Peter James Smith

I had an RNY in May 2001. I had it done a teaching hospital, and my procedure was very complicated and restrictive. I have a metal stoma, and a band around pouch to prevent stretching. My pouch is the shape of a small juice can, and is at the very top of my upper curvature. It was a special type of GB, that they were calling a fobi pouch. My doctor was a perfectionist, and I know I had the best Gastric Bypass I could have. It's funny, because in 2001, no one in or around my life had ever heard of a gastric bypass, no one had one, no one knew what to expect, not really even me. I went from 320 in May to 195 in September. I went on the scale to weigh myself at that goal the morning of September 11, 2001! The only problem I had was that 8 years post-op, I had a bleeding ulcer at the joining of my GB, due to taking NSAIDS and stress. I vomited half my blood and had to have emergency surgery to have it cauterized shut. My gastric system is far, far more sensitive after that than a normal gastric bypass person, and putting food in my pouch sometimes is painful. I have a lot of meals as soups, where everything is chopped up in my Ninja, and cooked thoroughly so it's like a broth full of protein and fiber rich vegetables. I also drink protein shakes with lactose free milk and hemp mix together, with hemp protein powder, local bee pollen, d-ribose, and green food powder. I also take Vitamins and Supplements. I find that B-Complex is key, take a lot. I take a bunch of things from the health food store, and I never felt better. Getting your vitamins is SO important post-op. When I neglected taking vitamins, I suffered, and ended up having severe deficiencies and paid the price. So I get a very hefty supply of vitamins, protein and fiber in one day, and that is really the trick of the surgery. I had gained some weight back between 2012 and 2014. My town, Seaside Heights, New Jersey, has all but destroyed in Hurricane Sandy, and during the initial recovery, I grazed on comfort food. In May 2014, I began to lose weight, and went from 250 to 185, my all time lowest. I lost a significant amount of fat since I started eating primarily protein and fiber and cut out simple carbs for the most part. I'm no saint, my indulgences are fructose oatmeal cookies and rice krispie treats, within reason, and every day. Anything else sugary, I get sick: can't even get it past my pouch. I also walk, walk, walk. I have a routine where I walk my dogs for 10 minutes, 5 times a day. Also, I've made cleaning my house an exercise. I get on my hands and knees to clean the floor with cleaner and a rag every single day. I have a big house, and by the time I'm up and down a bunch of times, and up and down stairs, I have had a total cardio workout. All these things have led me to gain muscle mass, and lose fat. I'm a size 32 jeans and a medium shirt. I'm 44 and I shop at Hollister. People who see me are amazed that not only have I lost a total amount of 140 pounds over the years, I lost 50 percent more than that now almost, I had stopped at about 210/220, only 100 pounds down then. Now that I'm 40 down from that point, the results are incredible. So even 15 years out, the surgery still works perfectly, it's me that has to do the hard work. As far as mediations are concerned, I like to take sublingual anything if I can. I break pills up and dissolve them under my tongue if I can. With malabsorption an issue, I don't want to get less of a dose. Anyone who has any questions, feel free to write me. I know a lot about gastric bypass and helpful tips with my decade and a half experience.