Hi SS

I was about his 10th rny and weighed 200 lbs. I should have gone to a more experienced surgeon.  Have a great day at work today...or is it tomorrow.  I spent too much time on the computer yesterday.  Tri

I very strongly disagree with the notion that a patient should tell the surgeon the specifics of the operation to be carried out based on another patient's success. Each patient is different, and we as patients have "seen" only a few cases-- as opposed to someone who's been to medical school and operated on THOUSANDS of patients. Seems to me that telling an expert how to do his/her job is fundamentally unwise.

Im 11+ yrs post op, but I too had the DS. I have never gone by my bmi as its completely unreliable about ones actual body condition and score. My bmi fluctuates between 29 and 30 as I allow my body a 5lb swing. Yet I have an 18.8% body fat which is below what is considered in athlete range. I just truely have a large dense bone structure (straight out of a drs mouth... "you have bones of heat treated steel"), Im almost 5'10 and have a shoulder span of 22" yet my waist is a total of 31". I am at my lowest weight ever.

Hi Nicole

Yes BMI is only a measure.  I had a trainer once that was solid but had a high bmi for his height.  

By the way, have you considered triathlons?  I am assuming your wing span is 62 inches.  It is a wonderful sport even for old and overweight people because it is non weight bearing for the swim and bike.  Old ladies like me can simply walk the 5k of a sprint tri.  I got advice from a professional triathlete on a cruise after we swam 1/2 mile in the ocean to Pelican rock (between the pelicans and the fish they were after it was the grossest swim ever).  She said if you like swimming in lake or ocean water (I do) then buy the best bike you can (I did).  The bike ride is almost effortless if you get road tires and learn to shift.  

After a shoulder issue I summoned the advice of a national swimmer.  She watched me underwater and retaught my free stroke. Now I bend my elbows and keep my hands close to and in the center of my body.  No more sore shoulders.

An athletic person like you would be able to zip through the course.  Tri

Yeah I laugh at BMI.

Triathalons and me are like oil and water. Bad knee like acl toasted, mcls stretched, tendon,s muscle and my lcl only thing keeping it together. And I will not get it fixed till it prevents me from doing my job or ride my horses. So running and biking are extremely minimal just because of that But I also have to watch my types of activity as I have congenital adrenal hyperplasia. And I have salt/sodium wasting, its bad bad news. Especially if I get to adrenal crisis, which I have 3 times. Scarey stuff really. I eat roughly 5000mg of sodium a day and really should do more. And if bad I eat salt straight (gag worthy really) quickest way to boost it.

I have monkey arms though lol....im near 5'10 (69.75") but my wing span is 73 almost 74. I used to swim competetively back in school even fat. 33 sec 50yd free, 1min10sec 100yd free. 41 sec 50yd butterfly and 1min 24 sec 100yd. Not no olympian but not shabby. It bothered the skinny swimmers when I beat them, lol esp at 260-270lbs. Used to throw shot put (40ft) and discus (130ft), but it was shot put that destroyed my knee. I do miss swimming more, but I sink now as my bone/muscle weight is so much greater than the fat,lol. 

But Ive always said Im a bit jealous of thoes that can run or do marathons even walking. Cause I just cant. I can run the equivilant of 100m before all hell breaks loose in my body. Even too much walking currently will take me out (off to a CAH specialist tuesday, I need stronger and more meds now to regulate my adrenals). To go from super active and showing multiple horses multiple times each year to nothing at all this year sucks.

I am almost 5 years out. I think people fail because they think this surgery is magic. Yes you lose great in the first year but maintenance is work. I also have seen studies that show most people keep the majority of their weight off.

I have maintained a little higher than I would like but I am still okay with where I am. My health has improved. I no longer have diabetes, high blood pressure or sleep apnea. My cardiologist thinks my AFib has resolved.

Sometimes you can read new peoples posts and know they will not comply and maintain. They seem to think the rules are not for them and are unwilling to put in the work. For me it was the last resort to get my health back and I will not let myself fail

"the last resort to get my health back and I will not let myself fail"

-Me TOO!  RNY was the only nuke I had. I used it and there is nothing left in the arsenal.

Hi Pat

Did you go from 290 lbs. to 150 lbs.?  BMI 24?  That is amazing.  Could you please ask your surgeon what the length of the RNY bypass, the stoma hole maker did he use and the size of the pouch he made?  Does he do anything else unusual or different than other surgeons?  I noticed your meals are very small and far between.  Do you still feel restriction after 5 years?  Would you mind sharing that with us so that other new people can request their surgeon to do the same in the OR?  We all want to succeed.  thanks, Tri

I am currently at 162. I like this weight and I can eat the odd treat without gaining. I have not seen or talked to my surgeon since the surgery. In Canada we see a Nurse physician for follow-up. Most of the RNY's are pretty standard. I definitely feel restriction. However anyone can eat around a wls surgery. I eat few refined carbs. No pasta, rice or bread. I participate in the what are you eating thread to force me to think about my meals. Since I eat dense protein it stays with me and I am usually full. I still have cravings and could eat cookies for ever but just do not have them around.

Hi Pat

Thanks.  I agree...out of site out of mind.  I don't keep junk food in the house either.  Tri