Gastric Bypass surgery

[tinydancer]

It does seem like suddenly we are hearing a lot more about this type of surgery. My manicurist had it done, lost 183 lbs., has had plastic surgery to remove "loose skin," and is looking at about 3 more surgeries to complete the procedure. The whole procedure scares me. Even though I am not happy with my weight, I can think of a whole lot of other things I would ( and do) try before I would have the surgery.

[PM_Mama00]

Originally posted by tinydancer
It does seem like suddenly we are hearing a lot more about this type of surgery. My manicurist had it done, lost 183 lbs., has had plastic surgery to remove "loose skin," and is looking at about 3 more surgeries to complete the procedure. The whole procedure scares me. Even though I am not happy with my weight, I can think of a whole lot of other things I would ( and do) try before I would have the surgery.

But that's the thing. Alot of these people HAVE tried all these other things and nothing works.

Take me for example. I was on a diet, and working out 5 days a week for 2 hours a day. I lost nothing.

Sometimes it's just a person's genes. Or, I've just heard of this new "illness" this year. Maybe it's not new, but I've just heard of it. Insulin Resistant. I'm actually gonna be goin to a doctor to see if that's what I have. It's like diabetes, but not to the full extent. Basically it causes a person to like never be ablet o lose weight.

[Lady Pi Phi]

Originally posted by honeychile
... why not work on banning soda pop, candy & snack machines at schools - when this problem starts for most people?

See this is not exactly the best solution either. While sugary pops are a problem. I see nothing wrong with diet pops.
The Toronto Board of Education has banned sugary drinks in the schools and is no replacing them with juices. However, juices that would be provided by Coke (and now Pepsi as they have the contract now) are overloaded with sugar. In fact some of these juices have more sugar in them than the pops. They also wanted to have sports drinks in the pop machines...also overloaded with sugar. They really haven't solved the problem.

I totally agree that their needs to be a complete overhaul of the food services in the schools so that they offer children more healthy choices.

ETA: There is another procedure out and I can't remember what it's called, but basically what they do it place a band around your stomach to limit the intake of food and when you lose your goal weight, they remove it. But hopefully what it's also taught you is to limit your intake of food. While it does have it's risks, it's apparently less risky then gastric bypass surgery.

[ZTAngel]

I'm not sure if this is true or not...can someone clarify?

I've heard that in many gastric bypass patients that after a few years, the body begins to "adjust" to its sudden reduction in food intake. I've heard rumors that the stomach can expand in size on its own or the body learns how to turn on the "hunger mechanism" all day so that you're constantly eating.

Like I said, not sure if it's true but that would seem heartbreaking to lose all that weight and then be able to gain in back after a few years.

ETA:
My friend's mother had it done and she looks and feels better than she has in 30 years. She was starting to have heart complications, breathing problems, and was beginning to develop diabetes. She can now exercise normally (without becoming too physically exhausted to work out) and eats healthy. The only problem is the excess skin from her rapid weight loss (a problem in many GB patients since the skin isn't elastic enough to adjust weight loss) so she has been consulting with plastic surgeons about skin removal options.

[cuaphi]

That's a good point. I've also heard that for some people, there are underlying psychological issues associated with the excess weight. For example, some women regard it as a security blanket or are simply used to being very, very large. In some cases those people will start gaining the weight back after several years. I think it's important that people also undergo counseling because many people both fat and skinny have an unhealthy relationship with food.

[adpialumcsuc]

My mother in law is thinking of having this done. She does need to loose weight but I think that if she actually did some activity she could. We husband and I have convinced her to go on a diet and she has lost weight..... but not fast enough for her. One of her co-workers had the surgery done and lost weight really fast so that is the results she wants. I think that it is too risky, just because she is too lazy. Oh by the way they just sold their house and bought a new one because the distance from the bedroom to the kitchen was "too far"

[Lady Pi Phi]

Originally posted by cuaphi
That's a good point. I've also heard that for some people, there are underlying psychological issues associated with the excess weight. For example, some women regard it as a security blanket or are simply used to being very, very large. In some cases those people will start gaining the weight back after several years. I think it's important that people also undergo counseling because many people both fat and skinny have an unhealthy relationship with food.

As anyone ever read the book "She's Come Undone" by Wally Lamb?

The girl in the books is raped as young girl and to cope with the pain of the experience she eats and eats and eats and puts on a lot of weight.

I definitly believe for some people their weight is a symptom of deeper psychological issues.

[aphibeach]

i am all for people who are at serious health risks to have gastric bypass surgery but what i am starting to see are people who are overweight using this as a tool to lose weight (just to look good).

case in point: i read an article in a magazine about this woman who was about 210 pounds. she was unhappy with her weight and after many failed attempts at fad diets she was looking for something else to help get rid of the weight. well she was informed about the surgery BUT you have to weigh at least 240lbs to be eligible for the procedure. so this woman gained 30 pounds so she could have the surgery.

this is so sad. i mean she could have lost weight by eating right and exercising but instead she decided to take the easy way out. i've been reading though that people who've had the procedures a couple of years ago can gain weight back, up to half of what they lost, especially if they dont continue to eat healthy and exercise

[sugar and spice]

How many of you saw MTV True Life: "I'm Obese"? It showcased three people: a plus-size model who was relatively happy with her weight, an obese (300 pound?) teenager who wanted gastric bypass, and an obese adult (500-600 pounds) who also wanted gastric bypass. It was a really frustrating show to watch, but also really sad.

The obese women who weighed about 550 was a good candidate for gastric bypass -- she had some kind of condition where she basically couldn't move anymore because she gained so much weight and her legs were so swollen. She did get the surgery covered by her insurance. However . . . the teenage boy who was obese bothered me a lot. He kept eating junk food and instead of changing his eating habits, just kept telling people that he would change them after he got the surgery. He clearly had issues with emotional overeating, and so it seemed obvious that surgery wasn't going to address the root of his problems. Therapy would have done a lot more good.

[aphibeach]

^ yeah i saw that episode. it's so sad when people assume that surgery will fix their problems