Gastric Bypass Surgery
 

Hey guys, I wanted to see how many of you maybe knew someone who has had this surgery. One of my friends had been talking about it for a while, I didn't think that she was serious, but I found out that she is getting it done on Saturday!!!! I know of a doctor and a nurse at my hospital that had it done, but never anyone on "my" level. Looking on the internet, I guess it is becoming more accepted and more economically feasible for those who aren't rich. I am kinda scared for her, but kinda happy at the same time because she is doing something to help herself...What do you think?

Re: Gastric Bypass Surgery
 

Eat right, exercise, and be DISCIPLINED.

Now, if you have TRULY tried the above, and they simply didn't work; and I mean TRULY TRULY TRULY tried, then maybe the surgery is for you. I'm not goin' under the knife to lose weight unless I ABSOLUTELY HAVE to.

On Investigative Reports the other day, they had people who got the little belt put around their stomach... makes it shaped like an hour glass. Now, this is more feasible to me, because it can be reversed. GBS can't.

I wonder if people who go thru these surgeries really tried to lose weight and just didn't have any will power, or if they were genetically predisposed to their weight. I'm a little skeptical of surgery JUST for weight-loss... I don't know, I just can't see it for myself. I'm too scurry for all that.

At the medical center that I work at, we have a world renowed weight program called "Health Management", where in extreme cases they do perform this surgery. However, before even being considered for this type of surgery, you have to go through counseling and other forms of weight management for a least a year. Within the Health Management program, this is the last resort option for those people who can not use weight through the other phases (diet, excercise, pre-packaged food, shakes) of the program.

I agree with Ideal08, if you are unable to lose the weight through tradiontion means, then the surgery could be the best option.

Remember, the risk associated with this surgery DO NOT COMPARE to the risk associated with being morbidly obese.

A friend of the family had the surgery and lost 90+ pounds. She is in her twenties and had struggled with her weight since early childhood. Her health was an issue. She had been overweight for two decades and obese for one decade. Now, she not only looks better at a smaller size, but she is also healthier and happier and more physically active.

She had the procedure done a year and a half ago after over a year of researching the procedure options and doctors. It was definitely not something that she decided on the spur of the moment. Actually, part of the time was spent arguing with the insurance company for coverage. When they approved, she was able to have it. After surgery, she had to limit her food intake to two tablespoons because that is all that her stomach could hold at first. Now, she can eat larger portions, but much less than before the surgery. It definitely changed her life for the better.

Re: Re: Gastric Bypass Surgery
 

But the thing that's bad....she's not really all that big if you ask me! She is about 5'5", and she wears a size 16, but she is not morbidly obese to the point where she can't function. She says she just feels she would feel better about herself if she does it. She is not doing it directly for medical reasons, and honestly I can't say that she has "tried everything" to lose weight. I have been looking on the internet, I just don't feel it's worth the risk when she is not in danger!

My LS had the surgery done last year, as well as the cafeteria manager at my school. I haven't seen my LS, but when I spoke with her during the summer, she had already lost 100 lbs. in a few months. :eek:

Tomorrow, I'll ask my co-worker how much she has lost to date. I know she was off for at least 6 weeks. Before the surgery, she had to go on a liquid diet, after the surgery, it was hard for her to eat the small portions required. As soon as she'd put too much down, it came right back up. I think she has it all under control. She did say that she could have a baby a year or so after the procedure had been done. Oh, she showed us a picture right after the procedure from when she was in high school. She said she wanted to get back to that weight. I think the surgery has done it.

I forgot...as far as costs. Their insurance paid for BOTH (both are school system employees). I guess it's like the breast reduction thing, if it is considered a medical hazard, the insurance will pay for it. :confused:

FYI
 

I just spoke with my colleague. She says she's lost 193 pounds thus far. She says she "pigged out" last week and LOST pounds. In her first month, she says she lost 20 pounds. She wears a girdle to "contain" the excess skin. She also says she consulting with a plastic surgeon about a tummy tuck.

She and my LS have the same physician. She says I am not going to recognize my LS when I see her. :eek:

An fellow employee where I work had the surgery as well. He was severely obese and had a very hard time losing the weight. At his age (mid 30's) he was told that if he didn't lose the weight soon he was at risk for early heart trouble. He had the surgery about six months ago and has lost 110 pounds. He does look a lot healthier and happier also. I don't think that the surgery is a totally bad idea in such extreme cases, but 1savvydiva, I don't think that your friend falls into that category. She may want to consider other options first if she is not doing it for her health.

I think so too, she seems like she has her mind made up though! I just can't believe that it is happening so soon! It just seems like we just started joking about it a few months ago, like HK1974 said, I thought you had to go through a lot of counseling and have DOCUMENTED failed attempts to lose weight. I don't know, it seems kinda shady to me, and why does she have to go to Charleston, it just seems like she found someone to do it who just wants the money. I am seriously trying to get her to REALLY think about it.

I'm against having this surgery. I feel that one should try a doctor approved diet plan and exercise routine. I know of a Soror who died as a result of this surgery. I know there are risks w/ all that you do,but if you can avoid having surgery I recommend taking that path instead.

Well, she did it! We shall see what comes of it...

Did anyone catch Al Roker on the Tim Russet show on CNBC last evening??? He discussed his GB surgery and how much weight he lost, and how much healthier he feels now. He looks totally different and much better. :)

Some quick facts
 

Since this convo came up and I paid a visit with the Medical Director here at my hospital that runs our Weight Management Program. Here are some things that I didn't know:

Once you have had the surgery, here are some things to keep in mind:

1. Unrevocable, meaning you have it for like
2. You lose 39 oz of stomache
3. You can not drink carbonated beverages
4. You must exercise at LEAST 5 times a week (for at least 1 hour) to prevent huge skins folds.
5. You can only eat tiny amounts of food at one sitting, which is about the size of your fist.(No more getting your grub on @ the holidays...)
6. You lose a large section of your small intestine (you lost the part that absords the food, calories, nutrients, etc.)
7. Hair loss may result from this surgery :eek:
8. The average person within a 4 month period will lose about
60-75 lbs.
9. You must follow a certain eating regime (not diet) FOR LIFE because if you do not, you will keep losing weight. For example, when you reach your goal weight, you must follow a certain eating regime in order to maintain that weight. If not, you will continue to lose weight (underweight).

The Medical Director also told me that any good program will consist of some type of long time counseling before and after the surgery. He said that any program that does not have this is one to watch out for.

1savvydive, I pray that your friend is ok. :(

Re: Some quick facts
 

I know of one person who had it, she was my mother's friend. She first started out with the gastric stomach staple, where they staple one third of your stomach, but the recovery is similar to that of the by-pass only they don't have to reconnect your intestines to anything they can stay where they are. However, it didn't work for this woman so she had the GB surgery, and it got to the point where she couldn't hold anything down not even water, and then started having complications from that surgery too. She eventually died in the hospital at the same time my mother had her Gastric Stomach Staple. I think personally her body just went into a shock for having so many surgeries so close together. Because at this time the procedure was about a few years old and still in the experimental stage. So both surgeries were EXTREMELY risky at that time. My mother said that she regrets ever doing it and would have NEVER done it had the internet been in existance during that time period. All you could do was take the doctors word to a certain degree because there was only so much literature on the subject. I think with the advancements in technology and what not it is easier to weigh the pro's and con's for yourself because you can read the successes and failures of the procedures.

Re: Some quick facts
 

She is pretty much out of it, I wasn't able to talk to her, but I talked to her mother. I really hope that everything works out in her favor. Her mom said that she should expect a long recovery...but according to the doctors, she came through the surgery fine. Okay...

Re: Re: Some quick facts
 

That's great!:)

Depending on the person, it may not be as long as you think!;)

well, it's been about 3 weeks now, and she has lost about 15 pounds already! I am curious to see how the rest of the holidays go being that she can't really eat that much. She said at first she didn't really have an appetite to eat anything anyway, I don't know...she is feeling a lot better so well shall see, I guess.

Not all weight-loss surgery succeeds
 

Posted on Thu, Feb. 26, 2004
BY TARA PARKER-POPE
Wall Street Journal


Celebrities such as Al Roker and singer Carnie Wilson have fueled an unprecedented boom in weight-loss surgery. But for many patients, the procedure doesn't live up to the hype.

A small but significant number of patients who have weight-loss surgery regain much or all of their weight back after a few years. Despite anatomical changes that make it impossible to binge or eat large quantities of food, some patients learn to "outeat" the surgery, grazing on small portions of high-calorie foods throughout the day. Other patients lose only a fraction of the weight expected and remain significantly overweight after the surgery.

No one knows for sure how common the problem is, but estimates of these "failures," as they are known among surgeons, range from 5 percent to 20 percent of patients. Some experts worry that the problem may be growing as new weight-loss centers attempt to cash in on the surgical boom without offering patients long-term psychological and nutrition counseling.

"We know there is a portion of the patient population that will not be successful," said Alan Wittgrove, president of the American Society for Bariatric Surgery. "Sometimes the operation fails them, but sometimes they fail the operation."

Because of growing concerns about quality control and long-term patient success rates, the society is pushing a new plan to be launched in about six weeks that will designate "centers of excellence" for weight-loss surgery, similar to those that already exist for cardiac care and organ transplants, said bariatric surgeon Walter Pories. To qualify as a center of excellence, a surgeon or weight-loss center must document long-term patient results, physician expertise in surgical procedures and a program that offers patients long-term access to nutrition and psychological counseling and follow-up care.

While bariatric surgery helps control the quantity of food consumed, most patients are still plagued by the same eating demons that caused them to gain weight in the first place. In one study, 80 percent of patients reported that they regularly felt a loss of control over eating just six months after surgery. Several studies show that beginning two years after surgery, many patients begin to regain at least some of their weight.

In a small percentage of patients, the weight regain will be excessive. Some patients regain the weight by drinking sweetened soft drinks, juices or milkshakes, or by grazing on crackers and dollops of peanut butter.

Yeah, 1SD, how much did your friend end up losing? I know quite a few people who have done it.

She's about a size 6/8, I don't really know how much she lost, I'll have to ask her. She's completely happy that she did it, and I must admit, she looks wonderful.

ARE YOU SERIOUS?! Dang!:eek:

I'm sure she looks good, but wasn't she only a size 14/16 to start? From my understanding (or at least this is the standard for the program we run) you must be at least over 100lbs. the recommended weight to qualify for the program.

But if she's happy..... :)

Re: Re: Gastric Bypass Surgery
 

Ditto. I know it's hard, and I know it's challenging, but people can -- and do -- lose significant amounts of weight by simply eating right and exercising. Not to toot my own horn but.. those 160 lbs I kicked to the curb are proof of that.

But like Ideal08 said, if you've truly tried everything, I mean really put in the hard work, then it's an option. It's not an easy option though. Your hair falls out, you have dragon stank breath (and bathroom functions), and you're really, really irritable -- and SICK -- for months. After all, it's major surgery. Some people are able to go on solid foods within two weeks. For others, it takes months. Think of it -- nothing but protein shakes and baby food for two, three, four, five, six months.. or more.

I personally know two people who have had the surgery, both of whom weighed about as much as I did (they were about 20-25 pounds heavier than I was at the time I started Weight Watchers). One of them told me that she wishes she'd followed my example. The other is doing well, but it was really rough going for her, and she'll have to go to the doctor for the rest of her life to make sure that her liver and heart functions are okay and weren't adversely affected by the surgery.

Re: Some quick facts
 

FWIW, this may not help. I work out on average 4-5 days a week for 60-90 minutes, and I still have loose skin issues.

Your skin's natural elasticity, your age, and whether you've been fat all of your life or only recently became fat play a huge part in how quickly the skin snaps back.

As soon as I win the lottery, I'm having it all CUT OFF!

That was my concern. When I posted, I was concerned because I didn't think she needed it. I realized the other day that I posted that she was like 5' 5", but she is only about 5' 2". But she still wasn't morbidly obese by MY standards, but evidently by the standards for the insurance and the doctors, she qualified. I felt like it was kinda shady...and was more concered for her health.

BTW, I asked her, and she was a woman's size 16, now she is a comfortable 5/6. She said that she's holding steady at about a 75-80 pound loss, depending on the time of the month, LOL.

I'm having the surgery done in a few months and I can tell you, it was a long and thoroughly thought through decision. I have a genetic predisposition to gain weight and I was packing on pounds. My grandmother died of a heart attack and I have a history of diabetes in my family and I did not want to go through that. I am happy with the hospital that I'm with. They have me seeing a psychologist, nutritionist and someone to help me find exercise activities that are right for me. We also have monthly support sessions with others who have had the surgery and a doctor on call for 24 hours if something should happen. I have personally started to get in the habit of removing sugar and fat from my diet. I'm also starting to acclimate myself to eating pureed foods because I know I will be only able to eat those kinds of foods for the first six weeks after. It's not for everyone. I didn't want to have it done at first because I felt like I would be deemed a failure because I didn't do it on my own. Even though I will have surgery, I still have an uphill battle before me. I just try to keep the faith and pray everything goes well.

*bump*

Vanda, you still around?? Did you do it? What happened?

Re: Gastric Bypass Surgery
 

I know one person who's had the surgery. She looks great! However, I would never do it. I have not exhausted the other weight loss methods.

Yeah, I'm still around. I haven't had it done yet because my doctor wanted me to see a specialist for your heart, lungs and other things before going ahead withthe procedure. They are very thorough where I am having it done. Some specialists had long waiting lists so I had to wait it out. I see my final specialist, the pulmonologist on the December 30 and if she gives me the okay it's all systems go. I will degfinitely keep you updated as things transpire.

Please do. Sending good thoughts your way! :)

Thanks :)

I know someone who had this done and lost a lot of weight. He's now looking to have his insurance pay for the reconstructive surgery to follow up (to remove all the loose skin, yuck). Anyway, he gained some back because a lot of times he still ate like he did before..........i mean huge quantities, and it would make him sick. YOu have to change your lifestyle still if you want it to work for real.

Update: My LS and I chatted last week. She is expecting. She had her first child 5 or 6 years prior to her surgery.


Someone told me you can "tell" a person who has had GB or stomach stapling.... their heads are usually bigger than their body. :confused:

**whispering** Star Jones:o

2 of my coworkers had it done and they're doing well. One had it done in Sept. she was 310lbs. She now weighs 170! :o Another had it done a month prior . She was 286 now weighs 140. she's trying to eat food like cakes and cookies not to lose any more, but if either of them over-do it they get really sick.

**pssst** Al Roker & Carnie Wilson

So?? Was it all systems go?

All systems go...sorta
 

My pulmonologist decided to wait to ok me. I see her on Monday. Then as of January, my medical insurance said I would have to see a dietician every month for a year before they would OK it. Now that my doctor has found this out, he is in the process of contacting my medical insurance company to bypass that (no pun intended). So hopefully by September or October at the latest, I can have it done. A family member had it done last Monday and was home by Thursday. She didn't tell anyone until it was over. So now I will have a buddy to share things with. Thanks for the interest though.