Bariatric Surgery

mrwall1

I have been on the boards for a while, but just started using the program a month or so ago, there are lots of inspiring stories on the site, which helps a lot!!! I am really having a struggle right now, and was wondering if anyone else has either had bariatric surgery, or considered it. i was excepted into the program this year. i had to lose 18 pounds to get in. which i took my time, but lost about 22 when the day came. I am diabetic, i have lost 30 some pounds now, so i was almost 360 i think when i started and now am flexuating between 322 and 327. The doctor wants me to drop to 300 because the surgery can be done lapriscopc instead of open, which i will heal quicker......

so now the delema, in my mind i think if i can get to the 300 by january i should be able to keep going... and not need the surgery... i have until march to make the decision... but if i dont do it, my insurance will not allow me to apply again for 3 years.
ahhHHH! decision is hard to make... i guess march is a long way away yet.. but past history has shown, that i cant seem to follow through, i am wondering if i will ever make it to 300! i seem to find some reason to cheat every day....

thanks for listening to my problem would love to hear from someone with a similair situation....
mike

twiztedgrl69

I think you can do it! It just takes dedication, willpower and time...yes losing weight on your own takes more time then surgery but in the end it's all up to you and how much motivation and willpower you have...good luck!

kiminita

My mother had this surgery in 2004. I think that you should evaluate your eating habits--in other words, why is it that you eat? Do you eat for emotional reasons, is it an addiction, etc. My mother is an emotional eater, and without this, she took up other things, like drinking, to replace the habit. You just have to be mindful of all this. If it is an addiction, you may just find something to replace it.
Also--this is permanent! Once you reach your goal, you will NEVER be able to FULLY enjoy all the foods you once ate. You will also have to deal with a lot of loose skin, which would be easier to deal with when you lose slowly.

I would encourage you to do it on your own if it is possible. Add me if you'd like, for support =D

glenner

My husband and I went to a seminar that told all the pros and cons about the surgery. He is almost 300 lbs. He decided against it because he was scared of the things you can't do after- the though of never ever having pop really scared him too!! He tried a medication that caused diarrhea if you ate too much fat. It was so awful he had to go off. I think the issue for him was if the medication doesn't work, you can stop taking it. If you have surgery with bad side effects like dumping, you can't undo the surgery. He is now trying the 17 day diet- he has lost some weight but it is very hard because he WON'T exercise. If you can get into the mindset that dieting and exercising are better then surgery or dropping dead too young because of a heart attack etc- maybe it can scare you into changing your lifestyle! But that being said, I do know three people who went through with it. Two were probably almost 400 lbs and did great although the weight loss slows down after a year and one had to have skin removal surgery. The other one didn't seem that big but she has lost 120 lbs and looks awesome- was off her diabetic meds and sleep apnea machine a week after surgery. So make a list of your pros and cons then ponder again!

GINAvsGINA

I have definitely considered it and also had it recommended by a doctor before. I currently have no weight related health concerns but we all know if I don't stay dedicated to changing my life I will. It is a tough decision but know that having it does not solve your problem I have friends who have had it and have successing kept the weight off and I have friends that have had it and had put every pound plus some back on. The same dedication you have to make to do it on your own you have to make when you have the surgery. Healthy eating and exercise is the only way to be successful whichever method you decide. Hope this helps!

Lobster1987

Have the surgery. It is the absolute best thing I have ever done for myself. 95% of people FAIL at exercising and dieting to keep that amount of weight off. It's been shown in many studies. I had the duodenal switch. I've lost a good chunk of weight, 134 pounds so far...and I'm not done losing.

Look into all the types of surgeries. Weigh the pros and cons. Get which one is right for you. Know that gaining the weight back is super easy with the RNY/Lapband/Sleeve, but it is also easily prevented if you get your eating issues worked out and stick to the doctor's guidelines.

Check out obesityhelp.com for more information on all of the surgeries. There are message boards where you can ask questions and get real, straight answers from people living the life after their surgery.

onmywaytoskinny155

Ever consider having the Lapband done instead of gastric bypass? It's a slower weight loss but less stress on your body because there is no re-routing of your insides.

JulieBoBoo

I started losing weight in October 2010. My starting weight was 330.2lbs. I never entertained bariatric surgery despite having both hypertension and diabetes for several reasons. A few of those were:

I wanted to keep our family holiday traditions and being the one eating a tablespoon of food doesn't work really well with that
I wanted to eat supper with my children and my husband
I wanted my skin to have as much of a chance to adjust as possible so I needed a slower weight loss
I wanted my psyche to have a chance to adjust as much as possible so I needed a slower weight loss
I needed to take full and total ownership of my health

In a year I have lost 100lbs. I have some loose skin but not so much that it's yet a problem. I took a month off because I was feeling burnt out and managed to stay within 3-5lbs of my lowest weight in. Now I'm back to actively losing weight again and I hope to shed another 50-55lbs. I have no regrets for taking the path that I chose and I'm proud that I have given my girls a good example of how to change your life in a healthy and safe way without going to extremes.

If BS is the path you choose then I wish you well and I support your decision to lose weight in the way you feel will work best for you. I respect that just because it's not the choice I have made, it is nevertheless a safe and successful option for many others. The only thing I would suggest is to be as informed as possible before making any life altering decisions.

Lobster1987

Also--this is permanent! Once you reach your goal, you will NEVER be able to FULLY enjoy all the foods you once ate. You will also have to deal with a lot of loose skin, which would be easier to deal with when you lose slowly.

I call bull****.

You can always fully enjoy your food after surgery and you can still eat McDonald's, etc. Even more so after having surgery because you learn to slow down and enjoy your food and the people you enjoy it with. You take your time and have good conversation and savor all of the tastes. For certain surgeries you may have consequences like dumping syndrome, but eating in moderation and having small treats is not forbidden. I've learned to savor my food even more since I can't eat nearly as much as I used to, but I have always fully enjoyed my food. Before AND after surgery.

Not everyone has loose skin and if you do get it, it can go away if you have plastic surgery. I have loose skin and AM DAMN PROUD OF IT. I'll take this loose skin any day over being fat, miserable, unhealthy, and having no energy ANY DAY.

Debbe2

Hi Mike

You don't say what surgery you are having but I am going out on a limb and assuming that gastric bypass is probably correct. The bypass has the highest statistical chance of resolving your diabetes for years to come. The malabsorption resulting from the surgery seems to play a huge role in helping this to occur. You can diet and lose weight on your own but may not be able to achieve the same results for your diabetic condition. As a matter of fact I'm sure that your surgeon's office has told you that many people no longer need medication to control diabetes after gastric bypass. This resolution occurs very quickly after surgery and is before weight loss actually occurs. On the other hand, weight loss alone will not completely resolve your diabetes. However, weight loss will certainly help you maintain better control of any co-morbidities.

So the answer is one you must answer for yourself. Also, the doctor will not cancel the surgery if you don't get down to 300 but is telling you that your recouperation will be much easier if you can continue down in weight.

Good luck and you're doing great!!!

Lobster1987

the though of never ever having pop really scared him too!!

I drink carbonated beverages all the time.

kiminita

Leighbie1987 is also in her twenties, and presumably much healthier to do something like this. I wonder what doctor approved such a young person when they clearly could have done it on their own, given how determined she seems (she's on MFP for one!).

Lobster1987

Pass judgement all you want. There is no way I was going to be able to lose 140+ pounds and keep it off. I've dieted my entire life and put a stop to it early so I can enjoy my life. I know many, many people on here who have had bariatric surgery and did it in their 20s.

looking4au

I know how you are feeling. Started the program for surgery 3 yrs ago. I had to lose 40lbs to have the surgery. I finally buckeled down and lost the surgery. I went to see my surgeon and he said I needed to lose another 40lbs. I have lost 75 so I am 5 lbs away. I will be under 300 in 5 lbs. My family and friends are asking me the same question. If you have lost this much weight why dont you just keep losing and not have the surgery. For me it just isnt that easy. Even being under 300 lbs for the surgery, I am 150 lbs away from my goal weight according to the charts. That seems very daunting for me. I am with you. History has shown I have no follow through with weight loss. After weighing the pros and cons and knowing how I am, I think the surgery is still in my future. I am still sitting on the fence though. Unlike you, I do not have a time constriction. As long as I weigh in monthly with my PCP or surgeon I can stay active in the program. Good luck to you and I am sure you will make the right decision for you.

Hearts_2015

Leighbie1987 is also in her twenties, and presumably much healthier to do something like this. I wonder what doctor approved such a young person when they clearly could have done it on their own, given how determined she seems (she's on MFP for one!).

^

kiminita

yea I guess that is what happens when you try to call someone on their supposed bull s h i t

jhardenbergh

Last fall my wife and I were thinking about doing and she did the research on the internet for it, we decided with all the issues that could arise and having friends that new a couple people that died from it, it wasn't for us. She then started googling medical weightloss and found a program at the local hospital. We started the program on January 13th and I am down close to 175 lbs and my wife is down about 125 lbs since then. The nutritional plan used meal replacements for 3 meals a day you get 4 meal replacements if you are over 300 and a sensible dinner consisting of 6oz of lean protein, 3 servings of non starchy vegetables, and a fruit. They slowly introduce cardio workouts starting on week 3 or 4 with 3 days and 15 minutes per day. You meet with doctors every two weeks, weigh in weekly with bp check and hr check. Blood tests every 10 weeks. You meet in a group setting with a licensed psychologists weekly, as well as meet with nutritionist and exercise physiologist by appointment. It was the best decision we have ever made, outside of getting married of course. The slowly ween you off the fast so that when you go back to eating all food you have learned basically what got you to the way you are now. I have nothing against people that go for the surgery to me it seems more difficult than what I did. It just wasn't for us.

kiminita

Last fall my wife and I were thinking about doing and she did the research on the internet for it, we decided with all the issues that could arise and having friends that new a couple people that died from it, it wasn't for us. She then started googling medical weightloss and found a program at the local hospital. We started the program on January 13th and I am down close to 175 lbs and my wife is down about 125 lbs since then. The nutritional plan used meal replacements for 3 meals a day you get 4 meal replacements if you are over 300 and a sensible dinner consisting of 6oz of lean protein, 3 servings of non starchy vegetables, and a fruit. They slowly introduce cardio workouts starting on week 3 or 4 with 3 days and 15 minutes per day. You meet with doctors every two weeks, weigh in weekly with bp check and hr check. Blood tests every 10 weeks. You meet in a group setting with a licensed psychologists weekly, as well as meet with nutritionist and exercise physiologist by appointment. It was the best decision we have ever made, outside of getting married of course. The slowly ween you off the fast so that when you go back to eating all food you have learned basically what got you to the way you are now. I have nothing against people that go for the surgery to me it seems more difficult than what I did. It just wasn't for us.

Look at this dude, he lost 173 lbs!! And a girl in her 20s cant lose less than this? Seriously? There are also hundred of success stories on here that are similar, just browse through the forums.

jhardenbergh

Last fall my wife and I were thinking about doing and she did the research on the internet for it, we decided with all the issues that could arise and having friends that new a couple people that died from it, it wasn't for us. She then started googling medical weightloss and found a program at the local hospital. We started the program on January 13th and I am down close to 175 lbs and my wife is down about 125 lbs since then. The nutritional plan used meal replacements for 3 meals a day you get 4 meal replacements if you are over 300 and a sensible dinner consisting of 6oz of lean protein, 3 servings of non starchy vegetables, and a fruit. They slowly introduce cardio workouts starting on week 3 or 4 with 3 days and 15 minutes per day. You meet with doctors every two weeks, weigh in weekly with bp check and hr check. Blood tests every 10 weeks. You meet in a group setting with a licensed psychologists weekly, as well as meet with nutritionist and exercise physiologist by appointment. It was the best decision we have ever made, outside of getting married of course. The slowly ween you off the fast so that when you go back to eating all food you have learned basically what got you to the way you are now. I have nothing against people that go for the surgery to me it seems more difficult than what I did. It just wasn't for us.

Look at this dude, he lost 173 lbs!! And a girl in her 20s cant lose less than this? Seriously? There are also hundred of success stories on here that are similar, just browse through the forums.

I think I lost it quicker than people that have had the surgery, my starting weight was 376.4, my unofficial weight this morning was 195.6. I haven't counted it yet, cause official weigh in is tomorrow, don't get me wrong it takes hardwork and dedication, but seriously don't think that bariatric won't take that either, it forces you to or you can get really sick, if you slip up. When I said January, I meant of 2011 this year so a little over 10 months. It can be done and there are more people on here than me that have done it.

Lobster1987

Last fall my wife and I were thinking about doing and she did the research on the internet for it, we decided with all the issues that could arise and having friends that new a couple people that died from it, it wasn't for us. She then started googling medical weightloss and found a program at the local hospital. We started the program on January 13th and I am down close to 175 lbs and my wife is down about 125 lbs since then. The nutritional plan used meal replacements for 3 meals a day you get 4 meal replacements if you are over 300 and a sensible dinner consisting of 6oz of lean protein, 3 servings of non starchy vegetables, and a fruit. They slowly introduce cardio workouts starting on week 3 or 4 with 3 days and 15 minutes per day. You meet with doctors every two weeks, weigh in weekly with bp check and hr check. Blood tests every 10 weeks. You meet in a group setting with a licensed psychologists weekly, as well as meet with nutritionist and exercise physiologist by appointment. It was the best decision we have ever made, outside of getting married of course. The slowly ween you off the fast so that when you go back to eating all food you have learned basically what got you to the way you are now. I have nothing against people that go for the surgery to me it seems more difficult than what I did. It just wasn't for us.

Look at this dude, he lost 173 lbs!! And a girl in her 20s cant lose less than this? Seriously? There are also hundred of success stories on here that are similar, just browse through the forums.

I didn't say people CAN'T do it. It's possible but the fail rates have shown to be very very high. A very select few who are extremely dedicated can keep it off. I was/am not one of those select few and I faced it. Why set myself up for failure, when I can have this wonderful tool to help me lose it and keep it off?

jhardenbergh

Last fall my wife and I were thinking about doing and she did the research on the internet for it, we decided with all the issues that could arise and having friends that new a couple people that died from it, it wasn't for us. She then started googling medical weightloss and found a program at the local hospital. We started the program on January 13th and I am down close to 175 lbs and my wife is down about 125 lbs since then. The nutritional plan used meal replacements for 3 meals a day you get 4 meal replacements if you are over 300 and a sensible dinner consisting of 6oz of lean protein, 3 servings of non starchy vegetables, and a fruit. They slowly introduce cardio workouts starting on week 3 or 4 with 3 days and 15 minutes per day. You meet with doctors every two weeks, weigh in weekly with bp check and hr check. Blood tests every 10 weeks. You meet in a group setting with a licensed psychologists weekly, as well as meet with nutritionist and exercise physiologist by appointment. It was the best decision we have ever made, outside of getting married of course. The slowly ween you off the fast so that when you go back to eating all food you have learned basically what got you to the way you are now. I have nothing against people that go for the surgery to me it seems more difficult than what I did. It just wasn't for us.

Look at this dude, he lost 173 lbs!! And a girl in her 20s cant lose less than this? Seriously? There are also hundred of success stories on here that are similar, just browse through the forums.

I didn't say people CAN'T do it. It's possible but the fail rates have shown to be very very high. A very select few who are extremely dedicated can keep it off. I was/am not one of those select few and I faced it. Why set myself up for failure, when I can have this wonderful tool to help me lose it and keep it off?

I wasn't knocking it, I considered doing it, just didn't want to risk the complications, some people might need it, I thought he was more asking people that have lost the weight how they did it. I also didn't want to restrict myself like people that have the surgery have to. I wanted to learn my triggers and psychologically deal with the triggers not just restrict them.

skatermom503

Leighby1987: You chose to have a life, not wait for your life. Don't ever apologize for your decision to have surgery. It is not an easy fix and it is not for whimps. There is no one right answer for everybody.

Fitgirlrocks

This is obviously a very personal choice. There are enormous health risks, implications, and complications of having surgery - just as there are enormous health risks, implications, and complications of being obese. It sounds to me like you are questioning your initial decision of having the surgery. You don't have to make the decision today, you still have a few months until you are required to decide (insurance purposes). I say, give it a good faith effort for the next few months. Then at that point you can make an informed decision about what is best for you. I mean really, I see two possible outcomes in March - 1. you have lost no weight at all or 2. you have lost weight and gained the confidence to keep moving forward.

Can you lose the weight? I believe you can. Would you rather lose the weight on your own or through surgery? You wouldn't be asking this question if you didn't really want to lose it on your own. You are in a supportive place on this site, but you are still the one who has to put in the work - make no mistake about it. Sometimes it takes people believing in us long before we believe in ourselves. My opinion is that you should go with your intuition - trust yourself, you know in your heart what is right for you.

622beech

I have a case very similar to yours. My highest weight 3 years ago was 359lbs. I came down with severe back pain that is unoperable. In addition, my blood pressure is extremely labile, shoots up to 250 over 100 and then 10 minutes later can fall to 85 over 50 and I pass out.
My cardiologist got me into a weight and wellness center and i got in the bypass program and was also told to lose 10-15% of my body weight before they would allow me to have the surgery.
I met with nutritionists and a phsycologist and before I new it I am today at 254 lbs. and my surgeon has told me as long as I continue to lose a pound or two a week that they don't think surgery is required.
Either way, you have got to make a permanent life style change whether you watch your diet and try to exercise the weight off. Due to my back pain, I am unable to do much exercise other than some walking and resistance training with bundgie cords.
Only You have the power to decide which is best for you. In my case I was stuck at 309 lbs. for two years until I was taught about nutrition and logging food and exercise on this site.


Good luck.

Lobster1987

I know you weren't. I'm glad that you also appreciate the fact that surgery isn't an easy way out. It is hard, especially in the beginning and we also have to watch what we eat and exercise like everybody else once we hit maintenance. It's just a tool, like MFP is.

tchrnmommy

My dad and and his wife both had it done last year after many years of obesity and health issues. I REALLY tried to talk my dad out of it but by the time he was accepted into the program...there was no changing his mind.

My thoughts....

1. you will never eat the same
2. you are just as likely to regain over time if you don't learn the lifestyle change of eating right
3. you've come so far already.....just keep going

Good luck with whatever you decide.

scubagirl319

Kiminita,

Who the hell are you to bash people for their choice of weight loss. This is not a cookie cutter process. Everyone has different needs and emotional make up. if you have been able to lose the weight by diet, that's awesome. But this is a site for support, not to bash someones choices. YES, I have had weight loss surgery, and have lost over 150 pounds in the last 11 months. It was the best thing I ever did and I should have done it years earlier. I have lost and gained 100's of pounds throughout my life. Lets quit the judgements and bashing and give people the support they need. The best thing to do is if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all.

Lobster1987

I have lost and gained 100's of pounds throughout my life.

Oh my gosh. Me too.

If only people actually knew our histories and the crap we have gone through, the yo-yo dieting, our beginning health problems, etc...and maybe if they did research, they would understand.

I hate it when people who have not had the surgery, and who have not lived the lifestyle themselves say things like they are true (claim all these bad things about surgery but have never lived it themselves) and then pass judgement on others.

So what if I had it in my 20s?! Everyone I know who has had the surgery WISHES they had done it then. I have never regretted it for one second and am happy that I was given this gift at such a young age. I feel that I can do anything now. I have my entire life ahead of me and it is looking bright.

lmelangley

I think you should keep going with MFP and avoid the surgery if you can. I know several folks who have had the surgery, and only one who was actually able to keep off the weight. The others put it back on because they still overate. It seems healthier, although slower, to lose the weight by modifying what you eat than through surgery. Laproscopic or not, it's still invasive.

scubagirl319

It doesn't matter if you choose surgery or diet to lose weight, if you don't change your lifestyle you will gain it back. That is why diets don't work. You have to make a lifetime change in your eating habits. You cannot lose the weight and then go back to eating the way you did before. With the surgery you have to work just as hard with your diet and exercise. No one way is the right way for everyone. Everyone is different.

SHDenver

I don't know that any advice you receive should or could make this decision for you. It's very personal and you have to decide if you can accept the consequences. I went in to it knowing I could follow it for a time, and with nagging suspicions that I would fall in to old habits because so many other things I tried did not work. I had the surgery (RNY) in August of 2009 at 28yrs old and was able to lose over 130lbs with it. I also ended up with 20,000 in medical bills and lost my way with it over the last year and a half due to poor choices around trying to pay that off, going from 285 to 330. (I was 435 at my heaviest) Using the knowledge I've gained with this surgery and various diets, a previous site and now this one to help me, I've been able to get back down to 307lbs and see using this plan as a way of getting the nutrients I need and eating to be satisfied while also eating healthy things to reach my goal weight.

The surgery did it's job and helped me on this path. Two years later I'm able to eat what I was before and I never had dumping syndrome, which I recommend, if you decide to get the surgery, never testing. I also had laproscopic surgery, so I'm not sure why you need to be at 300 to have that done, but the scarring is minimal with 5 scarred lines.

I'm not a big pusher of gastric bypass, mainly because as stated above it's a personal decision, but I think whatever you decide to do you're making decisions to become healthier. Let me know if you have any more specific questions about my experience.

I know that gastric bypass was the right choice for me at the time I made it, and regardless of anything I'm glad I made the decision. I've also known people that have had tremendous problems with it, including multiple surgeries to correct various problems associated with the surgery. (RNY) So again, I hope you take the information and make the right decision for you.

Goodluck!