Question:
Short and long term comfort and success

After seeing my surgeon yesterday, I discovered he does an open RNY with a little twist. He places a nickel-size silastic ring around the new pouch. He said this is the same as Dr. Fobi in Ca lifornia does and he feels it combines the best of both the RNY and the VBG (ring) to provide the best long term weight maintenence. I would like to here from anybody who's had a Fobi pouch and how their progress has been. I'm particularly concerned with food getting "stuck" at the ring and vomiting. Can you all give me the benefit of your experience please? Thanks.    — Jean S. (posted on April 22, 2000)

April 23, 2000
Jean - I have not had the Fobi pouch, BUT, I know a couple of people that have. They appear to be sorry that that had it done that way. One of their reasons appears to be the type of food they can eat or better CAN'T eat and the fear you mentioned, it coming up. They feel if they had it to do again, they would go the way I did and have the RNY. I am one year p/o and am doing great. Good luck to you in whatever method you ultimately select. Judy
   — Judy P.

April 23, 2000
Jean, I, too, have not had a Fobi pouch but know several people who have. They have had no problems whatsoever from the silastic ring around the pouch. It seems that food gets "stuck" in the artificial anastomosis created from the stomach to the intestine but not from the ring. At times that opening starts to close up creating a stricture; that is sometimes caused by scar tissue or regression of the tissue. This is one of the downsides of any RNY operation causing many people (of course not everyone) to have to have endoscopy to stretch the opening.
   — Fran B.

April 23, 2000
My doctor does the same procedure you're talking about and I'm down almost 100 pounds since July 1999. I've not had any problems whatsoever (only thrown up once when I ate some fish-which I didn't like before surgery, either!!!). My doc seems to think there's a better success rate with this type of procedure too and he's really happy with my success so far. (I am too) Good luck with your WLS!
   — VickyTaylor