Re: alimentary limb - mine is 300cm

July 20, 2001

I just decided to pop into the list and see what is happening. I

apologize for all spelling errors ahead of time. No spell check on

the web.

I am a little over 6 months post-op. My BMI has gone from 38 to

25. So far I have never plataued (sp) and I consider my weight loss

of about 75 pounds excellent (considering my lower starting BMI).

My alimentary limb was made 300cm and my common channel is

100cm. I am extremely happy about this. I do eat more protein now

than pre-op, probably around 6 ounces a day (pre-op was about 4

ounces every other day.) My protein level is higher than it was pre-

op. I do eat a decent amount of carbs and sweets--especially lately

chocolate chip cookies and 100,000 bars. Nothing seemed to make a

difference in the speed of my weight loss. Honestly, if I lost

faster I would be nervous about getting to thin. I weigh between 153-

155 at six months out.

I think the speed and amount of weight loss is very

individual. I always lost weight quickly when I lowered my caloric

intake and I gained weight quickly when I got too hungry to eat at

this lower caloric level. So for me, caloric restriction was enough

to lose weight. Hopefully, the malabsorption and quicker satiation

will keep it off. I know a lot of other people eat very little

calorically and still do not lose weight. For them the malabsorption

component is more important for weight loss.

So what I am saying is that there is no set rule on how fast

you will or should lose. Being on the other side--I think the less

malabsorption that you can have the better. I know it becomes a

numbers game--alimentary limb, common channel, weight, etc... But

remember nutrient deficiency is not a game. This operation effects

the way your body is nurished(sp) and the more nurishment you can get

the better--hopefully with less calorie absorption. I am saying this

from someone who does not have any nutrition problems so far (knock

wood) and I am not saying that people who have this surgery have

problems with malnutrition--I think few do because they are so

careful about there nutrition and understand the seriousness of there

post-op care. I am just saying the more you are able to absorb the

less you have to worry and that is good. And if you ask anyone who

is having problems after surgery--suddenly the need to be thin loses

a lot of its importants--being healthy is the most important thing.

So, I am very happy I have a 300cm alimentary limb--now that I

have lost so well--I think I would have been happy to have an even

bigger one. I am sure that I do absorb a bit more calories from

carbs, but that is okay because I am thrilled to absorb more protein.

Oh, one thing Chris--if you read down to this part. Dr.

Scopinaro study is based on patients who do have a different stomach

and intestine connection than us. That does not make it invalid, but

it should be remembered that we are not exactly comparing oranges to

oranges more like a brand of orange to another type of orange. That

being said Dr. Ren did chose to make my alimentary limb longer based

on the information in Dr. Scopinaro study.

Dbbr (Deborah)

NYU, Dr. Ren, Jan12

LAP DS BMI 38, Now 25

Bluecross Healthchoice (Yeh they finally paid)

70+ pounds

July 20, 2001