Would any of you do the gastic by-pass surgery or have you done it ??

Question

I know a lot of people out there think of it as cheating but trust me, I've lost weight and gained it back and I do the same routine daily nothing changes. I'm tired of how often I go fluctiate (sorry go up and down on the scales) so I am thinking about going through with it. I weigh roughly about 260 now and would love to drop 100-130 lbs. What are the after effects ?? Scary or would you recommend it ??

Answer 1

You must try to get couselling before you decide to go for either gastric by pass or lap/gastric banding. Due to I have worked in operating theater, I will recomand you to go for banding its work almost good as gastric bypass but alot less dangerous/less complicated procedure.

Answer 2

A dear friend of mine had the procedure done and as a result of it is miserable. The surgery destroyed the valve where the esophagus joins the stomach so she always has to be upright or acid will come up into her nose. She's even had pneumonia from acid getting into her lungs. The acid has eaten away the lower apart of her esophagus and caused a precancerous condition. She has to have endoscopy done every year to make sure it's still okay. She is on acid reducers permanently which are not only not good for digestion but also very expensive. This is years later and she absolutely hates the fact that she can't eat a decent meal but has to be eating little bits all day long just to get enough to live on. This has negatively affected her job since she is a psychologist and since eating during sessions is too distracting she must try to get food during the small break between clients. Ironically, food ends up being on her mind all the time because of it. Just the opposite of what you would want.

On a slightly different note, my sister has found that she has no valve between her stomach and esophagus. She had surgery to take part of her stomach to cover the hole and now she has esophageal strictures which are narrowings of the esophagus so the food won't go down. She's miserable before and after and it's permanent for both of them. The first one can't even have the surgery done to cover the valve. Because of the gastric surgery done before there is no stomach to use to cover it.

From what I have personally heard there is no one that I've heard about who has not regretted having it done. Now, I imagine that for some it works wonders but like mentioned above, it won't fix what causes someone to be overweight by eating in the first place. If those reasons aren't addressed one must find new ways of coping. Whereas if those reasons are addressed in the first place the opportunity for weight loss can be had without drastic measures. It's taking what is generally a mental problem and trying to fix it with a physical solution but, most unfortunately, it hasn't solved the underlying issues.

Just remember that while it may fix the weight problem it won't fix any emotional problem which is tied to it. It also is a permanent decision; you can't put it back. This is a choice that will follow you the rest of your life. It could be wonderful. It could also be very bad. Is that a risk you're really willing to take?

Answer 3

i use to work in the LAP_BAND part of the hospital...You should get lap-band not gastric bypass.....its less abrasive/dangerous!!!
I've seen people melt..LOL...One day they were very heavy then 2 months later 4 months later...I could hardly recognize them!! the only thing is...it can cause you major depression in the process....i think they fell to tell people that! If you are emotionally tied to food...and suddenly you can't eat so much anymore...it can give you anxiety...or depression because you will have to find a new way to deal with stuff...
Sounds easy...but the truth is it's really not...
That would be the hardest part...but you just have to keep telling yourself that it's worth it.
As far as the surgery many people say it's easy...it's the getting prepared that sucks. you have to go on a liquid diet for like 2 weeks i think Before sugery. After surgery you have to continue that for a little while...then you increase to semisolid and then solid...but then you can only hold food the size of a boiled egg. If you over eat too much or drink soda...you can have major problems...Like vomiting etc. and that part is for life!!!! No soda or large amounts of food indefinately!!! A lot of doctors will not do the surgery on people who smoke. IF you do you would have to quite...because it lowers your circulation...and breathing and since this is a surgery you chose(not an emergency) they don't want any risks.

Answer 4

My wife has had the surgery. Before surgery she weighted 384 lbs. and now 2 or 3 years later she weights 180 lbs. She would recommend this surgery to anyone. As far as after affects you have to watch what you eat because you stomach is only the size of your fist and certain foods will not digest real well and workout often to keep the weight off.

Answer 5

I lost one of my good friends in December due to a gastric bypass. She wen through the surgery fine. After she had been home about a week she fell into a coma and died about 2 weeks later. Not everyone has this type of complication. Please discuss it with your doctor.