Weight Loss Surgery--I CANNOT Believe I Am Posting This!

I feel weak...you guys who are doing it the natural way are strong and brave. I know this is the easy way out.

Don't feel weak!!! Heath improvement and especially weight loss is never easy. It is a very personal journey and you have to find the path that works best for you. I've had many friends who struggled for years with weight loss and found that surgery made the impossible, possible. However, it isn't an easy way out; it is extremely hard. It's major surgery followed by lifetime mind, body and behavior changes.

If you are curious, I would continue to attend the classes and learn all that you can. I'm sure it will become apparent if this is the correct path for you.

Well I posted this on my wall, and have not received any feed back yet...so I thought I would try my luck here.

Alright....well I just found out that my new insurance plan DOES cover lapband and gastric bypass and the sleeve with very minimal cost to me. I looked it up and some people who have the same insurance I do, paid only $500 total. So I was sort of looking into it. There is a class that you take once a week for 24 weeks (so about 6 months)...anyway, I am sort of looking into it. Not seriously yet, but sort of just checking things out. Would anyone consider this option if they were having a super hard time losing weigh on their own? That is where I am at. It is just soooo hard to do it. Just looking for feed back.

Have you checked to be sure you weigh enough to qualify? Your picture doesn't look like your BMI is high enough but a face shot can be deceiving. Then the insurance company will want a certificate of medical need--a statement from your doctor that says your health is in serious jeopardy--and you will probably also have to undergo at least six months of a supervised weight loss program and still not be losing weight, in addition the the class you speak of. And believe me, after surgery will be WAY harder than just what you're doing now. You'll be on a VERY restricted diet and you'll be risking death if you don't follow it. Do you seriously need death as a motivator to lose weight? Because it won't be any easier to follow the diet, just have bigger consequences if you don't.

To answer your specific question, would I consider weight loss surgery? No. Not ever, no matter how hard it was for me to lose weight. It's much harder than dieting, and it changes how you live forever, with no exceptions for special occasions and no leniency if you slip up, even just a little, just once.

I guess I still feel that the weight gain is not my fault......I blame it on the medications. So that is why I feel the surgery is for me. My story is a little different. I was taking very strong meds for a while to balance me out.

So what? That's irrelevant. You sound like you're saying that since you gained weight due to medication you should be spared the work that people who whose weight "Is their own fault" have to do. Problem is that even if it were strictly true, and it isn't, there is no free ride. The surgery is hell and has long term consequences for your health. Plus, if your belief is that surgery is for you because it's not your fault you gained weight, you WON'T pass the psych eval for the surgery. It's just NOT a good reason. It doesn't matter why you're overweight. Most of the people you probably believe are overweight through their own fault probably aren't. It wasn't their fault either. Weight loss surgery is a last ditch thing, and it's not the panacea you seem to believe.

You lost 13 pounds since Septmenber and you are having a hard time losing?!?!!?! Did you gain your wieght overnight? NO? Why do you expect to lose it overnight? How about woring hard at it so that you don't Yo-Yo and gain it all back. How about learning a healthier new lifestyle and eating habits instead of taking the easy out? You will feel alot better about yourself. Why put yourself through MAJOR surgery rather than working at it a little harder?

IMO DON'T DO IT

I am in awe of people who did lose this much on their own. I hope one day I can say that as well.

My weight gain was not because of emtional eating.

I have been on meds (anti-depressant and anti-anxiety) for a very long time...years. So that is what caused the major major weight gain the past few years. The meds will kill you if you do not try to do something about it. On one hand they help me with my mood, on the other hand they were killing me. Now I take newer meds which do not cause weight gain as much....but I still have 100 pounds on me that are extra from the old meds. It just sucks! I miss the old me that I used to be

I'm on anti-depressants and I've lost weight....

I had gastric by-pass almost 5 years ago, here's what I can tell you: it is NOT what a lot of people think it is--an easy way to lose weight. Most of the quick weight loss was in the beginning when I was on liquids. You still have to diet and follow the guidelines religiously and one common misperception is that you can't gain the weight back so you've got it made--not true, many people do regain the lost weight. You have to change your eating and exercising habits, while your stomach pouch is small it is still possible to overeat, especially if you drink fluids with your meals. Also if you have had several abdominal surgeries you need to be aware that your chances of a bowel obstruction after surgery are significantly higher than they tell you, I actually did develop a bowel obstruction and almost died 3 days after the surgery, but it was most likely due to the number of other abdominal surgeries and the amount of scar tissue I had. My friend also had the surgery and developed a bowel obstruction as well, I am not trying to scare you but you need to be aware that these things can and do occur. Make sure you check your surgeon out really well.. Another thing, hair loss is really common afterwards and can be dramatic, 5 years later I am still dealing with it falling out easier and breaking off. I did lose 78 pounds but I still have 40 to go which is my goal by the 5 year mark. Even though I did have problems, I am still not sorry I did it because I had gotten to the point where I couldn't walk very far and was always in pain and just couldn't get and keep the momentum going to lose the weight.

One last thing to consider. Weight loss surgery works by resulting in you eating less. You are telling us your weight isn't because you eat too much, but because your medication makes you gain weight. If that is really the case then weight loss surgery won't help, will it? If you gain for reasons other than taking in more calories than you burn, then drastically cutting your calories with surgery won't solve the problem, because too many calories isn't the problem. The truth is that it's really a combination of things that make patients on antidepressants gain weight, and one of those things is that some antidepressants cause cravings, often for sweets, and you eat more calories. Some antidepressants also cause a slowing of metabolism that adds to the problem. And depression itself often causes eating disorders, from anorexia to overeating. Before you try something that might result in serious and LIFELONG medical complications or even death, you need to try getting help from a licensed dietician and an occupational therapist and see if you can work out a diet and exercise program you can live with and lose weight without the really serious risks weight loss surgery entails. Especially when you have only a bit over 100 pounds to lose and could actually be very healthy with a weight loss of half that. Did I see you've lost 13 pounds since September? So at that rate you could be down 50 pounds by summer, and a hundred by next christmas! Really, any faster than that really isn't healthy anyway. I think you really need to talk to your therapist ( and no one should be on antidepressants and not be seeing a therapist as well) about this feeling that you shouldn't have to work at weight loss because the weight gain wasn't your fault, because it's just not a healthy attitude. You say it's hard. Yes, it is. There comes a time in everybody's life when she has to do hard things. You can do this.

Well I also have 100 lbs to loose but NEVER, NEVER, NEVER considered doing it this way! I do not like to have surgery, Sam I am, I do not like them at all! My BMI is 36.7 but all my blood work is GREAT! I started MFP at 235 lbs and have lost 28 so far! I am holding my own right now thru December but come January I know I will be back on track and loosing weekly! Its not for everyone and its not for me. Just hope you consider ALL aspects of this surgery, all risk and such. I know someone that had this procedure done and she lost about 50 lbs and then no more! She has more to loose just not able too... So I am not sure what that is all about but again its jut not for me. Good luck with what ever you choose!

It may or may not be the right thing for you. Think about it and do LOTS of research and check out the Doctor and Hospital way ahead of time so that you are going in to it as well informed as possible. Know the Pros and Cons of it before you make a decision.
And remember that it will be hard work to lose the weight and to keep it off whether you have the surgery or not. But "Hard" does NOT mean "Impossible".
:flowerforyou: Good Luck with your Journey!!

Well I posted this on my wall, and have not received any feed back yet...so I thought I would try my luck here.

Alright....well I just found out that my new insurance plan DOES cover lapband and gastric bypass and the sleeve with very minimal cost to me. I looked it up and some people who have the same insurance I do, paid only $500 total. So I was sort of looking into it. There is a class that you take once a week for 24 weeks (so about 6 months)...anyway, I am sort of looking into it. Not seriously yet, but sort of just checking things out. Would anyone consider this option if they were having a super hard time losing weigh on their own? That is where I am at. It is just soooo hard to do it. Just looking for feed back.

Without reading anyone else's posts.....

My Aunt had gastric bypass surgery and was successful, went from being in size 20+ to a size 10 in just over a year..... she didn't have any complications with the surgery. It's different for everyone though. She was able to eat pretty much ANYTHING she wanted after she got over the healing part. Which has now caused her to gain back 3/4 of her weight. So honestly, unless you are in the right mind set to actually keep the weight off forever, it's a waste of money in my opinion. I also have a Bestfriend who had it and ended up in a nursing home just a few months after the surgery with severe brain damage...... someone who was active w/ 5 children and was artistic like you couldn't believe, went to barely being able to write her name and now takes over 20 different medications just to stay alive. She suffered this due to her body not taking in any vitamins that she needed for her nutrition. Instead of them dissolving in her body, she was pooping them out. Therefore wasn't getting ANY nutrition which cause her to faint constantly and had the most severe headaches i've ever witnessed. AND her doctor's cleared her from any previous medical issues before having the surgery, giving her a clean bill of health prior to. Now she has trouble walking and writing and cannot be left unattended because she still suffers with occasional fainting........... so if I were you I would do the healthy thing and lose naturally. I don't believe in these surgeries because of these experiences I have witnessed.

But again, everyone is different, I personally wouldn't put myself through any of these chances.

You're asking what kind of dog to get on a cat lovers site.

Would you do it if you had to pay the whole amount? Would you do liposuction if it was covered? Would you get a personal chef and personal trainer and work out 7 days a week if it was covered until you lost your weight?

I have no answers - just more questions.

It is not the easy way out that you think it is, you will still need to alter your life permanently. From the WLS blogs that I read, the things you struggle with now will still be the things you have to address after surgery.

I think you are overwhelmed by the enormity of the problem, but making small adjustments, making small goals, taking one step at a time is how we all cope. I decided a long time ago that it didn't matter how long it took, but by making my goals action oriented (i.e. cutting out sugar, exercising x no of times a week), and being accountable to someone (trainer at the gym weighing me in regularly), I was able to make sustainable long term changes that have resulted in the weight-loss that I needed.

I gained a lot on anti-depressants, back in January I thought my weight was out of control, but I have lost the weight by trying different things until I found what worked for me. I wish you luck whatever you decide.

GG

I've known people who's done it, some succesfully others not much.
The reality is that either using the traditional weigth loss methods or having surgery you HAVE to change your eating and fitness habits if you want to remain at a healthy weigth. Otherwise you'll lose everything.
The benefit of the surgery though is time, is a lot more quicker when you ahve lots of weigth to lose.

Good luck!

Exactly this. The couple of people I know are doing amazing and look fantastic. But on the other hand, another friend died from complications. :brokenheart: Another doesn't exercise and just looks deflated... I'm sure she's healthier than she was when she was 80 pounds heavier, but not where she could be if she put some effort into fitness rather than just relying on the doc tightening her band. A friend of my brother's lost too much weight, can't stop losing, and is constantly in and out of the hospital.

It's definitely not an easy way out and nothing to consider lightly.

I don't like surgery was the reason I totally ruled it out, but, for me, if I could stick to the strict guidelines required BEFORE the surgery then I could keep doing it and not need the surgery, but, probably all doctors are different and there are different surgeries.

Good luck on your journey...whatever you choose.