hullonewjersey

I'm not sure where to post this, seeing as it concerns multiple topics, but here goes. My fiancee had RNY gastric bypass surgery 3 years ago, and went from 415lbs to 250lbs at 5'6" -- a dramatic improvement. In fact, she lost over 70% of her excess weight which is what most doctors predict as a good amount to lose after RNY.

She wants to lose more, but she's having a very difficult time. It seems like no matter what she does, the weight just won't come off... or, if a little does come off, it comes back on soon after.

Her doctor has suggested placing the Lap-Band over her pouch. She just had an endoscopy which did not show too much dilation of the pouch opening and also showed that her pouch did not dramatically increase in size, although it did get a little bit longer.

Considering all of this, I don't know what advice to give her. She wants to know how much weight she will lose, and it seems like no one can answer that. Articles we find on the Internet all refer to the use of Lap-Band after failed RNY proceures, but hers did not fail by any stretch of the imagination. For a person who started out with a BMI of 67, she's come a long way... she just wants to go farther. Her BMI right now is 40.

Does anyone know about this type of situation, or have any experience with it? Anyone know how much weight she could expect to lose? Anyone know of any news/medical articles that are more helpful than just saying it's an option for failed bypass procedures?

Thank you very much for your help.

Tracie

I have heard grim statistics such as only losing an additional ten percent of excess weight...but a lady from another group I am on has lost a lot after having the band placed. YOur fiancees surgery did fail in the sense that her mechanics "broke". I know she is still considered a success, but I'm sure she would love to get closer to goal.

I am actually considering the band over my rny for the same reasons. I got closer to goal, but have regained some. I am pregnant now, so it is on hold.
There is a new procedure out there called Stomaphyx. Google it and see what you think. There is also a yahoo group called stomaphyx.

Good luck to you and your fiancee.

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Tracie

open RNY 4/16/04
318/160/140

Newest addition, Charles William, 4/1/08

hullonewjersey

Thanks for your response... I mentioned Stomaphyx and other injection therapies to her doctor. He said those are only useful in patients that experience dilated pouch openings or enlarged pouches. Her pouch, apparently, is fine.

Pregnancy is a big issue with her as well. She's not pregnant, but we'd like to get pregnant about a year or two or three after our wedding (which is in May '08). She's afraid of regaining a tremendous amount of weight and not being able to lose it. Her hope is that by having the band they can remove fluid during her pregnancy so that she can eat enough for her and the baby, and then add fluid afterwards so she can lose weight again.

I wish there were just a magic bullet -- this is so complicated! It's frustrating that after my surgery it was so easy to lose weight. It seems like it's much harder for women than for men.

Tracie

So, if her opening isn't that large, how do they think a lap band would help? To shorten the pouch again? I guess I don't get it either. Hmmm. It does stink that it is so complicated.

I do like her idea of getting unfilled during pg and filled again after.

I do wish you luck...and please keep me posted on what you guys end up doing. I need all the help I can get, too!

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Tracie

open RNY 4/16/04
318/160/140

Newest addition, Charles William, 4/1/08

hullonewjersey

As of now, she is officially scheduled for Monday the 24th for the lap band...we'll see how it goes!!!!!!!!!!!

Tracie

Yay! I can hardly wait for updates. Good luck to you guys

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Tracie

open RNY 4/16/04
318/160/140

Newest addition, Charles William, 4/1/08

lward76

wow, send her warm wishes and hugs and hope everything turns out okay!!

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Laura
220/216/119/115
highest/pre-op/current/goal
Height 5'1
[color="Blue"]113 POUNDS GONEOR]


04/11/07...Had surgery!!! my nerves were still wacky but hey i did it!!

size before surgery was 18 now size 5

Being reversed on Jan 18 I cant wait!!!!!!!!
I WAS REVESED ON JAN 18,2008 NOT EVEN A YEAR OUT!!

hullonewjersey

Hi, this is the fiance, lol...i'm just wondering what the recovery time is like in the hospital and when i go home. they are doing my surgery outpatient so i'll go home that day....i'm just anxious because having had the bypass and staying 2 nights then is so different from this time around. i can handle pain, i'm just wondering if i'm going to be in any and what degree of it. does your stomach hurt or feel tight--does it hurt from the staples/stiches or on the inside from the trauma of the physical surgery? after how many days were you driving? sleeping on your stomach? thanks for any information anyone can give me...oh yeah, and do i have to stop taking my birth control or can i swallow pills the night of my surgery?? thanx

lapbander33

The first night I felt no pain...honestly was ready to go home that night rather than spend it on a broken hospital bed that kept beeping at me. They gave me an rx for percocet (which I haven't needed to take). The majority of the pain for me is from gas-feels like tight, very full feeling in your chest, shoulders, which will gradually move down as the gas moves out of your body. Inside doesn't feel sore or hurting.

The port site is a little sore, but the other incisions aren't noticeable. I had a hernia repair up by my diaphragm and that's by far the most painful incision.

My doc told me a week before I could drive. It will be several weeks before I even try to sleep on my stomach-I got a body pillow and that's been really helpful because I can wrap my arms and legs around it. At 2 days post-op, it is still painful to get up or reach for things, and still painful to turn over, but I'm able to do everything myself and go for a walk every day.

Ask your doc as far as the b.c. pills go...I was told not to have sex for a couple of weeks, but those pills are really tiny and should be okay to swallow.

Mavisavis

This is the first I have heard of a band after an RNY.....although I know some don't succeed with the band and have it removed and then do RNY. Very interesting though. I hope she can wade through the info and find what she needs. She has done an amazing job though.......please tell her a congrats on her hard work. I'll be curious to hear the updates on what you find and how it all turns out.

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Marty

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts--Winston Churchill

Lap RNY 9-7-05
Dr. Ben-Meir
Cleveland Center for Bariatric Surgery
235/135/135
pre/now/goal