--- In ileostomy@yahoogroups.com, "katsgumby" <catscleavage@...> wrote:
>
> I am interested in having the gastric bypass surgery done, however,
> I have a perm ileostomy. Is there anyone out there who has a perm
> ileostomy and has had gastric bypass? If so, your pro's and con's
> please. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Kat

Have you asked your gastro doctor? I would think, under your
circumstances, lap-banding would be a better idea. In lap-banding
there is no cutting of the small intestines.

Since the only organ you have that absorbs the nutitional benefits of
what you eat as well as processes waste is your small intestines I
would think you would not want THAT cut in half. Your small intestine
has "learned" to do the work of the entire colon. In "normal" by-pass
surgery the stomach is made smaller and the small intestine is cut in
half then usually reconnected to the large intestine. You have nothing
to reconnect to.

My sister-in-law had the lap-band proceedure and has been quite
successful with it. I know several people who have had the by-pass
surgery and they are still in a constant struggle to keep the weight
off now that the intial weight loss has occured and they are back
eating solid foods. After about 3 years it seems many have begun to
gain weight, some have put it ALL back. My neighbor, across the
street struggles with the same 25-30 pounds up and down, up and down.