Weight Loss Surgery

Pennylane

Ted_Hutchinson wrote: »

the other side of the bariatric surgery story Part one

Part 2 of The other side of the story

JFS Special: The latest research on actual deaths seen after surgery for weight loss

Careful study of this paper shows 9% of patients who had undergone gastric bypass and 25% of those who had undergone gastric banding regained most, if not all, of the weight they had lost, and that diabetes had recurred in 50% of patients in whom this condition initially resolved.

Meta-Analysis: Surgical Treatment of ObesityThis is showing that 10-20% of people having bariatric surgery have medical or surgical complications. Although most of these are resolved they do cause an extra burden on health costs and longer hospital stays. Many of these patients require further plastic/cosmetic surgery to deal with spare tissue and this again provides more wound complications 25% and plastic surgery problems 5-15%.

---

Thanks for that Ted. As always you find the stuff!!;) People considering these ops do really need to look at ALL they can find. Not just sites where people are saying they have lost loads of weight and have no regrets (despite not even knowing the basics like they will need to take vitamins for the rest of their lives). Then they're asking questions like "why is my hair falling out?" and "I have lost some weight but I am still not a happy person."

Someone suggested looking at the BOSPA site, which of course is going to come out in favour of surgery!!;)

It's a massive decision and I just get the feeling that too many overweight people are going down this route (because it seems to be the answer to people's prayers at the moment) and to some extent they are being used as guinea pigs because finding long term results is like finding a needle in a haystack!:rolleyes:

tomstickland

I'm sure the money could be better spent on some sort of training that would help overcome the cause of the problem.

Ted_Hutchinson

tomstickland wrote: »

I'm sure the money could be better spent on some sort of training that would help overcome the cause of the problem.

Trouble is our health professionals have not yet understood the process by which fat accumulation occurs or the role of insulin in fat storage.

The research in this area has been dominated by those with a vested interest in promoting those foods that drive the process.

We would be in a different position if instead of low fat more exercise the message from health professionals was LOW GLYCEMIC LOAD If we limited our glycemic load intake to 40g daily it would make a huge difference but if you find weighing/counting too complicated this type of eating plan will reduce food cravings and naturally lower your calorie intake without starving yourself.

Time to go against the grain
If you follow the advice of the food pyramid, you'll end up looking like it -- narrow at the top and large at the hips. Listen up, it's time to low-carb your enthusiasm

Another good reason for eating a low glycemic load diet is the reduction of risk for colorectal and endometrial cancer.

curly_2

Pennylane wrote: »

---

Thanks for that Ted. As always you find the stuff!!;) People considering these ops do really need to look at ALL they can find. Not just sites where people are saying they have lost loads of weight and have no regrets (despite not even knowing the basics like they will need to take vitamins for the rest of their lives). Then they're asking questions like "why is my hair falling out?" and "I have lost some weight but I am still not a happy person."

Someone suggested looking at the BOSPA site, which of course is going to come out in favour of surgery!!;)

It's a massive decision and I just get the feeling that too many overweight people are going down this route (because it seems to be the answer to people's prayers at the moment) and to some extent they are being used as guinea pigs because finding long term results is like finding a needle in a haystack!:rolleyes:

I mentioned the BOSPA website, it's run by people who have been through the WLS process. If you look through the website at the various experiences you will find people who have had a bad times - so it's no all about the "good" side of WLS.

If you see a good Consultant and his team they will go through all aspects of the surgery, all the pros and cons. Since my surgery I have been asked by my team to go in to talk to people considering gastric bypass surgery. I don't wrap anything up - it's going to be hard work, it's going to be painful for a time, you must do as your team ask like taking your vitamins etc... they are telling you these things for a reason !!

It concerns me to read about people going overseas to have this type of surgery, I appreciate how desperate you can become to lose weight and feel you would do almost anything. What happens if there are complications and you're back home, who do you see ?? I have been given a two year follow up plan by my consultant, I go back every 6-8 weeks for the next two years and if I have a problem I have a team I can call on.

WLS is hard work both before and after surgery and it's a very big decision that effects the rest of your life and it shouldn't be made without all the facts being considered.

Whilst I dislike the term "guinea pig" no surgery is 100% guaranteed, I agree with your sentiments that you need to know about the good and bad sides of any WLS.

I'm happy to talk to anyone who has any questions, so please feel free to PM me.

Pennylane

Curly - I don't know if you had your on NHS or privately, but that also throws up a lot of problems. I DO agree with you about people travelling abroad, I think some people take leave of their senses. Yes, it's FAB when it goes fine but if there are probs it can be a nightmare.:eek:

Some of these private hospitals (in this country) are more than willing to do these ops on people who really are not that overweight. They are also NOT providing adequate after-care, as a peek at any gastric surgery site will tell you. People are buying packages which involve no after care. They are also having gastric bands done and then paying every time they want to have these "fills" which are expensive (plus time off work, travelling etc) and then are not happy with how much they have put in or taken out. They get so that they resent paying but they KNOW this up front.

You sound as if you have a great understanding of what's involved but a huge number of people don't!! They are blinded by the fact that they will lose some weight fairly quickly. They do not listen to the bits about possible side-effects, like hair loss, like malnutrition, like osteoporosis, like dreadful wind:rolleyes: , like possible future surgery because of all the sagging skin left behind. Like having to take vitamins for the rest of their lives. Like missing out on their social life because they feel it's a waste of money going out for an expensive meal & then not being able to eat much of it. They also close their ears and eyes to all the people who DIE from gastric surgery.

Pennylane

Just putting this up for Curly

natty27

Hi, I had the gastric band, I went to Gateway Health,there is no sales pitch or pressure, they'll just go through your questions with you.It cost £7950, this includes 4 band fills and loads of support and education, they really emphasise that the aftercare is as important as the operation, I think this is so true. I've lost loads of weight:T I'm fitter:j and I'm enjoying my life;) Their number is 0845 900339 I think. The band is meant to stay in for the rest of your life, if you had it taken out you would put weight back on, but I can't understand why anybody would have it taken out!!

What's important is that you go to a good company like I did, the best surgeons, best hospitals and the very best in aftercare.I've heard some horror stories from people who've been abroad for the op.

I don't regret it for a minute, how can you put a price on your quality of life?

Hope this helps?:j

natty27

In my area, you've got to have a BMI of 55 to be referred for weight loss op, and then the list is about 5 years long!

homealone_2

homealone wrote: »

besides a bmi of more than 40 what was the rest of the criteria required. i have put on 5 stone since having a back accident and have very restricted mobility and on wide variety of pain relief drugs. i have tried all sorts of diets to no avail. had a tummy tuck done on nhs 12 years ago due to awful stretch marks that were an inch wide in most places and very sore i also had loads of loose flabby skin just hanging. would this happen again as i could not bear for all that flabby skin to return which i have heard does happen in large amount of people. has this happened to any of you? and after you lose weight what sort of food to you eat then with band still in place? is it restricted forever?

this was me 2 years ago. i am now 5 weeks away from having a gastric bypass. what was 5 stone overweight stretched to 10 stone overweight and am borderline diabetic etc and have terrible knee arthritis. i am also severly restricted with my mobility due to a back problem and so cannot exercise. i am getting quite nervous now that i have a date. the whole process through the nhs took 14 months but i did fall through a crack in the system twice so should have had the surgery by now. i have looked on all of the support groups available but none of them really cover the pre op stage in any detail. is there anyone out there at the same stage as me that would be happy to share their experience with me and be a hand to hold for some mutual support?

charlea

Although i didnt have weightloss i did have liposcution op in clinic beacare in belgium and can reccomend them for that type of surgury very good results as well

QUOTE=Edinburghlass;3341668]Its seems that Belgium is the cheaper option to go to for this surgery.

You can try Googling I guess and if I remember correctly it was mentioned on here a couple of times.[/QUOTE]