Question:
Has anyone ever had WLS and not lost weight?

I had my surgery on November 20th. I lost 38 pounds very quickly, but I haven't lost anything in over a month. I told my husband that I may be the first person in history not to lose after having the weight loss surgery done. Have others not loss after having the surgery? I have bad lungs and I'm on oxygen, so my exercise is practically limited to nothing. I have been very depressed. I live in Texas and had the surgery done in Georgia. I don't have a physician in Dallas, nor can I find one. Most doctors won't take your post-op care if you had another surgeon. I don't have a support group, and I feel that I am operating in a vacuum. I have two friends that I've met through ObesityHelp.Com, and they answer most of the questions I have. They had different physicians, so they give me different advise. Is there a record of others who had the WLS done who didn't lose weight?    — ghe5522 (posted on January 7, 2004)

January 7, 2004
Glenda, I can see you think that you are not going to lose any more weight right now but you just put your body through a very rough surgery and it needs time to adjust. I bet you are losing inches even if the scale is not moving right now. I freaked out when I stopped losing weight at about 3 weeks out for a couple of weeks. I have had a pattern like that since my surgery 10/6/03. I looked up weight loss stages on the journey page and it was very helpful to see this is very common and don't worry so much at this point. The weight will come off. It may come off slower if you are not able to excersize but you will do it. Good luck to you and God Bless.
   — tntwildlife77

January 7, 2004
if you figure out the number of weeks post-op you are and the amount that you have lost so far you are right on track. some people lose big chunks of weight and the stall for awhile then lose chunks and stall over and over untill they reach goal. i never lost big chunks only little by little. don't stress your right on track, but your body is just trying to play catch up.
   — franbvan

January 7, 2004
Hi Glenda,,I can just "hear" your desperation..Please sit back, relax, grab a coke (ok a bottle of water) take a deep breath and relax..Its VERY VERY normal to go through periods of not losing weight- (believe me, I've played this game of watching the scale move/not move/move/not move for nearly 14 months) Yes indeed, there have been cases of people who have not lost weight when they had WLS..usually due to an enlarged stoma or staple line disrupture- If you don't have either of those (and you would know because you would be able to eat a very large amount of food) then you WILL lose weight- because of your physical state of not being able to exercise, it might come off slower- I do not know what kind of mobility you have..but there are easy exercises you can do in a chair.Just moving your legs and arms as much as you can.(every little bit counts) keep those joints moving :) I'm sure you know the rules...Protein, water, try to limit your carbs- even tho I have weighed every single day for the past year- I usually suggest for some to stay off the scale and weigh just once a month. That way you won't get frustrated each day- You might be one of those who loses nothing for weeks on end..Then bingo bango the scale drops rapidly- Best wishes Kim
   — WABBIT F.

January 7, 2004
Glenda, Dallas is a great place to be for post ops. First let me tell you about a support group that meets every other Saturday 10-2 at the Starbucks on Abram at Royal Lane. The best group of folks I have ever met. There are mostly post op but a few pre op and we are from various doctors. We sometimes do social outings as well, visit each other in the hospital, share scrapbooks, give support, etc. The next one will be January 17. Please come if your schedule will allow. If you need a good pcp, I recommend Dr Julia Graves. She is incredibly smart and supportive. Her number is (214) 219-6655. For follow up care, I recommend Dr Julie Leverton or Dr Glen Idhe. They practice together at Lancaster Medical Center. They both used to be at Bariatric Treatment Center and do excellant followup and patient care. I work out at Curves and would be more than happy for you to join me. It is a 30 minute workout for women only. You can do as much or as little as you want. My email is [email protected] YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT. I know so many people, myself included who thought they would be the one person that the surgery would not work for. I am losing slowly compared to others but I am losing and that is what matters. I lose in the strangest way...I don't lose a pound for three weeks..then I lose...and then the pattern repeats itself. My first plateau drove me nuts. Now I understand that it is part of the process. Everyone loses differently. You can make yourself crazy if you compare or have unrealistic expectations. I still have 160 pounds to lose so I will be around for a long time. Please feel free to be in touch if you would like more support. Dallas is a wonderful place to be. Congrats on your success so far. The best is yet to come. Ann 414/292/140
   — Ann B.

January 8, 2004
Glenda: Don't be discouraged. Everyone loses differently, and unless, as another poster said, you're able to eat "obviously" too large portions, then you'll be fine. I had surgery on 9/11/03, don't exercise (shame on me), and I've still lost 56 pounds, starting from 254. I'm happy with this, and of course, I realize that exercise would most likely speed up the weight loss. I've had several periods of not losing anything for 2 or 3 weeks, and then the scale goes down again. Hang in there!
   — Carlita

January 8, 2004
Glenda--please do not be discouraged. I had my surgery(open RNY) on Sepetember 25, 2002 and i lost only 91 pounds so far. I have touble exercising because of foot ucler on bottom of foot. I started out at 373 pounds today i weigh 282 AND i have 100 pounds plus to lose.
   — missturtle

January 8, 2004
Glenda - hang in there you are doing fine. I know it can be very frustrating. I've lost 127 sounds like a lot huh well I have another 100 to go and I'm almost 13 months postop. I am 5'10" and I still wear some plus sizes, it seems like all I ever hear about is someone who lost 100 lbs and is now a size 4 and they did it in 6 months! Ha Ha not really but thats what stays in your mind. You will lose the weight... try to be happy were you are at right now it will go down, find a support group stay on this web site, and try not to compare...beleive me I do it way too much and it can make you miserable. Best of luck to you! and hugs too
   — debmi

January 8, 2004
I was a slower but steady loser and it all adds up. Some lose a lot fast and then sit but it will move again. Stick to your program and it will move. Because I started out at 442 it took me a long time to really get an exercise program going so don't beat up on yourself about it. Do what you can and as the weight comes off slowly increase it. Exercise is important for long term but it's not worth stressing over. It took me 6 months before I could walk 1 mile continuously but 6 weeks later in the Walk From Obesity I walked 3 miles with no breaks. So it does come in time. I had 242 lbs to lose and at 2 months I was down like 44 lbs, so you are right on track with my situation. I have seen that it appears that the people who lose a lot right away and then stop seem to continue on that sort of a path throughout their journey. Doesn't mean you are doing anything wrong. It's just how your body is processing everything. I was very surprised when all I lost was 22 lbs the first month as I assumed all SMO would lose like 40 or more, which many do, but not me. But now at 11 months PO I am at 230 lbs (-212 lbs), 30 from goal, have PS scheduled for Feb 23rd and living life to the fullest. You will do great!!!
   — zoedogcbr

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