Rate of malabsorption with RNY?

[gpmed 623]

So we all know RNY is a procedure that causes malabsorption, but I just realized I have no idea just how much malabsorption is causes. I didn't find much by googling either. Does anyone here happen to know? Is it variable from person to person and does it change over time?

[Threetimesacharm 1,400]

No idea what the clinical answer is but personally for me I don't have great malabsorption. They say over time that your intestines adapt and your malabsorption rate is lessened.

[LisaMergs 2,854]

Truly the biggest issue when looking at malabsorption is when you consider your Vitamin absorption. And that's why you take vitamin supplements!!! As for the food part- well that just gets the weight off when you consider calories. We still need the RDA of Vitamins no matter our weight or age.

[Djmohr 6,965]

RNY is designed to malabsorb. I would just like to clarify this for people because it really can be confusing. It is not a complication or cause of the surgery.

I have never thought about the rate of malabsorbtion nor have I heard that term used. I did spend quite a bit of time on this with my surgeon and nut because initially I was very worried about this part of bypass.

It does in fact depend on many things. Medications and nutrients are malabsorbed in different places. For example we will always malabsorb Calcium because it apparently absorbed in a different area within our new digestive system. Protein on the other hand is less impacted.

There is some belief that malabsorption lasts forever which is why we must take Vitamins for life. The body does adjust some to this.

My own personal experience is that I definately malabsorb some of my medications. I am on cyclosporine which I take for a few months a year for severe psoriatic arthritis. When I weighed 310lbs I would need to take 200 milligrams a day and it would clear me up quickly. Now I am 164lbs and recently had to go back on it. We started with 100 for a month when that didn't budge it we moved to 200 and now I am up to 300 and it's barely touching my psoriasis.

Same thing with pain medication. I take it and had to have it doubled and then it barely lasts for an hour. Now we moved me to a patch and that seems to work much better.

Why are you interested in the rate?

[LisaMergs 2,854]

Hmmmm. Makes me wonder. I have RA and take a crap-ton of meds for it. Hoping my body doesn't go haywire post surgical and then not be able to get it back in control. I had to stop all my meds in Feb and already I'm hurting pretty badly. Dang. Now I'm really bummed. Surgery is Wednesday. Better get my RD on the phone.

[Djmohr 6,965]

It does take some time to figure out which meds will be impacted. I am also on a biological injection called Stelara every 8 weeks. Anything given via injection or patch seems to work better.

I do miss my NSAIDs and have had to go back on narcotics for real pain control. I am unwilling to use NSAIDs at all. Of course they always want to give me steroids for my spine in but that causes my psoriasis to come back with a vengeance.

Now I am also hypothyroid and then medication had to be lowered because of my massive weight loss. I have now been on the same dose for a year but have lost a significant amount of weight since the last change yet I do not need more synthroid. We suspect I may be malabsoring that too.

Once you get them all set and your diet remains consistent it normalizes.

[gpmed 623]

I'm actually more curious about malabsorption of food. I've been lucky and my meds have been fine.