TwentyTwoYears PostOp

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I had my RNY 22 years ago this month. I went into the surgery 280lbs. In December of 2000, on my 30th birthday, I weighed 200lbs. That day I did the 2nd most bravest thing ever. I jumped out of a perfectly good plane!

The 1st bravest thing I ever did was allowing the staff to wheel me into the OR.

Since those very memorable moments in my life, I've been divorced, engaged, single, married, divorced and married again. Plus, I've been blessed with some amazing kids.

But now... Now, I'm 51 and I put my body through hell. I was young and nieve when I had my surgery. I thought it was a quick fix. I actually believed it would fix my marriage, fix my mind, fix my self image... fix it all.

Instead, it created way more headaches and heartaches than I ever imagined. At least that is how it's been for me.

Why? Because that nieve girl, who believed in quick fixes, is now 208lbs. Suffering from a barrage of health issues. Including, but not limited to, vitamin deficiency, malnutrition/maltese, so many food sensitivities and level 2 hypoglycemia.

I am in no way, shape or form against WLS. But I wish I knew then what I know now. My actual list of health complications is not the surgeries fault. It was not paying attention while the teacher was teaching. I did retain some basic knowledge of the do's and don'ts of WLS. But that alone, wasn't nearly enough education to fly this plane!

When WLS didn't fix my marriage, I went back to my companion.

FOOD

It's been a love, hate, love and hate kind of relationship. The roller coaster ride of sugar is more damaging and dangerous than I ever EVER expected.

Yeah, the dumping helped at first. It helped for about the first 6 to 7 years. But when you gradually eat a bite here or a bite there of foods from the naughty list and you don't get sick? You might think you're getting away with murder. Then you add an extra bite here. Then there and next thing you know...

Bam!

You're body adapted to it all. No more dumping and I still weigh 140lbs? That is probably the exact thought that ran through my mind. No, not probably. That IS what ran through my mind.

It didn't help that I rode the teeter-totter of weight gain and loss for the last 5 years or so. It also didn't help that when food didn't fix it, alcohol tried to. Right about now, your thinking, "No wonder she's been divorced so many times." I was just thinking the same thing ?

I know some might be shaking a pointed finger at me. But before you scold me, check your glucose first. Make sure you're not shaking because it's below 60. Which mine tends to do with only eating protein, like baked chicken.

I recently had a endoscopy performed. Turns out, my pouch is still intact and there wasn't much stretching noted. You surprised? I was too! I also been referred to a barrage of specialists. One for each of my many health issues and each not knowing what the other is doing. Some days, I think I might be better off without any of them. But that also could be my hypoglycemia talking.

Hypoglycemia? I'm not even diabetic. I wasn't diabetic before my RNY either (smh)

Now... fast forward to the older and wiser woman staring into the mirror. Wishing that I knew then what I know now...

~NoMo -AZ

We all regain the lost weight. Most gain 20 by end of year 3. Probably half have gained back 50 by year 5. Each year after that it gets worse. The secret is not carbs, not fat, not protein. It is calories in vs calories burned.

I had RNY in 2007. I am at goal today because of Weigh****chers. I joined in year 3 after first regain. I eat carbs so I keep glucose stable. I track food water and exercise. I weigh every day. I attend daily online meetings. Some times I fall off the wagon, gain and then go back to losing mode again.

The surgery is the past. Now find what works today.

Sometime I regret the WLS. I have a serious back issue and I would love to be able to take NSAID's for the pain. I have gained back about 45 pounds from my lowest. BUT it is in the end just a tool and I totally abused it. I also have a lot of health issues but not due to WLS.

Like mentioned above, we have to figure out the here and now. The surgery is in the past but it's still a valuable tool. I'm still having a hell of a time figuring anything out but I'm not giving in!

so sorry you've had a lot of health issues!