Bypass surgory appears to have failed me, am I the only one?

Hi, I had gastric bypass Sept 1999. I weighted 328 pds. I had surgory and the surgory was not a problem at all. I felt wonderful, no complications! A year after surgory I weighted 242 lb. That is as low as my weight dipped. I was and am so disappointed. I wished I would have had the gastric band. Now, 5 yrs later I am back to weighting 280 lbs. I am devastated. I am hoping to get a revision or the band or something. Is there anyone out there in my situation?

Hi Wanda, I wonder by looking at your profile if you had a good support group. You did not seem to leave much info about yourself. DId you stay on the proper things to eat? DId you exercise? Have you done what you are supposed to do post-op? Why do you want the band? Not critisizing (sp), just want to know more about your journey. Richard

Hi Richard, I did not have a support group, you are correct! The first year after the surgory, I did fine. I started at 328 lbs. One year later I weighted 242 lbs. I had the surgory ay the old hospital now shut down in downtown Columbus. I had no complications the first year. I was terribly dissappointed I had not lost as much weight as the others who had surgory the same time I did. My ideal weight would be 170 lbs. I would be happy with 200 lb. Despite excersising, and watching food. I could never get under 242. Well I guess I did once, I had a surgory adhesion, I did get down to 232lbs, I could not eat and was hospitalized for three days. I was kept of off food and liquid and the bowl moved and then I was ok. I guess that happens to alot of Gastric bypass patients. Its been 5 yrs working on Six years this fall I had gastric bypass. I have steadily put on the weight. average is 10 lbs a yr. I am now at 280 lb and frustrated. I was just wondering if there are others who had a similar experience. The doctor who did my surgory kept thinking I would loose more weight, I can't really eat alot now. My metabilism is nothing. I am not sure what to do? I am going in for a consult. I do walk a minimum of 6 miles a week. I still only eat half of what ever food is on my plate. I still cannot eat fat or much sweets. I can say that carbohydrates work better than anything. I have read that is what makes you fat? Denise

Well wanda, I am glad to hear you are still walking. I would get back to the basics. Increase water, eat more protein and measure your portions. I do not know exactly what it could be, I would try the basics first. THen I would have my doctor run a whole bunch of tests to make sure everything is ok with the bloodwork. YOu said something that made me think. YOu said that you still only eat half on your plate. Thats what I mean by measuring what you eat in a day. If you are only supposed to eat so much, only put that on the plate. Then when you are done, you are done. I still have not felt hunger really. I do know that I can eat more and more each day and hope that I can keep it under control. Thats why this is only a tool. It takes our commitment the rest of our lives. That's why a support group is so important. I would suggest joining weight groups to help with going back to the basics. This group online is fantastic if there is not one around you. E-mail me anytime. Richard

Hi Wanda, Same thing happened to me, almost exactly!!! I weights 380 and got down to 310. Now I am back up to 345 and am so disappointed. After the first year, I almost killed myself because I thought I failed myself and did something wrong. Almost 2 years after my surgery, I found out that my original surgeon did not do the by pass correctly, infact he did notmake my new pouch small enough. So now I am stuck with feelings of hopelessness again, and strong anger to boot! I can have a revision but I no longer have the insurance that got me the surgery in the first place. I wish I could offer more advice.