sally04609
03-03-2002, 05:49 PM
Has anyone out there had a successful gastric bypass? I'm contemplating surgery and would like to hear especially from those who have had this done and have successfully kept weight off for several years afterward. I weight 325 on a 5'5" frame and have developed type II diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. I also have hypothyroidism as a result of treatment for Graves' disease. I'm 43 years old. Any successes out there? What's your secret?
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auntjudyg
03-04-2002, 10:42 AM
Questions about this kind of surgery have set off some pretty hot discussions under "Weight loss". There are some pretty strong feeling about it out there. People have successfully lost weight. But remember that if you don't change your eating habits, it is completely possible to stretch your stomach out again and regain any weight you lost.
zabou69
03-04-2002, 12:25 PM
Sally, I had this surgery 9yrs ago and would NOT reccomend it to anyone unless it is a life or death situation with obesity. I gained most of my weight back on again and had a friend who had the surgery done a few months before me and gained all hers on and more. Now Iam very active by going to the gym 5 days a week , weight training and such but am having a terrible time trying to lose as I still can't eat very much since my surgery and now my body is storing what I do eat as fat. So i have been told by a dietician as I was only consuming 600-800cals a day and working very hard at the gym. Iam finding it very difficult to lose now because I am having troule consuming as many cals as I should be eating. My advice to you is to start an exercise program and watch your calorie intake or else join a weight group . I did this and it gave me alot of incentive. I can not eat normal to this day and my surgery was 9 yrs ago. Iam not major obese but need to lose 50 or so lbs. Iam 5ft tall with a small bone frame and weigh 160. Hope this helps with your decision. Please try and give it your all on your own. It will be worth it in the long run. This is something in my life that I totally regret ever doing. Good luck!
Starbuk498
03-04-2002, 02:36 PM
Sally,
Zabou had her surgery over 9 years ago. It was very very new back then. They have made tons of advances with this procedure since then. My advice to you is if you really want to have this done (have you seen Carnie Wilson- she had it done and she swears that it is the best thing that she has ever done and regrets not doing it sooner) go to a few doctors first, and then speak to some of their patients that had the procedure done. And then, you can make your decision.
Best of luck and god bless......let us know how you do.
Stefanie
Zabou had her surgery over 9 years ago. It was very very new back then. They have made tons of advances with this procedure since then. My advice to you is if you really want to have this done (have you seen Carnie Wilson- she had it done and she swears that it is the best thing that she has ever done and regrets not doing it sooner) go to a few doctors first, and then speak to some of their patients that had the procedure done. And then, you can make your decision.
Best of luck and god bless......let us know how you do.
Stefanie
zabou69
03-04-2002, 02:44 PM
Sally, I had my surgery 9 yrs ago and yes things might have changed since then. But what iam trying to get at is that this surgery does not teach you how to eat sesibly. You still have to really watch what you eat after the surgery or else you will gain it on again. So why not start now and I bet you will lose in no time flat with proper diet and exercise. Good luck!
zabou69
03-04-2002, 02:44 PM
sorry double posted!
[This message has been edited by zabou69 (edited 03-04-2002).]
[This message has been edited by zabou69 (edited 03-04-2002).]
zabou69
03-04-2002, 02:59 PM
And just to let you know i did read the story about Carnie Wilson . She only had her surgery done 2 yrs ago and I can honestly tell you if you would have asked me about the surgery 2 or 3 yrs after I had it I would have said it was the best thing going. Because I kept my weight off (most of it) for about 3 or so yrs then gradually gained alot on again. Iam still not as heavy as when i had it but this is because I now exercise daily and try to eat healthy. But do look in to it your self cause only you can decide. Best of luck!
sally04609
03-04-2002, 07:11 PM
Thanks, Zabou and Stefanie, for your input. Believe me, I will give this a lot of thought and ask tons of questions before I undertake such a drastic measure. Zabou, have you had any intestinal problems since your surgery that you would attribute to the surgery?
beverlywright
07-16-2002, 09:10 AM
My mother recently died after her gastric bypass. I encourage anyone considering gastric bypass to thoroughly review academic literature available online or from your local university before ungoing this surgery. Please do not blindly accept the information from your doctor without conducting an independent review of the matter. Try to be objective and hear the bad sides, not just the "I was so happy to be thin!" stuff you hear all the time. My mother was 55.
AshLin
07-16-2002, 12:17 PM
I friend of mine had this surgery done about a year ago. He has lost about 350lbs, originally weighing 600lbs. Just now he has started to be able to eat regular foods again, and of course he has not been choosing the best things to put in his mouth.. he went right back to fast food. I have a feeling he will put the weight back on, he just wanted a quick fix and now he has it. There are quite a few foods he still cannot eat. He looks thinner, but not healthier. Diet and exercise is your best option.