Question:
Once and for all, HOW much is bypassed in Proximal? Distal?

Hi all! I can't seem to get a straight answer to this question...How much is bypassed in a Proximal surgery? I've heard as little as 25cm to as much as 100cm. Then again, I've heard that 100cm is MOST definitely Distal? So what's the deal? Anyone? Thanks so much for your input!    — susannahs (posted on September 12, 2003)

September 12, 2003
I am 150 and that is right in between the two as I was told by my BTC surgeon.
   — Heather M.

September 12, 2003
There is no "straight answer" to this question. What each doctor calls his surgery is what he calls his surgery. There is NO standard. Many docs do a 12" bypass, or 18" bypass. These are VERY short proximals. I have a 60" common channel (60 in of working gut LEFT), so I have something like 15' bypassed. Basically, anything measured from the top (stomach) is a prox. Anything measured from the end (colon) is distal. And some of it (in between) is medial. Some docs measure from the top and call it distal, but this is a proximal-distal, and is not truly a distal surgery. Now, are you still confused? Find out what YOUR doc calls distal, and subtract it from 17' (we average 17-22' of gut), and you know how much common channel you have left, approximately. I know a couple of people who have 40" and 50" common channels. Mass malabsorption. Rachel 320highest/305pre-op/219now/150goal
   — RWH G.

September 12, 2003
There are no national standards so it comes down to what YOUR surgeon thinks it is. My surgeon doesn't even talk in those terms. He only talks in terms of how many cm's bypassed, so there is no question what will be done. Call your surgeon!
   — zoedogcbr

September 12, 2003
FINALLY, someone knows what they are talking about on this one! WOOOOHOOOOO! Some people have proclaimed that it is merely a measurement of how many cm's you were bypassed. It's all hard to grasp, but RWH Gonnabethin is making perfect sense here. A little medical experience there, RW? The answer to this question has never been as simple as some of us have tried to make it. "GOOD ANSWER", RW!
   — Ginger M.