For discussion

I wanted to know what everyone's views are on gastric bypass surgery.

Has anyone had it done? Know someone that has? Any experiences (good or bad) to share? Pro? Anti?

I'm not considering the surgery or anything. I'm just curious as to what other people think.

I haven't had it done, but I have had friends, and patients that have had it.  My personal observations have been that 1) the person has GI issues related to the surgery, or 2) They eventually gain a large amount of weight back after time due to the stretching of the stomach.  There are so many different types out there, and everyone is different.  Generally, Dr's try to go the exercise and weight loss route before even considering the procedure.

I have a friend who had it done a about 4 years ago.  She lost about 100 pounds in about a year.  I would say that she has gained most of the weight back.  Maybe not all, but most.

I don't personally know anyone who had it done. We were talking about it at the gym, and a women there said she knew several people who had it done, but those people had regained weight, or had other issues.

I know someone who also had it done. lost 100 lbs. went right back to bad eating habits after the first year and has gained about 30-40 lbs. back. I feel she had healthier skin color before the surgery. Without proper couseling and follow up, they think the surgery gives them a reason they can continue to cheat and magically there body will just route what it doesn't need right out. Fact people, needless calories cause the most damage.

I sent you a message, which basically says what has already been said here, just in much greater (and more graphic) detail.  :-)

Thanks for all the responses!

 

my, ahem, stepsister in law (ugh divorces are annoying!), had it a few years ago. She had great success with it weightloss wise, and looks incredible. you wouldn't believe the difference. however she hasn't been well since. she frequently vomits and is sick regardless of what she eats, and she does stick to the diet (what she's feeding her daughter is another story...childhood obesity is fast approaching for her sadly...) but she says she wouldn't do it again, although i doubt she would have survived for more than 10-15 years longer at the 400+ lbs she was. she's only in her early 40s, but still....at any rate, I can't decide if I'm pro and anti, and I do think people should have the option. But I think prevention is best- let's take good care of ourselves keep from becoming morbidly obese, and everyone will be happier and healthier! Good luck CCers!

i knew someone who tried to get it done. she died during the surgury =/

not really offering a view here, just reenforcing what any doctor would tell someone considering this with an unfortunate personal experience..

I think it's a bad idea for most people, but it might be okay in limited circumstances. There are too many risks (particularly since obesity makes ANY surgery more likely to lead to complications) and it doesn't really solve the underlying issues - it just forces a person to adopt a different diet at least temporarily. There has to be a better, safer way.

I'm anti. For most what does the surgery accomplish? Yes it saves your life in the menatime but does it really give you the tools to teach your children and your surrondings? To me, the surgery says, it's OK that you failed to be healthy and exercise and eat right, here's the fix. It's the quintessential Americanized way. Instead we should be concentrating on teaching our kids better eating habits, that exercise is important, serving sizes etc. Theres a charity called team for kids which works to promote health and fight childhood obesity. THAT's the right strategy. In so far as it relates to the people who are in medical need of the surgery- I suppose it's ok but it's SURGERY and has its own risks. ESPECIALLY for the inevitable higher risk patients who are the ones who NEED the surgery. It's sad in that sense and I have heard of more and more people who have either complications in surgery, after surgery or gain the weight back. I know people will take offense to my negative stand, esp if they have a loved one who has had the surgery sucessfully, but no one can argue that the best way to deal w obesity is nip it in the bud for future generations.

My best friend's mom had lap band surgery a few months ago. She said her mom hasn't changed her eating habits. Apparently there is some time between when the lap band is inserted and when they actually go in and tighten it to restrict the stomach. Her mentality is "Well, soon I won't be able to eat what I want, so I'll gorge myself now before they tighten the band."

It's this kind of mentality that will, if unchanged, take her right back to where she started. I think that a lot of patients don't realize that it's not a permanent fix; it's temporary and if they don't learn proper nutrition and exercise habits, they WILL gain the weight back. It's unfortunate that people don't learn from their mistakes the first time around.

But, I can't say I'm pro or anti, but I can say that I think it's essential that there be some sort of nutritional counselling along with the surgery. It should absolutely be mandatory, otherwise, the surgery is a complete waste.

I know 3 people. Two gained back all the weight, and one had counseling and a dietitian as well. She kept OFF the weight. For really heavy people, it can be a miracle and save a life. But, it seems, you still have to exercise and watch what you eat no matter! I have ssoooo many friends who get lipo on a regular basis. It is like a competition to see who can have the most. Then they just gain all the weight back. Sad cycle. I think this is the best way, CC, because it is scientific and sets you up to CHANGE your lifestyle.

My mom had it done years ago and while she has gained back some she is a completely different person now.
She is fairly short and weighed somewhere in the area of 300lbs I don't know for sure, she is now a size 20 because she loves to wear baggy clothes, so no one can see the excess skin. But she would do It again, it's totally changed her life around.

I'm not sure if I am pro or con but I'd rather really try hard the non-surgery way. The one thing that scares the hell out of me is the excess skin one is left with after it's all said and done!

I completely agree with glogirl it sets you up for a change in life.
Eating less also means you have to eat right for your body to be healthy.

I'm not sure how I feel about the surgery... it is a personal choice for the person considering it, along with his/her team of doctors, nutritionists, counselors, etc.  I do think that with proper diet and exercise, most people would be able to lose weight and become healthy without surgery.  Its willpower/self-control that is usually the issue, not a medical issue that is not allowing a person to lose weight.  I have a feeling that the people who say "I have tried and tried, I can't lose weight" are not being completely honest with themselves.  On the other hand, if the surgery is going to give you that extra push that you absolutely NEED, then by all means...

I do feel, however, that the single most important aspect of the process is to get down to the psychological and emotional issues that surround the person's obesity. 

I heard that there are doctors who kind of skip that part, and patients don't want to deal with the extra time and hassle of counseling and such in preparation for the surgery.

To go from the extreme of eating whatever and how much you want, to being severely restricted is a huge physical and mental challenge, I would think.  Proper preparation needs to be done to create the greatest odds for lifetime weightloss from the surgery.

Any surgery that puts you under is extremely dangerous and should be avoided at all costs.  So unless your body weight puts you at a much higher and very immediate risk of death or serious illness than the surgery, then diet, exercise and possibly therapy is the only rational and long term choice, to me.  I think there are too many risks and side effects associated with bypass that make it only a VERY extreme solution for anyone with the cognitive means to control his diet and lifestyle.

A good friend of mine had it done about a year ago.

She is the MODEL patient and has had amazingly good results. But make no mistake about it, she religiously follows her diet plan and AFAIK hasn't experienced the sometimes nasty side effects.

She'd dieted for years, and done a ton of Jazzercise too and just really felt like she was destroying her body with the stress of the weight.

As for me, I am very grateful that I'm not in a position or condition to need to consider the surgery for myself. Surgery is always risky and never to be considered lightly. I don't know what I would do were I to have been in my friend's shoes--just glad I wasn't and that I'm not.

Hey all i see know one has posted in here lately. well i had the gastric bypass ( sleeve) in Jan12th 2007. So far i have lost 110lbs and doing great i have issues with my hair fallin out but not bad anything else i am fine and doing great. i was 350 and now down to 240. i have more energy then i have ever did. i am having issues also with losing weight faster then i did. like i slowed down or hit a plato but i am still losing inches i can tell. also somethings i can eat more of then other things and somethings that i can't handle eating at all... so if anyone has advice for me it would help me out alot :)

 

Jessifer

aka

Niashaluv

wow, I already posted...haha i didn't realize the thread had been around a while! :P

My personal opinion is that they are treating an eating disorder by hacking out most of a persons stomach and not addressing the reasons that they got there in the first place. I think that to many people have to this surgery and it is dangerous and has A LOT of bad side effects.

I know several people that have gotten it done and even fancied the idea myself but after seeing what they have gone through I will get on the bike before I will sign up for that.
First off you are starved, literally.

Second Absorption becomes a problem that is the part of your intestines that absorbed B vitamins is now gone see you forever... was taken out

Third... does loosing your hair and teeth sound like fun: cause it happens to some patients

Fourth Anastomosis leak.... uhmm that is the part where they re did your plumbing comes apart and you leak gastric fluid in your abdomen....

Fifth The possibility of never being healthy from side effects

Sixth if you do not change your eating habits guess what... you gain it back....

It seems absurd to me that unless your life was in great danger that anyone would sign up for this.....

N

keep your gut

find a therapist that will help you figure out why you have eaten yourself to this point and keep your anatomy