bariatric surgery

erinkornbluth882 · June 2017

How does anyone feel about bariatric surgery? I have always thought it would be my only option. My weight fluctuates ao much. I am petrified of surgery because of im a mom of 4. I have recently been doing research on balloon weight loss. It seems so safe, easy, affordable. Has anyone here had it? if you dont know what im talking about you can see the balloon procedure here: http://balloonweightloss.com/ Is this just the easy way out? I would really like feed back.

tiptoethruthetulips · June 2017

Weight loss surgery isn't necessarily an easy way out, it's a weight loss tool but it can be quite tough trying to lose weight in this manner

From what I understand the balloon is removed after 6 months or so? One thing to consider is how are you going to maintain weight loss once the balloon is removed.

I am not sure I would consider $8000 for a temporary weight loss measure good value for money and as with any surgery there are risks.

http://www.ramsayhealth.co.uk/blog/2014/08/21/11-things-you-need-to-know-about-a-gastric-balloon

7. What are the risks?

Most people don’t experience any complications at all but you should be aware of the risks. Bleeding or perforation can occur as a result of injury during the balloon insertion or removal. Gastric discomfort, nausea and vomiting are common for the first few days following balloon placement but rarely continue in the longer term. You may get a sense of heaviness in the abdomen, abdominal and/or back pain, gastro-oesophageal reflux (where stomach acid leaks out of the stomach) or indigestion. Although rare, leakage or deflation of the balloon could occur.

Why do you feel weight loss surgery is your only option? What else have you tried? How much weight do you have to lose to be in the healthy weight range?

dfranch · June 2017

I'm trying to figure out how to word this without sounding preachy. In order to lose weight and keep it off you need to change the way you eat. Even the term "diet" sounds temporary. One must change their eating habits for the rest of their life. You can't eat healthy for 6 months, lose weight and then start eating the way you used to, you'll start gaining weight again. It wasn't until I realized this that I was able to lose 95lbs and keep it off for 4 years.

BTW I know a person who had bariatric surgery. The surgery made it so she could only eat tiny portions of blah food, and she lost weight. Eventually her stomach recovered and she was able to eat more, and now she is overweight again. I wouldn't recommend it.

noclady1995 · June 2017

I have the SAME story as @dfranch. Hubby did it 5 yrs ago, and is still overweight. Here's the thing, if you're not in control of the issues that cause you to gravitate towards making poor eating choices, a surgery won't fix it. A bariatric surgeon in our area told of a patient who was obese, had bariatric surgery, was on a liquid diet, but hadn't lost weight. The surgeon asked what they were consuming. The patient said milkshakes because they were craving it. At the end of the day, it's not a cure for obesity. I'm not saying it won't help because I also know of co-workers and friends who've lost weight and kept it off, and they are happy they did it.

Lizakabibbis · June 2017

I had the surgery. Like my doctor preaches - it's not a diet it's definitely a lifestyle change. It's definitely a tool. If you choose this option make sure you understand your relationship with food because it will DRASTICALLY change.

kshama2001 · June 2017

How many pounds do you have to lose?

You might find the WLS convo starting with this post helpful: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/39777849/#Comment_39777849

vivelajackie · June 2017

I think many people are turning to surgery because it seems like the only option for them, and honestly I'm not going to judge their choices. My friend in nursing personally forbade me from it because there are some risks. So... I turned to counting calories and discovered that's free and I can eat and drink at the same time, which is pretty cool. It's all up to you, but either way, best of luck.

marelthu · June 2017

I was in a program that would eventually lead to the surgery but I've lost most of the weight on my own. That doesn't mean I can't still have the surgery but I've found that with nutrition counselling and therapy (from the program), I feel more positive about losing weight and keeping it off than I ever have.

Surgery can be just as challenging (actually more I think) than a regular weight loss program so it isn't an easy way out or the solution to all ones problems. I just decided that if I was going to put all that emotional and physical effort into weight loss, I would do it by cutting calories rather than having the surgery.

Good luck on your decision. Whatever you decide make sure it's right for you.

Bekah7482 · June 2017

What you will find is that most people who have not had the surgery have a lot of opinions on it but very little knowledge of the surgery. There are so many benefits to the surgery and it is by no means easy BUT it is only a tool so you have to be committed to making the appropriate changes.

I would suggest you talk to your doctor about getting a referral to your bariatrics department. Attend their orientation and meet with a surgeon or go to their support group. That does not mean you are committed to having the surgery but will let you know what the process is, how the surgery works and allow you to talk to people who have had the surgery. You will get far more and accurate information that way than you will from the general public.

You can also message me if you have any questions.

inertiastrength · June 2017

I don't feel it's an easy way out, same as I do about steroids. You still need to put in work. There are a lot of morbidly obese post-WLS folks, as there are steroid abusers with brutal physiques. It's a tool.

CPFitnessIsFun · June 2017

It definitely changed my life and helped me but the struggle with weight is still the same. You need to be honest with yourself your diet and your exercise routine. In a way I have found it harder after surgery because I'm even more critical of people's opinions of me especially since I gained back some weight (lost 150 lbs gained back 50lbs). All I can say is no matter what start exercising and eating healthy now; regardless if you decide to do surgery. You want a change, you are ready for the change start making it! Create some mini goals drink 64 oz of water for 2 weeks, then add something else like exercise for 2 days a week.

Shull_rachael · June 2017

I just had VSG I'll be a week out tomorrow. I can't speak for the ballon option seeing as I went for something permanent. But I must say as of right now. I regret it every single day. I wish I had went with something that could have been reversed or even better nothing at all! At times I feel like this is one of the worse decisions I've ever made and now I have to live with it forever. That being said I could change my mind and a few months out be so thankful I had it. But if I knew someone who was going to even consider weight loss surgery I would suggest something that can be reversed.

jgnatca · June 2017

I had the bypass and the entire process including the lifestyle change has transformed my life. The head surgeon that supervised my program is not a fan of the lap band or the balloon. These surgeries are NOT proven and are based on a false premise.

(The false premise is that the obese got that way by consuming large volumes of food at a sitting)

My (proven) surgery is thought to work by reducing/impairing absorption. It also changes the production of ghrelin and "turns off" insulin resistance.

Whichever way you decide to go, OP, I'm roooting for you.

Tugsandpull · June 2017

Ok I was 400# in rough shape had wls the sleeve it's a great tool to jumpstart your weight loss but you still have to eat right and exercise I'm down 190# so yes for me it was awesome

firef1y72 · June 2017

Way back in November 2015 I went to my GP asking for help to lose weight, I was 290lb at the time and at 5'1 that put my BMI >50. I was basically told the only way someone of my size would lose weight would be surgery I wasn't impressed, went home and started on here. At 162lb I'm now within a couple of pounds of moving in to the overweight category, simply by learning to change my eating habits and love exercise. (Can't wait until I am because I'll then be thumbing my nose at the doctor).

I'm not going to say WLS is the easy option, because I actually think what I've done was easier and safer, but I don't think it's a necessary as some doctors do, and I do think it's overused. I've watched My600lb Life thinking, you've just lost 50lb in a month without invasive potentially life threatening surgery, why not carry on taking it the one month at a time.

stealthq · June 2017

Weight loss surgery isn't an easy way out - the surgery and aftereffects are a *kitten*, but there is no doubt that some that get it think that it will be easier than alternative methods, that it will enforce what they should be doing. And it does, to a degree, but not perfectly and not forever. Those people are the ones that fail, unless they have an attitude change.

I know four people who've had it done, varying procedures, and all four were unpleasantly shocked by the negative effects. Makes me wonder if the negative effects were downplayed during the medical consult, or if they just refused to hear things they didn't want to hear. I really hope it was the second.

One nearly died from complications and malnutrition. He lost weight while sick and then gained it all back and didn't lose any more. The other three lost varying degrees of weight. Only one made it out of obesity, and all four gained it all back again because they used the surgery like a permanent crutch and weren't learning to do it on their own.

The one that made it out of obesity once (and is a former athlete) finally realized he needed to take control of his diet and activity and that the surgery was not going to make him do it. He got back to his habits when he was an athlete and lost the weight again. He's at an ideal weight now, and looks to be close to his former athletic physique.

What bothers me about WLS is that for most people, I think it is a temporary fix and I think that it is often used unnecessarily. I think few manage to make the permanent changes after surgery that are needed to be successful long term, and I don't see a benefit of putting people through it unless they are in a situation where they need to lose weight immediately (not the case for any of the four I described).

Bekah7482 · June 2017

Shull_rachael wrote: »

I just had VSG I'll be a week out tomorrow. I can't speak for the ballon option seeing as I went for something permanent. But I must say as of right now. I regret it every single day. I wish I had went with something that could have been reversed or even better nothing at all! At times I feel like this is one of the worse decisions I've ever made and now I have to live with it forever. That being said I could change my mind and a few months out be so thankful I had it. But if I knew someone who was going to even consider weight loss surgery I would suggest something that can be reversed.

You are only a week out, you will not regret long term. I promise that it gets better. Give it a couple of weeks.

Soundwave79 · June 2017

Shull_rachael wrote: »

I just had VSG I'll be a week out tomorrow. I can't speak for the ballon option seeing as I went for something permanent. But I must say as of right now. I regret it every single day. I wish I had went with something that could have been reversed or even better nothing at all! At times I feel like this is one of the worse decisions I've ever made and now I have to live with it forever. That being said I could change my mind and a few months out be so thankful I had it. But if I knew someone who was going to even consider weight loss surgery I would suggest something that can be reversed.

I have a loved one that is strongly considering the VSG. If you don't mind... could you share some more in depth reasoning as to why you feel like it was a mistake for you? If it's too personal I understand.

Geocitiesuser · June 2017

I have pretty negative feelings about bariatric surgery. Seems to come with a lot of complications and side effects too. The biggest kicker, for me though, is that before bariatric surgery they make you go on a diet ... well, why not skip bariatric surgery and continue on the diet then?

My biggest issue is that it is body mutilation. I don't hold anything against people who choose to do it though, it's just never been for me and I'd never promote it.

Bekah7482 · June 2017

Geocitiesuser wrote: »

I have pretty negative feelings about bariatric surgery. Seems to come with a lot of complications and side effects too. The biggest kicker, for me though, is that before bariatric surgery they make you go on a diet ... well, why not skip bariatric surgery and continue on the diet then?

My biggest issue is that it is body mutilation. I don't hold anything against people who choose to do it though, it's just never been for me and I'd never promote it.

Because if weight loss was as easy as "just stick to the diet," we wouldn't have overweight people. The pre-surgery diet is a very specific set of guidelines for not only what foods to eat but how you eat those foods. You need to change these habits before surgery because you can literally hurt yourself if you do not follow the new eating guidelines after surgery. The general population seem to think that WLS patients have surgery then sit on their *kitten* and watch the weight drop. They still have to diet and exercise for the rest of their life just like everyone else. Surgery is just a tool, if not used right, you will not lose the weight or gain it all right back.

As far as complications, the complication rate of surgery is very low. It has become a pretty routine surgery and is relatively safe. The side effects are generally short term throughout the healing process; nausea, dizziness, food getting "stuck," constipation, etc. Most of the issues that are dangerous have to do with a patient who does not follow the post surgery rules (again why the pre-surgery diet is so important). If you do not eat right, get in your water and protein, take your vitamins, etc are far more dangerous than the actual surgery.

Also with surgery, most of the time you are required to take 6 months of nutrition courses, meet with dietitians and therapist and go to support groups to work on your relationship with food. There is far more to WLS then get the surgery and lose weight.

firef1y72 · June 2017

[quote="Bekah7482;c-39822774"

Because if weight loss was as easy as "just stick to the diet," we wouldn't have overweight people. The pre-surgery diet is a very specific set of guidelines for not only what foods to eat but how you eat those foods. You need to change these habits before surgery because you can literally hurt yourself if you do not follow the new eating guidelines after surgery. The general population seem to think that WLS patients have surgery then sit on their *kitten* and watch the weight drop. They still have to diet and exercise for the rest of their life just like everyone else. Surgery is just a tool, if not used right, you will not lose the weight or gain it all right back.

As far as complications, the complication rate of surgery is very low. It has become a pretty routine surgery and is relatively safe. The side effects are generally short term throughout the healing process; nausea, dizziness, food getting "stuck," constipation, etc. Most of the issues that are dangerous have to do with a patient who does not follow the post surgery rules (again why the pre-surgery diet is so important). If you do not eat right, get in your water and protein, take your vitamins, etc are far more dangerous than the actual surgery.

Also with surgery, most of the time you are required to take 6 months of nutrition courses, meet with dietitians and therapist and go to support groups to work on your relationship with food. There is far more to WLS then get the surgery and lose weight.[/quote]

Sorry but weight loss really is as simple as "just stick to the diet", whether you have WLS or not. As I said, I was told there was no way I'd be able to lose the weight without surgery, but by sticking to the diet, and moving more I have. If the same resources and effort were put in to helping these people continue with the pre-surgery weightloss who's to say they wouldn't also be able to shed the weight without resorting to surgery. It seems to me that the possibly life long rules after surgery are just over restrictive, I enjoy the occasional "naughty" meal where I blow out and that hasn't stopped me losing the weight.

bariatric surgery

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