Draconys

I had Roux-n-y Gastric bypass in March 2004. At that time, the procedure was still fairly new. I was a really big guy, and new that if I didn't do something, I wasn't going to live another year. Several people in the office I worked in had had the procedure done, so they encouraged me. I made my appointment with Dr. Hunter, and within a month the procedure was approved and I was going under the knife. He did it laparoscopically, so no binders or anything like that. During that month before the surgery, I had 2 visits with a nutritionist. That's it. Back then they didn't require all the different steps that are required now, like the attempt to lose some of the weight, the counseling, etc.  So, over the course of the next 4-5 months, my stoma scarred shut 3 times, and I had to have it popped back open (not fun).  After that, following the post-op diet, I got down to my lowest of 260lbs (goal was 220lbs). I managed to stay there for a little while, but gradually started regaining the weight. I eventually learned that I technically shouldn't be having certain things, like bread, carbonation, alcohol, a bunch of different stuff. I had no idea! The nutritionist I saw didn't tell me any of this, and neither did the surgeon. Along with that, I live a fairly sedentary life; I'm on the computer probably 16 hours a day between work and personal projects. So I've regained, and I'm back up around 400lbs, and I've started developing some major breathing issues and other problems. I can barely get shoes on, and when I do, I'm generally winded. I'm just looking for guidance in trying to get back on the path, and found this site, and thought I'd check it out. I'm no longer in the same state as my doctor, so I can't go see him, and my current insurance doesn't allow for anything related to WLS, so I don't know where to turn.