Sleeve to RnY revision....need help living with RnY

So back in 2008 I had the Sleeve and excelled like a rock-star. Lost 170lbs in 18 months and was on top of the world. I ran the hospital support group and was looking at possibly even working for my surgeon. Then in May 2010 I got fired from the hospital unit I worked on, I lost the support group and my surgeon couldn't hire me because I was ineligible to work at the hospital any more. 

I am an emotional eater and about a year out of my VSG I took back eating bread and sugar. Was in control for a little while but when my world started to unravel financially in 2011 (house went into foreclosure, car got repo'd, creditors slapped liens on everything they could), I became more and more depressed and started eating for comfort and I wasn't eating carrots! 

Needless to say I gained back 90lbs over the following 5 years and was suicidal when I call my surgeon and asked for help again. He is the best surgeon and without judgement or criticism he worked with me and on Oct 26th I had a revision to the Roux en Y. Now I'm dealing with a large hematoma on my abdomen that was drain and I have a wound vac. I have been following the diet and am at Stage 3 but I still really depressed and sleep a lot. I'm down 30 lbs and am happy about that but the physical damage has been done.

Exercising once the wound vac is off will be very limited as I now need both my knees replaced and have stenosis in my lower back. Although thanks to Chapter 13 bankruptcy I have save my home, car and bank account for now but the financial stress is worse now than ever. I just need some support and my old support group isn't the place for me. 

So I'm back on Obesity Help looking for a support group of Roux N Y patients who are a few years out. It's a long shot as most people fall away from here after a couple years but it's a Hail Mary. Thanks for reading my rant! LOL

Don't look back ... look forward. You've had a rough time, and you can't change what happened, only learn from it. If you were running a support group, you know most of the weight loss comes from what we put in our mouths. Yes it is good to be active and 'move' but full-out body building etc. not required.

Stick around read the boards get involved. Encouraging others helps to encourage yourself... You can learn a lot from reading the posts. I find coming here helps to keep me focused.

Be kind to yourself, and take one day at a time...

I'm sorry to hear about your complications and your financial problems.  I am glad you are seeking support.  That is a valuable part of success after WLS, as you know.

I was a revision as well and if there is one thing I could tell you is to use your first surgery's failure as a learning experience.  It sounds like you are aware of what happened to get you off track.   Remembering those things will help you stay on track this time.

The one thing you said that I hear over and over again is they started eating crap (bread, sugar and all the other things that got us qualified for surgery in the first place).  That certainly was the case for me.

I was just telling someone that a big moment of truth for me was when I realized, about 5 years out from my first WLS, that if I wanted to lose weight and keep it off I was going to have to diet.  I really had convinced myself that I would never need to diet or what what I ate again.  That is a lie.  To lose weight and keep it off after WLS I have to do exactly what I had to do before WLS.  No short cuts.  The only difference is that where before limited what I ate long term was impossible, now it is not only possible but fairly easy as long as I stay away from the crap.

In the past I would diet and when I hit my goal I rewarded myself with all the things I had deprived myself of for all that time.  Now I realize that there is no finish line.  Losing the excess weight wasn't the end for me but just the beginning of learning how and what to eat to keep it off.

If you can keep in mind the things you did wrong the first time you will have a better chance of doing them right this time.

Welcome.  You can do this.

As a revision patient myself - I try to remember what I did right the first time around and to never forget what I did wrong that got me back onto the operating table again.  It sounds like you are aware and ready to give this your best shot.  It's worth the effort.

I suffered with a huge hemetoma after a second hernia surgery last March.  It is a huge drag, painful and frustratingly slow to resolve. I wish I had better news, but that's what it was like for me too :/

WHile I may get bashed for this - I actually don't think exercise is at all critical for WL or maintenance.  Not falling into old eating habits, eating high protein and keeping your calories in a WL zone is really all I needed to get to goal and blow right past it.  So please don't set up the mind set (which can be self fullfilling and futile) that you won't succeed because you can't exercise for whatever the reason.  I was on complete bed rest for almost 10 months as a post-op so it is possible.  Plenty of us can't or don't do formal exercise inorder to lose weight.  It's great if you can and want to, but I personally don't think it's a deal breaker. 

Give yourself a chance to recover from the hemetoma.  Stick to your plan and stay positive.  You got this!

I'm with Ashley. Don't let exercise, or lack of exercise, get in your way. It's all about the food.

Exercise is great if you are physically or mentally able. I don't do any formal or organized exercise, for a very good reason. I don't want to. I don't want to so badly, that I never would keep it up long term. And post WLS life should be about long term changes.

What I DO is increase my activity. I try to be as active as I can, every day. I do things I enjoy, unlike the gym. Fitbit is a wonderful tool for making sure you stay active.

lol...... LOVED YOUR HONESTY.....

"I don't do any formal or organized exercise, for a very good reason. I don't want to."

I just can;t wait to be more active and not so tired all the time. Thanks for the laugh

Welcome back! Sorry to hear that things haven't been easy for you. Keep your chin up and visit here often for support. For me the daily menu topic helps me with new ideas as well as keeping me on track :)

Good luck with getting on-track. I hope you are getting some counseling to help you deal with your problems. They can seem over whelming along.

We are all cheering for you

Eileen,  

    I too come here to give and receive support.  That is one of the most important parts of this site , to be able to help others thru the struggles. My weight loss surgery was 20 years ago, i had a combination procedure from which the ones done today were derrived. My surgery wrote the book on enteral nutrition, literally! He kept changing the procedure and fine tuning it. My Mom and I both had the surgery in 94.Our surgery also included the removal of a large portion of the large intestines.i have a band above my pouch and below it. These serve to protect the narrow areas in the intestine from getting obstructed with something gulped accidently, leaving any possible obstruction close enough to the top to grab with a scope. 

I am sorry you have the issues you now have, but you just know that each of us have issues. I have a different set than yours, and vice versa. I had gastric torsion , twice...and did not have to have surgery thanks to good care and decompression.  

  ...Try to do some isometrics a couple of times a day, but especially at night. You can exercise everything but your surgery areas, and build your rate of metabolism back up...and your strength.

.... also lighten up on yourself. Stress will preent weight loss..so find some stress relievers... like a craft... maybe plastic canvass work, counted cross stitch, crochet, sewing., jewelry making.. just find something you enjoy.. to take the stress away..  Hnag in there you are not alone, there are a good group of people here.... someone will be here to answer your questions and maybe you will be able to answer some one elses.!

I know, things are rough for you right nowbut you have taken a huge step forward. Asking for support is a great move. I have reached out a couple of times here as I have dealt with some medical issues. Everyone has been truly supportive and offer wonderful advice. There are no local support g to u ps near me so this is my support. I regularly give thanks, for this forum. Given all that I pray things will get better for you medically, financially and emotionally. You have my support as well as a big hug because hugs always makeme feel a bit better.