27 Years Out - Regained Weight - Can't Digest Solids

Not sure if this topic appears anywhere but just wondering if there is anyone 20 or more years out who has gained back most of their weight and is suffering from chronic vomiting, diarrhea, and flatulence? I had the VBG in 1983 at 244 lbs, got pregnant with my youngest (surprise side-effect) less than a year later. Had vomiting all through the pregnancy but thought it was just morning sickness, did not gain any weight with him, lost 15 lbs with the delivery and kept on losing and vomiting for another 6 months - consulted two doctors the same week and had lost 5 lbs between visits, so second one put me in the hospital for tests right from his office - gave me a 2 hour pass to run home and make arrangements for my kids (said I would only be in for 24 hours)! One week later and still in the hospital, he finally diagnosed me with Stress-Induced Anorexia and Bulimia and wanted to put me in a residential program, but with the two kids and a job to take care of, I refused, so he let me do outpatient therapy with a local psychiatrist! Said that I was starving to death and that if I went below 100 lbs he would put me back in hospital for forced feedings - he recommended that I go ahead and make plans for someone to take care of my kids because he could not guarantee that even forced feedings would turn the tide! Somehow God helped me get it under control, and I stopped losing at 102 lbs (size 2's were hanging on me)! Started gradually getting stabilized and got back to my comfortable weight of 135 lbs - stayed there for about 5 years until another pregnancy and miscarriage really put my body out of whack! Weight started creeping back on again, despite having a job requiring lots of exercise. I was up to 175 when I went to help my father go through my mother's things after she passed i***** and now I am up to 210. I am unable to digest most solid foods, including fresh vegetables and fruit, so most eating plans will not work for me - with the chronic diarrhea and vomiting, nothing stays in long enough to give me any nourishment, so I live on supplements to try to keep up my nutritional needs. I wear pads because the diarrhea is frequently un-announced, and I have lost some bladder control as well - those plus the flatulence are the most embarrassing parts of this whole experience, and I am sick of being sick (my 26 year old son cannot remember a time in his life that I was not sick)! We used to joke when we went on trips that I should write a guide book to restrooms around the country! I work a full-time job, and have had my pod-mates complain on occasion about the odors and noises coming from my side of the pod - they don't believe I can't help it! I am considering a revision - he wants to do a gastric bypass, but at 62 I am really leary of having major surgery again, but with pre-hypertension, pre-diabetes, osteoporosis, breathing issues, and degenerative disc disease, what are my options? Can anyone out there give me some help?

Do you have a nutrtionist that you can visit and talk with? Are you taking vitamins?

It doesn't sound psychological to me but I'm not a doctor. I do know that my sister in law went to her doctor with complaints that she knew were Multiple Sclerosis (her mother has it) and they told her that it was all in her head..

I have no info on VBG at all..sorry. I just wanted to let you know I'll pray for you.

Yes, I am taking vitamin and mineral supplements - am looking for a local nutritionist who has WLS experience but is not affiliated with a particular doctor as I really don't want someone pushing me in the direction of something I may or may not want to do. I would like to try a more non-invasive technique first. I know I am not getting enough fruits and vegetables or proteins, as I can't eat anything solid unless it is mashed up, chopped fine, or very soft. I lost all my teeth a few years after the surgery because of all the stomach acid from the vomiting rotting the bone and the enamel - dentures don't fit tight even with adhesive so chewing is difficult! I had to give up singing in the choir because when I projected my voice, I also projected my teeth! I quit when they went flying at a rehearsal one night! I live on chunky soups, soft-cooked eggs, bananas, and applesauce, for the most part. Not much variety and rather bland!

Just wondering?  I don't know alot about VSG. But have you had a gastroenterologist or bariatric surgeon do an endoscopy and/or  colonoscopy?  To rule out diseases of the GI tract,  (celiac comes to mind with some of your sympoms)  Or to check for strictures, adhesions, or anything mechanical going wrong?  How about some other food allergies?   Also I know that if all I take in for nutrition is liquids, all that comes out is liquids, if you know what I mean.  Also, i know that if all I take are supplements for nutrition,(like right after my surgery, or when I do a pouch test.)  I can clear the room quicker than anything from the smell from the gas. Right now it sounds like you are "just surviving".  Why not do a revision if it means your quality of life will be better.  62 is releatively young now and do you want to continue with all these health problems?  My RNY was my turning point and I have not looked back. My only regret is not doing it sooner.  Best of luck.

I feel for you!!!

all I can say is this: I have read many stories online for over 5 years now and I have read some with stories like yours; people who are very FAR out from some prehistoric procedure that is outdated nowadays, and they can not keep anything down etc etc

a lot of the times when they revise to gastric bypass, they regain their ability to digest certain foods and they are so happy just being able to eat somewhat normally again.

Of course that won't be true for everybody but I guess at 62, feeling the way you do and having been sick for 26 years, what is the worst that can happen to you? If you have a very GOOD surgeon who knows what he is doing, and he advises a revision to RNY, I would suggest going for it to have a chance of a better life. Lose some weight again, bt mostly: not being so sick anymore.

however one thing is: you need to consult a surgeon who is really VERY GOOD at the top of your country's list, one who does revisions all the time (they are tricky) and preferable one who does DS and VSG as well so you can get an unbiased and experienced point of view about which surgery is best for you know.

(although if you already have flatulence and diarrea, I guess DS would not be the best of choices probably, a surgeon could tell you more about this. )

GOOD luck and keep us posted, you can do this!

 I have a friend that is having surgery today at age 69.

I also had a VBG in 1983 and lost about 240 lbs. but eventually gained it all back plus a few more.  After the VBG I could only eat ground beef---but no steak or any other cut of beef.  I had to be very careful with all kinds of meat---eat very slowly and chew very well---or it would come back up.  I also had problems with fruit, especially grapes---I guess it was the skin that wouldn't go down.  After I gained all the weight back  I started having really bad reflux and couldn't eat anything for two or three hours before I went to bed and had to sleep on my left side to keep my stomach acid from coming up.  I had a RNY in 2007 (I was 54) and I'm very glad I had it.  The reflux is totally gone and I can eat steaks and ribs, just not a whole lot.  I was on blood pressure medication, a diuretic, cholesterol medication and arthritis medication before my RNY and I don't need any of those medications now.  I have occasional problems with loose bowels and gas but maybe age has something to do with those problems.  I'm very glad I had the RNY because I'm a normal sized person now and socially acceptable to the general public.  I'm also very happy to shop and buy clothes at any store, not just the large size stores.  Whatever you decide to do, good luck. 

Dr wants to do a gastric bypass for my revision - don't know if that is anything like an RNY  or not. Your experience makes me hopeful, though. I did really well in the beginning, but one of the surgeon's instructions was that I would have to chew everything thoroughly for the rest of my life - that was fine until I lost all my teeth 4 years later, and because of severe bone loss, my dentures will never fit right despite multiple relinings! How do you chew solid food thouroughly with lousy teeth? I can handle ground beef it it is ground fine and chopped up like in tacos, chili, etc, but hamburgers, steaks, chops, chicken, turkey, etc. are a no go. I do eat minced seafood like in fish filets, shrimp, lobster bites, etc, but that is pricey. I did discover recently that I could eat ham minced up in my bullet blender, and I do like Slim-fast shakes which are high in protein and nutrients. Am planning to see what else I can mince up fine enough in the blender to digest. Makes going out to dinner a little hard, though. I usually stick to seafood and Mexican restaurants and always request a "To Go" box to munch on for the rest of the week! Thanks for your response!

The RNY is a gastric bypass.  You didn't mention if you'd ever had an endoscopy to see if there's some sort of blockage.  With the VBG there is a silastic band around the pouch opening which delays the passage and digestion of food and that's what causes vomiting when you eat too much or eat something that won't pass thru the band easily.  I'm sure that band was the cause of my reflux.  It's also possible to develop strictures which is a narrowing of the opening.  I really hope you find a solution for all of your problems.  The RNY solved my problems but there's no guarantee it will solve yours. 

Have had several colonoscopies and endoscopies, and no blockages have shown up over the years, so no concerns there. I fully suspect that my inability to chew properly is a big part of the problem I am having getting food through the pouch. The surgeon I am considering has lots of experience with revisions, and has operated on many senior citizens, so no concerns there. With all the problems I had after the first surgery, though, I am afraid of a repeat performance, so I am exploring some non-surgical alternatives first. I will be the first to admit that I am gun-shy, as after multiple surgeries on multiple parts of my body, I can only remember 2 or 3 that were not problematical, so you can understand my attempt to take a more conservative approach and explore all my options before making a decision. I am no longer starving to death, and my weight seems to have stopped its upward spiral, at least for the time being, so that gives me some extra time to rally do my homework. Thank you for your input!