big weight gain...need advice

Gina, I'd like to know about the Kaye Bailey plan.  You mentioned free newsletters but Is there a website or something, too?  Thanks! Vickie J. [email protected]

I just wanted to 2nd the things that everyone else has said. Before you think about a revision or StomaphyX, try going back to the basics and see what happens. If you're hungry all the time then you need to push the proteins first~I have felt that way before, but if I up my protein (good solid protein like tuna, chicken breast, etc) its amazing how that hungry feeling will stop. Hang out here for support~I find that being here helps to keep my head on straight most days. And remember, none of us is perfect~we all struggle to some degree from time to time. Also, you were blessed with 2 daughters~Congratulations!!!!

No matter how far out I get, I'm ALWAYS able to 'reset' my dumping mechanism.  Your body, after this surgery, is in a constant effort to get back to it's 'normal' self.  The pouch stretches and as time goes on, you don't malabsorb calories as you used to.  If you start eating carbs and sweets slowly and then increase them with time, you are getting your system used to the way things used to be, before your surgery.

Three separate times I've gained up to 182 and every time I get things back in line by sticking to protein, water and veggies and minimal fruit - but no breads, starches or manufactured sweets of any kind!  (and drink as much water as I can stand). And most importantly, I eat only one thing at a time and make sure I don't get full - no matter what it is!  When I get full (even on salad) I don't lose and I'm not helping my pouch get back to it's former self.

 When I do this, within two weeks time, not only have I dropped a ton of weight, my pouch is reset and my dumping mechanism as well.  I wish they had a forum for 'weight gain' because I keep telling everyone this and I keep seeing new posts every day for weight gain.  I think we need a whole section for the subject, complete with articles to read so that the question won't be coming up all the time and more people can be successful in this journey....jmho......

It is great to hear this from someone so far out! I am not gaining, but my eating scares me some days!! I have been in a rut lately and am grateful only to God that the scale isn't creeping up!!! I would like to point out though from what I have read and been told by my doc, it isn't the pouch that stretches, but the stoma.

My revision was a restapling, so to speak. Since I was done i***** (13 yrs tomorrow), I had a non-transected staple line. It had to be fixed at 5 yrs. Very common among the older surgeries. If you were done lap, this is NOT your problem, but if you were done open, it might be.

A scope (EGD) is the best way to diagnose if your pouch is compromised (this is not a fault or blame issue), or if your stoma has relaxed so much as to be useless (and that again is not your fault, but can sometimes be the way your surgery was constructed) or if there are other mechanical problems.

The best way is to proceed with actually having your mechanics checked. In the meantim, you can go back to more protein, no milk, no sugar, making sure your vites and labs are optimal (not just "fine") and drinking your water.

But rule out mechanical failure before you entirely take the blame on yourself. Many ppl find they didn't have the right surgery type for their body type and have been very successful with a revision from one type to another type.

I've had three children since having my Band placed in 2001, so I can totally relate. :)  One thing I have found is that sticking to any diet, such as WWs, is so much easier now that I've had WLS.  I know a lot of RNYers and Lap-Banders who do Weigh****chers along with their surgery... some do it just for the weekly accountability.  Fifty pounds is nowhere near the 150 you faced the first time.  You're still maintaining a 100 pound weight loss after having two kids, which is pretty amazing. You can get back to where you were.  Start exercising and figure out a plan for eating that works for you.  You can succeed! :)

As you see, you are not alone.  I also had a baby post op and gained back weight that I haven't lost.  I went back to some old habits because I thought I COULD - pregnant, nursing, etc.  Now, the "baby" is two and I'm still holding this weight.   I truly believe I can lose it IF I change my habits.  I know the rules, I just don't follow them!  I keep looking for the MAGIC solution but there isn't one.  This is a struggle I'll deal with the rest of my life! I try to focus on the fact that I do meet the statistic - I lost and KEPT OFF 70% of my excess weight.  I just know where I could be and want to get back! Best of luck to you! Laina Lap RNY 9/9/03 Mommy to JT (04/23/02) and Sarah (11/18/05) - worth it all!!!