Question:
Can I get back on track?

I had Open RNY in Oct. of '01. I started at 360 and lost 100 pounds in 6 months. I am a year and a half out and I haven't lost one pound in a year. I keep gaining and losing the same five. I currently weight 260. I went to my doctor and he had me checked for a staple line disruption. He said I do not have one. I do know that I can eat probably 75% of what I was eating pre-surgery, but nowhere near what I was (can't tolerate bread, ice cream, etc.). I never really dumped and never had any complications. My question is this... Can I assume that I have just stretched my stomach out and that I am almost back to where I started? I did not come all this way to stay closer to 300# than 200#. What can I do? Is there any sort of revision even though I don't have a disruption? Is there some way I can re-shrink my pouch on my own. Any advice/suggestions will be appreciated. I am really at my wit's end.    — Rachel R. (posted on May 10, 2003)

May 9, 2003
If you dont have staple line distruption; I assume that you were NOT transected. Did you have an Upper GI test to 'confirm' you did not have SLD? IF so, get a copy of your Upper GI test; what did it say???? Did it say you had any stomach distention? The question you might want to check out was 'there any pouch function' at all?
   — star .

May 10, 2003
Rachel, unfortunately if you did just stretch your pouch, there really isn't anything a surgeon can do. Most surgeons will not do a revision on the pouch unless there is a complication like SLD, not if it stretches. You can go back on a 2 week liquid diet, just like you were on early post-op and see if that works. People have mentioned success with it, and I also believe pouch rules for dummies suggests this as well. I don't know if it actually shrinks the pouch, but it gives the illusion it does, so you do not eat as large quantities afterwards. Similar to pre-op if you went on a diet for a few weeks and noticed "hey i think my stomach shrunk- I can't eat as much" type thing. I hope this helps you- goodluck!
   — Lezlie Y.

May 10, 2003
Please join the grad list. If there's any way YOU can help yourself, someone there will know, If it is time for a revision, then that's what it is and at least you can stop carrying around an extra 50# of guilt. OK? http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG
   — vitalady