Revision Surgeons in CT?

Hi Kathy, happy holidays. Was the doctor in Old Saybrook who did your endoscopy - was that Dr. Jay Zimmerman, practicing with Shoreline Digestive Health Center? Thanks! Maureen

That's the name. I don't remember who he was with. I do know that he was on Boston Post Road and it was just two of them. That could have changed in the past two years.

I would love to talk to you more.  I don't even see Dr. Aranow any more.  I see his assistant.  I remember when I was 180 I said I was happy with this weight and thought I would never even be there.  He told me to lose more because I would would gain at least 20 pounds back.  I hate that he is always right since I have gained 30 back.  I also remember how much he stressed he would only do surgery once because if you gained the weight back you didn't learn your lesson!  This will be a forever problem for which I do not have the answer.  Do you go to support groups?  I have trouble going to the Monday night group, I have 3 kids who all have activities, homework, etc.  I am interested in the Saturday group because I think I could pull that one off.  Any ideas????
Thanks for listening,  Lynne

Lynne, this is troubling for me to read; you and I (and some others reading these posts) are long-termers and things have changed since we had our surgeries. The perception that "we didn't learn our lesson" is precisely the issue at stake here! WLS surgeons should not automatically blame the patient for weight regain any more than they should take credit for the weight loss! Do they perform a surgery that facilitates weight loss? Absolutely. But it is the PATIENT who learns how to get fit, strong, healthy in the process. That is the ultimate success. Of course, over the years life happens - kids, jobs, relationships fail, any number of things happen that will throw a curve at that success, and our weight will fluctuate depending on how well we cope with those cir****tances. But the bottom line is the physiological consequences of the initial surgery CHANGE. Our internal guts CHANGE and THIS is what causes the regain as much or more than any other factor. WLS surgeons MUST be on top of their game in terms of long-term changes to what they do in the original surgery, and then share that knowledge with us as we move farther and farther away from that original surgery. IT IS NOT YOUR FAULT!!! Can you do things differently? Of course, but your body has changed in order to do what it is programed to do - keep fat and nutrients in your system to stay healthy and alive. The other piece is we have a genetic factor (any person who has been significantly overweight for most of their lives and have not been able to lose weight despite strong efforts has a genetic disposition to being fat) - so our demons are REAL. The fight is tremendous to keep the weight off and any doctor who does not recognize all of these pieces is NOT DOING HIS JOB!!! I want to meet you. I'll be going into the city a couple of times this month, email me and let's swap contact info. Please don't ever think again that your regain is your fault. Start from there. Take care, Lynne. Maureen

Hey there, I use Doctor Valin/Doctor McMillian in New Haven CT.  I am a gastric bander who did not make it with the band. I am having my revision done on Jan 3 to Gastric bypass.  Give them a call. If your doctor wont lisen you need to find one who will.
Good luck

I too am constantly hungry and I do believe it is my connection between my pouch and intestines.  i believe it is big now and everything just slides right thru.
I will be following this link for an answer also.  I need to do something and do it now.

thanks for posting this.

Hi there, I feel your pain. I'm not sure we'll get any further postings to this but I have done some more digging in the way of research and I think I've stumbled upon my issue. The old "phantom" stomache is producing the hormone, gherlin, which is responsible for triggering the hunger signal to the brain. Because nothing is getting into the old stomache, that gherlin switch is never turned off. I really believe this is what's going on for me. I have been struggling all alone with this for over two year now and all the doctors tell me is rally with willpower.  And medications for depression. I'm not flippin' depressed, I'm flippin' hungry - constantly! An aching, painful hunger that will not subside - ever - no matter what I eat! Best of luck to you. Feel free to email me off site if for any reason than misery loves company???

Angela, best of luck with your upcoming surgery! I'll be thinking positive thoughts for you - best, Maureen