Re: Weight Gain after WLS

[Guest guest]

Patsy, I don't think you are alone by any means. I know a LOT of people gain

weight back, if not all of it. In fact the success rate my doc. quotes, is

80% keep off 50-70% of their excess weight for 5 years. That is a lot of

room for failure. I struggle with eating too. I know the ones's who have

been exercising all the time, seem to have a easier time, but we've been

there done that. I have found seeing a counselor had helped, but I have a

hard time thinking I need to see her for the rest of my life. Maybe I do. I

guess we need to remember what it was like, way back at our heaviest weight

and get moving, instead of eating. If you figure it out let me know....

thanks for your honest post... Jan C. 3-11-98 RNY Mayo Rochester MN

Weight Gain after WLS

>From: ShmnCROW@...

>

>I am posting here for the first time. I think I got discouraged reading all

the positive posts about everyone else maintaining their weight loss without

a struggle.

>

>It is a struggle for me. I had my surgery in July of 96 by Dr. Fox in

Tacoma, Washington. I had the distal and dropped from 315 to 155. I had

numerous problems including ulcers, an E-Pylori chronic bacterial infection,

gall bladder failure and I had to go in for four out patient surgical

procedures due to the closure of the intestinal connection to the new pouch.

I had lots of depression but that improved with the weight loss and the

wonderful new life experiences as a result.

>

>One year ago, after my gallbladder surgery, I found that I could eat again.

I do not have a stapple line problem since Dr. Fox performs a surgery where

that cannot happen. I certainly don't eat the portions I once did but I tend

to graze. I started gaining and I am mortified at the prospect of gaining

the weight back after all this struggle. I've gained 25 pounds in one year

for the same reasons I gained originally...I am still a compulsive eater.

Actually, compared to other members of my family I really don't eat that

much but I gain a couple pounds a month, it seems.

>

>How is it everyone seems to keep the weight off? Most of us were compulsive

eaters which is how we got obese so how have others broken that distructive

cycle?

>

>Thanks so much for being here.

>

>Patsy

>

>>

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Don't think you are alone in this -- several people here have posted

about similar problems on and off for several months.

I periodically offer myself as a a sort of " poster child of WLS

unsuccess " -- haha. (I refuse to call it " failure " but it's pretty

close ...)

My surgery -- proximal RNY -- was in 7/98 at a bmi of 47. I lost about

75 lbs, then regained, and now " maintain " a 65 lb loss.

I now have a bmi of about 38 -- still quite obese, but not quite

technically eligible for surgery. I feel very good, get exercise, look

a lot better, and can eat a lot less. But I need to lose 100 lbs to be

in the " normal " range. And everyone else Iknow has done a lot better

with the surgery.

In fact, I lost more weight on Weight Watchers a few years ago, and

maintained the loss for a longer period before starting to regain. Go

figure :-)

The principle differences between me and most " successful " post ops seem

to be: 1)I didn't binge or eat junk food before surgery, so there was

no drastic change afterwards; 2) I can still graze all too well and

all too often. The " tool " of wls doesn't address this problem at all.

The folks I know who lose a lot can only eat a small amount, or are not

interested in food much any more. My eating and interest are definitely

reduced, but not enough to keep me from consuming more calories than I

need to keep losing.

The only thing that helps is a support group, I think, and since I never

had one to begin with I finally rejoined Weight Watchers. I still go up

and down, depending on how careful I am about my consumption. But the

meetings are helpful, the eating issues discussed are the same, the

program is extremely flexible. And I have confirmed that it's not my

metabolism that's the problem -- it's me. I will lose weight if i eat

less. Simple as that.

Try some kind of support group. Try the 007Secrets support group on

Onelist, it is a very practical approach to developing a new

relationship with food and compulsive eating. Keep posting here and

asking for input.

There are a lot more people in the same boat than you might imagine.

And please share your experience with the OSSG list. Many people think

a distal procedure like yours (Dr. Fox, distal bypass, no?) and

malabsorption will solve their problems.

We all say " surgery is only a tool " -- but nobody really understands

what this means until long after surgery, when the honeymoon is over.

Good luck!

Peggy

rny 7-14-98

[Guest guest]

You all are scaring the wits out of me! I am right at 18 months. In fact,

I almost missed my re-birthday. I lost a lot more than I planned. I hoped

to go from 305 to 220, and I'm down around 180. I've noticed an increase in

consumption lately as well, but I don't know yet if my weight is creeping up

or I'm just fluctuating. The literature says after 18 months there can be a

rebound, and when you read about *someone else's* rebound it doesn't seem so

bad. The worry is wondering if you're rebounding 10% of your weight loss or

just really on the road way back up. What distresses me the most are the

dope fiend sugar cravings I have that I don't even think about saying no to.

I always think, just like a dieter, that I'll quit sugar tomorrow.

I did have an experience Saturday night, though, that was interesting. I

was out with a group of people and we had a fried calamari appetizer. I had

about 3-4 pieces. Well, you can't chew a calamari to smithereens like you

can a hand full of chips or a spoon full of some other carb. They really

filled my pouch up. I just pushed dinner around. The only thing that seems

to fill me up is very dense forms of protein like grilled chicken, beef,

pork and boiled shrimp, which is exactly what my doctor said to do. I

wonder if we relax after a while and our food choices become more " normal "

and the physiology of the surgery doesn't work as well?

Bandas

Austin, TX

RNY 4-28-98, Dr. Selinkoff, San , TX

Then: 305 Now: 180

125 pounds gone forever!

Re: Weight Gain after WLS

>

>

> Hi,

>

> Don't think you are alone in this -- several people here have posted

> about similar problems on and off for several months.

>

> I periodically offer myself as a a sort of " poster child of WLS

> unsuccess " -- haha. (I refuse to call it " failure " but it's pretty

> close ...)

>

> My surgery -- proximal RNY -- was in 7/98 at a bmi of 47. I lost about

> 75 lbs, then regained, and now " maintain " a 65 lb loss.

>

> I now have a bmi of about 38 -- still quite obese, but not quite

> technically eligible for surgery. I feel very good, get exercise, look

> a lot better, and can eat a lot less. But I need to lose 100 lbs to be

> in the " normal " range. And everyone else Iknow has done a lot better

> with the surgery.

>

> In fact, I lost more weight on Weight Watchers a few years ago, and

> maintained the loss for a longer period before starting to regain. Go

> figure :-)

>

> The principle differences between me and most " successful " post ops seem

> to be: 1)I didn't binge or eat junk food before surgery, so there was

> no drastic change afterwards; 2) I can still graze all too well and

> all too often. The " tool " of wls doesn't address this problem at all.

>

> The folks I know who lose a lot can only eat a small amount, or are not

> interested in food much any more. My eating and interest are definitely

> reduced, but not enough to keep me from consuming more calories than I

> need to keep losing.

>

> The only thing that helps is a support group, I think, and since I never

> had one to begin with I finally rejoined Weight Watchers. I still go up

> and down, depending on how careful I am about my consumption. But the

> meetings are helpful, the eating issues discussed are the same, the

> program is extremely flexible. And I have confirmed that it's not my

> metabolism that's the problem -- it's me. I will lose weight if i eat

> less. Simple as that.

>

> Try some kind of support group. Try the 007Secrets support group on

> Onelist, it is a very practical approach to developing a new

> relationship with food and compulsive eating. Keep posting here and

> asking for input.

>

> There are a lot more people in the same boat than you might imagine.

>

> And please share your experience with the OSSG list. Many people think

> a distal procedure like yours (Dr. Fox, distal bypass, no?) and

> malabsorption will solve their problems.

>

> We all say " surgery is only a tool " -- but nobody really understands

> what this means until long after surgery, when the honeymoon is over.

>

> Good luck!

>

> Peggy

> rny 7-14-98

>

> >

[Guest guest]

This last 30 pounds is sooooo difficult. Yes, we have a marvelous tool with

WLS. Like Steve, I could not do this without WLS. Now my cravings and

urgings are within the realm of " normal " people who want to simply munch.

Remember that most everyone is struggling with high fat foods, highly sugared

foods and far to much quantity. As a WLS graduate I don't worry about the

quantity. However the problem lies in being able to graze small amounts

during the day. For the first few months as a post op it was easy. I could

barely eat and a lot of what I ate did not stay down. Now that I can tolerate

more types of foods and can eat a little more I have to work a little harder

at taking off those last pounds. But I am succeeding. What I have done is go

to Weight Watchers. As a pre-op any of those programs were awful for me. It

was a never ending round of failure. But now that I have this tool I find

that staying within the Weight Watcher point system -- eating whatever

appeals but maintaining the point count and the weekly weigh in is a pleasure

because I am a success at it. It is simply a matter of staying within the

points. I have noticed that most of the people at Weight Watchers are

" normal " -- simply struggling with an over abundance of easily available food

in our culture. It is definitely not for the morbidly obese.

Alice

LAP RNY Sept 1, 1998 Dr. Champion, Atlanta

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/26/99 2:52:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

hrussak@... writes:

<< >How is it everyone seems to keep the weight off? Most of us were

compulsive

>eaters which is how we got obese so how have others broken that distructive

>cycle?

>

>Thanks so much for being here.

>

>Patsy >>

It is because our " plumbing " has been re-arranged. First of all we can only

eat but a certain amount whereas as pre-ops we ate without end. Second of all

what we do eat is not totally absorbed. Thirdly, after months of eating

really small amounts and eating different foods we can easily keep to an

eating plan that is nutritious and sound. We were COMPULSIVE eaters not

because of a mental condition but because of a combination of genetic and

metabolic factors. Those factors have been permanently changed by weight loss

surgery.

Alice

LAP RNY Sept 1, 1998 Dr. Champion, Atlanta

Alice

[Guest guest]

IM not much help because I really wasn't a compulsive eater I just ate to

much of the wrong things.

But it seem to me that maybe you and some of the others need to go to some

type of counseling or support group do you have a surgery support group in

your area??

I think no matter how much weight one losses they need support the stress of

every day life is enough to make anyone eat them self's to death!!

I have a lot of stress on me and its a constant battel to keep form not

gaining I was a plateau's for a month because I wasn't eating write.

My problem is I can eat just about anything I wont not a whole heck of a lot

but a lot of grazing too!

So your not alone:)

angi in Va~

July 17 98 475#

October 26 99 204#

[Guest guest]

At 06:13 AM 10/26/99 -0700, you wrote:

>

>I can still graze all too well and

>all too often. The " tool " of wls doesn't address this problem at all.

Not directly, no. I conjunction with wls, and on the advice of a

nutritionist, I eat 4-6 small meals over the course of the day. This means

I'm never more than a few hours form a meal. At that point, though, it's up

to me to resist the urge-very strong sometimes-to graze between meals. I do

better some days than others; on the whole I'm doing pretty well. But that

I'm able to do it all is due to the rny.

Steve

RNY 8/31/98 (Dr Reinhold, New Haven, CT)

Down 162 lbs so far!!!! (Started at 405, now 243, shooting for 200)

Avoiding the fate of Eglon, King of Moab (Judges 3:12-25)

[Guest guest]

Darlene,

I just want to say how kind and compassionate you are. I know we all

wish you a successful revision!

Vicki in CA

In a message dated 10/26/1999 2:36:52 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

dar@... writes:

> I agree that we are compulsive eaters but I think my problem with eating,

> besides the staple line separation, is that there is an emptiness within me

> that I am trying to fill with food. The food is always there for me and

> does not demand anything from me.

> We need to figure out where this emptiness is coming from and form a plan

> to offset it. Counseling has really helped me but I have a long road ahead

> with facing a second surgery in a couple of weeks.

> I am getting a second chance at this so I am digging deeper into that void

> to find out what I am try to fulfill in my life with food.

> Sorry for rattling on but it is so clear to me now.

> Patsy, hang in there and keep posting, we will get through this together,

> Darlene in Pa.

[Guest guest]

At 07:14 AM 10/26/99 -0400, Patsy wrote:

>From: ShmnCROW@...

<snip>

>How is it everyone seems to keep the weight off? Most of us were compulsive

>eaters which is how we got obese so how have others broken that distructive

>cycle?

>

>Thanks so much for being here.

>

>Patsy

The answer is simple, but not necessarily easy. It's exercise... daily,

prose bound, routine. I try to think of it like showering or brushing my

teeth.

-Hillary

---------------------------

Hillary M. Russak

Technical Writer

Stanford Linear Accelerator Center

hrussak@...

'97 R1100RT, DoD #2106

[Guest guest]

>How is it everyone seems to keep the weight off? Most of us were

compulsive eaters which is how we got obese so how have others broken that

distructive cycle?

>

>Thanks so much for being here.

>

>Patsy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I agree that we are compulsive eaters but I think my problem with eating,

besides the staple line separation, is that there is an emptiness within me

that I am trying to fill with food. The food is always there for me and

does not demand anything from me.

We need to figure out where this emptiness is coming from and form a plan

to offset it. Counseling has really helped me but I have a long road ahead

with facing a second surgery in a couple of weeks.

I am getting a second chance at this so I am digging deeper into that void

to find out what I am try to fulfill in my life with food.

Sorry for rattling on but it is so clear to me now.

Patsy, hang in there and keep posting, we will get through this together,

Darlene in Pa.

[Guest guest]

Sorry, I have to debate this. I don't think the surgery touched my

compulsive overeating. I find it anything but " easy " to keep to a plan that

is nutritious and sound. Don't get me wrong, I do eat a fairly healthy diet,

making sure I get the protein and all, but it is still hard to not eat a

whole box of animal crackers at 9 o'clock at night.I don't think any of

factors have been changed by WLS. What does everyone else think ? Jan C.

3-11-98 RNY

Re: Weight Gain after WLS

>From: ScrabbleAs@...

>

>In a message dated 10/26/99 2:52:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

>hrussak@... writes:

>

><< >How is it everyone seems to keep the weight off? Most of us were

>compulsive

> >eaters which is how we got obese so how have others broken that

distructive

> >cycle?

> >

> >Thanks so much for being here.

> >

> >Patsy >>

>It is because our " plumbing " has been re-arranged. First of all we can only

>eat but a certain amount whereas as pre-ops we ate without end. Second of

all

>what we do eat is not totally absorbed. Thirdly, after months of eating

>really small amounts and eating different foods we can easily keep to an

>eating plan that is nutritious and sound. We were COMPULSIVE eaters not

>because of a mental condition but because of a combination of genetic and

>metabolic factors. Those factors have been permanently changed by weight

loss

>surgery.

>

>Alice

>LAP RNY Sept 1, 1998 Dr. Champion, Atlanta

>

>Alice

>

>>

[Guest guest]

Hillary, You are so right, if only some of us could get it into our thick

skulls........Jan C.3-11-98 RNY

Re: Weight Gain after WLS

>From: hrussak@...

>

>At 07:14 AM 10/26/99 -0400, Patsy wrote:

>>From: ShmnCROW@...

><snip>

>

>>How is it everyone seems to keep the weight off? Most of us were

compulsive

>>eaters which is how we got obese so how have others broken that

distructive

>>cycle?

>>

>>Thanks so much for being here.

>>

>>Patsy

>

>The answer is simple, but not necessarily easy. It's exercise... daily,

>prose bound, routine. I try to think of it like showering or brushing my

>teeth.

>-Hillary

>---------------------------

>Hillary M. Russak

>Technical Writer

>Stanford Linear Accelerator Center

>

>hrussak@...

>'97 R1100RT, DoD #2106

>

>>

[Guest guest]

, I know what you mean about scaring yourself, but I sometimes want to

forget that my doc said this is a " tool " . It was so easy for so long, and I

am 18 months also. What pisses me off is I am eating practically no sugar

(yes I know about the milk!) no candy, no cookies, no cakes, no

fast food, no grease, no massive junk fiestas and I am struggling to stay at

160 lbs. I know the answer is to get off my big butt and excersise so I am

going to do just that tonight , I am going to the Y and RUN on the

treadmill. Damn it, I'm not going back to where I came from! Keep me pumped

up people.... Jan C. 3-11-98 RNY

Re: Weight Gain after WLS

>

>

>You all are scaring the wits out of me! I am right at 18 months. In fact,

>I almost missed my re-birthday. I lost a lot more than I planned. I hoped

>to go from 305 to 220, and I'm down around 180. I've noticed an increase

in

>consumption lately as well, but I don't know yet if my weight is creeping

up

>or I'm just fluctuating. The literature says after 18 months there can be

a

>rebound, and when you read about *someone else's* rebound it doesn't seem

so

>bad. The worry is wondering if you're rebounding 10% of your weight loss

or

>just really on the road way back up. What distresses me the most are the

>dope fiend sugar cravings I have that I don't even think about saying no

to.

>I always think, just like a dieter, that I'll quit sugar tomorrow.

>

>I did have an experience Saturday night, though, that was interesting. I

>was out with a group of people and we had a fried calamari appetizer. I

had

>about 3-4 pieces. Well, you can't chew a calamari to smithereens like you

>can a hand full of chips or a spoon full of some other carb. They really

>filled my pouch up. I just pushed dinner around. The only thing that

seems

>to fill me up is very dense forms of protein like grilled chicken, beef,

>pork and boiled shrimp, which is exactly what my doctor said to do. I

>wonder if we relax after a while and our food choices become more " normal "

>and the physiology of the surgery doesn't work as well?

>

> Bandas

>Austin, TX

>RNY 4-28-98, Dr. Selinkoff, San , TX

>Then: 305 Now: 180

>125 pounds gone forever!

> Re: Weight Gain after WLS

>

>

>>

>>

>> Hi,

>>

>> Don't think you are alone in this -- several people here have posted

>> about similar problems on and off for several months.

>>

>> I periodically offer myself as a a sort of " poster child of WLS

>> unsuccess " -- haha. (I refuse to call it " failure " but it's pretty

>> close ...)

>>

>> My surgery -- proximal RNY -- was in 7/98 at a bmi of 47. I lost about

>> 75 lbs, then regained, and now " maintain " a 65 lb loss.

>>

>> I now have a bmi of about 38 -- still quite obese, but not quite

>> technically eligible for surgery. I feel very good, get exercise, look

>> a lot better, and can eat a lot less. But I need to lose 100 lbs to be

>> in the " normal " range. And everyone else Iknow has done a lot better

>> with the surgery.

>>

>> In fact, I lost more weight on Weight Watchers a few years ago, and

>> maintained the loss for a longer period before starting to regain. Go

>> figure :-)

>>

>> The principle differences between me and most " successful " post ops seem

>> to be: 1)I didn't binge or eat junk food before surgery, so there was

>> no drastic change afterwards; 2) I can still graze all too well and

>> all too often. The " tool " of wls doesn't address this problem at all.

>>

>> The folks I know who lose a lot can only eat a small amount, or are not

>> interested in food much any more. My eating and interest are definitely

>> reduced, but not enough to keep me from consuming more calories than I

>> need to keep losing.

>>

>> The only thing that helps is a support group, I think, and since I never

>> had one to begin with I finally rejoined Weight Watchers. I still go up

>> and down, depending on how careful I am about my consumption. But the

>> meetings are helpful, the eating issues discussed are the same, the

>> program is extremely flexible. And I have confirmed that it's not my

>> metabolism that's the problem -- it's me. I will lose weight if i eat

>> less. Simple as that.

>>

>> Try some kind of support group. Try the 007Secrets support group on

>> Onelist, it is a very practical approach to developing a new

>> relationship with food and compulsive eating. Keep posting here and

>> asking for input.

>>

>> There are a lot more people in the same boat than you might imagine.

>>

>> And please share your experience with the OSSG list. Many people think

>> a distal procedure like yours (Dr. Fox, distal bypass, no?) and

>> malabsorption will solve their problems.

>>

>> We all say " surgery is only a tool " -- but nobody really understands

>> what this means until long after surgery, when the honeymoon is over.

>>

>> Good luck!

>>

>> Peggy

>> rny 7-14-98

>>

>> >

>

>>

[Guest guest]

ShmnCROW@... wrote:

> How is it everyone seems to keep the weight off? Most of us were compulsive

eaters which is how we got obese so how have others broken that distructive

cycle?

>

Patsy,

I have not been able to break the destructive cycle. I am still

fighting it.... food is still the enemy.... especially sweets & fats...

sometimes it helps when I eat things which I don't digest very well...

keeps me from eating after that... but that tactic is temporary. I do

agree with all the other tactics that are recommended by others

(exercise, soups, protein, etc)... not easy to do 24/7.... So far, I

fluctuate w/in 5 pounds... but I keep expecting the scale to show higher

weight to go up any day now. I am still frustrated by my lack of

control.

Trish

distal rny 9/97

w/transected pouch

start 315

height 5 " '8 "

now 161

[Guest guest]

At 06:53 PM 10/26/99 -0400, Trish wrote:

Patsy wrote:

>> How is it everyone seems to keep the weight off? Most of us were

>compulsive eaters which is how we got obese so how have others broken that

>distructive cycle?

>>

>

>Patsy,

>I have not been able to break the destructive cycle. I am still

>fighting it.... food is still the enemy.... especially sweets & fats...

>sometimes it helps when I eat things which I don't digest very well...

>keeps me from eating after that... but that tactic is temporary. I do

>agree with all the other tactics that are recommended by others

>(exercise, soups, protein, etc)... not easy to do 24/7.... So far, I

>fluctuate w/in 5 pounds... but I keep expecting the scale to show higher

>weight to go up any day now. I am still frustrated by my lack of

>control.

>Trish

>distal rny 9/97

>w/transected pouch

>start 315

>height 5 " '8 "

>now 161

Thanks, Trish, for that post. I posted earlier that exercise was an

important key, but

I too struggle with the " destructive cycle " and haven't broken it.

Everything you said in

your post also fits for me. I'm still close enough to my original surgery

date that I'm not

regaining weight, but I'm precariously perched on dysfunctional eating

behaviors still.

I have a sweet tooth that I indulge regularly and the sugar intake makes my

moods and energy

variable in a way that affects my exercise motivation. I haven't

worked-out in three days

because I don't feel well (or I'm being lazy, and the distinction is VERY

unclear to me). I

suspect I don't feel well because of what I've been eating. That's part of

the destructive

cycle of my eating problems. I'm considering going to OA meetings to help

me, even though

I've found them not very helpful in the past. I'm feeling desperate and

worried that

I'll blow my surgery. I feel this at least a few days each week, which is

really a bummer and it's all

juxtaposed with my obvious success... so no one really understands why I'm

so worried (since all

they see is that I've lost a big chunk of weight).

Arg,

-Hillary

---------------------------

Hillary M. Russak

Technical Writer

Stanford Linear Accelerator Center

hrussak@...

'97 R1100RT, DoD #2106

[Guest guest]

P. S. you know I love you.....

Re: Weight Gain after WLS

>

>

>>

>>

>>You all are scaring the wits out of me! I am right at 18 months. In

fact,

>>I almost missed my re-birthday. I lost a lot more than I planned. I

hoped

>>to go from 305 to 220, and I'm down around 180. I've noticed an increase

>in

>>consumption lately as well, but I don't know yet if my weight is creeping

>up

>>or I'm just fluctuating. The literature says after 18 months there can be

>a

>>rebound, and when you read about *someone else's* rebound it doesn't seem

>so

>>bad. The worry is wondering if you're rebounding 10% of your weight loss

>or

>>just really on the road way back up. What distresses me the most are the

>>dope fiend sugar cravings I have that I don't even think about saying no

>to.

>>I always think, just like a dieter, that I'll quit sugar tomorrow.

>>

>>I did have an experience Saturday night, though, that was interesting. I

>>was out with a group of people and we had a fried calamari appetizer. I

>had

>>about 3-4 pieces. Well, you can't chew a calamari to smithereens like you

>>can a hand full of chips or a spoon full of some other carb. They really

>>filled my pouch up. I just pushed dinner around. The only thing that

>seems

>>to fill me up is very dense forms of protein like grilled chicken, beef,

>>pork and boiled shrimp, which is exactly what my doctor said to do. I

>>wonder if we relax after a while and our food choices become more " normal "

>>and the physiology of the surgery doesn't work as well?

>>

>> Bandas

>>Austin, TX

>>RNY 4-28-98, Dr. Selinkoff, San , TX

>>Then: 305 Now: 180

>>125 pounds gone forever!

>> Re: Weight Gain after WLS

>>

>>

>>>

>>>

>>> Hi,

>>>

>>> Don't think you are alone in this -- several people here have posted

>>> about similar problems on and off for several months.

>>>

>>> I periodically offer myself as a a sort of " poster child of WLS

>>> unsuccess " -- haha. (I refuse to call it " failure " but it's pretty

>>> close ...)

>>>

>>> My surgery -- proximal RNY -- was in 7/98 at a bmi of 47. I lost about

>>> 75 lbs, then regained, and now " maintain " a 65 lb loss.

>>>

>>> I now have a bmi of about 38 -- still quite obese, but not quite

>>> technically eligible for surgery. I feel very good, get exercise, look

>>> a lot better, and can eat a lot less. But I need to lose 100 lbs to be

>>> in the " normal " range. And everyone else Iknow has done a lot better

>>> with the surgery.

>>>

>>> In fact, I lost more weight on Weight Watchers a few years ago, and

>>> maintained the loss for a longer period before starting to regain. Go

>>> figure :-)

>>>

>>> The principle differences between me and most " successful " post ops seem

>>> to be: 1)I didn't binge or eat junk food before surgery, so there was

>>> no drastic change afterwards; 2) I can still graze all too well and

>>> all too often. The " tool " of wls doesn't address this problem at all.

>>>

>>> The folks I know who lose a lot can only eat a small amount, or are not

>>> interested in food much any more. My eating and interest are definitely

>>> reduced, but not enough to keep me from consuming more calories than I

>>> need to keep losing.

>>>

>>> The only thing that helps is a support group, I think, and since I never

>>> had one to begin with I finally rejoined Weight Watchers. I still go up

>>> and down, depending on how careful I am about my consumption. But the

>>> meetings are helpful, the eating issues discussed are the same, the

>>> program is extremely flexible. And I have confirmed that it's not my

>>> metabolism that's the problem -- it's me. I will lose weight if i eat

>>> less. Simple as that.

>>>

>>> Try some kind of support group. Try the 007Secrets support group on

>>> Onelist, it is a very practical approach to developing a new

>>> relationship with food and compulsive eating. Keep posting here and

>>> asking for input.

>>>

>>> There are a lot more people in the same boat than you might imagine.

>>>

>>> And please share your experience with the OSSG list. Many people think

>>> a distal procedure like yours (Dr. Fox, distal bypass, no?) and

>>> malabsorption will solve their problems.

>>>

>>> We all say " surgery is only a tool " -- but nobody really understands

>>> what this means until long after surgery, when the honeymoon is over.

>>>

>>> Good luck!

>>>

>>> Peggy

>>> rny 7-14-98

>>>

>>> >

>>

>>>

>

>>

[Guest guest]

, Trish, and I are all at the SAME place. God this support group is

great, I feel so much better knowing I am not the only one!!! Jan C.

Re: Weight Gain after WLS

>From: hrussak@...

>

>At 06:53 PM 10/26/99 -0400, Trish wrote:

>

>Patsy wrote:

>>> How is it everyone seems to keep the weight off? Most of us were

>>compulsive eaters which is how we got obese so how have others broken that

>>distructive cycle?

>>>

>>

>>Patsy,

>>I have not been able to break the destructive cycle. I am still

>>fighting it.... food is still the enemy.... especially sweets & fats...

>>sometimes it helps when I eat things which I don't digest very well...

>>keeps me from eating after that... but that tactic is temporary. I do

>>agree with all the other tactics that are recommended by others

>>(exercise, soups, protein, etc)... not easy to do 24/7.... So far, I

>>fluctuate w/in 5 pounds... but I keep expecting the scale to show higher

>>weight to go up any day now. I am still frustrated by my lack of

>>control.

>>Trish

>>distal rny 9/97

>>w/transected pouch

>>start 315

>>height 5 " '8 "

>>now 161

>

>Thanks, Trish, for that post. I posted earlier that exercise was an

>important key, but

>I too struggle with the " destructive cycle " and haven't broken it.

>Everything you said in

>your post also fits for me. I'm still close enough to my original surgery

>date that I'm not

>regaining weight, but I'm precariously perched on dysfunctional eating

>behaviors still.

>

>I have a sweet tooth that I indulge regularly and the sugar intake makes my

>moods and energy

>variable in a way that affects my exercise motivation. I haven't

>worked-out in three days

>because I don't feel well (or I'm being lazy, and the distinction is VERY

>unclear to me). I

>suspect I don't feel well because of what I've been eating. That's part of

>the destructive

>cycle of my eating problems. I'm considering going to OA meetings to help

>me, even though

>I've found them not very helpful in the past. I'm feeling desperate and

>worried that

>I'll blow my surgery. I feel this at least a few days each week, which is

>really a bummer and it's all

>juxtaposed with my obvious success... so no one really understands why I'm

>so worried (since all

>they see is that I've lost a big chunk of weight).

>

>Arg,

>-Hillary

>---------------------------

>Hillary M. Russak

>Technical Writer

>Stanford Linear Accelerator Center

>

>hrussak@...

>'97 R1100RT, DoD #2106

>

>>

[Guest guest]

laemax@... wrote:

>

>

> Sorry, I have to debate this. I don't think the surgery touched my

> compulsive overeating. ... .I don't think any of

> factors have been changed by WLS. What does everyone else think ?

So glad you posted. I agree. My capacity and interest in food are reduced, but

not enough.

I could easily eat all day long, some days, changing from one taste or texture

or another. I eat healthy stuff -- minimal junk food, low fat and relatively

low sugar -- but my caloric intake tends to be high. Before surgery, even at

my highest weight of 334 (5'7 " ), I had good cholesterol levels and no diabetes.

But I consumed way too much, particuarly pasta.

I would say I'm addicted to eating -- not to food per se -- and that has not

changed much with surgery.

I have to use whatever " will power " really is to control my eating, almost just

like before.

Before surgery people kept saying the same things people are saying now about

how the surgery changes everything. My biggest disappointment is that this

surgery did not take away my compulsive eating, my addiction, my appetite --

whatever you want to call it.

I am happy that this is the case for many people, but it is not true for many

others. Pre-ops lurking here should pay attention.

Peggy

rny 7-1-98

[Guest guest]

> , Trish, and I are all at the SAME place. God this support group is

> great, I feel so much better knowing I am not the only one!!! Jan C.

Nope, you're not alone in this. I had my RNY in May 1997 and in the past 6

weeks I've gained about 25 lbs. I didn't know what to think. My doctor

ordered an upper GI and the tech who did it said (at the time of the test)

that it appeared that the barium was leaving the pouch too quickly. I was

reasonably sure that something had broken and would be fixed.

I arrived to my doctor's office to find they hadn't written up the

transcripts of the tech and he didn't have the films. He listened to some

dictation, and said that the tech said my surgery looked fine. *boggle*

I was heartbroken. I would be able to deal with another surgery, but I

can't imagine that I've changed my eating habits so that I would gain so

quickly. I got the films and they transcribed the notes, but by then my

doctor had left for surgery. He's going to go over them with a tech

tomorrow, I'm told, and I'll get a call. I'm very disappointed in myself.

I was very ready to go in for a revision, thinking that, sure, in 2.5

years something could have " popped " . Now I'm being told that no, it's just

my eating habits.

Nothing has changed lately, so my only thought is that I have to totally

revamp what I am doing. Unlike most of you, I wasn't told to focus on

protein. I eat, and have since I could chew food, whatever I want. Pasta

doesn't do well, but most other things do. Sugar in small doses is ok

(mainly a bit of sorbet), but I deny myself nothing. That's got to be the

problem. Though taking on so much weight so quickly is quite distressing.

I was just beginning to consider plastic surgery. I was 298 lbs and 5'4 " .

My lowest was 160lbs, and I ended up 175-180 most times and have been

there for a year. Unil now. Today was 199.5.

*bleah*

[Guest guest]

The stats my doctor gave me was that the average patient will remain somewhat

overweight, but will no longer have life threatening obesity and that less than

25% of patients fail to lose significantly or regain to previous levels.

B in California

laemax@... wrote:

>

>

> Patsy, I don't think you are alone by any means. I know a LOT of people gain

> weight back, if not all of it. In fact the success rate my doc. quotes, is

> 80% keep off 50-70% of their excess weight for 5 years. That is a lot of

> room for failure. I struggle with eating too. I know the ones's who have

> been exercising all the time, seem to have a easier time, but we've been

> there done that. I have found seeing a counselor had helped, but I have a

> hard time thinking I need to see her for the rest of my life. Maybe I do. I

> guess we need to remember what it was like, way back at our heaviest weight

> and get moving, instead of eating. If you figure it out let me know....

> thanks for your honest post... Jan C. 3-11-98 RNY Mayo Rochester MN

> Weight Gain after WLS

>

> >From: ShmnCROW@...

> >

> >I am posting here for the first time. I think I got discouraged reading all

> the positive posts about everyone else maintaining their weight loss without

> a struggle.

> >

> >It is a struggle for me. I had my surgery in July of 96 by Dr. Fox in

> Tacoma, Washington. I had the distal and dropped from 315 to 155. I had

> numerous problems including ulcers, an E-Pylori chronic bacterial infection,

> gall bladder failure and I had to go in for four out patient surgical

> procedures due to the closure of the intestinal connection to the new pouch.

> I had lots of depression but that improved with the weight loss and the

> wonderful new life experiences as a result.

> >

> >One year ago, after my gallbladder surgery, I found that I could eat again.

> I do not have a stapple line problem since Dr. Fox performs a surgery where

> that cannot happen. I certainly don't eat the portions I once did but I tend

> to graze. I started gaining and I am mortified at the prospect of gaining

> the weight back after all this struggle. I've gained 25 pounds in one year

> for the same reasons I gained originally...I am still a compulsive eater.

> Actually, compared to other members of my family I really don't eat that

> much but I gain a couple pounds a month, it seems.

> >

> >How is it everyone seems to keep the weight off? Most of us were compulsive

> eaters which is how we got obese so how have others broken that distructive

> cycle?

> >

> >Thanks so much for being here.

> >

> >Patsy

> >

> >>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Peggy, You are so right, and if I had known this before surgery, I would

still have had it done. I was my ONLY chance. But it is refreshing to hear

honesty about it because some want to think it is a " magic " cure. Even on a

video tape, I think it was regarding Carnie s surgery, I heard a WLS

nurse say " It is impossible to gain the weight back " I about died, it is not

only possible, it happens all the time. I could not believe she said that.

That is a guarantee that any of her patients that gain it back would never

come back and tell,her, they would be too ashamed... Jan C. 3-11-98 RNY

Re: Weight Gain after WLS

>

>

>laemax@... wrote:

>

>>

>>

>> Sorry, I have to debate this. I don't think the surgery touched my

>> compulsive overeating. ... .I don't think any of

>> factors have been changed by WLS. What does everyone else think ?

>

>So glad you posted. I agree. My capacity and interest in food are reduced,

but

>not enough.

>

>I could easily eat all day long, some days, changing from one taste or

texture

>or another. I eat healthy stuff -- minimal junk food, low fat and

relatively

>low sugar -- but my caloric intake tends to be high. Before surgery,

even at

>my highest weight of 334 (5'7 " ), I had good cholesterol levels and no

diabetes.

>But I consumed way too much, particuarly pasta.

>

>I would say I'm addicted to eating -- not to food per se -- and that has

not

>changed much with surgery.

>

>I have to use whatever " will power " really is to control my eating, almost

just

>like before.

>

>Before surgery people kept saying the same things people are saying now

about

>how the surgery changes everything. My biggest disappointment is that this

>surgery did not take away my compulsive eating, my addiction, my

appetite --

>whatever you want to call it.

>

>I am happy that this is the case for many people, but it is not true for

many

>others. Pre-ops lurking here should pay attention.

>

>Peggy

>rny 7-1-98

>

>>

[Guest guest]

No one ever surveys WHO are the healthy eaters. Exercise I grant

> you is a big factor. But people who can maintain their weights also dump,

> can eat only tiny amounts and aren't hungry all the time. They also lose

> their taste for sweets and fats. They're not the folks who don't dump and who

> have larger capacities and still crave sweets and fats.. This is the luck of

> the draw, not due to individual willpower or attitude.

>

> a

*****************************

a,

I know your circumstances are difficult but your above comment just isn't true.

I am successfully maintaining a 21% bodyfat with strictly exercise and only

limiting the fat in my diet (because it upsets my stomach) and I can eat a

SUBSTANTIAL amount of food at one sitting and don't have dumping (except an

occasional mild reaction to a LOT of sugar or dairy) and get hungry quite often.

I can easily eat a Big Mac (I ate one last Sunday!) or 6 pancakes drenched in

syrup or 3 cupcakes at one sitting and have done so. What I don't do is eat

like this all of the time...and try to limit my " bad " eating days to 1 or 2

times a week and stick to a pretty healthy diet the rest of the time. I don't

count calories or carbs but do make sure to get in at least 100 grams of protein

a day with protein drinks and watch the fat content of foods (so I don't spend

the day in the bathroom), and try to eat complex versus simple carbs (brown rice

or wheat bread instead of cookies!). I am working!

out at the gym for at least 2 hours a day 4 days a week and my metabolism has

kicked up tremendously-lean muscle will burn calories 24 hours a day. I eat 4-5

small meals a day instead of 2-3 big ones and make sure I eat a healthy light

meal before bed to keep the body engine fueled. I often am hungry but try to

avoid the " over-full " feeling by eating smaller meals (unless I eat that darn

Big Mac and then I feel like I have an anchor in my stomach!). But I CAN eat a

regular meal now and sweets and YES I did have a weight regain of 18 lbs in less

than two months until I got off the couch and started exercising-and then I

re-lost 13 lbs in 3 months (and built lean muscle). I still say that exercise

is the key to maintenance for those of us who aren't able to maintain with diet

alone (and don't want to limit carbs etc.). Unfortunately for many of us it

DOES require willpower and an attitude adjustment towards food AND exercise.

You can and will be more successful with you!

r loss-but it will require you to make some changes to your current lifestyle

which are never easy or comfortable at first but can become habit over time.

I will get off my soap box now...

Betty D.

Distal RNY 03/02/98 BMI 52 Height 5'3 " 296 lbs.

Currently 150 lbs size 8 21% bodyfat

[Guest guest]

Fairfax Sharon wrote:

> ... It's certainly easier to " diet " now

> than before, but still not easy by any means. ...

> . I needed the surgery to provide a

> physical barrier/deterrment in the form of not being as hungry, not

> being able to eat so much, not tolerating certain foods, not craving

> certain foods, as so many post-ops had experienced before me. I

> didn't get all that good stuff. I had just hoped that this battle and

> torture would have been relieved by the surgery, but it rages on, as

> vicious as ever....

I could have written your post for you. Actually, I have written your post,

and others like it, several times over during the past few months.

But I sincerely wish more of you, or us, would post on the OSSG list when

pre-ops ask questions. There is a big misconception IMHO about how

universally " successful " this surgery is for everyone. And it's a big

disservice to pre-ops to let this misconception go unchallenged. People

should be prepared at least for the unpredictability of what the results of

surgery will be, and how many times their perceptions will change in the

months after surgery.

Good luck -- you know you are not alone :-)

Peggy

7-14-98

[Guest guest]

At 10:13 PM 10/27/99 -0400, a wrote:

>From: aMay@...

<snip> >But people who can maintain their weights also dump,

>can eat only tiny amounts and aren't hungry all the time. They also lose

>their taste for sweets and fats. They're not the folks who don't dump and who

>have larger capacities and still crave sweets and fats.. This is the luck of

>the draw, not due to individual willpower or attitude.

Uh... hello... have you been reading the list? There are many of us here who

barely dump, can eat larger amounts, *are* hungry all the time, and still want

sweets and fats. I'm one of those. I attribute my success as a combination

of wls and exercise and willpower. I feel like I'm on the edge of possible

weight

gain and exercise is the only thing keeping me somewhat in control.

I disagree that it's the luck of the draw. I think the distal RNY people

have a somewhat

easier time with food because of the dramatic surgical intervention, but we

all still

have to change our behaviors and incorporate exercise to get/stay at our

goal weights. That's what

I've learned. I hope your book reflects that too, since your perspective

isn't everyone's reality (nor

is it the majority reality, from what I've read here and elsewhere).

-Hillary

Open RNY 2/4/99

5'9 "

Start weight 280

Now 168

---------------------------

Hillary M. Russak

Technical Writer

Stanford Linear Accelerator Center

hrussak@...

'97 R1100RT, DoD #2106

[Guest guest]

Peggy,

Your post points out the need for a good support group other than just this one

on the internet. Our surgeon has his patients meet 2/month. we get 25-40+ people

at each meeting. we spend a lot of time talking to preops and explaining the

surgery and its aftermath. And then we all go to dinner with Dr. Marcus! Reading

some of the the preop questions (especially on the main OSSG list) shows that

some surgeons don't spend enough time educating patients. we all went into the

surgery knowing ful well what the complications would be and tht we still had to

work at losing weight and keeping it off. the surgery id a great tool, but it

doesn't atke away our responsibilities. it is not easy.

Also, Dr. marcus performs a biliopancreatic diversion with the removal of about

85-90% of the stomach and the bypassing of about 8 feet of the small intestine.

There is more malabsorbtion and it is easier to keep the weight off. Dr. Marcus

leaves enough of a stomach to still permit eating a reasonable amount of food.

It must work. Last night at our support group we had an average weight loss per

post op of over 95 pounds each. I have lost 201 pounds in 12.5 months. Others

have lost nearly that much.

BobA