Stomaphyx revision update - ThinnerTimes

Suzanne-photog4fun · 06-26-2008, 07:54 AM

Hello,
I had the Stomaphyx proceedure done on June 10th by Dr. Julie Ellner in San Diego. I am hoping that it helps me release the 45 lbs. that I have regained over the past 4 yrs. Since May 24th, I've dropped 15 lbs...Yippee!
I had my RNY by Dr. Callery in January 2002. My weight regain has been due to eating large amounts of low fat frozen ice cream bars or frozen fruit bars which slide right down my pouch allowing me to eat one after another. Also, I compulsively ate candy and other snack type food. My other big mistake was drinking with my meals. I just felt obsessed with eating and felt minimal restriction from my pouch.
Over 2 weeks before my Stomaphyx I stopped eating sugar, snacking, and drinking with my meals. This drastically cut out my sugar/carb cravings which has helped me to adhere to Dr. Julie Ellner's post-op diet of "liquids only" for a month. I've mostly been drinking protein drinks and broth mixed with "Any Whey" protein powder, along with sugar free drinks and popsicles. I am strictly sticking to the "liquids only" diet because I WANT TO SUCCEED! Since the proceedure is experimental with no long term results, I want to give it the best chance to scar down into a smaller pouch. Hopefully it will work.
I've also started to exercise which is a challenge for me.
This is my 15th day post-op and I'm hanging in there. I'm tired of drinking protein and I miss food. I don't feel obsessed with food, though, or real hungry. I'm feeling thinner each day which is so exciting.

Josephine · 06-26-2008, 12:21 PM

Sweetheart, I think you're a trendsetter with this, so you're not gonna get any/many responses. At least if you have to be the guinea pig, you get to do it with such a brilliant surgeon!

Just wanted to tell you to hang in there and wish you luck. I have fibromyalgia and weigh 315 lbs and it hurts like hell to do my walk everyday, but I keep doing it. I know you can get your skinny butt out there walking with me and relose that little bit.

Btw your stomaphyx was on my birthday

Suzanne-photog4fun · 06-29-2008, 05:16 PM

My response to Jim's post:

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)

Phoenixfire · 06-29-2008, 06:57 PM

Suzanne,
I'm so happy to read of your changes! You sound like a new woman, and the hope and self-respect for your choices leap off the page. I am so glad to read it.

My heart went out to you when you posted your honest struggles this year and before. Your solution in the Stomaphyx was something I know nothing about so I won't be so ignorant as to comment on it. BUT I'm just going to say that I HOPE YOU BREAK THE RECORD from the people who haven't been successful more than 3 months out!

Perhaps the changes, diet and exercise and self-examination about your eating with being brutally honest with yourself, will MAKE THE DIFFERENCE and you will have found your tool for permanent success. I sincerely hope so.

Please don't focus too much on beating yourself up. I hear those parts of your post and I want to hug you and stay STOP IT. We all have those phases, hell I do too I know, but it's self-defeatism and you know that. You're a wise woman. So instead of dwelling on what you're NOT doing, feel so good about what you ARE doing. I see so much that you've changed and it's amazing. Impressive. Like role modelish

I too am on a liquid diet for the most part. I have had to face that I'm losing muscle mass and potentially causing long-term damage by not getting all the nutrients I need. So we're together in the liquid diet. My goal is to gain though, I hope that's not something you read and roll your eyes at.

We both have a struggle, gaining is hard as is losing. Trust me. It is. The issues with being too thin are a different struggle, along with the shit I hear from people and the clothes I can't wear to work that I spent a small fortune on. Size 8 beautiful clothes that don't fit. It's very distressing.

I have found some great mixtures for drinks and I'd be glad to share them in PM. Mine would be changed a little for you since they're calorie rich, but there are options that would work: like diet peach juice, Kefir, whey protein isolate and milk. I use the high cal juice and milk, but the flavor options with juice, using unflavored powder, make it much easier. I hope you keep finding different ones because it makes it easier huh?

I just wanted to post an encouragement and admiration for the strides you've made. I remember what made me gain weight before surgery: eating like you did all the things that slid through. It was comforting and helped fill the void and food was a comfort. It's hard as hell to not have food as a comfort, I remember the first months post-op and I hated it. I guess you're going through some of that too, I hope it's not too bad.

I have to do the exercise too, to muscle build. You're doing great, and at our age if we never exercised it sure is hard to make it part of our lives huh? I suck at exercise, but do things that are fun. Pilates is one, and I have to get my bike downstairs because I love riding that beautiful beach cruiser. I can't lug it down the stairs though

Keep up the great work on you, and I'm so glad to see your hope. It's encouraging for me. Thank you for posting and for being a role model for proactive hard work. It DOESN'T stop when we have surgery. That's when some REAL work really begins.

sdgrrl · 06-29-2008, 07:03 PM

Suzanne,
Your commitment to your health and well being are well stated just by having the courage to have the stomaphyx done. I'm so glad you are posting here so those of us who need a little "tightening up" get an idea of what is involved and what comes 'after'.

With regard to the exercise issue, do you have access to a pool? I am absolutely the last one to say anything about exercise, as I am unable to due to a severe ongoing back problem that prevents me from doing much at all. One place that I can be a little active is the swimming pool. I am restricted to gentle stretching and range of motion exercises, but I don't get that sweaty, owie, icky feeling when I am able to hit the pool.

If you are interested in meeting up with other GBS folks for some support, both Rain and I have a group that meets monthly. Her's takes place on the 2nd Tuesday of the month and mine is on the 3rd Tuesday of the month. I'm sure you would be welcomed with open arms at either group, and if you decide you want to attend, pm either of us and we will give you directions and phone numbers.

Good for you on deciding to do this for yourself, for getting back on track, and for your courage to try a procedure that doesn't have a track record! Keep coming here and sharing your story--I'm sure quite a few of us are reading it with interest!

Claire-in-Texas · 06-29-2008, 07:15 PM

Susan, you have shown great courage, and I applaud you for your facing your difficulties head on.

This procedure was different in 2002 in a lot of ways, not just the medical procedure. There is so much more information, support, understanding and education now for those of us who have been going through it in more recent times.

You go, girl!!!

TammieNP · 07-11-2008, 04:18 AM

Suzanne, I enjoyed reading your post. I am searching for information on the StomaphyX procedure. Looks like we have something in common aside from gaining weight after gastric bypass surgery! I am a Nurse Practitioner as well. How are you doing today? Sounds like you are doing great! I have re-gained about 25 lbs and have been trying to get back on track for the last year. Originally lost about 100lbs. Now weigh 170. I saw your photo on this site of your goal weight. Its so nice to have photo's of yourself as a goal. I remember originally having photos of other people to focus on prior to having my lap GB surgery..now I too look at photos of myself 2 years ago and long for that weight again. Id like to keep in touch with you to follow your progress. I live in the Midwest. :-) Tammie

Suzanne-photog4fun · 07-14-2008, 02:38 PM

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

Suzanne-photog4fun · 08-10-2008, 12:04 PM

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 these past 3-4 wks. 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. Suzanne

Blueyz · 08-10-2008, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suzanne-photog4fun

Hello,
I had the Stomaphyx proceedure done on June 10th by Dr. Julie Ellner in San Diego. I am hoping that it helps me release the 45 lbs. that I have regained over the past 4 yrs. Since May 24th, I've dropped 15 lbs...Yippee!
I had my RNY by Dr. Callery in January 2002. My weight regain has been due to eating large amounts of low fat frozen ice cream bars or frozen fruit bars which slide right down my pouch allowing me to eat one after another. Also, I compulsively ate candy and other snack type food. My other big mistake was drinking with my meals. I just felt obsessed with eating and felt minimal restriction from my pouch.
Over 2 weeks before my Stomaphyx I stopped eating sugar, snacking, and drinking with my meals. This drastically cut out my sugar/carb cravings which has helped me to adhere to Dr. Julie Ellner's post-op diet of "liquids only" for a month. I've mostly been drinking protein drinks and broth mixed with "Any Whey" protein powder, along with sugar free drinks and popsicles. I am strictly sticking to the "liquids only" diet because I WANT TO SUCCEED! Since the proceedure is experimental with no long term results, I want to give it the best chance to scar down into a smaller pouch. Hopefully it will work.
I've also started to exercise which is a challenge for me.
This is my 15th day post-op and I'm hanging in there. I'm tired of drinking protein and I miss food. I don't feel obsessed with food, though, or real hungry. I'm feeling thinner each day which is so exciting.

Hi Suzanne,

I am sooooo glad to see you posting and I am sooo happy for your fix. I went to Dr Julie Ellner's seminar before I chose Dr Callery. I liked her a lot. She is very good at what she does and I truly hope this helps you. Please keep in touch as you are an ispiration for me. I won't ever forget the support you gave me in the ICU. If it weren't for you, I don't think I would have made it the way I did. I am maintaining at 108-115. I went to pre-op appt for spinal fusion and I weighed 111. I am happy and content with my weight, but not happy with the pain that I have endured with so many procedures since the bypass. I would repeat it though in a heartbeat. I don't think my back problems are a result of the bypass.

Anyway, I wish you all the best of luck with this procedure. I am glad you went for it and hope that the liquid stage is bearable for you. You have a lot of courage. I soooo admire you and feel grateful that you are back on the board posting. We need you here and the newbies will benefit from you.

Love and hugs,
Always,
Dale