Vanity-Are There Any Freepers Who Have Had Gastric Bypass Surgery?

02-27-10 | pgkdan

[pgkdan]

I'm scheduled to have Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery on March 18th. It has taken me 3 years to get to this point but now that it's here I'm starting to wonder if I'm making the right decision. This is a really serious procedure that will completely alter my digestive system. Losing weight will be great but havng my diabetes cured will be wonderful.

[pgkdan]

Can anyone who has had the surgery comment on the effects it had on their diabetes, blood pressure etc.?

[brwnsuga]

I have not, but have had a few acquaintances that have and they are doing really well. May God be with you on your journey to better health and I pray you heal quickly.

[Armedanddangerous]

Ive considered it and even saw a surgeon about it last year. May I ask why it took 3 years for you to get to this point? Was it just a decision thing or did the doctor direct you to have some other treatments beforehand?

I was going to and may still have bariatric surgery..The reason Ive hesitated so far is I had an auto accident and have serious problems with my back.

[2ndDivisionVet]

At 360 lbs and heart disease, hypertension, sleep apnea and diabetes getting worse, I wish I could afford it. The Veterans Affairs system only offers it in Dallas and Pittsburgh. Good luck with your procedure and let us know how it goes.

[edcoil]

My brother had it - lost 70 pounds - over next 3 years gained 30 back.

[ConservativeMind]

I’d be looking toward making a banding process work. There’s no permanent change to your system with that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adjustable_gastric_banding_surgery

[Armedanddangerous]

I had the hospital bargained down to $16,000 for bariatric surgery..but then I had back issues that I have been dealing with first.

[pgkdan]

Thank you very much. I’ve got every co-morbidity that accompanies obesity, diabetes, HBP, Coronary Artery Disease, Peripheral Artery Disease, Kidney Disease in my only remaining kidney due to Kidney cancer, and more. I’ve got a lot riding on this. Just getting a little cold feet I guess.

[La Lydia]

I have not had it. But a good friend of mine did and is very happy with her results. She says the trick to success is to follow the directions about what and when to eat, after the surgery, to the letter. She lost about 70 pounds, so far, and is no longer pre-diabetic.

[Dick Bachert]

Nobody here has had one BUT we hear from several medical types we know — doctors and nurses — that they have a section in many hospital ICUs they refer to “GBGB.” It stands for gastric bypass gone bad.

Just make sure YOUR guy has done a few hundred of them and most of them are still on the planet.

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

I am a bit ignorant of this surgery but I’m wondering if this is the lap band or the actual re-sectioning?

I know two ladies who have had the surgery and both had done well. Another lady I know of had the surgery and gained a good bit of her weight back after tasting something sweet and it was “Katie bar the door”.

[OpusatFR]

My husband’s secretary (50years old) had it done and she did fine, but she did gain about 60 lbs. back over the past few years.

I guess the big thing is to adjust your eating habits forever.

Good luck!

[Allison_Wonderland]

You might want to check out the message boards on “Obesity Help”. There is another procedure called the duodenal switch which has better long term success for keeping weight off, at least according to those who frequent and post on the boards

Link:
http://www.obesityhelp.com/forums/ds/a,messageboard/board_id,5357/

[Tuscaloosa Goldfinch]

Has your doctor done this surgery on someone with kidney disease?

[WestwardHo]

I have not had the surgery myself, but I live in a small mining town where everybody knows everybody.
I would say population ratio, we've had a greater number of gastric bypass cases than the general population. At least it's been very easy to see the results. I know of only one case that has maintained her weight loss, and regained normal health, and that was after the second surgery that corrected a major stomach defect caused by the first surgery.
First off, the stomach “banding” seems to have fewer serious repercussions, and is reversable.
Those having the gastric bypass have all suffered major, upredictable metabolic problems, including mineral non-absorbtion, and a kind of wasting disease that's resulted in being housebound, nearly bed-ridden, and will definitly reduce life expectancy. Some, having the surgery, have not been able to maintain normal weight, and look sickly.
I don't mean this to be harsh, but when they are required to limit themselves to frequent, very small food portions in order to adjust to stomach size, we wonder why they didn't just stick with a strict diet. In fact, one woman had to lose approx 100lbs in order to qualify for the surgery. After losing 70lbs on a strict diet, she came to the DR and said, “I've lost 70lbs with no surgery! No surgery for me. I'm sticking with the diet!”
Now, with all my heart, I am not questioning your situation. I am only reporting what I've observed. It is a serious decision and the surgery is not reversable. I wish you the best as you decide, and happy results!

[Gay State Conservative]

I’ve never had the surgery but I *have* lost fairly significant amounts of weight before.My diabetes (controlled by pills,not insulin) and my BP returned to normal...no more meds needed.My Internist and Cardiologist,who are both on the staff of a large Boston hospital,told me that this is quite common...although neither said that it happens with every patient.

[pgkdan]

My first roadblock was the insurance company. Rightfully so, they wanted to ensure that I had exhausted other means of successfully losing weight so for the last year I’ve been under a Dr’s care for weight loss. I’m also a cancer patient. I lost my left kidney to RCC and had a tumor on my L2 vertebrae that has been watched for 5 years now and has been completely stable. The surgeon wanted to be certain that my cancer was stable. It is and I consider myself a former cancer patient.

[screaminsunshine]

Hurry before Obama outlaws it.

[pgkdan]

The reason that I opted for Bypass rather than banding is that bypass has a much higher cure rate for Diabetes. Losing weight will be great but I’m really doing this for the diabets. It’s an insidious monster that is destroying my organs daily. I have so much pain in my feet and hands I can’t stand it anymore. And now with Peripheral Artery Disease it seems like it would be only a matter of time before they start amputating my feet.

[republicangel]

I have not had it, but a friend has. Her arthritis symptoms are gone, her diabetes is gone, and her hypertension is gone.

The only problem she seems to be having is that she can't take the vitamins so she struggles to get enough nourishment.