Help!

Hello Michigan board. I am hoping someone has some information to share. I had open RNY (micropouch) surgery almost 6 years ago at CORI. In the first 6 months, I lost 80 lbs. I have never lost another pound. In the beginning, I visited CORI repeatedly, asking for answers that they could not/did not give. I knew that going into this would be a bit of a challenge because I have PCOS, but this is far from what I had imagined.

So, here it is, just upon 6 years and I have gained 50 lbs. Despite going back to basics, doing various fad diets, and excercise, I am still gaining weight. I had a scope done and everything seemed to be intact.

Can anyone offer any suggestions? Is there any doctors who will do a revision of a micropouch? I have HAP insurance. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Nya

What a sad tale,Nya.  I don't know much about long term eating with the RNY, but your experience doesn't sound normal.  I know there are some new procedures that reshape the RNY stoma. so maybe someone can help you out with that.  I suggest you see my surgeon about a possible band over the pouch.  I love Dr. Gazayerli, and he is the best with banding.  I don't know if he does revisions, but I am guessing he would as he is a master.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.  Welcome to the Michigan board.  Stay with us-we are a great group for support.

Nya,

I don't know anything about HAP insurance, so please bare with me. 

Have you talked to your regular doctor about this?  Can he refer you to a dietian that may assist you?  Does your insurance cover any other programs?

Are you drinking your water?
Are you getting your protien?
Are you tracking your food intake?
Are you exercizing?

These are basics, which I do, but I am like you six months out lost 120 pound never lost another, still have 50 to go before they will do plastics to take off 20 additional.  I have been fortunate not to have gained anything in 2 years, but I can see myself doing so if I don't follow the rules. 

Best of luck,

Pam

Nya -

Wow!  It sounds like you've been through the wringer.  Hopefully we'll come up with some suggestions to help you (the other posters have already offered great advice). 

Can you share what a typical day looks like for you?  What are you eating? How often? Do you track calories? How big are your meals (1 cup? more, less?)  How much protein grams?  How much water?  Do you do only meals or do you have scheduled snacks too?  Are you drinking with your meals or waiting 30-60 minutes after meals to start drinking again?  Are you exercising at all?  If so, what is your workout routine and when's the last time you change it?  I know... lots of questions.

Do you know the details of your surgery?  How much of your intestines were bypassed (average is 100-150cm now, but was less 6 years ago).  Do you know how big your pouch is based on the scope they did?  I'm not fully familiar with the micro pouch, but a normal pouch (which starts out at about 1oz) will naturall grow to 6oz to 9oz (and accomodate 8oz to 12oz of food) by the 2-3 year mark.  Do you have any sense of the size of yours now?

How are your labs?  When was the last time you had a full round of labs drawn? What vitamins are you taking?  Sometimes deficiencies can manifest themselves with weight gain or the inability to lose weight (Vitamin D is notorious for this). 

Ok.... I'll stop now.  LOL!

I'm willing to help in whatever way I can.  Let's see if we can figure out what's going on so you can be more knowledgable when you talk to your docto...

Pam

Hi again and thanks for the great responses. I truly believe there was something that was not quite right with my surgery. At any rate, I am getting a bit scared of trying surgery all over again. I will do some research on revisions, but in the mean time, I will rededicate to the basics – again.  

On a day where I haven’t given up, I may have a Slimfast locarb shake for breakfast, a grilled chicken salad for lunch, an apple for snack, and fish, broccoli, and brown rice for dinner. I have not measured how much I can eat lately, but it seems like it is way too much. I use fitday to watch calories on these good days.  

I drink lots of water, very rarely any pop. I need to start waiting to drink the water after my meals though. I also drink Walmart brand of Crystal Lignt. I do Walk Away the Pounds at least 3 times a week. I speak of “good days" because there are surely bad ones. On a bad day, I am eating pretzel rods. What a bad habit. I haven’t had any for a few weeks, so that it a start.  

I am severely anemic, and my vitamin D is awfully low. The doctor says it is something that I can even lift my head off the pillow in the morning. I am usually tired daily.  I take these supplements but my labs only crawl up. I will look back at my records to see the details of my surgery and post.  

I am starting an aerobics class 2 days a week, and I as of today, I have started going back to Curves. I een broke out my pedometer. I am determined to give it my all! Thanks so much for caring…and giving me the basics of which were packed away in the back of my mind! I will keep you all posted on my progress. Again, thanks!  

Nya

I did a lot of research on surgeons prior to my surgery. See Dr. Kevin Krause at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak Michigan. He is one of the highest rated revisionist WL surgeons in the country and handles even the highest risk patients for WLS. Here is their number, 248 551-8180. While I would recommend many WL surgeons in Michigan for WLS I believe, base on the number of successful revisions, that Dr. Krause is who I would see for a revision if I had not used him for my surgery and not satisfied with the work of my surgeon. He can be a pain in the butt to get into see, since his office is very busy, but he is worth seeing, if only for a consult. As for myself I found him to be a great surgeon and just fabulous with his patients. Both i and my sister had our WLS surgery done by him.

Feel free to PM me if you want more imformation on the surgeons that I researched prior to my RNY.