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Bariatric Surgery

Yes and most of them say they wish they didn't and worked harder at trying to lose the weight. They say their body just isn't the same - although smaller - they have many other nutrient issues. I thought about doing it, but my friends encourage me otherwise.
 
Both my father and brother in law have gone through the surgery.

They have lost a significant amount of weight and have maintained for over a year.

I hear of no big concerns, but you must take the meds they provide in order to ensure proper nutrition levels.

My mother is now considering the process.
 
My friend and his wife both did it. He lost a lot of weight...and now he's gained it back. His wife never lost any significant amount.

He didn't really go into the specifics, but after the surgery, you do need to be able to plan ahead and eat and drink in very small portions. There's a lot of planning, planning, planning.
 
Swift
Just had a LapBand installed a month ago. I feel great,and have lost 40lbs. I have seen several people that have had problems after bypass surgery, but not with the band. Just remember to take a good multi vitamin and maintain your protein intake. For protein I take a liquid protein supplement. They cost about $2.50 a day. Go to www.lapbandforum.com lots of info there on the lapband. With the band nothing has been re-arranged, plus if necessary it can be completely reversed. It only takes about 45 minutes start to finish to install, and is done on an outpatient basis. I had it done on a Monday, flew home on Wednesday then back to work on Thursday.

Mike
 
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Multiple friends (some not too close) have had the various "remedies" done for years.
25+ years ago, best HS GF did the major stomach one and now is twice as big as then. Has to work, can't walk more than 10 steps. Had to after this surgery to only take liquid meds - even now.

Family of 3 did the lap band 2-2.5 yrs ago. Both Mom and Dad lost a 100+ pounds each; Dad is as big or bigger now. Mom gain back wait. Kid at 25 yo is up 40 after losing 100+. Kid had to have surgery redone after band "slipped" and she sued, of course.

Good girlfriend, who has yo-yo for years(30+years) (5'7", size 20-28), started the lapband investigation. Go to support meetings, lose 15 lbs before surgery (she lost 35lbs), had surgery, lost 100lbs now (I think that includes the nonsurgical 35lbs). Told me the first month or two, could only drink (no solid food) liquids, vitamins required, very small measured amounts of food for life. Been about a year since surgery and has level off now on wait lost.

Best HS GF is a short person and has worked in the food industry; food is her only vice. Family (parents) style was 3 helpings to show your appreciation of food, family, and hospitality (in HS, asked why I would insult her family by only eating 1 dinner plate of food).

The family group has IMHO major personality issues (alcohol, shopping, domestic violence, immaturity, DRAMA, control). And I didn't have to deal much with these people.:D

Good GF (recent LAP band person) wanted to go to Europe 7 yrs ago, lost 55-60 lbs before trip. Losing 35 lbs before surgery this time - made me QUESTION why should she continue with surgery plans. I asked her and she said it would be so much easier to get off the weight.

Tracie - I agree with your friends comments. Good support, real food solutions and altering family habits - Weight Watchers is the most successful program for a reason (and no, I don't go to WW). Take a pill, have surgery to fix everything, blame your genes (parents), watch more TV (internet), get only food you like w/o even having to cook it, etc.

And watching The Biggest Loser, shows that changing your behavior, really does work.

I should just practice more of what I preach.:doh:
 
My husband's sister and her daughter both had gastric bypasses about three years ago. My sister-in-law lost about 100 pounds and has kept it off, and her daughter lost about 80 but put some of it back on. The daughter actually looks a little healthier (no saggy face, etc.) but maybe that is also because she is in her 20s.
 
I know 2 people who had lap band surgery. One was a few years ago and she lost over 100 pounds but she's gained it all back. The other had it done about a year ago and is still maintaining the loss so far (I think)...but I dont expect it to last. Both women ate badly before and didnt change how they ate afterwards. They still make veru poor food choices. The one who had it done most recently has been seen on more than one occassion eating vigorously in her car before work...and then bringing in a burger and taking just a few bites and saying that it's 'all she can eat'. (doesnt bode well for long term weight=loss if you're hiding what you eat)

Having said all that...I know a woman that I think would do really well with it. She has good eating habits but simply eats too much given her level of activity (which is significantly reduced due to her size). She's gotten to the point that she eats to get enjoyment that she no longer gets from activities. When trying to lose weight...I think she gets discouraged by just how much she has to lose...and she gives up. I think what makes it harder is that , at her size, no one even notices if you lose 20-30 pounds. There's not alot of support or recognition at first...but with a lapband...you're virtually forced to stick with it until there are visable signs for the world to see. I honestly think that's all this woman needs.

Anyway...while it had questionable results for the 2 women I know who had it done (not the surgery's fault)...I think it could work well for the right person.
 
I know 4 people who had this done:

1st one lost well over 100+ lbs. She made no changes to her lifestyle and ate foods she was supposed to avoid after surgery. They made her ill until she was able to stetch out her stomach and no is constantly grazing. Appears to have regained all of the weight and maybe some more. 4 years since surgery

2nd lost about 80 lbs. She did some walking after the surgery until she reached her goal weight then stopped. Has regained most of the weigth. 5 years since surgery

3rd Lost over 100+ lbs. Has major health issues, not associated with weight and has massive doses of prescription medications. If not for the med I believe she would have regained all the weight, but since she is in a semi doped up state most of the time she only eats when her head is clear and then eats mostly sweets. She has regained some of her weight. 3 years since surgery

4th lost over 100 lbs. Committed to living a healthier life style and walks every day. She has regained about 10lbs and looks fantastic. 3 years since surgery

Of the 4 people who did it only 1 was really successful in the long run. It goes back to how bad do you want it? If you want it bad enough to make lifestyle changes just about any program will work. Some are faster and some are more drastic, but all will work as long as the lifestyle changes are maintained. Without lifestyle changes none will work IMHO. (speaking as some one who has gained and lost and gained and lost many pounds.)
 
Yes! My best friend lost between 100 - 80 pounds. The key now for him is watching what he eat; plus exercising daily(walking and swimming).
 
I know someone who has 4 (yes 4) weight-loss surgeries. Two gastric balloons, 1 lapband and finally a gastric bypass. Only with the latter did she see any sustained weightloss but it wasn't without complications. She's about two years out from the bypass and looks much better than she did but hasn't lost much in the last 6 months and was still some way (about 50lb) from her goal. Although she eats much less she does seem to eat too much simple carbs (sweets, biscuits chocolate) for my liking and I suspect she will regain over time.

I don't think these surgeries are an easy way to weightloss and the surgeries don't address the problems many people have with their eating habits.

I'm another one whose going to say that a lifestyle change is the only way to permanent weightloss. Me, I've lost nearly 90lb in 15 months. Losing weight has never been my problem its maintenance that has defeated me in the past. I do know now that there's no quick fix and its something that I have to work on for the rest of my life. Whether I'll follow my own advice remains to be seen.

Kitty
 
As a registered dietitian (hospital clinician) I saw the results of the failed bypasses. The patients had surgery in one hospital, were discharged and then readmitted to another hospital so the insurance would pay for the in-patient stay related to the complications. (Insurance does not pay for the surgery itself.) Dumping syndrome is a major issue. I saw one patient a few years out from her surgery with daily diarrhea. Since she had lost weight, she deemed the surgery a success. I don't feel daily diarrhea is success. Maybe I'm just weird that way. To say that success is an excoriated butt that requires an inpatient stay is just plain idiotic, not to mention painful.

Some patients died--yes, died. The more overweight you are, the more at risk for anesthesia complications, including death.

Besides the examples of failures in this thread, consider the celebrities that have paraded their "success" around on television only to be heavy again a few years later.

You don't lose weight from the surgery, you lose weight from the severely restricted caloric intake. You would lose the weight with or without the surgery following the post-surgical diet. The altered anatomy supposedly makes it easier to follow the controlled starvation diet. And it does for a while until the body adapts, as illustrated by the previous responses. In other words, you lose your appetite for awhile but then it comes back.

I would take the 10 to 20 grand you will need to pay for this surgery and check into a well-run health spa for 2 months to correct the habits and thought processes that led you to obesity in the first place. You'll be healthier in the short and long term. You'll need to change your habits and mindset anyway if you are to have any lasting success.

I wish you the best.

PS, my own dear sister is going in for lapband surgery tomorrow. I hope it works for her. She has major issues and refuses to admit how much she eats even when I gently point it out to her. She is in such denial that I don't know how long her weight loss will last.
 
A woman where I work had gastric bypass and died. She was morbidly obese and couldn't function in a normal way. Both her knees had gone and she developed ulcers on her legs that wouldn't heal. She couldn't function at all and felt the surgery was her only option. She said before hand that she would prefer to die than continue living as she was. She tried many weight loss methods without any results. As others have mentioned she too had a very dysfunctional family and I think the mental component was more of an issue than anything. That seems to be true with so much illness and disease- the mind and body work together and people ignore that. It was very sad but the woman went into it with full knowledge of what she was getting into.
 
My husband had Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass surgery (rouex-en-y) on January 15th of this year. He lost 50lbs. before the surgery and since the surgery he has lost an additional 100 lbs. He went for his 6 month checkup yesterday and needless to say his doctor was extremely happy with the results of his bood work and weight loss. Before the surgery he was a borderline diabetic, was on blood pressure medication and had sleep apnea. I'm happy to say that he no longer has sleep apnea, no longer has high blood pressure and no longer is a borderline diabetic. The only thing he says that he regrets is that he didn't have the surgery sooner! :cheer:
 
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