No Post Op Care

[lkerrigan 2]

I had post op care other than 1 or 2 post op visits maybe 3-6 mo the out. Sorry my memory is horrible. I had gastric bypass May 2010. And was basically "pushed out of the nest" afterwards with not guidance or aftercare....

I was 378 when I had my surgery and got down to 178 (unfortunately, with the help methanphtamine for 2 year) I'm now at least 4 years clean and trying to become health and "right" but I'm back up to 280 pounds and feel like crap !! I called my surgeon to seek advice and was informed he no longer deals with weight loss surgery patients! That's all they told me! Idk where to go from here! I'm gaining and eating a depressed. My life has completely changed- I'm divorced and remarried and have a son and step son! I see a councilor and psychiatrist for depression.... I just want to be normal!!!! Any advice?

[XYZXYZXYZ1955 675]

I'd suggest finding a bariatric doctor, if possible, and a nutritionist, and seek the professional assistance you didn't get before. You initially lost 200 pounds, so you know what to do to go back to losing--go back to basics if that helps.

Good luck! You can do this.

[Berry78 4,261]

Congrats on getting clean! And your new family! Life has handed you a lot, and I'm proud of you for trying to get things straightened out.

Usually a bypass is a one-and-done type procedure. A skilled surgeon can evaluate you to see if there is any "tweaking" that can be done, but it's better for you to focus on non-surgical options.

Your stomach is still small, and your bypass is still in place. Those will continue being helpful (probably why you didn't gain ALL the weight back and more!). But at this point, it's time to get back to basics. Protein, Vitamins, Water, nonstarchy veggies, limited fruit and starchy veggies. No sugar or white flour.

Weight loss won't be as easy as it was the first year after surgery, but it IS possible! Good luck!

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[Introversion 1,876]

Congratulations on becoming clean and sober. You have accomplished a great deal by acknowledging your problem and taking action.

Bear with me...okay. People who are in the early stages of bariatric surgery research often ask, "Which surgery is the best?" when deciding between a lap band, sleeve, bypass, duodenal switch, etc. I usually want to respond, "The best surgery is the one that fixes our heads, not our stomachs."

In other words, 90 percent of success with bariatric surgery is psychological. Until you conquer the depression, I conjecture you'll continue to self-medicate with food. If your head isn't in the right place, no amount of post-op care with a bariatric surgeon, dietitian, nutritionist or program director will do any good.

There's a salient saying: "Bariatric surgeons operate on our stomachs, not our heads."

Again, I commend you for slaying your drug habit. You overcame adversity. Now is the time to continue to work on taming your depression. Good luck to you!

[OutsideMatchInside 10,166]

@lkerrigan

Honestly at 7 years post-op unless you are having some kind of gastro issues, you don't really need a bariatric Dr. A starting point would be to have lab work done and get your Vitamins in order if they are not in order.

Once you are that far post-op, losing weight is basically the same as it is for anyone else.

Track your food, all of it

Weigh your food for accurate tracking

Be active even if that is just walking

Eat dense Protein, eat real food.

Good luck. Congrats on being clean