Frustration

I had a RNY on December 13, 2008.  I lost 100 lbs and have gained back 50.  I did not gain weight because I fell of the proverbial wagon.  I started developing allergies to fruit, vegetables and nuts.  I'm severly allergic to birch trees and if a specific food has birch protein in it or is cross pollinated with birch pollen I end up with an anaphylaxtic reaction.  I've been in the ER more times than I can count.  My last stint in the ER occured because I drank a protein drink.  Now I can't even follow the prescribed diet!  My allergist has told me to stay away from all fruits, vegetables and nuts and anything containing these things.  He says I have the worst case he has ever seen.  How do I lose the weight now?  Will a revision help me?  Any advice will be welcome.  I can only have certain kinds of meat, because most gets caught in my stoma and now I'm limited to processed foods

How would a revision help?  Would it cure your severe food allergies?  I'm not aware of any surgery that does that, but if there is such a surgery, I'd go for it.

What do your bariatric surgeon and registered dietician suggest?

Are you saying that since you can't eat fruits and vegetables you have to eat other foods that are higher in calories and that's how you gained weight back?  Can you eat beans?  Dairy products?  Are you allergic to all fruits and vegetables?  Not just certain ones?  Isn't that pretty rare, to be allergic to them all?

Yes it is very rare.  And very unusual since I've had all of these foods all of my life and just within the last couple of years I can no longer enjoy them.  Beans are ify at this point.  I can't eat large quantity of foods but I have to be extremely careful of what I do eat.  I drank a high protein drink and ended up with a swollen face, lungs and throat.  Most protein drinks contain nuts or are processed in a plant that also processes nuts.  Anything that contains fruits or vegetables.  Its been horrible.  My condition is called Oral Allergy Syndrome.  And it is very severe.  The only way to prevent a reaction is through avoidence therapy.  Avoiding the outdoors, the animals the food.  I don't know what to do.  I'm frustrated.  I'm sad and I don't know what to do.  I have talked with nutritionists but they don't know how to deal with my condition.  Neither does my surgeon.

I would make an appointment and meet with a NUT who was familiar with Bariatric Diets. She could go over with you what diet you would need to follow if you did have a revision. You would be able to see if that would work with your allergies. I think that if you spent some time researching I know you would be able to find some fruits and veggies that would fit your needs. They may be the exotic imported ones but probably they will work. Birch trees don't grow everywhere. I don't know why you gained your weight, I wasn't in your shoes but I suspect you were eating things not on the RNY diet because you were uneducated in what substiutes you could eat, so like I said I would research what foods you could use instead of the ones you can't and then talk to a dietician to see if that would work for you. As far as Protien drinks I think you would need to drink them for all revisions unless maybe the DS is differernt.They woudl know on the DS board if drinking protien is a requirement.  But you could eat Lobster, crab, tuna, Talapia, Sunflower Seeds, Pumpkin seeds, Soya beans,Venicen, if you needed to puree these foods and choke them down like you would a protien drink maybe that is your cross to bear. I am interested in your story, keep us informed will you.

 If you have no allergy to dairy, that's your next great source of protein.  1/4 cup of ricotta has 7g of protein, a cup of Greek yogurt has 10g.  Combine that with the meats you can handle and you're back in business.

 No advice, just hugs and sympathy.  I hope you find a solution to your problems.

The only way I can see a revision helping you is if you revise to either a Sleeve or a DS, getting rid of your stoma and thereby being able to handle a greater variety of meats.

I developed a birch allergy after my RNY too .. Dr Todd said that it's not related to the surgery but just happens.  I did find out that when you cook the food you're allergic to it changes it and you may be able to eat it.  I can't eat raw apples or cherries anymore but if they have been heat processed they are fine.  Have you tried that?  

Since my RNy I have developed food allergies. Not near close to what you are facing, but I think exposing the small intestines to undigested food particles (pouch stoma small intestines) may create some issues.
 Not sure if revision will help.  But who knows. If you get DS - you may be able to eat more meats and fats and veggies and still lose weight.