Q: I am hoping you can help me with a problem that I have had since I had my stomach stapled in the early 1980s. My body will not digest any fruit but a banana. Vegetables in my diet are almost non-existent. Meats are limited. My body will digest carbohydrates and that is the one thing I am not supposed to have. My body will not even digest apple sauce. Five minutes after eating it, I have to throw it all up before water will stay on my stomach.
I have been to doctor after doctor and no one can tell me what the problem is. I contacted the Cleveland Clinic but of course they said I would have to come to their facility. I live too far away and cannot afford to travel there.
I have tried everything including enzymes. Nothing has worked. I am at the end of my rope. My body rejects the food and I have to throw it up.
A: There are numerous procedures a person can undergo for weight loss. Collectively, they are known as bariatric surgery. Gastric bypass (stomach stapling) is one of the most common forms performed in our country, yet interestingly, trends reveal an overall decline from approximately 65% in 2003 to 47% in 2011 of all bariatric procedures performed which are designed to help individuals lose weight, thus reducing their risk for developing countless weight-related health issues such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, stroke, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), and more. Another type of bariatric surgery is laparoscopic adjustable banding whereby a band is placed through a laparoscope around the stomach. This procedure is also performed less often, declining from 24% of all bariatric procedures in 2003 to 18% in 2011, perhaps because of its high rate of revision as well as weight recidivism.
Readers should understand that every overweight individual they pass on the street is not a candidate for bypass surgery. There are guidelines, extensive screening processes, lifestyle and behavioral changes, dietary restrictions, and life-long nutritional monitoring. As a general rule, surgery may be an option if an individual has a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or higher, an indication of extreme obesity; a BMI of between 35 and 39.9 with serious weight-related medical issues; or if the BMI is between 30 and 34 but the individual has serious health issues that are weight-related.
The long-term risks an individual may face include gallstones, dumping syndrome that causes diarrhea/nausea/vomiting, malnutrition, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar levels), gallstones, and a great deal more.
You don’t specify which procedure you had done in the 80s. Around that time, a procedure known as biliopancreatic diversion or the Scopinaro procedure was frequently performed and still is in morbidly obese patients. The surgery diverted bile and pancreatic juice into the distal ileum, leaving a short segment of small bowel to absorb all the nutrients that require biliary and pancreatic juices. Further, it is now known that patients who had this procedure done often have more severe problems with protein and fat malabsorption. I am not implying this is your problem but you might attempt to speak with the surgeon who performed your procedure and ask which one was done and if there are reasons why you are so extremely restricted with what you can eat. Some of the bariatric procedures performed are reversible, some are not. Regardless, there is a reason why your body cannot accept the foods you mention and you need help.
Ask your physician about the nearest facility to you that provides gastric bypass so you can make an appointment and get the answers you need. Or, do some research to determine the nearest medical center where they have a bariatric surgery department. A lack of funds should not restrict you from enjoying your life – and a good meal.
