Question:
I am regaining weight. Had surgery in 2002

The doctor that performed my surgery retired. Prior to his retiring he gave no advance warning. At first I thought I could handle the situation but I have noticed the weight slowly creeping back. I live in Houston, Texas. My doctor retired last January 2007. Any thoughts?    — Sandra C. (posted on February 4, 2009)

February 4, 2009
Basically, you just need to get back on track...If you are gaining, slowly, you need to cut calories and start measuring your food to one suggested serving size so you are not over eating. It might just be a matter of cutting out some bad habits that snuck in...I know for me...I was drinking that full sugar creamer in my coffee daily...Those are really useless calories for no good reason...Plus I was eating cereals and oatmeal for breakfast (which I still enjoy only now more moderately than daily) ....Carbs make me hungry all day...Starting my day with carbs is not good for me! I have to start with protein...SO I dropped the creamer and started using protein powder in my coffee...I start my day right off with 27 g's of protein...for 140 calories as opposed to sugar and non dairy creamer which offered me NO nutrition for 200 + calories and I skip the oatmeal /cereal breakfast as well...Maybe you have let in some bad habits or hidden high calories that can be trimmed and cut back? Find a PCP in your area and go get vitamins and blood labs if you have not in a year! Make sure you are taking your vitamins and go back to basics...If you cannot find a bariatric doc/sur to see you, you need to educate yourself and become you own health care advocate. Do a search for support groups in your area and learn who everyone else is seeing! Learn about labs and tests and watch your vitamin levels...Being deficient in vitamins can affect your weight and even your metabolism could be off as well. My insurance won't pay for my surgeon visits, unless I have an emergency...SO I had no choice but to learn how to keep myself healthy...That's how it should be anyway! It's your body and your health...and only YOU can take the best care of it...I take a list of the labs I want run to my PCP and she runs them for me...She is CLUELESS when it comes to my surgery...She loves that I educate her about GB and how the altered body works...She still doesn't grasp the idea that low normals are bad for us...because without supplementation or a close eye on those lows, we drop so fast with malabsorption that in a year we can become quite sick with multiple defs from one vit part of the body fighting/robbing another for the lack of vits! Like the bones get robbed all the time from magnesium, calcium and vit d deficiencies...It's insane! But I KNOW this and I look at my labs and keep my own levels where I want them! In the mid to high ranges...I gained weight while I was anemic and had multiple vit deficiencies...And I had to cut calories to lose some weight while I was on bed rest from the defs! No exercise...No high calories! Reconnect with WLS people...They are a great support system and have so many ideas and thoughts...and the random horror stories as well...But these people are the only ones who understand what you go thru and why (most of the time)...Even over doctors and surgeons...We live this life and do this lifestyle change, in this altered body every day!...Stay connected and learn...Do searches and look for reputable medical/nutrition sites for facts and info...Good luck to you! Stay healthy!
   — .Anita R.

February 4, 2009
Thank you so much, maybe I just needed vent
   — Sandra C.

February 4, 2009
You need to find a new doctor and start again. I would investigate a revision. Or even a different type of surgery might be in order. Let us know what you find out. Good Luck and God Bless, vinnigirl, retired RN
   — vinnigirl

February 4, 2009
I am trying to make a decision whether to have WLS, and in doing so I am coming here every night and reading and researching. The one thing I found interesting is that you are able to eat carbs. I was under the understanding that you would have dumping syndrome when eating carbs. One of my worst fears is having the surgery only to gain it back later. I have no will power, and don't know that I could get myself back on track if I ever got off track. So does the surgery really dictate what you can and cannot eat or just amounts? Good luck to you and I admire you for being able to make the decision to have the surgery in the first place.
   — buggyboot

February 4, 2009
Try the 5-day pouch test. This might help. Remember, wls is just a tool; it is up to you what to do with it. Good luck.
   — maria09elena

February 5, 2009
Hi, I am in houston too. I had wls in dec 2006. I then had a tummy tuck in sept 07. I did well, lost weight and ate right until sept 08 after hurricane ike. It was then that I gained 10 pounds and could not shake them. It was a combination of alcohol, sweets, heavy carbs, rice, pasta, bread, etc. I have tried everything or so I thought. As I was preparing myself to do the five day pouch "reset", I stumbled upon an idea to do low carb, high protein. Well, I started monday and on tue I lost 3.4 pounds, another 6 oz wed. That was the key! I had not seen this weight since sept and it was freaking me out. Get rid of the carbs, they are no good. Go back to basics, protein first, plenty of water, do not drink with meals, limit alcohol and take vitamins regularly. Also make sure to exercise and get bloodwork done. I agree that there has to be support from others who are going thru the same. I have a large group of friends at work who had wls and we help each other. I promise u will see immediate results if u start to watch and limit the carbs. I do best at abt 40 grams per day but also hv been getting 100 grams of protein daily since mon. I track all on fitday.com . U have to eat enuf and enuf protein and also need some carbs for fuel or u will be sluggish. Good luck to you and I hope that u can get control again, I know its hard and I am just glad that I caught it before it became more than 10 pounds. I cannot go back to previous weight. Angela
   — A Q.