Concerned

I know this forum is for WLS grads and I am someone considering WLS (RNY). But I have a very pressing question. I have been reading peoples posts and what not and I have to ask. Is there anyone who is 2-3+ years out who has NOT had any major complications? I.E. Hernias,ulcers, malnurisment or needed some kind of OTHER surgery? Also does anyone know the percentage of people who after 5+ years DO NOT gain the weight back. I hear alot of people do... Someone please help!

Weight control will always be an issue for me.  I was SMO and will always have to work my tool.  This isn't an easy way out, you have to work with it.

I am 2 1/2 years out and have done wonderful.  The only complication (and this could have happened prior to WLS too) was that I dehydrated and ended up in the ER.  I was about 8 months out and it was August, temps that day were about 105 and very humid.  I had been drinking my fluids actually had 64 ounces in by noon, just because I knew it was very hot.  We were at a football jamboree that lasted all day.  Talking with my PCP he recommended drinking extra water the day before if I know I am going to be out.  Like I said this could have happened to anyone because it was so stinking hot out.  I ended up losing 5lbs from that morning to that evening.

I have maintained my weight since I was 8 months out.  I actually got to my goal the day I dehydrated....My goal was 134 and around my year mark I got down to 129 and ended up going down to 118, my lowest.  I now stay between  120-123.  If i see that I have put on a pound or two I go right back to the basics and it is usually off in a day or two.  I do weigh myself daily so I can hold myself accountable.  No way will I ever go back to where I was.

I hope I'm qualified to answer your question. I'll be 2 years post-op in 6 weeks. I have had no major complications, other than the usual stuff early on. That included constipation, anxiety, weakness, all that good stuff. I recently had a physical and my blood work was all great, except some liver enzyme is high which means I may be developing gall bladder trouble. I took Actigall for 6 months after surgery to prevent gall bladder problems, which occurs a lot with rapid weight loss, but it may not have been enough. We'll just have to see. But you have to understand that would be a result of weight loss, not the RNY itself. I know a dozen or so people who have had RNY, and two have had complications. One was a stricture that was easily fixed and she's been OK for 3 years since. Another is a man who was over 400 pounds and was in terrible health to begin with, he smashed up a cookie and ate it the day of his surgery. He has ulcers and is bleeding internally, he's in ICU right now. I don't know how much of it is due to RNY or his preexisting problems, but I do know he hasn't followed the first rule since his surgery. I would do the surgery again, but I would never tell anybody to do it. My husband takes around 15 prescriptions a day, has out-of-control diabetes and everything that goes with it, he's on Social Security disability, etc. He tells me he would never have RNY because it's so risky, but then I ask him, "So what you're doing now is better???" I think watching what has happened to him made me all that more determined to improve my health. I've got a lot to do and I need to be able to move around to do it. I live in Georgia where it's hot, and I used to hibernate from April through October. Now I freeze all the time. (It's about 90 already today and I'm cold - that's another side effect from RNY.) As far as regain, I got to about 125 after 16 months and stayed at 125-128 for a couple of months. Now it's more like 128-130, so I've gained a little bit, but I think most of it is due to muscle from working out. My waist went from 25.5 to 25 inches during that gain, so I'm pretty sure I haven't really "gained" anything. At first, you can only eat 1/4 cup of something soft and it stays there for hours. As time passes, you can eat more and you can do it more often. I still can't hold much at a time (maybe a cup at a time, depending on what it is), but I can go again in 30 minutes. That's the difference that makes it hard to maintain. I am hypoglycemic now instead of diabetic, and I eat every 2-3 hours, sometimes even during sleeping time. I don't necessarily eat "diet" food - I eat what I want but try to eat better carbs, not many sweets, not a lot of real fatty foods like McDonald's hamburgers. I cook a lot more than I used to, because I can control what I eat more. I still have the deep-down desire to pig out, but my body won't let me do it to a huge extent. I work out 60 to 90 minutes a day, to a degree I never thought would be possible. I think that's very, very important and you'll notice that people who exercise regularly have a much better success rate, both short and long term. Most of the people I know who had RNY have maintained to a pretty good degree after several years, with a gain of maybe 10 pounds or so. I chalk some of that up to getting older too, I mean most people do gain a little as they get older, even if they never had a weight problem before. I have been advised by lots of folks to be sure to stay on the vitamins and keep your blood work current, or you WILL have problems. It's easy to get lax after a while, and it's important to realize you'll need supplements for a lifetime. I've been taking over-the-counter vitamins up to this point, but my next supply will come from bariatricadvantage.com. I understand a lot of the malnourishment problems begin at the 2-year mark, but it can be avoided. If I can do anything to help you, please let me know. I know this is a hard decision for you.

Like Jodi said, it's tool and you have to work it! I personally have had no "major" complications, nothing to run to the doc about, no hospital stays, etc. I have had some experience with a few minor adjustments in my journey, such as:   Lactose intolerance: I no longer can tolerate milk products. But I can have half and half in my coffee. Weird, huh? I think cause it has less milk sugar and more fat and I use very little, compared to what I would drink in a glass of milk.  Dumping: If I eat anything deep fried or anything sweet, I dump like a dump truck! And I feel grateful, cause I do! Not every does and it's a great motivator for me to remember the rules!  I always say it's "surgically induced behavior modification" and for me it works! (basically, cause nothing else ever did keep me "on track" and this tool REALLY helps me stay with the rules)  Reactive hypoglycemia: This happens when I eat just white carbs (high glycemic foods, like potatoes, white bread, white rice and some fruit) with no protein at the same meal. The white carbs raise my blood sugar levels quickly, then I crash. Yuck! I hate the way I feel, plus it's actually dangerous for this to happen to me, I almost passed out once. To avoid this I eat protein at every meal. (I eat 6 mini meals, every 3 hours or so) With the meat mixed in there, I don't crash from the carbs.  Other than these few adjustments to my new lifestyle, I have had a blessed, uneventful journey. Yes, we can gain weight back. Yes, it's only a tool, not a magic wand. Nothing is "gone forever" unless, you're willing to put in the work, to make it that way. It's life style change and you must make changes to be successful. But if you do, the rewards are mind blowing! I have never been happier! And I'm 53 years old! My only regret.....not having this surgery sooner than at age 49! I should have done it at 39! Oh well, hindsight is 20/20! Life is good!!!!!

I'll be 2 years out next month and have had no complications.  I do suffer from constipation if I don't manage it regularly, but that happened to me pre-op sometimes, too.  My protein was a little low once, but I was able to get that back into normal ranges quickly and easily.    I don't know about the percentage of people who do not gain their weight back, but after 2 years, I have not gained any weight.   I think one thing to keep in mind is that there are many of us who have not had problems, but what you may read about here are people who have had problems.  They need advice and support, so they may be more likely to post about how they are doing.  It's good to ask how many people don't have problems.  Hopefully, you'll get a lot of responses.

Great questions! I had to have a blood transfusion due to anemia but that was totally my fault for not taking my iron. I gained back 30 pounds, again my fault because I'm a food addict and ALWAYS will be. I'm back on track now and if it weren't for my surgery, I'm sure I would have regained the 100 pounds I lost. The good news is I'm not in constant pain from carrying all that weight. I'm very active and healthy today. The only thing I would have done prior to surgery is gone to a therapist who specializes in binge-eating disorder and 12-step meetings for overeaters and/or food addicts. This is more than a physical malady and I know will be a life long challenge physically and emotionally. Good luck on your journey and keep us posted!

Hi, I am 5 years out, I see a nutritionist weekly to keep me on my toes.  Recently I have struggled with about 5 - 8 lbs, which to some may seem like not an issue. If youwork at it which we all need to do you can lose your weight.  You must continue to work at it for the rest of your life.  If I did not see a NUT weekly I would have gained back several lbs.  Everyone is different, with different struggles. I pray to stay within 5 lbs either way. As for complications they happen but not always, I had an infection after RNY, and after PS, but some of us are prone to that.  Infections occur with any surgery, not always but they do.  I have had to devise a plan to take my vitatmins everyday, I have a reminder set to take them on my pc at work and also a reminder to drink my water every 30 minutes.  I am not perfect, we all make errors.  Best wishes to you.

I had RNY 4/12/06 & PS 10/12/07.... No complications... went from 297 lbs to 130 lbs.  Follow your surgeons rules diligently! 

2 1/2 years post-op.  I had no surgery complications.  Was walking the evening of surgery, very little pain, just a little tightness when trying to lie in bed at night.  I did not rent a recliner or a hospital bed and our house is two-storey.  Actually tossed 1/2 my pain meds at about six months out when  I found them as I was cleaning the bathroom.  No hernias, bloodwork is always good---B-12 is off the scale.  I could use a TT but it's not high on my priority list right now---I have places to go and people to see! I had a lot of weight to lose and set very realistic goals.  I could lose a few more pounds and I'm working on it but I haven't been this thin since--maybe birth!  So I'm happy. I also moved very slowly, following my dr.'s eating guidelines and avoiding sugars and white carbs pretty much my entire first year.  I do dump and can still erp when I eat something my pouch doesn't like or too much fat.  I have had two hypoglycemic episodes where I got (mistakenly in one instance and through my own carelessness in the other) sugar slammed.  I am very careful about that now.    I exercise 5-7 times per week, walking and assorted weights, cardio, and pilates.  I take my vitamins (high quality bariatric chewable multi and iron, sublingual B-12, calcium citrate, potassium) DAILY.  I track my meals when I feel I need to check that I'm on track. Hope this helps!