Question:
Long Term Post Ops I am having 2nd thoughts are you out there and havent gained the w

I have a date for 11/04/03 and am getting concerned about the possibility of weight gain. Is there anyone out there who has been post op for years and is having to diet again or gained all their weight back?    — Shannon P. (posted on October 1, 2003)


October 1, 2003
Hi Shannon, I am sure that you will RNY patients who have gained weight long term post-op. They post from time to time on this website. It depends on their surgery type and what their eating habits are. If you read the NIH study on RNY, you will see that their statistics show that a small percentage of people do put weight back on, however, the majority of that number averaged only a 5% weight gain and no one in their study gained 100% of their weight back. Having the surgery does not mean that you will stop dieting, it just means that you will have better control over your food intake. 4/2/03 283/205/175 Best wishes for your journey -
   — M B.

October 1, 2003
Ultimately it is your decision to make, but at over 2 years post-op I have never regretted it a day. You have 5 children and are a single mom, so I know that makes it seem even scarier, but a healthier mom is a better mom! I started at 268, got down to about 150 and now am around 155 (depending on the day, time of month, etc.). I have maintained this for a long time and hope to forever ( unless I can lose some with plastics eventually). I really still feel that we cannot physically overeat, or at least I cannot. I sense when I need to stop...I can eat more now than I could post-op of course. But, the beauty is that I still can't hardly finish a kid's meal at Boston Market. Lunch menus at a chinese place make two meals still. I eat about a cup of food when I cook for my 4 kids and that is about it. I wish you great success in your journey, but don't worry so much about what could happen if you lose and then re-gain the weight..think positively!
   — Molly S.

October 1, 2003
Hi Shannon. I'm almost 3 years post-op and went from 269 to 138. I did gain 20 pounds back as of December of last year, but was told by my surgeon that I'm still within my normal weight range so I shouldn't worry about it. I've maintained my weight between 157 and 160 (depending on whether it's that time of the month or not) since then. It's a learning process and at times can be a challenge (with holidays and wintertime), but I wouldn't trade the experience for anything in the world! I'm alive and healthy and that makes all the difference :) Try not to worry so much about the "what if's". Concentrate on the what will be---you'll be happier, healthier, and have more desire and energy to spend time with your family! Take Care and God Bless ^j^
   — Andrea H.

October 1, 2003
I hope you'll research the DS. The peace of mind is wonderful! http://duodenalswitch.com/
   — Chris T.

October 1, 2003
Surgery is a tool. The surgon does not operate on the brain. Yes it is work for the rest of your life. Yes it is much easier than wihtout the surgery. Fay Coping with the emotional aspects of craving food, one day at a time.
   — faybay

October 1, 2003
I will be 9 y/o on Oct 5, still weigh around 110 (150 lost). I have a very distal RNY. I still follow my original formula, so far, so goof. I have friends who have regained 100%, even with our radical procedure. They changed the formula: added grazing, milk & sugar, no protein supplements. I've seen people do everything "wrong", lose it all, regain. People with nearly useless surgeries do very well, even at 4-5 yrs out. What I'm saying here is that there is no predicting your outcome, because I'd NEVER have thought I could adhere to a formula this long. My friend who has regained 100% was so deathly ill, I'd never have thought she'd gamble. Some procedures do better than others, some after care programs do better than others. Staying in touch with support is absolutely critical, though, no matter WHAT. Even now, as a baby, I'd recommend that you lurk on the Grad group, because of your concerns. You cannot post, but if you had a question, I'd be happy to ask it for you to get the feedback. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG
   — vitalady

October 1, 2003
I'm almost 2 years post-op and I hover around 125. I gain and lose the same 4 pounds any given week but I still stay right around 125. And no, I NEVER regret having this surgery. It has truly changed my life!!
   — Patty H.

October 1, 2003
No regrets here -- it's been 3 years... WLS 9/11/00, current weight 129 lbs at 5'7". It's so nice to feel normal. I still make sure I drink plenty of water, take vitamins, have protein and exercise. I am finally enjoying my body after all the years of hating it.
   — Mary A.

October 1, 2003
I am 6 years post and my weight is still off. I don't regret it at all. My fear was also was gaining it all back. Now that I am this far out I doubt it is coming back. I am a size 10/12. Which even in high school I was a 14. I am happy. Check that EXTATIC.
   — christine M.

October 1, 2003
Not to scare you but that did happen to me. My first surgery was 9/30/99. I did not follow a food program, in fact I hardly ate. I developed a vitamin B deficiency and then 2 bleeding ulcers and then a staple line disruption. This is a tiool and you have to follow a plan with it. You will need to eat when you don't feel like it. You will need to drink water even when you do not want to. you must exercise. I had my revision in May 2003 and am officially down 102 lbs although I had one scale yesterday put me at a 125 lbs loss. Get a support group both local and online. They help believe me.
   — snicklefritz

October 1, 2003
I'm over 2 years post-op (so not really LONG term), but I have maintained a normal BMI. However, it's not magic. I can't eat anything/everything I want. I do watch what I eat, protein first, no refined flour or sugar. I guess you could call that "dieting", but the majority of skinny people watch what they eat too (something I didn't realize as a pre-op)
   — mom2jtx3

October 1, 2003
I am 18 months post op and I got down to 153 and gained 7 lbs. now the more i read the board the more I feel that I went down to 153 because it was the beginning of my break up with my marriages and wasn't eating. Since July I did gain weight. In late August beginning of September I buckled down and started my program from the beginning. I believe that if you get a handle on your gain IF you start it will not get out of hand. I do stay in touch with my surgeon and I go to a support group once a month. I am back on track and hopefully I will get down to 155. The key is to obey all the rules. We all have a carb/sugar weakness. Take it one meal at a time. God Bless.
   — Chris9672




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