Struggling at 6+ yrs. post-op - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

Suzanne-photog4fun · 05-18-2008, 01:06 PM

Really Struggling
Hello old bypass buddy friends,
I am 6 yrs., 4 months post-op and REALLY struggling with old eating habits, mostly sweets and constant snacking. I've been researching revision surgery, yet haven't really found much appropriate for me.
I had an endoscopy last week that showed that my pouch and stoma have enlarged a lot over the years. Oh, I wish that I could have my "newbie" little pouch back again. Eating healthy was so much easier then. I am really frustrated by my 40+ lb. weight gain and lack of determination to do what I need to do to "Get Back on Track". I feel so apathetic and also embarrassed by my weight gain.
I rarely check in on to the thinnertimes web site and was shocked by its growth. What happened to our small town website forum where everyone had surgery by Dr. Callery in San Diego-Poway? Now it seems so big. I don't feel so safe with this big of an audience to disclose personal details of my struggles for all of the internet to see. I, too, am interested in connecting with long term postops > 3yrs. out. Does anyone go to a support group in the San Diego area that is geared to long term postops? Thanks, Suzanne

rnmom1118 · 05-26-2008, 09:07 PM

Suzanne,

I know just how you feel. I'm 6 yrs out with my BPD. I gained 40 lbs back after I thought I could eat normally again. My husband and I went on Atkins low carb diet, began Jan 1, and I've lost 40 lbs, my husband 50 lbs. It's been really easy with minimal exercise. We're staying on induction phase until we meet our goal. I want to lose 5-10 more lbs. Don't feel like a failure. When I had surgery, my dr said I'd never have problems again. What a joke. Still same lifelong issues...stress eating, bored eating, etc. We've learned a whole new way of eating again, and know we will have to follow a form of this diet for the rest of our lives. We have desserts, we drink alcohol, but it's all within our 20 grams per day, and we are NEVER hungry.

I'm just angry from all the complications I've suffered, and will forever. And no one seems to be able to help. Dr's don't even do the BPD anymore, so they aren't even familiar with it, and don't know what to do about it.

I do know that we can't go back and change things, but can change things going forward. Keep your chin up, and get back on the wagon. You've got a lot of support on these forums, so take advantage of it!

Sandra

Kenneth · 05-26-2008, 09:29 PM

Tell us about the weight loss (and gain) since the surgery. When did you start gaining. We you overloading the pouch or grazing?

lealphachienne · 05-26-2008, 09:46 PM

The North County group is a safe place. Meets first Tuesday of every month at Rain's house in Oceanside near 78/College. There's a few of us oldies that show up.

rnmom1118 · 05-27-2008, 10:05 AM

I was doing all the above, plus not sticking to the low carb, no sugar diet that I was suppose to. I think I started gaining back about 10 lbs per year two years post-surgery. With the BPD, you have to do low carb, no sugar. If I would have just done that before the surgery, I probably wouldn't have needed the surgery. I wouldn't have lost it as fast though. I've dropped 40lbs since Jan 1 though, and now think I want to do 5-10 lbs more. I now know that this low carb diet will be a lifelong thing. I'm ok with that, as we have so many more options than when it was popular years ago. I still graze, but it's just low carb grazing!