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Almost 5 years post bypass

C

Caroline101061

New Member
Hi All

Its been forever since I posted on here. I had my bypass in April 2009 and lost 11 stone. Had my tummy tuck blah blah. Been fighting a losing battle for the last three years with weight gain and am losing (not the weight, the battle). I have been diagnosed with a binge eating disorder and am in counselling to address this. Im ok until I start trying to lose weight and then the binging takes over and I go mad. Thus far Ive put on approx 5 stone. So this is a cautionary tale to those who think WLS is a 'permanent weight loss' fix. Its NOT. You have to address the reasons why you eat before surgery and also during that golden 18 months post surgery. There is nothing more depressing than having a wardrobe of gorgeous clothes that you could wear and now cant. I refuse to even open my wardrobe now except to throw stuff in it and then wedge the door closed again. Im wondering if anyone else is experiencing the same issues as me and has worked out what to do about it? Any advice would be welcomed.
 
Hi
I am 3 years 4 months out (RNY)
i have put on a stone in the last year and im worried it will go up and up :(
I can understand how you feel.
At what point did you start to regain and over what period did you put the 5 stone back on ?
Its so hard and its so important for people like you and me to open this up on this forum, it is a miracle cure but we do have to do our bit !!
i feel for you hun
dawn
 
I was diagnosed with ME in August 2010 which resulted in my having to give up work at the end of April 2011 and thats when the weight started to creep back. I blame Heston Blumenthal! His Orange and Earl Gray Hot Cross Buns looked so good that I bought a pack, just to see what would happen.... by August 2011 I had put on 2 stone so on the advice of Lucy at the Whittington Hospital (where I had my surgery), I went on Lighter Life to give my body a 'short sharp shock' as it were. It worked and 8 weeks later I was back to where I had been, vowing never to put the weight back on.... well Lighter Life aside of making me feel awful (not a great thing to do post bypass cause of the malabsorbtion - 500 calories a day becomes 250 very fast!)is impossible to maintain when you go on their maintenance plan - everytime I ate something I put on 1lb. So I did my damnest to not put on any more weight, was booked in for my tummy tuck in March 2012. By the time I had the surgery I had put on 7 lbs but the fat they cut off my tummy weighed 7lbs so I was back to zero! Post op recovery no probs, appetite great (unfortunately). Then at around Easter 2012 I just started to lose the plot totally, was bored, fed up with having ME and I started to eat and eat and eat - no dumping (Ive never dumped), no side effects other than rapid weight gain. Long story short, 4 stone back in 12 months and then another stone whilst trying to find out what the hell was wrong with me and starting therapy. Im now managing to maintain and maybe lose a pound here and there but the second I try to lose weight, my head explodes and I start to eat - its totally pathetic and juvenile but thats the way it is at the moment. Im not going to give up but the more I eat, the more depressed I get and you know what comes next!

So what I would say to you is that if you what watch you eat on a daily basis, dont binge but have the odd treat, you will easily maintain and not put on any more weight - you may even lose a bit. It takes a concerted effort to weight gain like I did so dont worry! Watch out for the mindless eating - thats part of my binging problem.
 
Awww hun. I'm still to take the journey but don't beat yourself up about it. I've never really binged myself BUT I had an episode of it last Summer when I had been on a really controlled diet and lost 4 stone. My friend came over for the weekend and we had a BBQ. I literally went nuts. It's never happened to me before and I was astounded at it but never went back on the diet again. I think I just got so bored with eating the same thing over such a long period of time (3 months is pretty long for me) that I just lost it. If that's what you're going through then I'm not surprised you feel so upset about it because it's like it takes you over and you can't do anything to stop it.

Have you tried hypnosis? It helped me out in the past with other issues.

Also, if you're feeling a bit down, have a sip of green tea. My sister has ME and she finds it really helps. I drink it that majority of the time these days and rarely have a depressive episode (but who knows how I'll feel after I take the plunge).

You have my respect for doing so well so far. Stay strong xxx
 
I did try hypnosis - worked like a charm with my fear of general anesthetics but not for this - mind you, I only had one session cause I couldnt afford any more and the therapist did say it would take more than one but one did nothing!

I dont think Ive done well - I did do well but now Ive semi blown it and trying to lose weight post bypass is as much of a chore as it was pre bypass. Yes the pouch controls how much you put in your stomach but it doesnt stop grazing which is my downfall. I cant even say that Im enjoying the food when Im eating it cause Im not, its mindless eating. Also if I graze during the day, when it comes to actual mealtimes, I cant eat cause my pouch wont let me but maybe two hours later, I get hungry and I start to graze again. The trick is to eat three meals a day and the same time and just have the odd fruit snack in between + lots of fluid (water etc). The one thing I cannot do and I have tried, is drink carbonated drinks - fizzy water or Diet Coke I know would stop the grazing but I just get dreadful burping episodes even now. What I do know is that its easy to shrink the pouch - just eat small amounts for a few days and it shrinks right back so thats a good thing. Also separating real hunger from head hunger is now more difficult than just post bypass.

Anyway, good luck on your journey and I will try your Green Tea tip!
 
I do feel for you hun. We all know what we should be doing but its so much easier said than done. If your head isnt in the right place it makes everything so much harder.
Dont beat yourself up for gaining. It's done now put it behind you. You've already lost much more weight on the past. U can do it again. Focus on the positives just one good day can be followed by more.
There's many people on this forum who understand & will probably have much more practical advice than me.
Good luck in your journey.

band fitted 16.01.14
 
That is my worst fear I am 21/2 years post op and have regained almost a stone from my lightest which was a year ago. The hospital were happy and discharged me. I am a person who can eat without thinking I do not feel hungry bit my head does. I am scared of going back to where I have come I am trying to stay on track think you right bout the 3 meals a day and snack with fruit x Hope you get yourself sorted out it is most difficult I know x
 
I am nowhere near as long term as you ladies - not yet at my 2 years. But some things that ring true are the difficulties trying to find a long term diet - I ended up turning to slimming world which has really worked well in terms of keeping me losing.
 
The gaining weight is so very easily done..I gained 10lbs and got a real telling off by dr ammori!
I was mortified and very embarrassed,and thought how could I allow this to happen after the extremes I went to.
So I lost the weight gained,and now have been maintaining ever since.
My weightloss stopped after 15 months out after surgery,I'm 3yrs and 5 mths out,I honestly think we get too hung up on the scales,and I rather go off my clothes,if they feel a bit tighter I know to increase protein and water.
 
chrisa said:
That is my worst fear I am 21/2 years post op and have regained almost a stone from my lightest which was a year ago. The hospital were happy and discharged me. I am a person who can eat without thinking I do not feel hungry bit my head does. I am scared of going back to where I have come I am trying to stay on track think you right bout the 3 meals a day and snack with fruit x Hope you get yourself sorted out it is most difficult I know x
Click to expand...

Chrisa,my lowest weight was 11.5,and had some "bounce back weight" to 12 stones,this has been my mainaining weight ever since,maybe what you think is your gain is actually your "bounce back weight".
And you may find your body will stabilize at this weight.
Have a read about it,you find more info on USA sites,as they are more informed over there x
You look great to me anyway, remember "we have to live" x
 
Hi there:) firstly i've not been long on my wl journey but a fellow ME sufferer. Thankfully i'm on the upward spiral now and getting better by the day, but can totally understand. I was diagnosed some 9 years ago, despite having had it several years prior. I lost my job because i just couldn't do it anymore, i started my own business, because i was the only one who would employ me LOL when that became impossible i completely gave up and fell apart, that when i eventually got the diagnosis. I too suffered panic and anxiety attacks, i was doped up on tranquilisers to try and keep me calm. I had pains on pains tingling and visions and nightmares. I couldn't move , walk, stand and spent 3 months solid in bed. I can honestly say it was the worst few years of my life, i was scared i was going to die but i would wish myself dead to ease the suffering. My life became so narrow, i couldn't leave the house or even ride in the car. My weight began to pile on (i had always been big anyway) i started to get lumps in my lymphatics, because my body was holding on to toxins (body normally rids you of toxins with movement) I cut out wheat and found things a little easier and 3 years later discovered i too had an intolerance to dairy which was sitting in my lymphatics as a toxin. I gave up dairy and from that day forward i started to slowly improve. I went to my gp with one of my lumps at the time and he just said 'well your fat' but he referred me to get the wls.

I know this has nothing really to do with the weight gain issues you are suffering but just wanted to offer support from the ME point.
I can fully understand the viscous circle you are in ME is a horrible illness and takes away every tiny bit of your self confidence and self worth. With that brings depression and as a result we eat to cheer ourselves, once in this cycle its hard to break.
For me eating became my only pleasure, hubby did all the shopping and cooking, which of course wasn't the healthiest LOL
Maybe along with help for your binge eating some support with the ME too, because i fully believe this illness has a lot to answer to ...... more than the doctors even know. I had a OT who helped my immensely, she came from a holistic point of view and treated the whole of me rather than just the illness.

I wish you all the very best hun with your therapy i hope it helps make some sense of how and why and i wish you all the luck in the world x x x hugs
 
I really do hope that is what it is Emma, I did think that was the half stone when I was sitting at 14st 11-13lb but then went up again 10 months later. I am guna have to dig deep and try to carry on sensibly and live like you say we do have to live and each day is different our bodies feel different day to day. A lot of my work is now lone working I hate some of it just simply because there is no back up apart from someone at the end of the phone. I have always turned to food when stressed and am worried in case that is what is happening subconsciously. I am speaking my thoughts here. SORRY. I do want to keep the weigh down I JUST CANNOT BRING MYSELF BACK TO OTHER EXERCISE OTHER THAN WALKING X
 
chrisa said:
I really do hope that is what it is Emma, I did think that was the half stone when I was sitting at 14st 11-13lb but then went up again 10 months later. I am guna have to dig deep and try to carry on sensibly and live like you say we do have to live and each day is different our bodies feel different day to day. A lot of my work is now lone working I hate some of it just simply because there is no back up apart from someone at the end of the phone. I have always turned to food when stressed and am worried in case that is what is happening subconsciously. I am speaking my thoughts here. SORRY. I do want to keep the weigh down I JUST CANNOT BRING MYSELF BACK TO OTHER EXERCISE OTHER THAN WALKING X[/QUOTE

When your at work,have you thought of taking pieces of pure protein to snack on?
Like ham?..I snack on dried squid...lol not everyone's cup of tea,but it's pure protein and no fat.
I think if bready products have slipped into daily food,knock it on the head.
Click to expand...
 
Thank you for sharing that with us. I sincerely hope that you can get your head around this and something positive comes out. You will get support here, let's hope it spurs you on to get hold of your demons and conquer them.
 
Goodness - I had no idea what I had started when I posted yesterday! Thanks everyone for your support. Here is something interesting for you all - of all the Bariatric Patients at the Whittington, 65% have regained weight post surgery - thats one hell of a statistic. Apparently there are a small subsection of that 65% who are now heavier than they were when they started. So what does that tell us! Not that the procedures dont work cause they do but that to make it work for ever, you HAVE to fix your head. The op fixes your body but there is no help for the problems that got you overweight in the first place.

I personally think that these surgeries are still too new for any long term research. For example - who on here is over 6 years post op? Possibly in the USA but not here - I could be wrong though. Counselling should be mandatory with bariatric surgery but I understand that the NHS isnt a bottomless pit and also that people who privately fund their surgery dont have access to unlimited funds so its difficult. The Whittington is setting up a self help group for those of us who gained weight post op and they do have a monthly support group for everyone but its geared mostly towards pre op patients and just post op patients. Its a hard one - maybe some bright spark will set up a specialist bariatric Weight Watchers or Slimming World or have I just stumbled on something!
 
emma-louise said:
chrisa said:
I really do hope that is what it is Emma, I did think that was the half stone when I was sitting at 14st 11-13lb but then went up again 10 months later. I am guna have to dig deep and try to carry on sensibly and live like you say we do have to live and each day is different our bodies feel different day to day. A lot of my work is now lone working I hate some of it just simply because there is no back up apart from someone at the end of the phone. I have always turned to food when stressed and am worried in case that is what is happening subconsciously. I am speaking my thoughts here. SORRY. I do want to keep the weigh down I JUST CANNOT BRING MYSELF BACK TO OTHER EXERCISE OTHER THAN WALKING X[/QUOTE

When your at work,have you thought of taking pieces of pure protein to snack on?
Like ham?..I snack on dried squid...lol not everyone's cup of tea,but it's pure protein and no fat.
I think if bready products have slipped into daily food,knock it on the head.
Click to expand...

A daily thing at work is porridge sachet fro breakfast with either raisins or banana,
L EITHER beef stew I have made myself or some other veggie and protein type meal, sometimes chicken, or ham with a yoghurt or fruit
D usually something similar to lunch veg n protein, I did go through a stage where I had chocolate everyday just a small piece but no more have started having skinny popcorn or fruit x
Click to expand...
 

Well that food sounds good to me,I do think warmer weather makes you eat a lot better and healthy.
And I also want to drink more and exercise more x
 
Hi Crystal, I have just joined this site today as I feel that I need a little motivation as I am two years post op but have just gained about 7 Lb !!! OUCH. Anyway as I am newbie and not used to this site I hope I will be able to get advise and chit chat from you and other self-minded people to get me back on track .......and of course to chat to new friends.Lesley x
 
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