Bypass worked too well, wasting away-anyone else?

[margalit 1]

I had the lapband switched to the gastric bypass in March of 2012. My heaviest was 280. Now I am 113. My surgeon gave me a feeding tube which did nothing and hurt like hell. I have zero appetite. No food looks or tastes good to me anymore. I am always nauseous. I have zero energy, and some days cannot even get out of bed. Everything I eat makes me sick. My hubby and I try to find a pattern to what causes my dumping syndrome. But we are at a loss. The worst part is, I have a son who is going to be 5 next week. I am lucky to have lots of help w him from my mom and my hubby. But he sees how weak I am. I can’t keep up w him and take him to a park even. I cannot find much at all online about loosing too much weight. I only find about regaining. My bariatric surgeon’s answer to every complication I’ve had is to cut me open, again, and again and again. He’s done 6 surgeries on me (not including initial lapbad, and revision to bypass). I moved overseas to Israel last September and have been getting Iron infusions twice a week. I haven’t felt a difference. Nothing helps. It’s a total mind f**k to go from 280 to 113. Als to go from so big to so small. Also to be told by all those around me to eat eat. How can I swallow food when I’m constantly nauseous? I’ve always struggled to keep all of the Vitamins down. I throw them all up. Ive asked if I can do a Vitamin drip, any alternative to oral vitamins. It’s hard. My Dr even prescribed me marinol, to stimulate my appetite and help with nausea. It’s generally given to chemo patients, didn’t help me at all. I feel No one understands. I Don’t even understand, It’s so very confusing. Any one else experience this? I feel if things don’t change I’ll be dead within 10 years. I’m 42 in a 65 year olds body. What upsets me most is how this affects my sweet little boy. He is old enough now to know and see and hear, that mommy is not well. I will never know all of the negative ways in which this probably already has and will continue to affect him. I have an appt with a bariatric nutritionist but, by now, I generally know more than they do. Any words of wisdom or advice would be greatly appreciated. Here are pics from

size 28 to 00

[Matt Z 4,139]

@margalit are you still losing weight or are you stable? I don't think you look like you are wasting away, maybe it feels that way, but that second photo, you appear to be a fairly healthy weight. There are lots of higher calorie options you can take to up your calorie count and get some weight back on you, high calorie Proteins, shakes, etc all are options.

I can't speak to the nausea, except to say, if you tried the synthetic THC, would your doctor maybe support you trying the natural version? There is more than just THC in cannabis, it might help you to be supplied with all the beneficial compounds in cannabis rather than using a single compound synthetic. I'm on marinol for sleep issues, it doesn't effect my appetite much if at all and I've never noticed any nausea relief either.

[James Marusek 5,244]

According to the internet:

Nausea and vomiting are the most common complaints after bariatric surgery, and they are typically associated with inappropriate diet and noncompliance with a gastroplasty diet (ie, eat undisturbed, chew meticulously, never drink with meals, and wait 2 hours before drinking after solid food is consumed). If these symptoms are associated with epigastric pain, significant dehydration, or not explained by dietary indiscretions, an alternative diagnosis must be explored. One of the most common complications causing nausea and vomiting in gastric bypass patients is anastomotic ulcers, with and without stomal stenosis. Ulceration or stenosis at the gastrojejunostomy of the gastric bypass has a reported incidence of 3% to 20%. Although no unifying explanation for the etiology of anastomotic ulcers exists, most experts agree that the pathogenesis is likely multifactorial. These ulcers are thought to be due to a combination of preserved acid secretion in the pouch, tension from the Roux limb, ischemia from the operation, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, and perhaps Helicobacter pylori infection. Evidence suggests that little acid is secreted in the gastric bypass pouch; however, staple line dehiscence may lead to excessive acid bathing of the anastomosis. Treatment for both marginal ulcers and stomal ulcers should include (1) avoidance of NSAIDs, (2) antisecretory therapy with proton-pump inhibitors, and/or sucralfate. In addition,(3) H pylori infection should be identified and treated, if present.

The other area that you should explore is the fact that you might have a stricture.

[YeahOkay31 651]

I understand what you mean about wasting away from your after pic. It is one thing to be naturally thin and that is just what you look like. But be so thin because you can't physically eat is another story.

I can't offer any advice, but I just wanted to give you a cyber hug. What you are experiencing is/was a big fear of mine and why I went for a sleeve in lieu of a bypass--I know that for you as a band patient, bypass was probably the more suitable choice for you, so that was not meant as criticism. I had my surgery to be there for my young children, and there are times that I am so nauseous from eating I just pass out in my room. Instead of playing with my children, I am removed from them. You have my sympathy and empathy and I hope that some one can figure out a solution soon.

[GreenTealael 25,330]

I don't know if its legal in Israel yet but have you tried medical marijuana as a appetite stimulant? Not marinol, but edibles. Totally different animal. Maybe a quick trip to Amsterdam?

[cmackpmp 8]

I'm sorry this is happening to you! My Dr told me he made my pouch bigger because he did not want me to waste away. I had to have bypass because there was so much scar tissue from my lap band that my sleeve conversion failed within a few days. Maybe they can fix your pouch to make it bigger? He told me 5oz vs 3 is best for smaller people. Worth it to see if anything can be done to revise. I would definitely see some one who specializes in high risk revisions.

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