On March 28, 2007 at 1:44 PM Pacific Time, Playannette wrote: You are right you are not alone I have gained back 20 lbs since last year. The honeymoon is over. Tell me how weigh****chers is doing for you I love that program and found it to be the most realistic program out there. I am thinking about going back to WW but I am going back to basics protein shakes and eating like I did when I went to full foods. Remember chew, chew, chew that is really important cause I found myself swallowing without chewing and sipping tha****er all day, make sure you get those liquids in. Annette I too had my surgery in Feb 2004 and I'm weighting in at 145lbs. I feel very uncomfortable at this weight like my back is hurting from the extra pounds and having a hard time breathing again. i too find myself swallowing without chewing and eating sweets. feel my pouch has stretch a whole lot.  don't know what to do to get back on track. and i can feel the loose skin now and it jiggles just like jello. hate it but can't afford plastic.

Debby -

It's actually part of most people's experience with WLS.
By everything I read preop - you can expect to gain back up to half of what you lose after 5 years.
Anything else is extraordinary diligence and following "the rules" to the letter.

Most of us aren't great at following "the rules" or else we wouldn't have ended up where we were to begin with.

You've had a lot of health issues even post op.
I know I've had more joint issues after I lost weight (pain wise) once the heaviness and the weight was OFF the joint than I did before - just because the weight wasn't pushing down on the worn joints, so they 'slopped around'.

All you can do is try to restart. Does your surgeon have a support group? Many have realized that a "restart" program is needed and have started something like that with a medifast-kick-start...

Check, if you haven't been back in touch with them.
Your tool CAN still work.

BUT
This far post op, you're back to it taking some work to make it work..

HUGZ
Hang in there!!!

...Nick (also Feb 04)

I too had my surgery in feb 2004. for the longest time the weight stayed down then this year say may of this year I gained 20lbs. just had some lab work and going to see the doctor this friday. I hope there is a good explantion for this weight.

Hi~ It's been forever since I've posted in here, but I truly find myself at wit's end. I had RNY in February 2004 and did very well for about the first 18 months. Losing weight without difficulty, exercising regularly etc. I do admit that exercise slacked off a bit (maybe 6 months or so), but I continued to eat my protein and drink my water....then my weight began to creep back up. 2 years out, I had regained about 10 pounds. I began exercising again, continued the protein and water...and at 3 years out...poof 10 more pounds. In the interim my migraines began occurring again (i hadn't had one since a few days before my surgery). I began having nightsweats, couldn't sleep, tired all the time and just generally irritable. Through testing with my PCP, we came to figure out that I've got a thyroid issue going on. They're treating it and trying to get my levels stabilized in the meantime, my weight is continuing to increase. Regardless of how diligently I exercise, drink my water and eat my protein it has no impact. I'd be foolish to say that I'm 100% perfect with my eating, but I'm following the directions of my surgeon far more often than not. I was doing aerobics all of 2007 4-5 times a week, with no change to my weight loss, it became very frustrating. Beginning in January, we had an unexpected vacancy at work and my schedule took on a life of it's own. I could no longer exercise during lunch time, and rarely left the office before 9:00PM. I keep a stash of protein at the office, and could usually run to the cafeteria to grab a bite to eat. Although I have to admit that hunger is something that I do not experience. There have been days where I eat breakfast and then don't eat again until sometime in the evening if my schedule is busy enough. Hunger just isn't an issue for me, and hasn't been since my surgery. Here's a prime example, I began exercising regularly again about 6 weeks ago, attending one hour classes 4-5 days a week, drinking my water and ensuring that I get a minimum of 70 grams of protein a day. I've gained nearly 10 pounds! I have lost nothing and feel like a complete failure. Some of it is to do with my thyroid...but I don't know what more to do...It appears as though I'm damned if I do and I'm damned if I don't. It's so discouraging to be doing what's asked/expected of me to have the same result as if I didn't. I feel like a failure, yet I don't know what more to do or what to do differently. I'm lost....completely lost.

I understand your frustration, I live 5 hours away from my doctor, he is in Kane PA. Just as you went online to this site post on the local forum to find a local doctor and ask people to post any recommendations, this site is a great resource. I hope you find the help that you need.