Question for those who are two years post op

Just wondering what I can expect for the next year..I was at my goal weight by one year out December 06. I don't expect to lose any more, I'm doing the best I can to not lose anymore by eating about 1500 calories a day.. I'm curious.. Will I fill out some of my loose skin? I'm mostly worried about my deflated behind.. Will weight redistribute itself around. I'm not big on day to day exercise routines, but I do strenuous mountian hikes about twice a month and walk a couple miles ever other day or so.. What changes did you experiance over the second year..or am I just DONE?

Hate to tell you this but the only way to fill out some of the baggy skin is to fill it up with muscle. You need to be doing a routine execise program or you will start to gain wt. As for the deflated back end, walking should help that. I find if I'm not exercising, my tailbone causes me great pain. If I'm building up those muscles, not butt pain. You need to be very careful around the 2 year mark. That seems to be the time when either we start to slip away from our program or our bodies just have minds of their own and we start to gain wt. I'm not sure what the answer is for that. I'm struggling at almost 3 years and have been for the last year. I can't seem to get the last pounds gone.

Thank you for your insight, Lyn! Right now, I'm having a hard time holding at the weight I'm at now..if I don't eat enough the weight is still coming off..Tho' I know "things" can get out of hand later, I would much rather be between being too fat and too skinny..It's a place were I feel more comfortable..I would like SOME curves. I'm looking foward to the little bounce back of 10-20 lbs my surgeon talked about. I'm 5'9 and fluctuate between 130 to 140 lbs. I'm looking quite gaunt. I'm wondering if I will start looking better this coming year. I have a row machine in the garage..thinking maybe that will pump up my hiney some..you think? I think I'll go drag the thing inside..now where to put it? LOL

Janet, I will be 2 years postop on Thursday. I, too, reached my goal weight by my 1 yr. anniversay. During my 2nd year I underwent 3 rounds of plastic surgery and maintained my weight. Due to all the surgeries I wasn't able to exercise so I had to be very strict with myself about what I ate. I kept my calories at 1,000-1,200 just to maintain my weight. Since the holidays began I've gained 6 lbs and I'm cracking down on myself so I can lose them. I have found that during the 2nd year I can eat a good bit more than earlier post-op and if I eat carbs I really crave more of them. So I'm trying to get back to basics, protein first, get in my fluids and limit carbs, especially "white" carbs. Good luck! You can do it, just stay on top of things and don't let a few pounds get ahead of you. Vickie J.

Thank you, Vicky! Guess I'm feeling a little "freaked out" I'm looking so Gaunt these days..Did you go thru a time where you thought you lost too much weight?

Janet, Right before my 3rd round of plastic surgery we had an unexpected emotional event in our family and I went through a couple of days of being so upset that I was unable to eat - a first for me b/c in the past I ate everything not nailed down when under stress. I lost 4.5 lbs in 2 days and since I was already a little below my goal weight I did not need to loose those extra pounds. I didn't look gaunt but I certainly looked a little "unwell". Once I was able to eat again, I gained back the lost weight and a few extra "friends" quickly. I promptly got stick with myself and lost those extra pounds so that I went into my 3rd ps at my goal weight. Now, if I can just drop the last of those extra 5 lbs I gained during the holidays I'll be all set. I see my wl surgeon this week for my 2 yr check-up and I don't want to go in over MY goal weight (much lower than his goal weight for me). Vickie J.

You look fab, Vickie...Have you had your 2 year labs done yet? My surgeon has us go have them drawn at our PCP office, and faxed to his office about two weeks ahead. I hope your labs are good. I'm low on Iron and have to take Repliva 21/7, they are horse pills and sit like a rock on my stomach.. They did help with my tiredness and breathlessness. I think when I get rid of that extra bit of thyroid hormone in that Thyroglossal duct cyst, I think I should feel better. Hyperthyroidism is not fun at all. It kind of makes one anxious, uptight..I really want to stop worrying so much..LOL

Janet, My last labs were in Oct. right before my last round of ps and everything was fine. My hematocrit & hemoglobin were on the low end, but still in the normal range. Unfortunately, I developed a hematoma in my right breast and had to go back into surgery 3 days later to have it evacuated. My hemoglobin & hematocrit had dropped so low that I had to have 3 units of blood transfused. Because I've had a hematoma during a previous surgery my ps is concerned that I may have a bleeding / clotting disorder so he told me to see my PCP. When I saw my PCP he referred me to a hematologist but I couldn't get appt. until 2/6. I've always bruised easily and with my lap RNY I got a bruise the size of a turkey platter and oozed blood from the lap incision where they removed my gallbladder. But the hematomas are something new (I've had at least 10 previous surgeries!). My PCP does my labs 4 times a year and sends the results to my WL surgeon. I hope my surgeon will be happy with results from late Oct. If he wants more recent labs, I'll get my PCP to order new labs if the hematologist doesn't order them first. Don't let my complications freak you out. Hematomas are unusual and to have 2 hematomas is very rare. That is why they suspect I may have a minor blood problem. I'm not worried, but I am curious to see what the hematologist comes up with b/c I'm probably going to have a 2nd round of knee surgery soon. Better to find out before hand if we need to do anything "special" or "extra" before/during/or after my next surgery. Hugs! Vickie J.

Hi Janet! I agree that exercise is the key to helping our bodies look their best~short of having plastics. I haven't noticed any redistribution, but I've read where alot of people have experienced that. For me, the 2nd year was a little scary b/c I was never good at the whole maintenance thing (obviously or I wouldn't have ended up mo), but I've learned alot! I've really tried to stick with the eating plan, exercise and get continued support here at OH and at monthly support group meetings. that has helped me to maintain my weightloss nicely. Good Luck to you during your 2nd year~I'm heading off toward my 3rd year and I hope it continues to get well! Tracy B 328/150 5'9"

Thank you, Tracy..I see we are the same height. I was always 5'9" till I got heavy and my Bariatric surgeon measured me at 5'8" before my surgery..I'm back to 5'9" now..guess the weight beared too hard on my joints making me shorter.. You have done so well on your wl journey..But did you have the fear of losing too much weight? I know I'm too skinny. I can wear a size 6 jean! I liked the way I looked in a size 10 and 12. My face is so small and sad looking..LOL I want some poof..just fill out some, is all..I'm fighting to keep what weight I'm at..it's really hard. Another thing..I have just found out that I have a small thyroid problem..it's hyper from a Thyroglossal Duct Cyst that has some hormone in it..I'm having that removed, so maybe I should be careful what I wish for..I am not sure how that removal will affect my WL..But have an appt tomorrow afternoon to talk about the surgery..going to ask questions..