Bariatric Surgery

Greetings to  All

I had the Lap-Band procedure on the 2nd of August.  After Years of trying to control my weight, I can now consider my self a FAILURE.  So why am I not upset?  Because I have no regrets about going for the procedure, for even if I have fallen flat on my face, at least I was going forward.

 So let's set a spell and talk about bariatric surgery.  Those of you out there who have done it, tell of your experience.  Those with questions about doing it, ask.  Those who don't think it's necesary, consider your words carefully.

Because even with the surgery, one needs to eat smart, be active, and have the support of those around us.

I have been considering the lap-band procedure, but I'm really fighting against it. I have lost 100lbs using Medifast, and now after plateauing on that and deciding to watch my calories for a while, I came here. I'm able to see where all my calories go, which is good. Before I came here, from my own calculations I found that I eat around 2000 calories a day on a less expansive day, and my weight doesn't change much. With this tool it's a little easier to track.   I need to lose about 180lbs to be truly healthy at this point. Lap band might be the right thing. I've known several people who have died or have gotten very ill (outside of normal "ill") from gastric bypass. While the people I know who have had GB and are OK far outnumber those poor people, I still find all bariatric surgery a cause for concern. Thus, I haven't had it yet.

 

 

While I think that if I can count calories and exercise and not go for a surgery and see success all people can - I know that that is not exactly true. Not everyone is me. :)  I'm even having a hard go at it (because I've been naughty recently and that has kept me plateaued at a 26lb loss +/- 1lb)

For those of you looking into this - all I'll advise is that you do your homework before going under any knives.

My mother just recently underwent Gastric Bypass and is successfull so far.  her operation was in May and she lost 30 lbs by the end of the first month.

I'm very proud of her because to be honest, GB and the lap band - these surgeries are NOT the easy way out - by far!

Good luck to everyone! :)

Definitly do the research.  What many of the people who end up deriding the procedure do not know is that all of the insurances who cover it and all of the America based physicians who do this is that you have to be on a physician managed weight plan for at least 6-18 months.  So the term Quick Fix does not apply. 

The second thing is that your BMI and health history must be appropriate to take on the risk.  If you have no pre-existing risk factors, your BMI must be greater than 40, and at least 35 if you have risk factors.

I can tell you that I have struggled with my weight since college, I am now 39 and had a mild heart attack at age 34, and diabetes since 28.  My lowest post-MI weight was 273 and recently I have had to add more meds to manage my diabetes.  Basically if I wanted to avoid insulin within the next 12 months, I had to have the procedure.

For anyone who is considering it here, give us your BMI, weight loss history, and risk factors so that we can take that into account during discussions.

If I'd ever have any surgery done I would go with the lap band but first and foremost I wanna do It the "natural" way. If I end up with tons of skin I will try my best to get it covered by insurance or save up for the plastic surgery to remove It, because I know I wouldn't be able to live with It.

my girlfriend had the drastic rue-and-y(sp?) procedure 2+ years ago. she lost about 200 pounds and is now stable and no longer diabetic.  the first 12-14 months were pretty rough with alot of throwing up from one bite too many. be very careful and you will come through it alright. it has saved her life as far as i can tell. now i am in the process of losing a hundred pounds myself.  

Actually, it's spelled Roux-en-Y and the vomiting is only part of the risk with the bypass.  The big problem is that if too much undigested food passes into the small intestine you get what is called "dumping syndrome".   One bypass patient, previously on insulin told me it's like getting very nauseus at the same tyme as getting an insulin reaction (hypoglycemia)

This is why ther is a minimum of 6-8 hours of visits and education at least before the procedure is done.  This doesn't include support groups after and even before the procedure.

I'm going to start a Jounal on this website so feel free to read it and add me to your freinds if you like.

My mom had that done, and she just dropped dead a month and 4 days later. ._.

One of my closest friends is having gastric bypass on October 4th. Her mother had it a few years ago so she feels like it's safe and thinks she knows what she's getting herself into. I'm worried about her because of the risks, and just because her mom was ok doesn't mean her body will react the same way. Her mind is made up, though, so now all I can do is support her and pray for her. I wish she could have success with weight-loss without risking her life, but at this point her weight has put her life at risk anyway. I don't judge her for taking this route, but I can't say I won't be royaly pissed off at her if she dies because of this surgery. 

Mosh,

Believe me when I say I Grieve with you.  The bypass is definitely the riskier path  and many who meet the criteria for it on the BMI criteria, still can't have it because of their general physical health. 

One of my uncles who passed this year would not have been a candidate due to other problems that had only occured in the past few years.

Please excuse my intrusiveness, but for the education of all, how did she die, was it one of the pre-existing conditions, a complication of surgery, or a combination of both?

Ive decided to get lapband. My insurance says its not covered even when medically necessary as opposed to allowing it only when medically necessary).  My surgeons office has staff whose job sole job is fighting insurance denials. 

Rejected in April, I started a diet June 18th at 465 lbs and am now at 414.  I know beating the ins co usually requires a gastric procedure due it being a more permanent investment in their eyes.  I cant adjust to the idea of cutting and reattaching.  I intend to pursue sleeve gastrectomy which is cutting down stomach to a tube like sleeve and leaving intestines as is.

I always opposed obesity surgery.  At the seminar I learned it is not a solution but a tool.  That  the procedure began for normal weight patients who required removal of digestive organs due to things like cancer and how they were taught to eat to gain back their weight.  Obesity patients could also gain back the weight.  You could also use it as a tool for speedy weight loss especially when weight is life threatening. 

Its a very personal decision and an easy one for others to make assumptions about.  I used to.  In November with my 6 mths weight loss, I may decide against it but I think I will always respect a person choice to pursue it.

Marc42968 ...

What diets had you attempted, prior to surgery?

How many calories a day are you eating, post-surgery?

Today is your one-month mark, Marc, may I ask how much you have lost and if you have had any complications?

* Feel free to omit / ignore any queries you choose not to answer *

______

=^..^= MOLLY (laughing burns calories!)

Sun - I'm not familiar with the gastric sleeve, it sounds like the older stapling procedure.  In the meantime continue checking with the person fighting for you, the recent findings in the New England Journal of Medicine may make some insurance companies rethink their polices on bariatric surgery, for info see www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20395008/

Mollymouser - As a physician I have always based my diets on the ADA reccomendations, usually 1800-2200.  Long ago I used Deal-a-Meal as a reminder, but now I can usually keep track without such a thing.  I have tried Seattle Suttons, but after an experience with turkey Keilbasa in the fourth week, I gave that up

The first three weeks on the liguid and puree I was on 600-800 cal/day, for the time on the soft it was around 800-1000. Now on the full diet I try to gett between 1000-1600.  But please remember that even at 281 lbs, my BMR would be 2400 calories. so if I eat 1400 calories w/o exercise (not recommended) I theoretically could still loose 2 lbs a week. 

My weight immediately prior to surgery was about 305( I say about because, immediately after it was 302) and today it was 281.5

The only absolute complication was that I popped a single stich on the loarge laparoscobe incision above the belly button which caused the wound to gape about 1/2 a centimeter deep and wide.  Only now is it nearly healed with a gape of 1/5 cm wide and only 1/10 deep

Hi,  I found calorie counters because my physician told  me that I couldn't lose the weight on my own. I have insulin resistance, bad joints and back  . I think she told me my BMI was 39.  I had about 100lbs to lose. She said that my only choice was the gastric sleeve.

I really didn't want to do this without giving diet one heck of a try.  I decided to go on a diet that is close to the # of calories I would be at if I had had the surgery.  I have been eating about 1000 calories a day for 21/2 weeks and have lost 10lbs.

I hope that this weight loss isn't a fluke and that I can continue.   I really hate it when someone tells me I can't do something.  My husband has learned that over the years 

If I can keep up the balanced meals 5 times a day and stay at 1000 calories is there any other benefit to the surgery? 

I had roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery 3 and a half years ago when I was 24.  It was definitely not easy (physically or emotionally), but I am thankful that I did it.  If I hadn't I have no doubt that I would be well on my way to being an invalid right now.  At 24 and 364 lbs I had pain so bad when I first stood up in the mornings that I cried for the first half hour of every day at least and I had pain in my knees so bad by the end of each day that I literally crawled up the steps to bed at night.  And that says nothing of all the other pain in my feet and ankles that I dealt with all day.  I am a pretty tough broad when it comes to physical pain.

I don't think the dumping was a negative side effect.  If you pay attention to what you are eating carefully, it is very easy to know what will make you get sick and what won't.  I think where some people run into trouble is that they will eat bad food, get sick and repeat and repeat and repeat.

At this point I pretty much eat normally.  I am now lactose intolerant (things move too quickly for the lactase to break down the lactose I think).  I can eat normal portions without any problem at all, but I can't overeat to the extent that most people can.