Hi I am just interested in hearing anyone's experience that is 5 or more years out from surgery...Complications? Have you been able  to maintain weight loss? How about food tolerance? Would love to hear everything.... Stacey

You might want to post on the GRAD board also.  I'm over 4 years out. Here's my story in a nut shell.  I got down to what the BMI charts said was OK but it wasn't for me both PCP and WLS doc wanted to to gein a little.  Then I got LAZY and gained a little to much STOPPED watching what I was eating and GRAZING and gained TOO much. NOW I'm watching what I eat and trying to controll the stres eating and I'm going back down.  NO Complications what so ever.  I'm still a success I've lost and kept off over 80 % of my extra weight.  Again you might want to post on the Grad Board.  Robin

I'm a little over 4 years too I'm below goal (barely). I was told that I would have to gain about 20 lbs before I have plastics because that will bring me way lower than my ideal weight. We're thinking one more baby so that might not be a problem  I never had any complications. I had 2 post op pregnancies and they were textbook... very healthy babies. My bloodwork has been perfect but I keep on top of it- I usually get blood drawn every 6 mos and adjust accordingly.  I can eat just about anything except "liquid" sugars (honey, syrup, regular soda and drinks) and I can't have liquid milks (mil**** cream, yogurt) unless it's the lactose free products. Nothing changed there- I was the same exact way since surgery. I still can't have too much sugar (like cake, cookies) but can have a small taste---- and I like it that way! That way I don't overindulge. -Janine

My sister had RNY 7 years ago.  She lost about 180 pounds.  She doesn't have any complications and has maintained her weight within 20 pounds or so (I don't know her exact weight, sorry).  She did gain about 50 pounds about a year ago because of some medications she was on, but she's since taken that extra weight back off.  She's doing great and can eat whatever she wants but is lactose intolerant. My mom had RNY 5 years ago.  She lost about 150 pounds and has maintained that weight loss since her surgery.  She never did get down to her goal/ideal weight - only short by about 10 pounds - and she's now trying to drop those extra 10 pounds now.  She can eat anything she wants, although she is also lactose intolerant.  Unfortunately she wasn't 100% compliant with her calcium supplements.  And even when she did take her pills, she was using calcium carbonate which is not absorbed after gastric bypass.  A few months ago she was diagnosed with osteoporosis with a 18% loss of bone density in her spine from her last dexa scan 2 years ago.  Since her diagnosis, she's taking the right kind of calcium (citrate) and is taking steps to help stop the density loss.  And she's now faithfully taking her doses of calcium like she should have been all these years. I'm 6.5 months out and I've lost 83 pounds so far.  No complications from surgery and I'm doing great.  I finally feel normal and seem to eat pretty much anything I try without too many issues (dry chicken is always a problem and I don't do well with eggs either).  Thankfully it looks like I am not lactose intolerant and I hope it stays that way.  I hope I have the same great success that my mom and sister have had --- except I'll be more faithful with my supplements than my mom was.  HTH Pam

I am 4 years seven months out. I lost over 100 percent of my excess weight then some. I am 5'3" on a good day, wearing shoes. I got down to 112, which was a " normal BMI" for someone my height. On doc's orders I gained up to 125. Now I fluctuate between 125 and 130. I can eat anything I want most days. I have had a few complications...hernia repair and gb removal in February 05, then an appendectomy and hernia repair in August 05. Right now I am fighting an ulcer. But would I have the surgery again? In a heartbeat. I went from a 22/24 to a size 2 back to a 4 or 6. I have had 1 round of plastics. RNY works.