CLICK HERE FOR BLOGGER TEMPLATES AND MYSPACE LAYOUTS »

Saturday, March 28, 2009

This is what I had done. . .

Biliopancreatic Diversion Weight Loss Surgery

The biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) is a malabsorptive weight loss surgery, which promotes weight loss primarily through incomplete food digestion and absorption. It is considered a very effective surgical procedure for the treatment of obesity, but it must be considered carefully as a patient will need life-long monitoring and daily vitamin supplements to prevent nutritional and mineral deficiencies. Because of the high risk of nutritional deficiencies, it is used less often than other types of weight loss surgeries.
The biliopancreatic diversion is a combined operation in which changes are made to both the stomach and the intestines. Although the BPD anatomy is similar in principle to the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGBP), it is a more complicated combined operation and fewer bariatric surgeons perform the procedure, especially laparoscopically. Compared to the RYGBP, the stomach pouch is larger which allows patients to eat more and a greater length of the small intestine is bypassed which reduces absorption of calories and nutrients.
Restrictive Aspect of BPD Weight Loss Surgery
With the biliopancreatic diversion weight loss surgery about two-thirds of the stomach is completely removed, unlike the Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGBP) in which the stomach is bypassed but not removed. Removing a portion of the stomach somewhat restricts the amount of food that can be eaten at any one time, but the main purpose is to decrease the amount of acid produced by the remaining stomach.
The new stomach pouch is created from the upper stomach area, while the lower stomach section and normal stomach outlet (pyloric valve) is removed. A new stomach outlet is formed which is then joined to the final section of the small intestine. This procedure completely bypasses the first and middle section of the small intestine where most of digestion usually takes place. The bypassed section of the small intestine continues to transport bile and pancreatic digestive juices, but it is reattached near the end of the small intestine where it then mixes with the food.

Malabsorptive Aspect of BPD Weight Loss Surgery
By cutting and rerouting the small intestine, the distance between the stomach and colon (large intestine) is significantly shortened, as is the section of the small intestine in which food and digestive juices are mixed. Calorie and nutrient absorption does not occur once food enters the colon. By shortening the digestion process, the body is not able to fully absorb all of the calories and nutrients from the ingested food, resulting in weight loss.
The section of small intestine where the digestive juices and food mixes is referred to as the common channel. The bypassed section of the small intestine is referred to as the biliopancreatic channel. The section of the small intestine where the food travels is referred to as the alimentary channel. Bariatric surgeons can vary the length of the alimentary channel and the common channel using various formulas to determine what length is most appropriate for each patient.

So anyone who was curious about my surgery, there's the info!

Now onto after. The 3rd day was the worst!!! I cried most of the day, it hurt so much. That was the day I questioned "What have I done?!?!?!?!?" But everything seems to be going ok. I'm walking, keeping everything down (knock on wood) and doing pretty ok.

1 comments:

Missey~ said...

I am glad you are ok! I have been thinking about you. Please keep us posted.
Take care of yourself!!!