Question:
Is there any one out there that are 5 years post op or more?
Although my PCP gave me the referal needed for WLS he said to me that every patient he has that is 5 years or more post op has gained all of there weight back or more. I can not get this out of my head. I have started questioning WLS altogether. Is there any that can share there experience with me? — Rachelle H. (posted on December 8, 2004)
December 8, 2004
He probably knew VBGers. Thatr surgerys failure rate is over 80% by 5
years. Thats my surgeons number, and I believe it given the number of VBG
to RNY revisions he has done. I know personally some 5 year plus RNYers,
and spent some time talking with one a RN who was out over 20 years. She
wasnt skinny but definetely not MO. See my profile near the bottom is the
web address for barb thompsons book its excellent. Accrding to that book
thew RNY is about 75% in 2 years and 55% at 5 years, which is way better
than doieting which always put on weight.
Motivated folks canm and do LOOSE IT ALL! Couch potatoes dont do as well:(
— bob-haller
December 8, 2004
Well, I have a couple of things to say. First, my husband who is an RNYer
will be 6 years in 1/05. He has NOT gained a pound back. I myself have a
lap band. I would first question if he is talking about the RNY. Secondly,
I would question is he sending all his patients to the same surgeon and if
he is I would RUNNNN! to a different surgeon. If all his patients have
gained the weight back, I would question their motivation and then their
aftercare. This surgery is a tool, not a cure all. You still have to work
at it and not want to eat everything under the sun, while watching TV all
day. You must take vitamins, protein shakes, exercise, and watch what you
eat. I don't have to take all the vitamins and protein shakes with an
adjustable lap band, but I do have to get off my rear and exercise and
watch my food. All I can say, you need to be ready and prepared for a
lifestyle change, not just to loose weight. Again, at 6 years postop my
sexy, loving husband has gained zero weight back!
— Terri DesVignes-Henderson
December 8, 2004
Hi...I'm not 5 years post op. I will be 3 years post op in Feb. I will
relate to you my experience. My start weight was 370 lbs. I lost 120 lbs
in 8 months and I have not lost any weight since then. I would have liked
to have lost at least 50 more lbs. I can say that I know the reason I have
not lost more is due to lack of exercise and not sticking to the greatest
diet. However I can say that I think I am still eating a normal amount of
food. I dont obcess about the foods I eat. I watch the scale regularly
and I tend to stay within a 10-12 lb weight range. I have a healthy fear
of regaining any more and I think that keeps me from going to an extreme of
overeating. I went into this surgery hoping that I would eventually lose a
lot more than I did, at one point I was discouraged. I honestly believe
that yes someone could regain all their weight if they totally lost sight
of the rules they were taught to follow. I really wanted this to be a
quick magical solution to my weight problem. It was not. I still have a
terrible addiction to carbs and I very much have a snacking problem that I
battle every day. I live a challenging life that has many obstacles which
get in the way of me making a commitment to exercise. I suffer from
depression. Before WLS,I was very much in denial that being over weight
was a very complicated condition. There are so many aspects tied into this
that I continue to fight the good fight to stay in control. I have to keep
trying because I live with the legacy of diabetes and I cant give up. I'm
not sure why this journey seems easier for some than it is for others. No
one can guarantee you success. I will tell you that making the decision to
have WLS was the best I could ever make and I would do it again. You must
decide for yourself if it is a challenge you are willing to take.
— SARose61
December 8, 2004
I'm 2 1/2 years out, but this has been worrying me a lot lately too. I
haven't gained anything back yet. Well, I initially went down about 10
pounds more than where I'm at now but have been around 135 for over a year
now. The problem is that I see I still have an "issue" with
food. I like to eat, especially sweets. What keeps me from obsessing
about gaining my weight back is knowing I can get myself in check if I gain
5 or 10 pounds, which is doable, and not be faced with what feels like an
impossible amount of weight to lose again.
— K. Joyce Smith
December 8, 2004
I'm 10 yrs out, my DH is 9 from RNY, distal. We still have 100% of our
excess gone, but we've both had 2 wt gains, and the cause was the same both
times: SUGAR and GRAZING. We were lukcy that we had each other to pull us
back up on the path to safety. I do see people who have regained all, some
who've regained substnatiually and then ones who just had some bounceback
and parked there. Factors include what kind of surgery we had; how it was
done; who did it; post-op program you were launched with; how well you
followed it (which might have been the undoing of some of these people)
— vitalady
December 8, 2004
Hello, I am 5years and 7months POST-OP open RNY and I haven't gain my
weight, I every now and then gain 5 pound, but I'm still able to keep that
in control, I simple say that hey I don't won't to be in same exact weight
level before I had wls, I was 325 before the surgery, and I lost and now I
am @ 185 pounds, the wls is simply a tool that you as an individual use and
control, and I had open RYN and if I allowed myself to regain too much then
the surgery will have been ALL in VAIN. yOU CAN ALLOW 5 TO 10 POUNDS AS
LONG AS YOU are in control, even people without the wls have gain the some
of the weight. So, put that prediction in out of your mind, and besides if
the Doctor is talking to you this way mybe you should find some one who can
encourage you another Doctor.
Johnlette Hunt
— johnlette H.
December 8, 2004
5 years, 3 months here. I had a slight rebound after going WAY below my
original goal. I tend to play with 11 pounds these days - I bounce around
between 124 and 135. Since I am 5'8", this is a range that is fine for
me. I prefer the lower end, don't always manage to stay there, but will not
allow myself to get above the higher end of that range. I use protein
supplements (3x a day) and exercise regularly. Good luck! hugs,
Ann .... RNY 9/10/99....260/129
— [Deactivated Member]
December 9, 2004
I am 19 mos out and doing well. Is your PCP giving his patient proper
follow up and healthy lifestyle counseling when they see him? How many
patients is he talking about? I know my PCP says I am her best RNY patient,
everyone doesn't lose the same or maintain the same. It's up to you once
the surgery is done. I also agree with running if your PCP sends
"every" patient to the same surgeon. Does that surgeon offer pre
and post op nutritional counseling? Were patients properly pre-screened
before referral to a surgeon. Not everyone is a good candidate. According
to the NIH Consensus Paper of Gastric By Pass - 5% of all RNY patients in
the study gained at least 5% of the weight they lost after 2 years. The
majority kept the weight off. If they had 100lbs lost, they gained about 5
lbs back. The surgery is not a miracle tool - you have to put effort forth
the rest of your life to keep your weight in check. Best wishes, Maggie B
— M B.
December 9, 2004
HI, In 5 months I will be 5 years post op. And since that time I have also
had 2 babies and I have not gained my weight back. I actually weigh less
than I did when I started having my children. I got pregnant with my son 8
months after my surgery and then my daughter was born 15 months after him.
So your Dr should be told he is WRONG. The surgery works and was the best
thing I ever did. You will be thrilled to.
— Jenny E.
December 10, 2004
Wow, I would wonder about this doctor, and ask him, how many patients does
he have that have had WLS? It may be just a few, after all, he is not a
surgeon. And as Bob pointed out, they may have had the VBG, notorious for
failing. I am almost 3 years post-op and maintaining my goal weight within
5 pounds. I hope to be able to say the same thing in 2 years. I can tell
you that in order to keep the weight off, you do have to work at it. You
CAN gain the weight back and there are many who have. You have to make the
committment to work to keep it off and that includes eating right,
controlling the snacking/carbs/grazing and exercising to help burn those
calories. If you don't then eventually you will gain weight back. However,
that said, I find it easier to exercise with the weight off than I did 100
pounds ago, and its also easier to diet when your pouch gets filled rather
quickly..
— Cindy R.
December 10, 2004
I will be 2 years out on 12/19 and I have lost 141 pounds Im down from 326
to 185 I would like to lose more maybe 20 more but its alot better then
were I was. I agree with the others you have to work at it, this is not a
quick fix its a life long commitment
— Cindi A.
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