Hello Courtney and all,
Wow Courtney,
Our situation is very  similar.  I had my stapling done in about 1988.  Like you the details are alittle fuzzy also.  My area of the stapling came "oudone" shortly after my surgery.  I really don't think I had completely healed when it came undone.  I still remembering vomiting profusely and feeling something "give" (for a better term).  After that I could eat whatever I wanted as long as I chewed it well.  I am still left with the banded area at the entrance to my stomach.  I still have to becareful what I eat as far as the opening with the band goes.  No whole corn, pork, spicy food, fresh veg's. kill me ....you know the drill.  I still throw up a great deal of the time. 
I have been having bad reflux.  My dentist noted that I have places on my enamel where the acid has and is damaging my teeth.  
 I have been aspirating and waking myself up from it.  You have to have been there to understand what it's like.  I wake up chocking and I can't catch my breathe.  I have wondered how much I have aspiratred.    Like you, I can't eat hours before bed. 
My last bloodwork I had done showed me as being anemic, I never had trouble with my hemoglobin being so low.  
My vit D was very low also. I asked for that to be checked after watching a tv show on what vit D does.  It's an amazing what all it can do for the body.  I think it should be in the "norm" when blood is drawn.  But you have to have a special blood test done for it.
    I too have just recently started becoming horribly nauseous and to the point of throwing up.  I fight that to the death.   I am taking phenergan with my pain meds for another health issue and the phenergan really helps to keep the nausea under control. 
I have a hiatal hernia also.   I had all the tests run.  They did a barium swallow on me.  It showed right where my rip is, it shows where the staples came undone. 

I am sorry you still have problems.  You know back when we had this done there wasn't alot of long term effects to go by....I guess we are it.  We are the "old WLS" guinea pigs as you called it.

I am considerating one of the newer weight loss surgeries.  I don't even know if it is available in the area where I live.  I saw a program the other day where a new WLS actually takes out 80% of the stomach.  People are really losing weight.  They have to watch and be sure nutrition needs are met but we still have to do that now....I too have gained alot of my weight back.
I have to do something.

Courtney, thanks for your email.  It's nice (at least) to know I am not alone with all this.

So if anyone has any ideas I would love to hear them too. 
Thanks

Okay, now we all know that official start of the food laden holiday season is upon us as we approach Halloween. How are you handling the temptations that come with the inevitable bowls and goody bags brimming with goodies calling to us?

I have a list of things I'm doing to help me make sure to enjoy the holiday without running me off the road so that I can sustain my journey.

First, I'm starting each day with one item from each of the following buckets that I want to focus: health, quality of life, and appearance. Each of these things is just one of the many reasons I want to stay on track, but making the conscious effort to articulate these things helps make them more tangible for me and helps me focus on WHAT I want to do and WHY I want to do it. I then try to think of these things before I put anything in my mouth and determine if what I'm about to eat is going to help me fulfill these goals or short-change me.

Next, I've decided not to bring candy/contraband into the house until a few days before the holiday and have made sure to get things for the neighborhood kids that, to be honest, I don't really like. I'm not much of one for sweet tarts, gummy bears, etc. The kids will enjoy, but it won't be nearly as hard for me to resist as if I had a dish full of dark chocolates calling to me.

Finally, speaking of dark chocolates. I am able to eat it without getting sick, I opt to go get a piece of Godiva... that's just because See's isn't available on the east coast... but what I'm saying is I get a piece of REALLY GOOD dark chocolate and savor it. Really enjoy it. This allows me to not feel deprived, but not have a bunch stuff in the house that could undermine my goals of living a healthier, fuller life... and still fit into my closet of size 4/6 clothes ;-). Now that I'm at goal and maintaining my weight, it's important to have some balance. Enjoying some chocolate is fine, but I also need to know my limitations and not put myself in harms way, which is why I don't keep bags of Dove chocolates in the house as I did before.

Please share any tips to navigate what can be a SCARY side of Halloween so that it's not a frightful journey.

ughhh!!! yes dr. valin way of the vgb is actually to seperate and make a small stomach with staples, and a band to prevent leakage, however doing research i havent heard good things.. and im actually starting to get nervous now.. i need and want to loose the weight though... nov 1 is when i go in...