Jump to content
×
Are you looking for the BariatricPal Store? Go now!

1990 RNY revision at age 73



Recommended Posts

I had RNY in 1990. Back then RNY surgery involved stapling between pouch and stomach, not separation. It was open surgery and I was in the hospital for 7 days. I had no pre-op or post-op nutritional guidance. I was handed a 1-page low-cal diet and told not to throw up. Two follow visits post-surgery were to check the incision and I was then left to my own devices. I learned on my own to take Vitamin and mineral supplements; no one told me. I lost about 75 lbs from a high weight of 319, stopped losing after about six months, but kept the weight off for about five years before starting to gain it all back again.

For the past 20 years, I've yoyo-ed with countless diets and food plans but always return to that same high setpoint. I'm now 73 years old and am going to give it another shot. My knees and hips are shot, I've got a pacemaker, and I figure I'll die within a few years if I can't lose all this excess weight.

I first learned about revision surgery about a year ago, just before COVID hit. This spring I followed up with a hospital bariatric clinic about 2 hours from my home. I've been on a liver-reducing diet for three months. I had a barium swallow a couple of weeks ago that revealed that the staples had given way and there was a fistula between the pouch and stomach, which explains why I stopped losing weight from the RNY. I had an endoscopy today and had a conversation with the surgeon who told me that the leak occurred because of peristalsis of my stomach, not (as I thought) because I ruined it due to up-chucking too often. The new surgical methods are much improved and there is extensive pre-op and post-op guidance and follow-up.

I will have my psych evaluation in two weeks. I'm within 2 pounds of my prescribed pre-op diet, but don't have a surgery date yet for the revision.

I do not want to fail again, so I will probably seek therapy for food addiction even if it is not recommended during the psych evaluation.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I hope you are able to get the surgery and succeed! Good luck!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Wishing you all the best! Please continue to let us know about your journey. This group here is the best for advice and information along the way. We will pray for great results for you.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I had RNY in 1990. Back then RNY surgery involved stapling between pouch and stomach, not separation. It was open surgery and I was in the hospital for 7 days. I had no pre-op or post-op nutritional guidance. I was handed a 1-page low-cal diet and told not to throw up. Two follow visits post-surgery were to check the incision and I was then left to my own devices. I learned on my own to take Vitamin and mineral supplements; no one told me. I lost about 75 lbs from a high weight of 319, stopped losing after about six months, but kept the weight off for about five years before starting to gain it all back again.

For the past 20 years, I've yoyo-ed with countless diets and food plans but always return to that same high setpoint. I'm now 73 years old and am going to give it another shot. My knees and hips are shot, I've got a pacemaker, and I figure I'll die within a few years if I can't lose all this excess weight.

I first learned about revision surgery about a year ago, just before COVID hit. This spring I followed up with a hospital bariatric clinic about 2 hours from my home. I've been on a liver-reducing diet for three months. I had a barium swallow a couple of weeks ago that revealed that the staples had given way and there was a fistula between the pouch and stomach, which explains why I stopped losing weight from the RNY. I had an endoscopy today and had a conversation with the surgeon who told me that the leak occurred because of peristalsis of my stomach, not (as I thought) because I ruined it due to up-chucking too often. The new surgical methods are much improved and there is extensive pre-op and post-op guidance and follow-up.

I will have my psych evaluation in two weeks. I'm within 2 pounds of my prescribed pre-op diet, but don't have a surgery date yet for the revision.

I do not want to fail again, so I will probably seek therapy for food addiction even if it is not recommended during the psych evaluation.

Congratulations! This is awesome and you are truly inspiring! Thanks for sharing.

Sent from my SM-G965U using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Update: I'm now down 36 pounds on the liver reduction diet. I am actually a bit stricter than that. After reading several books about food Addiction I concluded it was true for me. I'm not binger, but I do "graze". Therefore I am on an abstinence diet, which they say is the only way to overcome addictions.

I abstain from all sugar, wheat flour and processed food. After about two weeks, I no longer had any cravings. My calorie intake has dropped from 1200 kcal to 1000 or less without intention. It just happened when I no longer felt the urge to graze between meals. I record everything I eat on the Baritastics app.

My nutritianist OK'd me for surgery, and so did the psychologist. I hoped to get a surgery date in August. Then 10 days ago I had bad fall and fractured my right arm. It is a non-displaced compression fx at the shoulder. No surgery or cast, but I must wear a sling for 8-10 weeks. I can't continue aquatic exercises or use the machines at the YMCA, and my knees hurt too much for walking {although I am trying.} The orthopedic doctor says I must postpone surgery until I can use the arm to lift myself. I am aiming for September or October. In the meantime, I will continue with the abstention diet.

Food Junkies: Recovery from Food Addiction by Vera Tarman
Weight Loss Surgery Does NOT Treat Food Addiction by Connie Stapleton
Bright Line Eating: The Science of Living Happy, Thin and Free by Susan Peirce Thompson
A Pound of Cure, Change Your Eating and Your Life, One Step at a Time by Matthew Weiner
The Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients 3rd Edition by Colleen Cook

Edited by Sunnyway

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Sounds like you are setting yourself up for success this time. It’s a daily battle to maintain a healthy weight and worth the fight.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

No, I had a simple gastroplasty in 1980, an RNY in 1990. My stomach was not detached in that surgery. My pouch and anastomosis stretched. Both need to be made smaller. The stomach will be detached and much of the fundus removed.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Thank you for posting about your journey. I suspect my friend had a similar procedure 30 years ago but she refuses to look at a revision. I have tons of positive thoughts for you and this next part of your life! I’m 62 and my RNY is on 10/25. I can’t wait for the next part of my life to start!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

On 7/22/2021 at 11:44 AM, Sunnyway said:

Update: I'm now down 36 pounds on the liver reduction diet. I am actually a bit stricter than that. After reading several books about food Addiction I concluded it was true for me. I'm not binger, but I do "graze". Therefore I am on an abstinence diet, which they say is the only way to overcome addictions.

I abstain from all sugar, wheat flour and processed food.< /em> After about two weeks, I no longer had any cravings. My calorie intake has dropped from 1200 kcal to 1000 or less without intention. It just happened when I no longer felt the urge to graze between meals. I record everything I eat on the Baritastics app.

My nutritianist OK'd me for surgery, and so did the psychologist. I hoped to get a surgery date in August. Then 10 days ago I had bad fall and fractured my right arm. It is a non-displaced compression fx at the shoulder. No surgery or cast, but I must wear a sling for 8-10 weeks. I can't continue aquatic exercises or use the machines at the YMCA, and my knees hurt too much for walking {although I am trying.} The orthopedic doctor says I must postpone surgery until I can use the arm to lift myself. I am aiming for September or October. In the meantime, I will continue with the abstention diet.

Food Junkies: Recovery from Food Addiction by Vera Tarman
Weight Loss Surgery Does NOT Treat Food Addiction by Connie Stapleton
Bright Line Eating: The Science of Living Happy, Thin and Free by Susan Peirce Thompson
A Pound of Cure, Change Your Eating and Your Life, One Step at a Time by Matthew Weiner
The Success Habits of Weight Loss Surgery Patients 3rd Edition by Colleen Cook

I agree 100% you need to be able to use your arm to lift yourself. I worried when I went home from hospital I wouldn’t be able to get up without pulling myself up using the bed rails. I figured it out but I definitely used my arms. Sorry to hear of your setback but glad to hear you have a game plan and look forward to hearing more of your story.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

No, I had a simple gastroplasty in 1980, an RNY in 1990. My stomach was not detached in that surgery. My pouch and anastomosis stretched. Both need to be made smaller. The stomach will be detached and much of the fundus removed.
So u had intestine bypass in rny? The won't bypass more intestine this time?

Sent from my SM-A705FN using BariatricPal mobile app

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

7 hours ago, terigetshealthy said:

Thank you for posting about your journey. I suspect my friend had a similar procedure 30 years ago but she refuses to look at a revision. I have tons of positive thoughts for you and this next part of your life! I’m 62 and my RNY is on 10/25. I can’t wait for the next part of my life to start!

Thanks. I didn't know that a revision was even remotely possible until I met a man just before the pandemic started who had had an RNY revision prior to total knee replacement surgery. COVID blew it out of my mind until this past April. I then decided to follow up, learned I was a candidate, and am progressing through the program. I have just had a CAT scan, and will have a cardiology evaluation next week. If approved by the cardiologist, the papers will go to Medicare. My surgeon says I should be able to have the revision before the end of the year.

Despite losing 50 lbs pre-surgery, I am still over well 100 lbs overweight. Revision surgery doesn't work as well, but he thinks I can lose another 60 lbs, which would take me to 215. I would really like to pass 200. We shall see. My dream goal is 175.

For what it is worth, my surgeon says I am NOT too old for the revision. While the surgical part is complicated, the laproscopic incisions will be so much easier for recovery than the open surgeries I had previously.

Why don't you encourage your friend to follow this thread? I will update my progress post surgery.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now

  • Trending Products

  • Trending Topics

  • Recent Status Updates

    • Prdgrdma

      So I guess after gastric bypass surgery, I cant eat flock chips because they are fried???  They sell them on here so I thought I could have them. So high in protein and no carbs.  They don't bother me at all.  Help. 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        It's possible for a very high fat meal to cause dumping in some (30% or so) gastric bypass patients, although it's more likely to be triggered by high sugar, or by the high fat/high sugar combo (think ice cream, donuts). Dietitians will tell you to never do anything that isn't 100% healthy ever again. Realistically, you should aim for a good balance of protein, carbs, and fat each day. Should you eat fried foods every day? No. Is it possible they will make you sick? Maybe. Is it okay to eat some to see what happens and have them for a treat every now and again? Yes.

    • NovelTee

      I'm not at all hungry on this liquid pre-op diet, but I miss the sensation of chewing. It's been about two weeks––surgery is in two days––and I can't imagine how I'll feel a couple of weeks post-op. Tonight, I randomly stumbled upon a mukbang channel on YouTube, and it was strangely soothing... is it just me, or is this a thing? 
      · 1 reply
      1. NickelChip

        I actually watched cooking shows during my pre-op, like Great British Baking Show. It was a little bizarre, but didn't make me hungry. I think it was also soothing in a way.

    • Clueless_girl

      How do you figure out what your ideal weight should be? I've had a figure in my head for years, but after 3 mths of recovery I'm already almost there. So maybe my goal should be lower?
      · 3 replies
      1. NickelChip

        Well, there is actually a formula for "Ideal Body Weight" and you can use a calculator to figure it out for you. This one also does an adjusted weight for a person who starts out overweight or obese. https://www.mdcalc.com/calc/68/ideal-body-weight-adjusted-body-weight

        I would use that as a starting point, and then just see how you feel as you lose. How you look and feel is more important than a number.

      2. Clueless_girl

        I did find different calculators but I couldn't find any that accounted for body frame. But you're right, it is just a number. It was just disheartening to see that although I lost 60% of my excess weight, it's still not in the "normal/healthy" range..

      3. NickelChip

        I think it's important to remember that the weight charts and BMI ranges were developed a very long time ago and only intended to be applied to people who have never been overweight or obese. Those numbers aren't for us. When you are larger, especially for a long time, your body develops extra bone to support the weight. Your organs get a little bigger to handle the extra mass. Your entire infrastructure increases so you can support and function with the extra weight. That doesn't all go away just because you burn off the excess fat. If you still had a pair of jeans from your skinniest point in life and then lost weight to get to the exact number on the scale you were when those jeans fit you, chances are they would be a little baggy now because you would actually be thinner than you were, even though the scale and the BMI chart disagree. When in doubt, listen to the jeans, not the scale!

    • Aunty Mamo

      Tomorrow marks two weeks since surgery day and while I'm feeling remarkably well and going about just about every normal activity, I did wind up with a surface abscess on on of my incision sights and was put on an antibiotic that made me so impacted that it took me more than two hours to eliminate yesterday and scared the hell out of me. Now there's Miralax in all my beverages that aren't Smooth Move tea. I cannot experience that again. I shouldn't have to take Ativan to go to the lady's. I really looking forward to my body getting with the program again. 
      I'm in day three of the "puree" stage of eating and despite the strange textures, all of the savory flavors seem decadent. 
      I timed this surgery so that I'd be recovering during my spring break. That was a good plan. Today is a state holiday and the final day of break. I feel really strong to return to school tomorrow. 
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
    • BeanitoDiego

      Now that I'm in maintenance mode, I'm getting a into a routine for my meals. Every day, I start out with 8-16 ounces of water, and then a proffee, which I have come to look forward to even the night before. My proffees are simply a black coffee with a protein powder added. There are three products that I cycle through: Premier Vanilla, Orgain Vanilla, and Dymatize Vanilla.
      For second breakfast on workdays, I will have a low-fat yogurt with two tablespoons of PBFit and two teaspoons of no sugar added dried cherries. I will have ingested 35-45 grams of protein at this point between the two breakfasts, with 250-285 calories, and about 20 carbs.
      For second breakfast on non-workdays, I will prepare two servings of plain, instant oatmeal with a tablespoon of an olive oil-based spread. This means I will have had 34 grams of protein, 365 calories, and 38 carbs. Non-workdays are when I am being very active with training sessions, so I allow myself more carbohydrate fuel.
      Snacks on any day are always mixed nuts, even when I am travelling. I will have 0.2 cups of a blend that I make myself. It consists of dry roasted peanuts, cashews, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, and Brazil nuts. This is 5 grams of protein, 163 calories, and 7 carbs.
      Breakfast and snacks have been the easiest to nail down. Lunch and dinner have more variables, and I prepare enough for leftovers. I concentrate on protein first, and then add vegetables. Typically tempeh, tofu, or Field Roast products with roasted or sautéed vegetables. Today, I will be eating leftovers from last night. Two ounces of tempeh with four ounces of roasted vegetables that consist of red and yellow sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, small purple potatoes, zucchini, and carrots. I will add a tablespoon of olive oil-based spread, break up 3 walnuts to sprinkle of top, and garnish with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese. This particular meal will be 19 grams of protein, 377 calories, and 28 grams of carbs. Bear in mind that I do eat more carbs when I am not working, and I focus on ingesting healthy carbs instead of breads/crackers/chips/crisps.
      It's a helluva journey and I'm thankful to be on it!
       
      · 0 replies
      1. This update has no replies.
  • Recent Topics

  • Hot Products

  • Sign Up For
    Our Newsletter

    Follow us for the latest news
    and special product offers!
  • Together, we have lost...
      lbs

    PatchAid Vitamin Patches

    ×