Read this question carefully

Hi Linn! No flames here, just a few thoughts............. I come this board daily and I don't come here b/c I'm struggling or regaining~I come here for support, friendship and hopefully to help others whether or not they are struggling. Yes, there are posts about people struggling at this time, but don't you think alot of people come here when they're paniced (about regain or illness, etc) b/c they have the need to come here at that time?? They didn't stop by when things were going well for them b/c maybe they were busy with their new life, things were going well so they didn't feel the need for support, etc. I'm not saying I'm a "superstar" with no problems, but I do think its important for those of us successfully maintaining for long periods of time to uplift and support everyone! It just feels important for me to give back so that's why I frequent the boards daily. If I can offer advice or support to someone, great! If I don't have anything positive to say to a post, then I generally will not respond, rather just keep it to myself and move on to the next post. Even with being successful, I feel the grad's board is a great support system for me and would greatly appreciate if you did post about your success, what's working for you, etc.

I have to say that I agree with Tracy. I had my open RNY in Nov. 1999.  I knew that the lapband wasn't for me and I didn't like the idea of a DS because you never have to change your eating habits.  If I was going under the knife then I was having and RNY because it would force me to eat healthier and that's what I wanted. Being just over 8 years out I'm struggling.  I had a baby last May and prior to that I was up 25 pounds from my lowest weight.  Then you add baby weight to that and I was on the verge of major depression.  Fortunately I have a good friend who is currently pre-op and she suggested this site and more particularly this board.  I have found great comfort here because I honestly had no idea that there we many who had the same struggles as me.  This board supported me in the 5DPT last week and cheered me on.  I was amazed because here I am, totally new to this board and they were cheering for me like they have known me for years.  That is what I needed when I found this board.  This board is where I will stay as well.  It's nice to be able to talk openly about struggles with those who may have gone through the same thing or are going through it. That said, to do this again I would again choose RNY.  Although this time I wouldn't need to have an open one as it's no longer necessary. 

First I want to address Melissa's concern that at 15 mo's out, she's reading about so many of us struggling to keep our weight off, or struggling with significant regain issues.  Yes there is a lot of that going on, but a few weeks ago I posted a question on this forum asking those further out post-ops who were successful to talk about what they felt made them successful.  The posts in response to my question were quite eye-opening and affirming.  Many people have been and continue to be successful!  They diligently work the tool and stay on top of a gain of even a pound or two, and work to take it off immediately.  It helped to renew my faith that this tool works, but only when you work it.  As for me, I had Lap RNY in 2003.  There were only 2 docs in my town that did WLS, and Proximal RNY was all they did then.  No choices.  But I was successful in that I lost all my excess weight and stayed at a healthy goal weight for 2 years.  Then I began regaining slowly over the next few years, to a high of 40 lbs regained.  I learned recently that the reason was an enlarged stoma, which allowed food to pass too quickly from the pouch to the intestines, leaving me hungry all the time.  Add to that some poor food choices, and I was in trouble.  I just had a procedure done to tighten the stoma, and with this 2nd chance I've been given, I plan to work the tool, lose the weight, and keep it off. Yes I would do it over again, and yes I would have RNY. Betsy

I am 6+yrs post op RNY. DS information was the first surgical choice I found on the net, then Band the RNY. Given the information I had then I chose the RNY. Given the same information and with the hindsight afforded by 6 yrs living I would still choose the RNY. I needed and wanted the extreme restriction . I was tired of eating large calorie laden meals. I was looking forward to having a small appetite. I got what I was looking for. On the other hand, should my husband ever decide to persue surgical intervention for weight loss I think the DS would be the best choice for him. It would address his needs in a way the RNY would not.

I'm not mocking your question or anything like that...but the question reminds me of this... You decide to go out and buy something you really really wanted for a long time...and you go out and get it and you just love it!  Then your friend comes over and says...Oh You got a new "RNY"  well...I just saw something similar on sale for much less and it seems better too...and it's just too late to return it and why bother? When you got it, it was the RIGHT choice. You can't take it back...These "what if" questions can make a person really doubt themselves and lose their peace of mind. I know that is not what you are trying to do...But that is a possible result of asking "what if"....especailly for people who are struggling and trying to get things under control. It's a really roguh question and probably hurtful too. I think all of us ask ourselves this question so it's really not unreasonable...but to see it in writing is a bit intimidating I'd imagine. What if I wasn't sexually abused from very young and then raped at 11 years old by the same man?  Would I even have weight issues? I don't ask my myself "what if" anymore...It's not worth the years of therapy and continued self abuse. But you asked the question and I want to answer it as honestly as I can...Weight gain is an issue for people who do not get things resolved in their heads.And maybe their issues are more drastic than mine were or less drastic...No difference, we all handle our pain in different ways. I went thru years of therapy to target my eating disorders and it directly goes back to my abuse and rape. I forgave him and it's over...There are no "what if's" in my thoughts...There are only what's next.... My answer to your question: I'm 4 years Post Op. Kept my weight off without a hitch. I flux in the winter and don't really keep a close eye on my weight unless I really feel I'm out of control. I stayed an average 165lbs for 4 years once I hit that weight. (I wear an 8 and feel good here)  I've been 7 lbs lighter at lowest and 12 lbs higher at highest. I have very little trouble getting my "outta control eating" under control. Winter I sometimes graze on unhealthy stuff starting Halloween to New Years. Then summer I'm right back. I enjoy healthy eating...eating small and cooking/eating for life. I won't lie...I had a little struggle getting rid of the carb monster this winter. I didn't realise how far I had strayed from important pouch rules. One of those rules was to take my vitamins and supplements. I was not consistant with all of them all of the time. I thought I could eat my vitamins and not need to rely on them. If I had DS...I'd be in worse trouble now than I am. Of that I am certain. Do I miss soda and potato chips and french fries and cakes and cookies?  Sure, so I have some now and then. With DS, I know me...I would indulge and eat like an obese person and not gain...for a while...But like any other tool...if you abuse it...it will catch up to you later....if not sooner. I didn't want the option to continue eating poor choices. Even though RNY was far more invasive...DS is just too radical for me.  (If that makes sense) I'm anemic but was also when I was pregnant 20 years ago (for both of my pregnancies) I don't blame my anemia on the RNY, I blame myself for thinking I didn't need to taken Iron because it constipates me and I thought I was invincible. I'm not. I'm human...and if I thought for one moment that I should regret my surgery...That would make me feel like a failure...and it's not over until this lady is a  315 lb fat lady singing!  Been there...done that.  I am 150lbs lighter and I am anemic and I love my RNY! Anita

OK, I'm not mocking YOU... but I have this picture in my mind...  "Hello, I'm Anita and I am an anemic..." :-) Great post.  Maybe I need to edumacate myself more on this DS business, but am I understanding correctly?  If you have a DS you can just eat whatever you want?  If that's so... I definitely wouldn't want that either.  I too chose RNY because I wanted to make better food choices, not just lose weight regardless of what I ate...  I do believe if the mindset isn't right, no matter what surgery you choose, you WILL sabotage it.  You WILL regain if you stop doing the right thing...  Anyway... I see your point on the "what if"... Unless it is... WHAT IF I work with my surgery instead of around/against it? ;-) Angie

Not quite eat whatever you want, but in my case and the majority of other DS'ers, damn close. We need to get in our protein first and must be religious about our supplementation. Easy pezy.... And while we can't live on sugar, who would want to with all the wonderful food choices out there not faced with nonsensical restrictions so many other WLS types must suffer through??? We are forever freed from the punishment syndrome that is "dieting." In short, the DS is truly a cure for most of us and we have the freedom to live like normal sized people do. No, I don't mean unchecked gluttony but what a GIFT not to have to obsess about food for the rest of our lives. Life is far too interesting and too short to live in fear of food and REGAIN after risking our very lives to have WLS. So to the Pre-ops out there... Choose wisely and from a FULLY INFORMED position. Yes, revisions are possible but highly risky! I think it wise to see your shot /choice at and for WLS as a... "you only get one bite from an apple" scenario. Rockne

Thanks for the clarification, Rockne :) Angie

HAHAHA...Angie!!!! I figured I better say I was anemic now before someone threw it in my face. (Ya never know!) So I just had to cover my tracks.  I didn't want to put it at the top or I'd feel like I was in an AA meeting! LOL  But, I guess at the end it kinda stickswith ya at the end, like an AA meeting anyway!  :::giggles::: I think it's irrelevent...but DSer's also malabsorb worse than RNYer's from what I hear...As I said I am no expert on either surgeries...Not even the one I have! LOL I think Mr. Rockne explained it really good!  Lot's of DSer's I talk to absolutely love the freedom to just eat!  I personally do not trust myself!  It might be the Hummer of WLS surgeries for many...I'm a Volkswagen Bug kinda girl, I guess. RNY is just more a custom fit for me.  I envy the DSer's quite a bit...and they are probably the superior surgery for many people. Then why do insurance companies mostly only do the RNY and Lapband?  It's the radical malabsorption, I would think. I honestly just do not know.  Anita

Yeah, I doubt that would work for me either... I really wanted to change my relationship with food anyway, and that is what I accomplished (yeah, even with the weight gain... I call that my learning curve)... :-)  Maybe it's because I am very  fortunate to be able to eat anything and everything I want... so I don't feel restricted/restrained, but again... if given the choice, I gotta say, it'd be RNY all the way! :-) Angie