Has anyone had Gastric Bypass Surgery?

[Demosthenes]

To anyone who has had this surgery:

About a year ago, my cousin was looking into Gastric Bypass surgery; due to familial pressure, he backed off. He has been trying now for more than a year to lose weight, and is in a pretty deep depression about his circumstances. He is currently over 450 lbs. This last year has seen a lot of celebrities giving this surgery national prominence. What has your experience been with the surgery? How long was the recovery time? What can, and do, you eat? How effective has it been? Is it permanent?


I have one last question; would you recommend this surgery to someone else?

Thanks in advance for any help you can give us.

 

[flrose]

I did not personally have the surgery but, my sister did! AND
our family was really against it at the time. I think it has been
approx. 5 yrs. now and she is still looking great and stays at a normal weight for her. I think she lost approx. 140 lbs. She had an absolutely wonderful doctor, THAT is the most important part of the whole procedure. She went to some group meetings, had to lose 20 lbs before the surgery and he called her every day after the surgery for a couple weeks. Then she had physicals weekly, monthly, semi annually, and now yearly. It was quite a long road for her getting adjusted to what she could/couldn't eat, losing her hair from losing weight so fast, tummy adjustments to certain foods, etc. But, she did all the things she was suppose to do and has not had any medical complications from the surgery. Now, her former roommate also had the surgery approx 6 mos to a year before my sister and she even had surgery afterwards to remove excess skin, etc. but, she is now overweight again, not obese, but much heavier than she should be. So, it is not something that everybody can do, it is not a quick fix and go on business as usual. It is a lifestyle change when it comes to your eating habits.
I admire Al Roker for not bragging about it and not commercializing it like some celebrities are doing. I would probably steer clear of the doctors that are using these celebrities to drum up business.
Your cousin should do alot of research on doctors, maybe find a message board or chat room to get some advice from those who have been through the procedure.
Sorry for such a long post but, it is a big decision to make and alot to think about. Good Luck to your cousin on whatever decision he makes.

 

[Beauty]

I did tons of reasearch and even went to meetings on this. I went so far as to get my insurance to approve it. Anyway in my personal situation it simply isn't worth the risks. There are HUGE risks involved in this surgery. Not only during and after the surgery but for up to a year later. Recently I have heard of 4 different people who have died after this surgery. One person I knew locally and 3 here on the internet. In my situation my health simply isn't bad enough to take the risks. I don't have high blood pressure, diabetes, knee or leg problems etc. I have no problems finding clothes that I can wear.

Now in extreme situations where the person is so overweight that it is effecting their health so badly that the risks are worth it I say its a good thing.

I think in todays world though it is simply to easy to have this. Anyone who is overweight can have it and I'm afraid alot of people don't see or take the risks into consideration. I don't think at all that the surgery is a bad thing for people who are greatly in need. But in some situations I think people look at it as an easy out to eating right and excersise and just don't see the risks and long term effect.

 

[Micca]

I have a close friend/co-worker who had this done about 3 years ago. It has worked great for her, and she will recommend it to anyone who is interested. She researched it a lot and went to a doctor in San Diego who is prominent in this field. She was back at work in about two weeks. She lost weight for nearly a year before she "bottomed out". She has gained a little back(5-10 lbs) but she gets NO excercise. Even though she doesn't eat large quantities of anything, a major portion of her diet is junk like soda, candy, cookies, etc. Even with all that, I think she is down about 80-90 pounds from her original weight. When asked about the risks involved in the surgery, she will tell you about the risks of obesity. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Diva of Dragons]

Hi!
I have pesonally known 2 people who have had it done. One had it way back in the late 70's and she's still doing great. The other was my ex-boyfriends brother who had it in Fall 2001. At first they thought he was doing great but a week or so after he went home, he developed a Staph infection and passed away a few weeks later! He was only 40, with 2 great teenage daughters and was still married to his high school sweetheart.

I can completely understand your cousins health concerns and depression. I would just really encourage him to do it only as an absolutely final resort. If he can get his depression treated, it may be a starting point. Only after he has TRULY given it his ALL to reclaim his health naturally, would I recommend it. I know it probably feels like it is a futile to try. But, if he can get even 1 person that will work with him and help log his progress and celebrate every little step he takes, the overall picture won't seem so overwhelming. Do you know what I mean??
I hope everything works out for him!!!

 

[Demosthenes]

I never fully comprehended how truly depressing my cousin's condition is until I bought a new car recently. It's an Audi TT coup, and while it's a small car, I never imagined that it was too small for him to ride in. I went to pick him up from school one night, and he literally was unable to get in the car. He was so embarrassed he just started balling. I've never felt so bad for someone in my life. Maybe he does need to get the depression treated first, but it sure seems like treating the cause of the depression would go a long way towards helping him be a lot happier.

 

[snoopy]

My SIL's sister just died from complications following this surgery. She was also around 400 lbs. and like your cousin, had tried every diet known to man with no success. She felt that she had no other alternative than to have this surgery, and selected the best surgeons with the most experience. Now she is dead at 38 years old.

I do realize that many people have had success with this surgery, and in hindsight I don't think any of us could have talked Margarita out of having it done. Her life was such that she had great difficulty getting from Point A to Point B, and was at risk for so many serious diseases. The only comfort I take from her death is that she is in a better place, because being here on this Earth was very difficult for her. She struggled with obesity for so very long, and all the emotional baggage that went with it, that she was a very unhappy person as a result.

I do have a problem with Carnie Wilson glamorizing this surgery in Playboy magazine. I understand she had her scars, which are numerous, airbrushed out of the photos. I think had she been really wanting to give people the real deal, she should have showed them exactly what their bodies will look like afterward.

Good luck to your cousin, I certainly hope that his surgery, should he decide to go through with it, is successful.

 

[CarolA]

I would think that your cousin should look into this. While there is a risk at 450 lbs there is also a HUGE risk of stroke or heart attack. The health issues of 450 lbs cannot be overlooked when considering the surgery risks.

My old boss had it and he had no problems, but he was aware of the problems. (Actually the surgery that really gave him problems was one later to remove the excess skin!)

 

[Pop Daddy]

I think thats cheating

 

[MrsPiglet]

My mom had it 20 years ago, with success. She was at about 309 pounds now she is about 107. She still can't eat much and if she eats too much she gets sick or gets sick. For the most part her bowels move 3 to 4 day. She was about 45 when she had it done because she is 66 now and in great health- no high blood pressure or anything (actually no daily medicine for her). She is unable to eat any dairy products and most sweets makes her sick. She sometimes can get by with a couple bites of sweets. She couldn't drink soda for several years and just lately have been able to handle diet soda, but not much, but not the sweet soda at all. She does it a few things she shouldn't and her stomach craps for about twenty minutes. Liquids fill her up, so she doesn't drink anything with her meals. She says she doesn't enjoy eating no more like she use to.

The only major complication she had was after she lost the weigh her colon became flabby and she had to have surgery to pin it up.


On the other hand, I know two others had it done about the same time as mom and they lost some weight, but eventually gained it back and one is bigger now than before.

Thankfully, I have not personally known anyone to die from it, but have heard of several here on the internet.

So he must weigh the risks against the risks of not having it done.

Good luck one way or the other.

 

[Goofyposter]

Pop Daddy....I usually love your humor....but I'm afraid....not this time.

It's a crap shoot. And the person's Life or Death...does hang in the balance.

I completely understand an empathize with the depression and the feelings of worthlessness that can come with being morbidly obese.

However. Unless you are "lucky" and have the top 10% of Medical expertise (IMHO) avaliable....anyone having this procedure is in fact rolling the dice with their life. Are there 'chances' of fatalities w'o it? Sure!.....however...in my opinion as humble as that might be.....I'd strongly suggest he seek alternative assistance......(I hate this term)...but "fat camp" might be an alternative....a place where he check's himself into for 6-12 weeks...where in he is given a strong program of intensive dietary perception training, exercise and lifestyle modification.....

I hope and pray that he'll do what is necessary to find the life he deserves.....but radical, physical altercation....should be...the absolute, completely last, last, last case resort.....as he's chances of maintaining a long and healthy life are better...if he learns HOW to do it....rather than it being medically forced upon him...with the multiple associated issues that that brings....

Also...please....always make sure that he knows and feels...that he is loved by his family....no matter what his physical condition!

My best wishes to you all!

 

[faith]

My Dh's cousin had this surgery done 11 weeks ago. He has lost 95 pounds so far. He says he has to lose another 130. His incision has still not completely healed, and he expects to have to be off work atleast another month. We saw him a few days ago and he looked so pale, and his voice sounded so weak.
However, he seemed very happy with the results so far, and plans to continue to follow the "diet" and dr's orders exactly. I certainly pray he will be okay. He also can not drink any liquid with his tiny meal. It fills him up too quickly.