Question:
I had rny on 1-23-02 i started out at 440lbs...i am now almost 2 yrs post op

and I still weigh 280lbs..what has gone wrong? I have days where I eat what I shouldnt but for the most part..I have been good..Should I be thinking about a revision? Will my surgeon do a revision? I have failed? Where do I go?    — elizabeth B. (posted on November 3, 2003)

November 3, 2003
I am in the same boat as you are. I started 10 pounds less than you and weigh 15 pounds less than you do now. I would also like to know i have been excersising 5 days a week and for the most part eating like i am suppose to and the scale hasn't moved in about a year!
   — Tammy N.

November 3, 2003
No Elizabeth, YOU didn't fail - your surgery did! The RNY sometimes just doesn't cut it for everyone. And no, you don't have to be an out of control binger to be there! It just makes me so mad that you've had to go through this! There is a great Yahoo group that might be of help to you. It's at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DS_Revision/ There are LOTS of people in the same boat. Have you considered having your surgery converted to the DS? There are lots of people doing that very thing, and having excellent results. Many blessings, dear one! dina
   — Dina McBride

November 3, 2003
There is a long term post op group on Yahoo "[email protected]" that deals with this problem. You are not alone.
   — faybay

November 3, 2003
Remember that, for bariatric surgery, success is defined as maintaining at least 50% excess body weight loss. Unless you are much shorter than average, 160 lbs is surely more than half your excess body weight. So, by the official standard, you are not a failure. Now, yes, we would all like to be at our ideal weight, but no surgery can guarantee that we will get there. Do you have a better quality of life at 280 than you did at 440? If so, I would NOT consider the surgery a failure.
   — K M.

November 3, 2003
Honey, how can you possibly consider a 160 pound weight loss a failure? K Mi is right about the official surgical success statistic. We are not all meant to be thin individuals. Over time, your metabolism gets so wrecked by being overweight and y-yo dieting, that it will never act normally. That's not your fault. If you are truly miserable, then consider a revision, if you're sure you're doing all you can to use the tool you already have. Just remember that that's a decision that you need to make for yourslef, one way or the other. Nobody can tell you what you should do. You'll know in your heart. But, thin isn't everthing. Healthy is. Best wishes to you as you work this through. It's not your fault--it isn't anyone's fault.
   — Vespa R.

November 4, 2003
I was told by my surgeon before the surgery that this procedure is just a tool and that i would have a 6 to 8 month window to lose the bulk (70%) of my weight and then it will slow down. That I still have to watch what I eat and exercise (sounds like dieting). Our old eating habits do not go away after surgery and maybe after two years some of those habits have come back. I would suggest keeping a log of when, where and what you are eating and also keep an exercise log. If you are doing everything you should be doing (watching your fat and carb intake and exercising) maybe you should have a talk with your doctor. Bring your log in and have him or her take a look at it. I know I'm only 7 months post-op but I struggle with some of my old food issues from time to time (eating in front of the TV and eating late at night). I try to stay away from those foods that got me in trouble in the first place (pasta, pizza, Burger King, etc.) I eat Sugar Free and Fat Free foods and try to stay away from most carbs (bread, rice, and pasta). I can read the frustration in your note. Ask yourself: Would you have lost 160 lbs on your own if you didn't have this surgery? Has your life improved since your 160 lb loss? Is your goal weight a realistic weight goal? I've read alot of questions and responses to the question you are asking. I notice that everyone reacts (loses weight) differently with this surgery. Some lose the weight very fast and some very slow. We see TV ads stating we will lose all our weight after having this operation and when it doen't happen we ask ourselves why did we have this surgery in the first place. I really wish you the best of luck and I hope you resolve your quest to lose more weight. :)
   — Linda R.

November 4, 2003
Hi, Did you gain back some of your weight? When I looked at your profile it says you are at 175 lbs & approved for panni. If that's the case I doubt a surgeon would do a revision.
   — Mona R.