x post: Over 8 years out here and the good news is..

Hi All, I do not post often because it seems that there is so much negative information about gastric bypass that people really are not too interested in the good stories. I am about 8 1/2 years out from open RNY. I had the good fortune of meeting another long term post op recently (she is 6 years out) who I am sad to say has had nothing but problems and it made me so thankful for my story. I have lost and kept off over 200 pounds. I take a prescription iron pill once a day, an over the counter b-12 supplement and an over the counter multivitamin. I just had my yearly labs done and I am 100% healthy and my Dr. could not be happier. I was started on the iron pill right after surgery because before surgery I had a fairly mild case of anemia. I have had no complications. No ulcers, no strictures, no digestive problems, did not lose my hair, nothing. I did 2 years of research on my surgeon prior to making the decision and I feel that his capabilities are a big credit to my good health today but I have also held up my part of the bargain. Prior to surgery I had high BP, my cholesterol was 374 and my knees were starting to give up on me. I think as this surgery becomes more and more popular the rate of complications will go up because there are SO MANY doctors doing this that really do not have the experience to do it properly.  I NEVER tell other to have surgery. IT IS NOT FOR EVERYONE. It was a very personal choice and I did not base my decision on someone elses reccomendation. The one complication I have had has been getting my head around the fact that I no longer weigh almost 400 pounds. They did surgery on my stomach, not my head, so to this day, even after all this time my self esteem is still very fragile. I am working on that one and will probably have to work on it for the rest of my life.  I guess what I am saying is there are success stories and horror stories, as with anything, but I am blessed that it seems I have fallen into the first of those categories. I would lie down on that table in front of my surgeon a million times over. I wish us all that same success.  Hugs,

A BIG HEARTY THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS ONE, SIS! I get discouraged when people always say "I knew someone... who gained it all back."  I want to be a success too.  There is nothing wrong with wanting to keep the weight off, to remain healthy, to be a success.  I am glad that you posted this.  It's very encouraging and you are someone that we aspire to be like! 

Everybody say Amen. I know some ladies who are several years out who have also had great success with health and not much regain. We just don't hear enough about those people. I hope you have lots more years with the same results.

8 and a half years!! AWESOME. I am glad that you have posted about your success. I just posted yesterday about my 4 yr follow up. I am doing well, but always wonder what the future holds. Glad to hear of your continued success.

GREAT NEWS!  Congratulations on the journey to a healthy you.  My support group has similar stories and month after month, they care, share and support those of us coming behind.  Thank goodness leaders still lead the way. Thanks, Donna.

You've got double time on me...and it's nice to hear that as far out as you are, you are doing so great!  I worry and wonder how people are doing and what I have yet to look forward to in the future. I had a minor self inflicted problem by not taking my vits regularly,  for the last year... My fault!!! I take total responsility and it kinda sucks that I can't tell people I did as well as you because I would have if I followed the rules about taking vits and iron.  :::pouting:::: It took me two months to get it back under control an doing much better...and hopefully I can keep it there and look at it as tiny bump in my well traveled journey and just warn people how easy it is for some to become deficient if you don't take vits and supps.  Otherwise, I breezed thru much of this all alone and with nothing but success and minor set backs but nothing major or painful or resembling a "horror story"...I scared my self silly getting a pill stuck once...and another time getting a tomatoe skin stuck over my stoma like a piece of saran wrap... That was NOT FUN!  I had anemia for two months.  I once gained 10lbs of naughty holiday grazing and 6 days of 5 lbs of stopped up drainage trouble...and lost it the following month.  (Can you say "thank you" MOM?  Milk of magnesia...What a relief!   I am 7 lbs over my initial weight loss...but I am within 5 lbs of my goal weight (which I set for myself and my doc agreed with)   Hopefully I have learned all my lessons the hard way as I have always been a rebel and diehard...But once I learn something for myself....I'm on the problem like white on rice. Or these days brown on rice!   LOL  So hopefully my next 4 years I can post one like yours and you'll still be running circles around me!   Congrats! It's nice to know that there are people whose light is till lit...and I thank you for shining it back on those of us far behind you....

Hi Donna,

As a relative newbie, I can't tell you how much I appreciate your post. I had my surgery just about a year ago and have had wonderful success thus far. As you say, often you hear of those who have had horrible complications or just as bad ... regained all or at least a great deal of what they lost. Seeing a post like yours gives me hope that I too will continue to be successful int he long run.

Thank so much and congratulations.

Wishing you continued success,

Barb

Congratulations on your long term success and for sharing your story with us. I gives us all inspiration and hope to follow in your footsteps.

Sher

Thank you so much, Donna!  I am 3.5+ years post-op and have some re-gain, much more than I thought I would "allow" myself.  Sigh.    However, my point is--I am very much encouraged by those of you who have done well and wish that others (I know they're out there!) would post more often!  I do read the posts of those, like me, who are struggling, and that makes me feel like I'm not in this alone; but I find tremendous inspiration from you more successful ones!  It gives me hope! I know it's more typical to post when we're having problems, so I realize you more successful maintainers perhaps don't initiate many posts; however, I hope you jump in their w/ help for the rest of us!  I need you to be my heroes!!!

I miss seeing you around!! I'm the type that likes to focus on the positive so it was great to read an update from you! I am so happy for you and for all of your success! Congrats on the past 8 1/2yrs and I wish you continued success in the years to come!!!!!!!!