Struggling almost 4 yrs out....Need Advise

Hello all ! I had RNY on 4/31/2007. Starting out i was at 206 lbs at 4'10 inches tall. After my surgery i got down to 113 pounds which was great. Since my hysteroctomy in 2009 i have put on about 25 pounds. I am back up to 140 pounds. And i am so unhappy. I now live an jacksonville fl and have sought out a new doctor here (Dr. Webb). I have done alot of blood work and he ordered an upper gi, which i did yesterday. It does not look like there is anything going into my old stomach but the radiology doc could not tell me how much my pouch holds. I really feel like my pouch is streached out but i have no answers yet. Is anyone else going through this? any advise is welcomed. I am just so unhappy and upset. for my short height the weight really shows. I have heard of a procedure where a gi doc injects something into the stoma to make scar tissue grow and cause restriction so i am really thing of possibly getting this done.

Hi, I'm sorry you're struggling and I understand. I didn't have RNY but the lap band 7 years ago. I'll tell you my story and perhaps it will help in some way. 

I started out at 367 and lost 130lb in the first 6 months. At 237 lbs I thought I was looking pretty good (I'm 6' tall), making friends, and I started going out and drinking. I completely lost my focus on weight loss. Before I knew it, I'd gained 50 pounds back. I stayed that way for about 5 years and became complacent. I'd just decided 290 was a lot better than 367, so whatevver.

One evening I was chatting online with friends and telling them that I needed to get back on the bandwagon and start exercising again. You know, just spouting off, with no intention of doing it. I was making excuses about how I didn't have time to exercise when one of my friends said, "What are you doing now?"  Well, that made me stop and think. I was sitting on my butt chatting online, so I obviously had time to work out. The next morning I went to the gym for my first workout in years. Going to the gym made me want to eat better, and before I knew it, I was losing again. 

I lost about 80 pounds over the next 1.5 years, hovering around 210, and became complacent again. I was in a size 16, where I never thought I'd be, and knew I was looking pretty good. My "obscure" goal in the back of my mind was to get to 210, but I wasn't killing myself to get there.  I was really ok with where I was.

Then last year another online friend was wanting help losing weight. We were friendly rivals in an online community, so we challenged each other and reported our weight to each other each week (he won every dang week!). This made me work harder, and through this I went beyond my goal, dropping down to 165 and a size 6/8!

 The work came from ME, not my band. In fact, I have NO fluid in my band at all. Self discipline is the key. You have to WANT it bad enough to change your eating habits.  You CAN do this! While I initially felt like the band was doing the work, I know the last 120+ pounds I lost was because of the changes I made, not because of the band.

I guess I'm suggesting that you take charge of this yourself.  "If it is to be, it is up to me."

I hope this helps in some small way.

You just inspired me!   I gained back about 70 lbs and have been feeling that, since the surgery is 5 years past, I am doomed and that no one can really lose weight and manage it.  Such a feeling of defeat.  You just gave me hope.  Thank you.

Hi!  I've had this very discussion with myself recently.  There is no diet, no 'pouch reset' bull - it's simply up to me.  It's clear I haven't been eating as I should(I have such stories!), and I haven't been excersing.  I don't need a test to see if my pouch works...it does if I let it.  I don't need a certain diet.  I just need to pay attention.
I need to eat like I did in the beginning.  You couldn't have paid me to eat a cookie!  Most importantly I need to pay attention to what I put into my mouth.  Even though I hate to excersise, in all forms, I have to move it every day.  Something..  I have to pay attention to my weight. I have to do the work.  After 7 years the magic weight loss is over.  It's all up to me now.  And the answer to my question to myself is YES, I do want to be thin.  So lets get busy and let the tool we went through so much to get help us lose the weight we want to get rid of.
First steps - Set calorie limit, record everything (I use fitday.com) and move it for 30 minutes.
Anyone with me?

Have you actually analyzed what you are eating and looked at what you are doing exercise wise?  Have you used to fitday to see what your caloric intake is?  Most of us gain because we simply make bad choices.  It is very easy for us to blame our pouches for the complacency that we develop two, three, four years down the line.  Being older too, our metabolisms do slow down.  Are you doing any weight bearing exercises? Have you gotten your basal metabolic rate tested?

I'd look at these things first and not necessarily be jumping up to have sclerotherapy (which for most doesn't work).

Dawn

I am also 4 years out of surgery.  I am 5'3 and was 298 at time of surgery.  I lost down to 175 in the first year, had panni which removed 5 more.  I stayed at 170 until this year.  My goal was 150... half my weight.  I finally did some soul searching and discovered the reason for my not reaching my goal... I finally came to the understanding that I wouldn't know what to do afterwards.  It seems that I have forever been on some sort of diet.  But after four years I have finally reached my 150 goal.  I had to start evaluating my diet and increase my activity some to get here.  Of course as to what I am doing now...I am striving for another 10-15 loss.  At 150 I am still considered overweight in BMI.

I have also given a lot of thought into the mental processes that occur with weightloss surgery.  I have realized, for myself that at the age of 35 I received a new body.  It is a difficult struggle to adapt.  It is nice when you look in the mirror and see the slim and healthy you, but at the same time you must make and resolve to live by the changes of a healthier lifestyle.  I have had many different health issues that are becoming the normal for my body and the only thing I can think of is at least the doctors can't blame it on obesity anymore.  But there are a lot of sacrifices that you must make to be successful.  If you do not follow the guidelines then you will gain the weight back.
  I am not one to actually measure foods etc, but I have adapted my eating habits.  I do allow myself to have treats, but I control my portions... I follow different rules like 3 bites to taste, 2 cookies, a handful... I never take a package and sit with it. I have found that buying things in snack size and bite size for candy is very helpful.  If I want something I usually let myself have it within reason.  I also drink a lot of fluids(non carbonated) through the day. I have spoken to several people about having the surgery and a lot of them do not realize that it is a lifetime change.  It is not a diet that you can follow and then binge when you would like to.
My advice is to quit dwelling on your lapse.  review the guidelines and limitations on your diet.  Maybe even try keeping a food journal to see where you are going off track.  If you limit yourself again your pouch will return back to feeling again.

if you want to "test" your pouch try the 5 day pouch test. 

http://www.5daypouchtest.com/plan/theplan.html    

It can also help you get back on track.  It helps you feel the tightness again and may be able to help.

Jaye

I'm with you too Daisy!!!! I've made so many excuses and I finally realize that I am MY WORST ENEMY!!!!! It's all up to ME! I'm so glad I came on the boards today for help because yours and the others post was just the encouragement I needed!

I am three years out and have gained back 65 pounds.  I have a lot of stree and am so disappointed in myself.  I came back to the forum and I've found the motivation I need.   I too am my worst enemy.  Starting tomorrow, I will take back control!!!!!