Re: Obesity

Re: Obesity

I know two people that had it done and it but one of them it made him sicker I wouldn't do it because I would rather diet and exercise. the other person is related to this guy and i know he is doing well so it can go either way it can make you sicker or healthier like i aid I just wouldn't take the risk! if you can exercise and diet and lose weight i say do it!

Re: Obesity

Re: Obesity

Speaking as someone that had Gastric Bypss surgery a little over 15months ago...I can tell you its not the EASY way out that most people think. I was in the hospital for almost a week...I had some complications. then I was home for 5 weeks. I basically had to learn how to eat and drink all over again, Starting with tiny little sips,,,,even though I was so dry and thirtsty. If I ate too much (at the beginning I could only eat on teaspoon of food) or drank too fast, I would get very sick! Not a pleasent experieince. I have slowly added more food to my diet but I still eat protein first, the veggies, and only then carbs. I know that a big part of my wieght gain was too many carbs, so I try and stay away from them. I will ALWAYS have to watch what I eat for the rest of my life because, yes, I could gain some weight back.

When I decided to have the surgery, I had NEVER been in the hospital but I knew that if I contunued at the rate I was going, I might have a heart attact, or get diabetes. I was diagnosed with High Blood Pressure and I couldnt walk more that 5 steps without feeling winded! It was the lowest point in my life so I decided to do something about it.

I have lost 187lbs so far and Feel FANTASTIC!! I go to the gym 3-4 nights a week and am doing things I havent in years!! It has given me a new lease on life!!

As far as have the surgery, you MUST be diagnosed with one or more co-morbitities and habe a BMI of over 40 for the insurance company to approve you. So whoever said that they know someone that is having the surgery and has nothing else wrong with them, is wrong. No doctor will just perform the surgery.

One more point, the surgery is called Gastric Bypass....not stomache stapling. Thats not the correct term, it actually pretty offensive.

Message edited 5/2/2006 9:12:33 PM.

Re: Obesity

Posted by Lisa


One more point, the surgery is called Gastric Bypass....not stomache stapling. Thats not the correct term, it actually pretty offensive.

Re: Obesity

Posted by Redhead

Posted by Lisa


One more point, the surgery is called Gastric Bypass....not stomache stapling. Thats not the correct term, it actually pretty offensive.

well my cousin told me she got her stomach stabled...

i didn't even know that was the same thing

in fact i thought it was actually 2 different things

Message edited 5/2/2006 9:41:05 PM.

Re: Obesity

stomache stapling has been known as such for MANY years now...

how is that "offensive"?

it is a medical procedure no?

Re: Obesity

Posted by Princessmaris

Posted by Redhead

Posted by Lisa


One more point, the surgery is called Gastric Bypass....not stomache stapling. Thats not the correct term, it actually pretty offensive.

well my cousin told me she got her stomach stabled...

i didn't even know that was the same thing

in fact i thought it was actually 2 different things

Me too- My friend who had it down refers to it as having his stomach stapled as well

ETA- and in his situation there is nothing else wrong... he was just VERY overweight... and his ins. paid for it. This was 3 yrs. ago.... so I dont know if that has anything to do with it...

Re: Obesity

x

Message edited 5/2/2006 10:09:48 PM.

Re: Obesity

Lisa, kudos to you!!

but i happen to know a girl who DID have the surgery...young girl, no major health problems. she felt she was just too heavy at about 220 - (she's a tall girl too).....so she found a dr that was willing to do it...($$$)
she went down to about 140.

Message edited 5/2/2006 9:48:22 PM.

Re: Obesity

Posted by nrthshgrl
I'm pretty sure there are different types of surgeries too My friends has gastric bypass. The older term (and surgery) I thought was referred to as having your stomach stapled. There is not actual reconstruction of your stomach but a band is put in place.

Re: Obesity

Posted by Lisa

Speaking as someone that had Gastric Bypss surgery a little over 15months ago...I can tell you its not the EASY way out that most people think. I was in the hospital for almost a week...I had some complications. then I was home for 5 weeks. I basically had to learn how to eat and drink all over again, Starting with tiny little sips,,,,even though I was so dry and thirtsty. If I ate too much (at the beginning I could only eat on teaspoon of food) or drank too fast, I would get very sick! Not a pleasent experieince. I have slowly added more food to my diet but I still eat protein first, the veggies, and only then carbs. I know that a big part of my wieght gain was too many carbs, so I try and stay away from them. I will ALWAYS have to watch what I eat for the rest of my life because, yes, I could gain some weight back.

When I decided to have the surgery, I had NEVER been in the hospital but I knew that if I contunued at the rate I was going, I might have a heart attact, or get diabetes. I was diagnosed with High Blood Pressure and I couldnt walk more that 5 steps without feeling winded! It was the lowest point in my life so I decided to do something about it.

I have lost 187lbs so far and Feel FANTASTIC!! I go to the gym 3-4 nights a week and am doing things I havent in years!! It has given me a new lease on life!!

As far as have the surgery, you MUST be diagnosed with one or more co-morbitities and habe a BMI of over 40 for the insurance company to approve you. So whoever said that they know someone that is having the surgery and has nothing else wrong with them, is wrong. No doctor will just perform the surgery.

One more point, the surgery is called Gastric Bypass....not stomache stapling. Thats not the correct term, it actually pretty offensive.

Re: Obesity

Posted by nrthshgrl

Posted by nrthshgrl
I'm pretty sure there are different types of surgeries too My friends has gastric bypass. The older term (and surgery) I thought was referred to as having your stomach stapled. There is not actual reconstruction of your stomach but a band is put in place.

Never mind - just read up on it - they are the same procedure. I don't think of the term as offensive either. It's commonly known as "stomach stapling" according to the articles I just read.

Re: Obesity

My DH had it last year.. No health problems at all but his BMI was over 40.
Insurance paid for it 100%.
This was the gastric bypass. I sometimes refer to it as stomach stapling for ppl that dont know what "gastric bypass" means

Message edited 5/2/2006 9:53:08 PM.

Re: Obesity

Posted by Tumbalina

thats wonderful lisa. you lost 187 lbs? What did you weigh?
Anyway God Bless.

Re: Obesity

As more people abandon New Year’s resolutions to lose weight and turn to obesity surgery, doctors are debating which type is safest and best. And researchers are uncovering some surprising trends. The most common method in the United States - gastric bypass, or stomach-stapling surgery - may be riskier than once thought. Yet surgeons still favor it for people who need to lose weight fast because of heart damage or other serious problems.

A gentler approach favored in Europe and Australia - an adjustable stomach band - can give long-term results that are almost as good and with far fewer risks. It may be the best option for children or women contemplating pregnancy, and is reversible if problems develop.

Re: Obesity

Posted by MrsERod

Posted by Tumbalina

thats wonderful lisa. you lost 187 lbs? What did you weigh?
Anyway God Bless.

that's pretty ballsy of you!!

Re: Obesity

My apologies Lisa...I honestly didnt mean to offend, it was dumb of me.
I think it is so awesome you lost that weight.
wow!

Re: Obesity

Posted by Tumbalina

My apologies Lisa...I honestly didnt mean to offend, it was dumb of me.
I think it is so awesome you lost that weight.
wow!

Re: Obesity

Posted by Lisa

Posted by Tumbalina

My apologies Lisa...I honestly didnt mean to offend, it was dumb of me.
I think it is so awesome you lost that weight.
wow!

That ok! I understand. Its pretty scary for me to even think of the highest weight I was...

Re: Obesity

The person might have a problem you don;t know about. Like people may see me, and I didn't exercise for a long time but I COULDN'T. Or she may have an addiciton to food the same way some people are addicited to cigarettes or drugs. Maybe she does have a thyroid problem, or has a problem that causes a big appetite. It doesn't mean she DOES have a problem. Maybe she doesn't have the willpower to give up butter, bacon and cheese...but there may be more to the story. As someone who is very overweight, I get really offended and hurt with the way people perceive overweight people. They assume you sit around eating cookies all day, even if you're a health nut and you go to the gym 3x a week. Or if they see you eating McDonald's once, even if it's the one time that month or year, you get looked at a certain way. I'm not saying you're doing this to your co-worker, but it is a reality.

I wouldn't get the surgery unless there were other major health risks and I had already seriously tried to lose weight over a long period of time.

Re: Obesity

As another person who has had gastric bypass surgery (congrats LISA!) - I can tell you I had NO problems myself with high blood pressure, sleep apnea or any other of the health issues that they expect an obese person to be dealing with. HOWEVER, my family history of heart problems and diabeties and a BMI (body mass index) over 40 - I qualified for the surgery. The insurance company figured they were actually saving money in the long run since I would most likely have those problems at some later point in my life which would in turn cost them at that point.
The decision for me to have this surgery was one I went back and forth over many times. It was in no way, shape or form a COP out as many people are referring to. As someone who grew up in a household where eating large portions and "snacking" was a regular part of life - I tried MANY diets throughout my life. I actually had to list each and every one on my insurance paperwork in order to qualify for the surgery. I had no problem taking off weight, I had a problem keeping it off. My father passed away at 49 from his second heart attack and I finally decided I was tired of trying so hard and did not want to die so early in life like him.
What a patient goes through to recover is a very difficult thing to do. And it is not a "quick fix". I also do not like to hear that people are gaining weight to qualify for this surgery, but I can understand the desperation of some for doing it. You are told before the surgery that you will again gain weight. So right up front you are aware that this is still a life long battle. I was also sickly looking for quite sometime after the surgery, but finally even out. I could probably stand to lose 25 lbs again, but I am happy with myself and my weight so I am not driving myself crazy about it. I wish I had done it years before I did - I had my surgery in March 2001. I never wanted to leave the house ashamed of how I looked. And the emotinal roller coaster of losing/gaining weight had really taken its toll on me.
I also focus on my protein and veggies first.
I put some weight back on during the past year with all we were dealing with and only turned to comfort food. It is normal when dealing with a tragedy. But I recognize this and am trying to watch myself a bit better now.

It is not as easy as putting down a fork and taking a walk for some people. Sometimes food is an addiction like drugs/cigarettes or alcohol for people. It is hard to give up at times. I took offense to those who consider the surgery a cop out but I cannot expect someone who never walked in my shoes or the shoes of someone who is that obese to understand what inspired me to have it done, so it is not taken personally from any of you.
I actually cried when I found out I qualified for the surgery because I was disappointed in myself for not being able to control this on my own. But I recognize the strength in myself for realizing how badly I wanted to live past the age my Father did and it took many conversations with my Mother to convince her also. I would not do this without her love and support. I let her read stories about people who did not survive the surgery as well as stories of those who were happy in life. It was a long thought out process and not something I did on a whim. I can recognize that some individuals are having the surgery without trying other options, but please, I hope no one thinks each person who has this surgery has taken it lightly. It has forever changed my life and I know for the better.

Re: Obesity

Re: Obesity

donna,

Re: Obesity

Many Donna!