Question:
3+ year weight gain?
I am in the process of deciding which surgery to go with - RNY or DS. My mind was pretty much made up with RNY, because I didn't know much about DS. Then someone sent me info and I began to research it as well. I don't like the idea of bowel problems, and the smaller portions you have to eat with the RNY I don't have a problem with. If all was equal, I'd go with the RNY. HOWEVER, I am reading all this "stuff" about how much better DS is in the long run with regard to weight regain. I have always been a regainer after each "diet" I've tried, and do not want to regain after putting my body through this. I subscribe to a few DS support groups and they all seem to RNY bash. Is there any of you that are 3+ years out and what are your thoughts? Any ideas anyone else? — Denise B. (posted on May 29, 2003)
May 29, 2003
do the research yourself...and go with what you can handle and fits your
lifestyle....for me it had to be RNY...no sugar...
— Oldsoul
May 29, 2003
I chose the RNY and I dont have any bowel problems . But as the previous
poster stated you have to decide whats best for you . I eat normally , just
no sugar or fried foods .. I eat untill I am satisfied , Its not like I
have to eat small portions and then go around hungry. I had 100 to lose and
have lost 46 in 9 weeks . Ruthie In Sc
— ruthie
May 29, 2003
So far not as many people have had the DS as the RNY, but all the data I
have read says that the percentage of people that regain the weight is
lower with the DS. DuodenialSwitch.com (check the spelling) has a lot of
information.
To me it's 6 in one hand and 1/2 dozen in the other.
I really wanted the DS because of the re-gain issue and no dumping
(although I wasn't looking forward to the gas issues). I am getting the
RNY because No LAP DS doctors in my area and I need to get back to work
quickly. Lots of people have had success with the RNY so I can't knock
it.
You have to decide for yourself. It is too big of a committment not to
research every aspect of the process.
This site is very informative... all you have to do is keep digging you'll
find the answer. Good Luck
— Ron T.
May 29, 2003
Coming up on 9 yrs shortly, distal RNY. Lost 150#, and they haven't found
me. Still weighing right around 110, give or take. As soon as you mess
with your intestine, you change your bowel habits. Now, which way it will
go--well, not truly predictable. I'm distal enough to never, ever leave the
bathroom, BUT for me, I'm lucky to stop by every few days, if you catch my
drift. If I had more capactiy, I'd eat more, no question. Volume was always
an issue for me, grazing was not. Because this has worked well for me, of
course I am very biased.
— vitalady
May 29, 2003
Over the past 4 years in the WLS community, I've seen many RNYs who have
regained and are seeking to revise to a DS. Never once have I seen the
other way around.
— mmagruder
May 30, 2003
I had no choice between the two - my insurance accepted RNY but not DS,
which is considered still "experimental" or "too
dangerous". It didn't elaborate. As far as weight regain with RNY - my
understanding is that weight regain - IF it happens - is typically between
10 and 20% of the weight lost. OK. I started out at 260, and want to get
down to 140 or so (I'm currently almost 4 months out and am down 60 lbs).
If I get to my goal, that would be a loss of 120 pounds. Even if I gained
back 20% of that loss, it would still put me at about 160-165, which is
still a very healthy weight for me. Works for me!
— johanniter
May 30, 2003
Denise, I can't answer as I am only 15 months post-op RNY, but if you go to
yahoo groups, OSSG-Graduate, its a support group for those more than a year
out with lots of 3+ years out who may be able to answer. I don't know
enough about DS vs. RNY, but I would want to know what the
malabsorbtion/bypass impact is. With the RNY, we have a choice of distal
or proximal (the length bypassed). Although the longer bypass has more
malabsorbtion, I was more comfortable with less bypassed as there is not
enough (any, really) research out there on the long term impact of
bypassing portions of the intestine that are designed to abosorb important
nutrients from the foods we eat. We take vitamins and supplement, but is
that enough? I guess long term we will find out someday. I thought the DS
was rather new and wonder if there are enough long term DS'ers out there to
judge whether the weight loss/regain issue is better.
— Cindy R.
May 30, 2003
My husband will be 3 years post-op next month and I am 2 1/2 years post-op.
I have lost 170 pounds and got down to 118 but gained about 5 pounds ( I
needed to) I fluctuate between 121-124 depending on that time of the month
;-). My hubby gains about 10-13 from water weight settling in the loose
skin. He loses it immediately when he takes lasix. So with the exception
of pesky water weight from time to time.. we are stable and just fine
almost 3 years out! He started at near 500 and I started near 300. I am a
size 6 and he lost down to 240. With our plastic surgery getting rid of
the loose skin will be wonderful as we wont gain as much fluid anymore.
— danabky
June 2, 2003
You can mess with any of these surgeries to gain your weight back and I
believe that the malabsorption with the DS makes that a bit harder. It is
all about compliance no matter what you do. The people getting RNY/DS
revisions are probably people who for whatever reason can not comply with
post RNY eating. The truly food obsessed. This is the opinion of my surgeon
and I am merely passing it on. I have no experience personally with it. I
know a post op RNYer who is over 15 years post op and maintaining her
weight pretty easily. I think it is all about changing your ways. For me
that is 100% true!
— Carol S.
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