I have gained 80 pounds-- the surgery did not fail and I am not a failure

I had Gastric Bypass surgery October 2004. I will be 45 yrs. old in March. I am an evangelizer of the good news and a credit analyst.  I have been morbidly obese all my life. I have a lifetime of mental and physical scars from obesity. Before and after surgery I tried Weigh****chers, other methods of losing weight.  Every thing! 

I have gained back 80 of almost 300 pounds lost initially. I joined Barbara Thompson's back on track program so I can get back on track.  I never reached my goal of 200 pounds. I am considering a revision but I am not getting my hopes up on that front since revisions are hard to get approved.  My program leader already checked with my insurance and they is an exclusion in my insurance that will not approve lap band over pouch.  

I weigh 382 today and  My lowest weight after surgery was 302, and then I went up to 311, next year 321, last year 338 and this year Jan 2010 372 and to date 382.

I use to exercise on average 5 to 6 times a 45 to 75 min each session and weights at health club and at home with Leslie Sasone DVD's. I was very active and one reason for my gains over time I am less committed to my workouts. So far in January I am exercising 3 to 4 times a week 30 to 45 min sessions with walking away the pounds DVDS. I am ashamed to go back to health club since I have gained 50 pounds since the last time I was there--which was February 2009.

2009 my knee gave out and did not exercise for 2 months last year and I have not been able to get back on track since.  I am a failure I just need a readjustment and not sure how to get mind back in focus with my goals.

My biggest down fall is my addiction to and love of food. Surgery can not fix this so I have to fix my head with this problem. My plan is to start attending support groups each month and doing on-line back on track program with Barbara Thompson.  If any one has any more suggestion please HELP.  Thanks in advance for all replies.

Dear Molly:

Welcome to the Illinois Board and I am SO GLAD that you came here.

It sounds like you are on the right track to getting back to basics.  Exercise and support are the keys to this life long battle.  You CAN do it, I am sure, with lots of love, help and support from folks like us.

There is also a BOTT (Back on Track Together) group here on OH and those members are very supportive and non-judgemental.  Here is a link to their discussion board:
http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/backontracktogether/discuss ion/

I look forward to getting to know you and will help in any way that I can.  I am struggling with some of the same issues.  I never got to goal and have now gained 15 pounds over my lowest.  I need to also commit to getting and staying on track.  I am always on the lookout for healthy, great tasing recipes and when I find something, I share it here.  If there is something in particular that you are looking for, I may have a healthier version of it in my files.  Just let me know.

Again, welcome and glad to meet you!

Thanks 4 encouragement and we can do it.  I did join the BOTT group already.  So if you see the same post, ignore.  

Hi, Molly! Welcome.

Don't be so hard on yourself. You are not a failure. With as much weight as you (and me) had to lose, the deck was stacked against you with a RNY. I think I band would be an even  bigger mistake, based on how much you have to lose and the data out there.

Check out the AACE/TOS/ASMBS (Vol. 14 - July/August 2008), on page 10 there is a table of Reported Weight Loss as Percentage of Excess Body Weight after Bariatric Surgery. You will see you are not alone.




I must ask: what does your surgeon suggest?

There are two procedures out there that people talk about to help "fix" a RNY--the Stomaphyx and ROSE procedures. I believe they each fix a too-open stoma. Both have bad reputations here on OH. They seem to work for a few weeks and then, no more weight loss, except for the lighter wallet. The folks on the revisions forum might be able to offer you some insight on their experiences with them.

Have you considered a revision to the duodenal switch? I had a DS two years ago and I love it. I got to goal easily, eating foods I love, from salads to bacon to cheese to desserts. I no longer feel any guilt over any food I eat--it's nourishment and pleasure, like it should be. I take 12-13 vitamins a day and life is sweet.

Here on OH's DS forum we have lots of people *****vise from a RNY, band or VSG to the DS. Come and check it out. Those folks can tell you more about their experiences. Also, you may want to read up on the DS at www.dsfacts.com .

The only trick is you need a skilled revision surgeon to do this. Your doctor does NOT know how to do a DS and based on my conversation with his office when I was shopping for a WLS, they do not even understand a DS. They have an antiquated notion of what it is, circa 1990.

If you want to revise to a DS, you will need someone who can repair the damage to your stomach, re-attached the blind stomach and pyloric valve and reconfigure your intestines. Sounds tricky, but there are several really good RNY to DS revision surgeons in the country.

I recommend Rabkin in San Fran, Keshishian in LA area and Greenbaum in New Jersey (a list of them and their contact info can be found on www.dsfacts.com). Traveling for surgery is a lot easier than it sounds, I promise. When you want the best, there should be no boundaries, in my opinion.

The good news is Rabkin is my surgeon and he comes to Chicago every month for our support group meeting and meets new patients then, too. He comes the third Monday or every month to a downtown Chicago location. If you want more info, please PM me or visit his site at www.paclap.com.

YOU are not a failure. Best of luck to you, no matter what you decide.

Nicolle

I'm going to start attending a nearby Overeater's Anonymous meeting next week. Do you think the 12 Steps might help you let go of the food addiction? I'm hoping they'll help me quit overeating.
We will see.

Keep trying and don't give up!

It works for some but I tried them before surgery and they did not work for me personally.  I am did not like the religion part of it since I have my own relgion.  I could not get down with the prayers, etc.  Therpist was my route. 

Yes, I'm going to have to tweak the whole "higher power" element to personalize it. I've been losing my own connection to an organized religion, so maybe there's a ***** in my spirituality for OA to take hold and supplant my Catholicism. While I had tremendous success with 12 Steps through ACOA when I was very young, when I tried OA for the first time about 15 years ago, it didn't take - or, I didn't take to it. Now, I feel I've hit a bottom so hard that I have to work the program. Oddly (maybe), I've been reading some drunkalogues, such as Drunkard and Wishful Drinking, and perhaps that's been prepping me to return to OA and stick with it this time. --- Good luck with the route you find that's right for you, fellow traveller. We're all trying to move in the same direction. Glad to meet you here (I'm still pretty new here)!  :)

I loved my time in OA, made some terrific friends, and I learned a lot!  I lost 175 pounds in 18 months and kept it off for a year - but then I started gaining again.  The problem?  The whole time I was losing weight I was holding my breath waiting until I could EAT AGAIN!   On the plus side - I became a much more patient person, my self-esteem changed for the better, I forged a better relationship with my children, I became a calmer/less angry person, my husband started to respect me again, and I got healthier even if just for a few years.  In fact, I still use the 12 step philosophy to this day for many if not most aspects of my life - but while in OA I didn't truly give over control of my food or my compulsive overeating.  I wish I could have, or would have. 

So what could it hurt to go to OA?  You might get exactly what you need!  Weather you lose weight or not - this is a group that really understands compulsive eating!  And really understands the humiliation of being the fattest person in the room, or the one children point to in the grocery store. 

In fact, you might get just the support you need to slow down your compulsive eating to the point that you stop gaining weight or even start losing again.  And besides you are still to the "good" having kept off 220 pounds!!  That's a winner in my book!   Best of luck in whatever you decide.

Thanks so much.  You know I have started losing.  As a matter of fact, I have lost 11 pounds since I starte posting back here.  I am going to try OA again because there is one right down the street from me and it does not make sense not to give it a try.  Thanks.

You rock Molly!!!  YOU ARE LOSING AGAIN!!!  And maybe OA will give you a little boost.  Just take what you like and leave the rest!!!