Question:
What is the long term mortality rate for longterm postop?

Because of the malabsorbtion that occurs with the bypass part of the RNY, Is there and increase risk of early death?    — Carol T. (posted on April 6, 2001)

April 6, 2001
The truth is the surgery is to new to give that type of info. I know that it is disappointing because I searched and searched for the answer to the same question. It isn't out there. I should tell you that I am pre-op, but I have had a consult with a surgeon who simply would not answer that question. In fact most will not answer it. From the limited info I could obtain: post-ops who maintain a healthy weight through a balanced diet and vitamin and mineral supplements will live longer than someone who is morbidly obese. However, it is similar to the longevity of a person who restricts calories to stay very slim. Also there are other factors like family history of other diseases, the damage of being morbidly obese has already done, and fate pure and simple. I think riding in a car I could die in a crash. Everything has risks you just have to decide if it is worth it for you. Honestly I still don't know if surgery is right for me, but if I come to the point where the benefits outweigh the costs I will do it. It's hard to determine with such limited information. I hope this helps a little. Good luck with everything:-)
   — S B.

April 6, 2001
There are (at least) 8 elements that need to be supplemented with any of the RNY models. As long as you are supplementing with the absorbable forms of these, you should be OK, getting regular labs and such. I have a very distal procedure, the most radical of the RNY family. But we've been supplemented from the beginning. Not perfectly, perhaps, but I've already lived longer than I would've as I was pre-op. And because I am watching, my labs are better than they ever were when I was dieting! Life is not perfect after RNY, but for me, it beats the alternatives. And because I am like this, I am watching MUCH more closely than I EVER would've as a normie. The docs don't watch as well as I watch 'em myself. I watch every fluctuation to see what I am doing or changed that can have a bearing, good or bad. It appears that with the malabsorption of much of our fats & oils, we lose our chance for high cholesterol, among other changes that can be considered a mixed blessing.
   — vitalady