Question:
I went for my 6 week check up yesterday 9/28/99.

I just found out that I had neither the Distal nor the Proximal RNY Gastric Bypass. I had just a simple Gastric Bypass. I had no intestines bypassed. He told me though that I was way ahead of schedule on my weight loss, and it's all attributed to just eating less. He did however tell me that my stomach was completely divided in 2 sections and that the lower part is still intact doing its job aiding in digestion. Will I be less successful in losing weight since I do not have any intestines bypassed, and how then do I still suffer "dumping" when I eat something high in sugar or fat? I have lost 88 lbs to date, and feel great! I have a wonderful doctor! He projected me to lose 60 to 65 lbs by 6 months, and 110 by one year. He says I am way ahead, and to keep doing what I have been doing. (Nothing!) Just eating less! I have hit a plateau though, and will need to jump start my metabolism to get past it. I know... EXERCISE!    — Lori D. (posted on September 29, 1999)

September 29, 1999
OMG....you have lost 88 lbs in 6 wks????? that is amazing...I am 10 wks post op and i have only lost 46lbs. What are you doing to lose that fast? How much did you weigh to begin with..share with us...i am truly amazed, you are doing terrific.
   — Julie M.

September 29, 1999
My name is Janice and I had the same operation on Jan. 28/99 in Edmonton, AB Canada. I did not have a intestine by bass just my stomach and I am doing wonderful. Yesterday it was 8 months for me and I am down 162 lbs. So this will work if you work with it. It sounds like you are already doing wonderful. keep up the good work. Feel free to email me with any questions you may have.
   — Janice K.

September 29, 1999
Glad to hear that you are doing well. I can only hope that I will be so lucky. I have a question for you, how come the surgeon did not inform you of this in the first place. Was it a last minute decision, complications in surgery? Just curious. Good luck on your continued success. heather
   — Heather A.

September 29, 1999
At the risk of revealing my ignornace here, if you had a bypass, they had to bypass SOMETHING. So, it must've been intestines. If htey bypassed a LOT, it was distal. If they bypassed very little, it was proximal. If there was no bypass, then it is most like a VBG or SVBG or something along those lines. See if you can get a copy of your op report (you need this for the rest of your life, anyway) and a sketch of your procdure. You MUST know what has been done. And you must have it written somewhere in case you ever need medical attention and can't explain it yourself. This just happend to me. I was able to produce op report & sketch, so the new guy wouldn't hurt me in performing his procedure. AFter you get your papers in hand, then we can talk about your post-op diet, what they told you to avoid and use, etc. For now, nail down what it is, OK?
   — vitalady

September 30, 1999
I don't know what a "simple" gastric bypass is, but I think there is a lot of variation in the terminology used by different doctors. So, the most important thing would be to have the doctor draw your new digestive system exactly the way he created it in surgery. The amount of small intestine bypassed can be very small, and you could still get dumping syndrome because there is no valve between your pouch and small intestine. So, sugars and fat pass right into your small intestine without being broken down in the stomach. I think this intolerance of fat and sugar will contribute to your long-term weight maninenance more than the amount of bypass you had. It sounds like you are doing great so far. Good Luck!
   — Lynn K.