mammakat
New Member
Posts: 4 
Surgery Type: RnY
Surgery Date: 1/1/2001
Surgeon: Dr Leo Murphy
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Post by mammakat on May 29, 2014 16:12:44 GMT -5
I'm new to this board and am hoping to find some help- I am at the end of my rope!
I had a RNY Gastric bypass in 2001 and did quite well for 5-6 years. My starting weight- the day of surgery was 299 lbs and I got down to 137- which for me was perfect.
Since then, I have regained a lot of weight- I now weight 234 lbs at 5 ft 3 inches and I feel terrible.
I've tried to go back to the basics- protein, shakes, "clean eating...." to no avail- I can't seem to lose weight- and worse- my weight is increasing. I also found out I am in Menopause at 41 years old...so I'm guessing that isn't helping things.
I've felt something was wrong for some time. I saw a surgeon about 6 1/2 years ago (Dr Baggs -kaiser Richmond, CA) and requested a revision. He shut me down quick- and said "You're non-compliant" and that was it- So since then, I'm 30+ lbs heavier, hopeless and looking for a last resort.
I'm exercising- joined a gym-but I seem to be hungry often - like real- headache, get dizzy hunger.
I really can not go on like this- I hate that I feel that I've failed the the WLS.
I've requested an appointment to see a different bariatric surgeon at Kaiser . I was given an appt with a Dietician (told to bring a 2 week food diary) and then I'm told I can see Dr. Albert Im.
In your experience, am I just going to be told (again) I eat too much- and I'm the problem?
How can I get a revision and have it covered by my Kaiser Insurance? Not even sure what KIND of revision would be appropriate...DS, Rose procedure.....
ANY advice would be SO appreciated- I feel lost.
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Post by goodkel on May 29, 2014 18:44:03 GMT -5
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Post by Girlrocker on May 29, 2014 19:21:12 GMT -5
Hi mammakat, welcome and I'm glad you found us! Your story is very familiar, I very much understand the pain you are in and described on all fronts, because that was me too. I had my RNY a year after you had yours in 2002, and did ok for about 5 years, though I never got to my weight goal, staying under 200lbs for me was a struggle and I had started out a 'lightweight' at 278 at surgery (highest weight was 315). And then, I lived the same horrible yo-yo dieting life I had before surgery, eventually going back up to 240 lbs after a one-time low of mid 180s. I was miserable, and same, no diet, no amount of training/exercise got me down very far, and I had been following a protein focused low-moderate carb lifestyle for a long time; and then, worse, when I stopped the intense workouts/training (bootcamp, workouts 1.5-2 hours daily, 6x a week), I gained weight back, even with regular exercise! I looked into the options, sleeve, band over bypass, DS and when I read about the DS, finally learned about it, I knew it was the right procedure for me. I found this support site and several others about the DS, made several surgeon consults, read a lot, and I was fortunate to have one of the specialists who does this revision here in southern California where I live now (I'm from Chicago). Definitely do NOT go to the same surgeon, and know that this is very common, not because we aren't compliant, but because the RNY is not the superior, gold-standard procedure the medical community and insurance would like us to believe. I do know people who have had success with the RNY, but it just doesn't offer the metabolic reset the DS does, which is what helps people like us with stubborn or in my case flat-lined metabolism, not only lose the weight but keep it off. Read the link about Dr. Roslin, it was a Q/A session hosted here, that discusses how the surgery fails the patient, not the patient failing the surgery. My surgeon was instrumental in helping me understand this, and for the first time in my morbidly obese life, I was able to take myself off the blame hook at last. I had no idea if I would be approved by insurance, but I knew going forward my life could be different, now that all that self-hate and feeling of failure was lifted. It's a big decision, a very big, complex surgery, and there are people who are also not happy with their weight loss and/or have had complications. How serious a revision can be is based on what they find when they go in, because the RNY has to be undone first, and then the DS performed. Often there is a lot of scar tissue and adhesions. In my case, the pouch stapling procedure flummoxed my surgeon and undoing that took him longer than my actual DS. My recovery was longer and slower, but I have done well, got down to mid-upper 150s and now looking at mid-upper 160s - I'm in menopause too and I have another hernia. Below is a link to my thread on the My Story board, which has all my first-year links. Also included some links for you of a couple of other new members who have posted about revisions and asking questions; and a couple of other member names you can research. We also have a revision board you can read, and there are other online DS resources, including the revision surgeons who all have websites, definitely read, read read! And ask questions, feel free to PM or email me too any time. Welcome, you are NOT alone! Girlrocker’s Journeyweightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/9004/girlrockers-journeyShazel postweightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/9080/starting-preliminary-rny-revision-processCherylbaker post weightlosssurgery.proboards.com/thread/9072/waiting-revision-bypass-dsHistorytracker here is also pre-op RNY to DS; Nursemelanie is a pre-op VSG (sleeve) to DS |
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mammakat
New Member
Posts: 4
Surgery Type: RnY
Surgery Date: 1/1/2001
Surgeon: Dr Leo Murphy
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Post by mammakat on May 29, 2014 21:10:45 GMT -5
Thank you both so much for your replies. I've never spoken of this challenge to anyone- since seeing the last surgeon-and I can't tell you how good it feels to meet people with the same struggles who have been successful in reaching goals.
You've given me hope and I am grateful for for your advice.
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Post by goodkel on May 29, 2014 23:34:13 GMT -5
That's wonderful! Hope is a terrible thing to lose. I'm glad a bit of that light has found you again.  Stick around, read the threads, and don't be afraid to ask questions. |
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Post by nursemelanie on May 30, 2014 1:10:23 GMT -5
Welcome! Finding out you're not alone and then the awesome info and support on this forum will be a life changer for you, I'm sure. It was for me! Take time and soak it in. 32 more days till I'm officially a DS'er. It's the only revision I would suggest.
VSG to DS 7-01-14/ Dr Boyce in Knoxville /Age 40/5'8"/HW 287/CW 282
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Post by historytracker on May 31, 2014 5:44:44 GMT -5
It is not always the patient's fault. What surgeon's need to realize is was the surgery right for the patient? I am an RNY from 2001 and my starting weight was much too high for that surgery. I never got to goal weight. There were no other options for us at the time. That was the only surgery that was available. What happens is that wonderful malabsorption tool that worked so well after surgery stops.
I have researched possible revisions for my RNY. I looked at ROSE, lap band, stoma balloons, stomaphyx and just last summer endoscopic suturing. Hands down the best operation for long term sustained weight loss has been the DS. It is my choice for revisions.
There is a lot of great resources on this board from recipes to stories. Ask questions because people are willing to share their advice. I have 4 weeks before my revision. Start your research and find what will work for you. I do not recommend ROSE, Stomaphyx, ballooning or endoscopic suturing. They have not proved to be successful.
Good luck in your research.
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mammakat
New Member
Posts: 4
Surgery Type: RnY
Surgery Date: 1/1/2001
Surgeon: Dr Leo Murphy
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Post by mammakat on May 31, 2014 12:34:29 GMT -5
Thanks Cindy-I really didn't know much about the DS until I found this board. Researching now and I'm hoping my insurance will cover.
Thanks for replying. I've never had a "support group"- so for the first time I feel so not alone in this struggle.
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Post by Girlrocker on May 31, 2014 13:20:30 GMT -5
Thanks Cindy-I really didn't know much about the DS until I found this board. Researching now and I'm hoping my insurance will cover. Thanks for replying. I've never had a "support group"- so for the first time I feel so not alone in this struggle. Awww, mammakat, really glad you found us, because a support group truly is life changing! I've always been active with them, starting with my RNY in 2002, and still friends today with people I've met in real life from that site, from all over the US, too. Same with this one, I've met many people in person since a lot of people travel here to see my surgeon. I remain on support boards even though I'll be 3 years out, because I know the difference it has made in my life, not just in the pre-op/early phase of the journey, but being able to read the perspective from people who are much further out. We are fortunate to have a good group here who range from 3-14 years out from their surgeries. And there are always 'newbies' who are where you are because sometimes nothing beats talking to someone exactly in the same place. Keep us posted, and when you're ready, or if you need help, fill out your signature, add a photo or image if you prefer to be more invisible online; the more we know about you esp in signature (height, weight, age, prior surgery, location, etc) the better fit responses you get too. Big hug to you, keep reading, asking questions, don't be afraid to share; we aren't a one-size-fits-all world when it comes to how we've become obese, how we got to the point of surgery; some of us are compulsive/addictive/emotional eaters, some have medical issues, we vary in our height/weights, eating habits, some are young, some of us are in our 50s and 60s even or right in the middle. But we share a lot in common, no one quite understands this all like those of us going through it. And now you're family too! |
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mammakat
New Member
Posts: 4
Surgery Type: RnY
Surgery Date: 1/1/2001
Surgeon: Dr Leo Murphy
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Post by mammakat on Jun 2, 2014 9:09:32 GMT -5
Thanks, Cheryl, especially for the warm welcome.
I'll work on creating a signature- I'm a bit tech illiterate. ; )
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Post by cherylbaker on Jun 3, 2014 14:32:59 GMT -5
Ha ha ha I was going to reply here but u see you quoted my post. The relief one finds when one hears that others have been through the same thing and that you are not a failure is tremendous. So please believe our words. I blamed myself for a long time. I felt ashamed and stopped going to the drs. All wrong. I am currently waiting for approval for my revision but feel confident I will succeed and continue to succeed..
I do want to say I think it important to have a support group. People in life who are going through the same things as you and who if you struggle can help you good luck
Cheryl
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Post by cherylbaker on Jun 4, 2014 11:41:42 GMT -5
Well I have an update . Insurance called and I am approved
This just got real
Cheryl
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Post by west4thavenue on Jun 4, 2014 12:04:34 GMT -5
Fabulous! Congratulations!
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Post by goodkel on Jun 5, 2014 2:13:28 GMT -5
Well I have an update . Insurance called and I am approved This just got real Cheryl WOO-HOO! (Now we just need to hook you up with a qualified surgeon.) |
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Post by leelee on Aug 7, 2014 16:12:59 GMT -5
How do you get approval without a surgeon? I am seeing a surgeon that does not do DS, but that is what I want. There are no in-network doctors that do it.
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Post by goodkel on Aug 9, 2014 1:11:24 GMT -5
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