Question:
Thank you for all your postings regarding your RNY experience but.....
for every 10 success stories I hear I hear 2 or 3 not so good ones. I am so worried that I will have this surgery and down the road regain my weight, I guess I'm afraid it will creep up on me again. With RNY are there different levels of malabsorption? My surgeon says with RNY I will get virtualy the same results as DS, only downfall is the dumping and not everyone dumps. Anyone have any unsuccessful RNY stories? Some of you seem to have lost your weight fast with RNY any slow losers? Jane — jane O. (posted on May 21, 2003)
May 21, 2003
Lots of slow loosers. I read about them frequently. There are DSer's who
lose slow too. You're BMI is under 50 and therefore you MIGHT be a slow
loser as well. You will hear success stories and stories of failed
surgeries. I'd suggest checking out patients of your chosen surgeon (if
you have one picked out) and see what kind of track record his/her
operation has. I wish I could lose quicker, but 10 months and down 150+
pounds isn't bad so guess I'll just learn to be happy with it. And there
IS a possibility you can regain the weight...if you outeat the pouch
(grazing) or eating junk instead of proteins and good veggies. Depends a
lot on where your mindset is. I sure wish you luck!
— [Deactivated Member]
May 21, 2003
Others have asked for unsuccessful WLS stories. When people were kind
enough to come forward with them, others were all over them like flies on
poop. Not to many will step forward and admit it anymore and I don't blame
them. People are not very kind to others who have'nt been as fortunate with
this surgery. I don't know why people are like that, but people on this
site are no different than others in general. If someone is down, give em a
good kick. Guess it makes them feel better to hurt others. As far as
gaining this weight back after WLS, you better believe you can! There is'nt
anything that is 100% foolproof. Everyone I know who has had WLS in my
little area has gained all or most back. I went into WLS knowing that it
was a very real possibility and I better be honest enough with myself to
face it and make the life long changes that would be needed. In my case, I
could never make it to goal. I'm still in the high overweight bmi range.
But at least I can go somewhere and not feel like a freak. I fit in now,
even though I'm not twiggy. lol I've never had any energy since wls... but
a walking corpse so I never exercised. So losing around 84% of my excess
weight has been a miracle I'd say and I'm happy with it although I wanted
100% as anyone would. Just know that WLS is'nt a cure. I can only let US
help OURSELVES. Abuse it, and it will let us down.
— Danmark
May 21, 2003
Others have asked for unsuccessful WLS stories. When people were kind
enough to come forward with them, others were all over them like flies on
poop. Not to many will step forward and admit it anymore and I don't blame
them. People are not very kind to others who have'nt been as fortunate with
this surgery. I don't know why people are like that, but people on this
site are no different than others in general. If someone is down, give em a
good kick. Guess it makes them feel better to hurt others. As far as
gaining this weight back after WLS, you better believe you can! There is'nt
anything that is 100% foolproof. Everyone I know who has had WLS in my
little area has gained all or most back. I went into WLS knowing that it
was a very real possibility and I better be honest enough with myself to
face it and make the life long changes that would be needed. In my case, I
could never make it to goal. I'm still in the high overweight bmi range.
But at least I can go somewhere and not feel like a freak. I fit in now,
even though I'm not twiggy. lol I've never had any energy since wls... but
a walking corpse so I never exercised. So losing around 84% of my excess
weight has been a miracle I'd say and I'm happy with it although I wanted
100% as anyone would. Just know that WLS is'nt a cure. I can only let US
help OURSELVES. Abuse it, and it will let us down.
— Danmark
May 21, 2003
Jane, sweetie, I know that sometimes things are easier said than done, but
try to relax and BE POSTIVE. The main thing you want to do right now is
repeat to yoursef "I'm going to have a NEWER, HEALTHIER life and I've
got over 60,000 family members to pray for and support me because they love
me". I was once afraid that I was going to die on the table, but I
received SSOO much love and tolerance from this community! I'm not a
"bet"-ter, but I betcha if you do it, you'll see that you're
going to be fine...and I do mean FINE like I feel that I'm looking right
now. Okay, please no blasting, I'm just having fun here. Let me *glory* in
my own moment here-LOL, LORL...True, not everyone dumps, BUT, don't even go
there...It's not a pleasant experience, trust me on this one. I've dumped
ONCE, and if I can help it, I'm going to try not to go that way again!! As
far as weight loss, I'm at a plateau again. Not even worried about it since
it's happened before. Don't let the negative entity even enter your mind.
LAP RNY 265/160/115-126 Hadiyah, a.k.a. We're here for you!
****Smooches****
— yourdivaness
May 21, 2003
I am rny and a very slow loser but you will see that with any of the
different types of surgery. Some fast and some slow.
— Delores S.
May 22, 2003
I think what I am hearing in your question is this. You would prefer to
have the DS, but your surgeon is wanting you to have the RNY??? My opinion
is that there is no "best" surgery type. There are pros and cons
with either surgery. Are you wanting to hear negative experiences with the
RNY ONLY? Why not ask for negative experiences with the DS as well? Believe
me, there are both and only wanting to hear the negative with the RNY makes
me wonder if you are doing THOROUGH research or only researching to support
your preference. I will agree with Daniel.... with either surgery, people
who post negative experiences would get bashed and accused of exaggerating
or imagining problems. (I think most of the bashing came from the DS folks
ie..see Barbara Henson's profile). So, you may not get the truthful answers
that you want. I personally have had no negative experiences to
report-other than the expected hair loss and gas. I am 2 1/2 years post op
RNY. I've been at 123 size 4/6 for 1 1/2 years, without effort or dieting.
Loving life... Shelley
— Shelley.
May 22, 2003
Jane, good for you for doing your homework before just jumping into this.
You know though, there are no real 'guarantees' with this surgery...there
are just too many variables. This surgery isn't the 'miracle' cure most
people seem to want it to be. Even if you look at the 'average' person's
experience, you still need to consider that 'average' is just
that...average. Using your example, if we took 10 people, only numbers 5-6
(if that many even) would truly be average with the other 8 having a wide
range of exeriences. Numbers 1-4 having complications or slow weight loss,
or regain. Numbers 7-10 having little to no complications, great weight
loss, and little to no regain. Yes, there are different rates of
malabsorption, as well as different size pouches, but you know, I've read
profiles where people have only had 12-18 inces bypassed and got to goal
(100% loss) and of people who have had 5-10 feet bypassed and struggled,
and never gotten there. If only they could predict where in that range any
of us would fall! I've also heard, time and time again ,(and still do)
that this surgery is just a tool and that what you do with it is up to
you...and it's true. I beleive that committing to making permanant
lifestyle changes and daily working toward your goals (protein, water,
exercise) will carry you farther than what procedure you have or how much
you malabsorb. If you choose to work hard, you will get there, maybe not
as fast as someone else...but get there none the less. On the other hand,
if you sit and eat doughnuts, chips and ice cream all day, you might lose
some initially, but would probably find that you gain it, and maybe, more
back in the long run. I've heard people say that this surgery changes your
stomach, not your head. Unfortunately, there are many people who set out
thinking that this will solve all of their problems and it doesn't. Will
you lose weight with a RNY? Yes, how much, somewhat, depends on how hard
you are willing to work to get there. Will you keep it off? Again, that's
up to you. May you find peace with what ever decision you make.
— eaamc
May 22, 2003
What every person considered this surgery (any type of WLS) needs to know
and understand before they make their decision is that the surgery/pouch is
just a tool. The surgery does not fail in most cases (though there are
some who have had their surgeries fail-technically), but there are those
who have gained some or all their weight back because they did not make the
committment to change their lifestyle habits that made them obese in the
first place. If you are a carb and sugar addict like I am, if you eat when
stressed or emotional, that will not change, and tho as a post-op you can
only eat small amounts at a time, you can graze on small high calorie
amounts all day long and do some serious calorie damage and gain weight!
Too many calories will cause you to gain, even after WLS. And about 30
percent of RNY'ers do not dump on sugar! Most people are successful the
first year or so as they can't eat much and are motivated to exercise and
eat right as they see the pounds drop. But like all the other diets we
have been on in our lives, we get bored after some time with eating right
and tend to let old bad habits creep back in. So, what I would suggest to
all those considering WLS, is have an honest conversation with yourself, in
fact, seek professional help to find out how you got obese, tackle those
head issues first and be sure your willing to commit to the after care this
surgery takes for the rest of your life. For those willing to make the
committment, it does work, and for those not willing or unable to, it can
be heartbreaking.
— Cindy R.
May 22, 2003
What every person considered this surgery (any type of WLS) needs to know
and understand before they make their decision is that the surgery/pouch is
just a tool. The surgery does not fail in most cases (though there are
some who have had their surgeries fail-technically), but there are those
who have gained some or all their weight back because they did not make the
committment to change their lifestyle habits that made them obese in the
first place. If you are a carb and sugar addict like I am, if you eat when
stressed or emotional, that will not change, and tho as a post-op you can
only eat small amounts at a time, you can graze on small high calorie
amounts all day long and do some serious calorie damage and gain weight!
Too many calories will cause you to gain, even after WLS. And about 30
percent of RNY'ers do not dump on sugar! Most people are successful the
first year or so as they can't eat much and are motivated to exercise and
eat right as they see the pounds drop. But like all the other diets we
have been on in our lives, we get bored after some time with eating right
and tend to let old bad habits creep back in. So, what I would suggest to
all those considering WLS, is have an honest conversation with yourself, in
fact, seek professional help to find out how you got obese, tackle those
head issues first and be sure your willing to commit to the after care this
surgery takes for the rest of your life. For those willing to make the
committment, it does work, and for those not willing or unable to, it can
be heartbreaking.
— Cindy R.
May 22, 2003
One thing I try to keep in mind is that you don't hear from a lot of the
successful folks -- they're too busy out there living their new lives!
Still being a pre-op I'm not sure I have the answers you're seeking.
However, from my research it appears that malabsorption is different for a
distal or proximal RNY. I also think weight loss is relative. A taller,
heavier female will lose faster than a short "light weight", and
males lose fastest of all. From all my research, however, I find that
those who really stick with protein first, 60+oz of water per day, and a
good exercise regimine are the ones who have a better than 80% excess
weight loss in a quicker period of time. The ones who don't follow Dr's.
orders, eat foods they shouldn't, eat way too many carbs and graze
throughout the day are the ones who lose slower. But that's all just
observation.
— antiques55
May 22, 2003
This will rile some of you up. Think about this. IF you could make those
'lifestyle changes', eat high on the protein, low on the carbs, you would
NOT have needed this surgery. You would lose the weight. IF it were so
easy to just 'make that committment', you would NOT have needed this
surgery. WLS is the last resort for many of us. We tried and failed at
all other attempts. Miserably failed! Here's what this surgery does for
you. It makes it EASY to stop eating large amounts. You lose FAST. This,
in turn, motivates the CRAP out of you. Finally you find that elusive
'will power' you NEVER had. The head and the stomach kick in and work
together. This surgery IS a miracle. There was NO other way I could have
lost this much weight. Do I follow the 'rules'? Sure I do. It's easy to
follow the rules now. Do I work hard? You bet I do. I have all the
energy and self confidence that it takes to be a successful 'loser'. Don't
be afraid of failure. KNOW you won't fail. We've invested way too much to
fail. I'd love to hear from any self proclaimed failures out there. I
believe it would take HARD work to fail at this now.
— Ginger M.
May 22, 2003
I'm considered a slow loser. Took me about 15 months to lose 125 pounds
and get to goal. (See my profile for details). I'm very very happy with
my lap RNY and my post-op life style and eating. In general, I feel very
normal now and I look pretty good for a middle aged lady !
— Kathy J.
May 25, 2003
It seems to me, my opinion only, that many of the so called "slow
losers" are not slow losers but unrealistic in theor expectations..
Gee I have only lost 95 pounds in 8 months and I feel like a failure"
stories. imagine this you have all the boards, nails supplies to build a
house but no hammer. so you struggle, you hit those nails with a shoe or a
rock and you get no where. then some one gives you a proper hammer. and you
FLY! building that house. I had all the Knowledge to lose weight pre op but
not the TOOL. GBS gave me the tool to use wisely and thin down.
— **willow**
May 27, 2003
I had lap RNY just over two years ago. I am one of the success stories, but
I think you do have to go into WLS with a certain amount of commitment and
common sense. YES, you can defeat the "tool." But for every way
you can defeat it, there is a way you can make it work for you. Take
drinking with your meals: Yes, if you drink with meals you will flush the
food out of your pouch because the liquified food moves through faster.
SOOOO turn that around. If liquified food moves faster and I am having a
problem with head hunger, I eat something sticky or chunky--like an apple,
raw carrots, nuts, peanut butter, etc. (without drinking water). It stops
the munchies in their tracks! Yes, you do have to change the way you eat,
get more exercise, take vitamins and calcium, etc. But I find this much
easier now that my stomach knows when it's full. You see, I think my
stomach was broken before and the surgery fixed it. I could eat and eat and
never feel satisfied. I wasn't through with a meal before I would be
thinking what I would eat next. Now I do that to a certain extent--not out
of hunger but to make sure I am getting plenty of protein and eating
healthy over the course of the day.<p>There are those who are not
successful for whatever reason, some preventable, some not. But if you are
smart about it you can stack your chances for success. Be ready to make the
changes you have to make and adjust when you're thrown a curve. Stay
active. Eat right (plenty of protein, less carbs, lots of water). Take the
big three supplements (calcium, B-12, and a multivit with iron). Set
realistic goals. And keep a positive attitude and an eye on the big
picture. Good luck and happy losing!
— ctyst
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