Bariatric Surgery whos had it?

[kaneohegirl]

So Im curious... who here has had Bariatric Surgery? or Maybe your curious about it and have questions... Im no expert but I can answer alot of questions LOL

Personally I had the Gastric Sleeve surgery. I weighed 380lbs on April 24 2017 I was virtually immobile due to hip and Back pain... I had to use a powered cart at walmart and the grocery store. I could barely walk from the car to the entrance of the store. I have lost so far 145lbs and am still loosing... I can now walk EVERYWHERE. Just got the fitbit to help motivate me and keep track of what I am doing.

My goal is to loose at least another 60lbs and get down to 175lbs if I loose more than that GREAT if not Ill be content... Im pretty happy with what I have already accomplished I have surpassed the estimated weight loss for loss @ the 18 month mark as one of the 50 %... and if I get down to 212lb I will surpass the 20% off weightloss @ the 18 month mark and I havent reached a year mark yet... I am unusual but its totally doable by watching what you eat

[Daves_Not_Here]

Hi @kaneohegirl -- welcom!  I'm curious if you previously had diabetes.  And if so, was it reversed by the surgery?  I've heard this is a common effect that is not yet well understood.

[SunsetRunner]

I almost got it. My reasoning for not getting it was it was too much of a monetary burden.

I do know 4 people who have had it, and ONLY one has been successful with it.

The weight loss doctor I see every month who has helped me along the way to lose 136 pounds, she's was going to be my bariatric surgeon, but instead she kept me on to help me with my weight loss.

So happy to know you've been successful with it.

[Daves_Not_Here]

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@SunsetRunnerwrote: 

The weight loss doctor I see every month who has helped me along the way to lose 136 pounds, she's was going to be my bariatric surgeon, but instead she kept me on to help me with my weight loss.

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@SunsetRunner -- your doctor sounds like a gem - it's encouraging to see a surgeon take a conservative approach and try less invasive interventions before surgery -- had you had the funds available, do you think she would have gone right to surgery?  And, would you have been as motivated to lose weight without surgery if it had been easily available to you? (a personal question, I realize.  Pardon me if it's overly intrusive).

[SunsetRunner]

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@Daves_Not_Herewrote:

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@SunsetRunner -- your doctor sounds like a gem - it's encouraging to see a surgeon take a conservative approach and try less invasive interventions before surgery -- had you had the funds available, do you think she would have gone right to surgery?  And, would you have been as motivated to lose weight without surgery if it had been easily available to you? (a personal question, I realize.  Pardon me if it's overly intrusive)

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Good question. During my first phase of my weight loss (Jan 2017 to Apr 2017) I was convinced that I wanted the surgery. My wife was a bit scared because my doctor informed me that there is a 9-11% chance that I could pass from complications after surgery. Weight Loss surgery is an extreme option, and from what I have heard, it's not an easy path as some people think.

Knowing that "window" and the cost of it on my end, I didn't want to take the chance, so as it got closer and closer to my approval (had to jump thru hoops just to even get looked at, never mind approved), my enthusiasm to go the surgery route lessened greatly. Also during those three months, I lost close to 60 pounds, so I figured I would just keep going.

BTW, I'm not against anyone doing the surgery option. It has saved a lot of lives, especially extreme cases. It's not an easy route to take, and you still have to do everything (diet/exercise, etc) even with the surgery.

For me, surgery was a *choice* option. It wasn't like I had a tumor, etc. that *had* to be removed, so I decided to opt out of doing it.

[kaneohegirl]

No I did not have diabetes. I did have sleep apnea and the start of hypertenson. I weighed 380lbs at the date of surgery and had tried EVERYTHING to loose it. nothing worked for me.

yea they do not know the reasoning behind the WHY it works beyond you do loose weight but they have found that you dont even have to loose weight for the diabetes to be reversed just the fact of having surgery many ppl are off the insulin or other diabetes meds within days. The dr as telling me about studies in mice that they are doing right now that just taking a small section of intestine and flipping it (reversing it) is curing diabetes in diabetic mice and might lead the way to a diabetic treatment in ppl at a later date.

While like another poster stated there are risks of complications while for most death is actually less than 1% so that poster must have other health issues or issue with anesthesia.

I know several ppl that have had this surgery. only one has gained their weight or a portion of it back and that is no fault but her own she would not change her eating habits and continued once she was able to eat again to eat high fat high carb meals this is something you cannot do... now this isnt to say you cant go to olive garden every so often and get a steak gorgonzola fetuchini pasta dinner it just means you are going to eat that for 3-5 meals and then you really should excercise that week for sure. I try to share meals or I bring them home and share left overs with my kids so Im not eating the same thing all the time when I do eat out...For example today for lunch I went with the hubby to Lunch I got a french dip sandwich immediately asked for a box, I ate 1/4 of the sandwich and 5 sweet potato fries...the rest went into the box...That is how I eat all the time... and I only eat 3x a day with maybe a snack here and there and that like a cheese stick or cherub tomatoes

Its a full on lifestyle change... right now the hubby is in process of getting the surgery too

anymore questions just ask

[Bumbleguide]

My weight had  been yoyoing for years so it took 2 years to lose the 5% needed to get on the nhs waiting list, at that point I weighed 26 stone . I had to lose 5% of my body weight and undergo all sorts of testing physical and mental to see if you are suitable, this took another two years then a year on the actual waiting list. I had a full gastric bypass in November 14 and I have lost almost half my body weight. I am now 89kg and am trying to lose a bit more by walking and although most of my medical problems cleared up my spinal problem didn't but it does give you a lot of confidence

[emili]

I know three people who have had it. Two have gained back most of what they lost within a year of losing and the third has stopped losing- but she looks great and is managing to keep at the current weight. It was three years since her surgery. My observation of the three is - if you don't commit to changing how you eat, how you move and following the new rules associated with the bypass it won't work as intended. The weight will come back. it is the same mindset shift that has to happen whether you opt for surgery or not. It is wonderful that you have lost the weight and I hope you stay the course for the rest of your life. it feels so much better to be fit... Best- E.

[kaneohegirl]

wow it is a much bigger issue getting the surgery where you are located... here once you commit to doing the surgery some ins co make you do a  dr supervised weight loss but no required actual weight loss usually unless you are extreme over 450lbs +/-  all they wanted from me was a psych eval 6 months supervised and some nutritionist visits at the end of the 6 months it was green light go

[Heidi-EliseK]

Gastric bypass 2006

Hi

I had weight loss surgery lots of years ago.

I started a group (unfortunately in Norwegian, but most Norwegians speak English) 

If you add me as a friend, I can invite you to the group. 

PS  

If you are in an international group for weight loss surgery, please invite me. 

Regards 

Heidi Elise