WEIGHT LOSS SURGERY

apeacefulway

I am not a fan of the weight loss surgeries and think they should only be used if someone is so obese that exercise is out of the question or they have severe health issues preventing them from losing weight. Complications are definitely real and I know of one person who died from bypass surgery. I don't think altering your body should ever be considered an 'easy' fix or the easy way out.

I know several who have had lap band surgery/bypass with varying levels of success. A common thing I've heard from people is that it doesn't treat the underlying reason why they were overweight in the first place. Many people discover they have an underlying issue with mental illness or addiction. Once they have the surgery, those issues deepen because they no longer have the ability to use food as a coping mechanism. Most surgery programs have a group therapy element built into it, but it doesn't always help people.

Just my two cents.

jkramsey42

I had the sleeve gastrectomy surgery roughly two months ago. I'm 5'5", started at 271lb, and am currently down to 227lb. My blood pressure and blood work are already greatly improved, and hopefully I can go off my CPAP in a month or two.

Yes, there are risks to any surgery, WLS included, especially when you're obese, have breathing or cardio issues, or have other risk factors for complications with anesthesia. You should consider these carefully and discuss them with your surgeon. It's also important to read the medical literature to see potential outcomes and success rates.

It is not a magic cure, and it is by no means an easy cop-out or "magic wand." It does not cure head hunger, though the sleeve does remove the physical hunger for most patients (myself included). If any of the many honest efforts I have made in dieting, clean eating, exercise, supervised nutritional counseling, personal training, supplements, etc. etc. etc. had successfully let me reach a healthy weight and stay there-- even with continued hard work and compliance-- believe me, I would NOT have chosen to deal with the pain of having my insides rearranged.

It is absolutely possible to re-gain weight after surgery IF you are non-compliant and go back to eating crap. After surgery, you can eat less food (around 1/2 cup in a sitting, maybe less), so if you eat twinkies and ice cream you will probably gain it back; most research I found on PubMed suggests that regain is linked to post-op dietary noncompliance.

LINIA

We have many, MANY members here on MFP that have successfully had sleeve or gastric bypass or one of the other types of WLS.
Getting a surgery to aid with your weight loss is not "taking the easy way out" , the person is still required to exercise, practice portion control and learn about healthy eating.
Actually we have several "groups" with very good and positive information about WLS, i'm afraid that some people keep it a secret because of negative responses. ..... but my support is behind people who figure out how to maintain a better weight and better health WITH or "without" surgery!

brandnewsnickerpuss

I had gastric bypass in 2005 (at age 35). I started at 345 lbs and had been super morbidly obese since approximately the age of 13. I have since been diagnosed with an eating disorder. (Surprise, surprise!) Within a year of the surgery I had lost 175 lbs. I had no problems with the surgery and the weight fell off. I had several skin removal surgeries, as well, and they were a bit more tricky to recover from, but nothing very problematic. Then I got cocky and started breaking the rules and gained fifty lbs back over a couple of years (wherein I steered clear of stepping on the scale). At that point (about two years ago) I realized that I was right on track to end up right back at 345 lbs. So I started taking care of myself, and started to realize that EVERYONE who wants to have a healthy weight and be fit and happy must eat properly and exercise. Since then, in getting some counselling for my eating disorder, I can see that I have, for most of my life been bingeing and restricting. A great way to get yourself up to 345 lbs. Here I am on MFP, trying to lose 35 more lbs and get down to my goal weight. And STAY THERE. That is the biggest challenge, for me.

csmccord

You see, you'll have two sides of the spectrum. Those very much for it, and those against it.

Personally, I did it basically as a last resort. I have struggled with obesity all of my life. I was always the big kid, or big boned or whatever excuse I had at the time. I've been through diet after diet after diet with no long term success. Weightwatchers, medically supervised, adkins, South Beach, suppliments, you name it, I tried it. I also succumbed to the food that I love.

So, I had RNY bypass surgery Sept, 2012. Absolutely changed my life for the better. You can see my weight loss. 90 or 100 of that is from the surgery, the rest is all me. Yes, it is true, about 50% of weight loss surgery patients gain it all back within 5 years. The key is education and vigilance. I was well educated from the start ,not just about the surgery and what to expect, but what I should be doing for the years afterward. They preached to me that it's just a tool, and they are right. The surgery was a tool that made me change my lifestyle for about a year. After that, the rest is on me. I'm okay with that. I've been doing just fine knowing that.

However, during my research, and during my experiences since the surgery I've discovered many people who were not nearly as educated as I was about the process and the after-effects. Most of them didn't have the same education, and thus have started to gain, or gained it all back, while I have kept it off.

So in the end, yes I think the surgery is a good idea for those who are morbidly obese, as I was. For those those that only have 30 or 40 lbs to lose, the surgery is probably too drastic of an option.

garber6th

I had the gastric sleeve in October and like tj1376 I feel it's one of the best decisions I have made. I was fortunate enough to go through the process with a surgery group that is very highly rated. I made the commitment to lose weight months before my surgery date was scheduled. I used MFP and made some changes, and I was able to lose 70 lbs in 9 months before surgery. That is a lot to be able to lose on my own, but at 382 lbs, I still had 162 more to go to get to my goal weight of 150. Could I have done it on my own? Maybe, but my health issues and my history led me to the decision to have surgery.

I have had no problems as a result of the surgery. I haven't lost any hair, I haven't been sick. I go to the gym 5-6 times a week, doing both cardio and strength training. My health has improved tremendously, and so has my quality of life. I still log all of my food and exercise in MFP. I do what everyone else has to do to lose, and I have an additional tool that helps me too.

My feeling is that you really need to try to change before surgery to make the surgery work for you. It's a tool, not the solution to your problems. I had therapy for a year prior to making the decision to have surgery to deal with my food issues. I worked very hard to prepare myself mentally and physically.

My opinion is that most of the failures come from three things: lack of preparation, lack of real commitment, and not following the instructions of your medical team. You would be surprised at how many people really don't grasp that they have to make lifestyle changes to make this work. It isn't magic and it won't work by itself. I see people posting in groups about how hard it is in the beginning, and I think to myself, really? You didn't know it would be hard and challenging? What DID you think?? I know someone who had sleeve surgery and one week later drank a glass of wine. I can't even fathom that level of stupidity. I also saw someone post in a group that they tried a bite of cake a couple of weeks out. So yes people regain and have problems but those are quite often the people who don't do what they are supposed to do.

I find that many people on MFP are so against WLS. Most of those people don't know firsthand what it's like to be morbidly obese, or they haven't tried and failed at weight loss many times over. If WLS is used correctly, it's an amazing tool that can be positively life changing.

bamadwl

I was on my way for the gastric sleeve. Just days away from setting a surgery date. Last minute, my insurance denied my coverage because I had lost too much weight in the three months leading up to the procedure. It was a blessing. I proved to myself that I didn't need the surgery, just a plethora of education on food in today's America.

I feel as if some people just need it. Others, such as myself, just needed education.

^^ This was me also, except I was just getting ready to go to a consult and had been watching my diet and recording progress since that was part of the requirement for approval to have the surgery done. I noticed that I was losing weight at a fairly decent pace, so I decided to put the consultation off to see if I hit a plateu or if it would keep going. I started walking for a while and when I was ready and worked up enough courage, I joined a gym to start working out. I was around 450 lbs 3 years ago and now I currently weigh around 260 lbs with my lowest weight so far at 235 lbs. Education and fitness were the keys for me. I'm not saying surgery is never an option, but that it's going to be hard work either way. Just make sure it's necessary and that you're not looking for a shortcut. It won't fix the problems with your will power.

dauvis

When I looked into the procedure a while ago, I saw that when most people who failed with those operations, it was because they adapted and started eating very small portions more often throughout the day. Heck, I already do that. In addition, everyone I know of that had it done has had some sort of complication. No thanks, I'll stick to the old fashioned methods even if it takes me years to do so.

jaysayres

I saw a pretty good article about the pro's and con's of weightloss surgery from a financial perspective. I thought it was pretty good.

Personnally, with some hard work and eating right i think anybody should be able to acheive their goals. But if this is something that will save a life, it beats the alternative.

http://money.cnn.com/2014/01/01/pf/weight-loss-surgery.moneymag/index.html?iid=EL

hope this helps

otterish

I have researched it and do not care for WLS.
But how you feel about it and what you do is none of my business. Carry on.

twixlepennie

Good Morning MFP Peeps!

I’m sure we all know someone who’s had either Gastric Bypass, Lap band or the Gastric Sleeve surgery. With that being said:

What is your take on weight loss surgery??

Have you ever considered having weight loss surgery??

Did you ever have the surgery yourself??

I know three people who have had it done-two (women) are now heavier than what they started at, before surgery. The third one (male) has done well with it and is maintaining the loss.

For me personally-I have no view on it other than it seems pretty hard core, when there's other options available (and the cost-ouch!).

I lost around 60lbs and I'm now maintaining that loss, by learning about portion sizes and calories (I did alternate day IF for weight loss, which is an unconventional calorie restricted plan). Cost wise it was free, since I got all my info online/library books I'm big on cheap lol.

Debbjones

I have two family members that had the sleeve... it is not the end all fix to eating problems or weight loss. This surgery was done a couple of years ago and every day is still a struggle to maintain or lose. The desire to eat does not go away, weight returns on top of new/added eating concerns. I don't believe they would recommend anyone go in for the surgery they had...

seltzermint555

I had the gastric sleeve surgery this past June. I had to do a medically supervised weight loss program before my surgery. All told I am down over 150 lbs, with probably about 40 lbs left to go. So far I think it's the best decision I've ever made. I am not suffering from nutritional deficiencies (yes I have extensive lab work done every few months to make sure). I receive excellent follow-up care from my surgeon and his team, including a dietician and exercise physiologist. I've had a very easy recovery, no problems with nausea, throwing up, any of the horror stories that people like to spread about wls.
It's definitely not for everyone. As the saying goes, they operate on your stomach, not your brain. If you aren't willing to commit to serious diet and lifestyle changes after surgery, it's not a good choice for you. The surgery (sleeve in my case) just gives you the tool you need to be effective in sticking with that commitment.
For those who say it doesn't have a good success rate and want to tell stories about their cousin's niece's hairdresser who gained all her weight back or has to have a feeding tube or whatever -- cite me some actual studies that prove it's not as successful as the "old fashioned" way. Not just anecdotal stories about random people. Here's a story that references just the most recent study to say that weight loss surgery is far more effective than trying to do it "on your own::
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-22/weight-loss-surgery-fights-obesity-better-than-diet-or-exercise.html
For anyone who says it is cheating - I wasn't aware there are rules about how to get healthy. Again, citation please :laugh:
I would never advocate that anyone have this or any other weight loss surgery, just because the decision is such an intensely personal one. But for anyone who might be considering it, look for facts -- pro and con -- while deciding. Not stories from internet randoms (including me, I'm an internet random too -- go do some actual research!).

This forum isn't a research paper or investigative journalism. Sharing anecdotes is accepted.

40andFindingFitness

My friend had gastric bypass surgery, she died within a week due to complications. This left two very young little girls with no mother. Scared me enough I got myself under control. I lost 74 lbs with exercise and proper eating. Gained 26 lbs back setting in hospitals for several years and the stress of my parents being ill but have work most of it back off.

Wow, sorry to hear about your friend. That's awful.

shirleygirl910

Unfortunately our society thrives on the horror/gorry stories. I had Lap band, then had it converted to Gastric Sleeve. I have my story too. What it did for me was get me to a place I have never been before. I have always been dramatically overweight. Growing up and in adulthood I was discriminated against for my weight. I am treated very different now.

I'm still in the "overweight" category, but I feel so much better!! Now my focus is to keep it off, and make it better. I don't measure by the scale so much as I do my clothes and the things I can accomplish. I had originally gotten down to 185 and size 14. I was overjoyed. Then when they converted my lapband to a sleeve I went up to 230 because I could finally eat. Since then I have had to learn the "old fashioned" way of life, calories in calories out, using exercise for calories out. In my experience exercise has been the best solution and second eating properly. I now am 196 wearing the same size 14 clothes as I did at 185 but the clothes are actually loser. I'm gaining muscle and losing fat. Muscle takes up less space. I'm loving this, but it is a daily fight. Surgery helped me, but I still had to obey the basic eating properly and exercise.

gurlygirlrcr80

I had gastric bypass and it was the best decision I ever made. I think that if you have the means to do it and you need it, go for it. Did you know that the chance of weight regain in both surgical and non-surgical patients in the 5-10 year mark is the same in both groups of people? So the people who lost weight without surgical intervention...good for you, but it doesn't make you immune either. There is a reason why we were over weight and that issue will always be a part of who you are. Some of us couldn't lose weight without medical assistance and I used to be thin my whole life and super athletic. I had a 6 pack of abs and a fantastic body and was a high level college athlete!! I got depressed when I lost my mother and gained 160 pounds. I had tried for 5 years to lose weight alone and could only get off 40 lbs and i would gain it back. So...with that said. I don't regret it 1 bit, i have ZERO health issues now and I feel fantastic and I'm crying all the way into my small jeans that you think i'm a cheater! haha! Live your life and choose your own path because life is too short to be mad at someone else for doing something you cant do for one reason or another. That goes for both sides...

sjp_511

Of all the people that I know that have had weight loss surgery, probably slightly more than half have gained it back. It seems like the ones that have gained it back were the ones looking for the quick fix and weren't ready for the lifetime commitment of changing their lifestyle and eating habits. However, I don't live with any of these people and I am not entirely aware of all of their reasons for getting the surgery and why they failed (or why the ones that succeeded did).

Years before I met my husband his mother had weight loss surgery. I only met her 8-10 years after surgery. She is a private person so I don't want to tell her story over the internet for all to see. But she did suffer some pretty horrible side affects after surgery. And life after surgery was no walk in the park. She lost a lot of weight rather quickly then it started to come back. She had to continue to practice portion control to maintain her weight. Even with all the struggles she has gone through, my MIL and the rest of my husbands family are very thankful for her weight loss surgery.