15 years later
I had my RNY Sept 2004. I lost 107 lbs. I've kept the weight off, recently gained 10 lbs. Now I'm at WW and lost 5 of those lbs. I tried doing it myself, but I need that accountability of weighing in. As it's been said everywhere, the surgery is only a tool. I have to make a conscious decision every day, every meal - to be aware of what I put into my mouth. Along the way ,I've had 2 episodes of bleeding ulcers that required transfusions and hospitalization. All of that being said, I would do it again in heartbeat!!
I had my fifteenth anniversary this past April 17.
It's been an odd and incredible journey. I realize from reading the experience of others on this Forum that I did not face the same kind of issues regarding regain that others have. In the early days, it was like someone had flipped a switch in my head -- I went from thinking about food all the time to not thinking about it at all and having to be reminded to eat (a truly miraculous experience).
To this day I rarely experience hunger -- and even then I'm more likely to be thirsty than hungry. Since my surgery I've lost about 150 pounds and kept it off, losing about 40 of it after I began taking Metformin for my Type II diabetes that was initially diagnosed pre-surgery, disappeared for about six years, and then came back. It was all in the genetics -- both my father and paternal grandmother had it; I had severe gestational diabetes with my first pregnancy and required insulin twice daily, and gave birth to two babies weighing over 10 pounds. My family doctor told me it would have been more of a miracle if I hadn't developed it than if I had. It's very well controlled -- with most of my numbers in the high normal range -- but I still take care of it so it doesn't get worse.
There are to this day things I cannot eat without being violently ill. Bread is one -- it just sits there. Pasta is another -- too heavy. Red meat sometimes, but mostly not. I can eat chicken, seafood, vegetables, and some fruits -- I still have trouble with citrus, particularly if it has a lot of stringy rind, like Clementine oranges you can get this time of year. Juice is okay if it's not citrus -- gives me heartburn.
To a point, I don't mind the barfing -- it tells me I haven't stretched my pouch out beyond all recognition. More recently I've developed issues with malabsorption of iron -- I'll be meeting with the gastroenterologist tomorrow to see what's going on there. Probably will get scoped within an inch of my life, and from both ends, oh joy.
I've been on this journey through the deaths of both of my parents, changes in my employment, my children leaving home and coming back and leaving again, and as I said, it's been an odd and incredible journey. Even on the very worst day -- and they have blessedly been few and far between -- I have not once regretted having this surgery and getting my life back.
That is so good. I was the same way. Thought about food all the time then after surgery did not think about it at all. Till one day.....I started to get hungry again (unlike you) I did not realize that I just might be thirsty. Plus I believe I am an emotional eater and I have not figured out how to get around that. I had gestational diabetes as well with my child...had to give myself 6 shots a day and she was barely 5 lbs (no one could understand that), plus I only gained 15lbs and lost 20. It has been a weird journey for me as well.
