Hi everyone. I was wondering if anyone no's the percentage of people
who have problems from the surgery,and the percentage of people who
don't I am asking this because I belong to a 12 step program and a
person from the meeting asked me that and I am not sure.Of course most
believe the surgery isn't the answer,but everyone get's to voice their
opinions.

The other question I have been thinking about lately is the long term
effects of having the surgery.Thinking when I get really old he he is
there going to be complications from the surgery.Of course I no,no one
can answer that question to me,but have any of your delt with these
feelings,and how do you get pass them.Thanks alot everyone
Big hugs to you all
Kim e
Pre-op ssf Kaiser

Kim - the number of people who die from post-op complications is estimated to be around 2%. as for how many people have 'problems,' well, my question back to you is what would you consider a problem? just about all of us have issues with figuring out how to eat and what to eat. most of us have issues with vitamin deficiencies - they're manageable, but would you consider that a problem?

others have long term complications - like adhesions, ulcers, and other farther-downstream surgery related problems. now THOSE i consider to be problems.

what really matters when you're making your decision are YOUR SURGEON's stats.

the other issue is, while 12-step programs are good ideas for many people, and while 'everyone gets to give their opinion,' please remember that their comments are about how THEY feel about the surgery for THEMSELVES. and they're looking at you and your situation through their own eyes.

soooo, ya gotta be sure that, whatever decision you make, it's the right one for YOU, and that you don't make the decision because 10 people say 'do it' and 12 people say 'don't do it.' your life is not a democracy - the choice is up to you.

I agree with jiffypop. I had the surgery 5 years ago. I did develop anemia due to the surgery. But my doc doesn't really consider that a probelm. It's a "side affect" for some poeple. Good luck.

I have had no "problems", just adjustments I had to make with food. What I could and could not tolerate.

It took me 2 years to decide WLS was right for me. Since that decision, I have never regretted it.

Goodluck with YOUR decision for YOU.

Annie

Hi everyone thanks for all your reply's I appreciate it.I am doing it.Just waiting for the surgery date.Dang kaiser is so backed up. take care
Kim e

My sister had the surgery over three years ago and has had major problems from the start. She almost died right after but she is a nurse so she was able to recognize a problem right away. She has also had two other GB related surgeries since then. To make matters worse she is currently almost as big as she was pre-op. She would never tell us how much she weighed but she only lost 85 pounds. At her smallest she was still very obese. They offered her another surgery to tweek it and she declined. Her mistake was not properly researching her surgeon. He has since lost his malpractice insurance due to multiple lawsuits and is no longer able to practice in the state of NJ. (beware because he is in another state now practicing)
I could go on and on about people I know who have had problems but I could also name several success stories.
Bottom line nothing is ever as easy as it seems, if it was you would be able to loose the weight without the surgery. If you feel it is for you make sure that you do your research. for the procedure as well as the surgeon!!!

Same thing happened to me. When i had WLS it was 2001 and it was a few years after Carnie Wilson had hers. i was 369 lbs and i was ready for anything. At the time I was 27 years old and the doctor was recommended for my general doctor. He didn't believe in Laposcopic because it was still new at the time so they cut me open. I did loose close to 100 lbs. but my only drawback was i had really good insurance at the time and i was able to have the surgery maybe less then one month after my first initial visit with my doctor.
Now adays i have heard of patients who have to go to counceling first or even lose weight to show they have changed their eating habits. I never had to do any of that. Basically he cut me open and i had stomach stapeling i did not do the bypass. Doctor kept pushing for it but it just didn't feel right to me.
Well needless to say, i gained all the wieght back because even though i can only eat small portions, i would pick a small bag of cheetos over protein because it was easy to chew and digest. ( i still have problems today when i dont chew my food properly) So now im bigger than before and i have hanging skin especially around my stomach.
I would still recommend WLS BUT you need to change your eating habits you need to change your life. You need to see a counselor so you know WHY you were eating yourself to death. Weight loss helps but it doens't cure the reasons you were eating in the first place.
WLS is a painful process physically and mentally. It takes just as mush determination even if you were just dieting and doing it on your own.
I say "good luck" and find the best doctor you can. Get MANY referals and don't commit to anyone untill you are 100% positive this is the one.
My doctor also quit his practice becasue of high malpractice insurance.
Be careful and god speed
susie

I considered lapband but the MD put me on a shake diet & l lost weight
I am still losing weight. I am glad I didnt have the surgery.

Just be careful. Bypass is trading one illness for another.
I would go with lapband
however there are diets that will help.
I was feeling really hopeless

Excuse me! Gastric by-pass is trading one illness for another??? I usually keep my opinions to myself, but what an incredibly narrow and short-sighted view on someone else's personal battles and choices. For you to say that sounds like you haven't been in some of our shoes, potentially. I fully respect your decision to try a medically supervised weight-loss program and applaud you for your success. Have you thought that a lot of us have been there, tried that, and not had the same success you have? No two people are the same. Please keep that in mind and respect our decisions.

I am taking the stance that because you only joined the sight in October & only have 10 posts that you aren't familiar with this forum and the courtesy that you need to strive for concerning other people's opinions. My opinions are the same as above with one addition. Many of us that have bypass aren't attempting to only lose weight--we are also trying to remain alive. The other conditions that we have are many times life threatening and this is one step to staying alive longer. If I had cancer would you say that the treatment for that disease was just trading one illness for another--NO. Keep reading our posts and you will find out more about us.

good luck with the medifast - many of us have tried it, lost weight, and then put it right back on.

As a nurse, I am seeing more and more people who have had gastric bypass surgery. Our hospital used to do bariatric surgery, but we don't anymore.

Here's my take on it:

Whenever we admit a patient, we have go over the patients history. We ask them what type of illnesses they have had in the past, family history....and surgical history. Lately, I've been seeing more and more patients who say they have had bariatric surgery, lost 100lbs or more....only to gain it all back...plus more! After talking to these patients, I have found that the ones who gained the weight back, didn't follow through with the counseling, nutrition plans, vitamins...etc. For many patients who follow the after care program, this surgery is a new lease on life. It's not a quick fix, it's a lifetime of hard work and sticking to a program. The surgery is just the beginning....the one's who do the best realize that they have to change mentally as well as physically. Unfortunately, I'm seeing more people gaining the weight back than I am those who keep it off. Our hospital still offers counseling and weekly meetings for patients who have had the surgery, and the ones who attend long term are the ones who seem to do the best.

Just my 2 cents.

It is a tool. People that don't go into it realizng that they are going to have to work their a$$ off, are deceiving themselves.

This surgery helps, but it is hard work.

That said, it has saved my life and I would do it over again in a heartbeat!

LOL

Sorry to step on toes

I never met too. WOW ! I had know idea you would be so offended. You totally misunderstood & made assuptions

I actual worked as medical review nurse at the insurance company.

Gastric bypas is trading one illness, obesity to another one, malu nutrition. Its not reverisble

You are bypassing part of our digestive tract.

Yes it can work, yes it does have side effects. Yes it can be the answer for many people.

I have seem somany complications from bypass. I dont recommend it. I would recommend a lap band prior to that.

I cant beleive you tried medifast & put the weight back on. If that is true lap band & bypass wont work either. When you have lapband & bypass
you need counciling afterward to learn to eat correctly
otherwise you will stretch your pouch (bypass). My lapband Dr
showed us case after case that didnt work. They were more successful with the counicling of eating right.

I think you should save the money & not do the surgery. I dont think its the only answer. I USE to think just like you guys. I USE to think it was my only answer. I thought I was doomed to obesity but I am glad I found something that work. I hope you all do too

God Bless & dont throw such hate at me, Its not necessary. I am open minded. I have experience. I want to learn from you & you from me
hugs