Question:
long term affect...OK, Im gonna ask this one more time!

It seems I never get a straight forward answer...Is it that no one knows??? What are the long term affects of this surgery (roux en y, gastric bypass)? This is the only thing that bothers me about this surgery because I'm only 24. Exactly how long have they been performing this surgery?    — Karen W. (posted on September 24, 2002)

September 24, 2002
SOME WHERE IDID READ THE RYN STARTED BEING PERFORMED IN 1977. EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT AS FAR AS LONG TERM EFFECTS MAYBE THIS IS WHY NO ONE IS GIVING YOU A STRIGHT ANSWER. LETS HOPE FOR LONG TERM YOUR STOACH WONT BE ABLE TO HOLD AS MUCH! GOOD LUCK!
   — CYNDI B.

September 24, 2002
I think it is because you are basically asking for the unknown. When yousay long term, I think like 30-40-50 years, therefore long term effects are not known - since there are really so many improvements in science etc. every year; you cannot compare the old surgery of '77 to the new surgery. The new surgery, being new- you cannot KNOW long term effects because it hasn't been long enough! Perhaps the ABS site has information that will satisfy you. What does your surgeon say? What are your concerns? perhaps if you narrowed down your question, we could answer it.
   — Karen R.

September 24, 2002
I bet we will have many nutricianal/vitamin problems that will cause many of us alot of trouble. Hope I'm wrong but I'm only 16.5 months out and "still" having problems, plus I already (before WLS) have the beginning of osteoprosis. Seems I get one problem, hopefully solved ,(potassium for example)then I go into another problem. It's been one thing after another since WLS! Don't get me wrong, I'm still happy I had it done, but there has been no end of "little problems" that keep popping up. I think we all will pay for this (health wise) years down the road. However having said that, I COULD NOT have gone on much longer without the WLS. So it was a good trade off. Sometimes in life we have to choose what we think is the lesser of two evils. I chose potential problems down the road as I would'nt have gone much farther down the road without WLS! ;)
   — Danmark

September 24, 2002
And one more time I'll answer: If I sat around and waited for the answer to the question, I'd be dead. At 42, I couldn't keep up with my kids. It was a calculated risk, and an educated (to a degree) decision. We don't have all the answers, but I had some answers for what would happen if I did NOT have the surgery. Maybe it's not for you?
   — Marti R.

September 24, 2002
Even if I had all kinds of studies to cite, I still wouldn't know what the long-term effects of WLS would be on YOU, and neither would you. There are no guarantees, sweetie--not with WLS, not with life. EVERYTHING is a gamble. Ya pays yer money and ya takes yer chances. I figure, if I can pop off at any time, why not enjoy the time I have? By all means, keep asking questions, but understand that you may not get answers to all of them.
   — Roxanne M.

September 24, 2002
My mother had the RNY 17 years ago and she is doing fine and is very healthy outside of arthritic hips and knees, which she had before the RNY surgery. <p>The thing that bothers me about your question is that you are asking in a manner that shows you may not be ready for WLS. As you said, you are only 24. Have you really and truly exhausted all other avenues of weight loss? Only you can decide, but at age 24, I would not have been able to make this decision until I knew that I had really tried everything else and had a long diet history to prove it. Maybe this is your conscience telling you to try other methods, because, seriously, surgery should be your absolutely LAST choice of method. I pray that God would guide you and give you peace in whatever you decide.
   — artistmama

September 24, 2002
In your profile your BMI is only 35, which in that case you should not qualify I beleive the BMI has to be 40 or above, I think you need to research your options more.
   — Teresa G.

September 24, 2002
I am truly shocked by all of the negative answers. We all know that dieting doesn't work, why should she go through all of that to end up heavier and with more co-morbidities? Why should she exhaust herself trying to 'exhaust all other avenues'? We have been there and know first hand that diets don't work. What, maybe she will fall into the 1-2% that are successful? Doubt it because she is here and serious about researching WLS. She is smart for trying to find the answer to this very important question! I sure do wish that I had this surgery 10 years ago at your age, that would have been 10 more years of feeling this awesome! And you can definitely qualify with a BMI of 35 with 2 co-morbidities! Good luck in your research and whatever path you decide to follow! I am healthier now than I have ever been in my entire life. I've had my labs done 6 times in the last 10 months, and when my iron was low, we increased it and was fine when the next labs were done. You CAN be healthy if you take your vitamins and work with your labs to see what YOUR body needs. Everyone is different and has different needs. You must be your own advocate and make sure you are getting what YOU need to be healthy. Michelle Curran is like 8 years out and looks and feels wonderful, she takes care of herself. With this surgery it is all up to you.
   — Cheri M.

September 24, 2002
There are different types of surgery and weight loss surgery has been out for many many years, but I feel is very safe today with all the new technology out today. My father had it done 15, almost 16 years ago and is very healthy. He takes a multivitamin daily, and exercises still. He had no complications back then. Everyone is different. I had no complications w/mine too. I too feel that you should get it while you are as young as you are because you will be able to enjoy life much more when you have it done. I wish I would have had it back then too, but thought it was too drastic. As far as long term effects, they are individual based on how well you take care of yourself after the surgery. I wish you luck on whatever decision you make.
   — stacey1273

September 24, 2002
Hello! I just had surgery a week ago and I certainly respect your concerns. I'm only 25 and I had them myself. My mother had wls in 1978 and my mother had it in 1984. Although the surgery then was quite different, neither one of them had any long term effects except the developement of gall stones. I hope this helped!
   — Jamie H.

September 24, 2002
Sorry about that....I mean't my GRANDmother had the surgery in 1978!
   — Jamie H.

September 24, 2002
Some of the diet responses sadden me. Were all MO here and should understand how hard it is to loose 75 or 175...<P> I encourage you folks to get a surgery that doesnt remove any parts just in case they might be needed in the future. For a low BMI and so young the D/S that removes 2/3 of your stomach permanetely isnt a good idea. <P> For ME I wish I could of had this surgery so many years ago. My post op life is so much better.
   — bob-haller

September 24, 2002
NOONE knows, but, here is my answer, I rather live healthy then live fat...we all may die tomorrow or in January if this IRAQ thing happens, no one knows when your time is up. Also, the way medical technology is advancing, I am sure that when i am 10 yrs out in 2012, medical science will have something to combat whatever ails me or any complications I may have from WLS!
   — heathercross

September 24, 2002
I look at it this way.......if I hadn't had the surgery, I would have lived (maybe) the next 20 years being MO and miserable. Not really LIVING life. I feel now, that even after surgery, if I die in 20 years, at least I will have died being able to do things in life that I wouldn't have been able to do being MO. I know I'm not going to die in 20 years from this surgery and life is so much better for me now that I have had it. I look at the positives. I wish I would have done this sooner. Lap RNY 1-9-02 down 95 pounds, 25 to goal.
   — Kim B.

September 25, 2002
Karen, I spoke to my doctor yesterday about this surgery for the 100th time, lol. I am 26 and my doctor told me that he thinks I'm making the right decision. I have been heavy all my life and he has been my doctor through most of it. He's put me on drugs, diets, etc. He also told me that the reason why he supports me so much is because I'm young and relatively healthy. He says that if I stay this size (I'll be bigger, I gain 7 lbs since my last visit) it won't be a question of whether I will have heart problems, high blood pressure, diabetes...it will be when. So, I'm doing this for my future and I think it's a risk I'm willing to take. I've seen how my family members are suffering from their obesity and I just plain don't want to go through that. I am suffering now, but at least now I'm relatively healthy, but for how long? So, that's my 2 cents...Hope it helps.
   — Morna B.

September 25, 2002
Hi.. I agree with many that hard and fast answers long term just are not known. For most of us, we got to a desperate and frustrating point where our health dictated doing something and doing something now. I am 5-l/2 months post op and down 74# and feeling super. I am not always compliant in what I eat but I am absolutely with my protein now, supplements, drinking water, exercise and attention to what my body tells me. Six months ago, I was almost unable to walk (only about 100 yards without stopping), I was on 10 meds, not sleeping, eating on the run - mostly fast foods, no supplementation at all, I had acid reflux, severe joint inflammation, angina, on the road to diabetes (which is rampant in my family), high blood pressure, and the list goes now. Today after only 5.5 months, I do a couple of runs through Walmart, do 2-3 miles a day on my Gazelle, on 4 meds only, no angina, no high bp, blood sugar is perfect, knees are still lousy but strongly improving, I sleep 7-8 hrs each night, no more fast food, I eat 3 meals a day with protein first, drink 64 oz of water or more, take all of my supplements, and am no longer winded at all. Last night I steam cleaned 7 rooms of carpet in our house, scrubbed 3 floors, cleaned windows and cooked dinner plus did 2 miles on the Gazelle. NEVER could I have done that. One thing I know is we do NOT know what the future holds ever. But I do know due to my health and heavy genetic influence I would have been dead or severely incapacitated if I had not altered that route. I spent a year researching my decision, kept a 2" binder full of what I learned and have absolutely no regrets. I am 52 years old. I wish this option had been there for me at 24. But YOU have to think this through carefully and prayerfully and be sure you will follow the regime that is ahead as we have made a life change that requires that. Would I do it again? Absolutely. Today I have the ability to live a stronger quality of life and I am so blessed and thankful. Yesterday I watched a program called the Rob Nelson show that blasted WLS as an 18 yr old is looking at the surgery (his Mom & Grandma also had it). For every negative, you'll find 10 positives. So like much in our life, this is one of those steps of faith we take and know that whatever happens in our life, God handles anyhow. I wish you the best in your decision.
   — AJC750

September 25, 2002
I don't have the exact answer you want.. and my guess is, if you want a specific answer, you shouldn't ask the question.. you should answer it yourself... so here are some thoughts: <br><br> 1) ask your doctor<br> 2) at 24 you'll probably do well<br> 3) I have one regret, want to hear it? its that I didn't have this surgery at 24 <br> good luck
   — Lisa C.

September 25, 2002
I don't think it's a question of "no one knowing" what the long-term effects of the surgery are or can be. It's more like "no one can predict what will happen to any one individual over time". For instance, I've heard of people getting bowel obstructions a couple of years down the road...but only a couple of people, and I don't know their personal histories. Can I predict that I might have a bowel obstruction some day? Nope. Or you might get vitamin, mineral or protein deficiencies -- I've recently heard of a horrific case of this, in which the patient had not followed her surgeon's recommendations for vitamins and nutrition, and is now very ill indeed. As for LONG long-term effects -- ten, twenty years down the road -- I know only a few people in that boat, since the surgery was not as widely-used twenty or even ten years ago. However, I have heard nothing to indicate that there are unforeseen consequences that would deter anyone from going ahead. That doesn't mean there *isn't* anything, but I guess my suggestion would be to proceed cautiously, ask lots of questions, and don't do anything unless you're completely satisfied that it's the best thing for you.
   — Karen I.

September 25, 2002
I have answered this before--last week as a matter of fact! Studies show that we are INCREASING our life span not decreasing it by having the surgery. Obesity is a killer--not directly, mind you, but indirectly by making us susceptible to all sorts of comorbidities. The thing we all must be aware of (and thankfully most of us are) is that after surgery our health and longevity are in our own hands. We MUST take supplements. We MUST eat enough protein. We MUST keep our blood work current to make sure we are on track. The side effects from the WLS techniques they use now are predictable and preventable. That's GREAT NEWS as long as you are willing to take responsibility for your own health.<p>If you really want to know about the surgery (how long have they been doing it, what are the side effects, etc.) I would suggest you visit the ASBS site. They have a very informative section on the history of obesity surgery. Here's the link: http://www.asbs.org/html/story/chapter1.html
   — ctyst

September 25, 2002
In researching WLS, I came across information that indicated that the lifespan of someone who has this surgery is 15 to 20 years. Being only 28, this "data" terrified me. However, I have since been involved in a longevity study of WLS patients at a local University. All of the doctors that I spoke with were EXTREMELY positive that if the tool of WLS is used correctly, it extends not only the length of life, but also the quality of one's life. Yes, there are definitely risks involved in this surgery. Who can say before hand if complications will arrise? That's why you research it out, and find a skilled surgeon you trust. But I imagine that many of the surgery's long-term effects are determined by the individual; ie: positive attitude, new dietary behaviors, diligence in taking supplements, willingness to exercise. These are things that we each have power to control. So in a sense, each of us is the deciding factor in the long-term results of this surgery. Very best wishes with your ultimate decision.
   — Rebekah B.

September 25, 2002
I was told by Dr. Edward Mason, one of the early pioneers in gastric bypasses that osteoporosis is sometimes a problem for us--Partly due to the decrease in intake and partly due to malabsorbption, I suppose. He said that we should take calcium supplements and of course have our lab work done periodically. Other than that, I have to say our prospects at a healthier life are greatly improved. And more enjoyable too.
   — jan M.

September 25, 2002
I researched this sae subject before my surgery. My doctor said I was not decreasing my life span I would be increasing it. Dr. Reinhold in New Haven has a patient that I believe is about 20 years post op and still doing well. I also researched cases in Switzerland where they have been doing the surgery longer and people are still kicken after 15 years. It's hard to go out beyond 15-20 years because they weren't doing the surgery before then.
   — Linda A.

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