Saw someone who gained it all back.

I had not seen this person for about a year and a half. She had a RNY, and lost so much weight she looked like her own daughter!
When I saw her, she looked away, I know she was embarrassed. I felt so bad for her, but did not say a word, certainly not mentioning my band.
I had gained so much myself that my 22.5 lb loss didn't even register.
Not sure if I should have said something, but thought it best to let it pass.
We were in a large crowd of people at a big conference, so it was easy to just say  hello and keep going....

Mary

Oh, I know how she feels!  I know I had lost 105 lbs and was very close to goal, then stress, band slipping and emotional eating had me put on 40lbs again.  I was so embarassed.  I know that the women at the office that thought my WLS was the "easy" way out were probably secrectly smiling about it.

I am back and better than ever though....still not at goal, but getting closer every week,  It's a good thing that you didn't say anything to her.  It can happen to all of us.  Never let your guard down.  

I think re-gain is prob. a fear of most of us WLS'ers. Some more than others. My heart goes out to those that have regained! :-(

It happens sometimes. I gained back 60+ of the 100 lbs I lost. The first two years I was not hungry, ever. I had to remind myself to eat. After that it seems like I just got hungry. Very hungry! After a while I noticed that I could and did eat as much as I wanted, not as much as before surgery but way more than I should be able to eat. Kept my protein first, vitamins, stayed active.

I have chronic pain due to arthritis and fibromyalgia and since gaining, it's very difficult to exercise. I walk, try to stay busy.

The depression is the worst! I never knew what being "thin" was. Even though I never reached goal, I was still smaller than I'd ever been and felt MUCH better, very minimal pain, lots of energy. People would tell me I looked too thin. Just a few months later, at a cookout, a friend of the family asked me when my baby was due. He'd complimented me on my huge loss just a few months before. That was hard for me. I wanted to just dissolve into the ground. I was so ashamed of myself. I do LOOK pregnant.

I can imagine how the lady you speak of must have felt. I sometimes don't even want to leave the house. It's even worse now that I know how good it feels to be much healthier, thinner and almost pain free. Before I didn't know.. I could only imagine. I think it's best just not to say anything. I prefer when someone just speaks and smiles and goes about their way.

Hope things look better for you in the future.
Best of luck!
Cheers!
Mary

Thank you Mary. Best of luck to you also. :)

A have a good friend and a cousin who got RNY at the same time, I got my LapBand.  They both lost really fast and I felt like such a failure.  There I was plugging along with my slow LapBand.  Others would tell me that I should have gotten RNY.  Unfortunately, now almost 4 years later, they have gained almost all of the weight back.  I feel so sad for them.  We never talk about weight.  I don't want them to feel bad, but I know they do.  One is saving money to get the Band over Bypass.  I hope it works for her.  WLS isn't the easy way out for any of us.  I never let my guard down.  I know I've been so fortunate so far, but I also know that that can change in a moment.  We're all human. We all have dealt with the pain of being obese.  It's horrible.  I remember it well and sometimes I am so anxious with the fear of returning to that way.  My heart goes out to you Joy_72.  I hope you can find your way back.  Don't give up.  You're worth it.