question for the dr

IF YOU DONT LOSE ALL YOUR WEIGHT WITHIN THE "WINDOW" OF A YEAR WILL YOU LOSE IT, EVER? I AM TALKING ABOUT A VERTICAL SLEEVE GASTRECTOMY. I DIDNT LOSE FAST, I JUST CANT LOSE ANYMORE. I HAVEN'T GAINED AND I DON'T EAT LIKE I USED TO, GET FULL FAST ON VERY LITTLE.  JUST CURIOUS IF I CAN STILL WORK THIS TOOL AFTER NOT DOING WHAT I WAS SUPPOSED TO DUE TO THINGS BEYOND MY CONTROL. I WANT TO KNOW I I HAVE MESSED UP. THANKS!!                           SUZY

I'm only 6 months out with a VSG but have you tried asking this question the the VSG message board?  There are a lot of people that are over a year out and I'm sure they might have some advice for you until the dr. can respond. Best to you!

You may have exhausted your "window" where you lose weight no matter what.  Now you just have to work at it to lose more.  Another option would be to add malabsorption to the mix and complete the duodenal switch.

I am Dr. Dirk Rodriguez from the Deaconess Surgical Weight Loss Center in Cincinnati. I take it from your post you have had the vertical sleeve gastrectomy. Congratulations!  That is an excellent operation. Kudos to your bariatric surgeon for offering that to you. In bariatric surgery, we measure success of weight loss surgery in 2 year times frames. I think the one year thing came up in the original information from gastric bypass 10 years ago. We now talk about 2 year marks. So that gives you some breathing room. However, whenever a WLS patient has stopped losing weight , my first resposnse is -  GO SEE YOUR SURGEON! I am not yeling, just emphasizing.  To many WLS patients do not got ot their surgeon for answers. OH is an excellent forum, but the best information you can get is from your surgeon & his team. I also ask patients to look at their nutrition program. Make sure you are eating 5-6-7 times a day, small meals that are high in protein, moderate in fat and low in carbohydrates. Make sure you are drinking no less than 64 ounces of fluids a day. It also of utmost importance to exercise aerobically 7 days a week. To lose weight requires that we exercise aerobically 7-8 hours a week! Yes, you read that correctly. For folks who have joint or back problems I recommend recumbent exercise bikes or water aerobics.Start Slowly! 15 minutes a day, at a very moderate pace. Then slowly but surely increase your time and distance, until you are doing about 1 hour a day. Keep your chin up, you have had a successful first step. Good luck & good health to you.