I had the JIB 30 years ago and it is definitely time to take it down. It seems that surgeons want to proceed with another WLS six months later, but I will not do that again.

Can anyone tell me what to expect after taking the bypass down? Recovery time, what it feels like to use the small intestine afte 30 years! Complications. AT 54 years of age I am not looking forward to this, but I have to do it. Too many side effects, though I have been one of the lucky ones!

I am not sure how old this is but 33 years after having the JIB I had to have it taken down in June of 2005. It is not the easiest choice to make but living is a heck a lot better after having it taken down your body just totally changes for the better except the weight comes back.

I had been considering taking down the bypass until last year. I am a professional in protein biochemistry and had been looking for a medical specialist who has expertise with the complications of the JIB. I found one finally at UCLA. It seems that there are many post JIB people that report that complications arise 12-30 yrs post op mostly related to bacterial overgrowth in the unused intestine. This was my situation as well. I posted my most current information on some new approaches to dealing with this by a combined antibiotic approach (search my posts). Still unsure if this would be of benifit to all of you but one thing for sure after talking to about 15 people that have had the surgery reversed it is the least attractive option unless its a life or death situation. The problems that many suffer with the surgery may not go away after reversal and some issues can get worse. While some seem to be in better health almost all regain most if not more of the weight they lost. I would welcome anyones feedback or input.
Gary gjpipes@msn.com

I had JIB in 1976, at age 21. I lost from 385lbs down to 150lbs. This surgery was a blessing to me and I believe it saved my life. I had always lived a healthy lifestyle, and after having a new baby, I gained over 180 lbs in 6 months. I was starting to have heart problems and stomach ulcers. The Dr.s didn't know what else to do. I was monitered closely for a while after the surgery. I had 2 more children without the weight gain problem, but I had to have a hysterectomy due to a prolapsed uterus, and a year later I had a repair for a prolapsed colon, due to loss of connective tissue caused from a protein defeciency. Until about 12 years ago, I was relatively healthy. It was like someone flipped a switch! I started having aches and pains in my kidney area and various joints, bloating, vitamin B deficiencies, numbing and loss of circulation in my hands, and extreme fatigue.I have also gain back about 100 lbs in the last 10 years.
Recently I have gotten where can't lay flat(I feel like my insides are being crushed), I can't wear clothing that have waistbands, I have tiny veins that are coming to the surface, I can't sit because of leg pain, back pains, and bloating. I have seen a Dr. at OHSU but he says he doesn't want to reverse the JIB because of the colon repair.
A colonoscopy and U/L GI series showed I have lesions on my L kidney, pancreas, and liver.
I am happy to find there are other survivors of these surgeries out there.
By the way, I think we need to provide names of insurance companies that won't help people like us. Even though years ago Their facilities did some of our surgeries, they will not treat anything that they can possibly say is surgery related!
Providence insurance is one of these companies that charge for coverage and do not treat the problems of the clients. In Portland area, I think we are paying for nice new buildings rather than adequate medical care. I have recently changed companies to Tricare(retired military), and they will cover the take down and/or Gastric bypass. Blue Cross/Blue shield and Kaiser will also cover under certain circumstances.