Question:
Where are all the long term WLS folks?

I never see anybody post that is 10-20 years postop and this concerns me? I'm curious to know what effects this surgery has as you age.    — Billie H. (posted on January 17, 2002)

January 16, 2002
I have an aunt that is 19 years post op. She remained a size 8 for 15 years and after that gained some weight. She is around 180 now, but its a long way from the 300+ she was pre-op. I have another aunt that is 15 years post op with no problems, and I have a cousin thats 10 years post op, he was 700+ and at this time he weighs 180 and is very healthy. If you wonder where they are and why they don't post? They have moved on with their lives and have no reason to sit at the computer posting on this website. *grin*
   — elifritz

January 16, 2002
Folks adjust and no longer is weight a central part of their life. The real long termers probably never even heard of this site, since the internet is much younger than their surgery. Sadly some do regain weight between 5 and 10 years. For ME thats tomorrows problem... I have enough immediate issues to deal with today. Tomorrows problems will be there waiting for me. By that time a safe and effecive diet drug will certinally be available. The drug companies have a gold mine waiting for that day. But I needed a solution NOW and wouldnt of been alive for the 10 year from now solution.
   — bob-haller

January 17, 2002
Personally, I think that as time goes on, we bcome less and less interested in wls. The reallllly long term folk don't even think about their surgery anymore...they aren't joining wls boards or going to support groups. I have an uncle who had wls (type ???) 24 years ago. He lost half his weight going from 500 to just under 250. He's remarkably healthy...no real problems in 24 years (just a heria and gall bladder year ago). I also work with a woman who had an open rny 16 years ago. She lost over 200lbs. and says she eats whatever she wants and her weight never budges from the 130's. She remarkable because she didn't require any reconstructive surgery. She looks like she's been a size 6 all her life.
   — [Anonymous]

January 17, 2002
I guess you could consider me a long-term post-op. I had the old intestinal bypass (which isn't done any more) waaaaay back in 1977. I had abolutley no complications and lost 150lbs in a 2-year period. I was doing great until about 5-6 years ago, and I noticed the weight creeping back up. After 5 years and several "diet" attempts, I found I have lost the battle and I am back up to 257. I am convinced I failed because I was never forced to change the way and what I ate. I also became very sedentary. So what WAS a 20 year success has become a major point of shame for me, and I have found myself "coccooning" (sp?) bigtime. I alsways felt that I had HAD my one chance and blew it. Now I realize that revisions can be done, even in my case. I am sooo looking forward to having a second chance, and doing it RIGHT this time. I will have a very special tool which will help me change the bad habits I have had my entire life.
   — csrodriguez

February 2, 2002
I also had the JIB (jejuno-ileal or intestinal bypass) in 1977. Despite the predicted side-effects of diarrhea and arthritis caused by bacterial overgrowth in the blocked-off intestine), I did very well for about 18+ years. However, since Jan. 2000, I have constantly battled the overgrowth problem which now causes bloating, pain in my abdomen from the infection/bloating, and somewhat irregular diarrhea. My system is not responding as quickly to antibiotics as it used to (Flagyl & Cipro) and I'm at wit's end dealing with this. I am contacting a WLS clinic tomorrow to see if I can find a WLS doctor willing to treat me. I do not desire to have any more surgery or have my JIB reversed as long as I can function half-way normally. I also gained back some of my weight but am still about 60+ pounds lighter than my before-surgery weight of 270. They no longer perform JIB's due to complications such as these and I'm sure that the more recent procedures have a lot less side-effects and are safer.
   — pmscom

July 4, 2003
I also had the JIB or Intestional Bypass in 1977. I wasn't as lucky as some others who had this surgery. I liked to have died. I couldn't quite losing weight. I lost so much weight and was so skinny that I couldn't hardly sit up. My own bones were made me sore. I was so malnurished that even my teeth began to fall out. I had a reversal in 1978. I gained all my weight back plus plus plus some. On February 21st 2003 I had a RNY. I am 4 months out and have lost 64 pounds. There is no comparison in these surgeries. I am doing great and feel like a new person. I am living proof that wls has come along way. :o)
   — pandakiss