I'm pre-op for gastric bypass...

Just SAY NO!!! I am a nurse and this surgery is full of complication after complication. I have seen many post op patients years later and it is never good. This surgery is surgically induced anorexia. You will vomit after every meal. Your hair, nail, and skin will become very brittle. Malnutrition is huge, because this surgery does not teach you to eat right. I encourage you to do more research before you go under the knife. Best of luck to you.

WELL, I'm a nurse too. RN on a Transplant Unit. I see a lot of end stage diseases secondary to obesity related illnesses. I have some of those illnesses. Have you ever seen or even experienced someone who is suffering with diabetes and their kidneys have shut down? Or hypertension for the same thing. How bout someone waiting for a new liver and has end stage liver disease secondary to fatty liver. I would say that these end stages are considerably worse than some of the effects after this kind of surgery. That's not to say that it is 100% safe. Every surgery has its complications. And you are correct, do your homework before selecting a surgeon or facility. I am having mine done at Mayo Clinic. I can only hope for a good outcome. But whatever happens happens. I suffer from an array of debilitating physical symptoms of obesity.

A co-worker of mine, another RN, had another kind of gastric bypass. She nearly died. She was on a ventilator and the works. You know what she said to me the other day when I told her I was considering the surgery? "I don't regret it. If I were asked if I would do it knowing what I went through, I would." She explained that her obesity was killing her. You can't walk without pain. Sleeping is a problem. Mentally and emotionally, you're a wreck. And the list goes on and on....It is an individual experience. I do not discourage anyone. But like other nurse said, do your homework and expect bumps in the road. It doesn't mean you won't do well. There are more cases that do well than those who don't. Best wishes to all.

Kathy

Thank you. I'm not a nurse and I know the first comments are not entirely true. My mother also almost died from initial complications from her gastric bypass. But she has no regrets. She feels wonderful 5 years later and completes 100 mile bike rides through the mountains (something I cannot do at 33). She no longer has sleep apnea, or knee pain. She smiles and loves herself and that is worth every bit of agony we went through with her surgery.

No, this is not for everyone but it also can't be ruled out for everyone either. I will probably have my mom around for many more years than I may have without her surgery. That means everything to me and my family.

I'm 16 months post-op from Gastric Bypass or RNY. I've lost 158 pounds and nearly 70 inches. This surgery saved my life, but it is only a tool, and as with any tool if you don't use it properly then you can hurt yourself and/or break the tool.

Some things you must do...
Make consistently healthy food choices - protein first then vegy's and fresh fruit
Maintain portion control - forever more
Exercise daily
Drink lots of water
Always eat a good breakfast
Keep food and exercise journals
Make sure you get plenty of sleep 7-8 hours
Go to a local support group...take your spouse or support person
Find a good therapist

As you can see, most of these are things that anyone trying to lose weight with or without surgery should be doing. Surgery just gets the ball rolling...the life changes you must make to support the tool and yourself are exactly the same as everyone else fighting the battle of bulge.

Feel free to friend me, there don't seem to be many other WLSers on this site and we need to band together for support.

I can totally relate to your post. I have also been overweight my whole life and finally wanted to do something about it! I am 6 weeks out of having my gastric bypass surgery and feel great! It's like the others have said though; you still have to work at it! I have a little tiney stomach and yet I still want to eat because that's what I'm used to doing! I track my calories on here to make sure I'm doing what I'm supposed to and go to the gym regularly. I am down 28 lbs and have had no complications or side affects at all! No vomiting or dumping or anything. I, too, have a family memeber who had the surgery about 9 years ago and put back on all her weight. It's still totally up to you and how willing you are to change your life. Good luck and I'm here if you need anything! :-)
-Missy

Oh... and I forgot to tell you... my husband went off his BP meds, and only takes a pill now for his type 2 Diabetes. He no longer suffers from sleep apnea, and he rides his bicycle 16 miles a day... NONE of which would have happened without the surgery! He dieted for 10 years before having the surgery. He started out at 500 lbs, and got down to 350 on his own, but then could not lose anymore, no matter how hard he tried. Now he's a svelte 200 and he actually weighs less now than he did in Junior High School!!!

This is my first post! Anyways, I had a very good friend undergo lapband over the winter. Instantly she became a "different person" and not in a good way. Her husband, who did tons of research, told me that the divorce rate among weight loss surgery receipients is something like 80%. Sure enough, she got herself a trainer, spends all day at the gym, leaving the kids home alone, eats very little when people are watching and has lost about 90 pounds. Unfortunately, she has changed soo much as a person, totally due to the surgery, that her 18 year marriage is over and she wants to file for divorce.

So, there are "other things to consider" when thinking of such drastic measures. If she did the gym and ate as she eats now there would have been no need for the surgery.

A little over a year ago I was just starting the process for a RNY type surgery. I felt like it was the only way. I've been over weight since I was about 8 years old and no diet, ever worked. They said that it would take about 1 year to get through the process and have my surgery. 1 year and over 100 lbs later I decided I didn't need it.

My advice would be to commit now to the lifestyle changes you're going to have to soon anyway and use the time that you have to track your food, exercise, and be healthier. Then when the surgery gets closer really look and see weather you think you can do this on your own. Maybe you will need the addition help, and maybe you'll be ready to finish the journey without the help.

Either way, Good Luck, and best wishes. :-)

for those congratulating her 100 pound losss.......her post says 10 pounds lost.

i had a friend whos mother died from complications of this surgery and it has scared me to death ever since that happened. i would get a nutritionist and a personal trainer instead. i am just concerned for anyone who is considering this! if you have already lost 10 lbs then you know that you can do it again and again until all the weight is off!!! set smaller goals and you will get there.

I agree with many others on here, gastric bypass has a lot of downfalls and can be very risky. You've already shown yourself you can lose the weight so I think you should keep on doing what you've been doing and continue on your journey. Have you ever seen the show the Biggest Loser? There are so many contestants on that show whose doctors have pushed for the surgery in the past. These doctors are looking to make a buck instead of pushing you in the right direction: good old fashioned diet and exercise. I would love to help you on your journey. I believe you can do it without surgery! Add me as a friend and I'd love to help you keep motivated along the way.

People are so judgemental of people who have had weight loss surgery. Why? What does it matter to you?

I've seen people not say "hey, you've lost weight you look great" to a friend of mine because they know she did it with weight loss surgery. Pure cattyness. Well, she didn't just magically lose the weight, she still had to have guidelines to keep and follow and she now exercises. Had she not had the surgery, she would most likely be dead. But I guess her tombstone could have said "here lies Melissa, at least she didn't take the easy way out". Geez.

Where are the success stories? Only the horror stories, or my aunt's friends, sister's husband's friend gained his weight back. There are many more success stories, but the sad thing is the attitude of most people looking down on weight loss surgery makes people keep it a secret. The person you know who "eats less, moves more" and has done well, could be a gastric bypass or lap band person scared to tell the truth because of peoples bias. I know quite a few who do this.

Many "dieters" are just like ex smokers who look down on smokers... It amazes me time and time again. I quit smoking using nicotine replacement, guess I cheated huh.

I think to most people who are telling the "horror stories" it is about total overall health rather than just weight loss. Sure, you'll lose weight doing the surgeries...but with all the side effects and the fact that you can't eat red meat without puking or drink anything carbonated without the fear of stomach swelling...I believe that those opposed to the surgeries are looking past simply weight loss and trying to help others see the negative affects these surgeries have. Nobody is judging or harrassing folks who have or are thinking about having these procedures done.

I honestly can't count on one hand the "negative" effects of a well balanced diet and exercise. Not only do you lose weight, but you improve organ functions, heart and lung efficiency, etc, etc, etc, without fear of having to limit your food intake or might get sick or worse.

But I do disagree that people who have the surgery are "lazy." Lazy would be gaining more weight for lack of any action...

I keep seeing people state that weight loss surgery causes baggy skin due to the speed of weight loss. People who are candidates for weight loss surgery have quite a bit of weight to lose, and have had it for a long period of time. Those two facts are bigger contributors to the excess skin than the speed of the weight loss. If you stretch sin out far enough for long enough, it loses its elasticity.

My mother had this surgery done 3 years ago this month...She has lost alot of weight, but has a alot of saggy skin left, even after the tucks. She hasn't had a huge host of problems, though personally it is annoying to be around her and to hear her constantly tell me I need to lose weight I should look into the surgery ect. She does have to take extra vitamins and stuff her drs give her b/c her body is constantly starving itself and she stays in a malnourished state.

I too am a nurse and take calls everyday from people who have had this surgery. After talking with these people I would never have this surgery done. It's scary how many problems these people have and the procedure is permanent. I don't want to be a downer in your decision, but it is a big one! And you are so very young. I wish you luck and recommend that you continue to reach out to others who have had this surgery so you can make an informed decision before you alter your s
Body forever.

I am totally anti-weight loss surgery of any kind. I've seen all kinds of scenarios w/ gastric bypass. Just like the other posters said, I've known ppl who have vomited after every meal after surgery, I've seen people who had to go on diabetic type diets permanently because the surgery has damaged their ability to process and breakdown sugars, I've seen people who only lost maybe 50 lbs at the most, hernias are very common, so that is a 2nd surgery you will have to go thru after the bypass. People don't realize w/ gastric bypass, your digestive anatomy is forever altered and will never be the same. We have to look past the weight loss glamour of it and see it as the serious operation that it is. Gastric bypass is often a band-aid to cover up more serious issues in regards to why people eat the way they do. Have you ever thought of looking at some underlying emotional issues that are causing you to eat? If you're losing weight now you can do it without the surgery.

Plus consider excess skin from such sudden weight loss. Some insurance companies don't cover having it removed. I had a lady at my old church who had it done and she looked good for a while, but then her face started looking real sunken in and her eyes were practically bulging. Now she's gained about 30 lbs of it back which is also very common. I worked w/ a lady who had it done some years ago and you would never be able to tell, she's back to prob about 300+ pounds now. This is a very serious to consider and I will pray that you are led to make the right decision.

Puppy Bandit, hope you realize that the original poster only wanted feed back about what we thought of surgery. Again, I can t answer , because I have never had by pass. So, youre right, I cant give my opinion of it, because of not having it done. I do have my best friend who did have it, and so did her 2 sisters.

It proved sucessful for my best friend, but unfortunatley, her 2 sisters gained all the weight back. I think the surgeries were 20, 000 , but I think the insurance companies paid.

I know , and again, Im very sympathetic to people who choose to have surgery, that they may have no options left.......I realize that if your are morbidly obese, i.e, 500 or 600 lbs, yeah.........you may want to choose to have it done, as your days may be numbered if you didnt

there was one girl here, oh wow, she lived in Austin , Texas, her name was Renne Williams, a mother of 2, and she weighed over 800 lbs.....Historically speaking, she was the largest female to have ever had the surgery.......she died within 3 weeks........she was just so big, I dont think anything would have helped her..........They had her on NOVA , and there was another series that dealt with her obescity. Then there was the biggest teenager, he lived in Houston, 848 lbs, and he was only 18. His mother had issues, and he was paying the price......again, when youre 800 lbs, and having difficulty breathing, diabetes, sleep apneia, high blood pressure, gout, cholesterol that is out of control, heart disease , and you need help , psychologically, then I say I would

But.............Im the worlds biggest chicken when it comes to Drs, and hosptials............I freak if I have to go in one to visit a friend, and I hate , hate to go to the Drs.....mainly , because I was so ashamed, weighing 350 lbs and then standing on a scale.........talk about humiliation

I totally support anyone who chooses to have it done.........they many have NO OPTIONS LEFT...........Good for them, I hope they make ir thru surgery, and they have little to no complications.......

Please realize, we were only trying to answer her HONESTLY, as she asked us HONESTLY, what we thought..........

I ve now lost 105 lbs, didnt do it with surgery, but because Im still young enough to do it, with out surgery, I chose to lose the weight without surgery........I did have high blood pressure, and I did have exercise induced asthma, but I gotta tell you, they are both gone, and now I work out daily ,2 hours a day, something I couldnt have done 8 months, and 18 days ago

Thanks for letting me put in my 2 cents..........Take care ,Ill support anyone, anyhow, anyway, that can lose weight and live to see their kids grow up.....................Llloyd

here is a video of her story....kinda sad , she really was so excited to have it done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FQsyLnVceE