Desperately need advice!

1st sorry for the long post, I've been searching and can't find my situation.  I am almost 7 yrs post RNY - had intial complications lost 80 lbs had hysterectomy and bottom line is I have regained almost all my weight.  My follow-up post op was very little and about 1 yr after we moved and I have only had a primary care doc.  I need to get back on track.  I don't know the state of my pouch, but I can eat like pre-op and never had dumping issues.  I am so frustrated and lost.  I have a copy of all my surgical records and I think the surgeon made my pouch on the larger size. 

Do I need to find a specialist, my PCP is great but I think he is clueless in how to deal with me.  What kind of dr do I need?  I called a local surgeon and they want to schedule me for the seminar on WLS - that doesn't make sense to me. 

I just don't know what to do, i feel like such a failure but I want so badly to get a grip on this.  I never really had any post op support and feel like I was just thrown out to figure stuff out.  I don't even know what kind of vits I should be taking.  Please help.

It's never too late to get back on track.  I see your original doctor is Dr. Inman.  Where was your surgery at?  Was she still operating at Winona at the time or at St. Vincent's.  She is partners with my surgeon and they have a very good practice.  I would start with calling her office - 317-814-4580 or 800-835-0971 and talking to their staff.  I'm sure they could help you find a starting point and maybe assist you in finding a new surgeon to follow-up with in your area.

Your tool is still there, typically you just have to re-learn how to use it!  If your surgery was at St. Vincent's, you get follow-up care for life.  If you contact them you can get help via phone or e-mail from the dieticians until you can establish local care.

Good Luck,
Jennifer

You need a upper gastric GI to determine the size of your pouch. I would suggest you find a bariatric specialist or a gasto enterologist.
Best of luck

Hi Jennyn,
First of all you aren't a failure.
Your mistake and the mistake of your surgeon was not to give you post op support. Everyone needs post op support. Find out where there is a bariatric support group in your area.

You may need a revision, but you also need support. Exercise too is a must. You really don't say much on what your eating and exercise. Are you following the 30/30 rule.

I'm a revision, in the early 1980's I had my stomach stapeled. No support. No one in our study group did well with the weight loss. That's why I will always push support.

I gained all my weight back plus more. Finally April 12, 07 I had my revision to RNY. I'm at goal, took me 18mths to get there and because I wasn't a "virgin" WLS pt. I lost slowly. I exercise everyday, reach for protein first and stay away from diet pop.

Keep posting, you'll get support here.

were you done open or lap?

got any recent labs? where are your lipids, A, D, E, K?

I also had surgery 5 years ago and have gained about 35 lbs. My insurance stopped covering my bariatric Dr about 1.5 years out and I self paid 2x but then didnt go again. he didnt have a direct support group nor dietician either. I now feel that is extremely important because I know I need help and I myself cant do it. I just today did my labs and made an appointment with him again because my insurance covers him again but I feels its going to be a waist of time because I need the support group. There is another Dr in town that I really want to go to but Im going to try this first.  I can also eat anything I want and never had problem with dumping. Just push to get a specialist with a good program, that has dietician, support groups ext.. Good luck.
Martha