Pre Op Rant I guess

I commend you for looking into the future, past the point of losing the weight. So many people have RNY and get so excited about the scales moving downward, but don't think about what it will take to keep the weight off. I'm 18 months post-op and so far it hasn't been so bad, but it has taken some work. I can't hold as much as I used to - I'm sort of on level ground with "normal" people (that's not a good term, I mean people that don't have trouble with portion control). I eat real portions now, not lots of portions. I can put away 3-4 ounces of meat, some vegetables, and a few bites of carbs at a meal. I eat snacks all through the day, high protein & fiber things. When I want something sweet, I eat a bite or two, not a bag. I avoid carbonated drinks altogether, and try to eat wheat versions of pasta and bread instead of white. I follow the rules about not drinking with meals. I exercise a good bit, about 45 minutes in the morning and another 20 or so in the evening, and on weekends I put in 2-3 hours a day. You'll find that as you lose weight, you have to do a lot more to burn the same amount of calories, but it will feel really good so it's OK. I am now to the point that I can eat around my surgery. I weigh every day and if I'm at 130 or less, I'm OK. I creeped back up to 132 on Saturday, which is my "oh ****" weight, so I've been more careful and I'm back down to 130, hoping to keep going down another couple of pounds. I think that will be important for me - watch the weight closely and don't let 5 or 10 pounds turn into a couple-hundred. I can't preach much, as I'm not as far along as some others here, but so far it's just a matter of keeping focused. I don't deprive myself at all - I know I can't keep that up for long - but for the first time in my life I'm trying to eat healthy and be sensible. The RNY isn't a cure for everything, but it sure has helped. Good luck with everything, and if you think I can ever help you, let me know.

I think it is very wise of you to consider all of these things before surgery. You have made some very valid points. Yes, some people do have mechanical failures, such as stretched stomas or staple line ruptures. My own opinion though is that there are huge numbers of people who just become complacent. Old things do creep in, and this can happen easily. I think even many folks who have kept their weight off have found themselves going through times where the bad habits creep in and begin to wreak havoc. The good news is that once you recognize these types of things, you can make steps to correct it. Whether you need the 5 day pouch test to reset you, or any methods that may work. I will be 4 years post-op this May...and let me tell you, while I have managed to keep the weight down, it is VERY much a day to day battle at times. None of us is perfect, but I bet we are all healthier than we were pre-op.

I wasn't offended by your post...I 'get' what you mean. Ignore the nastiness. Some people don't know how to get their point across without being rude.

I knew I should have never said anything, I was only reading about all the revisions and getting scared of the whole thing. Yes I do have an opinion and NO I don't know what it is like. It just sounded to me like people who failed blamed it solely on the surgery and not on themselves. That is all. I am sorry for coming over to your board.

I don't know of anyone on this board who blames the surgery on regain.  They may want to, but I think unless they are totally delusional, they ultimately will take the blame for what they are or are not doing.  The majority of us will readily tell you that we got lazy about what we are eating, stopped exercising, and on and on.

I would have to say that most of us who are dealing with regain, are generally dealing with 10-20 pounds.  Not everything we had lost.  But there are always a few exceptions.  Plus, a typical bounce back of 10% of the total lost is not unexpected.

While I do have extenuating cir****tances, severe hypoglycemia with elevated insulin levels, the 15 pounds I have gained is wholly my fault.  Only I am responsible for putting food into my mouth, just like you or anyone else.  No one is force feeding any of us.  Unless someone has a staple line disruption, or stretched stoma, the individual is to blame, not the surgery.