Weight Loss Surgery for Morbidly Obese

jgnatca wrote: »

I was sternly reminded by my team that for sustained loss, this will have to be a lifestyle change. So I'm working on that.

There should be no illusions going in that surgery bypasses the hard work.

This...all of this!

I had a RNY in May and have had no complications but I still have to put in the work. I weighed 557 pounds when I started the WLS journey; I was in danger of a heart attack getting out of bed in the morning. Now, 10 months into this journey, I am off my blood pressure meds, no longer need a C-Pap to sleep, exersise every day, and have dropped from a size 38 to a 22 and am still going strong. I still see my nutritionist once a month and a counselor to handle any non-food issues that can lend to overeating. It is not an easy road but when you have tried everything else and your life is at risk it is a decision you make for yourself.

If you do decide the surgery route is the best one for you, surround yourself with supportive people and don't let anyone make you feel like you took the easy way out. It is a very brave choice...and it is your choice not theirs.

rabbitjb wrote: »

it's not, as far as I can see, an easy route

discuss it with your primary physician

This ^^ It's a good option for some, but it's not the easy out many think it is. It's work and if you don't address the underlying problems that caused weight gain you may just gain it all back.

Best of luck to you, whatever path you choose.

harmar21 wrote: »

Sevendust912 wrote: »

jgnatca wrote: »

Hey, sevendust. How about someone like me who is losing the old fashioned way too? I never yo-yo dieted, never went for fads. My weight gain over the years was very steady; a couple pounds a year. The few times I went on Weight Watchers I followed the program and lost weight.

I'm not a whiner by nature.

It still was the best decision for me to have the bariatric surgery. You know the definition of insanity?

You said weight loss is not easy. I disagree, weight loss is a simple formula that any reasonable person with the slightest bit of motivation should be able to achieve. Just my opinion

Maybe on paper the formula it is easy weight change = CI - CO. And while he CI is somewhat easy to figure out (unless you eat someone elses cooking), the CO number is extremely difficult.
And that is just the formula, now take into mind peoples physiological and psychological natures, it can be difficult.
I am guessing you never have been obese?
I have tried many things in the past, but nothing worked even though I was motivated, I just wasn't knowledgable.

Even the CI is not always easy to figure. It's not always as easy as counting calories in food.

Do what makes you healthy and happy. Regardless of if you choose to lose weight using an fitness program or if you have surgery, you will still have to put in hard work. As far as bashers are concerned, who cares what they think or say? They aren't carrying the weight that you are trying to lose nor will they be around to enjoy your success once you lose the weight. Good luck!

Need2Exerc1se wrote: »

Sevendust912 wrote: »

jgnatca wrote: »

Hey, sevendust. How about someone like me who is losing the old fashioned way too? I never yo-yo dieted, never went for fads. My weight gain over the years was very steady; a couple pounds a year. The few times I went on Weight Watchers I followed the program and lost weight.

I'm not a whiner by nature.

It still was the best decision for me to have the bariatric surgery. You know the definition of insanity?

You said weight loss is not easy. I disagree, weight loss is a simple formula that any reasonable person with the slightest bit of motivation should be able to achieve. Just my opinion

Weight loss is not a formula. Weight loss is applying a formula. HUGE difference.

amen, sister! i've known exactly how to lose weight for 20 years. theoretically that is. actually applying that knowledge has been a HUGE hurdle for me and continues to be something i need to work on. i'm doing ok, i've lost 50 lbs since my highest weight, but that's taken more than a year of behaviour changes and i've got a long way to go. WLS for me will be another tool in the toolbox. that's all it is. i've proven through many failed weight loss systems that i need to take care of the hunger pains and the ability to overeat. seriously, i'm really never NOT hungry, and the surgery i'm having removes a large part of the stomach that produces the hunger hormone ghrelin. and i'll have a stomach the size of a banana so i can't gorge. it doesn't take care of all the problems though - if i decided to eat a lot of broccoli cheddar soup, i could consume a huge amount of calories and fat very quickly because it'll kind of slide right through. that's why it's just a tool, not a miracle.

you have to do hard work no matter what you do.

lastspen wrote: »

Do what makes you healthy and happy. Regardless of if you choose to lose weight using an fitness program or if you have surgery, you will still have to put in hard work. As far as bashers are concerned, who cares what they think or say? They aren't carrying the weight that you are trying to lose nor will they be around to enjoy your success once you lose the weight. Good luck!

Whose to say that they never did though?

lookingforskinny69 wrote: »

I am considering weight loss surgery, I am sure the bashing will happen, any comments for or against?

Most who go this route regain significant weight.

It's not a "cure"...

I started this journey more than a hundred pounds over weight and I have seriously considered weight loss surgery until now. Almost 2 months ago I started Contrave and the month prior Metformin with unbelievable results in the I have not been plagued by hunger and I am pretty much effortlessly have been following healthy eating habits which I have been unable to do for the over a decade.

I also assert that obesity is very much a physiological disease. For example, I believe that frequently once one hits a certain weight that it messes up your insulin and metabolic functions which results in overwhelming physiologic urges to overeat again and again. I have read that when there is too much insulin that the insulin grabs you by the shoulders and screams, "Eat! Eat!." I also believe that many are also afflicted with food addictions also probably resulting from brain chemicals gone haywire. Then, there are many who overeat out of habit or for psychological reasons.


I think I have all three problems. I realize that generally lower carbs, more protein, more vegetables, less starchy vegetables, more good fat, and low glycemic fruit help to curb hunger. However, it can feel like climbing Mount Everest if you are grappling with all of the above with some depression thrown on top due to your predicament. For over a decade I felt like I was in a hole and unable to eat well for any longer than 3 months and constantly regaining any weight I lost. I do not think it is a matter of will power because if it were than more people would have success with weight loss.

Fortunately, my weight loss doctor at a major university prescribed Metformin and Contrave for me. For once, I feel like I am not plagued by constant urges for sweets and overeating. In fact, I finally feel that I have the willpower of steel for the past 2 months. For the record, I have had the discipline in the past to quit smoking after 17 years and to become a successful critical care nurse educator and so on and so forth. I just could not deal with this weight thing and now I am hopeful that I can. I feel medication can be a tool to help me gain control while also changing my habits. I also feel anyone who is a candidate for Contrave should consider it first before surgery since it would be much less risky than surgery.

Contrave is composed of 2 meds that have been around for decades and both have good safety records. I did find the wellbutrin component of contrave made me very jittery to first couple of weeks so I immediately cut out coffee and most caffeine. They say most folks get over the jitters after several weeks and so did I. I also have only been on one pill of contrave a day and will only very slowly increase to recommended dose as needed after discussing with my doctor. I recommend giving it a try for anyone struggling like I did since unlike other weight loss pills this one actually is safe and both drugs have long track records.

Metformin is used for pre-diabetes and diabetes. I have newly diagnosed pre-diabetes which I suspect I have had a long time despite normal blood work (I had gestational diabetes). It is very safe as well and has a long track record. They are also studying its use in obese individuals without pre-diabetes and diabetes. I would ask about this drug too in the extended release form and start slowly with one pill a day gradually increased over weeks or months to desired dose as ordered by your doctor. It does frequently cause gastrointestinal issues which usually go away after several weeks. Using the extended release form and slowly increasing dose and taking with meals helps avoid these issues. I have had no problems. I was also astounded how it took away my hunger pangs that have plagued me forever. The Contrave helped even more.

I hope this helps someone. I also believe that one should try to fix things without meds when possible. However, meds when used correctly can also be a lifeline for someone.

I lost 100lbs with weight loss surgery and I would do it all over again knowing what I know now about it. It was hard work and sad when I couldn't eat good foods but it helped me take control of my life. Don't let anyone tell you it is an easy way out because it was VERY HARD and very worth it.

I forgot to add that if going to respected weight loss program and weight loss doctor and Contrave does not work, then I would carefully consider surgery. However, I strongly recommend trying contrave if you are a candidate plus perhaps metformin since these 2 drugs have been around a long time and are unlike the phen-fen debacle. The contrave tackles mood, appetite, and cravings. The metformin helps to normalize insulin and blood sugar and thereby decreasing hunger and cravings. The contrave has a black box warning but I read recently they are re-thinking that black box warning and I still believe the wellbutrin component is very safe. Many safe drugs have long laundry lists of usually remote possible side effects.

The bottom line is that I see these as tools and I still have to do my part. I am 15 pounds down! I am glad to see medicine is finally coming up with some possible real solutions for what I see as a real disease. To me it is miraculous to not be plagued with constant hunger and cravings.