I too am 5 1/2 years out.  I have been concerned about weight gain.  I dropped 20 lbs last spring and I have gained some back in the last 2 months and really havent changed anything.  I dont know where to turn or what to do..  I too would not reccomend  the surgery.  When I was heavier, I was not as ill as I have been. I got worse with my period so I had to get a uteral ablation, then had severe back surgery on my 567 disk lombar with donor bone.  And then was on pain killers for a bit and then I also have a numb legg from surgery on my back.  I have ostio parosis and take vit d in max strength.  Now I am still fitting in size 11 jeans but my body image is badddd.  Need encouragement here ....thanks

I also have the same issues as you, I am out 5 1/2 years now. My surgery was in April 2003, quite some time ago and lots of medical problems ago! In the beginning I felt great thought that the WLS was a God send! Well now being this far out and all of the medical problems I have had, I would never have had this surgery if I had known what would happen to my body! It seems like I was not as informed as I could have been as far as what your body experiences when it cannot absorb the vitamins and nutrients it needs. I am 5+ years post op and I have to take vitamin D3 2000 IU a day besides all of the others, Biotin, Iron, Calcium chews 3x, multi-vitamin 2x, and many others. I have had hernia repair surgery for 7 hernias that occured post op 3 years! I have been out of work now for 3 years on disability due to Degenertive Disc Disease, the break down of my spine, lumbar disc all herniated. My cervical disc all herniated or stenosis, problems with my hips Bursitis & my knees Rhuematoid Arthritis. All of the problems I believe are due to the fact that the body cannot absorb the calcium and vitamin D it needs to sustain the health of the bone density, I am also showing signs of Osteoporosis. I am 48 years old and I have been on Social Security disabiltiy since Feb. 2006. I have been told that eventually I will end up in a wheelchair and that the problems with my cervical disc stenosising will eventually lead to me being paralyzed from the neck down, I am currently on a pain patch which I wear daily and also Oxycodone 30 mg. 4x a day. This is no way to live and I feel like all of the pre op meetings I attended and all of the research I did prior to having this surgery failed to inform me what would happen as the body could not absorb the nutrients that it needed. I wish I could go back 6 years and totally forget doing this surgery and just accepting myself as a large person because I have gained back 80% of the weight I lost and though I eat one small meal a day, I cannot lose the weight because I am not fueling my body. I would be happy just to drin****d coffee all day and not eat at all. I have stomach problems, sleep problems, I have been through a divorce.....so basically WLS has destroyed my life. If there is anyone else out there with a similar story I would like to hear from you and God Bless you all if you are experiencing what I am right now. Big Hugs, Sherry

I know this is coming in a 'little' late, however. I RARELY drank before the op... about a year out, cull pain, I realized I was drinking like a sailor. I can drink a 750L of white zin and be a TAD drunk, so I dont know about everyone else, but my stomach like the strangest things: Popcorn, orange juice, wine, beer, snow-pea pods. Frankly it hates the normal foods, I get sick almost every time and I am 5 years out. Back to the drinks: Most everyone else I know who has this done, DRINKS or pops WAY to many pills! We would told pre-op not to drink, eat sweets, or binge eat.... who knew they were writting my daily dinner menu for me? LOL Weight is still good... pre- ( top 411) post min 118lbs, current ( for last year or so) 140 Good luck to you!

i had a scope done this morning and my doctor has confirm that i need the stomaphyx procedure, that my stoma is strench and i have a hiatal hernia. will insurance pay for this procedure.

I know your pain... email me privately. gail