? for those who need to lose 85 lbs +

underthecherrytree
underthecherrytree Posts: 532 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
If you had the opportunity to have gastric bypass completely free, would you do it? Why or why not? My friend just found out her insurance covers her 100% since she has a bmi of 48 and is considering doing it.

For me, I am not sure if I would or not because I feel capable enough of losing it through diet and exercise. If I was at a point where exercise was near impossible for me, then definitely.

Replies

  • deprek
    deprek Posts: 101 Member
    I've given thought to this before but ultimately came to the conclusion I would not.

    My reason being that even with the surgery, you have to make changes in your life. You have to change the way you eat. You need to exercise. It has to be a lifetime commitment. So I guess my main thought is if you are willing to do it for the surgery, then why not do it without the surgery.
  • ajhugz
    ajhugz Posts: 452 Member
    I wouldn't do it because its not going to teach you how to eat. i know someone you gained their weight back even after having the surgery.
  • Phrick
    Phrick Posts: 2,765 Member
    No, I wouldn't. At least not at this point. Quite honestly I must say that right now I don't believe I have the self-control to maintain it forever afterward. I'm doing it (weight loss) this way with MFP and eating a calorie deficit and exercising in order to take the time to teach myself. Once I've done that, I won't "NEED" gastric bypass surgery anymore.
  • groversa
    groversa Posts: 450 Member
    I think it would be very very tempting, but I don't think I would. I would MUCH RATHER tell people I worked my butt off to get where I want to be rather than saying I got surgery.
  • TerriAnne53
    TerriAnne53 Posts: 197 Member
    I've given thought to this before but ultimately came to the conclusion I would not.

    My reason being that even with the surgery, you have to make changes in your life. You have to change the way you eat. You need to exercise. It has to be a lifetime commitment. So I guess my main thought is if you are willing to do it for the surgery, then why not do it without the surgery.
    I totally agree with this lady. Everyone can chose to change. and you need to change your habits and take care of yourself.
  • highcountrymama
    highcountrymama Posts: 19 Member
    I went through the class in November and I'll have to tell you that it's tempting. To me its a medical response to a medical problem. When I was turned down by my insurance, I resigned myself to just be fat and die early.

    Fast forward to today. I quit Weight Watchers and started here. I'm doing 10,000 steps per day and trying to stay right around 1,300 calories and the weight is coming off. I am profoundly hypo-thyroid, even with medication, and didn't think it was possible, but I'm losing about two pounds per week.

    Thank goodness I was turned down. I can do this. Your friend can, too!
  • Aarjono
    Aarjono Posts: 228 Member
    I wouldn't at this point for myself. I have considered it in the past and hopefully won't have to consider it if all goes well with my effort this time around.

    My sister had Roux-en-y and has since started having terrible, debilitating low blood sugar problems, which they are finding is a long term side effect that is showing up about 5yrs out. Plus since you essentially have no stomach, many medications can't be taken or don't work correctly because they can't be absorbed correctly.
  • RoadsterGirlie
    RoadsterGirlie Posts: 1,195 Member
    No way in effing hell.

    And yes, I could have been a candidate. Oyvey...
  • wikitbikit
    wikitbikit Posts: 518 Member
    I don't have any particular health problems beyond being fat and pre- All Sorts of Terrible Things, so no, I wouldn't do it. Surgery of any type is a big deal, potentially fatal. I am not yet in a position where it's any kind of life or death thing.

    My cousin had ... some sort of surgery done about a year ago. She could barely walk anymore, needed knee surgery... but her doctor wouldn't operate on her knees because she was too fat. He wanted her to exercise to lose weight so he could do the surgery, but she couldn't exercise enough to make any headway with her weight because her knees were so bad... and around and around. Other parts of her health were suffering and it was pretty much coming down to a life or death thing for her. It made sense that she had it done, to me.

    She looks great now and can walk and exercise and all that, but food is still a very weird thing for her. She can't eat much quantity-wise, and on top of that, there are a lot of things she can't eat period, no matter the quantity. For a really long time she couldn't stand to drink water because it had acquired a very specific, unpleasant taste to her. So... it hasn't been fun and games for her, but her quality of life is SO much better, and it's not something she would have been able to accomplish without the surgery.
  • NewCaddy
    NewCaddy Posts: 845 Member
    I've given thought to this before but ultimately came to the conclusion I would not.

    My reason being that even with the surgery, you have to make changes in your life. You have to change the way you eat. You need to exercise. It has to be a lifetime commitment. So I guess my main thought is if you are willing to do it for the surgery, then why not do it without the surgery.

    I agree with this. I've known 3 different people who thought it was a quick fix. They all successfully lost the weight, but because they weren't committed to the changes you have to make, the weight is back on.
  • lostinthe619
    lostinthe619 Posts: 98
    Nope, my roommate's ex-gf had it done, she didn't bother learning how to eat correctly and gained all the weight right back after losing it. Meanwhile at the same time I had lost my first 70lbs by eating right and working out hard. I feel that for some people that there's no other choice but to get it done, others try to use it as the easy way out.
  • Dianescraps
    Dianescraps Posts: 84
    Nope, it's not for me at all. I hate having any surgeries.
  • blink1021
    blink1021 Posts: 1,115 Member
    No not for me all the problems you can have from it. May be if it was death or have it I would consider it, but right now diet and exercise are for me .
  • Celeigh12
    Celeigh12 Posts: 763 Member
    I'm so glad I didn't, though I don't judge those who do. I figure either way I was going to have to tackle my food demons and learn how to live healthily with food. I'm grateful I was able to do so without rerouting my insides!
  • MumOfADuo
    MumOfADuo Posts: 294 Member
    Nope mostly because I have lost weight before so I know I can DO it...its just I stop at some point.....I have a couple friends that have had it done over the years and they have gained the weight back.....for me its also about all the feelings of worthlessness and feelings of failure that I have allowed to creep into my head over the years...if I chose to have the surgery, I would yet again feel like I couldnt even figure out how to lose weight.....we CAN do this....there is no magic to it.....:flowerforyou:
  • airangel59
    airangel59 Posts: 1,887 Member
    Simple answer: No

    Another person wrote "My reason being that even with the surgery, you have to make changes in your life. You have to change the way you eat. You need to exercise. It has to be a lifetime commitment. So I guess my main thought is if you are willing to do it for the surgery, then why not do it without the surgery."

    This is SO true. I do know a lot depends on circumstances. My place does the surgery & I fit the bill for it, went to a few seminars about it, at the time they were pushing the band (now it's vertical sleeve & roux en y). I have type 2, HTN & had bouts of heartburn and the BMI/weight that would allow the surgery.

    I have 2 cousins that had the surgery, lost the weight, doing fine....BUT.....

    I code medical records for a living. I see the complications that can happen with bariatric surgery. Not saying it will happen to everyone (heck, there are complications that can happen with something as simple as T&A, cholecystectomies and herniorrhaphies) but I was not willing to take the chance. I wanted to do it on my own, learning to eat properly, not having any issues with eating certain foods and not risking complications during or after surgery. Most bariatric surgeons require you to lose x amount of weight prior to the surgery anyhow, so why not just continue that loss on your own.

    Just my thoughts here.
  • cookiealbright
    cookiealbright Posts: 605 Member
    No, I would not. I think I like to do things myself and be in control. Today is my birthday and I ate alot, had some drinks, with the surgery you have no choices. You just can't eat that much ever. Monday, I'm back on the wagon. My grandchildren's mother is getting the surgery and I'm afraid for her. She is so young and to be altering your body like that at such a young age is scarey to me, there's no going back. Her mother had the surgery, she was very heavy and could not excercise because she has MS so that was a different story and it seems like it's working well for her. I guess it depends on your situation, but for me...no. :flowerforyou:
  • aliann30
    aliann30 Posts: 291 Member
    nope nope nope! I've known several people who have gotten the sleeve (became VERY popular in the office I used to work at), and a few who have had gastric bypass. As strict as their diet is, and it's SUPPOSED to be for the rest of their life (though I know one who doesn't follow it at all and suffers for it), why go through all that if you can be just as disciplined and lose it in a healthy way that does not permanently alter your anatomy for the rest of your life? Doing it with no surgery I can treat myself to cake on my birthday and not have a date with the porcelain throne afterward. I can drink at the same time as my meal (not having to wait 30 min afterward), I can drink as much coffee as I want, I can eat nuts and apples with the skin. Oh, and if you don't eat enough protein and exercise after the surgery you will lose a dangerous amount of muscle mass. So when you decide that you're "skinny" enough and think that you can start eating like a normal person, and the pounds start to pack back on, you will be severely worse off than you were before you had the surgery because your body composition will be mostly fat and very little muscle.

    THINNER does NOT equal healthier if you're not ready for a healthy lifestyle.
  • makelith34
    makelith34 Posts: 1
    i would not either; my doctor wants me to do it but i did a lot of research and found even though many lose a lot of of weight at first a great many people end up gaining a fair amount of weight back and not just people who can't make the life change; i read many accounts of folks who completely changed their lifestyle, are following all of the requirements and still gained back a significant portion of their weight that they lost in the beginning.
  • agoofynut
    agoofynut Posts: 101 Member
    I had given it a LOT of thought. Had a close friend have it done (and she looks fantastic) and was quizzing her on everything. Ultimately, I just couldn't. Fear of surgery and fear that I wouldn't be able to make the necessary lifelong changes and end up gaining everything back.

    I just realized that I would no longer be a candidate at the hospital I would have used. BMI has to be 40 or over and I've brought my BMI from 60.2 down to 38.8.
  • littlelily613
    littlelily613 Posts: 769 Member
    I think if I weighed over 500 pounds, I MIGHT consider it, but where I don't, I think I am very capable of doing it on my own. I fear surgery, and I think I CAN eat 1600 calories a day and lose weight. My problem is with portion control (even when I am not hungry), and I would probably go nuts with the amount you get with gastric bypass. I would rather it take a bit longer, and get the nutrition I need from food.
  • Ronngie
    Ronngie Posts: 295 Member
    I wouldn't do it. I know people who have done it, and they either gained it all back plus some or got really sick after for years. I also know people who have done the lap band and will eat so fast it makes them puke, and they didn't keep any weight off.
    I would never judge someone for doing either, I am sure there are plenty of success stories out there.
  • dgljones
    dgljones Posts: 89
    Not in a million years. Lost 136lbs through diet and exercise despite some serious health issues.
    I am not going to pass judgment on anyone, but for me there is no reward in some quick fix with all the dangers of surgery and the many issues that you will live with for the rest of your life.
    I celebrate every pound I lost and this journey has been one of the most important things I have ever done in my life, it made me a much better person and taught me so much about myself and how I tick.
  • mamamarock
    mamamarock Posts: 6 Member
    I have considered it even with the out of pocket costs, but I have always hesitated for the same reasons I have for anything else really invasive and foreign to my body. I have heard a few negative effects as there always are to the lapband. My aunt has had gastric bypass and she looks great, but if you ask her if she would do it again, and she says hell no. I have another aunt, I'm hispanic, huge family... who has had great success with gastric bypass and loves her new body. I have a daughter and I will not risk my health anymore than I have to for something I can do the old fashioned way. Another concern of mine is excess skin. I have looked at thousand of before and after photos and the excess skin literally haunts me in my sleep. The surgery to fix it is in the tens of thousands price range, and then recovery is always -_-. YOU can lose weight with healthy eating and exercise. You SHOULD do it that way so it becomes a lifestyle change and not a quick fix. Granted with gastric you lose it faster, but that only leads to a higher chance of excess skin because the weight loss is not natural.

    Take what I have said as an opinion because that is all it is really. But if plenty of other women can do it, so can you. Also remember you are beautiful now, and no one should ever tell you otherwise. I know sometimes I feel grossed out with my body and appearance. But I have come to realize that being negative is only going to make things worse. Be positive, work hard, keep inspired, and lose it the natural, healthy way.
  • newdaydawning79
    newdaydawning79 Posts: 1,503 Member
    Most definitely no. My father got it in the 90's when it was relatively new, and he still has problems to this day. They had to re-do it once, and he can't eat certain things without having to purge. My mother got hers a decade later, and a different doctor messed up hers too. She has now regained every pound she lost and has other complications as well.

    Now, I have also seen people have amazing amounts of success with gastric bypass. I just know that I wouldn't even consider it unless I had exhausted every other possible option first.

    A previous poster mentioned the excess skin - both of my parents had that too and then had the surgeries to fix that. For them it was covered partially by insurance due to the risks of infection and other things. My mother did pretty well with hers but my father had massive complications with the incisions and had a VERY long recovery time. Another thing that I am afraid I'd go through, as I'm my father's daughter in pretty much every way.
  • kmm7309
    kmm7309 Posts: 802 Member
    No.

    But I have to admit that I have a superficial reason: excess skin. I know that I will have some when I am done here, but I know at least 5 people who have had the surgery but cannot afford the skin removal surgery and they look beautiful until they lift up their shirts, or wear shorts. I can do just fine dieting, and I won't have the huge amount of skin leftover because the loss is slower and my habits are improved.
  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    I don't judge anyone who does it...but I wouldn't, because you still have to eat right and exercise to lose the weight, even with the surgery...so I don't really see the point.
  • mummyzena
    mummyzena Posts: 259 Member
    Not a chance. I like to eat food and to limit myself to that limited a diet would make me unhappy. I know doing it this way i have the choice to eat anything and work my butt off after.xx
  • Felecia1923
    Felecia1923 Posts: 61 Member
    I say if you need it then do it. The calorie intake for losing weight is less than for once you actually have the weight gone. As long as you don't get out of control after, and nothing says they can't eat right if your friend has the surgery it is just help along the way.
  • jpani22
    jpani22 Posts: 10 Member
    My cousin had ... some sort of surgery done about a year ago. She could barely walk anymore, needed knee surgery... but her doctor wouldn't operate on her knees because she was too fat. He wanted her to exercise to lose weight so he could do the surgery, but she couldn't exercise enough to make any headway with her weight because her knees were so bad... and around and around. Other parts of her health were suffering and it was pretty much coming down to a life or death thing for her. It made sense that she had it done, to me.

    That would be the only circumstance that I would have it done. I think that is a good example to a yes. I'd like to say "Never, no way!" but things do happen in life that could keep me from exercising like I want to that I have no control over. Now, as for types of surgeries, I'd only ever consider the bypass. The nurse's in the hospital I work at do not look at the sleeve and other procedures too kindly because of the side effects and other factors. Makes me wonder why we do them, honestly.

    So the short answer is: No. I can lose the weight today without any help. I wouldn't undergo any elective procedure (bariatric or otherwise) unless there really was no other way and my life was at serious risk.

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