Is there anyone here that's post op 7+ years having health struggles, what are they?

[Lookin4answerspostop11+years 2]

I hear you most definitely... I remember the same thing yet I know nothing would have deterred me from surgery. Yes info like this would have and did make me fearful a bit, but nothing would have nor did stop me. In saying that I don’t think anyone truly knows the prevalence. I’ve been struggling for 4 years and this is the first bariatric surgery group I have sought community and possible answers. I understand a balanced perspective yet most things on here are of newbies who are posting all great advantages.... there isn't a lot of balance either, like you said all people well into their journey have dropped out... who knows why... no one... it took for years to look for any possible answers in a bariatric forum... so it’s not like I got right on here and this is where I started looking.... but it does make me a little frustrated and sad that because I am asking tough questions because my life medically is radically different since surgery... it’s not met with anything but challenges, redirection, and basically we are all good, don’t rock the boat and ask somewhere else because what I’m apparently saying could not possibly be related, yet has anyone done the thorough research? I sure didn’t before! I was so grateful and focussed on one thing, saving my life... and assuming like they said just a small minority have complications.... so there’s no way that could happen to me... but guess what... I am on that small (?) minority... and now it does matter that I’m looking for answers to save my life.... just like before bariatric surgery when I was seeking a solution to save my life then...

if you don’t have people on here years out post surgery... how does anyone know why they aren’t on here (the assumption they are well can’t be assumed as is they could be ill)...

so if these questions rattle to people maybe that’s ok? Maybe they, like me were only told one side... maybe having people like me and the others who posted who have experienced first hand very difficult complications or knew of others with complications ... maybe that’s worth listening to as well as the benefits, maybe that is the balance?

I was hoping to find community, some support and hopefully maybe some direction or something, connection, and not feel so alone in all this.... and even though I have tough things going on... even though I said I wasn’t saying don’t have surgery, my questions were enough to cause intense reactions.... maybe those fears already existed? Maybe hearing someone tell their story hits too close... but this IS my story... this is my life...

if everyone is only looking to hear about all the triumphs and a few struggles and not the minority because it won’t happen to them... that’s what I thought too!

anyway... I looked, I asked, the answers aren’t here, I’m moving on....

I do wish everyone in the community all the best, much success, a long and healthy life they have dreamed of, desire and deserve.

sincerely,

charlotte

[Prestonandme 107]

I am two years out and am struggling with nausea and serious g.i. tract issues that began after surgery and so far, despite numerous tests, blood work, scans, etc., cannot be diagnosed or treated. When I was young, I suffered from something very similar (described as "visceral hypersensitivity") which ultimately was successfully treated through SSRI's. For ten years I was pain- and symptom-free.

But apparently the surgery somehow re-triggered it and I've unfortunately had to reject the doctor's only proposed remedy -- Elavil -- because when I took Elavil 17 years ago, I gained 15 pounds within a few months. The SSRI I take now (Wellbutrin) stopped the symptoms for ten years, but it no longer works post-surgery. So until other options arise, I have to live with these unfortunate symptoms. Xanax helps occasionally, though. And post-surgery, I've also had increased dental issues, too.

I undertook RNY because I have three friends who underwent RNY ten years ago. All had different outcomes. One friend just regained 40 pounds and has no other health problems except dental issues (tooth loss). A second has lupus, which of course is unrelated to the surgery, but because of her illness, limitations, and medications, regained all of her weight. My third friend is now 75 and was diagnosed a few years ago with spinal stenosis which has caused her to live in severe pain, have numb arms and hands, and serious balance issues (she has broken bones and had concussions from several falls). Is it from the surgery? We'll never know. She religiously takes her supplements and undergoes blood work. She also has serious dental issues (tooth loss). But she is 75 so age may be a big factor. The other two women are in their mid sixties. (I am 61).

I am still extremely glad I had the surgery and probably would have opted for it even knowing in advance that I would have to deal with the repeated onset of all these gastrointestinal symptoms, which at times can be disabling.

It may be very difficult for researchers to track WLS patients over decades and observe myriad health issues that arise with time and age, and be able to determine which are due to the surgery and which have arisen independently. I would suspect that if clusters of symptoms (e.g., osteoporosis, Iron deficiency) arose in large percentages, then they could make such assertions.

There are so many medical advances these days that I am remaining positive that our symptoms, whatever they be, will soon be able to be better diagnosed and treated.

[Prestonandme 107]

I'm writing this as a follow-up to my prior post.

It's 3:40am. I was struck by a painful bout of cramping and nausea about two hours ago. I curled up in a ball to try to fight the pain. Then for about an hour I was in the bathroom experiencing the types of cramping, nausea, and pain that is exactly like what you feel when you've had food poisoning. You feel the materials moving slowly, painfully through your intestines, you sweat, you feel faint, and then you go repeatedly, over and over, until the pain finally ceases.

This happens to me about two or three times a week. Sometimes the nausea is low-grade and lasts throughout the day. Other times, it is sudden and explosive like right now.

When I was younger, years before surgery, I only had these g.i. attacks about twice a month, and about two or three times a year the pain would be so bad, I had to go to the ER and be administered dilaudid. A medication finally stopped the g.i. problems altogether but they returned with a fury after WLS. Now the medication no longer works.

It is scary to think that this will be my life from now on, at least until a medication is found that can treat the symptoms. I'm just really sad that this was an immediate aftereffect of the surgery. But my surgeon said this is a very rare reaction to the procedure.

Edited March 8, 2021 by Prestonandme

[Changes4Life 8]

For me, I just stumbled upon your post the same day I made my profile. I have been a long-time member of another bariatric site that the membership really decreased. With some increased downtime while working with my endocrinologist I really wanted to find a supportive and active community that understands the struggles of WLS and the positives of it. I was hoping to find support or perhaps some other tips for my hypoglycemia as well. Your post and story touched my heart and I hope you will be able to find your answers to get back to living your best life with your little ones! You are in my prayers!

[Draconys 0]

I'm 17 years out...About 6 months after my surgery in 2004, I developed consistent, debilitating Migraines. I also started developing attitude issues, and was diagnosed bipolar. The theory was that my body chemistry changed after the surgery, causing these issues. I've had weight gain due to bad nutritional info, and have also developed Asthma. I'm not sure what exactly you're looking for... There were other medical issues, I had cancer, but I don't think that was related...

[The Greater Fool 1,952]

I'm close to 18 years post-op RNY.

I can't say I've had any issues related to my RNY in 2003. I have issues directly related to my weight for the years before: Joint issues, fatty liver, spine issues, but all of them are better than they were. I have a couple other things that are just the joy of being me. A few other things have not been an issue for 15 years.

My weight has been more or less stable in the last 12 years or so. I don't weigh myself but at my annual physical. I don't log food or care about calories. My plan is my normal I rarely think about it. I worried about my weight for enough years, thank you very much.

[Prestonandme 107]

On 2/2/2021 at 9:14 AM, Lookin4answerspostop11+years said:

... part of the vagus nerve is severed during gastric bypass reux en y surgery...

Hi,

I just returned from having my colonoscopy and fortunately had great results -- no polyps or other problems. But I asked my g.i. doctor about whether my symptoms (nausea, cramping, repeatedly going to the bathroom up to 11 times a day, etc.) could be due to vagus nerve damage from the surgery, and he said yes, it could be.

Apparently, during the surgery, surgeons cut the gastric branches of the vagus nerve, "creating damage to preganglionic efferent and afferent fibers." In some cases, the damage can lead to gastrointestinal problems, including slowing of digestion, as well as various neuropathies.

Throughout my colon prep, I learned that my digestion had slowed significantly -- what normally takes 30 hours to digest takes up to 50 hours for me.

In several medical journal articles, WLS patients who lost weight quickly (reached their lowest weight within a year), tended to experience more health problems than those who lost weight slowly. My surgeon also said this when I had originally consulted him about my g.i. problems.

The challenge is that vagus nerve damage causation can't be absolutely pinpointed through tests and exams. And at present there is no remedy for it other than *potentially* an implant called vagus nerve stimulation (VNS), which is really only currently used to treat epilepsy and depression. Noninvasive VNS is now available in Europe, and a noninvasive VNS device was approved last year in the US to treat cluster headaches. But other than that, only exercise and other lifestyle moderations (e.g., meditation, deep breathing) have been known to help ease vagus nerve-related problems.

Edited March 11, 2021 by Prestonandme

[Yvonne Cepeda 0]

On 2/2/2021 at 6:45 AM, Lookin4answerspostop11+years said:

Hi everyone,

Im post op (11+) Years. Im curious and was wondering if anyone is on here who is post op 7+ Years and who, are having or have heard (in research or know of some post op patients years later having complex health struggles?

if so what were the complex health issues years post op and what was the treatments or outcomes?

I had my GBP 15 yrs ago, just had a Rivision

[SleevedK 25]

10 minutes ago, Yvonne Cepeda said:

I had my GBP 15 yrs ago, just had a Rivision

Why did you have to have the revision? I hope it helps you feel better.