Weight Loss Surgery for Morbidly Obese

lookingforskinny69

I am considering weight loss surgery, I am sure the bashing will happen, any comments for or against?

Liftng4Lis

This man lost way more than you need to, without surgery.
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/profile/CyberEd312

Sued0nim

it's not, as far as I can see, an easy route

discuss it with your primary physician

milaxx

It is not easy. It take a lot of work before and post op. Look up the various types of bariatric surgery. Discuss with your physician what might be best for you. A good resource is Bariatricpal.com

iheartinsanity

I lost 109lbs. to date (since 2009). I considered it in 2009 when I started my journey. Though I wasn't morbidly obese, I was only about 15lbs. shy (and the rate I was going I would have hit it quickly). Honestly? I'm going to tell you what everyone told you. It's just too risky. I crash dieted with Atkins (the old style of atkins 20g of carbs a day...MAX) and mostly walking till I got into the 100's (started running when I was about 210lbs. for a few minutes at a time). The hardest part is maintaining, but if you can get in the right frame of mind to discipline yourself, go for it. Your bariatric surgeon is going to put you on a "diet" anyways, they have to exhaust all options for insurance reasons...so why not give it a try?

MyOwnSunshine

There is a group on here, VSGers, that has information about sleeve surgery. I'm sure there are groups dedicated to bypass as well. If you are truly considering surgery, attend a seminar presented by a surgeon, and also look up some current research on each of the surgeries. You would be better served by asking a hospital or college librarian to help you with a lit search than spending hours getting bashed on the internet.

My opinion is that weight loss surgery is exactly that -- weight LOSS surgery. I lost 100 pounds with a sleeve, and have kept almost all of it off, but I work very hard to maintain, just like people who lose without surgery.

It is not a miracle, or an easy way out, but it can be a very helpful tool, if you have the right mindset.

Cue the bashing now....

lemurcat12

I think you need to think through what the pros and cons are of that approach, and there is an extensive preparation period (or should be).

I think the no-surgery approach is easier, at least for me, in that it avoids the risks and complications of surgery and the post-surgery aspects strike me as in many ways as difficult as simply dieting and while they may have some positives for keeping weight off they clearly are not foolproof. But that doesn't mean the other is not the right way to go for some. I'd say make sure you've seriously tried the alternatives, though, and talk to as many people as possible who have had experience with the surgeries.

SHBoss1673

I can't speak to someone bashing your choice. But I can speak to the dangers of weight loss surgery (or any surgery for that matter). It's not a choice to be taken lightly. In many cases there are other choices you can make. One would think that weight loss surgery is the best and/or fastest way to massive weight loss, but that's just not always the case. A determined person can (and will, it happens all the time) lose large amounts of weight just as fast by diet and exercise as they can using weight loss surgery.

In the end it's all about your health. You are the only one who knows whether it's the right thing to do. I will say this though, if the reasons for you doing it are because you don't think you have the willpower, those are also reasons not to have the surgery.

What ever your decision, I wish for you a safe and healthy journey. And remember, there's always people here to help and offer support.

-Banks

msf74

rabbitjb wrote: »

it's not, as far as I can see, an easy route

discuss it with your primary physician

All of this.

I would consider it a much harder route than the natural method.

That said it can have a good rate of success so I wouldn't rule it out.

FrenchMob

It's a cop-out that could cost you your life if you get complications. Anyone can do it naturally. I personally know 2 people that did the surgery 6 months ago. Guess what? They loss some weight (around 40-50 lbs), but now they're back at Popeyes and McDonalds and they're wondering why they're no longer losing.

Fat loss is a psychological issue, not a physiological one.

kbear621

This is not a decision anyone can make for you. I had RNY this year and anyone who tells you wyour are taking the asy way out has no idea what they are talking about. You have to be willing to completely change the way you eat and the way you look at food. That said, personally, i would do it again in a heartbeat. For me it was the right decision, but it is a very personal one. If you are not ready to make a complete lifestyle change, it is probably not for you. If it is not a last resort, it is probably not for you.

Good luck on your weight loss journey. Feel free to friend me and send me any questions you have about the process. I would be happy to share my experiences.

jemhh

I don't think it is a cop-out. The formula for weight loss is simple but making it actually happen is not easy for everybody. I can see how it would be a good decision for some people. I know four people who have had it done. Some have had very good results and some not so good, due to their efforts (or lack thereof) after surgery. As kbear621 wrote, it requires a complete lifestyle change.

amcook4

Many here have started as morbidly obese and are now healthy, or well on their way. I started with a BMI of 52.5, and even though I'm still considered morbidly obese at 60 pounds lighter, I'm very confident that I can make it to a healthy weight, and yes, I have always been obese, even as a kid. It hasn't been easy, but it hasn't been nearly as difficult as I thought it would be. I used to think surgery was my only option as well, turned out I wasn't dedicated enough or in the right mindset earlier.

Try calorie counting now and fully do your research. Like I said, doing this the natural way hasn't been that hard, but I would imagine doing it with surgery would be even harder, it is a non reversible life long decision that will effect you forever, don't take it lightly.

Best of luck in whatever you do.

malibu927

My sister-in-law had a lap band done fifteen months ago. She lost quite a bit of weight, but it's been difficult for her due to complications.

grimendale

It comes with a host of pretty severe side effects and high risk of complications, including a fairly high risk of death on the operating table. It's not an easy route by any means. It's an option for some, but just make sure you're aware of all the risks so that you go in with your eyes open.

peachyfuzzle

Not bashing, but I am personally very much against any sort of bariatric surgery for weightloss.

In my mind, it is a cure for only the symptoms of a much larger issue. Sure, you can get the surgery, shrink your stomach, be unable to overeat, and therefore force yourself into a calorie deficit at the cost of a whole slew of digestive related issues, but you're still doing nothing to help bad eating, or any other unhealthy habits. Then, when you've lost a whole bunch of weight, and you're able to start eating a little more, all of that weight starts to come back on because you've learned nothing, and you're still left with issues like dumping for the rest of your life.

Three people in my personal life have had the surgery. Two of them had it right around the same time, and had lost over 200lbs initially, but have since gained half of that back over the last five years. The third one has managed to keep the weight off for two years now, but is just as unhealthy as she was 150lbs previous.

If it is considered a dire medical emergency, then go for it, but if it is just being used as a quick way to get the results in place of hard work/dedication to actually getting your weight down naturally, then it is nothing but harmful in my eyes.

Also, yes... I am morbidly obese, and realize the appeal of surgery. But, the bigger appeal for me is being able to say that I hit my healthy/goal weight myself through sheer, sometimes torturous persistence. It might just be me, but I would feel as though I supremely cheated myself if I went that route.

TimothyFish

It appears to me that surgery forces a person to practice what they should be doing already. If you can eat a similar diet without surgery, you would be better off. If you can't, then it is likely that it will also be difficult after the surgery also, but then you have very little choice.

Unknown

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GiveMeCoffee

What are the pros and cons for you
What have you tried so far? Have you looked into why those attempts didn't work?
How much do you have to lose?

Kalikel

Any surgery entails risk and surgery risks are much higher for obese people.

Be very sure that you cannot do it on your own before you have surgery.

jessiruthica

I just read this article today. The language is a little bit blue, if that's an issue for you.

http://www.cracked.com/article_21828_6-bizarre-things-nobody-tells-you-about-weight-loss-surgery.html

I don't know anything about it personally, but this article (admittedly coming from a "comedy" site) has some interesting points.

jgnatca

I had Gastric Bypass surgery in June of this year. It was the right decision for me and it has been a life-changer. I just recently surpassed weight lost post-surgery as before. The program where I live includes an entire team of specialists including a Nurse, Physiotherapist, Psychologist, Dietitian, Doctor, and Surgeon. Every member of the team had to sign off before I was cleared for surgery. Clients are screened for Sleep Apnea, bone density, digestive system health/reflux, and eating disorders. I attended a dozen training modules to qualify for the surgery, plus I demonstrated that I could eat fewer calories and lose weight on my own. The local surgery support group lobbied and received post-surgery support meetings as well.

The experience of this team is even successful dieters will have put the weight on within two years from their loss, so they try and schedule surgery within months of a demonstrated loss. Dr. Sharma likens it to running down the up escalator. As soon as you stop you start gaining again.

In our support group also are those rare patients who suffer tragic complications. One of our members may soon have to be put on a feeding tube.

Someone mentioned that over-eating is psychological so a physiological change won't fix that. Agreed, there are complex reasons why a person struggles with weight loss. I personally don't have any emotional eating problems, other than seeking out crunchy carbs on a stressful day.

If weight loss were easy, one of those stupid quick-fix cures would have found it by now.

So, no, choosing the surgical route is not a cop-out.

Sevendust912

IMO it is a cop out for the folks that love to make excuses as to why they are unable to lose weight the natural way.

Sugarbeat

I say think about it long and hard. Research as much as you can, talk to you health care team, and try to find people that have had the surgery. Steer clear of the ones trying to promote it, look for those who will give you an honest opinion.

jgnatca

Hey, sevendust. How about someone like me who is losing the old fashioned way too? I never yo-yo dieted, never went for fads. My weight gain over the years was very steady; a couple pounds a year. The few times I went on Weight Watchers I followed the program and lost weight.

I'm not a whiner by nature.

It still was the best decision for me to have the bariatric surgery. You know the definition of insanity?

harmar21

what are your stats now?
I am morbidly obese. I was seriously contemplating getting surgery as well, as I thought it was the last resort and there was no other way possible for me to lose weight. The cost was just too much. But the one thing is it is a tool. It isn't a magical cure. You need to be committed to a lifestyle change. To me there is no point in having the surgery if you continue to not exercise and eat like crap. The surgery can help kickstart you towards those goals though.

I have a couple people on my friends list who did the surgery, and they don't regret it for a second. But they were committed to the lifestyle change. One person lost 200lbs with the surgery fairly quickly, but she also does zumba 3 hours a week.
If money wasn't a concern of mine I may have done the surgery, but in beginning of september I finally found something that has worked for me, and I was committed to the lifestyle change.

Here it is 3.5 months later and I am down 45lbs all through my own hard work and determination. Feels good, and looking forward to getting rid of the rest of the 100 or so lbs over the course of the next year. Even though I am still morbidly obese, my confidence level is MUCH higher than it was back in september, I can't imagine what it will be after another 50lbs.

Sevendust912

jgnatca wrote: »

Hey, sevendust. How about someone like me who is losing the old fashioned way too? I never yo-yo dieted, never went for fads. My weight gain over the years was very steady; a couple pounds a year. The few times I went on Weight Watchers I followed the program and lost weight.

I'm not a whiner by nature.

It still was the best decision for me to have the bariatric surgery. You know the definition of insanity?

You said weight loss is not easy. I disagree, weight loss is a simple formula that any reasonable person with the slightest bit of motivation should be able to achieve. Just my opinion

EZDUZIT68

Sevendust912 wrote: »

IMO it is a cop out for the folks that love to make excuses as to why they are unable to lose weight the natural way.

Excuses aren't the problem. Some folks (a) know full well why they can't keep focused & disciplined and (b) may have other reasons why bariatric surgery is necessary. I guarantee you that 95% of people who've had/are considering bariatric surgery are not just "afraid" or "too weak" to do it the natural way. That's a simplistic view. Obviously you were able to do it that way, and you should be proud of that. Some folks aren't able to and need a tool to get things rolling.

Food is an addiction, and addiction hits everyone differently. Some people on this forum used to be in shape when they were younger but have had one or two periods in their life when they gained 40-50 pounds over a few years and had to get back on track; there are others who've battled severe obesity their entire lives.

WLS is a serious choice and needs to be discussed with a doctor, surgeon & therapist... BUT - it's not "instant gratification": it's not easy, it DOES take commitment and maintenance, and still relies upon dealing with the emotional aspect of the "why".

harmar21

Sevendust912 wrote: »

jgnatca wrote: »

Hey, sevendust. How about someone like me who is losing the old fashioned way too? I never yo-yo dieted, never went for fads. My weight gain over the years was very steady; a couple pounds a year. The few times I went on Weight Watchers I followed the program and lost weight.

I'm not a whiner by nature.

It still was the best decision for me to have the bariatric surgery. You know the definition of insanity?

You said weight loss is not easy. I disagree, weight loss is a simple formula that any reasonable person with the slightest bit of motivation should be able to achieve. Just my opinion

Maybe on paper the formula it is easy weight change = CI - CO. And while he CI is somewhat easy to figure out (unless you eat someone elses cooking), the CO number is extremely difficult.
And that is just the formula, now take into mind peoples physiological and psychological natures, it can be difficult.
I am guessing you never have been obese?
I have tried many things in the past, but nothing worked even though I was motivated, I just wasn't knowledgable.

jgnatca

Simple is not necessarily easy.

NikonPal

lookingforskinny69 wrote: »

I am considering weight loss surgery, I am sure the bashing will happen, any comments for or against?

NO BASHING HERE -

I know 2 people that had surgery in the last year. One was a huge success – she was obese and committed to making lifestyle changes. The other was a failure – he was not committed to making lifestyle changes.

More than one cardiologist suggested I think about surgery. As luck (?) would have it I was scheduled for an unrelated (4-6 hr) procedure …I was awakened by doctors saying my blood-pressure was so low they concluded the risk/reward wasn’t there and they stopped. Glad I found the MFP app.

IMHO it’s a personal decision based on degree of obesity, medical input, risks/benefits etc. I would never judge anyone that had surgery after considering everything.

The Cleveland Clinic says: You could be a candidate for surgical weight loss if you: are more than 100 lbs. over your ideal body weight; (BMI) of over 40; BMI of over 35 and are experiencing severe negative health effects, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, related to being severely overweight; unable to achieve a healthy body weight for a sustained period of time, even through medically-supervised dieting.

So kudo’s to those that lost weight, changed lifestyles for the long-term with or without surgery.