My Gastric Bypass Family - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

jackson · 12-06-2006, 08:12 AM

I thought I would put down a few words about myself and my wife and her mother as we have all had WLS, with varying results and complications and sucess and failures. My mother in law is having a reversal of her BPD/ DS in the next few days so there are heaps of issues going on at the moment.I will start with my wife who had her surgery first and before I actually met her about five years ago now. Sue was 23 and 185kgs when she had her open Billianary Pancreatic diversion with Duodenal Switch ( eek spelling) At that stage there was no one in this part of Australia doing gastric bypass. She lost her weight very swiftly and the only complication she had imediately post op was severe morning sickness wich was eventually cured by giving her a dose of the same meds that they give Khemo patients. She has had two daughters since and had criticly low iron levels durring both pregnancies. There was never any concerns over the babies health, but she had to undergo iron infussions and then iron via IV durring the second pregnancy. This is mainly due to the severe malabsorbtion issues that having a DS can give you. The kids were under a year apart and by the time the second one was born Sue was not a very well camper. Her levels since though are all good and she is healthy. Her weight is dead on in the middle of a healthy BMI and besides longing for some cosmetic work to her thighs she is happy with her results.
Sues mother was the next cab off the rank and had the same operation as Sue. She was 45 when she had her surgery and would have been around 180kgs at 6ft2 in height. She developed imediate complications with a DVT straight after the surgery. She did lose weight quickly but then the weight didnt stop comming off. at the 2 year mark a revision was undertaken with the veiw of moving a limb to slow the malabsorbsion. This was done by a different surgeon than the first ( the initial surgeon now lives in the states )
The surgery was claimed a success but a few months down the track weight was still comming off still at an alarming rate Sues mum was now well under 60 kgs at 6ft 2 and living very much day to day. The surgeons answer was to put her on an IV of TPN ( total protien nutrient) for six weeks at a time wich basicly makes you put on weight , this process required a hospital stay for the entire durration. It was about this time that My own surgery was looming and I happened to mention to my surgeon of my mother in laws plight , he furrowed his brow and asked me to get her to see him. She went to my surgeon and after two minutes on the phone with her surgeon they worked out that they had moved the wrong limb in the initial revision... So
My surgeon told her that she would die if it wasnt revised agian she was feeling well from her stint on TPN and decided that she would let her own surgeon fix it as mine had set him on the right path. Before they can revise or reverse you have to have certain levals right , I think one is called "albium" hers was very low in fact my surgeon told her that he would kill her if he was to operate at that stage. So off to hospital for another bout of TPN for another 6 weeks. Now my mother in law is looking at a reversal of her BPD/DS
obviously they cannot make her stomach bigger those bits are in the bin now, but they will reverse the malabsorbsion parts of the plumbing , if all goes well she will finally enjoy a healthy life .The surgery is for a week today, so fingers crossed , Prayers for her she has really had a rough time with all of this.
Whilst all this was going on I had my own WLS GBP , I initally wanted a lap band but my surgeon who does GBP, DS and LB basicly told me I would be better off with a GBP , so that is what I had. I am ok now had a few strictures, and I complain a lot but other than that I am great now.
After seeing the results from the BPD /DS I am not a huge fan , although they can eat more, lots more but they pay for it afterwards . spicey food and anything too rich or fatty sends them to the toilet in a hurry. Weight loss with the DS is impressive , it is swift and forever , these people get scarey thin fast . The downside is the long term malabsorbsion , My surgeon told me I was too young ( at 32) for him to consider me for a DS , this startled me as Sue had hers at 23!! We monitor sues levels at regular intervals I am always on her back about aking her vitimins ect.
So there is an update , its been a godsend to have people around me who actually really know what I am going through , it has also been an eye opener to see what can go wrong. We are not out of the woods yet with Sues mother but I have to remian possitive for everyone involved. Honestly I am pretty worried , I dont have a good feeling about this and I think that a surgeon that could get it so so wrong with a revision wouldnt be my first pick for a reversal , but as long as she has faith in him that is what matters.
Sues mom is worried she will get fat again once it is reversed, its a crazy thing to hear from a person who is looking like skin and bone. The scars from a lifetime of obesity are so deep I doubt if they ever leave us, like I said prayers for this one please.
Jackson

LisaBoston · 12-06-2006, 11:13 AM

What a moving post. Amazing what you and your family have been through, and hopefully a light at the end of the tunnel for your mother in law.

I looked into all the types of procedures before I choose which one I wanted. For me the RNY was the best option and I would still choose this today. The DS is typically used for those who are super obese, and I still think its a good procedure, for the right person. Crappy about them making mistakes on the bypass limbs...this kind of stuff should not happen.

The public needs to understand that there are differences between the types of surgeries...we get such a bad wrap, as the public often lumps us all into one category, but to each his own...we are different.

Thanks for sharing your story.

Zenomia · 12-06-2006, 11:58 AM

Good Greif...your having a time of it, aren't you!! Your poor MIL, our thoughts and prayers are with you both. (Glad your doing well..and your wife...) Hopefully this will turn out to be the right thing for your MIL. I hope it all goes well....

SweetSouthern · 12-06-2006, 08:51 PM

Jackson, we are there with ya in spirit buddy. I hope all goes well. Please keep us posted so we know what is going on with you. If you will give the exact date of her surgery, I will make sure and send a few specials wishes up for her that day.

jackson · 12-07-2006, 04:43 AM

thanks guys , the surgery is set for Wed 13th my time , it is as I write thursday 7th my time. I get very confused with adjusting the time zones ect lol. Thanks again for the kind words and concerns I will keep you all updated
Jackson

BethBaugh · 12-07-2006, 06:13 AM

What a story. I hope and pray all goes well with your MIL and all you guys. I really am not familiar with DS but wow I'm scared a bit now for those who've had it. Yes vitamins are gonna be life long. Take care of yourself and family. Keep us informed.

Beth B. in TN

kittens4 · 12-08-2006, 12:31 PM

Jackson! Wow! Thanks for sharing that with us. I know it's very personal and not easy I'm sure. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I can't even imagine what your MIL is going through. I know you must be worried sick. Hang in there. We will be praying for you all and please keep us posted.

LyndasRoom · 12-08-2006, 05:45 PM

Jackson, What an amazing story! Prayers for your entire family for health and feeling good. (and for what it's worth, if I were your Mum in Law, I'd go with your surgeon)

Blueyz · 12-08-2006, 09:12 PM

Jackson,

What a nice story to share. I hope all goes well with the reversal. I was scared just reading. I researched wls and decided rny was for me. I have severe malabsorption issues as it is with my rny. I can only imagine how Sue and your MIL feel. Prayers for you and yours. I will be thinking about the surgery Wednesday, hoping all goes well.

Keep us posted.

jackson · 12-16-2006, 08:12 PM

Small update , MIL had her date pushed back to tommorow , she is in good spirits and seems stronger than she has been in a year..So we wait some more , to be honest I have a bad feeling about this that I cant seem to shake , I hope I am just over thinking this one. She really deserves a break and a chance to get her health back in order. I really cant imagine what it would do to my girls if she wasnt around for them.I have to go interstate myself tonight so if there is no news in this thread for a while that will be good news , I will fill you all in on how things go when I get back , Thanks for everyones concerns and kind thoughts here , it has helped me a great deal to able to talk about this , I really have to reamain totally optimistic for Sues' sake , this has been a good place for me to vent .
Jackson