Question:
3 yrs out from RNY beginning weight 283 lowest weight 145 now 193 ...HELP

I'm just sick of the weight gain. Anyone who has had a open RNY will tell you how painful that surgery was. I began in 1980 with stomach stapling which did virtually nothing but cos great pain lost 15lbs. As I said had RNY 2006 lost 140lbs. In the past year & a half I have gained almost 50lbs. I don't gorge on food...I always eat the minimal amount and still start with protein. Lots of Water! I suspect my stoma is stretched. Has anyone had this problem and what did you do? Is there another surgery that we can have such as lapband? Thanks in advance for your answers.    — susadia55 (posted on September 19, 2009)

September 19, 2009
I started at 332 & lost down to 232, but in the past 6 mo I have gained back up to 249.75. Thats almost 250 lbs & a gain of 17.75 lbs which is dispicable to me! What a wakeup call since I remember promising myself, I would never allow myself to get in that shape again. Frankly, I thought with surgury my weight gaining problems would be over. Unfortunately, I never changed my eating habits. I don't gorge on food either & I eat a minimal amount starting with protein. I don't really drink water like I should. The one good thing is, I still cannot eat much at a sitting. But, I learned early on after surgery, I can eat small amounts all day long. For the 1st year, I could eat anything I wanted in small amounts & not gain any weight, and infact continue to lose weight, even if very slowly. That was fantastic. But as I lost weight, I wasn't carrying around that extra 100 lbs that actually helped burn the calories I was consuming. When those lbs were gone, the weight started climbing and it really scared me. Also, hunger (real hunger) returned with a vengence about a year out. Since I don't eat much during a meal, I found myself very hungary within an hour or two. I know exactly why I started gaining my weight back - I satisfied my hunger just like I used to before surgery - eating snacks including carbs - Crackers, Chips, Pop Corn, nuts, etc.. I am now starting to reduce & eliminate some of these snack foods and I do lose weight when I stick to being disciplined. For me, making a good choice of a snack food over a bad choice makes me crazy. I still eat before I think & then get mad at myself. If someone has a solution to this, please tell me. I have no excuse for putting weight back on but myself.
   — BonnieP

September 20, 2009
Same story here. The 1st year, I ate anything I wanted and kept losing weight. I didn't know about the "honeymoon period", those precious 18 months immediately post-op that enables you to eat what you want and still lose the weight. I started at 373#, the lowest weight I achieved was 211#.( Still NOT the weight on my drivers license...lol) Then the weight started creeping back. I was in a job where I went up and down stairs 15-20 times in 8 hours. That helped until I lost that job. My eating habits didn't change though. When I hit 250#, I knew what I needed to do. I joined Curves and did the 5 day pouch test to regain control of my pouch and let it work the way it was intended. http://www.5daypouchtest.com. There are great recipes there and it helps to break the carb cycle alot of post wls patients develop again. I basically, went back to the basics. Protein first, lots of water, exercise and vitamins. My B12 level went from 379 in 9/08 to 1579 in 8/09. I'm losing again but at a slower rate and it's definitely much more work.
   — babs71958

September 21, 2009
I had the vertical gastric sleeve surgery a year and a half ago. I have found it to be true, exactly what the others are saying on here to you. It's not necessarily how much we eat but, what we eat. It's all about food choices. And it's for the rest of our lives. I lost 75 pounds and have put back on about 10 of that now. I am so angry with myself. I too fall pray to those stinkin carbs.....I make good choices at meal time but it's the snacking in between meals or in the evening while watching tv. The few carbs I ate in the beginning stages really didn't effect my weight loss but boy they do now. It's self-discipline to the rescue if we are going to succeed at this and be at our desired weight from now on. I know that for me, I can't let my guard down or I will end up right back where I started from. This is a battle that I must win every day. It's all up to me. The surgery was just a starting tool. My success depends on me alone. Good luck to all and God bless!!!
   — Jodi L.

September 30, 2009
I am in the same boat! I had open RNY 7 years ago and not in the last year and a 1/2 but in the last 7 years since surgery I have gained back 55 lbs. Everyone who hasn't had the surgery thinks its the easy way out and IT ISN'T! I have and always did walk everyday and watch my intake of food! I swear I could look at a candy bar and gain 10 lbs. My family owns a restaurant business and has for my whole life... I munch on food all day long but never eat a meal... So... is it me? I love food but I also love feeling great as I did when I was at my lightest due to GPS! To me it's worth the revision... If insurance wont cover it anymore... I'll save up for it!!!
   — confused225