Weight Loss with Surgical Intervention??

[deno2]

I'm seriously considering having the Lap Band procedure done. I'm curious to get opinions from DISers that have had this or antoher type of procedure done. I want to hear all the pros and cons anyone has to offer.

Thanks in advance
deno

 

[Poohs Pal]

Obesity.com is a great resourse check them out. They have a lap band forum. My dsis is thinking about the lap band. Susan

 

[Bust*A*Stitch]

don't bother unless your REALLY serious about a life change.

all the surgery does is limit immediate intake. so you can still not loose weight when you go from 3 meals a day to 9. I know a little over the top, but find out what the main problem is.

depression, stress, anxiety, etc...

those type of things aren't remedied by this.

July 28th 2004 I weighed 436. I'm now in the 260 range, so I'm doing better but i could have probably done the same thing by actually trying to work out, and eating right. That show on NBC puts me to shame, it makes me feel like I chickened out.

Think ALOT about it before you go for it. Get a reputable doctor thats been doing it for a few years. I got lucky mine has been in this field since the late 70's.

Good Luck.

 

[LBAK]

My doctor and I have thought long and hard aout this. I needed to lose about 100 lbs. Unfortunately our life revolves around a lot of food and going out. I decided I need to learn how to live making smart choices.

I decided I'd be healthier in the long run losing weight y life style changes, not surgery. I was afraid of all the side effects I've heard about. I cut out most starches (potatoes I just can't do without yet), watched portion control and added healthier fresh fruits and veggies. I have lost aout 45 lbs. and I am much happier. I know I can do this without surgery and I can still splurge when we go out if I choose to do it.

Please think really hard aout the surgery.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

My girlfriend had it done and has lost over 100lbs. She had been heavy her whole life as if most of her family. She still had to change her lifestyle. You can eat junk if you really want to so if you aren't willing to change your eating then it will not help. She cannot eat certain foods as they make her vomit and it's not easy to vomit so it can be rough. For her it was life changing and she would not have changed her eating habits any other way. I know her for 26 years so I have seen her diet for most of our lives. I still think that there has to be some vitamin deficencies (sp?) of some sort but you'd have to look that up to be sure. She had a great doctor (my dh's best friend). I relaly think you have to evaluate yourself and see if you really want surgery or not. JMHO.

 

[C.Ann]

A friend's DD had gastric bypass surgery several years ago - did very well for a year - and then eventually gained all the weight back and more.. She never dealt with the underlying issues that contributed to her weight problems and approached the surgery as a "quick fix".. It simply doesn't work that way..

Try to identify the specific reasons for your weight issues before you go to the expense of any surgical solution so that you will have a permanent solution rather than a temporary one..

Best of luck!

 

[LindsayDunn228]

I would never recommend it to anyone. I think weight loss of any kind is attainable with diet and exercise. It is hard, very hard, but I personally would never have the surgery.

 

[sugarpie]

I know quite a few people who've had some sort of surgical intervention to lose weight. It seemed like everyone I worked with who was overweight was doing it a few years back.

They all initially lost weight. Some have gained the weight back. Some are unable to get enough nutrition & look too skinny & very unhealthy. Just by looking at them I'd say it works for about half the people who have something done.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

[crz4mm2]

One of the staff members that works in my office had lap band surgery done last year. She lost about 50# initially. She has gained some back. She has had the band adjusted several times so far.
I think you have to be willing to change your eating habits. Sure, it cuts down on how much you can take in (at least at first) but the stomach can eventually be stretched back out and the intake can be increased because of that.....

My best friend had gastric bypass about a year and a half ago. She lost over 150#. I have never seen her that small. She feels great and still eats very small portions. I hope she will never gain the weight back, but who knows? Her sister had the same surgery done a few years ago and has gained all the weight back and more....

I agree with everyone who said you have to be willing to change the underlying reasons for your eating habits.

Good luck to you. I wish you the best. I think surgery CAN be the first step. But it is a BIG first step.

 

[marlasmom]

If you remember BL, a former DISer, I pleaded with her not to have gastric bypass surgery. She died a couple of years ago as a result of the surgery. My dd almost died of infection after gastric bypass surgery. Nurses on her floor (my dd is a nurse so they spoke to me a little more freely than they otherwise would have) told me there are many serious and deadly complications to this surgery which are attributed to something else so the statistics remain good.

Now I'll plead with you. DO NOT HAVE THIS SURGERY. As others have said you have to change your life style - with the surgery or without it.

 

[MushyMushy]

I personally knew two people who died after having gastric bypass.

That's more than enough to convince me never to do it.

 

[Liberty Belle]

I have not had it done, but I suspect it contributed to the death of an aquaintance of mine.

I highly recommend Weight Watchers.

 

[C.Ann]

I have not had it done, but I suspect it contributed to the death of an aquaintance of mine.

I highly recommend Weight Watchers.

----------------------

A girl that I used to work with several years ago used the Weight Watchers "point" system and lost well over 100 lbs. over the course of a year or so - several years before I met her.. She looked fantastic and was able to maintain her ideal weight by strictly adhering to the point system Monday through Friday.. Saturday and Sunday she was able to splurge as much as she wanted (once she had attained her goal weight).. The things she brought to work for lunch looked and smelled yummy! She also maintained a strict schedule of walking every night after dinner - and if the weather was bad, she used a treadmill.. By losing the weight slowly, she was also able to avoid the sagging skin issues - which can be a big problem after surgery - and is something else to be factored into such a decision..

Lots of things to be considered.. And please remember that there are serious risks involved with any type of surgery - particularly now when there are so many antibiotic resistant infections..

 

[usewickhouse]

I have a really good friend that is planning to have gastric bypass done this summer. She is 350-450lbs I have never asked the exact weight. She is going out of the country to have the surgery done because it will cost much less than here in the states. Her insurance will NOT pay for it. I can not for the life of me remember where she is going? I am so WORRIED that she will not make it home from this surgery. She has 2 kids DS9 & DD11 & I just can not shake the feeling that she will not be okay. She is a kindergarten teacher and one of the nicest woman I have ever met. I have begun to pray for her, one that she will change her mind and if she doesn't that she will have a successfull surgery. I wish there was some way to talk her out of this, that we could rally around her and help her naturally to loose the weight. I also have a weight problem and my doctor has also mentioned both surguries to me. Said that he would recommend it so my insurance would pay for it. I flat out told him NO! I am about a 100# over weight and feel that this surgery is just way too risky. My friend's health is not good, she has high BP, diabetes and a host of other ailments so I know she really needs to loose weight. This surgery and doing it in another country with a doctor that she has never met scares the *#*# out of me. She has only talked to him via a video phone. This is going to cost her $13,000 plus trip expenses...is that the cost of this surgery? Finally to the original poster I totally agree with the other posters PLEASE re-think having this surgery!!!!!!! I should have mentioned that my DSis N law is a surgical nurse and her doctor DID this surgery for a few years. He is NO longer doing them due to the complications that they have. She told me some just horrible stories, some end up making it but some do die from these surguries. AND MOST of them end up gaining a large portion of the weight back if not all and then even more then where they started. PLEASE...think about this!!!!!
I know diet, excercise and a lifestyle change are very scary. But getting to the bottom of our eating habits is 100% necessary before we can really make those much needed changes!!! I wish I had a magic wand that I could wave over all of US that have these extreme weight issues but unfortunately that is not possible. I know why I over eat but have just not made the committment that is needed to loose the weight. I have for the last few months been making small modifications and have at least not gained any more weight. I have 2 DD's who are just perfect and not over weight, yet! I want to be a better example for them so I know the clock is ticking and that time is running short for me to get busy. I am pushing 40's door and know that what metabolism I have will soon be gone! Maybe we could start a weight loss support board on the DIS? Has that ever been done? It could be a really great place for people to come and just talk things out, to get the much needed support that we all need to get HEALTHY, not thin! I know there are lots of other blogs/websites that people can join but the DIS is someplace we all feel at home and welcome. I hope that I have not taken up too much space here but with my worry over my friend I have to also be worried about anyone that would consider these surguries. Before you decide take the time to really figure out the weight problem issues. Then if you do decide to have the surgery you can be one of the success stories rather one of the ones that gained it all back. Take care and God bless you!

 

[momof1princess]

having lost 207 lbs by having gastric bypass surgery almost 3 years ago, i can tell you it DOES work, but only if you're willing to do the work. many ppl will tell you it's the quick, easy way out, but i can assure you, there's NOTHING easy or quick about it. i don't know a lot about lap band, but i DO know most insurance companies won't pay for it and the surgery runs anywhere from 15-20k (at least here in alabama). my suggestion: if you're going to have it done, you HAVE to find an EMINENTLY qualified surgeon. example: my surgeon had done over 1500 procedues before mine, and was trained to do the surgery laproscopically personally by dr. alan wittgrove (head of the american society of bariatric surgeons and also carnie wilson's surgeon). there's a lap band forum on obesityhelp.com if you're interested. best of luck to you, whatever you decide.

 

[C.Ann]

I have a really good friend that is planning to have gastric bypass done this summer. She is 350-450lbs I have never asked the exact weight. She is going out of the country to have the surgery done because it will cost much less than here in the states. Her insurance will NOT pay for it. I can not for the life of me remember where she is going? I am so WORRIED that she will not make it home from this surgery. She has 2 kids DS9 & DD11 & I just can not shake the feeling that she will not be okay. She is a kindergarten teacher and one of the nicest woman I have ever met. I have begun to pray for her, one that she will change her mind and if she doesn't that she will have a successfull surgery. I wish there was some way to talk her out of this, that we could rally around her and help her naturally to loose the weight. I also have a weight problem and my doctor has also mentioned both surguries to me. Said that he would recommend it so my insurance would pay for it. I flat out told him NO! I am about a 100# over weight and feel that this surgery is just way too risky. My friend's health is not good, she has high BP, diabetes and a host of other ailments so I know she really needs to loose weight. This surgery and doing it in another country with a doctor that she has never met scares the *#*# out of me. She has only talked to him via a video phone. This is going to cost her $13,000 plus trip expenses...is that the cost of this surgery? Finally to the original poster I totally agree with the other posters PLEASE re-think having this surgery!!!!!!! I should have mentioned that my DSis N law is a surgical nurse and her doctor DID this surgery for a few years. He is NO longer doing them due to the complications that they have. She told me some just horrible stories, some end up making it but some do die from these surguries. AND MOST of them end up gaining a large portion of the weight back if not all and then even more then where they started. PLEASE...think about this!!!!!!

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Oh dear! That does sound scary!!! Have you tried talking to her DH or other family members? I got a bad feeling in my gut just reading about her plans..

 

[Bust*A*Stitch]

there were 4 surgeries done the same day as mine, the lady before me last 2 days, she never woke up, she had a lot of problems that was weight caused ( diabeties, heart issues, etc..). people die doing this.

My insurance paid 100% except the first dr visit.

 

[JunieJay]

We actually had 2 DISers (that I know of) who had this surgery. Both are now dead. As is my SIL's sister. I know one other person who had it done and is fine (and svelte!).

Not odds I think I'd be willing to take, but then again I'm not a person who is seriously overweight. If the quality of your life has been compromised because of your excess weight, then who am I to judge your choices? Just do your research before jumping in. Good luck.

 

[Blondie]

We actually had 2 DISers (that I know of) who had this surgery. Both are now dead.

Beverly Lynn and Robin, wasn't that her name? They both left behind beautiful little girls.

I remember how we tried to talk Beverly Lynn out of having the surgery.

 

[marlasmom]

Yes Blondie - you are right. Both BL and Robin were single moms with beautiful little girls under the age of 5.

Please please please reconsider gastric surgery. It's not an easy fix - you still have to change your habits.