Tell me again why I should NOT have gastric bypass surgery
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Don't do it.........you can do this without that..........look at the people on here and see their success stories....if they can do it, you can.0
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Opinions are like *kitten*; everyone has one. They don't matter. What matters is what YOU want, and what you and your doctors think is the right thing for you.
There are pros and cons to everything we do in life.
For myself, I had lap band surgery last December, and, FOR ME, it was the best decision I ever made. It is a tool that I am using to help me make the internal changes that I need to make, nothing more. NOT an easy way out, NOT a quick fix or even a solution, it is a tool that *I* have to choose to use correctly, or not, and I will not allow anyone else to try and guilt me into feeling like I am less than because I needed this type of help to finally change what I needed to change all along.
Congratulations on your success! I am so happy your TOOL of choice is working with your determination to lose the weight!! Unless it were life and death, I would never give up my WLS gastric bypass RNY TOOL. (And no, since I keep up my labs - like I was told to do - I know my iron, B's and various other things you are WARNED about prior to surgery, are kept in line and I am healthy, happy and again losing weight.)0 -
Remember that you will see more of the horror stories of gastric bypass surgeries posted online than success stories. It's only natural that people who have had a bad experience or complications will want to talk about it or ask questions. There are far more success stories out there than people realize - but those folks are busy losing weight and living their lives, no motivation to post about them.
I had RNY gastric bypass 5.5 mths ago and would do it again in a heartbeat - I'm already so much healthier after being severely overweight for most of my 49 years. Yes, I tried every diet in the book, therapy, nutritionists, etc. and would lose and regain the same 100lbs so many times I've lost count. I believe this is the tool I need to succeed long term and I am not ashamed of that. I have modified my lifestyle, exercise, and stay on my plan. For those who ask why I couldn't do that in past - I will answer that I did - each and every time I dieted, but I couldn't maintain it. All the surgery is doing is giving me a fighting chance now.
My husband had the same surgery 3 yrs ago and lost over 200lbs - he no longer has diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, edema in his legs, back pain, or sleep apnea. He has kept the weight off and is a far happier person. We are committed to leading a healthier lifestyle and are in this for the long haul. WLS helped, but is truly just a tool.
Make up your own mind regarding whether to have surgery or not - get as much information as possible. This will always be a controversial topic but remember that only your opinion really matters.0 -
Its been something that I keep coming back to when I fail to do well with changing my behaviors in relation to food and losing weight.
But I am healthy - no co-morbidities Yet. My only problem... BMI of 56... yikes.
I don't say this to scare you. My step sister was morbidly obese...very badly. She had the surgery and now, 3 years later after losing over 400 lbs...she has gained it all back and now has a bad heart and diabietes. She is not well at all. I suggest trying dieting first and surgery LAST.0 -
HI,
My name is Michelle, I too struggled every day with gastric by pass, only because I wanted to loose the weight so bad. I too did not have high blood pressure, diabetes, or any bad disease due to my obesity. I went to my doctor crying and she did do me up a letter stating that I needed the bypass, however to my surprise the wait list is huge and I am so glad.
Having bypass is not reversible, you loose most of your stomach, what if I wanted more kids, it was very scary. I did however find a surgery that I was happy with. I did research on a lap band and I went on June 19,2012 and was banded. I have lost 50 lbs, I am so happy, and I am loosing the weight the right way. Plus this is reversible, so once my weight is gone I can have it totally removed. I went to Mexico to have mine done and I would love to share my success with you
Love,
Michelle0 -
It's interesting to me that most of the people against surgery never had a BMI over 50. Honestly, you need to do what's best for YOU!! My highest BMI was 53. I was 340 pounds and miserable. I did my research and had gastric bypass surgery. BEST DECISION EVER!! I've lost 200 pounds and have kept it off for over 3 years. No way in hell I could have done that without surgery. Some of us need this tool to help us get healthy and stay healthy. Period.0
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I had two sisters who had this surgery with a year or so of each other. Eleven and a half years ago, my younger sister (then 37) had gastric bypass and she was sick immediately after surgery and couldn't eat much even months later. Just unhealthy looking too and lost from a size 24-26 to a 10 very quickly. She died a year after after when she had her gallbladder removed (common after WLS). My other sister lost a lot of weight immediately down to a size 16 and then stalled a yr or so later. She did not have the complications my younger sister did. She also still cannot eat certain things. She is probably a size 10 now and she weighed 350+. She is still glad she had it done as she just could not quit eating and she had no energy. Her knees hurt, many bad things with the weight. I think it has lots of pros and cons so each one has to weigh what they think is best for them. If your quality of life is bad and you are limited in helping yourself with food, exercise, etc., I would probably do it. Neither of them wanted more children either.0
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My mom did it. She lost 36 lb without excercise in les than 2 months.0
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I'm blessed enough to have never had to consider this, but I have 2 women in my family who have with 2 very different stories.
I have a 20 something year old cousin who found it too difficult to eat healthy and work out, so she had lapband. She continued to eat the way she did pre-surgery and refused to work out because "I don't have to, I had surgery so I don't have to do that" and gained back twice what she lost. Of course she's blaming it on the surgery and wants Gastric bypass now instead.
I also have a 60+ year old aunt who had lapband, worked her butt off and looks AMAZING. She needed the boost from the surgery to allow her to exercise; there was so much weight on her knees that she could barely walk let along hike or run or do most any other cardio exercise. She understands that she will have to watch what she eats (and how she eats it) every day for the rest of her life. But she's okay doing that. She just had her 3 year-aversary and still looks amazing.
Best of luck to you. Just know that if you have it in you, you have it in you; regardless of whether you have a surgery or not. That decision is something only you can make.0 -
Something to consider is that if you are truly addicted to food, your addiction can move to something else post-op.
My aunt who had gastric bypass is pretty much knocking at death's door due to switching her food addiction to alcohol. She was doing great the first few years. Now, not so much.0 -
My BMI was 57 when I started too.
It was hard at first, but it's gotten infinitely easier as time has passed. I didn't have weight loss surgery, since I'm against having surgery unless it's to save my life or limb (emergency situations, basically), but I'm not going to tell you not to do it. I talked to my doctor and had a frank conversation. We did bloodwork, and it turned out I have insulin resistance but not diabetes. Yet.
I said I would lose weight, and I have, no surgery necessary. So, I didn't need surgery to save my life; I'm saving my own life. If a heart attack had been imminent, I may have had surgery, but other than my insulin, my body is still in great condition. Hopefully, the next round of bloodwork will show a big improvement in the insulin resistance. If not, we'll just keep checking. (My sugar levels are fine, thank goodness; it's the insulin that's out of whack.)
Anyway, if you decide not to have the surgery, feel free to add me as a friend. My BMI is almost almost almost so close to out of the 50s (I think it's 50.1 right now), and I've lost just shy of 47 pounds. As I said, it was 57, and I brought it down to 50 in seven months. Seven short months! You can do it too.
What I would recommend more than anything, no matter what you decide, is getting a hold of how you view food. You can still have a piece of cake or pizza or ice cream or chips! You just have to fit them into your calories (or realize that eating 200 extra calories one day a week isn't going to kill you or put 10 pounds back on). Once you have surgery, you won't be able to eat certain foods without side effects, and/or you won't be able to eat as much. Personally, I like having control over what goes in my stomach, and that means flexibility. Some surgeries don't give you much wiggle room. For example, if I go to a wedding, I want to be able to enjoy a piece of cake. With certain surgeries, that could cause dumping; with other surgeries, I'd be full after a few bites of dinner.
Additionally, if you binge, surgery will stop that while you lose weight, but in the future, you could put the weight back on. If it's lap band, they can adjust it to keep you from binging, but then you miss out on things like that wedding cake. If it's the RNY, I've read stories about people who stretch their stomach back out. That's why I stress learning good habits and changing how you view food because, if you don't, surgery won't be worth it. I'm not criticizing - honestly. I'm just making a point.
Good luck. :flowerforyou:0 -
The major *side effect* is malabsorption of nutrients that are essential to your body. This is a huge issue for people who have this weight loss surgery. I'm talking simple vitamins that you get from food. Food that you can not eat because your food consumption is going to be a few tablespoons here and there. It's not worth it.0
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My fear would be going through the surgery, suffering through recovery, and then STILL not modifying behavior to wind up back where i started. I have a cousin that went through it and she's just as heavy now as she was before.....after some SERIOUS complications from surgery. Lots of suffering to find up back where she started.
I have a co worker who breezed right through the surgery and recovery just before I started working here. A year and a half later he has put back on over 90lbs...
Lots of expense and trouble to get no where would be my worry.
Diet and exercise got me more than 2/3 of the way to where I need to be in less than a year and it'll get me the rest of the way less than 12 months. No horrifying side effects, no expense, and no invasive surgery.0 -
"Then "cake happens?" 2 Snickers bars are happening for me right now, so what?
Focus on calories, you're focusing on things that really don't matter. Weight loss is a psychological game. You get frustrated, upset, feel like a failure, you lose. Keep your head on straight. Pick your self up like nothing happens and continue. Many of us have tried to lose weight many times. We have failed many many times, yet eventually we learn from our mistakes, we learn what's works for us and we become successful.
Weight loss surgery won't work for you. You know why? It doesn't cure the true issue to weight loss/gain. It's psychological not physical. Lets say you get your surgery, and cake comes around, what will happen? You're going to magically pass it up? Doubt it. You'll eat it, probably feel worse, and start a downward spiral back to being over weight.
Focus on "IMPROVING" your diet, doesn't mean change it. Maybe eat 50% good, and 50% what you usually eat. Learn to cook things you like but a low calorie version. After you have your diet about 50% good, then eat good a bit more, maybe 60% and so on. This doesn't happen over night. Weight loss is about habits, it takes time forum habits.
Sometimes people ask me "What did you do to lose your weight?" My reply is, "I didn't quit." There is no secret, just patience, and learning from your mistakes, take your time. Weight loss is a skill, the more you practice it the better you get. So put your time in and practice a lot so you get good.
You've got a great mindset! Congrats on the weight loss!0 -
My other favorite thing about not having surgery = no surgery to fix loose skin.
I'd rather try my best to eat right and get my butt to the gym five day per week then go through a major surgery and then a few surgeries to fix loose skin. That's just too much surgery for me.
And then to risk gaining it all back? No thanks. At least if I gain a few pounds back once I hit my goal weight, it doesn't undo multiple surgeries.0 -
Mid 2010 my doctor said she seriously want me to think about WLS ..... I was prediabetic, so unfit and not in a healthy place.
Having seen friends STRUGGLE through WLS, and still have huge food issues that is not resolved by the surgery I felt that I needed to give losing weight the "old fashioned way" one more chance.
I had my "WHY" - I put my head into it and went for it - 6 September 2010 I started - by 6 September 2011 I was 110lbs lighter - It had changed my life - without WLS!!
Cake will happen, temptations will happen whether you have the surgery or not - if your head is not in the right place the path of WLS is just in my mind a more miserable place as you deal with the restrictions of the WLS - as well as the normal issues of temptations and cravings.....
I saw my doctor yesterday - I am in the best physical shape of my life - and I for one am so glad I did not resort to surgery - today I can eat what I want - when I want (obviously within my calorie goals) - without any of the negatives WLS would have imposed on me and my body....
My suggestion - go for it for 6 months - give it your all - and by that time you will be a long way to your goal - and know you can do this!!
The most important thing to stress - you need to CHANGE what you do right now - the person I am today is a very different person from who I was in 2010 - I eat good healthy food - I get my butt off the coach and workout - I love being active....... I love my life much better than the coach potato that was sitting on the internet all hours of the night and day :-) :-) :-)
OK back to work for me - good luck - you CAN do this - before you know it you will be here telling others your success story..0 -
I get where you're coming from. And believe me I understand. My starting BMI was 69.5. I was 405 pounds. I thought that it would be literally IMPOSSIBLE for me to lose it without some kind of surgery. And I had everything under the sun - high blood pressure, my resting pulse was like 110, I had to shop at the big men's store for jeans (and I'm clearly a girl...sigh), I even went into a coma for 4 days because of DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis). I thought it was going to be hell to lose it....and it was. But you know, it took me a long time, and I started out slowly....but every pound I lost I dedicated it to something in my life that I couldn't do that I was going to do once I finished. Now that I'm within 15 pounds of my goal weight, I know that all of this struggle of losing it on my own was so worth it, and I've gained skills to use in the future that I'm going to use to keep this weight off. Now the little things mean so much - riding rides at the amusement park, buckling my seat belt, buying clothes in the junior's section, running for miles on the treadmill - they all mean so very much to me, and I am so happy with my decision not to get the surgery. I know it is a last chance for a lot of people, but I had a last chance and I decided to really push through and educate myself on how my future would be if I had chosen surgery....and I decided that I was going to enjoy the struggles, enjoy the setbacks, and enjoy my future life as a healthy happy person. And I don't regret one step of the way. I am so happy that I chose to not get the surgery. I am so happy that I am finally in the homestretch. And I am so happy to be alive.0
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The major *side effect* is malabsorption of nutrients that are essential to your body. This is a huge issue for people who have this weight loss surgery. I'm talking simple vitamins that you get from food. Food that you can not eat because your food consumption is going to be a few tablespoons here and there. It's not worth it.
^^This
My husband's grandmother also had Gastric bypass and she has serious **cough** tummy **cough** troubles now and her docs say it's because of the malabsorption caused by the surgery. Yes she is older and yes she had the surgery a LONG time ago, but it's still something to consider.0 -
I know two people who have had different procedures for weight loss and they've lost both lost over 80 lbs, one over 150 lbs. They both had their problems and I wouldn't say it was easy for either of them. In fact, one still suffers a new allergy to iron and needs blood transfusions because of it as well as some other malabsorption sydromes. That requires vigilance in her intake more than she ever needed before, but now it's a matter of life or death, not just potential morbidity from being obese. The one who lost the most had a support group to go to that was formed and maintained by the physician who did the surgery on the members and she says that helped a lot. She's still not as physically fit as she could or should be, either, and while she's definitely thin, she needs tight clothes to hold up her sagging skin and you can tell she has no muscle.
I asked them both about the grieving they had to do for the loss of the old behaviors and ability to eat and enjoy anything they cared to eat. You have to understand that the surgery comes with forced behavior modification, if not life-threatening new conditions, but it will not cure what goes on in your head when it comes to self- perception and self-talk. That you will need a different kind of help for, but there is help for that, as it seems your surgeon has prescribed for you. Start there first because if you can change your thoughts and self-talk, you might be able to change your behavior, slowly, with support, and the weight loss could follow. But that doesn't mean you shouldn't have the surgery.0 -
I get where you're coming from. And believe me I understand. My starting BMI was 69.5. I was 405 pounds. I thought that it would be literally IMPOSSIBLE for me to lose it without some kind of surgery. And I had everything under the sun - high blood pressure, my resting pulse was like 110, I had to shop at the big men's store for jeans (and I'm clearly a girl...sigh), I even went into a coma for 4 days because of DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis). I thought it was going to be hell to lose it....and it was. But you know, it took me a long time, and I started out slowly....but every pound I lost I dedicated it to something in my life that I couldn't do that I was going to do once I finished. Now that I'm within 15 pounds of my goal weight, I know that all of this struggle of losing it on my own was so worth it, and I've gained skills to use in the future that I'm going to use to keep this weight off. Now the little things mean so much - riding rides at the amusement park, buckling my seat belt, buying clothes in the junior's section, running for miles on the treadmill - they all mean so very much to me, and I am so happy with my decision not to get the surgery. I know it is a last chance for a lot of people, but I had a last chance and I decided to really push through and educate myself on how my future would be if I had chosen surgery....and I decided that I was going to enjoy the struggles, enjoy the setbacks, and enjoy my future life as a healthy happy person. And I don't regret one step of the way. I am so happy that I chose no surgery. I am so happy that I am finally in the homestretch. And I am so happy to be alive.
:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:0 -
In my personal acquaintances, it seems to have about a 50% success rate. I know personally about a dozen people who have had some form of weightloss surgery, and about half have had significant, long-term weightloss. One had life-threatening complications, but thankfully she pulled through (didn't lose any weight). Myself, I probably wouldn't unless there was clear evidence that my weight was directly endangering my life.0
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I had planned to do the surgery but as I got closer to the date realized that if I couldn't be successful without the surgery I wouldn't be successful with it either. It changes the whole way you look at food. It is a big risk. I went to several nutrition classes and really listened to how women had to change their habits, super small portions, losing their taste for coffee or foods that they really loved, pain and vomiting if they over ate, gaining the weight back. It wasn't worth the risk for me. Moving and portion control is working for me so far, and no risk. I'm not going to slip this time but if I do I'll look at the surgery option again. It isn't a magic wand, you still have to prepare and fix the food and make the right decisions about everything you put in your mouth.0
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The decision is up to you and I would never judge someone either way. However, remember one thing....Cake will still happen after your WLS. Everyone I have known (with the exception of one person) who has had the surgery has gained all of their weight and more back because they did not change their mindset. Weight management is so much about mindset. Good luck in whatever you choose!!!0
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Something to consider is that if you are truly addicted to food, your addiction can move to something else post-op.
My aunt who had gastric bypass is pretty much knocking at death's door due to switching her food addiction to alcohol. She was doing great the first few years. Now, not so much.
Yes, this. My cousin passed away a couple of months ago from the effects of alcoholism and malnutrition several years after her bypass surgery. She got skinny after the surgery, but was never the same again mentally. In the end, her mind was gone and she was angry and combative to all her kids and family. Such a sad end to her life.
I have heard that the surgery can change the way your body metabolizes alcohol, and you are at a much higher risk for becoming an alcoholic physically as well as psychologically, so you have to be really careful.0 -
Sometimes people ask me "What did you do to lose your weight?" My reply is, "I didn't quit."
PU_239, Love that quote!! So very, very true.:drinker: :drinker:0 -
I know several people who have lost weight with gastric bypass AND have kept it off. Sometimes all we need is a jumpstart! I say go for it! Just acknowledge beforehand that there ARE risks, including the possibility that you MAY die. It's rare but it does happen. If you do decide to go for it, get your affairs in order beforehand. Not trying to be morbid, there is little chance that this will happen to you, but you have to be realistic as well. And good luck!0
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My other favorite thing about not having surgery = no surgery to fix loose skin.
This isn't a given. I have not had weight loss surgery, but I have inches of loose skin. I'm not in any rush to have the surgery to get rid of it, but loose skin and weight loss surgery are not mutually exclusive. I will very likely have that surgery at some point down the road, but I won't need it because I had weight loss surgery.0 -
My brother had gastric bypass over 10 years ago and although he orginally lost a ton of weight...because he never learned to modify his eating habits he gained a lot of it back over the years. What's worse is that he's had a lot of complications over the years and one of them was him getting really sick because his body was not getting enough vitamin b12 from the foods he ate. It seemed like his new stomach couldn't break down the food well enough to pass through the essential vitamins he needs. So till this date he has to see the doc every month to get shots. The other thing is that he still eats like a pigeon but is still overweight...I understand why and that's because his body has adjusted to his low caloric intake. So see...it's not all what it's cracked up to be.
Do it on your own...take it day by day. Be patient with yourself....it took you years to get to the BMI that are at now and therefore, will take time for it to come off. The slower the weight comes off the longer the success. I know you can do it....
However if you do choose to go with the surgery, please educate yourself and dedicate yourself to learning healthy habits because that may be one way that this procedure can be successful for the many years to come.0 -
Are you 100% sure of this?But I am healthy - no co-morbidities Yet.
Cholestrol
triglycerides
blood pressure
glucose issues(borderline diabetes or diabetic)
etc?
My highest BMI was 60 and my GP said he couldn't figure it out, but I had some of the best blood panel and vital sign numbers he had ever seen.. I looked at him and asked... "Well Doc, just because I'm fat, do you think I sit around on the couch all day and drink bacon grease?" ... I once even had to have my cholesterol checked a second time because my doctor thought it was a false reading because it was so good. My morbidly obese grandmother lived to be 90 and she lived on her own up until the time of her death. Her only health issue was not related to her obesity but rather to a genetic blood disorder that she had. Not everyone who is super-morbidly obese has co-morbidities or will develop them. Now I'm sure I would be a lot worse off if I was drinking soda, eating candy and processed foods all day, but I don't really eat those things except during social events.
OK, anyway I am scheduled for gastric sleeve surgery on March 13th. I view it as a tool. Just like MFP is a tool. It's not going to lose weight for you but it is one tool that can aid me in losing weight and more importantly, keeping it off. I went through many years of toying the idea of gastric bypass but I just couldn't handle the malabsorptive component of the surgery. I didn't want to risk being vitamin deficient due to the part of the small intestine that was bypassed. I thought about the band, but I didn't like the idea of constant followups, and having a foreign object inside my body that could malfunction. When I researched the Vertical sleeve I knew that this could be the right thing for me: a tool that will help curb my appetite, restrict how much I eat, but will still allow for absorption of vitamins from food that is eaten. Although surgery is always a risk, The VSG surgery is actually as safe as gallbladder surgery which was comforting.
I have friends who have had various WLS and different degrees of success or failures.... and you know what? I knew ahead of time which ones would have success and which ones didn't. The friend who had WLS after already losing over100 pounds went on to lose another 75 pounds and has kept it off for several years now. My friend who had all you can eat chicken wings the weekend before her surgery is now back up to her original weight.
I know that even with weight loss surgery, losing weight and keeping it off is hard work. I'll still need to use my other tools like exercise and food journaling. WLS is not the easy way out. It's not an escape from diet and exercise. It's not the "wrong way to do it" either. WLS does not make you any less virtuous for having used this tool to help you meet your goals. It's a deeply personal decision don't make it based on what other people will think of you. Make the best decision for YOU and go with that.0
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