hernia/possible revision

October 20, 2003

I need to talk. Today has been a really rough day. I had 2

appointments with a 2 different surgeons. One was with a general surgeon

who verified that I have a hernia. It seems pretty major but not an

emergency. There is large and small intestines in the herniated area.

The second appointment was with a plastic surgeon. I had gone to

him to see about getting the excess skin removed from my thighs at the

same time the hernia operation was done. I have had yeast infections and

sores behind my knees on and off for over 3 years. He basically stated

that it was probably not going to look great (never really an expectation

of mine), there was a potential of infection (ya think) and I would have

to look at wound care (no big deal.) Here come the but, he wants me to

consider having a revision to an RNY. He is concerned about me not

loosing more weight and having a hernia operation.

Here is the problem. I am not sure I want a revision. I suspect

that there may be a staple line disruption. I have not been scoped and

probably need to consider that. If there is a staple line disruption, is

a revision my only choice? Is the RNY the safest of the gastric

bypasses? This plastic surgeon and my general surgeon are both trying to

tell me a good multivitamin and Tums will be the only supplementation I

need. The Tums is a joke and a half and I know it but from everything I

have read, don't RNYers have to supplement more then that?

Sorry for all of the questions. I just got scared and started

digging in my shoes. My general surgeon wants me to think about it but

is not pushing in that direction. He would much rather me consider it

now then to decide I want it later. It would be easier to do the RNY and

then the hernia repair then the other way around. Any help you all can

give would be great.

Lori Owen - Denton, Texas

SRVG 7/16/01

Dr. Ritter/Dr. Bryce

October 20, 2003

Lori,

If you don't have a mechanical breakdown in your original surgery and are

still losing weight, I am certain you better than anyone can decide what is best

for you. If you don't want a revision, you shouldn't feel pushed into getting

one.

I chose the RNY basically because I had a friend who had the VBG and

ended up getting revised. To be frank I knew there was no chance in he** that

I'd do well with just restriction. I needed the malabsorption along with

restriction to lose weight. I don't mind having to take supplements, to me it's

worth it!

I hope you do first and foremost what you want and what is best for your

health.

M

> I need to talk. Today has been a really rough day. I had 2

> appointments with a 2 different surgeons. One was with a general surgeon

> who verified that I have a hernia. It seems pretty major but not an

> emergency. There is large and small intestines in the herniated area.

> The second appointment was with a plastic surgeon. I had gone to

> him to see about getting the excess skin removed from my thighs at the

> same time the hernia operation was done. I have had yeast infections and

> sores behind my knees on and off for over 3 years. He basically stated

> that it was probably not going to look great (never really an expectation

> of mine), there was a potential of infection (ya think) and I would have

> to look at wound care (no big deal.) Here come the but, he wants me to

> consider having a revision to an RNY. He is concerned about me not

> loosing more weight and having a hernia operation.

> Here is the problem. I am not sure I want a revision. I suspect

> that there may be a staple line disruption. I have not been scoped and

> probably need to consider that. If there is a staple line disruption, is

> a revision my only choice? Is the RNY the safest of the gastric

> bypasses? This plastic surgeon and my general surgeon are both trying to

> tell me a good multivitamin and Tums will be the only supplementation I

> need. The Tums is a joke and a half and I know it but from everything I

> have read, don't RNYers have to supplement more then that?

> Sorry for all of the questions. I just got scared and started

> digging in my shoes. My general surgeon wants me to think about it but

> is not pushing in that direction. He would much rather me consider it

> now then to decide I want it later. It would be easier to do the RNY and

> then the hernia repair then the other way around. Any help you all can

> give would be great.

> Lori Owen - Denton, Texas

> SRVG 7/16/01

> Dr. Ritter/Dr. Bryce

October 21, 2003

My mother had them fix her hernia's while they did the rny. It depends on

the surgeon and his expertise I guess. May want to talk to your surgeons

and see if the rny surgeon can do it in the same setting. If not, may not be

a bad thing to look for another surgeon and see if they could do it. My rny

surgeon would have fixed any hernias if I had had them too.

As for vitamins, the best page I found to explain our deficiencies and why

we have them and what we really need is:

www.bariatricsupplementsystem.com

Not saying you have to go with these, but the explanation is great on here.

It also goes into the calcium and which one is best for you, citrate..not

carbonate. My aunt took tums faithfully (she was a nurse), swore by it, got

us all to take them too, had kidney stones and she had osteoperosis (sp?)

not too long after. So *buzzer* not that great of stuff imo.

The rny - proximal's typically take normal amounts of vitamins that most

should be taking anyway imo on any fairly low cal diet. The ones who tend

to have to supplement more than the norm, are distals. Feel free to do your

own research.

Sherra