Stoma - poor weight loss

[Guest guest]

Fay,

Thanks for passing this on to me. I was not aware (and not too sure it's an

accurate description, actually) that the stoma is supposed to " shrink. " From

what the specialist in Seattle told me, the surgeon creates a stoma in the

pouch, and it's a fine line to get it small enuf to cause restriction but not so

small as to induce vomiting every time one eats. In my case, his opinion was

that my stoma DID stretch, but that it was not made small enuf to begin with to

accommodate the natural stretching that sometimes occurs.

The fact that the American Bariatric Ass'n admits this problem has existed,

and docs have known about it and just ignored it, just burns my ass no end. I

wanna go out and stand those dudes on their heads and force them to add this

bit of info to their " warnings " they pass out to pre-ops. I never even HEARD the

word stoma till I started whining on the list about my appetite. All I ever

heard was pouch, pouch, pouch and how you COULD out-eat it if you grazed, drank

water with meals, etc. In other words, if the surgery failed you, it was all

YOUR fault. No accountability accrues to the docs.

I do remember too several people on the list stating that the docs they went

to about the problem, considered any fix to the stoma to be way too risky to

attempt, altho some of them had tried cauterization or some such procedure to

tighten and shrink it up (maybe that's what the poster meant by shrinking)?

Does anyone know if a lap band is the same thing as a silastic ring? I did

ask the specialist about the possibility of putting on a silastic ring and he

said there is not enuf room to even do that. If my pouch had been constructed

differently, some kind of fix would have been possible. That is another thing I

think those bariatric surgeons ought to be aware of: that they CAN do the

original surgery in such a way as to allow for remediation IF a problem with the

stoma does develop.

So far, I'm one of those " suffering in the wind " and I can tell you, it sucks

big time. And I am angry and frustrated and determined to put a stop to this

lack of responsibility on the part of these docs. Maybe it's time for a class

action suit? Anyone out there in the same boat who wants to look into it with

me?

Carol A

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In a message dated 11/9/2003 4:15:13 AM Central Standard Time, FBayuk writes:

(forwarded from a poster on another list)

> wasnt 'stretched' just didnt shrink... When I was diagnoised with

> with problem in 2001 - there was nothing out there. Finally the

> american baritic assoc wrote me and told me that surgeons had known

> about this problem for years; failed to fix it; so revert their

> patients to 'drugs, diet and excerise' when it happens. Originally

> my surgeon consulted with who at the time was considered the 'top

> bariatic surgeon in the nation' his advice to my surgeon was to

> have 'her drink as much water as she can just before a meal'.

>

> My original surgeon originally stated he would change me from a RNY

> to a DS , plumming wise; but leave the stoma alone (dangerous to

> fix).. then when it came time for him to fix it.. he backed out.

>

> When I had my hernia repaired the surgeon who was fixing that

> normally did the fobi pouch; and said he would put the fobi ring on

> in hopes of 'fixing it' but when he went in there was no enough

> room, so he backed out.. His advice " diet and excercise - he would

> NOT attempt to fix the stoma.

>

> I then went to a third surgeon... for a consult. He decided that a

> lap band would fix this problem. Sooooo thats what I have now.. a

> lap band.. I cant say for sure it will work because I have not yet

> had my fill (a fill is what tighens the band). I am scheduled next

> week for my first one. The challange tho was getting the lap band on

> the RNY; that my surgeon was sucessful. So hopefully the fill will

> ber too...

>

> I'll keep you posted.

>

> But, normally 99% surgeons DO NOT fix this problem if it happens..

> Patients are basially left to suffer in the wind.... If my lap band

> does work... I am hopeing my surgeon will 'publish' because I know

> there are people out there that have this besides me and hopefully

> will work for them too.

>