Question:
post op failure
My mom watched a show on the descovery channel last night that had to do with the bypss surgery. I didn't watch it, but my mom daid that the woman who had it weighed, I thing 350 pounds and had the surgery but and she lost al this weight, I think her lightest was down to 195. Well, to make a long story short, she gained all of it back plus more. My mom said that her highest now is 500 pounds!! What does everyone think of that? I really want to have this surgery and now my mom is having high doubts and so am I! Please someone tell me that gaining that much weight back happens all the time. If anyone can tell me what the probability is of this happening, my e-mail address is [email protected]. Thanks! — Ashley T. (posted on November 25, 2002)
November 25, 2002
It maybe true that this person sabotoged there surgery and gained lots of
weight. But please remember that it is very hard to mess this surgery up
and that this women in only 1 person out of 10's of thousands of people. I
think those are pretty darn good odds if you ask me. I wouldn't change my
decision for anything. Good Luck!
— DRutherford
November 25, 2002
I watched the program. The woman explained that she was unable to follow
the diet because she still craved all the old foods and went back to old
habits. Old habits will put the weight back on.
— J. W.
November 25, 2002
I also watched that program and I don't believe the woman had RNY, she
simply stated she had gastric bypass and it was several years ago. If you
educate yourself, use the support groups (both online and in-person), and
follow your doctor's orders, you'll do great! You have to want it bad
enough, I believe also. It is not a miracle, overnight cure but it sure is
a life-saving tool! Best wishes to you. - Anna LAP RNY 7/3/02 -89lbs.
— Anna L.
November 25, 2002
This surgery is to be considered as a tool. How well you use your tool will
depend on your sucess. The tool will work itself the first year or so. Your
behavior problems will still be there postop, but use that first year when
its still easy to begin to change them. Some of us don't dump when eating
sugar or fat, and the new pouch can be stretched. At one year out I still
need to make the conscious decision on what I put in my mouth. Am I going
to eat fast food alot, high carbs & low protein. No physical activity
and not drinking alot of water. Candy, ice cream, etc. Our thinking must
change and exercise and strong support system's are vital. This surgery is
not magic, it's just a good tool that needs to be used wisely!!!!!
— Karla K.
November 25, 2002
I saw part of the program too. The one woman who said the surgery failed
did mention something that sounded like "dumping". That made me
think she may have had the RNY. The other lady who lost a lot and regained
did not have surgery; she had gone the Richard Simmons route. I admired her
just cuz she seemd like a terrific lady.There was a man on there that was
succeeding with the WLS. The lady who said it failed admitted to eating
cake and ice cream and drinking shakes. She did not want to change her
eating habits(do any of us?lol)I know I mess up at times, but I hope that I
can use this tool and keep the weight off.
— Helenjean P.
November 25, 2002
I saw the show too, and I think your mom is confusing some of the women
they interviewed. They only talked to two people who had surgery -- a man
and a woman. The man had his surgery 6 months ago, and is doing well. The
woman did not say when she had her surgery, but said they "made her
stomach smaller." She did not say anything about re-routing her
intestines. She also said she had it done "years ago." AND, she
said she wasn't able to follow rules. My thoughts were these: 1. I don't
think she had RNY, I think she simply had her stomach stapled. Big
difference. 2. The surgery is a tool, as you'll hear over and over again.
It is a tool, however, that makes your life soooooo much easier. The
woman who was over 500 pounds had lost her weight thru Richard Simmons
(i.e., a DIET), but had not had surgery.
— Tamara K.
November 25, 2002
hi there :) i missed yet another program on tlc pertaining to wls. darn!
please if anybody knows when they might be airing again, please email me
[email protected] thanks :)
— carrie M.
November 25, 2002
I saw part of the show (flipped channels to it at about half past and I
missed part). Anyway, the woman that had the failed WLS said that she was
able to suck down shakes and ice cream and cake and cookies. I know that
most RNYer's dump so this makes me think that she must have had a VBG or
one of the older surgeries. I'm still pre-op, but I'm having this surgery
to alter my behavior. I'm not planning on sitting back and being a passive
participant. I intend to lose the weight and keep it off through healthy
living. Maybe this is what that woman planned, too, but something
obviously didn't work for her. She was unable to modify her habits in a
healthy way and this caused the weight to come back. This is a good
reminder to all of us that this surgery (any of the surgeries) is not
fool-proof and we need to work at being successful. (Now, someone please
remind me that I said this in a couple months - lol)
— Toni C.
November 25, 2002
Thank you everyone for your support!! You all have renewed my hopes of
having this surgery. My parents both read your comments and have a renewed
hope as well. Thank you all soooo much. I will keep you all in my prayers!
~Ashley
— Ashley T.
November 25, 2002
I have not seen that particular show...but, I have to relate this story to
you, a doctor who spoke at a support group meeting that I attended related
a story about a patient of his who called him upset as all get out because
she was not losing weight and she was doing "protein shakes"
only...he brought her in the office and began talking to her...it turns out
that her "protein shakes" were really and truly PUREED
CHEESECAKES!!!! She thought that the "cheese" was giving her
protein, never giving any thought to the fat and sugar contained in such a
thing. She was pureeing 2-3 cheesecakes per day...obviously, this woman
needed further education on how to use her "tool" properly and a
nutritionist to help her deal with this. But that is an example of someone
not using their tool properly. And that, my family, is how someone can
regain their weight after WLS!! Just my 2cents people.
Have a Sparkling Day!! ~CAE~
— Mustang
November 25, 2002
I think I have seen the show you are talking about... they actually show
that one frequently. That woman had TONS of other issues that needed to be
taken care of. Watching the show I was not a bit surprised she failed. She
set herself up for it. I think she needed to make a lot more mental and
emotional changes that would've make her successful.
YOU will determine your success. When people don't dump and still continue
to eat badly and sabotage themselves it is an insult to all of us who fight
like crazy to get this surgery paid for by the insurance companies. When
critics call us weak for not being able to lose they get more ammunition by
these stories!
YOU CAN DO IT! This will be a great success because you are making an
important choice to make your health a priority.
BEST WISHES TO YOU!
— kultgirl
November 25, 2002
Hi:
Because my top weight ever was 230 pounds, I am not at the same level of
obesity as this lady. However, after WLS you must be extremely vigilant
about everything you put into your mouth. Thoughtless eating is a thing of
the past. It seems quite possible to regain most of your weight if you do
not carefully assess each and every thing you put into your mouth. Since
undergoing WLS, I eagerly and cautiously monitor my protein, water,
exercise, etc. I do not want to become that 1% statistic that they talk
about. Roseann has admitted that she failed this surgery. She went from
230 and is now at 170, which would actually be considered successful.
Remember doctors consider keeping 50% of your excess weight off as
successful. Good luck.
Grace
— Grace H.
November 26, 2002
I get frustrated when the media portrays anything (not just weight loss
surgery) in a slanted manner. I saw the show and agree, this girl had
major issues in her life and her weight was only one of them. It is
absolutely possible to gain weight after WLS. However, to regain all your
weight would actually take alot more effort than just maintaining a loss.
Many patients experience what our program refers to as the "10 pound
bounce". People lose to goal or even a little below and then creep up
about 10 pounds or so and generally stay there. I didn't have this surgery
to spend the rest of my life counting every single calorie and dieting. I
just try to use wisdom and good judgement and if a find that I've gained a
pound or two I police myself for a few days until it's gone. That's what
normal people do. Try not to put too much faith in the media - they tend
to bend everything. Best wishes to you!
— ronascott
November 26, 2002
I think I've seen the show you're referring to. WLS surgery requires a
huge dedication to make it work and this woman didn't have it. She
returned to old eating habits. I know another man that had it and return
to old eating habits because he got discouraged and decided to go back to
his old ways. He gained back more weight than he lost. When someone goes
into this, you have to decide it's a lifelong committment. You have to
settle your issues with food and that you eat to live--not live to eat.
And you have to have the dedication to follow the rules, long term. I'm
only 3 months post-op, but I feel better than I have in years. All I have
to do is remember how much pain I was in daily before the surgery and keep
remembering this is my "second chance" at life and I'm not going
to mess that up.
— Cathy S.
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