My version of Now What?

[Guest guest]

Hi group,

This is my first time to post to this group. I was very interested to hear

what Barb had to say about being on a plateau. I have been going through

some feelings about what is happening with me and would like some input.

I had my first surgery 10/98, an intestinal bypass because I had so much fat

around my liver that the doctor could not do the gastric bypass. I lost 100

pounds with that surgery. I was down from 404 to 304, I was thrilled and

after months of diarreaha ready to have a revision to a gastric bypass. So

in August of 1999 I had that revision. After having been on the lists for a

long time gaining information, I was surprised to find that even right after

surgery I could eat close to four ounces of food with no vomiting. I

remember asking my surgeon a month after my surgery how much I should be able

to eat and he said about 4 ounces so I didn't worry too much. I saw my

surgeon in November and had lost about 40 pounds, just 4 months out. That

was okay, what was not okay was that I didn't lose any more after that. When

I went to see the surgeon this month I was still at 40 pounds lost. I keep

losing and gaining the same 3 or 4 pounds.

I approached the surgeon about this whole thing and we got into a big

argument. My take on this was when I had the second surgery, to me it was

like starting my weight loss surgery program at the 304 pounds so I felt I

would actually have a better chance of reaching goal than if I had started at

404 with a gastric bypass. The doctors take on this was that the intestinal

bypass was just to allow them to do the gastric bypass and it gave me the

same chance as anyone else who started at 404 pounds. He said he only

guaranteed that I would lose between 50% and 70% of my excess weight. And I

have done that, the total of what I have lost is 140 pounds. Still I

expected to lose more after having the gastric bypass, it seemed that I ought

to get something out of having to have two surgeries. I will say this, if I

had known what I know today I would have waited much longer to have the

revision to the gastric bypass and got much closer to goal.

There is a whole lot more about things the doctor said to me and I said to

him. It was a very depressing day. I am trying to get through the

disappointment. I guess I expected too much, just a little more weight loss

before I had to start careful dieting would have been nice. I have upped my

protein intake and am trying to do more exercise. Also I am trying to not

eat much in the way of carbohydrates, not being as successful as I want to be

on that front.

Don't get me wrong, I would still go through it again. Losing 140 pound has

made a major difference in my life, however I am still morbidly obese, right

around 260 pounds. I wanted to be thin for once in my life. Anyway comments

would be appreciated. Thanks.

Hugs,

Bonnie B.

Intestinal Bypass 10/98 at 404 pounds

Revision to Gastric Bypass 8/99 at 304 pounds.

Currently 260 pounds

Dr. Meyerowitz

South San Francisco, Kaiser

Hello Friends:

A new topic.

I went for an initial consult with a plastic surgeon because my pannus

(apron) is just huge and I wanted to see what my " options " are even

though I'm not finished losing weight from my RNY of 14 months ago.

Thus apron. Yeech! Huge!

Rest-on-top-of-my-thighs-and-make-them-numb-huge (sorry for that

visualization).

I am nowhere near finished losing weight and have been on one " mother "

of a plateau -- since Xmas! Seriously. 2 lbs. up and 2 lbs. down. Up

and down. Down and up. Ad nausem.

Now I know you will all say " exercise more -- do more protein -- drink

more liquids. " I'm doing that. Have been doing that for 14 months. I'm

working out 4 to 6 days a week. Weight training, cardio, endurance....

fairly intensive stuff. I've restricted to protein intensive --- and am

drinking enough to float. And my weight won't give from the 120 lbs.

I've already lost.

So here's the deal. This plastic surgeon I saw DOES NOT recommend

anything more than LIPO to rid myself of 20+ lbs. of this belly fat. He

thinks that might get my weight loss moving again. His recommendation

is to " vacuum off " a big chunk of the belly fat and that might get my

metabolism moving again.

Do you all remember your " old fat " and " new fat " ???? It seems my RNY

took care of the " new fat " -- that weight I've had only in the last 5 to

7 years -- but the old, OLD FAT -- that which I've been carrying for 20+

years won't budge.

Do any of you have an OLD FAT issue??? Or have you evenly lost it all,

old AND new??

I'm just asking these questions because I feel that if I start shopping

around to plastic surgeons -- if I ask 4 different doctors, I'll get 4

different answers --- all thinking they're right.

BTW, this surgeon also feels that I'd be " too much of a surgical risk "

for panniculectomy or abdominoplasty because technically, even after

losing 120 lbs. I'm still morbidly obese.

You all have much better experience in plastics than I -- so whenever

you have time, please, I'd appreciate all comments.

Barb

LAP RNY

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 06/20/2000 9:43:37 PM Pacific Daylight Time,

bfletch@... writes:

<< I do have a question. Why did they redo your intestinal bypass so

soon? I have a friend who has had an intestinal bypass for twenty-one

years and he is just fine. I know it is a really bad surgery if left

forever but if the docs had let you lose down to normal and then done

the gastric bypass you might be in a better position now. This might be

something to ask your doc. >>

I was under the impression when I had the revision that he moved to the

gastric bypass when the patient had lost 100 pounds. He told me that at that

point we could be pretty well assured that there had been enough fat lost so

that the fat surrounding the liver would be pretty much gone. At the time I

had the revision I really wanted it. Living with an intestinal bypass can be

pretty grim. I was afraid to go out of the house much or socialize because I

never knew when I would have the runs. I am a singer and I couldn't make any

plans to do a solo or sing with a group because I didn't know when I would be

having a bad day. I lost my place on the worship team at Church because I

wasn't able to be there much. I wanted to have the gastric bypass and resume

a more normal life. Little did I know I would now regret that decision. Oh

well 20/20 hindsight.

Hugs,

Bonnie B.

Intestinal Bypass 10/98 at 404 pounds

Revision to Gastric Bypass 8/99 at 304 pounds

Currently 260 pounds

Dr. Meyerowitz

South San Francisco, Kaiser

[Guest guest]

Dear Bonnie B,

I read your story and I think I would be really upset if my surgeon

couldn't offer a better response than you got. Of course as a whole

surgeons have the bedside manner of fleas(with a few exceptions) but on

the other hand putting you through a second surgery for 40 pounds isn't

very productive. I was kind of at your point during my weight loss. I

hit the longest plateau in history. I had wanted my doc to do a distal

- he insisted on a proximal because that was all he felt I needed. As

this plateau stretched out endlessly, I was ready to go have a serious

talk with my surgeon and insist that he make my proximal into a distal.

Just about the time I was really geared up I dropped 10 pounds overnight

and several more shortly after. He was right but if my plateau had been

permanent I would have gone back for a remedy.

I don't know what I would do in your case. I might ask for a second

opinion. I might ask for a second opinion from a doc outside of Kaiser

with Kaiser paying of course. You have one very good point. You have

had two surgery to avoid being morbidly obese and you still are. So the

doc should fix it.

I do have a question. Why did they redo your intestinal bypass so

soon? I have a friend who has had an intestinal bypass for twenty one

years and he is just fine. I know it is a really bad surgery if left

forever but if the docs had let you lose down to normal and then done

the gastric bypass you might be in a better position now. This might be

something to ask your doc.

The thing you need to keep firmly in your mind is that you are not at

fault. You are doing your very best and there is a doc who can make the

right surgery work for you. Don't give up. Keep being the squeaky wheel

and someone will start listening.

I'll keep you in my prayers. Hugs and Love, Bev

[Guest guest]

Dear Barb,

Believe me I understand exactly what you mean. My friend with the old

bad intestinal bypass puts up with more than I was willing to to be slim

and that says a lot. He lives a normal life now but still learned to

control and compensate so most of the time he has no problems. He is a

high powered professional and I admire his fortitude a lot.

Thank goodness they came up with a better alternative. Keep bugging

your doc. There is an answer for you. I really believe that. Anyway

I'll keep you in my prayers. Hugs and Love, Bev