Need honest answers from Vets

Hello, I've been on the boards for quite awhile. Had my RNY surgery on June of 2010 with little/no complications. I exercised, ate the required amounts and the right foods, take my vitamins religiously and yet...I just keep losing weight. I  eat 4-5 meals a day, my caloric intake is about 2500 Kcals per day (give or take). I enjoy meat and do eat a lot of meat for protein as well as veggies and fruits.  I use 2-3 Protein bars as snacks/supplements throught the day.

My Labs look good. B12 is waaay up there (well over 2000) the only thing that is really low is my iron. My doctors don't seem concerned but it is at the low end for me...(I take Tender Iron Carbonyl Iron).  I often get constipation and think I might have a sliding/part-time Petersons Hernia.  I am now down to 109 at 5'3 and I truly look anorexic. Every rib and vertibrae can be counted, veins are popped out all over my body and all muscle is gone.  My original (WLS) surgeon is retired and my other doctors (GP) just says he's worried and to "Eat more"  (Duh, Doc, I'm trying that.)

Even though my vitamin K is normal my bones are so prominent that I often bruise when I sleep at night where knee or ankle joints touch each other.  I have heard of regain, and I honestly would love to regain about 10-15 lbs safely. I just keep losing and getting more unhealthy. Help! Has this ever happened to any other vets (long termers) here.  I am honestly frightened and my family is frightened too.  I knew to possibly expect "complications" but never thought I would truly shrink away.  Any thoughts are helpful.

Warmly,

Jackie (aka "Just Ducky")

Sorry no that has never happened to me, losing too much weight always seems like a dream until you are faced with the reality of what it really means.  I am very sorry you hare having to live through this ordeal. 

You will probably need to find a new WLS doctor who can guide you through the process of a potential take-down if you get too underweight.  Hopefully this will just resolve itself if you body starts absorbing more.  But if not don't wait until you are too sick to have revision surgery.  I don't want to scare you but I have seen very bad outcomes going in this direction.

Good Luck!

If you are eating 2500 calories and still losing I would be terribly concerned too. I would recommend another opinion if your new doctor did not seem concerned that you are this far out and still losing while eating as often as you do and the amount you do. I will pray for you. I pray you get answers and some weight on quickly.  

I would seek a second opinion as well.  It doesn't make sense that you eat that much and are continuing to lose.  Are you super super active?  You can add a protein shake or two for some extra calories, but you still need to get to the bottom of why you keep losing.

I agree that you need a second opinion - preferably from a bariatric physician.  You say you exercise - you do exercise a lot?  Have you had any CT or MRI scans done?  I assume you feel "well" as you don't mention any disorders?

Do you see any other physicians other than a general practitioner - like cardiologist, endocrinologist?  Have you traveled outside the U.S. anytime recently where you could have picked up a parasite or some other "bug"?

I stopped losing weight about 24 months out.  I would be concerned, too.  See additional medical care.

Best wishes, Penny

Hi,

I'm sorry to hear you are having a rough time. Your body usually becomes more efficient in absorbing calories after the "honeymoon phase" of  6 months post-op. It doesn't sound like your body has arrived at its plateau. If your labs look good and you are being monitored by a doctor, you should not worry unnecessarily. However, if your muscles have wasted away, I would think your protein levels are really low. Here's the thing - the average family doctor may not recognize your issues or know how to treat you. Since you aren't that far out from your surgery date, a bariatric surgeon should still be following you. Find another bariatric surgeon or at least a Hematologist to address your nutritional deficiencies. Don't eat junk to try to gain weight! Address any possible food allergies (gluten, dairy) with your Doctor.

I hope you feel better soon.

Becky

Two things come to mind. First, are you really eating 2500 calories or is that what you are preparing? What I mean is that when I planned out meals and kept track of calories I found that what I planned to eat and what I actually ate could be two different things. I plan on eating 5 oz of meat but only manage to get in 3 oz but I didn't change the totals. Also, have you looked into Creon, a digestive enzyme that helps you absorb more food. Do a search on here and on the internet and ask your doctor about it. I do agree that you need to work with a WLS surgeon as well. Good luck to you. I finally had some bounce back 3 years after surgery, after I expected it. It could still happen.

I may be confusing you with someone else, but were you not bodybuilding?   It seems incredible that you can eat 2500 calories per day and still be losing weight ...  

There is a lot to be done before a takedown would be considered - that is a very complicated procedure and only a handful of surgeons are capable of doing it.  I would consider Lady Tazz's recommendation and see a dietician to make sure you are eating a good balanced diet to keep your weight stable.  

It is very common for us to lose weight to our lowest at 2 years or so and then find that at years 3-4, we start to regain - I hope this is how it works for you!

Yes! That was me, Kim! At one time I was buff and chisled and had a lot of healthy muscle and was comfortable around 130/125 lbs.  Then I got liver problems (resolved now) and had a bad accident to my shoulder which I am still recovering from.  I am no longer chisled and "buff" skin hangs off me and what little muscle remains is atrophied.  I used to use supplements like Glutamine and Carnatine to build up my muscle...Liver doc said to knock it off as he was certain that all the bodybuilding supplements were causing the liver to go haywire.

Hoping that sometime this summer the shoulder will be healed enough to resume horseback riding and I will go back to the gym. This winter sucked for all of us.  Trying to get in a lot of extra whey isolate protein and soy isolate protein in addition to my meals.

((((hugs))) always good to hear from my friends

Warmly,

Jackie

I'm sorry you are not doing so well ...  I remember you being a real exercise inspiration.   I hope you are able to get your health back and rebuild some of that awesome muscle!