I think I ruined my surgery! Is there hope?

I had my surgery 7/15/02 and had several complications but came through it all pretty well. I went from 308 to 190 and was thrilled. Within the past year I have gained almost 50 lbs & feel constantly hungry and crave carbs . I am severley depressed, horribly tired and can barely get up the energy to go to work. I am ashamed of myself and I am so afraid that I have ruined my micro-pouch. Has anyone else had this problem and is there help? I have seen the nutritionist at my surgeons office but it's always the same, a diet & exercise plan. If I want to see the doctor they say that he will just refer me back to the nutritionist. I thought that this surgery was supposed to be for people who just couldn't make it the conventional ways. I am so afraid that my pouch has enlarged or the stoma and that there is nothing that can be done. I am as my very last straw, any help or suggestions?

Dear Christy, Although I am still waiting for my approval, my heart went out to you and your post. I have been reading where some of the people who have felt like you started back on the liquid diet to try and re-start themselves. As for the surgery being for those who can not lose weight the conventional way, yes and no. Yes, it helps by making our stomaches smaller, which means we take in less food, and no, because we still have to be in control of what, when and how much we eat. I am going into wls as a last resort. I do not see it as a cure all, but as a lifestyle change and a way to be here for my family. To me the wls is a tool, a way of life, not a miracle in and of itself. I will be praying for you. Sam

Regain is actually very common with the RNY, unfortunately, due to the body adapting to the surgery after around 18-24 months out. WLS is for people for whom dieting alone isn't enough and need help...it'll never do it on its own, however, and is merely a tool (and often a very powerful tool) but ultimately we have to make permanent eating and exercise changes for it to be successful long term. You might want to talk to your surgeon about checking your stoma size...if your stoma has enlarged, that would indeed explain in the increased hunger aspect, and what some surgeons are now doing is installing a lap-band around the stoma for the least invasive way to control the stoma size. Nancy 394/275/180

I have not had wls surgery yet, but often have had to deal with a runaway appetite. I have found that a mostly protein diet and protein snacks for a week will settle things down to something reasonable. When you eat simple carbs you start the insulin pumping and that causes a drop in blood sugar which leads to a bigger demand for carbs. It is a vicious cycle. Protein at each meal and for snacks helps to even things out. Sorry about using the word "diet". While you limit the carbs, you can eat when hungry. Just stick to protein for a while. Try this and see if it helps. If you have trouble with this ask the nutritionist to help you. All is not lost. When you see results from your efforts you will start to feel much better. Best of luck for success and the strength to get there. Thelma

Hi Christy, I know that I gained alot of weight fast and it was because I was very depressed and the main reason was my iron level was low and I didnt want to get out of bed and I was tired all the time so I would eat and then lay down from my iron being so low. So, have you had your blood counts taken lately? maybe this is the reason for your weight gain also. By the way I just had my surgery on May 25th 2005 so I am new to this.Well, good luck to you. Take care, Nina

Wish I could offer you hope. I am afraid I am in the same boat. I had my first surgery in May 1995. It was just a stomach stapeling. I got down to 160lbs, over a period of ten years I ballooned up to 340 lbs. I had a full gastric bypass in June 2003. I had several problems in the 1st 5 mos and kept having to go the the gastric enterologist to widen my opening from the stomach to the intestines due to scarring it shut. The 3rd and last time I was pretty sure after about 3 days that the band was damaged as I could pretty much eat anything. I never got below 250 and I am back up to about 280. The only thing I learned is that it is only a crutch. It helps you get started but it is up to you to change your eating style and activities. Unfortunately the surgery does not fix the brain or the things that cause us to seek out foods. I am going the a Psycologist and a therepist also but I think they only add to my stress by giving diagnosisis and their solution to eveything of course is "medication" which is one of the things I was trying to alleciate by having the surgery. It just different kinds of meds. I tride going to the support groups but I was discouraged when everyone else was losing weight, especially the ones who had gained weight to have the surgery in the first place and were scary skinny after the surgery. I am sorry to see so many of these types of postings. It does not bode well for the sucess of gastric bypass alone. I wish there was someone who lived close to me that I knew was having the same problems as I do belive a support system is the greatest gift we can give ourselves. Best of luck to you.

Hello - I am 8 1/2 years out from UCLA Dr. Livingston. I also have a stretched pouch. Guess what I looked into a revision and EVERY decent surgeon would not touch me. Only the money grubbers. I looked for about 6 months then I did a very smart thing ----- I bought a book that I highly recommend. Dare to Lose by Dr. Shari Lieberman. She explains how to eat 3 meals a day and one snack and still lose weight. I have lost over 60 pounds since Feb 26th. I am almost at goal and I never had to have the revision. I can eat this way all my life. I now teach others how to do what I did and I am so happy. I challenge you to do the right thing. You will still have to watch what you eat after a revision. I was not willing to risk my life with another surgery. I wish you well I am having Dr. Katzen on September 1st do my boobs, hernia and after that my arms. I am DONE!! I wear a size 8 and I am happy Sandy Kaplan

Hi Christy, Has your doctor sent you for a scope procedure(they put a device down your throat and look into your pouch area)? You could have an enlarged stoma or other problem causing these things. Don't blame yourself you could have a physical problem. I did have an enlarged stoma and had to have it repaired. Good luck with your investigation. Debbie