Weight loss surgery - does anyone REALLY need it?

[ChristineNic]

Gastric Bypass works by restricting your intake of food and by malabsorption (rerouting and passing by part of the digestive tract).

Gastric sleeve works by reshaping your stomach from a balloon shape to that of a banana. During surgery, approximately 80% of the stomach, including the portion where the "hungry" hormone is produced.

Gastric banding is where a band is placed around the stomach creating a small stomach pouch with a small stoma at the bottom. Picture an hourglass. As the patient loses weight, the fatty pad around the abdomen shrinks and the band loosens. The band can be adjusted by adding saline to to tighten it.

All of the surgeries have side effects.

The band is the only procedure that can be easily reversed without greater risk than the original surgery.

WLS is not for the feint of heart. It should not be done for vanity alone. It should be not done because it is "easier" that traditional diet and exercise. (It's not!!)

As I stated above, I am banded and I am happy to share my experiences, opinions and some good resources. Just PM me.

 

[worm761]

I can honestly say that I still don't understand how it worked for you to limit your portions through surgery- with the exception of feeling full- yet limiting portions didn't work without surgery. It's an honest question. There is no malice in that at all. What is it that made the surgery work but nothing else did? That is the real question. Why does the smaller portion size work post surgery but not before? I know a few people who have had WLS. It did not work for all of them. Some never really lost a lot of weight, some lost a lot and so far so good but their eating habits are terrible (not healthy) one died and never made it out of the hospital and one lost and gained it all back (again- not eating healthy). I am not judging. I simply don't get what the surgery does that healthy living doesn't.

Not everyone loses weight the same way. It is just that simple. You seem to think that if you just limit your portion sizes then the weight will magically just disappear. And it might work that way for SOME people. It does not work for all.

I quit smoking. Then I quit working to stay home with my son. Then I got pregnant and put on bed rest for the duration. I gained around 50 lbs. I need to lose that weight. I was exercising. I was tracking every single calorie that passed my lips. I lost ONE pound in a YEAR. Eating less didn't work. Exercising didn't work. My doctor could find no biological reason for me to not be losing weight. Now, I am happy to say that I have found something that works for me and have lost 20 pounds recently. But it took a lot of playing around with things to find what works for me. I am part of a weight loss support group and nothing works the same for any of us.

 

[whgrn]

Warning--long post!

Interesting topic, with a LOT of misinformation going around.

1. Gastric bypass does NOT change the way you think about food. You will have to tame that tiger every day for the rest of your life.

2. Gastric bypass IS reversible. But it is rarely done because the risks are so high--much higher than for the original surgery.

3. Gastric bypass is NOT an "easy fix". It is NOT a "get out of fat free" card.

I know these things because I had gastric bypass 12 years ago. After trying every weight loss program out there, and losing hundreds of pounds, only to regain it all and then some, it was that or nothing. I would be dead right now if I hadn't done it. I have lost over 300 pounds. 250 came off in the 2 years after the bypass. I regained 50 over the next several years. 5 years ago I decided it was time to finish the job once and for all. I did the diet and exercise thing and lost 113 pounds in about 15 months, for a total loss of 313. Got to my goal weight, started back to the old habits, and gained back 70 pounds. In July I joined Weight Watchers. For the first time, I thought of it, not as a temporary thing, lose the weight and then I'm done, but as a lifestyle change. Whatever I do to lose the weight, I will have to continue to do to keep it off. I am at my goal (actually below it). Total loss 306, 70 on WW.

Do I still eat things I "shouldn't"? Sure, but not often, and not much. I vastly prefer healthy foods. The fact is, when I eat like cr*p, I FEEL like cr*p. I go to the gym a few times a week, and have an elliptical in my bedroom that I use daily. I am also much more active overall than I used to be. I do not drink my calories. I drink water, and occasionally a cup of tea. You can gain your weight back really fast drinking soda and milkshakes! And junk food has the same number of calories after surgery as it did before. You just have a physical limit to how much of it you can eat at once. Keep pushing that limit and you will basically stretch out your "pouch" and defeat the surgery.

I had some complications--like a recurrent hernia that is about to be repaired for the 8th time. I don't absorb iron, so I have to go for iron infusions every couple years for 10 weeks. I had a ton of hanging skin, so I had reconstructive surgery to get rid of it. Not cheap, but very well worth it. Bottom line, if I'd known then what I know now, would I do the surgery. H*ll YES!!!

It's not brain surgery. It doesn't make you lose interest in food. And after the "honeymoon" period, you don't lose faster because of the surgery. It basically levels the playing field. I work about as hard at losing weight as the average person does, as opposed to having the deck stacked against me before surgery. It's a TOOL. Not a magic wand.

It also is known to be almost a cure for type 2 diabetes. Many people I know who have had it for that reason have lost 50-80 pounds and had the diabetes disappear. No meds. No symptoms. No sign they were ever diabetic. Same results for people who were massively obese and diabetic, who lost hundreds of pounds.

My cholesterol is lower than my teenagers'. My BP runs about 100/60. Other than the low iron and anemia, my blood work looks like a 25 year old's. I have my life back.

So to answer the OP question--YES, some people REALLY do need weight loss surgery!

 

[njmom47]

I recently posted on another thread about this, but a coworker/friend had gb I think 2 summers ago. I am not aware of any long-term pre-op counseling, nutritionist, doctor visits....at least I never heard her talk about them, and she tells everyone EVERYTHING. She did try WW once.
Anyway, she ate herself up to the weight she had to be in order to have the surgery. Now that she's lost over 100 lbs, she goes around the office to all the "fat chicks" and says they should talk to their doctor. She got her cousin to do it. "Just go see my Dr, he'll do it for you." (That's a whole other issue though...as I stated in my other post, she has had at least one surgery a year since she's worked with me. ).
I'm just tired of hearing "Oh I shouldn't eat this, I'm gonna be so sick, but I'm gonna anyway..." "How much sugar is in that? Oh that's too much, I can't eat that" but she orders lunch just about every day and I swear every time I see her she's eating something. I don't think she is going to counseling (I have not heard her mention it) so to me, she has not addressed the issues that may have caused her to overeat in the first place. And there are a lot of issues that she talks about.
I did try and read up on it, and it seems control is an important word. I've noticed how she does her hair...it's very precise (control?). I guess control of eating is a way to feel in control of something when it seems things around you are out of control.
Just for the record, I am a plus-size gal but she has not approached me. (I've been the same size for 17 yrs but am now getting that menopause spare tire thingy...ugh!)

 

[CF'er]

My husband had it done 3 years ago. He had tried to diet lots of times but to no avail. He was then diagnosed with bladder cancer and to undergo surgery to cure that he had to lose the weight. The surgeon wouldn't do the surgery until he lost 150 pounds. He had high blood pressure and diabetes prior to surgery. Those are thankfully gone now. He is still hanging around 250 pounds weight wise but it's better than the 400+ that he was. Getting the bladder cancer probably saved his life because without it the insurance wouldn't pay for GB.

He is one of 5-10 people that I know who have had GB. The only one I know that I disagree with had a sleeve done recently and only had 40-50 pounds to lose. She is about 6 weeks post surgery and I don't see how she can lose much more weight. THAT to me (IMO) is a case of someone not needing to have it done. She (IMO) just wanted a quick fix to her weight loss issue. But, to each his own. I have watched people my whole life struggle with weight. With alcohol and cigarettes you don't need those to live. Food addiction is worse because you have to eat to live.

 

[whgrn]

I didn't get much in the way of counseling before my GB. It's much more prevalent now than then. But I have done private counseling and have seen a nutritionist for years. Also was very involved in the post-op support group. Now I'm pretty much on "auto-pilot"--just check in with the doc every few years, get my labs done when needed, take my supplements, etc. But remember--I'm 12 years out. I've long since lost any of the honeymoon benefits of the surgery (other than the smaller stomach). I'm pretty much on my own. I think if you do all the counseling (psych and nutrition and lifestyle, etc.) early on, it help you when you're "flying solo" a decade or more out. Knowledge is power.

 

[BriarfoxinWA]

My SIL had lapband surgery done in Mexico. She lost over 100 pounds and has kept about half of it off. I really think that she needed counseling and possibly psychiatric help. I think the eating was a symptom of a bigger problem. I believe she possibly has an alcohol and/or drug problem now.

 

[Poohs Pal]

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Ok, I'll admit I chose the title to get people's interest and responses. Not necessarily because I believe it.

 

[happygirl]

Bravo To all those people who posted about the surgery, Isn't an easy surgery to have done. When my mom had her surgery it was about a two year process lots of meetings and screenings to go through. Her insurance wouldn't cover it either, they saw it was cosmetic even though she was close to 200 pounds over what her "ideal" weight should be.

 

[DebbieB]

My hairdresser was very heavy and had the surgery after a long time getting it approved by health care, she has heart issues. She lost the weight very fast, this was about 10 years ago. She had cosmetic surgery because of the loose skin and almost died in surgery. She's now almost just as heavy as before, she gained it all back. So it's not a miracle cure.

 

[OhhBother]

Living life as a morbidly obese person is painful in every respect -- physically, emotionally, etc. I've struggled with my weight since I was a teen. At my highest weight in 2009, I weighed 368 pounds.

For me, weight was always the one thing I wasn't strong enough to tackle. I'm smart and successful -- blessed with a great husband, wonderful friends, a fulfilling job as an executive at a national company, a very comfortable financial situation and on and on.

In 2009, I had an "aha" moment and finally decided to take control. I joined Weight Watchers, and I lost 152 pounds in 18 months. I was 48 pounds from my goal weight when I got a great new job and moved to a new state. In 2011 and 2012, I regained 70 pounds -- the one thing I swore I'd never do.

Today, I'm back in control, back on Weight Watchers, and I've lost 22 of the 70 I regained. As it stands today, I'm 97 pounds from my goal weight. I know I'll get there, and I know I'll have to work and fight every day for the rest of my life to stay there.

This is a really long way to answer the original question about the need for surgery by simply saying -- the battle with weight for the morbidly obese is traumatic. I believe a person who is brave enough to face those demons and lose weight -- no matter whether through surgery, diet, exercise or some combination thereof -- should be supported and celebrated. I wouldn't wish obesity on my worst enemy, and I'm inspired every day by folks who are trying to change their lives one pound at a time.

 

[henrylarry6]

This is all depends on how quickly your body respond it, some people can maintain their weight after surgery and some people put on weight immediately. Best way is to exercise on regular basis with healthy diet.

 

[EnduringWone]

Congrats on your weight loss. That is great. I really mean it. Truly.

I just think that you are getting angry when people do question it. I can honestly say that I still don't understand how it worked for you to limit your portions through surgery- with the exception of feeling full- yet limiting portions didn't work without surgery. It's an honest question. There is no malice in that at all. What is it that made the surgery work but nothing else did? That is the real question. Why does the smaller portion size work post surgery but not before? I know a few people who have had WLS. It did not work for all of them. Some never really lost a lot of weight, some lost a lot and so far so good but their eating habits are terrible (not healthy) one died and never made it out of the hospital and one lost and gained it all back (again- not eating healthy). I am not judging. I simply don't get what the surgery does that healthy living doesn't.

Well then there is no point in anyone answering this post because you "just don't get it"

You simply can't empathize in anyway, end of discussion.

I have never had alcohol, drugs or smoking problems, however I can empathize with people who have those issues.

My husband is using Chantix, I guess I should hound him about how he should just be able to quit and how I don't understand how he started in the first place.

 

[sarah4770]

I don't think it is necessarily bad but also don't think it is the best approach. My biggest issue with the surgery is that it only addresses one aspect of the cause of the patient's obesity...eating too much. It doesn't teach them what they should be eating, address any emotional or psychological issues such as comfort eating, and doesn't address other lifestyle factors.

Losing a lot of weight should take time and should come from a lot of lifestyle changes. If these lifestyle changes are all done and, more importantly, stuck with for the remainder of your life, I do think most people will lose weight without surgery and keep it off long term. If a patient wants to speed up the process with surgery they can but if they ignore all the other issues and expect the surgery to be a catch all they will almost certainly end up gaining all the weight back.

i think you really do not understand what happens before a major surgery such as lap band or partial gastrectomy. no one walks into their doctors office and gets this type of surgery without education/counseling. it would be unethical.

 

[Robbi]

My eating disorder was anorexia so I may be looking at the weight issue from a different perspective.
This is my take- some people have a food addiction and I think weight loss surgery is necessary. Others have medical conditions, such as PCOS that make it very hard to lose weight no matter how much dieting and exercise they do. I also think that no one should have the surgery without lots of counseling beforehand and then afterwards. In the case of the food addicts, they will never keep off the weight without getting to the core reason they overeat.
I also think that Medicaid and insurance should cover weight loss surgery because, in the long run, tons of money, not to mention lives, would be saved because many weight related health issues would never develop.
My heart goes out to anyone dealing with weight related issues. It's very hard for people who have never had this kind problem to truly understand the pain weight battlers go through. If it was easy, no one would have to deal with it.

 

[PollyannaMom]

There is a documentary out there that BBC did called GUTS. In one part of it they explained that the stomach secretes a hormone that tells the brain you are hungry. Gastric Bypass cuts off the portion of the stomach that releases that hormone so your hunger is greatly reduced. I though that was really interesting and something I did not know before.

I saw that, too! I figure, then, that even though you have to eat the same way after the surgery as you would without it, it's the difference between eating less and feeling miserably hungry all the time, vs. eating less and feeling OK. The guy they interviewed seemed to be doing really well.

 

[FireDancer]

i think you really do not understand what happens before a major surgery such as lap band or partial gastrectomy. no one walks into their doctors office and gets this type of surgery without education/counseling. it would be unethical.

I know what goes on before the surgery. I've spoken to people who've had it and read articles about it and the steps most people have to go through first. That doesn't mean all those steps have a positive long term effect on the patient. As has been shown in this thread sometimes it works for people because they make all of the lifestyle changes to compliment the surgery but sometimes it doesn't. If anyone gets any of the surgeries and doesn't make all of the other adjustments to their life it will not be a long-term success.

 

[NaLisa]

I don't think it is necessarily bad but also don't think it is the best approach. My biggest issue with the surgery is that it only addresses one aspect of the cause of the patient's obesity...eating too much. It doesn't teach them what they should be eating, address any emotional or psychological issues such as comfort eating, and doesn't address other lifestyle factors.

Losing a lot of weight should take time and should come from a lot of lifestyle changes. If these lifestyle changes are all done and, more importantly, stuck with for the remainder of your life, I do think most people will lose weight without surgery and keep it off long term. If a patient wants to speed up the process with surgery they can but if they ignore all the other issues and expect the surgery to be a catch all they will almost certainly end up gaining all the weight back.

i think you really do not understand what happens before a major surgery such as lap band or partial gastrectomy. no one walks into their doctors office and gets this type of surgery without education/counseling. it would be unethical.

I know what goes on before the surgery. I've spoken to people who've had it and read articles about it and the steps most people have to go through first. That doesn't mean all those steps have a positive long term effect on the patient. As has been shown in this thread sometimes it works for people because they make all of the lifestyle changes to compliment the surgery but sometimes it doesn't. If anyone gets any of the surgeries and doesn't make all of the other adjustments to their life it will not be a long-term success.

 

[FireDancer]

The surgery only addresses one aspect of the overall issue. The surgery doesn't change habits, compulsions, or anything else. It doesn't force anyone to become more active. All the counseling in the world won't really address the other aspects either, only the patient can truly address those aspects themselves. Counseling can help them get to the issues but it on them to actually make all the other lifestyle changes and stick with them for the rest of their lives. It isn't like there is a history of patients telling counselors or psychiatrists want they want to hear as opposed to the truth.

Far too often those other issues are not addressed and the surgery only becomes a short-term band-aid that doesn't work long term. Of course sometimes those other issues are addressed and the surgery is a success. Every patient gets to decide for themselves if the surgery will be a new life or just a temporary respite.

 

[pls5286]

I have just been approved for the gastric sleeve. My entire family has made changes already, even though they are not the ones that needed them. We are eating much healthier at home and my oldest son is preparing to go to water aerobics classes with me as soon as school is out so it will help his back.

I have tried many many times to loose weight and something will happen with my health and send me spiraling and the weight will come right back on.

I first approached this with my primary dr and he agreed with my laundry list of medical problems at 37, that the surgery will greatly benifit me. My neurologist, neurosurgeon and cardiologist are also very supportive.

I am ready for this lifestyle change so I can really enjoy the kids while they are still young! I miss being the me I used to be.