"Back in 1985, weighing 460 pounds, I was desperate for the surgery (intestinal bypass). Dr. Kral was head of the Metabolic Surgery unit at St. Lukes Hospital in NYC. He was careful to apprise me of all the risks and stated he would only perform the operation if I agreed to an intestinal by-pass and stomach restriction (gastroplasty). He stated research had shown that my "super obese" condition only showed long-term success if both operations were done. He did warn me there was a 5% mortality rate and possibility of many complications.
Unfortunately, during the first 3 post-operative years, everything that he said might go wrong did. I continued to lose weight and was hospitalized 3 times within 3 years. The last hospitalization was for 24 days, and at that time had fat globules, minerals and proteins intravenously given (my weight had dropped from 460 to 120 pounds). After hospitalization of 24 days, my body finally stabelized, and I left the hospital weighing 140 pounds.
Dr. Kral eventually left the Metabolic Surgery Department at St. Lukes, and given my health had improved, I dropped out of any follow-up care at St. Lukes Hospital(unfortunately).
Dropping out of follow-up care was a serious mistake. I urge anyone seeking this surgery to obsessively follow the vitamin/mineral supplement regimen and retain a doctor that truly understands and appreciates the long-term side effects of gastro-intestinal surgery. In my case, I did not do this between the intervening years of 1988 to 1998. In 1998 I was diagnosed with osteoperosis and vitamin B12 deficiency. I now get a B12 shot once a month and am taking 2 osteoperosis drugs plus religiously following a heavy dose of mineral/vitamin supplementation. My current doctor gives me a blood test every 3 months to insure proper mineral, vitamin and electrolytic health.
Whatever you do, continue to take your vitamin/mineral supplements and get frequent blood tests! This needs to be monitored for the rest of your life!
Would I do it all over again? The answer is an emphatic YES! I currently weigh 170 pounds and would rather be dead then weigh 460 pounds. I call my food dependence and food enjoyment an addiction. But unlike an alcoholic addiction, with these operations I can have my addiction and life, too.
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