Question:
I am 4.5 yrs post op and have gained wt. Time to be honest with myself and need help
As I said above, I'm 4.5 yrs pximal RNY. I was transected. I lost 157 lbs the first year. Started at 290, 5'4" and got as low as 133 for about 10 minutes. Rebounded to 150-155 which was a very comfortable weight for me. I looked and felt very healthy. Now comes the honesty part. I have told anyone who asks me about this surgery it is 75% mental and 25% physical. I really thought I dealt with my "head" issues that got me overweight in the first place. I've gained up to 190 lbs now and even though I've tried to convince myself that it doesn't matter, and my most famous line "everyone needs some kind of vice". It does matter, I didn't go through this surgery for nothing. In all honesty, I feel like I can eat too much and have been able to for quite a long time. My surgeon is no longer in practice due to being sued too many times and I filed a complaint w/my ins. co. because of him also. I have not had any follow up from a Gastric surgeon since about 8 months post op. My PCP follows me and does my bloodwork regularly. I feel like something is wrong that I can hold so much food at once. I'm not sure what they can do to check and see if I'm stretched out or if something else is wrong. I want to get on the right track again but it feels like with all life's stressor's (and I have more than my share right now) I just can't get a hold on this. I'm not having a pity party, just want some advice or to hear from someone else who either is where I am or has been where I am and maybe I can e-mail and try to keep each other in line. I haved lurked and rarely posted on this site for 4.5 yrs. I respect the opinions given. Please, do not bash me for my honesty, I've seen that happen. I'm begging for some help and support. Thank you in advance to all who have taken the time to read and respond to me. Robin — Robin V. (posted on February 13, 2007)
February 13, 2007
Dear Robin,
I feel for you sweety. I have gained back 30 pounds myself in just the 3
years since my surgery. I know how fast the pounds can find there way back.
I had to laugh at your posting in one part when you said you reached 130
for about 10 minutes....LOL I too feel like I can eat more than I should at
times. my email is [email protected] if you want to write me., I wish you all
the best hon. Mickey Craig.........
— MCraig3
February 13, 2007
Hi Robin.... I am pre-op.....my journey begins on 2/15/07. I can only
suggest a few things that came to mind when reading your post.
1. I would try to see a surgeon - maybe they can run some tests to see if
there is something wrong with your pouch, etc.
2. Have you tried to go back on a full liquid diet? I had to do this before
surgery to shrink the liver and prep the bod for the BIG changes after
surgery. I've lost over 12 lbs. in two weeks. Maybe by doing the liquid
diet for a week or two will "shrink" your pouch a bit, making it
uncomfortable to "over eat".
3. I would recommend really watching portion sizes/serving sizes. Stay away
from soda/carbonation if you reverted back to that as it can stretch the
pouch, too.
My email is [email protected]. I can send you my full liquid
perameters given my the surgeon. It's really not as bad as it sounds.
I wish you luck!
Jammie
— jammerz
February 13, 2007
Robin,
i haven't had my surgery yet, but i wanted to say i think you have done
great and the fact that you are on here asking for help i am encouraged by
you. I do not want to say i know what you are going through other than the
"head" thing at this time my surgery hasn't been approved because
of my "head" thing i have been in counseling for 3 months now and
i do love it, at first i was very upset that i "had" to go, but
now that i have went im glad i did.
Please know that you are in my prayers and i truly believe that you can do
it, you have been through it, and you are asking for the right things and
not blaming someone else like i have always done..
God bless you and be with you
Paula
— japaad
February 13, 2007
Robin, I know people that have had RNY and gained weight back and received
surgery for lap band. I beauty of lap band is that you have the band for
life and can continue to use it for weight loss. If you would like to
investigate this approach check out or web site ObesityHelp in the forum
under lapband. Good luck.
— janddhager
February 13, 2007
Dear Robin (I love that name... it's my daughter's)... You sound like
such a nice person with a good level head on your shoulders. I admire
that. I am almost 3 months post op and have been monitoring this website
for almost a year now. YOU ARE NOT ALONE. The best advice I can give you
based on reading the experience of others in your same situation is to seek
out another surgeon and have them do a full exam. There very well could be
something physically wrong that needs to get fixed. If not, they can point
you in the right direction towards getting control again. I wish you all
the best, sweetie. Patty.
— Patricia R.
February 13, 2007
I have started a group on Yahoo Groups called Eating Disorders after WLS.
We would love to have you join the group for support and encouragement as
we all go through this process. Here is the URL if you are interested in
joining us:
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Eating_Disorders_After_WLS/
— Shelia N.
February 13, 2007
Hello Robin, and thanks for asking your very important question. I am
sorry you have been witness to others being bashed. Sometimes speaking the
truth seems like bashing, but sometimes we just get too harsh sometimes? I
hope this is not the case here. You are very honest, and that is a great
beginning. Obesity is a head issue with a body consequence. I don't know
about percentages, but sometimes we concentrate on one and not the other.
You need a wls surgeon to check you out. You should be having annual
physicals and bloodwork, and even though your PCM is doing this (kudo's to
you for keeping up with it!), there are things a trained wls surgeon might
catch that a PCM would not. Please find a new surgeon to support you and
get a full physical and possibly a "scope" to check out your
pouch. All pouches stretch, they do not stay small, we eat, they stretch.
If I may encourage you, go back to basics. Water, protein, and a good
amount of exercise. Cut out pop, tea, other stuff, candy, junk, cut it all
out. Give yourself a good talking to and step back into basics for a
while. Get a physical with a new surgeon and an evaluation, but the basics
will make you feel better right away because you are taking control of your
eating. The great thing about eating, is that we have to volunteer the
food to our mouth. Choose what you put there, choose very carefully. Read
books on nutrition, find or start a support group, there is so much you can
do that will keep you from another surgery. Another surgery has so much
risk to revise what they did, the risks are so much higher! If you had
success in the past, and you did, you can have success again, just reach
for it, get some support for it, and go for it! Deal with the head issues,
and reach for the body consequence you want. The choice is yours, no
amount of surgery can help you reach for yourself! I really wish you well,
and best to you, email me through my profile if you want, but take a deep
breath, evaluate where you want to be, and reach! Patricia P.
— Patricia P
February 13, 2007
Robin, I can relate to you very well. I had RNY almost 6 years ago.
Starting weight 256, lost to 188, gained to 213. A little over a year ago I
started having sclerotherapy on my enlarged stoma. My pouch is still tiny,
but my stoma was huge. I could eat a Whopper from Burger King! This is a
controversial treatment, and there are many for whom it has not worked.
However, I believe if you are commited, it will work. I now weigh 170. I do
not look like I weigh that much. All of my co-workers want me to stop the
procedures because they say I won't look right if I lose anymore weight and
that I look fabulous now. The truth is, I do look good now, but I'm still
trying to hit the century mark. I have another procedure tomorrow. It is
kind of painful, but it has really helped. My insurance would not pay for a
revision, but it does pay for these procedures because they are simply
listed as "EGD with sclerotherapy." You might want to check into
this. I flew to Milwaukee for over a year for Dr. Carlos Tan to do the
procedures. I convinced my local surgeon to do it (which was hard to do)--I
think he's doing it because he knows I'll go back to Milwaukee if he
doesn't--so I only have to travel 3 blocks instead of flying from Alabama
to Milwaukee. Whatever you decide, good luck to you.
Rebecca Vick
— Roxanna
February 14, 2007
Hi Robin. I have the same problem and don't know what to do. I'm not
looking for pity either just help and information on how to fix this. I,
like you, am beging for help. I know this isn't about me, it's about you.
Just know that you are NOT alone and have all my support and prayers.
Mary D.
— cruise06
February 14, 2007
Average RNY regain by 5 years about 50% of what you lost:( Our bodies
REALLY want the extra weight:( Winter is tough for me. I have gained and
embarassed. But still way less than pre op. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
— bob-haller
February 14, 2007
Robin we all know what we do wrong, you've taken the first step in
Correcting just by posting instead of Lurking. Your in the Maintaining
Phase just varying a bit. I'm only 9 months out and gain some from month to
month but when I see the scales I just get back to basis thus lose what
I've gain plus more. If you need the Basic Plan again just request it on
the Florida Board and I'll Post It again. There is no shame here, we're
here lending help as we've needed help too.
Post on the OH Floroda Forum:
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/FL/
Updating your OH Profile Regularly - It's been awhile:
http://www.obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/members/profile.php?N=V1018887002
Have you've sought out a Local Support Group to start attending (again)
It's said that those who attend regularly "Keep On Track the
Best". Look above under Support Group or ask on the Florida Forum.
Will you come to the 2007 OH Conference in a few months in Orlando. Check
above under Events. I was going to skip this years event but if you'll go
I'll attend to. I'll also be attending the Regional OH Conference to be
held in Va.Beach later this year in November 2007.
Another very positive effort would be to take the OH Leadership Program
too. If not to help others but to just help yourself, by helping others.
Such as I am right here with you.
So how/what else can we help each other with,
— Michael Eak
February 14, 2007
Hi Robin. I feel for you, as I've been there. I'm just over 4 years out and
late last year was really, really struggling with the fear of regaining,
losing control, etc. Failure has been such a part of the weight loss game
for me, for so long, that I felt like I was heading that way again. My
issues were emotional, and it's pretty clear yours are too. I had gained
back about 15 pounds of the original 116 I had lost, and I was beginning to
panic.
On January 1 (very cliche', I know) I decided to commit to working hard at
changing my thinking towards food. The most helpful thing I found was Dr.
Phil's book on weight loss.
Please understand that I'm not a Phil groupie: I can take or leave him. But
I found his weight-loss book to be the most helpful of anything I've ever
read about weight loss. It helped me to address the real issues underneath
my life-long struggle with food. If you decide to give this book a shot,
take your time and do the inventories and exercises (not physical -
emotional!) he recommends. I really believe that anyone who gives these
principals a good college try cannot help but to benefit from them.
I found the book empowering, realistic, and very encouraging. I'm learning
to be kinder and more honest with myself about this whole food issue,
because of the principals described in this book.
Having said that, I'll also share the behavioral changes to which I've
committed. I'm trying to exercise at least 3 times a week, drink lots of
water, and get in lots of protein (the basics, essentially). By paying
attention to my results of my choices, it didn't take me long to see what
works and what doesn't. And this is where it gets simple: DO WHAT WORKS AND
YOU'LL BE SUCCESSFUL! =)
In January I lost 10 pounds, and then set a new goal of another 5 for
February. And if I reach that goal, I'll keep going from there and if I
don't, I'll take a look at why and, well, also keep going. (HINT: small,
short-term goals work great for me!)
Give this book a try. Because it's been in print awhile it should be
available pretty cheaply at Amazon.com or on eBay. It was the best $6 I've
invested in myself in a very long time!
If you'd like to correspond, post a reply to this with your e-mail address
and I'll contact you. There is strength in numbers! Good luck and God
Bless. PJ
— jfoej
February 15, 2007
I can't say if you are doing something amiss or if your surgery has let you
down. I know other pts of yur doc and many have nutritional issues that,
when correctd, have put them back on track. I didn't say it made them as
thin as models! Just makes them feel back in control of food again.
However, you'll find plenty of company on the Grad list with regain due to
mechanical, bad launch-info OR behavioral issues. It's good to find out
which it is. You can't fight an enemy you can't see. If you didn't have a
good program to follow, you could've adhered faithfully to it and that
might have hurt a bit. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG
— vitalady
February 15, 2007
Hi Robin, I am 2 years post op RNY. I lost l00 pounds from 285 to 185. I
also feel the same as you. I can hold so much food. I don't know what
happened. I also can't seem to get back on track. I gained back half of
the weight I lost. I am so embarrased to see my surgeon so I haven't gone
back. It's quite a nightmare. My email is [email protected] if you want to
correspond. Maybe we can help each other. I am also in need of support
and guidance.
Hang in there, I'm sure we are not alone.
Kimmee
— Kimmee
February 17, 2007
Hi Robin,
I am just about 5 years out and I have gained 10 pounds but it doesn't
always stay at 10 pounds. I feel pretty good about that because it is a
struggle when you can eat more foods. I do WEIGH MYSELF EVERY MORNING. If
I am up some, I don't eat much that day. Just protein and it comes right
back off. I have gone back to protein shakes with a banana in it for
breakfast and a salad for lunch or soup and protein, vege and some carb if
I can fit it in. I don't know if this helps you much but for me, the scale
is my friend. I have 5 people that had surgery in my department at work
and I they think I am obsessive with the scale thing. but I am the only one
that hasn't gained back 20,30,40, or 50 pounds either. Scarey about the
pouch stretching, but I am sure that it can be retrained. Good luck.
Sherrie
— Sherrie S.
February 18, 2007
Thank you for all the advice offered. I'm going to really inventory my
life. I'm also going to try to pick up the Dr. Phil book. Someone else
told me they found it very informative. Thank you for the people to
offered to e-mail back and forth with me for support. My e-mail is
[email protected] please but OH in the subject line so I'll know who you
are. There's strength in numbers, I made it to goal once and although I
may not see that number again I'm hoping to make it to a healthier number.
Thank you again for all your support. I needed it. Robin 290/187/150
— Robin V.
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