Bariatric Surgery???

No surgery needed. Lost 160+ pounds with exercise, and consistent calorie deficit. I did it, you can too!

Edit to add: nothing worth doing is easy! Even surgery is hard

This and I think you deserve more than giving up before trying. Best wishes to you. Its your decision on which path you'll ultimately take.

Hi Penny. Don't do it. i don't know anyone that has had the surgery but I've seen a lot on the television about surgeries gone wrong. I'm sure you are aware of the risks and at the end of the day it's your decision and you'll do whatever you want to do, but I'm with all the people who have left comments below. You don't need the surgery. Loosing weight is hard but surgery isn't a quick or easy fix. You'll still need to curb your food intake and you'll still need to retrain your brain to cut out those sweets.

Cutting out foods/sweet things that you like is hard I know but it's achieveable. Doing exercise is hard too but if you are finding exercise hard maybe you just haven't found the right exercise for you. An hours Aerobics always leaves me feeling tired and exhausted and unable to get up for work the following morning but 8 miles power walking, rain or shine, early mornings or late evenings in the cold fog, doesn't matter, it always leaves me wanting more, and bouncing with energy the following morning.

It's just about finding what works for you. Don't make it the surgery, you could live to regret it. Good luck, and if you want support on your weight loss journey, send me an invite, i'll support you. We can support each other. All the best. xx

I know three people who have had the surgery and only one of the three actually looks good. All three of them lost a ton of weight, but two of them are so horribly malnourished that they lost most of their hair (and they are both women), and one of them lost several of her teeth! My friend who has had success and is healthy is extraordinarily diligent about what she eats now (which is actually sort of a head-scratcher because if she'd figured that out 10-years ago, she wouldn't have needed the surgery.)

What I will say from my observer's perspective, my friend who is healthy after the surgery not only sees her doctor regularly, but also consults with a nutritionist, and also sees a therapist. It's not a magic fix. It's a life long commitment.

I know 2 people who have had this surgery and have had success with it. However, after the surgery, they drastically changed their lifestyle habits. Both of these people are now super careful about what they eat and only eat very small portions of healthy food. Also, both of these people now exercise regularly.

So yes, the surgery can work, but hard work is still required. I would recommend trying counting calories, exercising regularly, and perhaps meeting with a nutritionist to see if doing things "the old fashioned way" will work for you first.

There is a series you can watch on Youtube called My 600 pound life. I think it might be worth watching for anyone considering bariatric surgery because the camera crew follows these people for years and explores their issues and ups and downs. It really shows how it isn't 'an easy way out' or a 'quick fix' or a 'guaranteed fix'.

I had gastric bypass in 08. I was like you and had gone to the website, read all the messages and "learned it all". I am sadly not a success story. I lost only 50% of my excess weight and I was labeled a success by the surgeons who will remind you it is made to lose between 50-75%. I will tell you what I learned "after" the surgery.

Dumping doesn't happen to everyone. In fact alot of ppl don't dump. I did not.

Actually less than 2/3rds of the patients dump on sugars and sweets. I did not. Sadly because it is one of the things I hoped would cure.

You will lose weight fast without effort but you will look like a melted candle if you do not do some hard exer-sizing as soon as the doc says it is okay.

Your stomach stretches over time and within a couple of years ALOT of ppl can eat the same way they did before.

The part of your intestine is removed and stuffed out of the way has villi in it that grab onto the calories and absorb them into your body. With those cut away you don't abosorb calories. BUT in about a year or year and half those villi grow back and you will once again absorb ALL of your calories.

ALOT of ppl end up Lactose intolerant and cannot enjoy dairy anymore, and that is explosive..For the rest of your life.

ALOT of ppl end up with reactive Hypoglycemia, which you will have for the rest of your life and you will need to learn to control it.

You will still have to exercise and count calories the rest of your life just like on here.Your body will try to save you by adapting and making things normal again, so you will do it the mfp way after a couple of years. Whether you gain or not is up to the work you want to put in it.

YOu will have to take alot of vitamins, minerals, calcium and protien the rest of your life without stopping for awhile. I have to take 150,000 iu of Vitamin D a week just to have my levels on the low end of normal. 2000 mg of calcium a day. Just to name a few.

Medications are different. Pain meds only last 2 hours on me and I count down the time for 4 hours until I can take another one. Not all ppl have that but it is not unheard of either.

Do you get headaches, arthritis, Knee pain, backaches...No Asprins for you..Tylonol only and it don't work for crap

It is a quick fix but is it a permenant fix? The message boards are full of ppl who are getting another surgery because the first one didn't work like they dreamed. If I were you I would spend some time researching the reasons it doesn't work to see if you are going to realistically be okay with those.

It's very expensive and most insurances will only let you have one. If you have Medicaid or Medicare you have a limited amount of surgeons who will do it. You will be required to do regular follow ups so is there going to be a co pay you can afford monthly for a year?

If you do it, Your in for the ride of your life. You will jump out of bed and weigh yourself 10 times a day amazed at how much and fast you are losing with no effort.

There are also a whole host of problems that can happen to your body it happens to less ppl than not.

After about the first month, some ppl are sooner, you will fight hunger and cravings. They say the hunger is in your head so keep that in mind but it feels like real hunger. And the cravings, oh.

If you want details or have any questions PM me and I will answer anything I can.

I think its something that you need to talk to your doctor about. The surgery will only work if you make considerable lifestyle changes as well. This will include new diet and exercise. The surgery itself is not a walk in the park. I have seen a few friends go through it. Its hard on the body.

It IS all about lifstyle change. My suggestion is to change the lifestyle first and see. Surgery should be the very last resort.

There is so much to do just to prepare for such surgery, and the surgery is so risky. Just do the things (calorie reduction/tracking) you would need to do for the surgery anyway, but instead of surgery, keep on going w/ the reduced calories, and exercise as you can. I know three people who had the surgery. All three were successful. BUT two gained back. One of the two gained most back, and the other is now significantly heavier than he ever was in his life. In fact, I believe his life is in danger, though he would never tell me. The one who is still, uh, not overweight, is no longer "thin," but at least still at a healthy weight. She continues to go to support meetings now and again, and practices good eating and exercise habits. Point is, this is what she would have to be doing whether she ever had the surgery or not. In my opinion, if you do not HAVE TO have surgery, don't do it. This is true w/ any surgery. (BTW, I am such a hypocrite. I had lasik. Not necessary at all, but did it anyway. Luckily, very successful and no regrets. But this is a far cry from bariatric surgery.)
Anyway, good luck with whatever you decide. Also, don't rush. After all, you're only 64.

My mother has had 2 surgeries. She had stomach stapling early on. After this surgery she vomited often. The acid in the bile was eating away at her esophagus so much that a different doctor told her that she would have to have gastric bypass to correct the problem or she would have esophageal cancer within 10 years. She had the second surgery to fix the problems with the first. She has always said that she wished that she had never had the first surgery. Yes, she lost weight because she couldn't keep anything down. She couldn't enjoy meals with her family, go out for dinner, etc. and always carried a "barf bucket" in the car with her. It is a toss-up. If you are healthy and heavy, I would give it all you have to lose weight on your own. These surgeries should really only be a last resort, not a quick fix.

agreed 100%

I had the surgery in 2003. My weight at the time was 285 piunds. I was diabetic, had high blood pressure, my joints hurt constantly, and I suffered from major depression. Prior to the surgery, I had lost 100+ four different times. Post surgery, I lost 100 pounds during the first 100 days. It took me the next year to lose the rest...and I did lose the rest, down to 135. I kept it off for a long time, until i started having issues with a teenage daughter. ALso, I remarried, and my husband loves to feed me!!! Bariatric surgery does not mean a labotomy, and if you were an emotionsal eater in the past, you will have to constantly guard against that. I didn't let myself gain back all the way. When the scales hit 180, it was a wake-up call. I pulled out my old journals, my old pictures, and became inspired again. My current weight is 164. I am doing pretty good! I have no regrets for having the surgery (Roux-en-Y). It saved my life. If you have more questions, message me.

Ok, here's a tale of two people.

Me at age 27 I had my gallbladder removed and I freaked out started eating vegetarian and very-low-fat (10% calories or less from fat) Went from 263 pounds to 183 pounds before deciding I like meat to much to deprive myself and put most of it back.

At age 34 my wife and I went on South Beach, I went from 241 lbs to 163 lbs. I still follow a fair amount of southbeach: whole grains (mostly), leaner meats (usually) , whole fruit, not fruit juice etc.

At age 42 I put back all the weight to 241 lbs and now for the last time, I've taken it off. This time I'm not depriving myself of anything but I'm exercising and using proper portion control. I run and I love running and I hit the weights a couple times a week to retain my muscle and get in better shape for running and in general.

My wife got a lap band a couple of years ago and between the 20 pounds they made her lose beforehand and the weight after she's lost a little over 100 lbs. It took about 6 or 7 trips to the Dr to get fluid added to the band before it started really working and we've had to have it slightly unfilled because she's had AWFUL heartburn which can happen if you are overfilled.

The band doesn't rewire your disgestive system but it squashes your stomach to make a sort of smaller stomach. There are certain foods that if my wife eats she will start majorly salivating because the food has "stuck" and then it all slimes up. The oddest of all things is lettuce for sliming. Most other vegetables are fine but no salad anymore...

She's had to work as hard with the surgery as I have been the last year without the surgery. We are back on my wifes insurance since I switched to a contracting job and her insurance will not cover fills or anything to do with bariatriac surgery so we will be paying for fills out of pocket since she's decided to get another fill because the unfill didn't make the heartburn go away and if she's gonna have heartburn she might as well take benefit from the lapband.

It's a tool it's not a miracle cure but she couldn't lose any appreciable weight before the band so it did help where nothing else could.

I honestly believe most people are obese because of emotional issues. I know I am . I don't believe the surgery would heal what is actually broken . Its important to work through the emotions that caused the weight . It is very possible to lose weight and keep it off with diet and exercise . The only situation where I think the surgery is a good idea is if it's medically needed. You can do it ! MFP is a great tool . Eat clean foods and stay within your calories goals .exercise at your own speed . If you can walk for 5 minutes . Walk those 5 minutes every day and before you know it you will be able to walk for 10 minutes . Feel free to add me as a friend . I have a lot to lose . I know I can do it and I know you can too !

This is definitely a personal decision. I, too, had investigated surgery, but when I discovered that the surgery rearranges my insides permanently and would have me on an extremely rigid and restrictive diet, I decided that I would change my diet on my own, save money, save the pain and suffering of a surgery and just do life. Oddly, I think the one thing that was the biggest deterrant was being told I would never be able to have something carbonated again. I love beer and still enjoy one on occasion (always within my caloric intake levels). I have had cheesecake, chocolate and pie, but always in small amounts and within my calorie levels. I am not sure all bariatric clinics do things like they do in my area, but sitting through the info session and going home to read more just cemented why this was not a good choice for me. Happy to say that I am down 33 pounds since that scary session with the support of MFP.

Good luck with your decision.

I know 2 people who have had this surgery and have had success with it. However, after the surgery, they drastically changed their lifestyle habits. Both of these people are now super careful about what they eat and only eat very small portions of healthy food. Also, both of these people now exercise regularly.

So yes, the surgery can work, but hard work is still required. I would recommend trying counting calories, exercising regularly, and perhaps meeting with a nutritionist to see if doing things "the old fashioned way" will work for you first.

^^^THIS.

My husband had a gastric sleeve done almost two years ago and lost over 125 pounds, but he's VERY careful about getting his protein in and is active. He trail bikes, hikes, and does p90x, and he doesn't eat garbage. Speaking as a nurse who has worked with post op bariatric patients, if you get the surgery and don't change your lifestyle, you will have issues with abdominal adhesions (very painful), hair loss, poor muscle tone, dry, flaky skin, brittle nails, excess skin, fatigue, anemia, etc. A former co-worker (also a nurse) had the procedure done, and she now faces routine IV infusions of iron dextran due to anemia-because she lost some of the weight, but still eats the same crap she did before surgery and doesn't exercise. Surgery isn't an easy fix, it is a TOOL for morbidly obese people that MUST accompany a complete lifestyle change-the same changes you would make doing things the old fasioned way. I also met the criteria for the surgery at my highest weight, but I decided to give the old fashioned route a try first. I met with a trainer for two sessions just to point me in the right direction with exercise, ate healthy (no prepackaged, processed foods), and BOOM-dropped 40 pounds in over 4 months. BOTH routes are difficult but doable, but you have to commit to lifestyle changes either way