One Year Post Op Check Up
I saw my surgeon today for my one year check up (Anniversary is Saturday). I haven't been on much because I have been busy and because I haven't had any issues. Kind of boring really. I almost feel like I didn't have surgery except I am rarely hungry and get full pretty fast. Neither of these are bad things.
I am a revision from a DS. One of a handful but it does happen. I had my first surgery in 2002 and did well for the first few years. Back then, or maybe it was just wishful thinking, there wasn't a lot of support and it was thought you could eat whatever you wanted and still keep the weight off due to the malabsorption. I managed to out eat the surgery that has the best stats for keeping the weight off. I'm not proud of that. I just never changed my eating habits and those habits made me sick. I had constant diarrhea and gas and was miserable. I had constant bacterial overgrowth in my intestines and the only thing that helped was Flagyl but I couldn't take that too often for fear of developing resistance.
I also wasn't as diligent about supplements as you need to be with such a malabsorptive procedure. I did have regular labs but they were very minimal and didn't check much.
Anyway, by this time last year I was so sick. It had been getting progressively worse over the previous two years. By this time last year I barely left my house. I had no energy whatsoever for even the simplest things. By this time last year I had regained 100 lbs from my lowest weight. I was so tired that I didn't even have the energy to care about anything. I still can't believe that I would go days without showering or changing my clothes. It just took too much energy to do that. I have been one that has taken a shower nearly everyday of my life no matter what. I didn't care about my appearance or anything else. I was seeing my doctor who couldn't diagnose anything. I had every test under the sun and they were all normal except my Ferritin was 7 and my Vitamin D was barely detectable. Like I said, the labs they ran were very minimal so I have no idea how my other levels were. It wasn't until about 6 months ago that I had a full set of labs done and by that time I had been supplementing regularly. I had requested a full set of labs but when I got the results many things were missing and I didn't have the energy to fight about it.
I could go on and on but I finally got to the point that I felt that my malabsorption was ruining my life. Between the fatigue and the bathroom issues I just wanted it to go away. I went back to my surgeon and begged for a reversal. I regretted every having WLS. I found that I couldn't be reversed, only revised so I wouldn't malabsorb as much. My surgeon also said he could make my stomach into a RNY pouch at the same time. I really didn't want a RNY but I figured that if I could regain 100 lbs with malabsorption then I could really do some damage without it so I agreed.
My surgery was open and I had a rough few days but I survived. For a long time I didn't feel much better and I was very disappointed. I was taking my supplements and eating right and I still felt lousy. It has taken a long time to gradually regain my energy. It wasn't a sudden change at all, I just noticed I was a little bit better, I could take a shower every other day and then it was every day. Now I would say I am about 90% back to normal. I still tire easier then I used to but it is nothing like it was a year ago. I am regaining my life. I am reintegrating myself back to my social settings, getting in touch with people I had stopped talking to because I didn't have the energy to talk to anyone. Most days I keep pretty busy.
I think one of the reasons my first surgery failed is because my stomach was left pretty large and I was always hungry. I found out after the fact that with my revision my surgeon removed all of my remnant stomach so all I have is what is in my pouch. My pyloric valve was removed which really upset me because that meant there was no going back. My stomach could never be put back together again.
Another reason my first surgery failed is because I never changed the way I ate. I am a refined carb addict and I thought I could eat them whenever I wanted because I was "cured". I wasn't. I decided when I had my revision I was going to learn from my mistakes and the first thing I did was totally eliminate refined carbs. I am happy to say that tomorrow will be one year since I have had any. I think that is the reason I have lost all my weight. I am now lower then I can remember ever being. I didn't set out to lose so much. I just eat 3 meals a day with one or 2 protein snacks in between. I eat a lot of protein along with fruits and vegetables and some whole grains. My diet is boring but it doesn't bother me. A lot of times when I get busy I forget to eat and then I will look for something to keep me going, because I know I need to, not because I want to. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy eating. Tonight my boyfriend and I went out to eat and I had a lobster tail, one of my favorite things in the world.
My priorities are getting in at least 100 grams of protein a day, 100 oz of fluid and no refined carbs and no unplanned snacking. That is the structure I go by and it seems to be working.
As far as my body goes, it looks like most anyone would look after losing about 130 lbs. Not to mention being 53. I did have a panni done 8 years ago after my first WLS and I am glad I did. My lower stomach is great. The upper part is another story but at least in clothes they fit normally now.
One thing I would love to do is have a breast lift. After my first surgery I wanted to have a breast lift and augmentation. The surgeon would only do one at a time and wanted me to wait 6 months between procedures so I choose the implants. They didn't look too bad so I never went back for the lift. Unfortunately regaining those 100 lbs really took it's toll. I saw a plastic surgeon the other day to talk about it. I really like her and I am thinking about having the surgery done. The price she quoted is much lower then I expected and may be doable but I don't know if I can justify the expense. I am just going to keep it in my mind and not make any decisions until I am sure.
Well, if you have made it this far thank you very much.
Opps, I almost forgot the obligory before and after pictures.
This was taking about a month before my revision. You can't see much but you can tell how bad I looked. My eyes had terrible circles under them and I looked like ****
I am a revision from a DS. One of a handful but it does happen. I had my first surgery in 2002 and did well for the first few years. Back then, or maybe it was just wishful thinking, there wasn't a lot of support and it was thought you could eat whatever you wanted and still keep the weight off due to the malabsorption. I managed to out eat the surgery that has the best stats for keeping the weight off. I'm not proud of that. I just never changed my eating habits and those habits made me sick. I had constant diarrhea and gas and was miserable. I had constant bacterial overgrowth in my intestines and the only thing that helped was Flagyl but I couldn't take that too often for fear of developing resistance.
I also wasn't as diligent about supplements as you need to be with such a malabsorptive procedure. I did have regular labs but they were very minimal and didn't check much.
Anyway, by this time last year I was so sick. It had been getting progressively worse over the previous two years. By this time last year I barely left my house. I had no energy whatsoever for even the simplest things. By this time last year I had regained 100 lbs from my lowest weight. I was so tired that I didn't even have the energy to care about anything. I still can't believe that I would go days without showering or changing my clothes. It just took too much energy to do that. I have been one that has taken a shower nearly everyday of my life no matter what. I didn't care about my appearance or anything else. I was seeing my doctor who couldn't diagnose anything. I had every test under the sun and they were all normal except my Ferritin was 7 and my Vitamin D was barely detectable. Like I said, the labs they ran were very minimal so I have no idea how my other levels were. It wasn't until about 6 months ago that I had a full set of labs done and by that time I had been supplementing regularly. I had requested a full set of labs but when I got the results many things were missing and I didn't have the energy to fight about it.
I could go on and on but I finally got to the point that I felt that my malabsorption was ruining my life. Between the fatigue and the bathroom issues I just wanted it to go away. I went back to my surgeon and begged for a reversal. I regretted every having WLS. I found that I couldn't be reversed, only revised so I wouldn't malabsorb as much. My surgeon also said he could make my stomach into a RNY pouch at the same time. I really didn't want a RNY but I figured that if I could regain 100 lbs with malabsorption then I could really do some damage without it so I agreed.
My surgery was open and I had a rough few days but I survived. For a long time I didn't feel much better and I was very disappointed. I was taking my supplements and eating right and I still felt lousy. It has taken a long time to gradually regain my energy. It wasn't a sudden change at all, I just noticed I was a little bit better, I could take a shower every other day and then it was every day. Now I would say I am about 90% back to normal. I still tire easier then I used to but it is nothing like it was a year ago. I am regaining my life. I am reintegrating myself back to my social settings, getting in touch with people I had stopped talking to because I didn't have the energy to talk to anyone. Most days I keep pretty busy.
I think one of the reasons my first surgery failed is because my stomach was left pretty large and I was always hungry. I found out after the fact that with my revision my surgeon removed all of my remnant stomach so all I have is what is in my pouch. My pyloric valve was removed which really upset me because that meant there was no going back. My stomach could never be put back together again.
Another reason my first surgery failed is because I never changed the way I ate. I am a refined carb addict and I thought I could eat them whenever I wanted because I was "cured". I wasn't. I decided when I had my revision I was going to learn from my mistakes and the first thing I did was totally eliminate refined carbs. I am happy to say that tomorrow will be one year since I have had any. I think that is the reason I have lost all my weight. I am now lower then I can remember ever being. I didn't set out to lose so much. I just eat 3 meals a day with one or 2 protein snacks in between. I eat a lot of protein along with fruits and vegetables and some whole grains. My diet is boring but it doesn't bother me. A lot of times when I get busy I forget to eat and then I will look for something to keep me going, because I know I need to, not because I want to. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy eating. Tonight my boyfriend and I went out to eat and I had a lobster tail, one of my favorite things in the world.
My priorities are getting in at least 100 grams of protein a day, 100 oz of fluid and no refined carbs and no unplanned snacking. That is the structure I go by and it seems to be working.
As far as my body goes, it looks like most anyone would look after losing about 130 lbs. Not to mention being 53. I did have a panni done 8 years ago after my first WLS and I am glad I did. My lower stomach is great. The upper part is another story but at least in clothes they fit normally now.
One thing I would love to do is have a breast lift. After my first surgery I wanted to have a breast lift and augmentation. The surgeon would only do one at a time and wanted me to wait 6 months between procedures so I choose the implants. They didn't look too bad so I never went back for the lift. Unfortunately regaining those 100 lbs really took it's toll. I saw a plastic surgeon the other day to talk about it. I really like her and I am thinking about having the surgery done. The price she quoted is much lower then I expected and may be doable but I don't know if I can justify the expense. I am just going to keep it in my mind and not make any decisions until I am sure.
Well, if you have made it this far thank you very much.
Opps, I almost forgot the obligory before and after pictures.
This was taking about a month before my revision. You can't see much but you can tell how bad I looked. My eyes had terrible circles under them and I looked like ****
WLS 10/28/2002 Revision 7/23/2010
High Weight (2002) 240 Revision Weight (2010) 220 Current Weight 115.
It wouldn't let me post these in the other post so here they are
This is my favorite picture of myself. It was taken at my daughter's wedding in April. I clean up pretty well.
This was about 3 weeks ago.
About a month before my revision.
The first picture was taken in 2002, right before my first surgery.
The second picture was taken a few weeks ago.
This is my favorite picture of myself. It was taken at my daughter's wedding in April. I clean up pretty well.
This was about 3 weeks ago.
About a month before my revision.
The first picture was taken in 2002, right before my first surgery.
The second picture was taken a few weeks ago.
WLS 10/28/2002 Revision 7/23/2010
High Weight (2002) 240 Revision Weight (2010) 220 Current Weight 115.
It sounds like you have really been through he**. I am sorry that you've had so much trouble, but I am so happy that you stayed persistent to get to your goal!! I'm happy that you're felling better now. As a pre-op I appreciate stories like yours. It reminds me that my RNY is only a tool and if I don't change my lifestyle, it's all for nothing. You look great!!! Thanks for sharing your journey!
"It's not what is taken from you that counts. It's what you do with what you have left."-Hubert Humphrey
Happy surgiversary, Tazz. You've done an awesome job and gotten everything back on track.
--gina
--gina
5'1" -- HW 195/SW 187/GW 115 July 08/CW 121 Dec 2012
******GOAL*******
Starting BMI between 35 and 40ish?
Join us on the Lightweights Board!
DS on Aug 9, 2007 with Dr. Hazem Elariny
Congratulations for succeeding one of the toughest battles. You look marvelous now and I can truly relate to the refined carbs as that is/was me through to the core. I'm still working on it and thank goodness I can't digest bread, rice or pasta or I would be in big trouble.
What a long journey you have endured but wow look at the benefits now.
Cheers from Karin (in Oz)
Tazz, thanks for sharing the good, bad and ugly. We all need to remember those things, vitamins, carbs, etc. You have always been a great inspiration to me. Thanks for sharing your journey.
66 yrs young, 4'11" hw 220, goal 120 met at 12 months, cw 129 learning Maintainance
Between 35-40 BMI? join us on the Lightweight board. the Lightweight Board
Congratulations for your success and thanks for sharing.
Happy surgiversary!!!
Happy surgiversary!!!
HW-218/SW-208/CW-126/ Lowest Weight-121/Goal-125 - hit 8/23/09/Height-5'3"
Regain 30 lbs from 2012 to 2016 - got back on track and lost it. Took 8 months.
90+/- pounds lost BMI - 24 or so
Starting BMI between 35 and 40ish?
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