I am over 15 years out from my RNY Surgery

Hi,

I had mine Oct. 15th 2001 I was 356 day of surgery. I have dropped over 200 plus pounds up and down so many times I never got to goal weight till recently.

I was stuck at 240-260 and I knew I could drop it but something was making me wanna stay thus way...... I also have Hidradenitis Suppurativa it's a fun skin disease that is really an allergy to junk foods and fast food in my case. I stopped eating it I dropped the weight like a stone. No more break outs no more suffering or surgeries etc.

Happy Dance

Insain1

Thank you for sharing your story! I've never met another person who was further out than I am, but it's so good knowing that there are! Your getting "stuck" at a certain weight reminds me of myself at one point in my journey.

I overcame mine too, but it just reminds me that the surgery is simply a tool in our toolbox of weight loss. The surgery, in and of itself, as you know, cannot solve our problems. This is not the easy way out (as some suggest); our success depends on our ability to change and our eagerness to work for what we want...what we NEED to not just survive but thrive!

Of course, I know that I'm not telling you something that's not already a lesson you've lived through, but it does bear repeating! :-)

Again, it's so nice to meet another long-timer!

Clarence

Welcome - it's always good to have another long term post op. I'm sure it will change soon as more folks choose bariatric surgery, but for right now we've only got a handful of members over 10 years out that post regularly.

Can I ask how you found OH and what made you decide to participate? We don't get many newbies who are so many years postop. When we do, most are back looking for help with regain and that doesn't appear to be your situation.

So nice to meet you!

I actually did a Google search for weight loss support groups and I saw that there were recent posts here, so I signed up!

I don't personally know any people who are as far out (surgery-wise ;-) as I am and as I feel like I've been relatively successful at maintaining my weight loss, I was hoping that my journey and experience might be helpful to others because I remember being a newbie and wondering and worrying about what was in store for me. I wished back in the day that I had had someone with more experience at living with their RNY surgery that I could talk to, so it only made sense to try to offer help and hope to others in my identical situation. Feels like paying back for my life-saving gift!

I hope all this makes sense.

I hope we can chat more in the future!

Clarence

It does make sense and I'm sure we'll participate in some of the same discussions. We've only got a couple of people as far out as you are; the most active one is Gina who I believe just hit year 16.

It's interesting as people get farther out and have some experience actually living this life. Things change so much after that first two or three years pass. Honestly I don't think the rubber really hits the road until year four or five when regain becomes very real and the day-to-day excitement of continuous losing has come and gone. (newbies please note I'm not minimizing anything that we deal with early out).

Anyhow - welcome again. Looking forward to seeing your posts. =)

edited for spelling

Hi,

I was looking for the old web site that was obesityhelp.com. They used to have a chatroom that you could live chat w/people that were scared to have surgery, just had like here but it was 24/7. So if you were in crisis someone may have been able to hold your cyber hand till it passes.

I thought I could still do the same but that site isn't here but I do still try to help out if someone needs an ear. Only bad part is I don't check in that often (my bad I get busy w/the farm).

I'll try to check in more often though.

Congratulations! I had my RNY in 2003 and know with certainty that it saved my life. I was on 9-10 prescriptions for obesity related illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, GERD, etc. I was able to get off all of them after losing just 50 pounds. Every day is a blessing!

Hello, and thank you so much for posting your story.

It gives me more comfort in my decision, as I'm scheduled for RNY later this month. I plan to stay focused on using my new 'tool' properly, long term. I hope to be a success story just like you are.