Question:
Seeking nutrition info in event of catastrophic illness/accident

Does anyone know about the nutritional limitations about gastric bypass in the event of a catastrophic illness like cancer, or serious car accident in which adequate nutrition is vital to the recovery? I am considering surgery and this issue doesn't seem to be addressed anywhere in the literature I've seen. Cheryl N.    — Cheryl N. (posted on June 15, 2004)

June 15, 2004
I was much more worried about dying from obesity but...I would think that in this situation you would be on IV's if you are unable to eat and would not have to worry about eating..I am 9 months post and doing great..Best of luck to you whatever you decide.
   — Kathy S.

June 15, 2004
the bypass can be reversed if you find you have stomach cancer and the lapband can be removed if necessary.All the best ! Tracey :fairy:
   — traceybubbles

June 15, 2004
The bottom line is if you are that sick you would be on IV's and that's where your nutrition would come from. It's difficult in the early stages to get in adequate nutrition and that's why the supplements are so critical. But as time goes on it's not difficult with a "standard" RNY bypass (150 cm or less) to be malnourished. I can certainly get in adequate food to stay healthy and then along with my supplements things are in pretty good shape. There are many nutritional supports that are low in sugar. There are tons of diabetics in the world so there are things available should those catestrophic situation occur. It's good to think everything through but like someone else said, at least now I would live long enough for that catastrophic thing to happen. Not that I want it to, but at 250 lbs heavier, I was much more likely to die from an obesity related situation than anything else.
   — zoedogcbr

June 15, 2004
I created a long list of reasons to have WLS. Two of them included: not being able to be rescued from a burning building or not being able to fit through a window to save myself. Also, the paddles they use to restart your heart I've read are ineffective once one is more than 300 pounds (I don't know for sure if this is true). At 20 months post op, I can eat a little less than a (non post op) small eater. I don't have any concerns about getting in enough nutrition at this point, but you asked a great question.
   — Yolanda J.

June 15, 2004
If you are so seriously injured or ill that you cannot take food by mouth, there are still several ways you can be nourished, pretty much like any non-weight loss surgical patient. You could have an NG tube put down (under endoscopy) and receive a slow constant flow of feeding solution. You could have a tube inserted into the intestine and receive enteral feedings. Or, you might received total parenteral nutrition via an IV (this contains amino acids and other nutrients and vitamins, plus you can be given lipids.) If you were just on IV fluids, you would be hydrated, but not nourished.
   — koogy

June 15, 2004
I know we all have to think about the pros & cons to gastric bypass surgery. Once you have a procedure completed, it would be in your best interest to always carry with you a card next to your drivers lics. or wear a medic alert charm saying that your stomach has been altered. This is so if you are in a traffic accident and the medics / law enforcement is obtaining your personal information they will see this card or charm. What this is intended to do is allow the medics in an emergency situation to know NOT to blindly place a breathing tube in you. (I'm a Medic myself) As far as the feeding & nutrition during recovery of a traffic accidnet, the hospital will do whatever means necessary to get you that nutrition. Via IV, or feeding tubes to constant feeding bottles that hang. The same with cancer patients. My mother got to where she couldn't eat during stages of lung cancer, they hung bottles of liguid feedings that feed her constantly. On a personal note, I always thought at least if I got cancer, I would have lots of time nutritionally because I was so heavy, I'd have lots of weight to loose. Then on the flip side of that, if I had a stroke, or became incapicitated and couldn't do for myself... No one in my family would be able to handle moving me or taking care of me because I'm so larger. So, no matter how much they wanted to give me proper hygien, it wouldn't be easy. Like I said, I know we think about everything that could happen, think about what might happen if you arent healthy.
   — smoore_911

June 16, 2004
I think Staci meant to say that they would not blindly place an NG tube - that's the one that goes into the stomach via the esophagus. An endotracheal tube goes into the windpipe and it can be placed in an emergency situation as it won't affect the esophagus or the pouch.
   — koogy

June 19, 2004
When I was 1 month post-op I had to have an emergency hernia/fistula repair and I was on IV TPN (Total parenteral nutrition) while in the hospital (12 days). It gave me over 3000 calories a day. I did not lose weight and once I got some lasix I didn't gain fluid weight either. I just maintained. I felt great too postop. Probably due to not being sick and the good nutrition from the TPN.
   — catleth