tony487

So, approaching 4 years anyway. Was 540 at the beginning of my process (pre-surgery, surgey, post op) then dropped to a low of about 370 by Aug 2005 (wife and I ran a 10 mile road race that year... took 3.5 hours, but I finished!). Then, I made many drastic changes. Left my job, became a PhD student, sold our home and moved out of state... Just what I needed to do while in the midst of my honeymoon period. So, my weight plateaued. In 06 when we moved to Ohio, I weighed 380. I am now back to 465.

I have been very non-compliant. I don't have a regular vitamin plan... I eat too much and all wrong (now I know they are 'slider' foods). I am at the largest university in America (The Ohio State University) and have a KICK-ASS gym that I pay for in fees every quarter.

So, lately I have been back in my 'you're a worthless failure' phase... but no more. I found the 5 day pouch diet (rejuvenation I guess) and am DOING IT. I am making a shopping list to begin tomorrow. I love tilapia, tuna and all that... I have fallen into the convenience food trap. Did you notice that once we 'knew' that 'fatty foods' were evil (back in the 70s) and that we all 'need' some highly processed, de-fatted foods that only our friendly food corps could manufacture, that coincides with the start of the obesity epidemic? See, the box of Snackwells with all of its chemicals, preservatives, colors, transsubtantiated this and that is supposed to be healthier than the chocolate chip cookies grandma made with eggs, butter milk and sugar (and not usually refined sugar either). No that cookies are something I should eat, but ...
I am committed to finding all of my food on the perimeter of the store... if its in the aisles, its not fit for human consumption.

Sorry for the long rant.. I am just getting excited

Kenneth

We're up to 9 long term reports

2 positive
6 negative outcomes
one half and half.

I am hoping we can find some more long term post ops with some positive results.

veroniquetalk

Tony - I am sending you some positive energy for your new found journey of using your tool. I can tell from your post that you are a motivated, hard working person. You can do this! Best of luck!

__________________
Veronica
Lap 7/6/05
215/155/123
start/goal/current At NORMAL weight!
BMI 39.32/21.8

tony487

Thanks Veronica! Congrats on your success. I am very excited; I have my shopping list; have purged the garbage from the home and am beginning day 1.

tony487

Ken,
I think you will see that the distribution is biased here. The long-term post-ops who reply are most likely those having troubles. We all self-select to post here; if I were at my 200 pound goal and out there living the life I want, I may be less inclined to look here. But, if I am struggling, I will definitely look for the lifeline...
Not that your observations are invalid, but it may be the the people posting here are not representative of the population of WLS post ops in general.

frances

I am almost five years out - will be in AUgust and really the only thing that I don't think I was totally prepared for, and completely aware of was the issue of what is going to happen to all the skin that is left over??

I 'knew' that the fat was filling out all the wrinkles, so I was prepared to look somewhat older, but......or should I say butt? LOL

I wish I would have been able to do this when I was 16 - oh well. I would still do it again in a heartbeat!

__________________
'Birthday' 8-28-03

lessoflt

Hi Misty, I had my Lap Roux-n-Y on 10-30-2002. I was 57 years old when I had surgery. From that time on we have to take B-12 either sub-lingual twice a week, 1000mg, or injections once a month for the rest of our lives.* A friends of mine had her surgery two days before I did and stopped taking, sub-lingual B-12 at 2 years out and had a lot of permanent physical problems.* Before our surgery, we took B-12 in through our foods we ate, through our stomachs, but only having a pouch and no longer receiving food through our stomachs, we can only absorb B-12 sub-lingually or by injections.* After losing 165 lbs, I regained 10 lbs at about 3-years out and have maintain that weight loss since then.* I do exercise on a daily basis, but also watch what I eat and try not to go back to my old eating habits.* At about 3-1/2 years out, I went back into therapy, to mourn the old Lorraine, but also to learn about the new Lorraine that I didn't know.* I am very active in two WLS Groups associated with my hospital.* I am a Mentor for our WLSThursdays Group that meets every week and the Leader/Coach for the Tuesday Night Support Group every Tuesday Night.* I would do my WLS over in a heartbeat.* Everyday I am reminded of how appreciative I am of my "TOOL" I was given by having Gastric-By-Pass Surgery.* It is a gift beyond measure giving me back a new lease on a healthy and normal life style that is no longer controlled by food. If you have any questions please feel free to ask and I will be more thappy also to answer them. Have A Great Day! Lorraine*

Suzanne-photog4fun

I need to get "back on track"!!!!!!
First step, start reconnecting with others that have had gastric bypass surgery on Thinnertimes and the OSSG yahoo support groups. Next, return to support group to see people in person.
I'm embarrassed by my weight gain and the fact that I haven't been taking my vitamins regularly or doing regular aerobic exercise. One of my biggest problems is that I drink water with my meals which totally defeats the proper use of my pouch by pushing food into my intestines, instead of helping to keep me feeling full as it sits longer in my stomach pouch. Mostly, my eating has just plain been totally out of control, eating tons of sweets and snacking, thus putting on weight.
I've been researching "revisions" of roux en y. It's not too encouraging though and there is a high risk for complications due to scar tissue. So, instead, I attended a talk Dr. Julie Ellner in San Diego (Alvarado Hospital) gave on the experimental "Stomaphyx" proceedure, done via endoscopy without abdominal incisions. The risks are minimal and I won't miss more than two days of work. I'm seriously considering it even though it costs $10,000 cash pay with no proof that it'll help me, and it isn't covered by insurance. It is too new to have long term study results. I have a consult next week with her.
I had an endoscopy done last week that shows that my pouch has stretched out considerably and the stoma outlet also has enlarged a lot. No wonder I'm having such a difficult time controlling my eating since I don't feel much restriction any more. I am profoundly depressed and frustrated over it and feel a sense of panic. I was weighed at my doctors today and burst into tears when the scale read 201 lbs., a 46 lb. weight gain over the past 3 1/2 yrs, 9 lbs. of it in the past 8 months. I thought I'd NEVER see that weight again!!!!!!! AND I DON'T WANT IT TO CONTINUE TO MY PRE-OP WEIGHT OF 275 LBS., 6 yrs., 4 months ago.
I also haven't been compliant with taking my vitamins regularly and my lab results today also show why I feel fatigued. I am anemic and have Vitamin B-12 deficiency. So I have to go back to taking
B-12 shots monthly. Eating so many sweets and gaining weight has also caused my blood sugars to elevate some, causing my
Hgb. A-1-C to be at the highest end of normal. So I'll have to restart Metformin diabetes medication for awhile until I can get my weight down a bit and eating of sweets back under better control.
I'm pouring my heart & soul out to all of you. Don't judge me! You have not walked in my shoes! Probably 98% of you reading this aren't even three years post-op yet. Believe me, it gets tougher further out from surgery. There are only a few of us long-termers that post here on Thinnertimes anymore, especially since it has become more of a global support site rather than just our little San Diego Dr. Callery group (like in the early years of thinnertimes and when we out grew our yahoo forum site in 2004). I doubt if those who are struggling like myself even have the guts to post your struggles. I don't want a bunch of ADVICE from this group, just please listen to me with a caring heart. I am hurting! I know what I need to do.....just don't know how to muster up the ability and determination to put one foot in front of the other and DO IT! I feel such despair.
So that's where I am at today....a tear stained face as I write this note. Thank you for listening to me. Suzanne from San Diego
photog4funn@earthlink.net

__________________
Suzanne-
Lap RNY 1-29-02 ...Pre-op 273+ lbs.
Currently 185 lbs. -- January 2009

SDeRossett

Jamie:

Last year when you posted this you asked if there were any regrets? Over the last few weeks and reading many many posts, I have to stop and think about some of the things I've done over the last few years. Some of my eatting/bad habit regrets:

I wish I would never had started drinking pop again.
After quitting smoking for 12 years, I picked it back up again 4 years ago (divorce and stress - addiction transfer?).
I wish chocolate never crossed these lips.
I wish I was still terrified to eat bread, pasta, rice and popcorn.
Coffee, where did that come from? (started drinking coffee about the same time I started smoking again).

I know this isn't exactally what you meant by any regrets, but I wonder if some of the things just happen normally after 3-4 years out or if because of by my own hand, I've caused these things to happen, ie. pouch is large, opening to intestines too large, being hungry all the time etc.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we had all the answers before we started? I don't think we will ever have all the answers as our bodies are all different and constantly changing so no 2 outcomes are exactally the same.

Sharon

__________________
WLS 7/23/2002
Revision 4/25/2007
Sclerotherapy 8/15/2008
268/122.6 (10-14-08)/105-110
Highest/Current/Goal

rnmom1118

Hi,

My name is Sandra. This is my first post here. My BPD is 6 yrs out. Has been a disaster from the beginning. I would definitely not do it again. I now have gastropareses, chronic h pylori infections, gastritis, IBS, Barrett's esophagus, and can't get insurance. I have daily pain and bloating. I did lose the weight, but then gained a lot back. Have been on very low carb diet since the first of the year, and lost back 40 lbs. Will be on this diet for ever now. I luckily don't have vit B12 deficiency, but can't absorb iron, so have to do IV iron. Will likely need that for the rest of my life.

I noticed Moosie had Dr Opie for surgeon. I live close to Olathe, although had my surgery at Shawnee Mission Med Center. My dear doctor committed suicide! Isn't that a nice how do you do?

Anyhow, would very much like to hear from those who've had complications, and how you deal with them, and what works for you. Thanks!

I'm curious about the revision. How does that work?