Re: Scopinaro BPD (Long-term post-op here)

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Thank you for the lucid but personal response. Sounds dead on.

Dan

> Hi, all.

>

> I've received several emails over the past week inquiring about the

> Scopinaro BPD, which I had 10.5 years ago. I'm really busy at work

> right now, so my time for email is limited, so I'm replying to the

> inquiries here (so everyone can see them). I'm trying to answer all

> the questions I've received in one fell swoop.

>

> I had the Scopinaro BPD April 17, 1991 with Drs. Wittgrove and

> of Alvarado in San Diego. My mother had it 18 months prior (her 12-

> year anniversary is this month).

>

> If it's possible to extrapolate from our experiences and also look

at

> statistics as to what is likely, it's very true that the BPD is an

> excellent surgery for massive weight loss and maintenance. Both of

us

> have excellent health and vitality. All of our co-morbidities are

> gone. My mother is a healthy, active 60-year-old grandmother who is

> president of her synagogue; she does water aerobics 2-3x/week. I am

> 32, a triathlete and a college administrator.

>

> My thoughts about the BPD, relative to the DS:

>

> 1. Appetite/satiety -- we both note that we are often hungrier and

> want to eat more than " normal " people. My theory is that we have no

> pyloric valve, so nothing to regular appetite and gastric emptying.

> Dr. Rabkin told me that Scopinaro BPD patients typically consume

1.5 –

> 3x what we ate pre-operatively, whereas BPD/DS patients will

consume

> about 75%.

>

> 2. I have occasional halitosis, which is more common in BPD

patients

> (5%) than in DS patients. Also attributable to the lack of a

pylorus.

> I sometimes take digestive enzymes to help further break down the

> food (to prevent the odor from food putrefying in the gut). When I

do

> this occasionally, it's not a problem; if I do it frequently/ever

> day, I can gain a few pounds). Apparently this halitosis affects

> about 5% of BPD patients, according to Scopinaro's 1998 report.

>

> 3. The statistics about weight loss and maintenance are slightly

> better for the DS (I think 83% average EWL for the BPD/DS to 70%

for

> the BPD).

>

> 4. The small remnant of the preserved duodenum in the BPD/DS MAY

> result in increased micronutrient absorption of iron, calcium, B-

12,

> and zinc. However, all BPD and BPD/DS patients have to deal with

> significant micronutrient malabsorption and must take lifelong

> vitamin/mineral supplements (I prefer the ones designed for

> malabsorbers by www.vita4life.net).

>

> 5. I have heard theories about the increased risk of pancreatic

> cancer due to the removal of the lower half of the stomach in the

BPD

> instead of the removal of the stomach along the greater curvature

as

> in the BPD/DS. However, I have NO knowledge of any BPD patients who

> have had pancreatic cancer. Granted, I know just a handful of

> Scopinaro BPD patients, but this is not a concern my surgeon has

for

> me (us).

>

> 6. Dumping – dumping is very unusual in a BPD patient – the larger

> stomach pouch does tend to digest and process food relatively well,

> and rarely results in dumping sugars directly into the intestines,

> which is what causes dumping (usually) in proximal RNY patients.

> Proximal RNY patients typically have TINY pouches of about 1-2

ounces

> initially.

>

> 7. I do not have to be careful about water consumption with meals.

>

> 8. I have never had an ulcer (nor have any of the BPD patients I

know

> personally). However, there is increased risk for marginal ulcer

> formation at the stomach to intestine anastomosis.

>

> In sum total, if I were shopping around for a wls today, my first

> choice would be the BPD/DS. If that weren't available to me, I'd

have

> the BPD. I feel grateful that I was able to have it 10.5 years ago

> and enjoy the past decade as a healthy, vibrant, active young adult

> rather than burdended by 100-125 excess pounds.

>

> Incidentally, when I was searching for my name, someone mentioned

> they thought I'd regained 30 lbs. This is slightly off. I regained

10-

> 20 lbs. Then two years ago I decided to simplify my diet by

> eliminating all processed foods, simple sugars, and dairy and I

> quickly lost 30-40 lbs, going below the low-point achieved during

> my " weight loss window of opportunity. " I've lost a total of 125

lbs.

> If I eat a LOT of simple carbohydrates I can gain a few pounds, so

I

> try to keep my diet focused on healthier " whole " foods.

>

> Good luck and be well,

>

> Sharon

> Sharon@m...

> http://www.duodenalswitch.com/Patients/Sharon/sharon.html

> This summer's athletic events:

> Berryessa Biathlon (1.25 mile lake swim, 20-mile bike ride)

> Danskin Sprint Distance Triathlon

> Lake Del Valle 2-mile aqua challenge

> 2001 Vineman Ironman Relay (First place winner)

> Nike Sprint Triathlon