Been a while since I popped in!

Hey all of you still waiting for surgery or on the post-op road, I just thought that I would drop in to offer some encouragement!  It has been 3 1/2 years since my surgery and just wanted to let you all know that I am STILL losing!  Only about a pound every other week but it is still dropping.  There was a while about a year ago when I started to re-bound, but that was fixed with a schlerotherapy and now I am successfully moving back down on the loser's bench!
My weight loss so far is 211 whomping pounds!  Do not dispair and stick to the pouch rules and you too can find success!

Love always,
tracy

Wow!  Congratulations Tracy!!!  Don't know if you remember me from this Board, but just popped on for the first time in a long time.  It's so great you are "still" losing!  Good for you!  I've unfortunately went in the opposity direction and gained some back, but always working at trying to get it off.  It's a struggle I have to admit.  But glad to hear you are doing so well!  It's encouraging! 
Hugs, Theresa

Theresa,

I am not sure if your doctor does this or not, but there is a proceedure that can be done called schlerotherapy.  It is done as an outpatient proceedure, usually in an alternative hospital enviroment.  It is very safe and it helped me as I did rebound a bit (like 40 pounds) and Dr. Baker performed the service.  I quickly lost the weight I had put back on and have continued to lose ever since.  It was almost like having the pouch made all over again but without the long recovery.

Either way, keep your chin up.  You are a hard worker and I am sure that you can get through this!

Tracy

Yes Tracy, I did have the sclerotherapy with Dr. Baker, two times actually, but it didn't seem to correct the problem.  I did have an appt. for another treatment, but had sprained my ankle and canceled the appt.  How many times did you have to have it to be effective?  Let me know.  Thanks!  Theresa

Theresa,
Fortunately for me, it only took one time for it to be effective for me.  Dr. Baker did say that if I eer need one in the future, either due to lack of success or any future rebounding that there was a limit of three proceedures.  The biggest thing that I believe helped me was that it got me back on track with the pouch rules.  I began with all of the same post-op diet and was finally prime for dumping once again.  I hadn't had a sump incident for over a year prior to the proceedure but ever since, I dump quite often and now I can't eat rice at all --- not even a little nibble --- and I LOVE rice!  Boo Hoo!  Anyway, if there is any way that I can help you, just let me know!

Tracy

Thanks for the reply Tracy.  It's been about a year since my last sclero. so maybe it's worth a try again to have it done one more time.  I really have no restriction anymore, and of course, with the weight gain, comes discouragement and overeating the wrong things.  Uhggg!  Gotta get a grip.  so maybe another sclero. will do it.  I will contact them today.  Thanks for the support!
Theresa

Tracy,

I am so excited to hear of your success with the Schelo - I am having it done on November 14th and am ready to start over and follow the rules.  Any advice as to, how long to stay on liquids, soft foods and then back to hard proteins?  Any suggestions you have I would really appreciate.  I had RNY in 2000 and since have gained almost 60 lbs. back and I really need to refocus and get back on track.

Theresa

Theresa,

I was on liquids for 3 days and then soft foods for about 10 days.  I took baby steps about re-introducing the hard proteins just as I did when I had the original RNY.  Just remember to follow all of the pouch rules ( the most important of not drinking liquids with your meals) in order to prevent the stretching of the pouch again.  Believe me, after going through the schlero, you don't want to have to face that again so FOLLOW THE RULES!

You can do this!

Tracy

Tracy,

Thank you, I was thinking along the same lines to stay on liquids for a bit then soft foods and slowly reintroducting hard proteins and staying away from the carbs.  Right back to geee I would like that pasta but I can't it never was a question before for me, but after about four years all the old way slowly crept back along with the weight!!!

Theresa

Does insurance cover the schelero procedure?