Has Anyone Have A Successful WLS Journey, But...?

Hello everyone,

I had my VSG done three years ago this month (June) and I'm doing great on my journey, I hit my surgeon's goal weight and I'm under that goal weight. I have been through a lot since my VSG surgery. I had two rounds of panniculectomy and one of those rounds I had a ventral hernia repaired at the same time, I and a total knee replacement back in April of 2013 and I finished outpatient therapy last week and at my doctor's appointment earlier this week I found out that I lost 6.8 pounds (I didn't need to lose any more weight) and now I need to put that weight back on some how and I made a appointment to see a dietitian for next week. I am too thin now and I need to get some weight back on me some how.

Has anyone have a successful WLS (weight loss surgery) journey, but hit some road blocks just like I did or some other way? I need some help/advise.

Can you share your journey with me?

Thank you in advance.

Hi Watson,

I'm only 9 months out and have not experienced anything like that. I'm thinking that 3 years ago, you would have laughed in someone's face had they told you that you would be underweight someday and actually need to gain pounds! That must be very foreign to you (I know it would be to me!!). I think it goes to prove that we are in this fight forever and will never be 'done.' Continue to keep your health a priority, and I wish you much success in gaining back a little weight. I hope the nutritionist has some good advice for you.

Sheryl

Hi Sheryl G.,

I wish you the best on your journey, everyone will have a different experience on there journey. I might not laughed in someone face if someone told me three years ago that I would need told me be underweight and to put some pounds back on, I would not believe them and would have said yeah right. It is foreign to me. True we are in this fight forever and will not never be 'done'. I will, my health comes first which I ave on top of list of life, thank you for the wish for success in gaining back a little weight. I hope so too with the nutritionist.

Thank you Sheryl G., for your reply to my post and thank you for your comment.

I'll be 19 in Oct. I lost 150# from my distal RNY surgery. It's the plumbing of a DS, but with a pouch.

I've had a few ups (sugar) and a few downs (illness not related to WLS), but am pretty stable at 110-115, 5'1". I'm a bit OCD about my labs, so they are fabulous, the ones unrelated to non-WLS stuff, of course. Can fix my genetics.

I have lost 400 pounds overall, but lost around 315 or from my VSG surgery.

I have had my few ups and few downs one way or another in some way. I too am pretty stable at in the 160's, but right now I'm at 159.8 pounds (need to get it up), I'm 5 foot 5 inches. I do have minor anemia between one to two years now. Sorry to hear about your non-WLS stuff that's going on with you. I wish you the best on your journey and health.

Good morning and congrats on all of your success.  I am almost six years out from my lapband and I feel that I have been successful.  I had knee replacement surgery last summer and lost 10 pounds, which I did not need to lose.  I think it was from the anesthesia and being unable to get up and get my own food.  I also slept a lot.  The loss was over about three weeks, but I regained it after a couple of months.  About seven months after wls I was losing too quickly.  The dietician had me add a little avocado and nuts.  I would be careful as it's easy to develop a habit with this protocol.  Perhaps you can minimize your exercise and make sure you're eating good protein.  Eat very small bites and eat very slowly. This way you can get in more calories, but they will be healthy and continue to promote your good habits.  It is common to have "bounce back" weight after getting to your lowest weight.  Good luck and keep in close contact with your dietician and doctor.  Gayla

Good morning and thank you. Wow, 6 years out? I'm wondering what's done the road for me by the time I'm 6 years out. Great to hear that your doing great. How are you doing with your new knee? I know I need my other knee done and both hips done. I lost 6.8 pounds most likely to the physical therapy that I had for 4 weeks. I think that's normal with the anesthesia and to sleep a lot. Wow, losing quickly (I think I was too).I know my dietitian said that I can have nuts in small amounts. I try to be careful about bad habits, but one of them came back on me like a lion and that's with candy . I do walking everyday and I do have to make sure that I get the good protein in. That's what I'm doing and eating small bits and chew slowly, but sometimes I forget to do that. I hope you're right about "bounce back" weight after getting to the lowest weight. Thank you, I will. Good luck to you too. I wish you the best on your journey.

I had vsg 1-6-12 then 1-8-13 had a total knee replacement. I got down to 117 after my knee but bounced back to my usual 120 and have stayed there. I had a tummy tuck and it is fine. No other bumps. Very happy with my sleeve. My knee sucks. But oh well.

Cool. Good to hear that you bounced back from 117 to 120 and stayed there. Great that you're doing fine from you tummy tuck. Good to know that you had no other bumps. Good to hear that you're happy with your Sleeve, I'm happy with my Sleeve too. My knee sucks too. I can't wait to get my other knee worked on and to get both hips done, but oh well, in due time.

When I was pregnant with our first child, I had to see a dietician to gain weight. How weird that was! Basically she encouraged me to add more fats to my diet because my RNY pouch limited the quantity I could consume. For example, I was encouraged to not eat raw veggies and instead cook the with some butter. I was also told to add extra mayo onto wraps. Basically turn all those healthy diet tips on their head! Very weird experience.