50 LBS lost @ 11 months RNY FAIL

I feel like I never had surgery. I can eat a whole subway sandwich (foot long veggie) no problem. Not even close to full.

I did a cottage cheese test I read about to see how your pouch is. I could eat the whole 24oz container, and wasnt even close to full.

I went in for my month out follow up, but never returned, because I was too embarassed.. I wasn't losing weight, and I could eat like pre-surgery. I don't relate to support groups.. I more relate to a normal dieter- struggling. I have lost the 50lbs by making myself throw up - no NOT because I am sick, or full, but because I need to lose weight. I  mean people know I had surgery.. and I'm still FAT.

I started out 305lbs.. I am now 250.

Has anyone never felt full? Like they never had surgery?

I know I need to see my surgeon, and I am going in next month for my year check up.. I dread it. Could something actually be wrong, or am I just a failure?

I exercise pre-and post surgery.. food is my issue, and it seems unfair to have a "tool" that doesn't work. I feel exactly like I did pre-op.

You need to go in and see your surgeon.  Forget about being embarrassed, you didn't go through all of this to be stop by embarrassment.  I would be more embarrassed not to follow-up.
You owe it to yourself.  You shouldn't have to wait for scheduled appt. whenever you have a concern.

good luck,

I had my surgery in Jan '07 and lost 70lbs by aug. and have gained back 10lbs now and recently went to my surgeon and had a upper GI and he said there was nothing wrong with me etc and then a friend of mine started working for the surgeon and she called me one day and said she had gained about 25lbs back but she lost alot to begin with and was close to anorexic looking so she is still really thin compared to me.   Anyway she said she had just had a barium burger upper gi done and they found a hidden pouch in her intestines and she had to have surgery to fix it and that this was most likely why she had gained weight because basically she was able to eat twice as much as she should have been able to.  So I  got an appt for the same procedure and the surgeon said my pouch was enlarged and that food has been moving through me too fast and there is a new thing called a stomaphyx and what it does is clamp off part of your stomach and give you the same feeling you had in the beginning.  He wants me to see   his dietician and psychologist again to make sure that I am a good canidate for the procedure and also I have some femal issues he wants me to take care of before I have this done.  I was pretty excited to hear that there is hope for me because I wanted to lose at least 80 more lbs!!   

I hope you decide to go see your surgeon because you should not feel guilty as basically the surgery failed you, you are not a failure!

Good Luck,
Tonij 

Dear Tonij,

           You go for the Stomaphyx!  If my insurance would pay, I might try it, too.  There is also a ROSE procedure that is yielding equal or better results.  ASK YOUR SURGEON about this.  
I see those last 80 lbs. vanishing.  Good luck.

Sparkle

You should not be embarrassed!  This sounds like a mechanical failure on the part of the RNY, not anything you have done wrong.  Definitely go in to see your doctor! 

The Stomaphyx isn't producing results that the postops are happy about. Those I checked with were having 1-2 lbs. loss per MONTH and were very unhappy about having to undergo the second procedure while others zip on down to normal weights.

I've heard of lengthening the distal staff of the roux (or is it the Y) to prevent more absorption, but know Dr. William Overcash charges $25,000 for that. Again, full-blown surgery at high cost. My insurance won't pay for second procedure on me. Bottom liner is for me the definition of INSANITY is doing the same thing (surgeries) and expecting different results.

I was told by my WLS physician that RNYs usually result in increased metabolic activity with reduced food portions postop but that in my case it didn't. I'd survive in a concentration camp, but outside of there, my metabolism works against me.

I've tried other diets postop with no results. Just like before. Currently 500-calories daiy with HCG. Very expensive, but I can't afford more. I've been depleted of my cash with no results. Sigh.

Sparkle

Drop by the Revision Board as well - you'll see that there are quite a lot of us about. Perhaps have a read of the posts about stomaphyx too - it's still quite a new procedure and the jury's still out, but there are other options as well.

YOU are not a failure, your surgery is failing YOU! It sounds like you may need a revision, but at any rate I would go see the surgeon and get an explanation of what is going wrong. There are alternatives that can help, but until then, cut yourself some slack.

Please advise what alternatives you are referring to. I don't know what you mean.

Sparkle

I had RNY gastric bypass 9-4-2003 in Ky. and lost for about 12 weeks  - only a total of 44 lbs. and have gained back to total lost 38 lbs. now.  I'm obese, 5'1: frame, and really upset. My appetite is as before and my inability to lose an ounce is as before. I was told  my WLS was successful because the pouch is there (HAH) and deeply disappointed as I watched cheaters continue to lose to goal weights. I followed rules and am active. Support groups could make me suicidal, if I attended and watched others vanish before my eyes so I quit.

Now I hear about lengthening the distal for less absorption by Dr. William Overcash in Ocala, FL, for $20,000 ( a revision ). Why couldn't my surgeon have done this and perhaps given me a price break?  It does seem very unfair. My insurance (BC-BS) may no longer pay.

I've heard lots of Stomaphx postops complaining about the 1 lb. to 1.5 lbs. lost per week for the additional cost.  I've heard the definition of INSANITY is repeating the same actions and expecting different results.  What guarantee would I have this go-around? None. 

Any revision or Stomaphyx success stories out there?
 
Sparkle