Mini Bypass - Any Experiences?

[sundown]

I know this particular board is for RNY Bypass but I figured it was closest!

So after a lot of research and soul-searching I've decided on the mini-bypass and have an appointment at Southampton with Mr Byrne via the National Obesity Surgery Centre (self-funded).

What's drawn me to the mini bypass is the lower risk of the procedure but seemingly with the same results and also the fact that if something does go wrong over time, it's reversible. I know it's only currently being done in Sunderland and Southampton here in the UK but it seems to be the bypass of choice if having the surgery done in Belgium and other European countries where it looks like they've been doing it for years.

So I'm wondering if anyone has had the mini-bypass and, if so, how it's been for you?

 

[weegie]

Hi Sundown

I am 5 weeks post MGB today, after surgery in Belgium. It was a revision from a band I had in 2007 with the same surgeon so you can see I do trust him.

I cant give you any insight over a long term for this op but so far my experience has been positive. Give my age, state of health ( waiting for a hip replacement) and the fact it is a revision I do not expect to be one of those people with a spectacular loss. Thats fine by me, slow and steady with health improvements is all I ask. I lost 16 pounds in the first 4 weeks as an indication of where I am.

Healing wise, fine, no painkillers from day 4 onwards. I had a lot of nausea post op but that went after a couple of weeks. I think this was more due to the anasthetic as my sense lf smell was badly affected. It is back to normal now.

Food wise I can eat probably more than I expected but I am still healing and some of the food is stuff like porridge and yogurt with fruit. I can now manage a small portion of harder protein like chicken tikka slices, thin cust roast beef and baked fish. That is a much wider choice than I had with my band so I am happy with that. Once I can manage salads I will be made up

I chose this op for many of the same reasons you state after a lot of research it seemed a no brainer. The sleeve was innapropriate for me as I had band induced reflux, and the rny didnt offer anything sunstantially different other than a longer op time and a higher risk of complications. There is nothing mini about a 2 metre bypass, a better name is the OAGB, or one anastomosis gastric bypass.

Good luck with your appointment.

Ps out of interest how much do they charge ? No worries if you dont want to say.

 

[sundown]

Hey Weegie

The National Obesity Surgery Centre are charging £9,740 with 12 months' aftercare which I know is a big whack more than the £5,600 or so having the same surgery done in Belgium costs. I did think very carefully about Belgium as I go there a lot anyway and trust the health service there, but what it came down to was my other half having a really packed work diary the rest of the year (he's self-employed so time off = money lost) and Belgium being quite a trek from the South West. I'm extremely flight phobic and know that trying to fly after a major op would be meltdown inducing stuff for me so it'd have to be road or rail and both would be long journeys so I decided to bear the extra cost to have it done in Southampton (which is about 1.5hrs drive from me) and have the 12 months' aftercare package.

Really the only thing I'm reading against the MGB is one report given at a UK bariatric conference by a Cambridge researcher who said there may be long-term (20 years) increased risk of oesophageal cancer but that was purely based on animal tests and the results so far from mainland Europe don't seem to support that. When I weighed up that possible increased risk against the increased risk of any type of cancer from being morbidly obese (I'm BMI 44 at present - 5'4, 18 stone 8) I decided it was a risk worth taking. I also noted that the outcome of that conference was a statement from the British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society recommending:

"BOMSS recommends that the MGB be introduced into routine bariatric surgical practice
within the confines of careful prospective data collection, by surgeons working within the
framework described in the BOMSS Professional Standards guidelines 2013"
http://www.bomss.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/BOMSS-MGB-position-statement-September-20141.pdf

Interestingly the National Obesity Surgery Centre won't do RNY anymore; the only bypass they offer is the 'mini' as they believe the risks are a lot less and the results the same. I'm wondering if going down this route is being the crest of a surgical wave in the UK and that most bypass surgery will move to MGB, or whether we'll simply continue to be a minority in UK surgical terms but 'bog standard' in European terms.

Interesting one!

It's really good to hear that you're recovering well though Weegie. So no regrets on this one I take it?

 

[weegie]

No regrets whatsoever if you read my diary you will see how miserable I was with the reflux. Almost 2 years, it was unbearable.

Yes if I lived nearer I may have considered using Dr Van Dem Bossche. Another Belgian working in out NHS and private. He would have been a lot more expensive as I had a revision. Dr DeBruyne didn't charge me anything for the extra operating time due to band removal and repairs. A surgeon here would. And no doubt have asked for 2 ops. Southhampton is as awkward to get to as Brussels. A flight, hotel etc.

Good luck with it. I think we will see a lot more MGBs in the future.

 

[weegie]

Also the research re cancer is weak MGB cancer link: the evidence is very weak | Bariatric News.

 

[Caroline jess]

I'm mgb too, band revision 4.5 months ago. Start weight 14.7 current weight 10.5.
Love the bypass over the band, quality of life is so much better. If you have mgb you are in a sense a statistic for long term data because there isn't any. I was the same when I had my band and I did turn out to get acid reflux which was not a well known side effect at the time.
I don't regret my decision to have mgb BUT if I were to do it again I may have just gone for the traditional bypass as this is the op that does have the long term data to support it. That is just from a long term perspective because as of now I have had a pretty smooth recovery with very few problems.

 

[sundown]

Hey Caroline

I think I've got to the point where I'm pretty confident and happy to be in the 'first wave' in the UK. I'd read the link Weegie posted above which essentially blows the purely theoretical study on the increased risks of oesophageal cancer with results from over 16,000 MGB surgeries done in the last 16 years that have developed no oesophageal cancer.

The society behind bariatric surgery in the UK seem to have come to the conclusion they can recommend it too and have said published results from 6,000 surgeries show that it's 'non-inferior' when "compared to the gold standard Roux en Gastric Bypass in terms of mortality, weight loss, comorbidity resolution, and qualityof life"

I have a feeling it's an operative choice that's going to grow as time progresses.

Still we will see! I'm meeting my consultant on 5th August and hoping to get a date for surgery late Oct/early Nov (I'm on holiday for 2 weeks late Sept so going to get that out of the way first)

 

[Caroline jess]

I hope your right! Like I said the only reason is because I still have some problems with reflux even after the mgb and sometimes that does concern me for the future. But I'm still very happy with my life!

 

[Curls40]

No regrets whatsoever if you read my diary you will see how miserable I was with the reflux. Almost 2 years, it was unbearable. Yes if I lived nearer I may have considered using Dr Van Dem Bossche. Another Belgian working in out NHS and private. He would have been a lot more expensive as I had a revision. Dr DeBruyne didn't charge me anything for the extra operating time due to band removal and repairs. A surgeon here would. And no doubt have asked for 2 ops. Southhampton is as awkward to get to as Brussels. A flight, hotel etc. Good luck with it. I think we will see a lot more MGBs in the future.

He was my surgeon on then nhs
A lovely man , relaxed and down to earth , I held his hand when he visited me in my room and thanked him , with all my heart for this new chance ,

 

[suestapley]

I have just had revision surgery with a fobi ring by Mr Van den Bossche, no complaints so far. Good luck with your journey.

 

[Curls40]

What is a fobi ring?

 

[suestapley]

A Fobi ring is like a jubilee clip that goes at the top of the stomach to stop the pouch stretching, it looks a bit like a lap band but is sewn in at the size that is needed.

 

[Curls40]

Is it cheaper than the mgbp then , ?? I'm guessing it's not permanent, I've not heard of it before

 

[Caroline jess]

I think the fobi ring goes over the bypass. It's for patients who are perhaps not having as much success with bypass alone. Sort of like a band over the top of a bypass. Don't quote me though!

 

[weegie]

Yup the FOBI is used as a revision, I think Southampton is the only place that does it so far. Don't quote me though. It's used when people have had regain after bypass, usually a few years down the line. Something we dont think will happen but it is easy believe me.

Talking of band over bypass, Dr Chris offered to leave my band in so I would have this.. no way. I was glad to get rid as you know

 

[Curls40]

Never knew this .thank you,
Hope I don't gain weight what a worry , I'm 10 moths post op now

 

[weegie]

Never knew this .thank you, Hope I don't gain weight what a worry , I'm 10 moths post op now

Same here, happened to me once am determined not to get there again. The MGB is my second chance .

 

[suestapley]

I was nearly five years post bypass when I put on 2st 9lb so decided to enquire about revision and fobi ring, when I went to see him 6 months ago he refused to take my money as said it would all be too tight to even keep water down but had another appoinment ion July 16th where he agreed he would proceed. Mr Van den Bossche is the only person I know of that does this fobi technique, if you do not stick to the rules the weight will go back on. It is only available privately and cost my husband £12,200. Had done a week ago and 13lb off already, well chuffed.

 

[weegie]

I was nearly five years post bypass when I put on 2st 9lb so decided to enquire about revision and fobi ring, when I went to see him 6 months ago he refused to take my money as said it would all be too tight to even keep water down but had another appoinment ion July 16th where he agreed he would proceed. Mr Van den Bossche is the only person I know of that does this fobi technique, if you do not stick to the rules the weight will go back on. It is only available privately and cost my husband £12,200. Had done a week ago and 13lb off already, well chuffed.

Wow, sounds expensive, did you have your bypass lengthened at the same time if only the ring fitted? It is good to have someone who has had this posting as, like you say, it isn't a common procedure in the UK. Mr VDB is a bit of a trail blazer.

Yes, re the weight gain. When my acid reflux got really bad with my band I could only eat slider foods and junk. I knew the weight was going on but I was so miserable with the symptoms I just let it happen, until I got a grip and chased down the reasons for my health problems. I put on 4 and a half stone in a very short period :redface:
I cannot even look back and say I enjoyed any of it.

I had been very successful with my band, losing over 9 stone though it was real hard work. It is much easier now I am 8 weeks out from my MGB. The choice of foods over a band is much better. Moral of the story is, most people can regain if they start not following the rules. Like it or not, we have to keep to this change in eating for life. Most of us probably will never be able to eat 2000 calories a day without putting on weight, so best to avoid doing so.

 

[suestapley]

I had my pouch made smaller and they lengthened my pipe work from intestine to bowel as now they say longer pipe work leads to greater results as was they thought not the case 5 years ago. I am no expert in bypasses but you have to stick to the rules, I wasn't eating proper meals, was surviving on toast, crisps sweets etc but funny enough was told no fizzy drinks back in October 2010 and never touched one since. Weird how some rules stick and not others. Good luck to you all with weight losses.