Weight loss surgery- Sleeve vs. Gastric.

Tannun wrote: »

Diabetic Dr went really well today. He wants to start weaning me off the insulin. He also wants me to really consider the weight loss surgery even though I am doing so well. I told him I've lost 130 pounds in the last 6 months, but he still wants me to consider the surgery. He's the second doctor that's tried to get me to do this in the last 3 months and I wasn't sure why, considering how well I am doing. He explained to me that there are real physical changes that are made to the body when you have these surgeries. Dr's aren't sure why, but it seems to do a reboot and you can come off all medicines almost immediately. It minimizes plateau's and there are higher success rate at maintaining the weight loss. He also suggested I look into the sleeve instead of the complete gastric so I guess I have some research to do. Anyone had this done and able to comment?

If you don't believe you need it to lose weight, then do not do it. Complications from wls can be fatal and some become chronic issues. If you can avoid it, I would.

I had gastric bypass surgery on 11/18/14. I'm doing great. As for the comment about complications from wls can be fatal...be sure to have the surgery done at a Center for Excellence. And, fatalities are rare today. There are, of course, risks as with any surgery. I had mine at St. Luke's Hospital in Allentown, PA. Their statistics are high compared to the national average. I at one time was very opposed to weight loss surgery thinking of it as an easy way out. I was borderline diabetic (in a family where many have died due to complication from the disease), had high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and struggled with being obese for a very long time. I am 57 pounds down. So for me the pros definitely outweigh the cons. Be sure to attend information sessions, research, and talk to other bariatric patients to be mentally, emotionally, and physically prepared. It is NOT an easy way out. It's a tool. Almost everyone I've met at support groups who was diabetic is no longer diabetic or their insulin dosage has been drastically reduced. I was taken off blood pressure and cholesterol medicine the day after the surgery and both are in normal range. I started out wanting the sleeve, but conversations with my surgeon led me to decide to do the bypass. Check out http://mystlukesonline.activeboards.net/forums.html. It's a forum of bariatric patients started by St. Luke's, but anyone can participate. You'll get a good feel for patients' experiences, ups, downs, regrets, etc. Best success on your journey, whichever path you choose!

P.S. my latest A1C came back as a solid 5. Yay!

You've lost 130 pounds in 6 months. Yes, I know the surgery can lifesaving but you are drastically altering your body and the way it functions forever. I would avoid it if you can do it yourself.

My mom just got the gastric sleeve done this past Feb. and while she is SO happy with the weight loss there are a lot of MAJOR lifestyle changes she had to make. No more spicy foods, no soda, you can't drink anything 30 mins prior to eating or for 30 mins after, she can't eat a lot anymore (like 3 chicken wings and she is full) and there are gas bubbles that cause a lot of pain, risk of dumping, all that glamorious stuff! However my mom tired for SO long to lose the weight but NOTHING worked so the surgery was her last resort. To me is sounds like you are doing really well so I'd suggest keep working on it without surgery and see where you go. If you have any other questions, feel free to message me.

I agree that if you are able to do it on your own successfully, then by all means don't have the surgery. I lost a lot of weight many times then gained it back.
I was fortunate to have met my out of pocket and only had to pay about $400 toward anything having to do with the surgery. And, I have a lot of sick time. I was out of work for 2 weeks. Most people I know go back in 1 week.
It's both funny and sad how people get so fired up about the subject of wls. It's a personal decision and ignoring people's judgmental reactions is one of the things you need to be able to do.

I totally agree with Mae from above about the hormone's changing in your brain. I think and feel completely different about food, hunger, cravings, desires after my RNY surgery. I eat to live and food doesn't control me any longer. It's not JUST shrinking your stomach or removing your intestines, the surgery does so much more.

WLS is not a magic bullet and has many complications.

If you're losing weight without, I'd skip it. Your stomach will naturally shrink on its own if you keep eating right and losing weight-- it just takes time.

According to your ticker, you've lost 250 lb so far (WOW!!!!!!!!!!!)
and are more than halfway to your goal weight.
Why screw with that?
What you're doing is working fine. Amazingly fine. (And did I mention wow?)

Do your research, learn what you can from reputable groups & websites (look for professional organizations, not ones run by a doctor's office which does the surgeries, which would be biased).
I would akso suggest browsing sites where patients talk about the problems which come from these surgeries, because it's unlikely a surgeon trying to sell you a product (surgery) would actually fully inform you about the problems. You'd be unlikely to buy.

http://www.asbp.org/ American Society of Bariatric Physicians
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/weightlosssurgery.html The National Institutes of Health info page on weight loss surgery (links to lots of resources)
https://asmbs.org/ American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery


But from what you've told us, I don't see any reason to mess up your body for the rest of your life by having stomach surgery.

Despite having you as an example, those doctors can't seem to wrap their heads around the fact that people can lose weight without surgery and without signing up for the major health risks which come from them (which continue the rest of your life, because most stomach surgeries can't be undone).

The last time I was at my weight doc's office, they introduced me to an intern who was doing his endocrinology rotation, because he was so surgery-focussed and had never met anyone who'd been successful at losing weight w/o surgery. :facepalm:
I wish I could address every single class of medical students at our local medical college!
(And I've "only" lost 75 lb in the last year.)

.

there are real physical changes that are made to the body when you have these surgeries

Um, yeah... Isn't that kinda the point?
The mildest surgery would be putting a band around your stomach. This is reversable, and my doc told me that he's known of lots of removals. He also said that I've lost more than would be expected if I'd had that surgery.

The worst surgery would be removing all but a small part of your stomach & much of your small intestine. Aside from making it so that you physically cannot eat as much, this causes malabsorption. So you think you're eating 3000 cal/day, but maybe your body is only absorbing 1000. So you have to work to get enough food into you, in tiny portions, so your body can get the nutrients it needs (you're wasting most of the nutritional value of the food when it gets pooped out). You're spending more time & money eating, but getting less out of it. Oh, and you'll be taking lots of vitamins & minerals every day for the rest of your life.

You are doing beautifully. I absolutely would not do it if I were you. Too many permanent restrictions and changes.
I love one of the fifth year surgical residents I work with. His advice? "I always tell people to never ever have surgery unless they absolutely have to." I have had multiple abdominal surgeries due to cancer, and am an RN in a surgical/trauma ICU...and can just tell you that the guts do not like to be tinkered with. Having had patients come in years after their WLS with leaking anastomoses, becoming septic, having long stays, nearly dying, etc...if you are having success, leave your belly alone.
Before anyone gets excited, I fully support an adults right to make the informed decision to have WLS and certainly there are many that go very well and they never have issues. But if the OP is doing so well without it, why take the chance?
And yes...bariatric surgery is a big money maker for clinics...that's why they have "Bariatric surgery centers" and all the advertising and what not...