Weight Loss Surgery

10-26-2003, 10:23 PM

I was wondering if anyone on here has had any kind of weight loss surgery and has advice to share.

I am waiting to schedule surgery and am very excited, but also nervous and

. I am worried about being able to keep up with the life time nutritional requirements to stay healthy.

Any information would be appreciated!

Dorie · 10-26-2003, 10:32 PM

Oh Tigger, I am

,I wish I had some advice for you... I can understand your need to want to be thinner... I to am over weight... I think surgery is definatly some thing you need to get alot of info on.... You should check out pound busters her on momzone, they may be able to be a good source of suport for you .....good luck to you in what ever you may deciede.

10-26-2003, 11:25 PM

I don't know how overweight you are, but you need to really think about it first. The surgery has sounded good to me too. The death rate and complications are too high. Maybe you just need more support. I am going to try Atkins again tomorrow. I am married, but have absolutly no support at home from my husband. So I am hopping to find some here. I have 80 pounds to lose and I am frustrated too. Even as I am writing this I am thinking about the surgery too. The only surgery I know about is the gastrointestional byp***. Is this the same one? Anyway, do lots of research!

pbfreak12 · 10-27-2003, 10:03 AM

Tigger, this is a very big desision! In the end it is you who must deside.
3 people on my husbands side of the family have had surgery to reduce their stomach size. 2 of them are fine but have gained back the weight they lost. One has been ill since the surgery.
You were not specific about what surgery you are considering so I don't know if it is the stomach staple or not.
I don't know statistics about how many people this does work for, but I know of 3 out of 3 that it did not work for.
Really check into it before you deside.

GraspingGrace · 10-27-2003, 01:09 PM

Tigger, my SIL's mother had the belt around the stomach surgery about 8 years ago. She is now a size 7 but has also had to follow-up the surgery with many plastic surgery procedures because the weight came off quickly and she was left with HUGE wings under her arms (meaning many inches of skin hung from her arms because the skin did not shrink as much as it needed to after the weight loss). She had also underwent tummy tucks, liposuction and a face lift to rid herself of all the excess skin.

She has had many complications from the surgery. Most of the original ailments she had prior to the surgery flared up as a complication after the surgery. Though she hasn't gained any weight back (the belt pretty much keeps that from happening) the biggest problem I see is that she hasn't learned from the mistakes that originally made her such an obese woman. She still doesn't

which means her new body is as out of shape as her old body was. She remains a junk eater and thus is not receiving the proper nutrition her body needs which, in my own opinion, is the reason she looks like she's in her upper 50s, early 60s when she is, in fact, only in her mid 40s. She honestly doesn't look healthy to me whatsoever.

Tigger, in my own opinion, you are better off making the commitment to lose the weight slowly and in a healthy manner. I KNOW it's an extremely difficult thing for I too am grossly overweight having approximately 100 lbs. to lose in order to be my proper weight - according to doctors. It's a difficult thing to do and you need a great deal of support. However, it's healthier to lose it on your own, your self-esteem gets quite a boost when you're able to say you did it on your own and the risk factors are greatly reduced when you do not do surgery.

My mother desperately wants a quick fix for herself as well; however, her doctor refuses to refer her for the surgery. My mother probably needs to lose about 150 lbs., pretty much a whole other person! I keep telling her that I am thrilled her doctor refuses because I fear I will lose her if she has that surgery.

The other ladies who have posted are correct Tigger. Do NOT take this surgery lightly. Investigate everything about it, all the side affects, drawbacks, etc. Make certain you know everything you can about how it's performed and who the best doctors are in your area. And know that if you decide against the surgery and desire to do it on your own, Momzone members are here to support you and I WILL BE THE FIRST ONE IN LINE TO BE YOUR SUPPORT! I'm just a computer and/or phone call away!

Brad&ScottsMom · 10-27-2003, 07:13 PM

My mom had her stomach stapled and has had nothing but trouble since the surgery about 12 years ago. She lost a lot of weight, but sometimes I wonder if the cons greatly outweigh (no pun intended) the pros. It's a major life changing surgery and something not to go into lightly.

10-30-2003, 10:35 PM

i HAD MY SURGERY ON jUNE 20 , 2003. i WEIGHED 279 AND AS OF TODAY 10/30/03 i AM AT 185. MY SRGERY WAS THE BEST THING I HAVE EVER DID. I HAVE HAD NO COMPLICATIONS. I AM COMPLETELY OFF ALL DIABETIC MEDS., I FEEL GREAT.

GraspingGrace · 10-31-2003, 08:00 AM

Congratulations rabbitala!!! How wonderful that the surgery was such a success for you. I hope and

you continue to have success with the weight loss and that your health continues to improve.

11-18-2003, 02:22 PM

Thank you to all who have replied. I have taken everything you said into consideration and have been researching this quite extensively. I do have plenty of weight to lose and have tried many many times to do it on my own, but I just keep gaining it back again. That is why I have been considering this surgery. It's not just for the quick initial weight loss, but for the forced change in eating habits so I will not gain it back again. I want to be healthy for whatever time I have left on this earth. I keep waking up every day wondering if it will be my last. I don't want to live like that. I have all kinds of health problems, including the most serious - sleep apnea. If I don't get this weight off soon, I really think it will kill me. I have about 145 pounds to lose, but if I could just get off my CPAP breathing machine and my medicines, I will be pretty happy.

I know their are many possible complications from this surgery, including death, but I have my own fair share of problems now without it, and am just waiting to become diabetic too.

I really appreciate all the concern and support you have given me and for being honest. I have set a surgery date for December 8 and I will let you know how it goes. I am going to work my hiney off to make this work for me, including exercise. I like to exercise, I used to go to the gym for hour and a half workouts 4-5 times a week and still managed to gain 25 pounds in just a few months. But I really do like to do it. I just want to be free to run and play with my kids. I really feel like a kid at heart since I had my babies.

Thanks again, and I will keep in touch to let you know how it goes. I am also taking your concerns to heart and will work very hard to prepare for this surgery and to recover afterwards.

(Oh, it is to be a Roux n Y byp*** for those that were wondering. I considered the adjustable band, but my surgeon said it wouldn't be as effective for me. With my procedure - high sugar and/or fat content will make you sick, so you learn to avoid them).

Brad&ScottsMom · 11-18-2003, 02:30 PM

Good luck!! I hope all goes well for you.

Dorie · 11-18-2003, 04:02 PM

I will be thinking about you and a waiting you results... I hope all goes wonderful, Good luck!

02-19-2004, 11:15 AM

I had my surgery in December and had no problems. I've lost over 45 pounds so far. The only thing I didn't like was not being able to eat much the first 6 weeks. Oh, that was hard, but did detox me from the junk food so I didn't really want it after that. I'm thrilled with the results so far, but it is a lot of work still to make sure I don't eat too fast or food that's high in fat or sugar. I cannot tolerate milk anymore either due to the lactose. I was always lactose intolerant, but now it's horrible. That's a small price to pay though. The real problem with that is not being able to even have the sugar free ice cream without feeling sick.

No other food bothers me though and I'm happy about that. I like still having some choices. Going out to eat isn't as much fun anymore though since I can't eat much and have to cut out most carbs. But my blood pressure has gone way down and my sleep apnea should disappear before too long I hope.

I'm very happy I went through with this. Now my Mom is planning on having surgery too. It's not easy, but it's worth it for anyone with serious health issues. Otherwise, I wouldn't want someone to go through it. It's a tough, lifetime committment. Thanks for all your support!

GraspingGrace · 02-19-2004, 01:30 PM

Congratulations Tigger!!!! I'm so happy for you!!!! Keep us posted on your progress and ... if you can ... post a before, during and after pic for us all to see and be inspired!!!! I'm so happy you made it through with virtually no complications!!!!

Thank you for posting the upside and downside of this surgery and for NOT recommending it to those who do not have serious health issues. My mother desperately wants to have this surgery but her doctor refuses to recommend it ... he insists she's not in dire need of it and wants her to slowly work on her eating habits and

!!! I agree with him but she is fuming about it ... it's mostly because she is looking for an easy way to deal with the weight!!! I'll keep on her though LOL.

Congratulations!!!!