8 months post, I'm not losing.

[KellyLA]

My DS was 3/27/02 so I'm about 8 months post-op and down 40 lbs from 276 to 236. 21 of that came off with the surgery itself, so I've really only lost 19 lb in 8 months and fought for every one of them. At one point I gained 8 lbs and went back to my old standby Jenny Craig to get if off (which I did.) This makes me feel like I'm back to square one - before the surgery - always looking for diets - you all know the drill - trying everything to lose weight. I thought with the surgery this would all stop and I would finally be free. I just feel heartbroken now, that I'm doing the same thing I was pre-surgery - struggling. not losing, hungry, dieting. Anyone having similar experience and most importantly, any suggestions? Did it just not work for me and I need to accept that? Thanks so much for any feedback. Kelly.

[WandaJ]

What does your surgeon have to say about this???

[KellyLA]

Hi Wanda,
My surgeon is Dr. Gary Anthone at USC, who I like very much. At my last checkup on October 14 he said he really didn't know why I wasn't losing. He had no answers for me and said if I feel comfortable on Jenny Craig, that's what I should do and he'll see me again in three months. That was it. I have a huge excisional hernia which will have to be fixed and I'm wondering if at that time Dr. Anthone can do something further that didn't seem to work the first time around? Maybe this is oversimplifying things. I'm confused and distraught as to why I'm not losing weight after this surgery.
Thanks for writing and congratulations to you and best wishes.

[WandaJ]

Kelly, no way would I settle for that answer from my doctor. I would be asking for some tests. Have you considered a second opinion? Is Dr. Keshishian close to you? It just doesn't make sense to me for you to be doing Jenny Craig - the cost if nothing else...

Just totally unacceptable care, in my opinion!

[KellyLA]

Wanda,
Thanks again for your thoughts. You are so right. I need to press forward to get some answers. You mentioned Dr. Keshishian? Where is he/she located, if you know? I really should get a second opinion at this point. Many thanks again. It's very kind of you to respond.

[WandaJ]

He is in Delano, CA. His partner, Dr. Zahriya posts here sometimes. Very cool, huh? :)

Their website is http://www.gr-ds.com/ You can get the phone number etc there.

I hope you find help!

[willjordan]

I'm with Wanda. There must be something unusual about your situation. I'm wondering how large the surgeon left your stomach. I'd say that your wieght loss pattern looks like you may be having malabsorbtion without much benefit from the stomach reduction.

How much do you eat before you get full?

Get a copy of the operative notes and see what size your stomach was reduced to. Most reductions are to the smaller end of the 120-200cc range.

The other thing that could be causing your slow weight loss might be sugar consumption. What is your sugar intake like. Are you drinking regular soda? How much sugar do you have with your coffee? What is your intake of fruit? Each of these can be sources of sugar in your diet and the DS does nothing to limit sugar digestion. So check your sugar intake, possibly with the assistance of a nitritionist.

Just a few ideas for your consideration. I'd want further discussion with the doctor if I were in your place

[KellyLA]

Will,
Yours is a terrific success story and good for you. thanks for your thoughts, which I will take to heart. I don't think its sugar, because I really don't eat much sugar at all. In terms of quantity, I eat about 1/2 of what I used to. So, e.g. instead of 4 slices of pizza, I can eat two. But in fact I really can't eat 2 slices of pizza because I gain weight if I eat like a "regular" person. I do get full quickly but then hungry again within an hour. I feel like I eat all day. I also believe the malabsorption part is in effect because of my hair loss and, frankly, a more odorous bowel.

I will request a copy of my surgical notes. that's a very good idea and I believe I will seek a second opinion as Wanda has suggested. You all are very kind to write and are giving me encouragement. Thank you.

[Nancy Godina]

Kelly,
Dr. Kesheshian is in Delano, Ca which is about 70 miles south of Fresno, just before Bakersfield. His phone number is 661-725-4847. Give him a call. How much of a commom channel did they leave you? If anything else, I would be bugging my surgeon for an answer. Good luck.

[Kathy]

Hi Kelly,
Oh how much I understand and sympathise, you sound just like I was nine months ago. What you are reporting is exactly what I used to experience. Constant hunger and constant cravings. What you are having is a reaction to the carbohydrates in your diet. Sugar is a misleading term, what you need to avoid are high GI carbohydrates ie; pizza, pasta, potatoes, rice, bread, basically any form of sugar or starch (which the body converts to sugar!).
I highly recommend getting a hold of the books 'Protien Power' and 'Dr Atkins New Diet Revolution". These books will explain it all to you much better than I can.
It's not an overstatement to say that these books have transformed my life. I started following the Atkins plan several months ago in preparation for my surgery. So far I've lost 80lbs WITHOUT surgery. I've gone from 385lbs to 305lbs effortlessly!
This is the easiest diet I've ever followed. No hunger! No cravings! I feel in total control of my appetite for the first time in my life. And my weight just continues to fall off without any effort on my part. I don't count calories or worry about how much fat I'm eating, all I count is Carbs and I eat as much as I please.
Needless to say, I've postponed my surgery indefinitely. I won't say 'never', because I know how fickle Fate can be, but as of today I have no intentions of undergoing surgery.
If you're interested here are a few web sites of interest
www.atkinscenter.com
www.lowcarbeating.net

Hang in there, I wish you all the best,
Kathy;)

[WandaJ]

Kelly, seems that I have read somewhere that sometimes a hernia can interfer with your stomach's feeling full and satisfied...

Just another thought.

[WandaJ]

Kathy, I wish you continued success with your eating plan. If you get to the point where you don't continue to lose (which always happened to me when dieting) - the good news is that your BMI is at a much safer level for surgery, should you choose to have surgery.

It's a win win situation!

Good luck,

[flori]

Hi Kelly,
I had the DS on 10-08-02. I lost 38 lbs the first 3 months and have not lost anything more. Had a slight gain. Dr. Anthone is my dr. too. Please let me know how you\'re doing.
Flori fbcelaya@msn.com

[tms1950]

Hi Flori-I wonder how long he left your common channel? It would seem like you`d lose more than that,so there must be some other factors involved here.

[flori]

Hi Teresa,
I don\'t know how long the common channel or how small he made my stomach. I am very depressed.
I was at 154 for 3 weeks then the last 2 weeks I have been at 154.6. I am only 4-10 so I had hoped to go down to 110 but now I would be happy to get to 120. I started out at 192. So I\'ve only lost 38 lbs. I only weigh myself once a week. It seems a shame to go through all that and still be wearing the same pants. I have gone down one size in tops. I was walking a lot but now I am so depressed I can\'t get going.
I hope it\'s just a plateau.
Flori

[tms1950]

Flori,I think you better call & find out from your surgeon what he left your common channel at and how much of your stomach is left.I know of one doctor in our state that also does RNY and he leaves the common channel for the DS at 150cm,according to 2 of his patients I`ve talked to.They both lost only 50# the first year & then stopped.Now they both are going to see someone else for revisional surgeries.What a pain to have to go through it twice!

[Laurmom]

Hi all,
Dr. Anthone was my doctor too, and what I have found out is that he makes the stomach approximately 2-3 oz and the common channel at about 100cm. This is pretty general, but seems to be pretty much the norm. I can tell you from experience that if you stay ON him, he\'ll figure something out for you. He has noticed a common issue with people with short intestines. It makes some sense that if you are vertically challenged :D you might have a \"short gut\" as he calls it. Please call him. He WILL take care of you. He\'s a wonderful doctor, and he would hate to hear that you were unhappy. I\'m sure of it.
Keep us posted!

[singing4us]

Kelly
I am one of those patients of the Michigan Dr ( Scholten) who regularly performed the RNY but did my DS. I lost only about 50 pounds from my surgery so I completely understand your frustrations. On May 23 I had a revsion of my common channel. When my Revision Dr ( Lutryzkowski) went in he found my common channel to measure 255cm long. My first Dr claims in my operative reports he left my common channel at 125 Cm, which was totally false. My revision was MUCH easier than my intital DS. I am struggling with some gas and diarreah problems right now but only being about 17 days post op I am sure things will clear themsleves up.
I agree with everyone else here, your Dr\'s comments about continuing Jenny Craig would not work for me. I would demand answers.


Renae