Talk:Gastric bypass surgery
Reduced size as a percentage of original size?
The 30-60mL measure sounds small, but doesn't give any idea of scale. Is there anyone who can add in the parenthesis a measurement in terms of the size of the original stomach? I feel it will be more useful to the laity. --66.207.89.14 06:31, 16 Jun 2004 (UTC)
Copy and Pasted from a pamphlet
This reads like a copy and paste job, it even says " Please see the written consent form for a more detailed written listing of complications." what is that?
What happens after the weight is lost?
The reason I looked up this article tonight in the first place was because the question came to my mind: "What happens when the patient has lost all the weight they wanted to lose, but they are still unable to take in a normal ammount of food?" Is there surgery to re-expand their stomach, do they just make sure to eat high-calorie foods, or do they just waste away? Is there someone more knowledgable who can add this information? --66.207.89.14 06:31, 16 Jun 2004 (UTC)
Answers to questions
I am a nurse who takes care of Gastric Bypass patients, I work in one of the nation's largest surgical weight loss centers, and I had the surgery myself 14 months ago. I was 345 lbs then and I am 185 pounds now. I wrote the original version of this article.
Answers to questions:
1. It would be useless to estimate "natural" stomach size" because it varies so widely between individuals. It's also very hard to measure. All of the textbooks say between 1 liter and 4 liters. My stomach now holds about 300cc of food.
2. Gastric patients only have one surgery. Their bodies heal, then adapt to their new conditions. We are on a liquid diet for about a month, then reintroduce soft foods. My pouch was about 40cc (about the volume of an egg) when I first introduced soft foods and has expanded to hold more over the last year or so. That said, I will always have problems with maintaining adequate nutrition. I take a vitamin every day (which I cut into tiny pieces or crush - as I do with all pills - so that it will fit through the ring at the opening of my pouch). I have had problems with iron absorption so I added a supplement for that. At each meal I eat protein first, then complex carbs, then whatever else I want. We also have to have B12 injections about once a month (I give my own). I always carry my bottle of water with me to make sure I don't get dehydrated. I have been at this weight (about 185) for the last three months. The only surgery I want now is a tummy-tuck!!
Many gastric patients lose hair after surgery (I did) because of the lower protein intake. Others have other problems associated with malnutrition, but most can be remedied by a vitamin supplement.
Childoferna 03:05, 25 Jun 2004 (UTC)
- copied from duplicative talk page Talk:Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery.
it is wikipedia policy to use the most common name for an article. in this case gastric bypass surgery would be much more common. I'm stating my intention WP:Be bold and do this soon; although I will wait a day or two to see if someone has an objection. Themindset 01:46, 1 September 2005 (UTC)
This article has been renamed after the result of a move request. Dragons flight 04:38, 14 September 2005 (UTC)
As most research and Childoferna mentioned, there is a significant problem with nutrient absorption after the surgery. Different parts of the intestines absorb specific vitamins & minerals. The surgery specifically bypasses some of these areas, making normal function impossible. I think the article should include information about how most patients will require IV supplements (beyond simply b12) for the rest of their lives, are prone to violent nausea/diarrhea, and complications are VERY common. A recent (2005) study conducted by Medicare shows a 2% morbidity rate for the procedure itself (died during surgery) and 5% mortality in the first year.
My mother and aunt both had this done about 2 years ago and have had no end of problems. For example, the "new" stomach attaches to the small intestines about 12 inches down, the remainder of the stomach drains normally. This new stomach does not have a pyloric valve to prevent material from the intestines from backing up into the stomach. The stomach is acidic, the intestines are alkaline. When material does back up (and it does in the majority of patients at some point), it causes these horrifically painful ulcers.
If nobody has any objection I would like to add the above information (minus personal story) with relevant citations.--Legomancer 04:07, 3 January 2006 (UTC)
Definition
It seems to me like the article needs a succint definition of what this surgery is, other than "for weight loss", i.e., what is performed in the surgery (aside from what can be deduced from its name, which doesn't give you a lot of precise information). I was trying to find out whether this was the "stomach reduction" surgery, and had to scan the long article several times before I found this information amidst lots of technical details. --Cotoco 16:30, 16 February 2006 (UTC)
Reversible?
Is this surgery physically reversible (e.g.: can the stomach be put back together, etc.)? I think this fact (whatever the answer is) should be mentioned in the article. Some people may be looking at this article wondering if they could reverse the surgery after the weight is lost so their body can be in tact again. I'd imagine healthier eating habits are learned after this surgery, so reversing the surgery--I would think--would not have any adverse effects on the person's weight. Cparker 06:05, 23 February 2006 (UTC)
citations needed
It might be nice to cite one or more of the "multiple studies:" "The gastric bypass, through multiple studies, has been shown to improve or cure ..." Brainhell 01:01, 8 May 2006 (UTC)