? for RNY vets (2 yrs+ out)

Hey yall, I am considering RNY and have a few ?s.  For those who are a few years out, I would like to know what kind of ongoing lifestyle issues/health problems/just plain issues you have or have had due to the surgery?  I know that eating habits should change for life to maintain and be healthy etc but i want to know some of the other changes you have in the long run? digestive issues, other health problems associated with long term living, etc?  i have read about ulcers and anemia and even some stuff about making it thru pregnancy after...but how much do you still have to think about your surgery after some years go by? from stuff as basic as "can I have a bite of cake at a wedding" to ongoing dumping/medical issues? has something not been quite right since the surgery?  i just want to try to understand how my life would be later...is this something that will dominate my life forever?   I know that everyone's experience is different, but i just want to hear what yall have to say. Thanks, Janeen

Wow Janeen you make me think!!!!!! I am 5 years out and am living life at a very normal pace. I just about eat like a normie would do. I do eat that bite of cake but only one and pu**** away. I do get sick when I eat to muc sugar so I tend to stay away from it. I just about eat everything and dont to protien shakes at all. I take 1 pre natal vitamin a day and a b-12 shot a month and I am good to go. I dropped 153 pounds and am maintaining my weight at 130 pounds. My name is Carla klein and I just moved to Bradenton Florida from Centennial Colorado. I am living life. I am no longer diabetic, I no longer have joint pain, I can walk miles without getting tired and I can work on my feet more than 8 hours. I became a cosmetologist at the age of 50. I am 52. How is that for afterlife!!!!! Carla

Thanks, Carla for the info...sounds like you are doing wonderfully.  Your life changes sound awesome, and im all about grabbing opportunities and pursuing your passions!  I have a friend and a cousin who have had the surgery...they have both had kids after with no problems, but i didnt want to ask them as i havent really told many ppl about it, especially considering how my family gossips, and im not ready for unwelcome opinions.  sometimes it seems like other fat ppl are the most discouraging about wls, so since many of them are obese, i will maybe wait til after the surgery (if i have it) and answer ?s only if they ask.

HI Janeen

My name is Lauretta and I had my surgery November 29, 2004 and I am down 167 pounds.  I have been maintaining my weight at 150 for almost a year now and I decided I would like to loose another 5-10 pounds and just started working at it.  The most important thing to remember if you decide to have WLS is that this is not the secrete answer to you lifelong weight problem.  IT IS A TOOL and will help you loose the weight.  Once the weight is off YOU and only YOU must work to keep it off. 

As far as eating goes I never had a major problem and neither did my daughter however, my husband still can not tolerate certain foods (he had his surgery 2/23/2005) and my daughter had hers 4/3/06.  As far as medical issues goes both my daughter and husband no longer take any medication for their type 2 diabetes.  My daughter and myself no longer take any prescription medications and our hypertension has been eliminated as well as my daughters sleep apnea.   As far as medical problems developing I just found out yesterday that I may be developing an internal problem with my intestines because I periodically bloat up and once I developed sever abdominal pain.  This could be one of three things a twisting of my intestines, adhesions, or an internal hernia called a “Peterson’s hernia”.  These are problems I never knew I could develop and is cause by the internal organs shifting due to such a massive weight loss.  Even if I knew about these future complications it would have never stopped me from surgery.  I would do it again tomorrow!

Good luck with your decision and explore all of your options.  This surgery is something that you really need to research and OH boards is a great place to get many answers.

Lauretta    

Hi Janeen! I am Michelle, I am 2 and a half years out. I have lost 160lbs...gained back 10 recently due to some knee problems and not being able to exercise...however I've gotten the knee under control and the weight is moving again.  I would say at times yes the surgery controls your life but not all the time. I try and stay away from sugar and from too much Carbs...my dumping is severe and I know my limit now...therefore I don't pass it.  I recently also had a "twisted intestine" it was very painful and now has been surgically fixed...I notice now I don't digest a lot of food and from what I have learned it takes quite a while for the body to heal.  I work out regularly and if I don't the pounds creep on little by little...I love my life and I know I could not have done so well with out my RNY. IT is challenging however you learn to deal and find ways to make things work for you.   I always start my day with a protein shake...I love them...though I make it my own tasty version.  I wish you the best of luck! Michelle

I feel pretty normal most of the time. Occasionally if I don't chew well enough or if I swallow too quickly something will get stuck which can be painful for a little while until it passes thru or comes back up. This does not happen often anymore, but happened more often the first year. I still deal with constipation issues, but I do have it under control thru diet (had to add more fiber) and I take stool softeners each night. Other than that life is fantastic! I feel like a new woman and would do it again in a heartbeat! Good Luck to You!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi all.... I had to stick my 2 cents in here.... I am 4.5 yrs out I lost a total of 177lbs of which I gained 47 lbs back only because of bad eating habits and a sit down job 9 hours a day...but thats neither here or there....My after life has become very rough the past year I was told I needed surgery for an unrelated illness only to find out they can't do surgery because I was suffering from severe anemia I have been taking iron shots weekly since the end of Febuary with very little change in my blood work so as of this week the doctor is ordering more intence blood work up...God only knows why...... But I can say I'm sick of being black and blue from these shots and the drama of no one can fix me.... but on the other hand I would change nothing of my decision to have this surgery I would have rather died than to not have it thats how much it changed me..... Willianette

Thanks to everyone for your comments. I really appreciate the points of view and semi "glimpse into the future".   I am torn between the give it one more shot and just have the surgery ideas now so i am weighing the options.  i would have to change my lifestyle and diet for the surgery anyway, so why cant i just do it now? thats how im feeling, but i want this weight off! so again..thanks for your insights.

Janeen,

 I am almost six years out and I've experienced anemia in my second year but taking iron on a weekly basis has that under control.  I've had a bowel obstruction which required surgery last year or I would have died.  I now experience low blood sugar episodes when I eat too much sugar without eating protein first.  Two to three hours afterward, when it happens, I get disoriented and I can barely think or walk.  I have to take a glucose tablet (I carry in my purse) and eat some protein and I'm fine again.  That only happens when I eat too much sugar. 

I've learned over the years that the only way to keep the weight off is to STAY on the 'pouch rules' and eat mostly proteins and veggies and STAY away from CRAP foods that got me fat in the first place!  When I eat breads of any kind or sugars I gain weight again and it makes me feel bad, so it's just better to eat healthy. 

 I'm back in the 150's and I'd like to get to 140 by my anniversary and I hope I make it this year!

Blessings!

My surgery was 9/17/03. I am down 160 pounds & holding, from a size 32 to a 12. I am very happen with my decision. The following are changes my body experiences since my WLS: My stomache sometimes makes noises at embarrassing times- gurgles  If I dont chew properly I will experience some pain and a stuck in my throat/chest feeling I sometimes go days without a bowel movement If I eat icecream, I need a nap- makes me very tired If I drink alcohol, one drink will make me drunk for about 10 minutes and then I get & stab sober         no matter how much how I continue to drink I must take iron pills so that I do not have low iron I get tired (never happened pre surgery- lived on about 2 hours of sleep before) Occasionally after I eat I get nausiaus & Foam at the mouth (not sure how to describe it....kind of like I produce alot of saliva and need to spit it out ) & it doesnt matter what I ate or how much- has happend about 10 times since surgery these are my basic changes, will be more than happy to answer any specific questions you have. Good Luck Diana RNY 9/17/03 360/200/still aiming at 180