Failed Lapband now Gastric Bypass Questions 52 yo Female

HI all
Thank you for the responses I received.

One of my main concerns about problems post op with Gastric Bypass is signing up for a life situation with intolerable long term side affects like, depressions, anxiety, vomiting, nausea, gas, diarrhea. Also I am already in hormonal havoc in menopause and take Lexapro and Klonopin for a life long anxiety and depression problem. These probs are under control with the medication, but I am prone to anxiety depression. I still have hot flashes bad.

I had a very failed Lapband experience. I mention this because the physical pain, inability to eat, and constant purging made life intolerable. That operation was reversible thank god.

I was totally compliant on the band, but I may have had some bad fills that caused slippages (2) and it just was my own nightmare. I am not against the band, this was just my experience.

So naturally I do not wish to sigh up for another situation, which is not reversible, where I felt why did I do this to myself. as was my band experience. 

I would love to hear from some one who had BYPASS in their 50's who has a similar pre op situation and hear about your experiences.

I have read about mood changes and other things. I am not talking about feeling sad or depressed about mourning the foods I cant eat, I talking about chemical/hormonal imbalances that the surgery may induce.

WITH SO MUCH APPRECIATION
MARIAN

Have you considered the Duodenal Switch? 

Because of GERD, I couldn't have had a band, the idea of carbohydrate dumping was very unappealing, and I knew 2 people who had the RNY and did well for 2 years but gained their weight back along with even more.

I was 51 and 1/2 when I had my DS back in October and am doing great. 
Go check out the DS forum? 
Best to you!
Patti

Hi Marion,

I'm 54 years old, had rny when I was 51. I had a partial hysterectomy when I was 28, still have ovaries and cervex, so while I didn't have the "traditional menapause", I did still go through it right about the time I had my rny, mood swings, hot flashes, etc. I have been on and off antidepressants for 20+ years, but have been off of them for the last 4.

The way you started out this post with: "signing up for a life situation with intolerable long term side affects like, depressions, anxiety, vomiting, nausea, gas, diarrhea", bothers and confuses me. Who told you that these conditions/situations are something that everyone who has rny experiences?  I'm nearly 3 years out and I don't vomit ****asionally, if I eat too fast or don't chew well enough, maybe once every couple of months), haven't been nauseated during the whole time, I don't dump (unless I eat over 20 grams of sugar), and if anything, I'm constipated, and never have diarrhea.
I did have to have my gallbladder removed, a hernia repaired, and had a small bowel obstruction (all at the same time). Now, the gallbladder could have gone bad in anyone experiencing rapid weight loss....even liquid diets, etc.. The bowel obstruction had nothing to do with WLS, my surgeon said I was only the 2nd WLS patient of his that this had happened to, and the hernia? Well, **** happens.

I eat pretty much what I want, my labs are all fine, and I'm happier than I've ever been. I track every bite that I eat to make sure I get in the calories/protein/carb/fat ratios prescribed by my Dietician and doctor, as well as to being aware of what I'm eating in order to maintain my 110 lb loss.

This surgery changes your intestines, not your brain. If you're depressed and anxious now, chances are you will be after surgery. I'm sure you will have many, many members here tell you the same things I'm saying. Having gastric bypass does not sentence you to a lifetime of problems. In fact, I think the reverse it much more accurate.

I hope you find the answers to your questions here. There's a wealth of info for you.

Take care

I agree with Susan.  I had the surgery when I was 51, I think.  I throw up occassionally and only when I try to eat something to fast or sugar or over eat.  Some people should not have wls because of compliance issues.  I'm not saying you are a bad candidate, but you start the post off saying you don't want to sign up for a life of complications.  I've had none.  My iron deficience anemia, I had before surgery and the ulcer that I have, my pcp said I'd probably had gotten anyway, a life of rheumatoid arthritis and about twenty years of NSAI and Steroids and gold and methotrexene left my lining comprimised anyway. 

Oh, I've lost all the weight I set out to plus some and still average losing a pound or two every three or so weeks, without trying. 

Just my two cents.

If the RNY or DS does not seem to be your cup of tea, don't forget the option of the VSG.  I'm well over 2 years out, lost my weight without much difficulty and had zero complications.  I was 52 when I had my surgery.

Susan,

I LOVE your positivity.  Thank you for saying all of those things.  I'm looking forward to having RNY and I WANT to go into this looking at the many many things I will be able to do, and looking forward to getting rid of the meds, and feeling fabulous, not to mention look good too!

Good luck to the original poster.  I hope you find the answers you are looking for.

D

Marian,
 There are some problems that one can have with RNY surgery as in any surgery you have. I have had some complications but that doesn't mean everyone will. The ones I have had have not been pleasant but I haven't vomitted for along time and I am 1 year to the day out. You can't go into this with a negative attitude or only negative things will come out of it. I think you need to decide to do the best you can with what you have got. You are the only one who can decide if you are ready for any of the weight loss surgeries or not. Think long and hard before jumping into anything and do extensive research on all types of wls. After that it is up to you! Good luck in whatever you decide to do and please keep us posted! Michelle
P.S. contrary to what Dr. Phil believes this surgery is not the "easy way out" so if that is what you are looking for it ain't wls.

I have a problem with your thinking in this matter, as well!! First off you need to decide
WHY the band did not work? You say you were compliant, but, were you really.
It sound like you need to do more research on the RNY surgery, before making any
kind of decision on what you want to do.
I had surgery when I was 50 & have never had any problems from it, yes some do, that is because everyone is different & every surgeon is different.
It sounds like you need to be talking to a therapist about these decisions, before you
go any further.
Take care & think hard before doing anything. they do not operate on our minds, just
our insides. You have to want to change your way of thinking for the RNY to work,
as well.
I would do the RNY surgery again in a New Yourk Minute.

Hi again all,

Thank you for all the time in your thoughtful replies.

I am not thinking or being negative. I am trying to be realistic and informed.

My problems with the lap band was likely very because of the inexperienced nurse quickly trained by the then new national chain called FillCenterUSA for patients who had surgery outside of the USA or out of state.. My nurse had no bariatric training, no fluoroscopy or even a clean office. It looked third world country in Tampa!.
 
When I said my band was too tight she ask if I was a mental patient.  So I was not in the state of the art of medicine.  But I was compliant and yet had 2 slippages because she was trained by filling out a matchbook cover.
My doctor was 40 hours away in Mexico.

Having had a bad experience with one surgical procedure I am moving VERY cautious and reading as much unbiased material as possible, the Weight Loss for Dummies series was actually very good.

I have looked into DS. The is no DS surgeon in Florida. I am beginning to think it may be better to have surgery with a doctor that is near you in case of complications and for the convenience of not having to fly/book hotels/ and emergencies.

Dr Rehnke in St Pete,FL is a COE however does not do the DS Switch. I guess if I needed it later it could be revised.  I am concerned that I do read that many compliant patients put back some of their weight in gastric bypass.

I know everyone is different. I am trying to get a ballpark understanding of just how often complications like stricture, gall stones, leakages, bowel obstructions et al happen.

I am compliant.. The typical Straight A student in school type. But I don't have a negative attitude I want to go into this EYES WIDE OPEN.

Marian.