Is it the surgery that failed or you?

Hello, I'm curious to hear your thoughts on this. When someone says the surgery failed them, is it really the surgery or is it the person? My cousin had this surgery 5 years ago, and has gained all her weight back, she's going to have a second surgery soon, I had a long talk with her today about it, (I had surgery 8 months ago) she says it was the surgery that failed, but I remember soon after she got it her eating habits didn't seem to change much and she never exercised. I'm worried that if she doesn't take responsibility that the second surgery won't work for her as well. What are your thoughts on this? Is it the surgery that can fail us or us.

Can't answer that question for anyone but myself. I was 248 when I had my RNY in 94. In 96, I was 117 lbs. I felt my staple line break after coffee one morning (nothing else) and over the next 10 years, I put back on 142 lbs, to 259. When I had my endoscopy and upper GI, it showed mechanical failure of staple line disruption and enlarged stoma. So, yes the surgery failed me.

I think for most it is both surgery and person failure. EVERYONE says this but it's so true: any WLS is only a tool. But what I've discovered is that the DS is the best tool. My DH had his and although he is very very diligent about his daily protein first and foremost then vitamins & supplements, et al (because he is very aware that the malabsorption portion can be harmful if you don't take care of yourself) he still LOVES and eats his sweets and fried food. The DS has allowed him to maintain his weight loss (5 years out) and still enjoy his "sweets". Exercise? Well...he's getting better lately but again the lack of exercise has not caused him to gain his weight back. He is up 20lbs from his low and has maintained that weight for 2.5 years with no effort. It is a good healthy weight (215-220lbs) for a man his size and age (6 foot, 57 years). My question is what surgery is your sister considering for a revision? If it's the same one that didn't work before she should research other options. God bless, Kathie

It is both surgery and person. I had RYN 10/2002 and I was never able to get below 185. I had a strong workout program and my calorie intake was 1100 with a burn of 1800 calories. I did not eat garbage and still will not eat it. I had an intake of 120 grams of protien per day. I have since gained 30 pounds. In reviewing my surgery records my surgeon only took 45cm off my small bowel when for someone who had a BMI of 52 should have had by ASBS standards 120-150cm taken during that time. So for me it was the surgery. But I know a mother and daughter who had the surgery the same time I did and they have both gained all of their weight back. They never changed the eating habits. They both love chips and ice cream and candy and lots and lots of food. So for this case it is the person. As a support group leader I have seen it in my own group also. Jenn

I think it is most important to try and not judge. Everyone has different situations etc. I think most people that are considering or have had WLS find it much easier to blame the person rather than the surgery. It is scary to admit this might not be the miracle cure of obesity we all want so badly. I think the reality is that many people do regain a lot or all of the weight lost. It is a big possiblity you might be in their shoes some day...hopefully not. We all feel like super heros the first few years after WLS. It is like you have been reborn. Please be sympathetic and remember where you came from. Try to learn from long term WLS post ops. Ask them what they would do differently. Ask them what solutions they have found to help combat regain. Truth be told, once your pouch or stoma enlarges you will feel hungry again.Most people will be able to eat larger amounts long term after surgery and no longer have the restriction you once enjoyed. If it is so easy to lose weight by eating right and exercising then why did any one of us need WLS to begin with? 

i am just curious if anyone that feels like they, or the surgery failed, had counseling, pre op prep, or anything like that? did anyone change their eating habits before hand? was there pre op weightloss? i am currently pre op and i am trying to do as much research as possible. i am in a 6 month pre op program that requires you to change your eating habits before you have the surgery, because of the rate of regain in wls.

Oh yes, my eating habits changed.  I focused on eating the proper foods, chewed slowly and lost like crazy.  No pre op weight loss though.  My staple line broke one morning when I'd only had coffee that morning. 

The rate of regain in WLS is much higher with the RNY and band.  Not with the DS.  Have you checked into the DS and explored all your options?

 

i am have kaiser insurance and they only cover rny, because of it's success rates and low instance of death and or complications. i had not even heard of duodenal switch until i came and looked this forum???? from what i have learned about rny, beyond cases like yours where it literally came apart, and other situations similar, rny has a very good success rate over time. it is much more successful than any diet program overtime, and since it is my only option, i am being positive about this. i wanted to see what people say on here that fall into that percentage of it not working. it seems to me, in cases like yours excluded, that it is partly the surgery that failed, and partly the person that did not follow the protocol, thus "failing." however, i don't think that they have failed at all. if you have had rny, be it a 3oz. pouch, or 1 oz., or 100cm, or 150cm, you still have a smaller stomach with less absorption than a normal person. i think even if someone has gained weight back, they may have to go back to "dieting," but would be more successful than previous attempts at weightloss than they were pre op because of the fact that they have different anatomy. this of course excludes the chance that they have stretched out their pouch. and in that case, they themselves must take responsibility for the fact that they gained weight because of eating too much, too fast, and the wrong foods..... sorry for the rant.... jen ps i hope that i am not coming off in a bad way. i agree with paintnmynails. everyone is different, and i hope that i am not offending anyone. i just want to learn as much as i can so i can make my surgery as successful as possible. thanks