Question:
My PCP asked me today,
i.e., diarreha permanently?" He stated emphatically that he felt this was a permanent side effect of the WLS. I've carefully read B. Thompson's book about WLS and although bowel problems are mentioned in reference to some surgeries, it was not listed as a 'forever' problem. I'd love to see some posts about this 'delicate' subject. Thanks to all who post here--I"ve received a real education! — Debbie R. (posted on June 13, 2002)
June 13, 2002
I am 5 weeks post-op and don't have a problem with diarrhea... if anything,
I've got the opposite... constipation. I go the bathroom every 3 to 4 days
and have to strain. I had the lap roux-en-y done.
— juliehedges
June 13, 2002
He's probably thinking of teh old 1970's JIB. Some BPD's had the chronic
diarrhea. AS a very, very distal RNY, I am SUPPOSED to have it, too. HAH.
Just the opposite. I meet a LOT of "us" and there seems to be
much more constipation than diarrhea in our ranks, and that would include
people local to me with this very radical version. I don't think I've ever
met ONE proximal RNY with chronic diarrhea that was not adjusted by
ditching milk or getting off sugar.
— vitalady
June 13, 2002
Let him know his knowledge about the subject is about 25 years out of date
and he should read up the latest data before spewing that kind of nonsense.
And of course, if it was me, I would tell him in exactly those terms,
while handing him a copy of some of the latest journal articles, which your
surgeon can provide to you.
— merri B.
June 13, 2002
Why are some doctors so uninformed? I am only 5 weeks post-op, so maybe I
haven't been post-op long enough to really know how my BMs are going to be.
But I can tell you my experience now. For the first 3 to 4 weeks, I was
constipated--I couldn't go that often, and when I did, it hurt. But now
that I'm pretty much back on a regular diet, I am no longer constipated. I
go every day or every other day, and the consistency is normal (sorry to be
so gross). I will say that my whole life I have had loose bowels. But now
I don't. It's like the surgery has made my BMs more normal. Maybe people
who had normal BMs to begin with have trouble with constipation. But I
agree that more people who have had WLS probably have trouble with
constipation instead of diarrhea. Your doc needs to do some reading!
— Kristie B.
June 13, 2002
My PCP was absolutey furious that I would even suggest WLS. He got
red-faced & refused to discuss it anymore. Well that was not good
enough for me! I gathered all the info from this site I could and took it
to my next visit. He was not happy that I brought the subject up again but
promised he would read it that night and call me in the morning. Right!
But guess what he called me at 900am and said he was so sorry, he had no
idea the stides they had made in WLS and anything I needed I could count on
him and his staff! And they have been fantastic, he even recommended the
surgery to another pt. I hope this works for you-I am having Open RNY 6/18.
Good Luck!
— diane M.
June 13, 2002
I had always 'heard' about the chronic diarrhea being a problem. And
because I have been having a problem with chronic constipation, I brought
this up with my doctor. He laughed and said that diarrhea is NOT a very
common side-effect, that it is much more common to have constipation.
Those PCP's are just 'behind the times'!
— Cheri M.
June 13, 2002
Diane, educating your PCP about WLS was a brave thing to do. I want to
thank you for all of his patients who come after you. Can you imagine the
outcome if each of us were able to do this with our PCP.
— faybay
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