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Weight Gain after Weight Loss Surgery. Let's support each other
Hello All!
My name is Ronnie. I was sleeved October 2016. From the beginning of my journey, I lost between 80-90 pounds (depending on the day). I never reached my goal.
Since my WLS, I have had other physical issues that has impacted my ability to walk and exercise. In addition, I have been on multiple medications with a weight gain side affect and I've had 3 surgeries (one for melanoma and two on my spine) This is my way of saying I've gained approximately 20-30 pounds. I am TERRIFIED to get on the scale!!!!
I've not be able to get back on program and I seem to have lost my focus. I've tried to go on each phase of the program (liquid, soft, etc.), but I am not able to follow through. I had no problem staying on a liquid diet for weeks before surgery and weeks after. I don't know if it was because I knew I was having the surgery?????
I need help to get my mojo back. Anyone else? Let's support each other and our efforts to get back on track and continue our journey together!
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Also 72, had surgery a decade ago, went from 220 to 150, gradually added 30 back on, basically because life happens. Other than dumping syndrome, the surgery was a great success. However, when I was told I would be a terrible candidate for a knee replacement, I knew I needed to revisit the weight.
Never considered revision surgery, to be honest -- perhaps I should have -- so I'll be curious to see how this post unfolds.
I did, however, bite the bullet and start tirzepatide (zepbound). It was profoundly strange to have the "food noise" in my head go away -- I now have a reminder on my calendar to have breakfast. It was also extremely helpful to have gone through all the prep and followup from the prior surgery; I fell right back into appropriate eating habits that prioritize protein. My goal was to get back to 150 (really not interested in replacing my wardrobe again) and overshot, so I'm now at 136.
On the one hand, it really helped my arthritis pain. On the other hand, I've been a poster child for side effects. (My prior experience with dumping syndrome was quite helpful in that regard, actually -- I have much better coping skills for GI issues than I did before the surgery.) I'm now on a quite low dose of semaglutide (ozempic, because I'm a complete fan of the control a multi-pen gives you) which was a productive switch for me.
As far as I'm concerned, the big difference between revision surgery (assuming you are a good candidate for it to begin with) and the GLP-1 RAs is that the first is one-and-done major surgery, while the other is a drug I will be on for life. I'm old enough now that I'm more skittish about elective surgery, but hey -- people replace their knees in their 80s, so that's just me. Both of these choices are also expensive, so it may be worthwhile to really dig into your insurance coverage if you haven't done that.
I just knew that self-discipline wasn't going to cut it -- spent most of my life intermittently succeeding and failing with that approach, and I'm done with pretending it will work over the long haul for me.