Question:
Are the weight procedures reversable or not? Anyone had
Getting conflicting information. Is the procecure (RNY) reversable? (in the event of complications). Also, has anyone ever had the stomach stapling done? I guess the dr. puts in 3(three)rows of staples to separate to stomach instead of cutting it apart. Enlighten me as to any problems, good, bad, etc. Thanks, Lisa — Lisa D. (posted on September 27, 2003)
September 26, 2003
According to my doctor...the surgery RNY is reversable only in EXTREME
situations. He has never done a reversal. From what he explained there is
a great risk of leaking stomach acids from where the staple line was
removed...the stomach that hasn't been used in a while may never function
properly again and a massive weight gain are all side effects of a
reversal.
Why would you want it reversed? I can understand if something goes
wrong...but most problems can be fixed with less evasive treatments that
more surgery.
— Renee B.
September 26, 2003
I'm with the previous answer. My dr said the same thing. One thing I was
concerned about was the ability to access the lower stomach if anything
went wrong. He assured me that they could scope it, if necessary just in a
different manner.
— lharbison
September 27, 2003
My surgeon told us it is reversable...that he had done it, on a guy that
was psychologically needing it back, he couldn't deal with not being able
to eat as he wished... so I'd say it is, although I think it's pretty
extreme to put oneself through all of that...
— MF
September 27, 2003
I have to say even tho it isn't what you asked, I am 1 year post op, if
anyone ever suggested reversing my RNY I'd have to kill them. I wouldn't
give up my pouch and my new life for anything!
— **willow**
September 27, 2003
It is reversible and that surgery is as complicated as the first one.
— jennifer A.
September 27, 2003
While I was waiting to get my tattoo a girl came in and asked the guy what
colors could be lasered out easiest. He told her to go some where else
because they should be considered permenant and he wouldn't touch her. My
point is if someone is wondering about that before surgery they should
maybe give another option a try.
— Tawnda C.
September 27, 2003
Some people thing that the moment that they cut into your stomach and
intestines, that it can never be reversed. But there are a few doctors who
can put your organs back together, but it comes with it's own
complications. The only WLS that is reversable is the lapband (or any of
the AGBs) because it is just a band that is put around the top half of your
stomach. If you are having these questions, I would suggest that you look
into all the different procedures, and know EXACTLY what you are getting
yourself into, the good and the bad. It is a HUGE decision and commitment.
Good luck to you!! Sheryl (Love my Band!)
— Sheryl W.
September 27, 2003
Why? Why would you want it reversed? How many times have you lost weight
only to gain it back and then some? I'm thinking maybe more than a couple
- what else would have brought you to this point. Sorry if I sound harsh
but this is a life altering decision if you aren't sure, maybe you should
think a little longer.
— Pambylah
September 27, 2003
The RNY can be reversed, in extreme situation. My surgeon has never done a
reversal. The key is educating the patient before surgery, in what post op
life will be like and getting a psych approval to prevent these issues.
<P> On the stomach stapling are you asking about the VBG? It has a
80% failure rate after 5 years according to my surgeon. The RNY isa best
done transected, at least thats my opinion after seeing so many members
here requiring follow up surgeries to fix staple line disruptions. I
suggest you get this book by barb thompson a member here, it covers these
questions and more. Pre op I called it our bible since we refered to it so
much.<P> http://www.wlscenter.com/
<P> I alsp suggest you attend some local support group meetings and
take a post op to dinner. This will help you so much.
— bob-haller
September 28, 2003
While it can be reversed, I think you have to think of it as irreversible.
For one thing, doctors are loathe to do reversals and from what I've read
it's often hard to find one who will do it - and hard to get insurance
approval. And it can't really be reversed, in the sense that they can't
return your stomach and intestines to the pristine, unscarred, unstapled,
unsewn state they were in before and you'd be subject to the same risk of
scar tissue and complications that you would be with the original
operation. So, while it can be taken down in situations where there are
extreme complications you have to go into thinking it's pretty permanent.
Also, I would strongly, STRONGLY recommend that you look for a surgeon who
transects the stomach, not just staples the original stomach into a new
pouch. When the stomach is cut and sewn, it seals much better but a
stomach that is just stapled runs a quite high risk of staple line
disruption and when that happens you're right back where you started from
and you can't lose any weight. Do you want to put yourself through all
this, just to have a second operation to correct a staple line disruption -
possibly regaining a lot of weight before you can get in to do that and
possibly having to fight with insurance again?
— sandsonik
September 29, 2003
They will reverse it if your life is in danger. I wouldn't reverse mine
for a million bucks!
— mrsmyranow
September 29, 2003
The poster asked if the surgery was reversible in the event of
complications not just for the heck of it.There are people who get such
severe complications or some who can't stop losing weight and get so
malnourished that they do have to get it reversed.So I think this is a
valid question.
— jennifer A.
September 29, 2003
Hi, Lisa: I agree with most of the other posters on this site. Several of
my family members asked why the doctors don't just remove the old stomach,
and my surgeon said that they leave it intact in case something should go
wrong, and I'm thinking something like developing a bad ulcer or cancer or
something in the pouch, then they can reverse the surgery. Again, I would
think this would only be in an extreme circumstance. I am totally looking
at this as a permanent decision. My surgeon totally transected the stomach
from the pouch, put in three lines of staples, and brought up the limb of
the intestine so that it lies between the two parts of the stomach. This
will (hopefully) prevent the two stomachs from growing back together over
time.
<p>So far, I've had very little trouble and have been tolerating
everything as I should (except sugar; I dump, which I consider a good
thing). The only problem I've had has been with my allergies; it seems
pouchy-poo doesn't like post-nasal drip and I became very ill. I now have
them under control with medicine and a new air purifier, and I'm avoiding
direct contact with my pets, i.e. not letting them get up in my face or lay
on my lap.</p>
<p>Good luck on your decision, hope this helps! Proximal lap rny
08/19/03 -31 lbs.
— Moysa B.
September 29, 2003
If the option of reversal is important to you, consider the lap-band. It
was designed to be easy to reverse. The reversible option is one of the
reasons I chose the band for myself, although fortunately I have no reason
to want to reverse the surgery so far. :)
My personal opinion is that the lap-band is also an improvement over the
older VBG procedure ("stomach stapling"), since the band lets you
adjust the size of the stomach opening easier. If you're interested in the
band, the site http://www.lapbandtalk.com is a good place to talk to a lot
of us who have the band.
— K M.
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