Thanks for your response. Courtney
   — Courtney Durham

October 28, 2002
Hi John, Sorry if my question seemed confusing to you. I honestly didn't know if the "unused" parts would shrivel up or not. I realize that there is still blood flow...but these organs are not being used for what they were intended. When I asked my doctor this question...his answer was: "Honestly, I don't know." I just wanted to see what other people have expereinced...read...heard..etc. Thanks for your response. Courtney
   — Courtney Durham

October 28, 2002
Hi, I had intestinal bypass in 1981 and the bypassed part of my intestiune was left just lying there and the end left open. It DID swivel up. looked like a DRIED UP TUBE i WAS TOLD WHEN I HAD SURGERY RECENTLY TO REVERSE THE BYPASS. hOWEVER, ONCE IT WAS RECONNECTED (WHICH WAS A HARD JOB FOR THE DOCTOR IT WAS SO SMALL) IT DOES WORK AND I CANT TELL ANYTHING WAS WRONG. oF COURSE THEY DONT DO THINGS THAT WAY ANYMORE. i HAD ARTHRITIS DUE TO BLIND LOOP INFECTION FROM THE BYPASSED INTESTINE BEING LEFT OPEN. aNYWAY THAT WAS A LONG TIME AGO AND i DO HAVE MEDICAL DOCUMENTATION.
   — Delores S.

October 28, 2002
Actually, in part you answered your own question. You said "The ones that, although they secrete gastric juices..they basically lie stagnet.".......they can't lie stagnant and secret juices at the same time. Since they are secreting juices and have the same blood supply they always did, they'll just keep on working.
   — Lynette B.

October 28, 2002
Part of it depends on how you take care of your body, and part of it just "is". Some people are prone to bowel obstructions or other oddball things. For a small view, pop onto: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG. Not all are way far out, but some are. You can only lurk til you're 1 yr post-op and there is stuff of no interest to you, but there is PLENTY of stuff that will interest you.
   — vitalady

October 29, 2002
Your question is very significant. Right now, the biggesst criticism about gastric bypass surgery is that there have been no long term studies to see how people are doing 15, 20, 25 years down the road. Many institutions (and this website) are now gathering information to study the long term effects of the surgery, including what happens to the organs involved, but also going into more depth.
   — Arlene S.

October 29, 2002
Your question is a good one. But frankly, we really don't know what happens 20+ years in the future. The RNY (in a modified form) has been being performed to cure stomach cancer for a long, long time, and those people appear to be doing well. I have a girlfriend who had the gastric bypass surgery for stomach cancer about 10 years ago. She initially lost about 100 lbs. (got VERY thin) but has recently begun putting on additional weight, because she basically LIVES in sugary snacks and ignores her nutrition for the most part. I am almost 2 years post-op and have never felt healthier, but I would be lying if I told you I was totally confident I would continue totally healthy to the end of my life. I had to take a "leap of faith" with this surgery and really weigh the risks vs. the benefits. I hope I don't regret my choice down the line .... but I'm fairly certain this was a good decision, based on the medical information available at the time. You only go around once in this life, and I didn't want to get old and wrinkly waiting for the pharmaceutical cure for obesity. Now I am 29 years old and out of the obese category. I am living my life full steam ahead and have no doubt this was the right decision for me.
   — Terissa R.