Second time around!

[Cattitude 9]

Hi Everyone! This is my second attempt at gastric surgery. The first time was a roux-en-y gastric bypass back in 2005. My provincial health insurance covered it because I was so sick (dibetes, fatty liver, arthritis, etc. etc.) I was 294 lb when I started and got down to 135.

Then after about 5 years the weight started to creep up, even though I was following the eating plan: Proteins first, then veg, then carbs. No sodas or sweet or carbonated beverages. My main mistake at the time was taking Water before and during meals. My gastric pouch stretched and got bigger so I could eat more. As I got fatter I gave up on myself and slipped more, eating sweets and drinking perrier water. As I got heavier the knees started acting up and I stopped going to the gym.

I still feel some restriction in my upper belly but not what I had before. I am looking forward to having an adjustable band to help control the size of my upper stomach chamber, I've read that lap-band is often used as a revision for failed gastric bypass.

I am back up to around 250 lb.and want to get back to around 140. I know I can succeed at getting back to my goal weight - I did it before! I know how it feels to follow rules of eating for a long period of tme (5 years?) I know how it feels to be physically restricted in what you eat. I'm not afraid to push away a plate that's mostly full. I know how sick I got when my weight was almost 300 lb. I will think of that when I am tempted to stray from my eating rules.

I get my surgery in Toronto. Our health plan won't cover it (don't know why) so I had to get fnancing for self pay. My surgery date is Jan 9, My "Drastic Pre-Op Detox Diet" starts on Dec. 31, which is next Monday. I am treatng the days before as "Last Supper".

[Maddysgram 6,159]

wishing you the best of luck on your LB journey!

My sister had a gastric bypass and also lost a lot of weight and then gained it back and became an alcoholic. I'm so worried about her.

I asked my Dr if he would band her and he said no b/c she didn't have her head into it. I think she messed up b/c she never went to support meetings.

Be sure you post often here and get the support you need for success.

Best wishes to you!

[CHEZNOEL 4,061]

Wishing you every successlll I had a friend you regained afer bypass. She refused to change he relationship with food. It is hard to do, but not impossible. Good Luck and Happy New Year!

[Cattitude 9]

My sister had a gastric bypass and also lost a lot of weight and then gained it back and became an alcoholic. I'm so worried about her.

I asked my Dr if he would band her and he said no b/c she didn't have her head into it. I think she messed up b/c she never went to support meetings.

I also became an alcoholic after gastric bypass. I've been sober for over 2 years now but it was a tough fight to get there. I only recently found out that gastric bypass makes you prone to alcoholism! That's because the alcohol goes straight to your small intestine (bypasses the liver) and into your bloodstream and brain. It's a powerful head rush and very addictive. You can google "gastric bypass alcohol" and find articles about it. So it's not all your sister's fault that she is addicted to alcohol. They should warn EVERY gastric bypass patient before their surgery and forbid them from drinking after the surgery.

You might be able to help your sister by going to al-anon or other support groups for family/friends of alcoholics. It will help you too. Hopefully once your sister is ready she will be able to stop drinking. It took me a trip to rehab and then 4 months of drinking on and off before I finally gave it up for good.

Re support groups after gastric bypass: for me there weren't any. That could be partly why I failed. I went to the US (Rochester) to get my op done and then there was nothing here for me in Canada. For my lap-band I deliberately chose a clinic that offers a lot of online and in-person support after the surgery.