Blaming Mechanical Failure

 

Amen  You doth speak the truth.

I completely agree with what you say about the surgery changing the size of your stomach and intestinal routing but not doing anything to physcially change the brain. In support groups we're always reminding eachother that they fixed this (point to the chest) not this (point to the head). My struggle to deal with the psychological contributers to my problems have been ongoing and I think I've been pretty open about them here on this forum over the last fifteen months. I've talked about it in the past, raising the point that I think the hardest part for me and I'm assuming for a lot of other folks is making the lifestyle changes a permanent thing but at the same time not fealing like I'm living in a "food prison".....Maybe I'm starting to think now that since I will always have to remain very cogniscant of the lifestyle choices I make everyday I will always be living in some kind of food prison, but I don't know that it has to be a "maximum security" kind of thing. I think I've gotten good enough at understanding what works and what doesn't that I should afford myself a little bit of flexibility. Maybe, kind of like house arrest or work release. But I'm always going to have those visits with the parole officer aka the scale to keep me accountable! My ongoing participation in OH and support groups also plays a big role in that. I posted yesterday in great part to keep myself accountable to you guys whom I consider the most important part of my support network.  I think I was pretty straight-forward and forthcoming about admitting that I have been slipping up, and I went back and re-read my post and couldn't find anywhere where I blamed mechanical failure for my struggles. I do see that I mentioned increased hunger as one of the contributing factors, but I don't consider that mechanical faiulure. It is something that in reality I physically and truly feel - I have been more hungry, and I've been told to expect some of that. The increase isn't huge though, and I still have a level of restriction that would be considered normal for someone over a year out - I tend to fill up on about 1.5 cups of food if it is of average density. What I meant is that the natural and  increase in pouch capacity and hunger that I was told can occur by this point has indeed occured.  I think I could see though that without that explanation how what i said could be interpreted as blaming it all on a stretched pouch. I just wanted to clarify because honestly when I first read this post I kind of felt like it was pointed at me and while I agree completely with the what was said, I honestly don't feel that I fall into the category of "completely igonorant post-op." I think I'm just a post-op who is still constantly battling to reconcile his new self with his former-self. And I think that realizing that and committing myself to consistently working on that on an ongoing basis puts me ahead of the curve and helps me to continually get better at dealing with it. As a follow-up, the scale is back down into range (-3 to 165) but I'm determined to let this whole thing serve as a reminder and a wake-up call that I need  to do a better job holding up my end of the bargain!

Thanks Jennifer, we're still WLS buds! (mugs contain non-carbonated, non-caloric beverages)

i 100% agree with you!  i'm one of the people that gained back 75% of my weight.  but you know what, it is COMPLETELY my fault!  not my bodys!  i got married, had 3 kids in 3 years and indulged in EVERY craving that i possibly had.  drank with meals, you know...broke every single pouch rule.  so many people are anxious to have the quick fix that the surgery provided them in the beginning that they look towards revision to give them another chance.  i've found that people who are looking for the surgery to fix everything for them again, only gain the weight back.  you really do have to change everything in order for this to work.  heck, i took advantage of the surgery!  i was ****y and once i was pg with my first, i thought, oh well!  it'll come off once the baby is born.  i was 22 when i had the surgery and here i am at 28 now.  do i regret the surgery?   absoluetly not!  i wish i wasn't such a ****y you know what though!  lol   but, here i am!  almost 4 weeks into doing this all over again and you know what?  i'm doing great!!!  i'm following all the pouch rules and i've lost 25 pounds!   i agree with you as well, there are very few people out there with true mechanical failures.  people just aren't ready to admit that they screwed up.  and thats part of the trouble.  i've made so many positive life choices this past month that they've almost become habit already because i'm able to admit that i screwed up.  i did this to myself and i have no one else to blame!  especially not the babies i liked to blame for the weight gain!  =) ps...i guess we can call this my intro to this board too!  =)  haven't officially done so, but have been lurking for awhile! 

Congrats on losing the 25lbs :-) and welcome to the board. Its good to know that you were able to turn everything around and get back on track - its also good to know that your 'tool' is still working for you - even thou, as you said, you lose some of the advantages like when you were newly post-op and could 'do no wrong' - we still have our tools 'for life'.

This is completely off topic but I couldn't help but notice... You're a Dr. Boe patient too!!!!! (He performed my RNY in 2005, when I was 19)  I assume since you're in Wheeling and your surgery was in 2002 that you had surgery with him when Barix in Belvidere was still open (fyi in case you didn't know, and I have found several who were not notified - Barix in Belvidere closed last February and Dr. Boe is now practicing in Pennsylvania somewhere).  Have you been able to get involved with aftercare / support groups elsewhere?  I have heard mention of a support group near Belvidere...I'd bet getting hooked up with other post-ops face to face who have dealt with pregnancy and post-op weight gain would be helpful. I hope you are able to find long term success with the help of your pouch.  If you need a listening ear I'm always around

Welcome to the board and Congratulations on getting back on track! You're still welcome to make an official hello! :)