GAINED 20pds!!!

Hi everyone, This is my first time on here for a very very long time. I had my rny sugery sept 2006 and I had been doing realy good loosing weight. I am 5'4 and I was before surgery 240 pds and after surgery I went down to 130. I thought I was looking good, but everyone told me I was looking sick and got too skinny. I didnt think so, so I kept trying to loose more and I guess I got too wrapped up in my weight that I put my family aside and my marriage fell apart and a couple months ago I started drinking. I am soo scared because even though I have stopped drinking, I think my stomach my have been stretched and if it has I have noone to blame but myself. I also cant sleep at night and wake up at ALL hours wanting to eat and its an uncontrollable urge. My question is and please dont blast me, but is it possible I did stretch my pouch and if so is there a way I can make it back to after surgery size. Thanks for all who input and for not flamin me. Lots of love  :)

Misty,

I am not quite sure what to say, except you will find a lot of encouragement here.  It sounds like you have a lot more issues to face though and I truly hope that you find what you need.  As far as the weight issue goes, many of us are working on the 5PDT, which is helpful for regaining control of carbs and portions.  Join one of the groups here, there seems to always be one starting.  It is fun to have others to cry the blues or jump up and down with joy with:)  There may be others here that can shed some light on the other issues.  Lots of Love going your way!  Sorry if I was not more help.

Hey don't beat yourself up..   Remember they cut our stomachs not our brain.  sounds like you've been through alot.   First off though all the weight loss what did your doctor say?  How was the weight?  First thing to do is breath.  Next  I would go and see the surgeon just to get a checkup on the weight and see where you stand.  I know alot of people on this site try the 5 day pouch test.  From what I've read this seems to be helpful in determining and reinforcing that the pouch still works.  I have no personal experience with this so I'm not much help.  I'm sure they can give you some ideas.  My thoughts are for you to stop blaming yourself.  If you need to get focused then take the time to do that for you.   You have to be at peace and happy with yourself for it all to fall into place.  i've said it a long time ago and it's something I say to myself regularly is that you have to love yourself more than the food.  You'll get there.  Just breath. Hugs to you

I agree with the above posts. As Jimmy Buffett would say, "Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On". Good Luck to you and please keep us posted on your progress. Bex

Why would we flame you!? You're beating yourself up enough for all of us, and then some. Do not think you are alone and without encouragement.  Take alittle time, assess the situation, take a deep breath and move on...You found there is a problem. Figure something that you can do about one small part of the problem (no need to conquer Rome in a day) and go with it.  Instead of eating when you suddenly feel hungry, drink a protein drink or drink a sugar free drink (not coke and not alcohol). Just give that a try one day and see if you feel alittle better for taking some control. That's just my suggestion...And when you're ready to conquer any other demons...ask for help!

As you can tell from my stats by my signature, I am not an authority on losing/maintaining long-term!  However, I just hate to see you in a panic over the possibility of your pouch being stretched abnormally.  Although I'm sure it HAS stretched since the early days, that is normal, and it is almost certainly NOT stretched to the point of "not working"!  To make absolutely sure, you might make an appointment w/ your surgeon, but . . . honestly, I probably wouldn't bother at this point.  (Actually, if you had/have a nutritionist, an appmt w/ him/her might be useful.) I did the 5dpt last fall and was "successful" in finishing it and losing some weight (although it's mostly "water weight" after only 5 days).  HOWEVER, it didn't do much for me as far as getting me back on track.  For me, it was just another all-or-nothing "diet" that I then "went off of" after 5 days.  But with that said, there are several on this board who swear by it and have been successful at getting back on  track and staying on track. For me, I do better just going back to basics.  Boring, maybe--but in my opinion, it is a better approach than the 5dpt.  When I go back to tracking my food & drink (I totally love www.thedailyplate.com), I can see exactly where I stand calorie-wise, as well as protein, carbs, etc.  For me, eating the way I KNOW I should and also EXERCISING are the two essentials to taking weight off & keeping it off.  Do I do it?--well, obviously not so great, or I'd be doing better at taking this re-gained weight off.  But when I'm motivated, this is what works for me.

Hey Misty, First, let me say that I am so sorry for what you are going through. Its HARD to shut out the voices of the fam & friends who say "stop losing weight already - your too skinny - you look sick" yada yada. I know b/c my fam & friends (though they love me) said & did the same thing. Personally, I dont think your relationship is not salvageable (sp)- but thats something only you & your husband can know, decide on & act upon. :) Secondly, as someone who is also newer to this board - but a long time vet of OH, let me also say that I seriously dont think you'll find anyone who will BLAME YOU or BLAST YOU here (maybe a good well intended wake up slap in the face, but its only b/c ppl care ). In fact, I am quite comfortable in saying that insted what I think you'll kind is a bunch of individuals who are in a similar position (weight wise) who have also returned to the board to find the encouraging strengh & advice on HOW TO regain (lol or reLOSE) their way. Leslee turned me on to GradPost here & i thank her so much for it. Since coming back last thursday, i've managed to regain a sence of direction & im focused & determined to get a hold of my weight. So ya, you can this too!! As far as your condition & cir****tances. I think its the best thing ever that you are reaching out. Thats the first step. Dont be afraid to ask for help. Talk to your Dr. & a councelor. Maybe you'll need to be on antidepressants for a minute?? Only your Dr. can tell you that. But it wouldnt be a bad thing. It would help you sleep better & think more clear & talking to a councelor would help sort all of that out b/c it sounds..... LMAO!! IT SOUNDS FAMILIAR IS WHAT IT SOUNDS!! (sorry, i digress, but i did the same thing),  a lot like your drinking and basically what can be boiled do emotional eating is trying to cover/avoid thos other issues. So from that, right there - you should speak to a councelor to help w/ that. As far as what you can do to get back on track & snap out of your snacking - try the 5 day pouch test. http://www.5daypouchtest.com/ You'll see a lot of mention of that on this board. Personally, Im in the evening of day 2 & im doing OK with it. Your stomach MIGHT HAVE streched out a bit - but its nothing that you cant get back in shape & under control. SO hang in there, do you soul seaching, talk to your Drs & believe in yourself. You are not alone. ;)

Don't fret so much about stretching your pouch.  The more obvious culprit is the increase in calories during your tough stretch.  I had a bout with getting into the nightly drink with my husband and it really is true about liquid calories doing a lot of damage you aren't even thinking about.  That and the snacking and eating in the night are also more likely the reason.  This all is part of what has been going on with you.  I think it's best to brush yourself off and forgive the past months of comforting but destructive habits and just get back to basics.  Add back some good exercise into your life and stick to what you know worked the first time around.  I don't worry about analyzing my pouch size, because I think it takes extra ordinary behavior to truly ruin/ stretch a pouch.  It's more about getting around the pouch with liquid calories and graze eating.  Try to aggressively manage your stress triggers with some therapy or putting your own needs first.  That's going to help with the sleep issues and being more confident that you can get back on your game.  You've got a huge helpful tool right inside of you that you went to a lot of effort to put into place.  You can use it to get back on track.  The drinking, weight gain, snacking, not sleeping at night are all symptoms of the things you really need to worry about.  I really don't think your pouch size is what you need to worry about.  It's still there.  Drink the water, concentrate on protein, exercise, and be nice to yourself.  Your clothes will start fitting again! Patty

Insead of looking at mechanical failure I would look at the behavioral side - you said you have been thru a lot lately and now are waking up wanting to eat all the time - sounds like you are trying to self-medicate with food - especially since you were drinking and now stopped. I would go suggest finding a good support group, seeking out a therapist to help with all the major life changes and possibly consider some sort of antidepressant/antianxiety meds to help you gain control and identify you food issues and teach you how to cope without using food.  Eitherway you more than likely did not stretch your pouch - its not easy to do, even if you did a surgeon isnt going to do surgery on you for a 20lb gain.. I suggest going back to basics and food logging, following the rules and seeing where you are falling nutritionally - since you are comming up on your two years out I would schedule your appointment with the surgeon NOW and address your issues and seek guideance.. get your bloodwork done as well so you can see if you have any deficiencies as well.

Hi, I wanted to thank everyone who had responded to my post. I will take every advise into consideration.  Im still kinda upset about the 20# weight gain, but friends and family say that I look great and that I shouldnt loose or gain anymore, that I am good where Im at. I am 5'4 and 150 pds and wear a size 4-6. Right after surgery I went to 125 pounds and was in a size 0-2 and at this size my family said that I looked sick. I was happy at this weight though and not soo happy where I am now. I am trying to take off the 20# but its not easy because I had developed Hypoglycemia after surgery. Just about any form of surgar makes me dump. My sugar levels get up high after eating or drinking and then they drop to the 20's in about 20 min after so its very hard for me to find any kind of foods that wont make me dump. If I eat protein I end up fallen asleep not long after and the sleepiness is most of the time uncontrollable. Its realy agravating. I dont think I would have put on the 20# if it had not been for the beer. Now that I stopped drinking it Im praying that I will at least get back to my size 2. Thank you again for all *****sponded. God Bless