Stomaphyx Gastric Bypass Revision

I am scheduled to have Stomaphyx on 9/18/08. I had my original RNY on 8/7/03. Started at 305lbs and went down to 187lbs. I started gaining weight 2 years ago. I now weigh 230 lbs. I am excited but nervous. I am so grateful for this 2nd chance.

It's been a tough past 2 wks.. I've done a bit of grazing with food and eating too many non protein food. Also, I'm not exercising as much. My weight has been consistant for the past 2 wks. which means that I have to change what I'm doing to lose more weight, damn it!!!! It's just plain hard.
I do feel a moderate amount of restriction with eating solid protein like beef or chicken. I was fantasizing that my pouch would feel like it did after my original RNY even though I was told not to expect that from my surgeon. The snacking is my challenge. I just feel hungrier this month. I'm so grateful that I haven't touched sugary crapola, thank God. So, anyway, I feel a little frustrated today and disappointed with myself. I want to keep losing down to a 25 BMI...about 20-25 lbs. more. I'll have to cut back my food a great deal to do that, and I'm probably not eating more than 1500-1800 cal / day as it is, which is just to much for the amount of exercise that I'm doing.

Hi Everyone,
I had my Stomaphyx revision on June 10th and so far, so good. I'm down 27 lbs. (BMI 28) and only 18 lbs. from my lowest post RNY weight 6+ yrs. ago. It's been a challenging past two months sticking to the restricted food plan. I'm finally able to eat soft proteins. It's tough staying away from the carb's but I've done fairly well for the most part. My cravings are still there a bit. Thankfully, I haven't had any sweets in 2 1/2 months which thrills me beyond belief!!!!!!!!! This has been the prime cause of my previous weight gain.
I feel some restriction from the stomaphyx proceedure but not as much as I thought that I would. I'm scared by all of the failed Stomaphyx people who have posted on the various WLS support web sites. I so much want it to continue to help me! Time will tell. I'm really hoping to lose these last 18-20 lbs.
Exercise continues to be one of my biggest challenges. I'm doing aerobic exercise for about 20 min 3 times a week which isn't near enough yet more than I use to do. I'm also lifting some weights. It's hard to work through the muscle pain.
I go to see my surgeon tomorrow and she won't be happy with my exercise accomplishments and very slowed weight loss these past 4 wks. I don't want to lie yet feel like a "bad patient" for not doing everything she wants me to do "enough". It's going to be tough being honest with her. I'm feeling guilty for not following her "food" instuctions totally as directed. Snacking is tough! I'm just trying to do the best that I can without beating up on myself emotionally for not being "perfect". That's where I'm at today.

Hello my friends,
Here's the latest on me following my Stomaphyx revision. May 23rd I saw my primary care doctor and the scale read 201 lbs. (45 lb weight gain since RNY 61/2 yrs. prior). I had sworn to myself that I'd NEVER see 200+ again. I recommited to my healthy life style plan the next day and haven't eaten unhealthy since. I dropped about 5 lbs over the next 2 1/2 wks. before my Stomaphyx was schedule for June 10th. Since then,
(5 wks ago), I've dropped another 19 lbs.. I was 176 lbs. this morning (5'6" tall). I am estatic. I haven't been this thin in 4 yrs.. I'm only 21 lbs. from my lowest 1 yr. total.
Last week I started eating very soft mushy solids like yogurt, chili & lentil soup more finely ground in a food processor, and soft feta cheese. I'm mostly on protein drinks like the first 4 wks. postop.
My surgeon, Dr. Julie Ellner in San Diego, is quite strict and only wants me consuming protein in the soupy or semi-solid state. She hopes that by doing this, the revised pouch will scar down more easily into a smaller pouch. She thinks that the Stomaphyx patients done by other's 6-12 months ago weren't as successful because the patients weren't kept on "iquids only" long enough. It's all still experimental so time will tell if it works.
Anyway, I'm thrilled with my progress. I'm taking my vitamins without fail each day so hopefully my extensive vitamin deficiencies are resolving. I've learned my lesson! I must take my vitamins.
Also, I'm exercising a lot more, but not nearly what Dr. Ellner wants me doing. Overall, I'm very happy about the changes that I've made in my life. And it all began with eliminating my drug of choice (sugar), from my life and walking back into my old Overeaters Anonymous meeting for support. I'm also back to my gastric bypass support group meetings, in person and online. I'm plugging along, ONE DAY AT A TIME. Suzanne

Good Morning All,

Susan in regards to your e-mail I do not have any info on Marcia, Dr. Elner's first patient but I would love to talk to her also and see how things are going.

Jim,

Thanks for the e-mail. We are going away in two weeks to Europe and after that I will have to start looking for a good exercise group or trainer. Anyone else have ideas. I am thinking of the YMCA? I liked Curves as they worked with you, but Dr. Elner says she wants more than what Curves does. 24 Hour Fitness - I joind many years ago and my feeling was I signed up and then no one ever was available to help you. I need some personal attention in the beginning to make sure I am doing it right.

This is a test to see if I can post. I joined the group and think I did everyting right.

Nancy

Hi, my name is Jim and I had Stomaphyx on May 28 with Dr. Ellner. I am 4 weeks out now and just had my one month eval and I have lost 26.5 lbs. My original surgery was in Sept 2001 (I watched the Trade Centers go down in the hospital room) with Milton Owens. I originally lost 100lbs + the 30 I lost before surgery. Due some life events etc I gained 40 lbs back, but over the last three years I relost 25 of those pounds. At my Stomaphyx I was down net 85 from my original surgery. I was very disappointed since I needed to loose 200 lbs originally.

I think I got into trouble early on after the bypass. At 2 months out I found out that I could eat chocolate without penalty (my wife gave me See Dark Chocolate Butter the celebrate my wt. loss and Christmas). I was also not warned or I did not hear about eating dried foods such as chicken and steak well done (I love crispy meats). I wondered why chicken would come back up; after all it was a healthy food? I also drank water with every meal; after all you need 64 oz! And I kept drinking Diet Dr. Pepper. At about 9 months I think my pouch was gone, since I could eat just about as much as I wanted by then.

A couple of years ago I went to my gastroenterologist and had a scope and sure enough, no pouch. I talked to LaPort (did not like his office system cost me 400 just to talk to him) and to Dr Owens (no cost) and the LapBand was the only hope. So when a friend mentioned that there was an alternative that she heard from someone who went to the Orange County presentation by Dr. Ellner I was convinced the moment I read the info on the WEB site. I took almost 2 months before I could get a date and a whole lot of lab work and another scope, but it is done and I feel great.

I can’t say I did not cheat. On Father’s day one daughter made split-pea soup and the other made broccoli soup (pureed). I have had French Onion soup eating lunch with friend (only the juice) and egg flower soup when we go Chinese. I drink a lot of Crystal Light (diluted 8/1) and either beef or chicken broth. I started with a lot of Jell-O but now I am down to 2 a week (sugar free packages).

I agree with one post that the instructions are confusing, you follow week one for gastric for your first month, then week two is our month 2 etc. I also was led to believe, I think by Peter, that 4 weeks 5 lb weight, and then 10 lb weights next 4 wks, but no sit-ups. I was surprised at my one month review that exercise now is unrestricted (this will make my trainer happy). But I have no real complaints, I am doing well. I like the liquid protein diet (I am an Atkins body type) and I loose very well. I am going to continue liquid protein with one real meal a day until we vacation on July 20. This will may about 7 weeks liquid protein.

I feel great and now working on my other medical problems.

Jim

This is from Nancy: She still has to figure out how to post.

Hello Everyone, My Name is Nancy, live in San Diego and I had the StomphyX on 5/7/08 with Dr. Elner. I originally had by Bypass with Dr. Callery in August 2001. I did very well and then it just started coming back. Just could and did start eating more.
With the StomphyX I did the liquid for 3 weeks and lost approximately 25 pounds in 1 month, then a complete stall. For exercise I am doing a walk every morning - 4.4 miles, and just started light jogging two of the 4. I go up and down hills. Suddenly in the last two days the weight is coming back off. I also did Curves for a month, but that has ended and I am not sure what I am going to do now. I would like a personal trainer but it can be expensive, I would also like to know about what Jim is doing where he pays $15 a visit...Jim?
I am glad I had it done but it definitely is a lot more challenging than the Bypass itself. The liquid phase can be hard. For all that are keeping it up...congrats...you deserve the praise!
I do have one questions does anyone else feel that there should be a Tool Kit just for StompahyX, I feel following the Gastric Bypass one is confusing as it is not the same procedure. I think the Toolkit is a great idea, I wish I had it after my Bypass, it is so in-depth, but now I want one for Stomphyx. Does anyone else feel this way? I plan on bringing it up at my next meeting with the Dr. I don't know about anyone else but I have to say Dr. Elner knows her stuff, she is in it to make you succeed, so I feel it is important that I tell her I think a new Toolkit is needed. So if everyone thinks it is just me being fussy..say so.
Nice meeting everyone. Will talk again Nancy

My response to Jim's email to me:

Hi Jim,
Wow, you've dropped 26.5 lbs. in a month since your Stomaphyx on May 28th. That's incredible! I'm so proud of you! And you're doing fabulous with the exercise also.
I'm doing well overall also but need a lot of work in the exercise department. I'm 19 days post-op today (Stomaphyx June 10th) and still on liquids per Dr. Ellner's instructions. My dietary intake is similar to yours.

I also vary my drinks as follows:
Breakfast- Champion Proscore 100 chocolate shake (32 gm protein, 3 gm. carbs,, 2 gm. fat)
Late Morning- Chicken or vegetable broth or Miso soup without tofu in it from a local restaurant with 1/2 scoop "Any Whey" protein powder (10 gm protein, 1 carb, 0 fat)
Early Afternoon- Syntrax Nectar- fuzzy navel or lemonade (27 gm. protein, 0 carbs, 0 fat) or Profect drink (25 gm protein)
Dinner- Champion Proscore 100 chocolate shake (32 gm protein, 3 carbs, 2 fats)
VERY diluted sugar free Crystal light, Propel, Snapple, & Water throughout the day since Dr. Ellner feels that even sugarfree sweet drinks stimulate appetite so I dilute it heavily. This routine has been keeping me from getting real hungry though I do miss food. Thank God I had 2 1/2 wks. of no sugar and healthy eating before my Stomaphyx or I don't know if I would have been able to adhere to this strict "liquids only" plan thus far.

My exercise routine has been a struggle. My muscles are sore and feel resistant to working out. I don't get my heart rate up steadily like Dr. Ellner wants me to but I'm trying hard. I was never successful with consistant exercise after my initial gastric bypass 6 1/2 yrs. ago (in fact, never in my 53 yrs. of life) so I'm treading new territory here. I'm consistant F-Sunday in going to the gym but the other 4 days have been mostly walks around my neighborhood and not aerobic enough. I'm having a hard time forcing myself. I just can't afford a personal trainer. I'm disappointed in myself and feel frustrated and upset that I just can't seem to make exercise a priority. I just hate that feeling of muscle pain, sweating, and being out of breath. It feels like punishment!!!!!!! I don't know how to get past those feelings. I feel a bit of despair over it.
Stomaphyx has had a bad reputation on most gastric bypass forums with multible people (about 3 or 4 total) saying that it didn't work for them last Summer-Fall) and was a waste of their money. I haven't found anyone out greater than 3 months who has been successful. I don't know if most who have had it done just aren't posting if they are doing well or what. It's so hard to find anyone who has had it done period, and the research studies haven't published any results yet that I can find.
I'm hoping that by staying on liquids for a whole month, that that is what makes the difference in SUCCESS in scarring down the stomach pouch size. I'm expecting it to work! Obviously, I was pretty desparate for a solution to my enlarged pouch and steady weight gain (45 lbs. gained) to be willing to pay $11 grand out of pocket (1 grand for endoscopy, 10 grand for the surgery) at something without a proven success record.
I'm so excited to be losing weight right now. I've dropped 18 lbs. in 5 wks (2 1/2 wks post-op) and am the thinnest that I have been in 3+ yrs.. My BMI is now 29 which is considered "overweight", not "obese". I'm 27 lbs. from my lowest weight after gastric bypass surgery (155 lbs. at 5'6" tall, 53 yrs. old). I got within 5-10 lbs. of my original goal at 1 yr. post-op. But I didn't exercise regularly back then and had a lot of loose skin from losing 120+ lbs. and not toning it.
My original bariatric surgeon encouraged exercise but didn't push it like Dr. Ellner does. I do remember Dr. Callery saying that the difference between those patients who keep the weight off and those who don't as well , is whether they keep up with the exercise. But he didn't give much guidance at how to or how much exercise to do.
Dr. Ellner is a bit of an "Exercise Nazi" expecting me to bring records of my planned exercise & accomplishments. It's all that I can do to keep from lying. I'm fearful that I just won't be "good enough" for her. I know that she's right that I MUST do it but oh how I struggle. I sure hope that it gets easier and that my willingness increases. I so much want to succeed. That's part of the reason that I picked "her" to do my Stomaphyx so that I'd have to be accountable in person, monthly to her in followup care. She wants me & expects me to be successful.
Anyway, that's how I'm doing......a work in progress......and very proud of my following the dietary restrictions so far. I'm proud of the exercise that I have done and plan to just keep getting better and better at it. It helps me to hear from others so that I don't feel so all alone in this journey.
Thanks for your support. Susan from San Diego
(AKA Suzanne-photog4fun)

Hi Everyone,
May 24th I got "back on track" with eating healthy. On June 10th I had the Stomaphyx. Today I weighed myself at the gym and I'm down 16 lbs. in 5 wks.. I'm thrilled with my weight loss. My BMI is now "29" which is considered "overweight". A BMI of "30" is obese. I'm estatic. This drop of 16 lbs. has made me feel so hopeful of my ability to continue to lose weight and eat healthier. I'm taking in about 800-1,000 cal. a day in protein drinks, broth, ect. which has helped me to not feel so hungry. How are all of you doing? Suzanne (AKA Susan)