I'm down, let me know the details when you get them figured out and let me know if I can help in some way.  Also, what I can bring!!  xoxo

   Here's the link to our OH group!!!   We hope to see as many people as possible at this event!

Come on, come all - Don't miss out on the fun!!  You know you wanna go!!!

http://www.obesityhelp.com/group/socalhallo2012/ 

 I look at the photo of you, such a happy young girl. Your story is heartbreaking. I will let others reply to the medical aspects. But here is my advice. I see that you are a Mormon. Your religion is full of support groups, or groups that help other people. Talk to your bishop or (I forget the name of the Head Woman, I'm a Catholic). Let them pull you back into your faith, and provide you with the community where your life has meaning again. Do NOT stay alone the way you have been doing. It's suicidal. Please turn to the strength you were provided with at birth, talk to people in your church. 

Bless you.
Lee

    The monthly support group meeting in San Jose will be tomorrow evening, Wednesday, from 6-8 pm in the Theater Building of Hoover Middle School, 1635 Park Ave. The group is sponsored by Pacific Laparoscopy but patients of other groups are very welcome, and we are always happy to welcome new people and their support persons. The group is mainly oriented towards the duodenal switch, but again, anyone is welcome, and if you are still learning about your bariatric surgery options, meeting people who live with various options and seeing for yourself how happy they are and how they are doing is a great way to learn. there is no fee and no committment for these meetings.

And if you think your insurance won't cover the DS, there are ways to appeal denials, so don't let that stand in your way. 

I hope to see you there! Any questions or concerns, just send me a pm.

Larra

I'm sorry you have gone through such a tough time!

It sounds like there are 2 problems contributing to your weight regain: 

1. depression. I'm sure you already know this. While things have improved for you somewhat, it sounds like you are still depressed, which would explain the tired all the time, not feeling like getting up off the couch, etc. If there is any kind of psych help available to you, perhaps through the military, it might be very helpful. There are lots of good drugs for depression these days, and talking wiht a therapist also benefits many people.

2. you might also have an enlarged stoma. This is a frequent cause of weight regain or poor weight loss with gastric bypass, and would explain the food passing through your pouch very quickly. It used to be thought that as long as the pouch was small, that was what mattered. But you can have a nice small pouch and if the food just falls through an enlarged stoma into the small intestine, you will never feel full. This anatomy can also cause reactive hypoglycemia.

Can you get an upper GI x-ray study done? And if you do, make sure the radiologist knows to assess the size of the stoma and not just the size of the pouch.

Larra