Number of Years (RNY)

I am researching having gastric bypass.  I am interesting in finding out how people are doing 5+ 10+ years out after surgery.  1. Where you able to maintain the weight loss? 2. How is your health?     1. Problems with Uclers     2. Anemia / lack of nutrients     3. Loss of hair -- this one really bothers me for some reason.      4. Do you have a problem with food getting stuck?     5. For those of you with diabetes II, high blood pressure, high cholestrol - where you          able to get off your medications?     6. I read that some people have problems with low blood sugars after the the surgery -          has anyone experienced low blood sugars? 3. This questions seems odd -- but what do you miss the most after your surgery? 4. This is a tough question - the surgery drastically changes lives and we all hope its for the       best -- does anyone regret having the surgery and if you don't mind sharing - why? I really appreciate any responses.

Oct 5, 1994, lost from 262 to 112, distal gastric bypass

1. weight today :110
2. had marginal ulcers in the beginning, not for years now. Also had thempre-op, with the full stomach
3. had some nutritional issues in the beginning, but found my preferred way of doing things and now just adjust with each set of labs. Not fixing "broken" any more, just perfecting already "good". But I do have osteoporosis, which is typical of those of us done before much was known about calcium. In some practices here in WA, there is still a huge info gap on calcium and vit D.
4. lost hair 4 months after original WLS; 4 months after my TT; 4 months after revision (I was done in the olden days); 4months after my mom died; 4 months after my dad died; 4month after mt arm broke and needed surgery. Grew back.
5. got off all my obesity related meds. didn't have diabetes
6. low blood sugar is a part of my life, tho not for many months now.
7. miss the most? hot choco chip cookies straight out of the oven with ice cold moo. I agreed to give up milk and sugar for life. I CAN eat sugar (but I gain wt when I do), was already lactose intolerant pre-op. I COULD eat these, but wouldn't feel so good for a few hours and I would wake up with my fave pants not zipping,. Not worth it.,
8. the usual regret. I was 44 when I had surgery, wish I had been 24. Of course, I'd be pretty sick with what we know about nutrition today and what is still not known widely and not a darned thing was known 30 yrs ago! But nutritional issues aside, I wish I could've spent my life at a reasonable wt whil eating a reasonable diet and not starving and gaining wt while I did it.

Since you are local to me, I'd highly recommend my support groups here since we have more long termers than elsewhere, including others like me who were done in the 80's or 90's and now redone.

Michelle,  Thank you for your response. I think the hair loss portion scares me so bad because my daughter has aelopcia and has no hair anywhere - I see what see goes through and I am a bit attached to my locks :-) I would love to join your support group. How do I do that?  I am looking using Dr. Alperovich at the Washington Bariatrics & Weight loss center @ VMC. Would be interested to see what doctors everyone used  in this area and what their experiences were.

1. Where you able to maintain the weight loss?  I maintained 1/2 of what I lost, but the re-gain wasn't the fault of RNY.  It was due to severe complications from a different surgery that plunged me into depression and old bad habits.  I'm currently trying to reverse that again! 2. How is your health?     1. Problems with Uclers   none     2. Anemia / lack of nutrients   occassional anemia, but I had that before - just add an iron pill for awhile     3. Loss of hair -- this one really bothers me for some reason.   hardly any and definately not noticable to anyone else     4. Do you have a problem with food getting stuck?  never     5. For those of you with diabetes II, high blood pressure, high cholestrol - where you          able to get off your medications?  I was borderline, but avoided developing these     6. I read that some people have problems with low blood sugars after the the surgery -          has anyone experienced low blood sugars?  never 3. This questions seems odd -- but what do you miss the most after your surgery? Reeses peanut butter cups.  Oddly, the first thing I really CRAVED was a piece of dry toast.  I could eventually have that! 4. This is a tough question - the surgery drastically changes lives and we all hope its for the       best -- does anyone regret having the surgery and if you don't mind sharing - why? not for one second.  I wish I could do it again to lose the weight I re-gained.  It is a miraculous opportunity to change your future for the better Once I found out about it, I never had a second thought that it was right for me.  Never even a nervous thought.  I didn't worry about side effects or dying.  I just knew it would be good.  On the flip side, my buddy was a basket case.  She cried every day and was scared about everything.  However, she was extremely successful with it and maintains her skinny, size 6-8 self!  I'm so jealous.  We're 5 and 4 years out.  Good luck!

Hello, I am 5 years post-op RNY, I didn't reach my goal but I think it was a bit low (I'm 5'9" and my goal was 160lbs).  I reached 177lbs, then had a hysterectomy and gained 22lbs in 2 years (part of that was because I moved from San Diego to North Carolina where everything seems to be cooked with more fat, fried or breaded and not as many fresh fruits/vegetables at my fingertips - no excuse I know)...  Anyway, I've lost 2 this past week and I'm on my way back to my goal of 177ish again. My health is so much better that pre-op.  I had a few co-morbities (high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, high cholestrol, joint pain, asthma) prior but don't have any of these now.  My blood pressure is a little low but hasn't worried any of my doc's.   I'm off all medications except for my asthma but that is allergy induced and even that has gotten a lot better!   I did loose some hair (mine was thin to begin with) but it grew back.  I haven't had any ulcers, Anemia or low blood sugars.  I have only had food "stuck" one time but that was because I was craving Peanut Butter and just had to pu****  I ate about 1/4 of a peanut butter sandwich and didn't chew it up enough - boy oh boy was I sick.  But I learned a lesson and now can eat pretty much anything as long as I chew it up very well.  I haven't had any other problems with food. 

The think I missed most after surgery... hmmm... I can't think of anything I missed after surgery.  I mean I know I couldn't eat some of the things I wanted to, but I can't say I missed them.  I don't like some of the foods I loved before WLS but now I like some I didn't like before...   I don't regret having this surgery for one moment.  If I were in the position I was in at 395lbs and knew what I knew now I'd crawl back to my doctor and beg for RNY (and his office is a 2 hour drive from me so that would be a lot of crawling).  I hope this helps you, if I can help in any other way feel free to PM me.  Good luck in your venture!!!

I'm only one year out and don't have as much as experience as some here, but this is where I'm at so far: 1. Where you able to maintain the weight loss? I've been holding around 150 pounds for a couple of months. At first, I couldn't imagine eating enough to regain, and even though I can't hold much at a time, I think I could manage to eat all day long and start to regain weight. I'm going to try really hard to maintain this weight - wish me luck. :) 2. How is your health?     1. Problems with Uclers  None     2. Anemia / lack of nutrients  I had low magnesium about 3 months out and had to take a supplement for a couple of months. No other problems, except I can tell if I start skipping vitamins and supplements, don't feel so good. I take a vitamin twice a day, sublingual B-12 three times a week, and potassium.     3. Loss of hair -- this one really bothers me for some reason.  I had a little hair loss between 3 and 5 months post-op, but not enough that anybody else could notice.     4. Do you have a problem with food getting stuck? Hasn't happened yet.     5. For those of you with diabetes II, high blood pressure, high cholestrol - where you          able to get off your medications? I had just developed Type 2 diabetes and it has been resolved.     6. I read that some people have problems with low blood sugars after the the surgery -          has anyone experienced low blood sugars? No problem so far. But I eat every 3 hours, and I think that would help that problem. 3. This questions seems odd -- but what do you miss the most after your surgery? Well, that would be pigging out. Sometimes I wish I could pull a string and gorge for just one day, but this little pouch just won't let me do it. Good thing, I guess. My whole life revolved around eating, and it's been a huge adjustment. 4. This is a tough question - the surgery drastically changes lives and we all hope its for the       best -- does anyone regret having the surgery and if you don't mind sharing - why? No, I don't regret it. There's a lot to get used to, but I have so much to be thankful for since my WLS. You're smart to ask questions. Good luck!

I'll be six years out the day after tomorrow.

1. Where you able to maintain the weight loss?

I never got to my goal of 140 (5'3) but my lowest was 155 and today I weighed 158.  I have gained up to 182 three separate times but got my butt in gear and got the weight off.  Now I don't let myself get over 160 or I get back to basics.  My weight is more important than the food and that is the key to keeping it off I think - at least for me anyway. 

2. How is your health?
    1. Problems with Uclers

No ulcers and have taken Ibuprofen anytime I wish since surgery.
    2. Anemia / lack of nutrients

Yes, I was anemic two years out but my vitamins have iron in them and once a month I take an extra supplement during my time of the month.
    3. Loss of hair -- this one really bothers me for some reason.

Yes, I lost hair from 4-9 months out from surgery.  I have been taking 1500 mg of biotin daily along with drinking protein drinks (one a day) and I try not to use Pantene conditioner anymore - it really made my hair fall out a LOT!  It's grown back though mostly I think. 
    4. Do you have a problem with food getting stuck?

I've had trouble with dry things such as flour tortillas, chicken, steak sometimes.  My husband has to beat on my back with his fist to help it go down occassionally, but not often.
    5. For those of you with diabetes II, high blood pressure, high cholestrol - where you 
        able to get off your medications?

Never had either one for some strange reason!
    6. I read that some people have problems with low blood sugars after the the surgery - 
        has anyone experienced low blood sugars?

Yes, it's called 'reactive hypglycemia' and it happens after I eat too many sugars or fats.  My blood sugar level**** a very low point and I can barely think or do anything.  I have to immediately eat protein or a protein/carb combination to get the levels back to normal again.  It can be very scary.  However, if you eat protein BEFORE you eat the sugars/fats, it usually doesn't happen as bad or at all, even.

3. This questions seems odd -- but what do you miss the most after your surgery?

Well, up until this last week, I CRAVED cereal with milk!  I tried it and it made me so sick because I don't have a gallbladder.  BUT, I bought some lactose free milk and I can eat a bowl of cereal now and I don't get nearly as sick - just a tiny bit nauseous and I'm so thankful!

4. This is a tough question - the surgery drastically changes lives and we all hope its for the 
     best -- does anyone regret having the surgery and if you don't mind sharing - why? 

Yeah, I posted a topic about that very issue a while back and I think it got something like 3000 views and 80 something replies!  LOL!  I do regret it when my health suffers from symptoms from it.  However, I've learned the hard way that if I take my supplements daily (and doing that six years out is MORE important than ever!) and stay away from sugars and fats, I am a NORMAL person!  So I guess the answer is mostly 'no' but sometimes 'yes, when I'm bad!' and that's my OWN fault!  LOL!

I hope that answers your questions.  I do want to add here that because of all the people regaining their weight back, I'm less of an WLS advocate than I used to be, because of the post op issues you are concerned about.  I think that since we MUST eat proteins and veggies to keep the weight off AS THOUGH WE NEVER HAD SURGERY IN THE FIRST PLACE, then why doesn't a person just lose it on their own?  Granted, there are people that are SUPER morbidly obese and surgery is really the only answer.  But for those people who are only 100 pounds overweight, my personal opinion is that they can do it with a supervised program or by themselves.  JMHO.......

I had my surgery in April, 2005 so I'm two plus years out. 1. Where you able to maintain the weight loss? So far, so good. I've lost 140 pounds since my highest weight and while I've stopped losing weight at 175-180 I'm not regaining either. I think this may be it for me, which is fine. I'm a comfortable size 14 with lots of muscles since I work out a LOT. 2. How is your health?     1. Problems with Uclers None     2. Anemia / lack of nutrients Yes, I'm anemic, so I'm using a new iron which is helping tremendously. I also had horrible heavy period bleeding and had an endometrial ablation which took care of that. :) I do have some trouble keeping my calcium up but it's better, too, once I started on Vitamin D -- a necessity here in Alaska.     3. Loss of hair -- this one really bothers me for some reason. I lost some about 4 months out, but it grew back. I was already thinning from Metabolic         syndrome. I use Nioxin fairly religiously and that helps a LOT.     4. Do you have a problem with food getting stuck? Nearly never (as in maybe once a year but it passes in less than 5 minutes). I can eat             most anything, unfortunately, except Top Ramen and more than two forkfulls of pasta (a         good thing)     5. For those of you with diabetes II, high blood pressure, high cholestrol - where you          able to get off your medications? I was on several meds for hypertension and high cholesterol. I'm off ALL of them. I'm normal normal normal in everything. The only complication I've had so far is a large ventral incisional hernia. My surgeon does the surgery open only (no laparoscopic for me) and so below the skin, where the abdominal muscles come together has separated and I have an ugly bulge. I've had hernias before so this is no real surprise but it hurts and I can't wait for it to be fixed, later this year.     6. I read that some people have problems with low blood sugars after the the surgery -          has anyone experienced low blood sugars?           Once at work my glucose dropped to 60 (I'm an RN and we had a busy night and I didn't have time to eat until I felt like crap). Now I'm just better about keeping snack foods around and it hasn't happened again. 3. This questions seems odd -- but what do you miss the most after your surgery? Being able to "tuck into" a big plate of spaghetti and meatballs. Now I eat three bites and I'm done. I love pasta and used to be able to eat truckloads of it -- part of my problem. :) But being at a manageable weight is SO worth any inconvenience. I wouldn't trade it for the world. 4. This is a tough question - the surgery drastically changes lives and we all hope its for the       best -- does anyone regret having the surgery and if you don't mind sharing - why? I just regret not doing it sooner. No regrets otherwise at ALL. I've really come out of this unscathed. I feel great and I'll feel better once I get my hernia repaired.

I had rny exactly 7 years ago today and I would like to answer your questions:  1.Where you able to maintain the weight loss?  I had problems mainting the weight loss surgery lifestyle and had a 42 pound gain. I don't blame the surgery; I can only blame myself for the weight gain. Since January, I have been back on track and lost 26 of those 42 pounds. 2. How is your health?     1. Problems with Uclers  No ulcers or other digestive problems.     2. Anemia / lack of nutrients  I had severe anemia but I received a series of iron infusions by iv and had no problems since.  I still take iron and a multivitamin almost daily.     3. Loss of hair -- this one really bothers me for some reason.  Mine got a little thinner in the top but it has since grown back..     4. Do you have a problem with food getting stuck?  I never had problems with anything actually getting stuck but if I eat certain foods too fast it feels like something is stuck.  Thet feeling usually goes away in a few minutes.      5. For those of you with diabetes II, high blood pressure, high cholestrol - where you          able to get off your medications? Before surgery I was taking Metformain and 70 units of insulin 2 times a day and was on 3 types of blood pressure meds  I was off the insulin and metformin before I came home from the hospital and my a!c levels have been in the normal range ever since.  I am still takining 1 blood pressure med.     6. I read that some people have problems with low blood sugars after the the surgery -          has anyone experienced low blood sugars? I 've had a few episodes but felt better after       having some juice or a piece of hard candy (not condoning hard candy).  For a while, I still carried some of those chewable tablets that diabetics take when low sugar episodes occur. 3. This questions seems odd -- but what do you miss the most after your surgery? I'm one of the few people that can still eat anything.  I never had a chance to miss anything because I ate whatever I wanted, good or bad.  4. This is a tough question - the surgery drastically changes lives and we all hope its for the       best -- does anyone regret having the surgery and if you don't mind sharing - why?  No regrets here. I would do it again in a heartbeat. I hope this is helpful to you in making your decision.  Good luck and many blessings to you whether or not you choose to have surgery. Char

I had open RNY 4 yrs this month and I would like to answer your questions:  1.Where you able to maintain the weight loss?  I went from 352 to 149.  In the last few years I gain to 163, in the last 10 months I have gone from 163 to 198.  I found out today that I need to twik my calorie intake and excercise more.  I have had so many plastic surgeries and other surgeries, the down time to recovery has really messed with my excercise 2. How is your health?  I     1. Problems with Uclers  No ulcers or other digestive problems.     2. Anemia / lack of nutrients  No problems     3. Loss of hair -- this one really bothers me for some reason.  Mine got a little thinner in the top but it has since grown back..     4. Do you have a problem with food getting stuck?  Yes, even now at 4 years I have to still eat slow, and chew my food...that just means the tool still is working     5. For those of you with diabetes II, high blood pressure, high cholestrol - where you          able to get off your medications? Before surgery I was taking 12 medications, and 100 units of insulin a day.  Since the day after I got home from surgery no medications except for my thyrode, and no diabetic meds, my diabetes went into remission.  About 10 months ago the diabetes raised its ugly head and I am on diabetic pills.  My doctor said that even skinny people have diabetes, so the 3 + years without high blood sugars probley saved my life.     6. I read that some people have problems with low blood sugars after the the surgery -          has anyone experienced low blood sugars? I 've had a few episodes, I just have to eat about every couple of hours (small size) to keep my blood sugars even 3. This questions seems odd -- but what do you miss the most after your surgery? Nothing, I am loving life and do not miss anything 4. This is a tough question - the surgery drastically changes lives and we all hope its for the       best -- does anyone regret having the surgery and if you don't mind sharing - why?  Not one regret..............I would do it again I hope this helps,   Cindy