Am i a Failure?

I had my surgery May of 2005 At my consult i was 411.5. Currently I am about 297. I have not lost any weight since my sixth month out in November of 2005. I have been getting back to basics and tryng. I have been increasing my exercise but still nothing. What am I supposed to do. I need to lose more weight. What exactley does a revision constitute and how do i go about getting one. Any help would be great. Thanks Brenda

Have you stretched your pouch out? Did you following the rules up to six months? Or did you fall off the wagon at 6th months? Shelly

How can you stretch out your pouch? What are the rules up to six months?

I had the same issue.  By 6 months, I had not even lost 40 pounds and was only at a 45 pound lost by my 1 year anniversary.  My pouch is not stretched.  I get full very fast yet I was not losing.  I have started Nutrisystem where I actually eat more food because I am eating every 2 to 3 hours and I am losing.  Its hard to say what is going on with you but your body could be in starvation mode and holding on to every calorie you take in.    Good luck to you.

You aren't a failure. 114 pounds is not failing. I'm sure you have heard that before. I have to say though, that I am in the same boat as you are. It's frustrating to have surgery and see others get to "goal" and not ever get there yourself. I started out at 338 and the lowest I ever got down to was 209 needless to say I was normally "stuck" at 212. I never got past 209 never got below 200   and it sucks. But 126 pounds down is a success and something I am proud of as you should feel proud of the 114 lost.  Use it as a little boost. For me, I don't consider myself a failure which is a key to being successful in my head because if I start thinking failure I know I will fail. I consider myself stuck and slowly ...albeit VERY slowly loosing. 'sigh'  I know it will always be a struggle for me. The thing is, like you, around 6 months out I started to realize that my weight loss and the "perks" of the surgery were fading. By 1 year out its like... welp I'm done. It's all me now. But that wasn't exactly true. My pouch was still working...not as great as it was which I already prepared myself for that. I still cannot overeat like I did before surgery, some sugar was too much. I can't go crazy on sugar. Yet even there it was weird. I could eat a donught (which I shouldn't) but not feel any "dumping" or sick sensation...yet eat like 3 spoons of ice cream or something else sugary and get sick as a dog. So even the sugar varied. Sometime I can tolerate it like a normal person...othertimes I feel sick from it. Its weird. I know alot has to do with my eating habits. I shouldn't mess with chips or ice cream or donughts. But I'm not perfect, yet I know I can't go overboard on it as I WILL get sick if I eat way too much at once. SO I know eating little bits spread out is a big no no for me and try to avoid that like the plauge. I haven't "gained" any significant weight. I will go from 212 to 209 or 212 to 215 back to 212...but thats it.  I've about had it though. I'm 8 months pregnant at this point and seeing the scale go up freaks me out... although I have only gained 13 pounds its still shocking even if it is mostly all baby. I vow after this baby to really go back to the basics and try to stop obsessing about food. But I know it will always be a struggle and I truly CAN eat alot more than I think I should, I think my stoma is a bit enlarged because of the amount of food I can eat at once sometimes...good solid food like chicken and meat and sandwhiches... but If I reduce my eating for a few days I think my pouch and everything shrinks a bit and I can feel full at least a little more than normal. Hang in there. Its hard... check with your doctuor to see if there are problems such as an enlarged stoma or perhaps your surgeon didn't make your pouch as small as you think... then a revision may be a good bet. Either way please don't think you are a failure. You aren't ... we aren't, its just always going to be a struggle.  Hey I am even thinking of looking into that hoodia stuff I keep hearing about. If its safe enough and could help get the rest of my weight off.   Its a struggle and always will be for me and for many of us. For others... it just comes a bit easier or more will power... we are all different... but not failures!  ((hugs))  - sorry so long  Elizabeth M

Ok, you guys are really scaring me. Are you saying you followed the program and never got smaller. Or did you go off program. Please me honest as I am afraid I stop losing. Did you exercise?? Please be honest. Thanks

I stopped losing at 8 months out, only losing 90 pounds, needed to lose another 40 to get to doctor's goal, which I liked. Never made it. For the last 6 months I have slowly gained 30 pounds. I know I was bad over the Christmas holidays and before that visiting my mom and friends in Michigan, I ate too much carbs. I have been actively watching what I eat lately, but can't seem to get back to basics, protein only and water, of course. I feel like I failed too. I saw my surgeon a few weeks ago and he did recommend a lapband after the RNY I had just over 2 years ago. Now with different insurance I have to do the 6 month diet and most important come up with $4,000.00 to pay for my out of pocket co-pay (something I didn't have to pay for before with Medi-Cal). I just don't have that kind of "extra" money hanging around so I guess I am doomed. I wish you luck in your quest to get down to a more suitable (for U) weight.  Talk to your surgeon about your options. Karen

Thanks everybody for your responses. I am very happy with the weight i have lost. It has saved my life and help me be healthier. I  no longer have gerd and i am not diabetic. I do have high blood pressure but i have been told even if i make it to goal i could still have hit. My life has improved greatley and for that i am thankful. I guess i just wanted to be as successful as others have been. I recentley moved back to cali from arizona after being gone for 4 years. I currentley have no insurance and now have to wait to be eligible with my job. I still have a lot to lose but i figure if i can lose at least 100 more pounds i will be happy. I know i have a long rode ahead of me and hope i can to do it. I figure with a lot of work and patience i can be successful. At least tht is my hope. Thankyou all for your responses i appreciate it.

Turkeybird, call this surgeon.  http://www.lapsf.com/index.php

 

Dr. Husted is the very best revision surgeon in the world.  Don't take my word for i****ch for him on the Discovery Health Channel

you lost so much weight! it's great... i'm still looking around for the pros and cons before heading into the surgery .. lack of courage from my part. .