Written by Barbara McHenry, MS - (2/02) I had the DS/BPD in June of 1999. Yes, I know that most people look better and most feel better and there are many pluses to this, but I don't feel that anyone less than 350 pounds should even consider this drastic surgery. I made a mistake...I hope that others can learn from that.
This surgery is NOT the be all and end all of life nor is it the right choice for every person!
Some people should not attempt to have the surgery due to medical reasons, some for emotional reasons and some, just because they are happy trying old tried and true methods.
It's been 3 years now since my surgery. No, I am not one of the happy campers "but" even though I have had more problems than anyone should have to have, I never say "don't do it". I only say, be very very informed.
I so wish that the "happy campers" would also admit that there are many people who should NOT have the surgery. They always make it seem like everyone is soooo happy after surgery. That life completely changed. It doesn't folks. Yes, hopefully, you will be more healthy (I wasn't that lucky), but your life stays basically the same but you are able to do a little more. Prince Charming is NOT going to be standing at the door, you will NOT be elected president of your company, and you will still have the kids running around the house only now, it's easier to follow them. I just know that people say it's life changing. I can't see that. I am the same, my life is the same (only unhealthier) and nothing really changed much. Possibly, the way strangers look at me and such but that's about it.
I just had to write and say that surgery is NOT for everyone. It's a very very important choice and there are many pros AND cons. You just seem to hear many more of the pros which is a good thing. I just want people to know that there IS another side to this. For me, the DS has not been good. I've had nothing but problems and serious ones. Good luck to all in your choices. Barbara
More information:
Procedure: Open BPD/DS on 6/99,
Start weight: 280lbs.-- (ht:
5'4") size 28
Weight on 2/02: 117lbs - size 4.
(Note: Barbara, at this point, has a great deal of difficulty in keeping her
weight from going too low. Her goal weight was 140.)
Surgeon: One of the most skilled in
the USA. Their name is not given here because these complications can occur with
the best of surgeons (and they are one of the best, having done hundreds of DS/BPDs
and also having impressive credentials). This surgeon was thrown out of one
hospital because there were so many lawsuits against them. This does not
reflect on the skills of the surgeon but rather shows that this particular
surgery, the DS/BPD, is extremely risky. Some say that it (also a
radical intestinal bypass) is more risky than the JIB (the old intestinal
bypass) which is no longer done. This surgeon's name is not disclosed here
because if an individual wishes this procedure (the DS/BPD) they would still be
better off going to this surgeon than to many others. It is to be
emphasized here that having an excellent surgeon does not mean that you won't
get complications from the surgery!
Barbara was listed as a successful surgery in the surgeon's statistics because she had lost all of her excess weight (and then some) and was keeping it off.
Problems include: constant diarrhea (watery stools, 4-6 times a day), weakness and fatigue, LUPUS (diagnosed as WLS related), Sjogrens Syndrome, severe anemia (treated with transfusions and weekly iron shots)
Weight 6/02: 110 lbs. Stools have increased to 20 per day. Barb cannot get a night's sleep. Becoming very weakened. Very anemic also.
8/02/02: Diagnosed "blind loop syndrome" (obstruction in bypassed small bowel and necrotic infection).
Surgery was reversed: 8/20/02
Barb is doing well after her reversal and beginning to gain weight up to a healthy weight.
(from profile on obesityhelp.com)
Barbara: I almost died in November from lack of iron and my body does not absorb vitamins or minerals now that are taken by mouth. My calcium levels are constantly low although I take enormous amounts of it. I have a hernia that is the size of a grapefruit that I can't have operated on until my iron level gets better.
I now have arthritis,(Sjogrens caused) depression, no sleep, terrible eye pain, very dry scalp and face, lower iron than ever even with the shots (they are increasing dosage and frequency). All this caused by the Lupus and Sjogrens and probably caused by the surgery originally from what I have been told. No one ever mentioned this [possibility] before surgery.
Explanation of Sjogrens syndrome
Barbara: It causes your whole body to dry out. If you have something in your eyes, you know how terrible that feels till you get it out right? I have that everyday..every minute and can't stop it. I have implants in my eyes for dryness .. they don't work..I am constantly in pain...... Also, no vaginal moisture causes problems with having sex. My head and scalp are just one big flake, itching constantly. Dry mouth constantly - have to use a special mouthwash for that. I am losing hearing from dryness in ears and losing memory from dryness in brain.
This is all possibly caused by my lack of vitamins and minerals and my lack of being able to absorb them because of the surgery.
Also, of course, the antidepressants that I had to go back on after surgery (due to my body not making enough serotonin) just causes my dry eyes to be worse. It's a catch 22. If I don't take my antidepressants, I get worse emotionally and if I do, it makes my dry eyes soooo bad that I literally tear my hair out. There seems to be no antidepressant that doesn't cause dryness.
Repeat surgeries?
Barbara: None. I have a hernia that they can't operate on due to low BP and low iron which could cause a stroke. ( BP is usually 80/50 - iron is at best, 8.3).
Anemia:
Barb: I have been taking iron injections for one year now, and
they are still not up to normal. I will have to have those injections for the
rest of my life and they are NOT like the B12 [injections]. They hurt
tremendously for weeks and I have to have them once a week for life.
Expense of tests required for follow-up and treatment:
Barbara: This year alone, my insurance and I have paid over
$5000.00 for blood work.
It's about $1000.00 each time because they do TOTAL workups each time...especially with the lupus and
Sjogrens
Immune system problems:
Barbara: I seem to get everything that comes into this house and twice as bad. I am getting used to feeling crappy - almost a normal thing now. I don't think that I would know what to do if I awoke and had no problems one day.
Q: Would you have the surgery again, if you had it to do over?
Barbara: If I had the choice and was going to do it again, I would NEVER do it! I think that my getting the surgery was more out of vanity than necessity..it's why I could kick myself. I didn't have many co-morbidities although I couldn't breathe well, and yes there was social pressure... but I am one of the honest people. I can honestly say I wanted to experience "normal".....people often say WLS for their health...I know that but if they were honest, it's also to look good.
(Barbara chose the DS/BPD for several reasons among which were the claims by some of the post ops that you can eat anything you want and still be very thin.)
(This article is a composite of several phone interviews with Barbara and also her profile on Obesity-help.com. Barbara was under the treatment of three specialists at the time and hoped that her health would improve in the future. (She told me "I don't want to have gone through all of this for nothing!") However, her health did not improve and diagnosed 'blind loop', she was reversed on 8/20/02. Her intent in consenting to this article was to inform those considering this procedure (the DS/BPD) of what possibly could occur after surgery.)
Written 7 months after the take-down of her DS: March, 2003:
When I first applied for WLS (BPD/DS) for all who didnt' know, I was relatively healthy. I had "some" athritis of the knee and of course, shortness of breath (I was 280 pounds and 5'3. I was told that by losing the weight these things would be gone and I would be happier and healthier. Well, as most know, I did get thin...very very thin and almost died from malnutrition and anemia afterwards. As if that wasn't enough, I also developed many autoimmune problems.
Now, I suffer and will suffer from anemia, psoritis (sic), Lupus, Sjogrens, severe arthritis and from what I was just told yesterday, I had better get ready for even more problems because the way they cut my stomach and intestines, I am now prone to ever disease that comes into contact with me. This is a lifetime sentence even "after" the reversal. They can't fix the effects that this WLS had on my body after 3 years. They can only deal with it and give me meds for it. What meds might you ask? Well at least one is prednisone.....yes the drug that makes you gain weight. It's for the psoriasis. Ironic huh? I had the surgery to make me thin and healthy and end up totally unhealthy and taking drugs which will most likely, in the end make me large again. EVERY none WLS doc that I have been to has berated the
BPD/DS for this very reason. It's impossible to "go back". At least with the RNY (which I don't advocate either to be honest), you can reconnect the stomach again if nec. With the BPD/DS it's gone forever. What grows back are the parts that they left. Not the parts that they removed which absorb certain essential vitamins. It's gone forever. I just thought that this whole process was quite ironic. Hugs, Barb
(reason for writing this?? Went to the emergency room yesterday with on of the worst cases of psoriasis they have ever seen)