I'm a loser at being a loser

I had RNY Feb. 13, 2008 and lost weight until June 2008.  I have continued the eat right and follow the rules and exercise, but have lost nothing since. I lost a grand total of 50 lbs.

I tried the cottage cheese pouch test and could eat two cups in ten minutes. It is like I never had the surgery.

I still keep my calories to around 1,000 a day but just lose and gain the same three pounds week after week.

I have not gone back to the doctor for my year check-up because I'm embarrassed to be such a failure. I am very depressed about this. I feel like I went through all this for almost nothing.

I have posted on the regular board several times looking for help and advice, but only get answers like "you just need good old fashioned will-power", etc. which is not helpful in the least.

I had such hopes.  I must admit that I look better and feel better, but I am still considered obese, which was definitely not my goal.

I'm not really looking for advice, I just wanted to have my say among others who can actually share my pain.

Beth

it looks tp me that you may be about 150 or so pounds right now that is really good and maybe this is where your body has decieded it wants to be  stop stressing relax and just enjoy where you are today

Atasca

Beth, I'm right there with you.  I lost 45 lb my first 2 months after surgery, a couple more in the 3rd month and now I'm STUCK.  I'm following all the diet, fluid and exercise rules to the letter but I haven't lost any weight in weeks and it's more than discouraging.  My doctor and nutritionist just tell me to up my protein intake and be patient, but they agree it's much too soon for my weight to plateau and I should still have 2-3 more months of significant weight loss. It's almost like why did I go through all this.

Beth, Just wanted to let you know you are not alone in this struggle. I can feel your pain from experience. I have lost 148 lbs but gained back 40 lbs. At this point I am scared to death, I still want to lose about 80 lbs,  If I could give advice I would use it myself, There are many in our shoes. You are not a failure until you stop trying and give up. I am still hanging in for I am not ready to give up the fight,  You have been heard and we understand. Hang in ! See you lighter. Joanne

I so understand you I had my surgery 03/14/08 begining weight 289 I am now at 229, and haven't lost any weight in a few months. Due to the horrible weather we have had this winter I have not walked as much as I should. My Doc has told me to up my protien and my exersize and I will begin to lose again.  I know things will get better this spring and summer when I can get out and play with my kids. I am looking forward to losing 50 more lbs, or 3 more pant sizes. Just don't give up and don't get down.

Hi,

Hmmm, looks like the surgery may have failed you and not you failing the surgery.  The RNY is not always a success.  This is unfortunate since it is so popular.  I know you say you don't want advice but keep doing the right thing and give your body more time to adjust.  You may be on one of those stinky plateaus.

It sounds like you may suffer from metabolic syndrome.  I am tentatively scheduled for a DS on May 4^th and the reason I am going with the DS over the RNY is its long term success rate. My impression is that the shorter common channel provided by the DS maintains weight loss over the long haul and the fact that the pyloric valve is not removed makes it more difficult (but not impossible) to stretch the stomach back to a normal size. The pyloric valve is removed in the RNY which allows food to empty out of the stomach much faster. There is no willpower that can override the hunger instinct and if you have metabolic syndrome, your body is quickly adjusting to your caloric intake and you are not losing weight anymore. This is where a shorter channel solves that particular problem.  I was eating 750 calories a day and gaining weight. Granted, this was pre surgery, but no normal person gains weight eating 750 calories. A person with metabolic syndrome will gain weight because the body has readjusted itself to the lower caloric intake. My biggest fear is that once I get the surgery, I will plateau before I’ve lost all the weight I want to lose because my body adjusts so rapidly to reduced caloric intake. I don’t think I will be successful unless the doc gives me a smaller common channel of about 75-100 cm. I am hoping to go closer to 75. I don’t think you have failed at all. I think you may have had the wrong surgery for your particular body type. You might want to consider a revision, which I realize you probably would want to avoid. But it may be an option if you just plain can’t lose anymore.

I understand. I am in the same boat. I am almost 6 weeks out and lost 6 lbs. It makes you feel like a failure. It seems that the folks on this board understand when you are loosing,but dont when you are not. I got the encouraging responses of "hang in there" your body is adjusting " type of responses but I paid 10,000 for my surgery,insurance didnt cover it so it dosent help me. I am going to get my thyroid checked to see what the problem is.

I just wanted to write to tell you I understand.

Hi Beth,

You are not a failure... you've lost 50 pounds so far and if you had not had the surgery you could have continued gaining weight.

I understand it can feel embaressing to go to the dr's but you really MUST GO, you need to have your labs done and speak to your dr about your lack of continued weight loss... if you've been following the rules then there is really nothing to feel embarressed about.

I myself hate going to to dr's as at one of the last visits while I was pregnant I was asked if I was expecting triplets!  that's how much weight I gained!  That was sooo not nice....

Call your dr's office and book an appointement your health is much more important then being embaressed is.

Ps.  I know when I was at a stall early on I would kick up the amount of protein and lot's and lot's of water.

Good luck!