Gastric Bypass Surgery???

cmccoy0901
cmccoy0901 Posts: 156 Member
in Motivation and Support
Well I have always thrown out the idea of having any type of surgery that wasn't necessary. But I have hit a pump in my weight loss for almost a year now and it's starting to affected my confidence if I can really do it. I have one doctor who has been suggesting this surgery to me for a few years now and I'm starting to think more about it and want to know if I should think and look into it or continue to avoid it like I have been?

Replies

  • tekwriter
    tekwriter Posts: 923 Member
    If you cannot do it now how will you maintain your weight loss and lifestyle after bypass? You have to be able to maintain your diet and fitness goals after surgery as well.
  • April1290
    April1290 Posts: 31
    I just had gastric bypass done on March 10th and doing really great with it. And tekwriter - that's what the pre-op stuff is for - to learn portion control and what you're supposed to eat, meeting with nutritionists and exercise specialists to make sure that you are ready by the time the surgery comes around. I was scared to death that I wouldn't be able to keep it up but I'm fully confident in myself now and know I'm going to rock this whole process. cmccoy0901 - if you feel you really need the surgery, just research it as much as possible!! I researched for many, many months before even getting the recommendation from my doctor.
  • cmccoy0901
    cmccoy0901 Posts: 156 Member
    Thanks April, when I started my weight loss I lost 50lbs really quick and then after little plateau I was able to get 20 lbs more down but since then I began to plateau and since then I have gained back 30 of it so I just been thinking is it something I should consider.
  • 72JenniferW
    72JenniferW Posts: 4
    Up to you, dear, but I would strongly encourage you not to do it, for a couple of reasons. I have a few people very near and dear to me who did either gastric bypass, or the lap band, and every single one of them say they would never do it again. They were very sick, one of them almost died from the surgery. It was highly painful, and all of them have gained weight after the initial loss. They also look about 20 years older than they are. Haggardly.
    The weight gain leads me to this truth- it's a short term fix for larger issue. Having the surgery removes the element of personal responsibility to make positive changes in your life. It will not make you feel better about yourself in the end. It'll be so much more rewarding to lose it on your own- stay in the trenches and fight it out with the rest of us! Keep a good support group, and you'll stay encouraged. Adjust your eating habits and document everything in fitness pal so you have to see what you're doing. When you make positive changes in your eating habits, you'll see the results. Hang in there!
  • AkDeeW
    AkDeeW Posts: 5
    I had gastric bypass surgery 3 years ago. I am thrilled with the results! It is a process to go through, but well worth it. Go to Obesityhelp.com and check out the sight. There is a lot of useful advice.

    You will learn that the process turns into a journey for most of us. It can be frightening at times. I learned so much about myself and food. But the main part of my journey has been a spiritual building within myself. I have been a Christian for the better part of 30+ years, but my faith has grown more over the last 3 years then all the years before.

    Look into it, you may find another alternative for yourself. Life is worth living, it is great to feel good and be able to move.

    AKDEEW
  • April1290
    April1290 Posts: 31
    Up to you, dear, but I would strongly encourage you not to do it, for a couple of reasons. I have a few people very near and dear to me who did either gastric bypass, or the lap band, and every single one of them say they would never do it again. They were very sick, one of them almost died from the surgery. It was highly painful, and all of them have gained weight after the initial loss. They also look about 20 years older than they are. Haggardly.
    The weight gain leads me to this truth- it's a short term fix for larger issue. Having the surgery removes the element of personal responsibility to make positive changes in your life. It will not make you feel better about yourself in the end. It'll be so much more rewarding to lose it on your own- stay in the trenches and fight it out with the rest of us! Keep a good support group, and you'll stay encouraged. Adjust your eating habits and document everything in fitness pal so you have to see what you're doing. When you make positive changes in your eating habits, you'll see the results. Hang in there!

    I have to say I don't agree with you at all. I've felt great since my surgery. I've heard about people having a really bad time with it and it depends on how long ago they had it. Even if it was just 6 years ago or so---they've seriously improved since then! Technology is making things easier with doing surgeries. I know quite a few people that had it done within the last 5 years and have had no problems at all and have been 100% success stories! And I'm not sure how it wouldn't make you feel better in the end or rewarding??? I'm tired of seeing people say it's the easy way out. I'm fighting just as hard as everyone else is! Weight loss surgery is a tool- not a 100% fix! I'm not telling everyone to have it done, but if you NEED it done, then it's an amazing tool you can use to the best of your ability. You don't just have the surgery and have the weight drop on it's own. You have to know going into the surgery that you will be exercising like crazy, meeting with your nutritionist, doing support groups, meeting with your exercise specialist--and countless other things in order to have the best success. It's not an easy fix! There are many people (me being one of them) that simply cannot lose weight by "just exercising and watching what you eat"---because of health problems that exist.
  • AkDeeW
    AkDeeW Posts: 5
    April, you go girl. There are many health reasons people have a hard time loosing weight. I have polycystic ovaries.

    We all need to remember that we are not the same. We can support each other by staying positive and offering advice,

    There is a lot of research done in the WLS area. Please take your time and research it. Go to the support groups in your if they are open. It is well worth looking into it. You don't have to say yes. There is normally a minimum of a 6 month process for approval.

    Good Luck, AKDEEW
  • cmccoy0901
    cmccoy0901 Posts: 156 Member
    Thanks everyone I will keep the door open on it but really think and research it. I glad to hear more positive rather than negative.
  • jbyesh
    jbyesh Posts: 15 Member
    This is a totally personal decision you should discuss with your healthcare professional.

    My opinion: I also know a couple of people who did it. We went to lunch; I had a salad, she had a cheeseburger with everything. I'm friends with her on pinterest, and none of her boards include "healthy recipes" everything is cream cheese stuffed, wrapped in bacon inside a puff pastry. :) But surprise, surprise, the weight is slowly coming back. And she's doing some juice/liquid diet thing. So for all the "pre-op" stuff, she never changed her lifestyle. Same with the other person. Personally, I kind of agree with the PP that said it merely removes accountability. Kind of like a few years ago; I had a broken jaw & was wired shut for 6 weeks. Lost 26 pounds because I COULDN"T eat, no matter how badly I wanted to (and believe me, I wanted to! I actually cried over a pizza hut commercial midway through week 2!! LOL). This forces you to stick to a certain amount of food.

    Another poster said that is what the pre-op stuff is for; meeting with a nutritionist, learning portion control etc.

    Some insurances, particularly if you're medically obese, will cover a couple of nutrition counseling sessions. If it were me, I would try this, in fact I'm considering doing it myself. But again, this is just my opinion; even if the weight won't come off unless I have surgery, I still wouldn't have the surgery. I'm not going to risk my life or my health (despite my weight, all of my lab work is perfect) for "looks". There is more to me than the number on the scale. :)

    No matter what you decide, I wish you the best!
  • 06261955
    06261955 Posts: 2 Member
    Greetings, I am a post gastric bypass person. I had surgery 12/18/13. It's a highly personal decision. I had absolutely no pain after surgery but know that the.first 6 weeks were really difficult for me. I strongly suggest that you listen closer to people who have had weight loss surgery and not so much to folks who "know somebody". This surgery is not a quick fix but rather a strong learning tool that also insists you change your habits. If you don't change your habits you will probably gain the weight back. I am very happy with my decision which I pondered for many years. B
  • gieshagirl
    gieshagirl Posts: 102 Member
    i use to weigh 360 and i am 5'5 tall. i had the bypass and have never regretted it! it does not however totally take care of the problem. i stayed around 150 for 22 year and now i had put on 40 or so and couldnt take it off. i am relearning to exercise and eat properly again. but in the long run, i did what was best for me and got huge sucess for years... and even now doctors are starting to say that it keeps the chances of diabetes low. i say, get all the information you can....then you can make an informed choice that will enhance you, your lifestyle and family for many years to come!
  • evie50h
    evie50h Posts: 4
    I am 5 years out and starting to gain weight back. Any suggestions? I don't want to gain HELP
  • evie50h
    evie50h Posts: 4
    Hello Everyone. I am looking for support. I am going on 5 years out from my R&Y and gaining weight. I am getting so depressed over it. I am eating more and more and drinking more and more. I loved my 144lbs weight loss. geesh I was down to 154lbs. from 295. Looking Fab. Now I have started picking up a few pounds a week and am having trouble controlling the weight gain. HELP? Any suggestions besides the obvious?
  • sharmanhollenbeck
    sharmanhollenbeck Posts: 1 Member
    I wish I had an answer for you but I don't and am going to be selfish and ask a question of you since you have been through this and successful; I just had RnY on March 26th and am finding that I am hardly losing. I'm not sure what I should expect but I've only lost 8 pounds so far (had reached 10 pounds lost but then gained back 2). I'm following my doctors orders but feel very disturbed that I would be fluctuating like I am. My doctor thought I would lose 15 pounds or more by the time I went back to see here and I so I feel that pressure and think I'm failing. Did you have any problems like this in the beginning?
  • April1290
    April1290 Posts: 31
    sharmanhollen, you were not even 2 weeks out when you posted your comment--how is it going now? The first 2 weeks can go either way with anyone. You could lose weight rapidly in the first week (I lost 7 pounds or so I think), or you can gain weight from air still being in your stomach from surgery. I had mine just 2 weeks before you did & I'm down 47 pounds since the surgery (64 pounds total). Some people may be slow losers, and honestly that's not necessarily a bad thing---the faster you lose, the more hanging skin you could have. Not sure you'll see this comment, but if you do, let me know how it's going! :)
  • cebreisch
    cebreisch Posts: 1,340 Member
    I think it's definitely worth looking into - either the gastric bypass OR the lap-band surgery. My preference has always been lap-band surgery.

    Either way, you have to learn how to eat for the procedure to be effective. It's a tool. It won't be a magic bullet to make the weight magically come off.

    When I first had my whack on the head that I needed to lose weight in April 2011, I went to a lap-band surgeon. He told me he wanted me to lose 90 pounds before he'd do it (quoted some statistics and other reasons). I about passed out, thinking if I could have lost that, I wouldn't be there seeing him. I actually ended up losing the 90 pounds, and ended up not getting the surgery.

    While I still haven't had it, this last year (April 2013-May 2014) was a bit difficult for me, and I gained back about 70 pounds. I can't help but wonder if I had had the surgery, if the damage wouldn't have been quite so much.

    But it is what it is, and I'm back on track - I've lost 11 pounds in the last 3 weeks.

    I've always said that if I hit a gargantuan plateau from somewhere very hot, that I'll have no problem going in there and having it done. But this last year I wasn't even really trying. Even if I do stall out again, or have a major brain fart, I won't gain back 70 more pounds though before beating that surgeon's door down to get it done.
  • omma_to_3
    omma_to_3 Posts: 3,265 Member
    If you want the surgery to get yourself out of the morbidly obese range and save your life, then it's a good option. But, most people do not attain an ideal weight via the surgery - or don't stay there long term. There are many, many people who are not successful even with the surgery. You still have to do the work and many people are just not mentally prepared for that.
  • goalss4nika
    goalss4nika Posts: 529 Member
    I think this is more of a personal choice. Do what makes you feel good in your life. I've hit a plateau and so I started running.Although, I am not a good runner, I am trying. I completely broke my plateau. Maybe before you decide, try something that you have not done with working out. Either way, I wish you lots of success. You can do this :flowerforyou:

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