Question:
How much mal-absorption is there with a proximal RNY?

If your intake is 1000 calories, how many calories to you actually absorb after a very proximal RNY? And if there is no calories mal-absorbed, whay not just have a VGB (although it's too late for me, I had my RNY 5 weeks ago). My doctor (not my bariatic surgeon) suggested about 60% of the calories are lost??? Has anyone else heard this??    — Margaret B. (posted on June 29, 2001)

June 29, 2001
Well I'm sorry I don't have an answer to this question, I'm very courious myself. I know for sure that there is malabsorption but how much I have no idea. I'm also wondering if this malabsorption is a permant thing or like the dumping syndrome evetually goes back to reabsorbing everything. And why do some people stop dumping, is it because they keep eating sugar or fat and just get used to it? Sorry to have reasked questions on your question, I'm just very courious about this myself. Also do you know how much was bypassed? I had 100 cm and this was considered proximal by my surgeon. I had surgery on 5/14/01 and have lost 44 lbs so far. I have no idea really how many calories I eat, but I can eat about probably 4-6 oz of solid food. Sometimes I can't eat nearly that much and I throw up, but sometimes I can. Wierd huh. I wish you luck on finding out the answer, I'll be sure to check back n see if you get it.
   — Lisa B.

June 29, 2001
I have a very proximal RNY and my surgeon said that there is no malabsorption of calories. Now I think he may be over-simplifying it because my logic tells me there should be some malabsorption even if it is only a little when so much of the stomach is gone and some intestine is bypassed. At first this did concern me and I guess it still does a little. However at 3 months post-op I eat only approx. 800 calories or so a day. I try to add up what I've eaten each day to make sure I am getting enough to eat, not too much (how's that for a switch!). I try to hit at least 800 calories and sometimes I have to work at it. So when I look at it that way, if I'm having to work to get in 800 calories it's probably good that I am not mal-absorbing them or I'd think I'd be malnourished.
   — Karen F.

June 29, 2001
I asked my surgeon that exact question. He said that there is no real way of knowing exactly how much is malabsorbed.
   — Jeannet