TLC's 627lb Woman...

Anybody see this Sunday night? About a woman named Jackie, who had "gastric bypass" - I saw the chart the surgeon was showing her to explain her surgery, but I couldn't quite identify it. Was it the Vertical Gastric Band? I noticed the stomach was cut, and left in, but I didn't see see the pyloric valve part...anybody have a better look at it? I just wonder which one she had, since it didn't look like an RNY or a DS. -anne

I'm thinking she was in VA or NC? If that's the one, it was a RNY.

It makes no sense that anybody would do an RNY on somebody that MO. She should have had a DS. Period. Probably even as a two-step procedure...

Hey Anne, I know at 500 lbs, I had the option of doing the DS in 2 stages Lap, or in one step open. I could have had the stomach gastrectomy done ...they would have waited till i lost about 100 lbs or a bit more and then done the intestines part. Because i didn't want to hastle with the insurance compaines over a "revision" and i didn't want to go through surgery two times...i went for the Open DS. Could it have been a similar situation??? scott

I thought they were specific that she had an RNY. I was totally wondering why someone hadn't suggested the DS to her. Having the DS might have saved her some of the complications that she ended up having afterwards. Then again, she might have been so sick that it wouldn't have mattered. I felt really bad for her.

I remember seeing this months ago and I just fell in love with Jackie. She had the sweetest disposition... calling people sweet names and always concerned about those around her. The EMTs who were there to help her move to the hospital and then take her back home again -- she offered them a cold juice or soda or something (?). I had hoped that it would have been an easier road for her. And yep, the DS should have been the surgery choice for her. She had the RNY and then suffered from severe malnutrition because she couldn't eat anything. I think they did an update on her a few weeks ago -- combined with another lady who has lost a huge amount of weight without surgery. It seems she is doing much better now. Lola

Thanks for your responses everybody. Very interesting, huh? Who seems to get into the news/programs, and who doesn't...I have yet to see anyone "of celebrity" status or even just general public talk about their DS on a program. Hmm... Oh well, at least we know where we are...don't we.

Hi Anne, I watched this show on TLC then the next show was the "Half ton Man", it was interesting too. I found her profile in North Carolina and her name is Jackie Finley. She had the RNY. It does seem to me the DS would have been a better choice for her but in the beginning of the show I think it said something about her surgeon being the president of some bariatric board so I'm sure he knew about the RNY vs the DS. Annette V

Thank you, Annette, I appreciate the information. Say, since your surgery information got "zapped" (yup, I looked up your profile), would you mind sharing some of it here? (I've been on the fence about which doc to go to for the surgery, and Deveney is a possibility...?) Anne