Can a Gastric Bypass Fail?

My Mom had her gastric bypass done in 2004.  She lost about 135 lbs.  I had it done by the same surgeon in 2005.  I lost 60lbs.  A family friend had it done in 2006 and has lost over 200 lbs. Mom and I have followed the same type of diet, been able to tolerate the same types of foods, yet she lost twice as much as me.   Has this happened to anyone else?  I was exercising after I got home from the surgery, felt good, was losing weight but not real fast, even right after surgery I didn't lose that much. Are there any ways to tell if something didn't go right with the surgery?  I saw a GI doctor today because my pcp thinks I have an ulcer.  The GI dr said I should have lost over 100 lbs.  He is doing an endoscopy and a gastric dump scan.   Am just feeling very frustrated and hopeless.  I have tried very hard to make this surgery work for me and to lose weight to become more healthy, but it seems like I've become even less healthy than before the operation.  DJ

It's hard because it's human nature to compare ourselves with others. I don't think you can, though. Everyone has such different metabolisms and eating habits.   Are you exercising in addition to watching your caloric intake?  I hope that your doctor can help you find what's wrong. It's frustrating, to say the least, when you feel as if you've done what you can and it's still not working. Best of luck to you, Nicci

I am in the same boat. I had the surgery on Aug 15 2007 and have only lost 60 lbs. I really feel like I do have some bad habits though. I graze and I dont get enough exercise. But, I really thought I wouldnt be able to eat as much as I do, especially sugar. I also feel like a failure. My doctor had me to do a GI series and my pouch seems normal. So now, they have started me on phentermine (appetite supressant). Will let you know how it goes. MT

My suggestion would be to have an upper GI and endoscopy done.  I was worried when I started gaining weight and haven't been able to control my hunger.  I knew it wasn't just head hunger either.  I never got near my goal weight either.  I had surgery 6/2005.  I saw my surgeon and he did an upper GI and an endoscopy.  The results were a big shock.  I have what he called a "ball" at the top of my pouch which is connected to my pouch.  That "ball" is approximately 150 - 200 ml (normal pouch is around 20 ml).  So can you imagine I am getting 5 to 10 times as much food as I should be able to.  He said this is what has caused my weight gain.  I am now looking at a revision due to this "ball" connected to my pouch.  So when you ask... can a bypass fail... yes it can.  My surgeon isn't able to tell me how or why this has happened but it has and now all we can do is fix it.  He said if it goes untreated, eventually I will gain all my weight back. 

I had an endoscopy today which was approximately 4.5 yesrs after my gastric sleeve surgery. Reason for this was for reasons i don't know I developed GERD and though my diet isnt always great it wasn't aeful either. The endoscopy doctor said my stomach looked angry and seemed to have like a bubble part of pouch then a lil section of sleeve then another bubble shape then the intestines. Did your dr ever tell you what caused your issue and what did they do to fix it

Hi-

I realize I'm answering this 7 months after you posted it, but, yes, gastric bypass can fail. I had mine in May 2006 and I lost 35 pounds. I was eating between 600-800 calories a day (I swear!) and I weighed 285 at surgery. Ten of those pounds I lost the first week. I simply did not lose weight, despite the fact that I was taking in less than 1000 calories a day for months (of course that gradually increased). It has been one of the niggest disappointments of my life, and now I gain weight eating so much less than I used to- before I would have lost weight on what I eat now. My metabolism just flipped out. It sucks so bad.

Sue