I am not sure I have answers, but here goes. 1) For the first 5 weeks, I did not exercise...still lost bunches...made me much more motivated to see what would happen if I DID exercise. See my latest posting to see how it is going (GREAT!) I can now walk 2 miles whereas before I couldn't walk around the block. EXERCISE IS BIG!!! 2) What food can you keep down that is bad vs. what is good? I had real trouble in this area except I would just eat nothing instead of something bad. Now I CAN get a scrambled egg down (which I couldn't at first), fresh fish (not fried...not nuked...dries out too much) is good and soft enough, you can buy BBQ in tubs all ready to nuke and have a couple or 3 teaspoons of chiken of pork, wolf brand chili (they make a very small can that is 4oz by volume), mini carrots with light ranch, celery with natural peanut butter, shrimp (not fried), crab/lobster bisque (4 oz.)...and most importnat of all...SUGAR FREE POPSICLES which knock down my late night and ice cream cravings all at once. Give us some examples of what you are doing and tell us are there things you CAN'T eat or just don't like...there is a difference. 3) Are you eating slowly. Not drinking with meals. Not drinking 1/2 hour before and 1/2 hour after. 4) If you vomit everything you eat...go see a doctor or switch to protein shakes for meal replacements for a while. I would be worried enough about an ulcer to go see a doc if I couln't eat anything. 5) Find a support group (besides this great online community) that will support you. In our case, we even exercise together. IT MAKES IT SO MUCH EASIER!!! I hear all the time the VBG was a bad idea. So far I am easily keeping up with RNYers for loss...BUT I am religiously following all the rules (except an occasional margarita or wine cooler). We all want you to succeed. If it isn't medical, then it is YOU. The surgery is only a tool, you choose whether to use it or not. Don't give up 4 months out. Happiness... MKJ

congradulations great loss!

hi there...just read your post... I had an open VBG in 2001. I went from 257 down to 185 in less than a year. by Feb 03 i was up to 205 and I am now at 232. There are alot of reasons for the weight gain, very very little aftercare and support, knowledge about the new way of life..falling in love and putting eating healthy and exercising on the back burner... There could be quite a few things going on, perhaps there has been a fault along your staple line, the band could have slipped, your pouch could be stretched...I had a barium swallow done about a year ago to see how food is moving through my system...my pouch is emptying a bit faster than it should. Are you seeing a dietician? I have been seeing one for a year now who works with the Dr. that i am currently seeing. I found out that alot of the foods that I was eating that I thought were healthy turned out to be "bad" for us. I learned to eat around the surgery...you learn to chew your food really well, that means that the particles are smaller and that means it goes through your pouch faster. If you drink while you eat, same thing, goes through faster. Almost all junkfood goes through easily as well as liquid calories...pop, milkshakes, cream and sugar in coffee etc. Are you keeping a food journal? It is pain in the but it does help you see what your eating and then a dietician can help you adjust. I would say go back to your Dr. and rule out anything medically and perhaps it is as simple as changing some eating habits and exercising more. It sucks to hear it, I've been there and now I am having a revision done to a gastric bypass, don't have a date yet but hoping soon. Good luck and if you have any more questions just let me know!

I couldn't walk (without help) at 1 week out. I was still getting help from my very supportive wife just to shower. I would hold on to the shower and she would soap me up like a dog. I had/have gas. I can walk now, and that does help, but I also think I will just keep having it. Anyone else have an opinion on this? Stay on the diet...strictly. Follow the doctor's instructions. It gets better every day. Happiness... MKJ

Molly Will keep you in my thoughts and prayers. Here is a godmother to keep watch over you. Donna A.