Bariatric Surgery

Gingernutty

Quillion wrote: »

They are my girls in our group who have had surgery and felt they had something to add to the thread hence the first time posting.

Aha! I see. I apologise.

repeatoffender

Oh thank you for all of your answers, they have taken some reading and the consultant did mention a support group but i never thought about contacting them before surgery.

I am concerned that there is a risk with any operation and really any hospital stay seems to run the risk of infection these days. Whatever the opinions expressed in these posts you all confirm that it is not the easy option. I think too many celebrities talk about it as a problem solver.

The seminar did highlight that problems with food still remained after surgery, food getting stuck, malabsorption of nutrients, bands slipping and people damaging their pouches, the problems with comfort eating etc which is why i think they favour the bypass.

I do have sleep apnoea and I know that this does not affect me when I lose weight. I am not at the point of being imobile but I have joint pains. My GP has said if I don't lose it by myself and keep it off then surgery is going to be my only option, otherwise heart disease, arthitis, diabetes and associated problems await me.

Because i had not researched it i think that i thought i would be able have a balloon or a band which would reduce my food intake and then if it didnt work i could have it reversed. I think this was a bit flippant and i was neither aware nor prepared for the life changing aspects of the procedure.

I think it may be wise for me to opt in and meanwhile do more research and all that i can to change my current lifestyle and probably diet myself out of the BMI range for surgery. I do realise that some people have no option. Maybe my GP has referred me while he feels i still have some options as the suggestion has come from him not me.

I am so grateful for you taking the time to answer my post.

Quillion - Thank you for asking your group do you have a link to a support group please?

Crisp £ Note - Sorry i do not know what my gym course is called but the GP said it was the councils exercise referral scheme.

Pennylane

It is common for people who have recently had bariatric surgery to go through a honeymoon period. The weight falls off, you feel better because your aching knees, sore ankles etc are improving (caused by carrying excess weight) and people actually notice you are slimmer.

However, if anybody thinks the weight is "gone forever" they are wrong. I know several people who have had bypass ops and they have all put weight back on after 3-4 years.

Personally I would not even consider bariatric surgery because it doesn't do a single thing for your psychological problems regarding food. One of the people I know has always carried on eating sweets and chocolate, cakes and other things she promised her surgeon she would avoid. She started off with just a nibble here and there and when she realised she was not one of the patients who suffer from "dumping syndrome" too badly she upped her quantities. She lost about 6 stones but has now put on almost 3 again.

On occasions she eats something which does make her feel really ill but she would rather put up with that than forego what she craves. It's bizarre because when she went for the op she promised the surgeon she would change her eating habits but she hasn't at all. She gets bad heartburn, she is on vitamin injections for the rest of her life, she gets lots of urine infections and the skin on her body is paper dry. The skin on her face is hanging off in folds though and it has really aged her. She is also very, very tired all the time and lethargic.

This is not surprising because she is in a permanent state of malnutrition. This op was originally used on people with stomach cancer and it was either have the op or die.

I would advise anybody considering it to look at the sites in the States. They have been performing these ops a lot longer than here and in greater numbers. There are sites purely for people who have had the op and are so ill that they wish they hadn't had it at all.

Mrs_Arcanum

Pennylane wrote: »

It is common for people who have recently had bariatric surgery to go through a honeymoon period. The weight falls off, you feel better because your aching knees, sore ankles etc are improving (caused by carrying excess weight) and people actually notice you are slimmer.

However, if anybody thinks the weight is "gone forever" they are wrong. I know several people who have had bypass ops and they have all put weight back on after 3-4 years.

Personally I would not even consider bariatric surgery because it doesn't do a single thing for your psychological problems regarding food. One of the people I know has always carried on eating sweets and chocolate, cakes and other things she promised her surgeon she would avoid. She started off with just a nibble here and there and when she realised she was not one of the patients who suffer from "dumping syndrome" too badly she upped her quantities. She lost about 6 stones but has now put on almost 3 again.

On occasions she eats something which does make her feel really ill but she would rather put up with that than forego what she craves. It's bizarre because when she went for the op she promised the surgeon she would change her eating habits but she hasn't at all. She gets bad heartburn, she is on vitamin injections for the rest of her life, she gets lots of urine infections and the skin on her body is paper dry. The skin on her face is hanging off in folds though and it has really aged her. She is also very, very tired all the time and lethargic.

This is not surprising because she is in a permanent state of malnutrition. This op was originally used on people with stomach cancer and it was either have the op or die.

I would advise anybody considering it to look at the sites in the States. They have been performing these ops a lot longer than here and in greater numbers. There are sites purely for people who have had the op and are so ill that they wish they hadn't had it at all.

Also why it should really not be considered for younger people except as a really last ditch resort. My friend was over 60 when she had it done as a life or death choice.

Rebob

I had a r-n-y gastric bypass 3 years ago. It is one of the best things I have done ever. Together with the preop loss I am now 10 stones lighter than before. Surgery is concidered a sucess if you lose 70% of your excess weight and keep 65% of it off at I think 5 years. I have lost all my excess and a bit more and I put on a little with the help and advice of my team to ensure long term health.

It is not a decision to take lightly and is not a lifetime of mush and suppliment meals as some would have you believe. You have to agree to sticking to eating off a side plate, not drinking within 30mins either side of your meals, cut out high fat and sugar foods, eat firstly protein each meal followed by veg and a tiny amount of carbs if you have room.

Your team may recommend you have a B12 injection every 3 months to protect from deficiency and a multivitamin and mineral daily.

Please post any questions and if they are too personal for on the board pm them as there is a lot to consider.

Goodluck

Pennylane

Rebob wrote: »

I had a r-n-y gastric bypass 3 years ago. It is one of the best things I have done ever. Together with the preop loss I am now 10 stones lighter than before. Surgery is concidered a sucess if you lose 70% of your excess weight and keep 65% of it off at I think 5 years. I have lost all my excess and a bit more and I put on a little with the help and advice of my team to ensure long term health.

It is not a decision to take lightly and is not a lifetime of mush and suppliment meals as some would have you believe. You have to agree to sticking to eating off a side plate, not drinking within 30mins either side of your meals, cut out high fat and sugar foods, eat firstly protein each meal followed by veg and a tiny amount of carbs if you have room.

Your team may recommend you have a B12 injection every 3 months to protect from deficiency and a multivitamin and mineral daily.

Please post any questions and if they are too personal for on the board pm them as there is a lot to consider.

Goodluck

And therein lies the problem! A lot of people "agree" to various things in order to get the op but don't find it so easy complying with it. One of the people I know can now eat a full standard portion of chips, a large jacket potato or a filled baguette. With the chips she eats maybe a dozen and pushes them to one side. 10 minutes later even though they're cold she'll eat maybe a dozen more and she'll continue grazing on them all evening until they're gone. She will feel uncomfortable and sometimes in pain but she would rather endure that than not have the chips!

Rebob

I know that but these are often the people that find it harder to get the surgery and have to jump through more hoops. The only thing is they seem to find a way around any obstacles by such as contacting their MP's etc.

For surgery to work you must have a lot of support and your head in the right place. x

System

so to all who have had the surgery and dont regret it how do you cope with the excess skin thats left ?

Quillion

When I go on pc later I will post a link.

You could try
https://www.wls.org
my username is jalo
Hope this helps it is a very good site xx

Rebob

CHRISSYG wrote: »

so to all who have had the surgery and dont regret it how do you cope with the excess skin thats left ?

Mine has not been too bad really. Mainly on my front and from under my bust to my pubic area. It does not show when I am undressed. In any case, its better than the weight.:beer: