Re: MGB verses Laparoscopic Roux en-Y

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In a message dated 11/08/00 2:36 AM EST, ymrahmes@... wrote:

> Re: Digest Number 2442

>

>

> I want to introduce myself, I have been on this list for quite a while

> because I have been looking into weight loss surgery for a while! I am

> 44yrs old, married 23yrs, one son 20yrs old, about 5'1 " and 315lbs approx.

> I have looked at wls for 4 yrs. I am diabetic on insulin, treated for high

> blood pressure/cholesterol, have a cpap for sleep apnea, etc. I live in

> Greenville, NC and am going through the very slow, thorough process of the

> " Greenville Gastric Bypass " surgery (Dr. Cunningham).

>

> I have not made a final decision; my husband needs to meet with the dr

> first (he is very concerned as my lifelong partner). And there's a ton of

> other things to consider... But I am determined to find out everything I

> can about what is available for bariatric surgery including looking at the

> downsides of each type, etc. I am also on other wls lists, trying to find

> out about the procedures and everyone's experiences.

>

> The risks demand that I take a very serious careful look at as much as I

> can before I make a decision that will have such serious potential for

> major complications EARLY and LATE!!! Most of these complications were

> discussed and told to me at my first meeting with Dr. Cunningham, and they

> are potentially life-threatening short-term and long-term...this surgery is

> not a fun jaunt to fly through in a day and off you go down the yellow

> brick road happily ever after...

>

> I do not see why anyone would be afraid to read what other bariatric

> surgeons have to say about this procedure done by Dr. R. (it is different

> than what anyone else is doing currently). I have noticed a great deal of

> criticism on this list about a former patient of Dr. R's as the one errant

> disgruntled nuisance... I have seen her website " Dr. Rutlege Busted " - and I

> am sure for anyone on this list who have had, or is planning to have his

> mini-gastric bypass would find this website terribly upsetting, but also

> very informative, at least raising some very valid questions.

>

> She may be a disgruntled ex-patient, but it seems there is a lot of

> research and surgeons who do not recommend Dr. R's procedure for exactly

> what she describes happened to her. I am not afraid to find out what she is

> talking about. So far, when I compare what they used to do decades ago

> (that was very bad/dangerous) to Dr. R's surgery, well, I don't see much

> difference. It does not take a genius to look at diagrams side to side to

> see the incredible similarities of Dr. R's surgery and the old Billroth

> loops...

>

> I hope that the possible complications of alkaline reflux is thoroughly

> looked into by each person on this list, as well as comparing- the actual

> procedure Dr. R does- to the old Bilroth loop...Perhaps I will get kicked

> off this list for coming out of lurkdom for this post, I hope not though.

> I am alarmed enough at what the gastric bypass they do here in Greenville

> entails, I do not need to go further into other more controversial surgery

> procedures to get the willies.

>

> Any one who is not completely sobered by the - realization of living with

> these surgeries, even with everything going completely well, would be

> foolish indeed. The surgery here (Greenville Gastric Bypass) is backed by

> approx 19 years of stats and accompanying info. Although Dr. R has done a

> bunch (over 900?) he does not have that kind of history to look at and use

> to evaluate things.

>

> So, there are a lot of posts of seemingly happy newish patients on this

> list. And, there are a lot of other renowned bariatric surgeons who

> critisize Dr. R's procedures as one not used over two decades because of

> the problems, along with lots of journal articles about the old

> operation...It makes me feel very uncomfortable when no one here wants to

> even whisper anything about this on this list.

>

> Please don't crucify me, I'm just trying to figure out what's going on.

> It's my body, my life (God's actually), and I really want to know ALL that

> I can - the good, bad and the ugly as they say. Thanks for listening, I'm

> so terribly at wits end with all of this. Lord I just want to get a chance

> at a normal life at a normal weight...

>

> Sincerely,

> Yvonne

>

Hello Yvonne ~

Thank you for your brave and insightful post on the MGB list. I too have been

investigating all the possible weight loss surgeries to determine which is

best for me. It's very important for all of us to be as informed as

possible. Fanatical or not, this does address some very valid

concerns.

I am located in Columbia, South Carolina and need to locate a surgeon who

specializes in WLS within a comfortable driving distance. Over the past

several months, I have been preparing my packet for Dr. Rutledge. I must

confess that I am having second thoughts. Not just because of recent concerns

regarding the MGB procedure itself, but also because Dr. R. appears to be

overwhelmed with patients and there are substantial delays in scheduling

surgery.

What can you tell me about the " Greenville Gastric Bypass? " Do they do the

procedure laparoscopically? What are your thoughts and impressions thus far?

I know that all weight loss surgery has risks, but do you think the

Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass, Roux en-Y would be less dangerous than the MGB?

Thanks again for sharing! We must all help and support each other as we

battle a common problem and struggle to improve our quality of life.

God bless you, Teilah Shirley

Columbia, South Carolina

email: teilah111@...