StephanieF.

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I will be three weeks post-op tomorrow from my gastric bypass revision. It still seems surreal that I had that surgery almost 16 years ago. It served me well; I lost half my body weight, I have not had diabetes (runs rampant in my mom's family, and I was showing signs of pre-diabetes at age 39...I'm 55 now), and my blood pressure is excellent. I'm so glad I did it. But with the passage of time came the stretching of the pouch, and I needed a boost.

Dr. Scott Stowers did an amazing job. My recovery has been good and very low-pain. He covers every base, making sure you have the meds you need, the vitamins you need, leg pumps which we take home and are required to wear for four weeks after surgery, excellent communication, etc. I'm grateful to have found his practice. 

I'm trying not to obsessively weigh myself, as it sends me spiralling emotionally when I do that. However, I know I've lost at least 15 pounds. I can feel the difference in my "love handles" and see it in my face. Off to a great start. :)

I had my hiatal hernia repair and bypass revision on Wednesday; today is Sunday, and I am surprised at how good I feel for just having had major surgery. I have pain, but it's not as intense as I've had with other surgeries in the past. I think that's due largely to the preventative measures my surgeon, Dr. Scott Stowers in Frisco, Texas, puts in place, as well as the fact that it was done robotically. He uses a nerve block internally that lasts for about three days to control pain, he has our prescriptions handled by a pharmacy that delivered them to us at the pre-op class....tramadol, some anti-nausea meds, prilosec, etc.

I took the tramadol for the first three days, but yesterday afternoon switched to liquid Tylenol, and it helps plenty without making me sleepy. I'm going to stick with it. 

He also sends us home with leg pumps to avoid blood clots; they were delivered by the pharmacy at the pre-op class, too. They're a bit intrusive at night in bed, but it's only for two weeks, and it's worth it. 

I seriously can't get over the attention to detail Dr. Stowers and his team show. It has made a huge difference for me. His bedside manner is excellent, as well, esp. compared with my previous doctor.

Now that I'm at home, I am still on clear liquids through this coming Thursday. Premier Protein Clear is wonderful. Where were these in 2006? So glad things are changing. Drinking those plus Propel water, and some tea or broth or jello from time to time.

I am so grateful that this was available for me to do, and that Cigna approved it. I think my out of pocket has been about $2500 between the surgeon and Baylor Scott and White in Frisco. Not bad!

 

I went to the class required by Dr. Stowers in Frisco today. I appreciated that the nurse, nutritionist, PA, and surgeon were all there to talk to us, go over things with us, and take questions. It was very helpful. I was the only revision in the group of 15 or so people. Everyone else there is having the gastric sleeve done.  

They also gave us various meds to take the night before surgery, the morning of surgery (to help with nausea/pain) and prilosec, as well as another med, Reglan, for stomach issues. We got leg pumps, as well, to wear on the way home and for a few weeks afterward. My previous doctor was nowhere near this attentive to prevention of issues; however, it WAS 16 years ago, after all. 

All day tomorrow I'll be restricted to clear liquids, and then I report to the hospital on Wednesday early in the morning for my hiatal hernia repair and pouch revision. Technical term for it is laparoscopic gastrojejunostomy. That's a mouthful. I'll update when I can, as I see that some of you are reading what I'm posting. Feel free to pray for my surgery and a healthy recovery. I'll take it and return the favor! 

 

I'm doing ok with this liquid diet. I wasn't as hungry today (day 3) as yesterday, so my body must be adjusting to it. 

Also got new glasses today. I like that they're clear and that I picked a funkier shape because of that. Kinda fun!

 

 

I'm six days out from my hiatal hernia surgery with revision. I am on full liquids until the day of, which began yesterday. I drank lots of water, protein drinks, and some coffee. Dropped three pounds in one day. lol If only fat came off as easily as excess fluids. ;) I was definitely hungry, but I made it through by having a small drinkable yogurt, which my surgeon says is ok once a day. 

 

Hey friends! 

It's been too long. That's part of our journey, it seems, that the longer we are out from surgery, the more disconnected we become from the very things that gave us the information, support and courage to step into a new way of life.

I have been a member here since 2004... hard to wrap my mind around 18 years of WLS being part of my life. I had RNY in the summer of 2006, and lost half my body weight. Had a tummy tuck two years later. So happy about both of those choices, to this day!

The inevitable happened to me after 16 years; I have regained a lot of weight. Not all, because I am still down 40 pounds from my day of surgery weight, but I've regained 100 over those years. I had an EGD recently, as I have been experiencing gastric reflux for the past several months. I chose a new bariatric surgeon to do the procedure, as the one I used back in 2006 has not been as supportive as I'd have liked him to be over time. 

I went to Dr. Scott Stowers in Frisco, Texas, about 90 miles from my home. I really like him and his staff. He did an EGD, and saw that I have a hiatal hernia, and also that my pouch is large again. I figured that was the case, as I can eat much more than I would like to be able to. I have been working on that, of course, but working from home during the pandemic for the last two years, plus going through menopause, have really exacerbated my struggle. 

I'm not hating myself for it. I'm not depressed that it happened. I do wish it hadn't, and that I was still nice and thin and unable to eat more than 1/3 cup of food. I understand this often happens, though, especially after this long. But I am not content with it, so I'm taking action with Dr. Stowers.

I am having my hiatal hernia repaired by Dr. Stowers via robotic surgery on March 23...next week. He is going to tighten my pouch and remove a small bit of my small intestine, as well. He said that our bodies learn over time to adjust to what we surgically did to it, so doing this will kick back in my tighter feeling when I eat and my body's ability to lose weight, etc. He was completely open about it not being quick weight loss as it was the first time, but that it will help me a lot as I work to get back down to a healthier weight. I'm so excited about this possibility.

Anyone who may be reading this today is free to send up a prayer or an encouraging word. I appreciate each one. :)

~Steph

Well, I did ok yesterday! Had four protein drinks, plus a meal of grilled chicken and veggies sauteed in spaghetti sauce. 

Lost a pound since three days ago. Maybe water loss, who knows. But it's a start! 

Had my husband take a picture of me so I can compare when I've lost 25 pounds. Then I'll do it again when I lose another 25, and then again after the last 25. Hard to look at myself in these, since I have in my mind my thinner self, while in reality I've gained half my weight back. Not mad, just determined!

 

 

How is everyone doing? I know, I haven't been here in quite some time. I get away from the bariatric surgery state of mind, living daily life as busy as it is, and then when I see the scale creep up again I think, "Hey, I need to get this in check. Let me get back to my wls roots!"

Sooo here I am, having gained another 10 pounds since my last post a year ago. I tell you what, sitting at a desk all day changed everything for me, weight wise. When I had surgery I was a SAHM and I could take three-mile walks and yoga classes, and have complete control over my food intake in the kitchen. Now, as a full-time writer, I am at my desk working on a computer away from home 40 hours a week. I know, no excuses, get out and walk before work. I'm not saying I shouldn't, I'm just saying it sure isn't as easy to do so.

I've decided to post a picture of myself at my current weight soon, and then work on getting myself back down to my comfortable weight. I weighed 231.1 this morning. (still 73 pounds of weight I've kept off, but didn't want to gainwhat I have back!)  I would like to get back down to about 160. 

So, what am I doing? I'll be drinking protein drinks made with my favorite sugarfree vanilla almond milk for breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner, and then I'll have a meal for dinner. 

Chicken, lowfat beef cuts, pork tenderloin, fish...plus my favorite vegetables. I love zucchini, summer squash, tomatoes, green beans, cauliflower, broccoli, edamame, and mushrooms. I often make stirfry with boneless, skinless chicken thighs and a bag of frozen stirfry blend veggies, or I'll use my own fresh if I have them.

Tonight I'll be making a noodle-less lasagna recipe that I found on bariatriceating.com and thought sounded good. I'll post a picture in a bit when it's ready. 

So, is anyone out there?   I'm an old-timer, and I think many of my peers from 2006 have moved on. But I welcome new friends, too. Feel free to say hi, to ask questions about my WLS eleven years ago, my tummy tuck nine years ago, etc. 

Peace and all good things to you all.

SF

 Hello, anyone who might be reading this on this quiet Sunday night...or later. 

I told you guys about my sis having surgery back in late Januray; she's doing so great, and is almost in one-derland, if she isn't today! So proud of her.

As for me, my weight stalled out again when I returned to my job after I left sis when she was home and recuperating well after her surgery. 

Then I even started to gain!

Here's what the problem has been, for me: snacking at my desk at work. It's so easy to go to the vending machine and grab some Gardetto's snack mix or peanut butter crackers, following them with a diet Dr. Pepper. I was totally addicted to those things, too.

So, I took matters into my own hands, finally. I dropped carbs, except for a few things like 40 calorie wheat bread, beans, and a little bit of grits occasionally. 

I also don't snack in between meals. At all. If I get the munchies, I sometimes grab a protein drink or have some hot green tea. It's working well;  I have already lost 9 pounds, and I haven't been doing this for very long.


So, I feel like, after nearly six years since my surgery, I'm on a level playing field with most other normal weight people. I was at a HUGE disadvantage six years ago, and needed help. But now, I can gain a bit if I don't watch it, just like anyone else. 

And since I don't intend to ever go back there to morbid obesity, I will watch it. I will take care of myself, and eat healthful foods that keep my heart safe, etc.

I did have caffeine withdrawals, by the way, when I finally quit drinking diet Dr. Pepper. I was sleepy and had a headache for about 24 hours. But now I'm off of it, and I feel so good about that!

Still no exercise, though. Will I ever get into that habit again? We shall see.  

Hope you're doing well, too, and if you're pondering WLS for yourself, please feel free to ask questions here. I am happy to help if I can.

Enjoy your week!

 I'm in the hospital this week, but not for me. I'm with my sis, who is having RNY gastric bypass, just as I had in 2006! She's doing great, and we'll go home to her house tomorrow where I'll stay with her while she recovers.

It's been great to revisit a bariatric unit, spend time here, and be reminded of all the things I need to do to stay healthy and keep my weight under control.  I love that I've had this surgery and still feel great! I would like to lose 30 pounds, and am working on it and succeeding, I think.

I had lost some, but went to work full-time in August at a local tv station. I love my job, but it has taken the place of my walking I used to do.  I gained weight quickly when I stopped exercising! Got to get myself to the gym on that treadmill. We have a free membership through work, so I need to find time to work it in a few times a week, at least.

I can do it! You can, too. :)