No RNY for me - Part 2

Thanks to everyone that contacted me.  Let me tell you about my background and then if you would, respond once again as to what I do next. It was quite a blow when he said the only surgery he recommend was the band.  Like I said for 6 months I prepared myself for the RNY. In February of 2000 I had an adhesion wrapped around my small intestine and had to have surgery.  I was told by the surgeon that it was no big deal, would be done by laproscope and very easy.  Wrong.......  He nicked my bowel but told my husband he fixed it at the time of surgery.  A few hours later, I was in bad shape.  105 fever, incoherent, and almost coded.  He had nicked me in 3 other places.  The surge on had left for overseas right after my surgery and left me in his partner's care.  I was rushed to surgery, the nicks were repaired.  They could not sew me back up because of possible infections so I had to heal from inside out.  Infections and abscesses were problems for 10 months and I was on IV antibiotics for about 8 of those months.  Haven't had problems since.  Since the adhestion was so low I didn't think it would interfere with my RNY.  Again, WRONG.    I haven't had any problem since but he said this could cause major problems. Then, in April of 2003, I had a right total knee replacement.  3 weeks after surgery my incision had staph infection.  Fought it for July without much sucess so the hardware was removed and I underwent 3 months of  IV Antibiotics.  In April 2004 a new total knee was done.  Within days the infection was back, well not back because it was never gone.  The hardware was removed and once again IV's were started.  I CHANGED SURGEONS, but it was difficult finding one that would take over the case.  The new surgeon got rid of the infection and fused my right knee.  I had a choice of fused or amputation.   In October 2005 he did a total knee on my left.  No problems with infection.  Now, I can't walk because of my weight. I don't know if it was the adhesions or the infections, probably both.  I don't know much about the alternate procedures.  If you can I really need some advice.  Thanks for all the support. Trudy

Trudy.....I'm so sorry things are not turning out the way you had hoped for!! If I were you I would definitly talk to the doctor more about why he only gave you the option of having the Band!   The only thing I can think of is that he is worried about your risk of getting infection so easily....It seems you might be high risk of that happening with the way the past things have went for you.... Another option for the RNY is the Sleeve....It's the choice I went with after discussing things wtih my surgeon....This way you still get the smaller stomach but they don't do anything to your bowels....the only thing is you will still have the risk of infection because of the cutting on your stomach and the incisions made to do it....But I before I made my final decision I would talk to your doctor more about it all.... I wish you all the best with your journey and hope things turn out well for you....God Bless..Hugs...Tammy H.

Hi Trudy, I was going to tell you-with the sleeve-they do no cutting of the bowel or any intestinal cutting-just the tummy area-so that would definitely be an option-right? Secondly-IF your body seems to want to fight things-then the doc should be approached with the port that will be left in you-along with the band around your tummy with the lap band-right?

With the sleeve-your tummy is shaped more like a banana than an egg-but Mel-well, she lost 240 some pounds in ONE YEAR-I call that successful-if you ask me.  Im not sure who your surgeon is that is telling you this-and I know that you have had a really long road and what have you-and I know you are very sick of the waiting and such-but you might to see him again, discuss this with him-until YOU are comfortable-NOT HIM-and IF you are NOT pleased with what he tells you-you might try Missouri Bariatrics and see what they can do for you. I love them and I KNOW that they TRY to do what the patient wants-and whats right for you....Its going to take a lot longer with the band to lose a mass amount of weight-for you to FEEL the difference and get your physical activity back- vs- the sleeve or the RNY where you are talking about just a couple of months-and with the increased mobility-will come more weight being taken off and you feeling a thousand times better. It doesnt make sense for him to push the band-when you can develope infections with that-and there will be 2 things left inside you-you know? I just dont get it, I guess-why he is only giving you one option??? But-I will totally support you in ALL that you do-and whatever you do decide to do-Im there for you. Take care and let us know what you decide. All my love and prayers to you. Janet P.S.=and realize-Im not a surgeon, but I feel with your history, along with a lot of us out here who had bigger BMIs that there are/were certain risks anyway...you have had your fair share of things, thats for sure. WE will be praying for you each step of the way-just dont settle for something YOU dont want-there IS someone else out there willing to do what you BOTH decide together is the best thing-right? Take care.

Thank you so much for all the advice!  I didn't need to call the surgeon, he called me.   There are 5 surgeons in the practice and they met yesterday regarding my surgery.   They are going to look at my surgical reports from the adhesions and if I didn't lose very much intestine, they may do the RNY.  Once they get the reports they will call me and discuss my options.  They may want to do an open rather than laproscopic surgery, but we will see. I feel much better about things now since I know my case will be investigated more thoroughly.  I don't think I lost much intestine, if any.  I'm going to call the hospital tomorrow and put a rush on the op reports. This took a big load off.  Thank you for caring and giving me the advice I needed.  Keep the prayers coming and know that my prayers are with everyone, and a special one for Mel. God Bless! Trudy