Has Anyone Had Gastric Bypass Surgery??

[ElleRich]

I had a roux-en-y gastric bypass done in 11/ 2001.  I weighed 300 lbs and lost 160 lbs in 18 months.  Nine years later, I weigh 164 and am a size 12. I am 5'7" tall and am 52 years old.  Do I regret having the surgery?  Absolutely NOT!!!!!   I would like to hear from others on this issue.
Sincerely, Elle

[syntheticbeauty]

My father did as well he weighed 540 pounds and is now down to 180 after 4 years, but he complained he felt like a deflated balloon and he had complications with the surgery for the first 2 years.
He is currently going to get a full body lift and states he likes the choice he made and that he feels so much healthier.

[veronica773]

My niece had it done and she was over 200lbs and now she is size 0.  Her life all changed for the worst.  She got all messed up in her mind. 
She lost her husband and kids.  She got mixed up with a bad group of people.  The surgery is so dangerous and someone told me they have to be on feeding tubes for the rest of their life.  That is too much of a risk for me.

[ElleRich]

Hi and thank you both for your replies.  SyntheticBeauty, I am very happy that your father's surgery turned into a positive for his health. His surgery will be be painful for some time, but I am quite sure he will reap the benefits as a final result.  I would love to get a tummy tuck, but having fibromyalgia, this would probably not be a good decision at this time.  Veronica, I feel sad for your niece.  It is so important to have therapy and support from positive people.  I, too, almost went through a divorce after 27 years of marriage. Losing the weight made me realize I was hiding under all that insulation I was carrying around.  Yes, alot of people did not approve of the "new" me who now voiced her opinions, dressed in less conservative clothes in my off time...I actually had curves in the right place since I was 18 years old.  I exercised, followed my eating regimen and went from a size 26 to a size 6-8.  I have finally leveled out at a size 12. My husband and I have reconciled and we are still married and celebrated our 33rd wedding anniversary last June. We both realized that there were definite communication problems I have never heard of people being on feeding tubes and yes, the surgery can be dangerous, but in my case I knew it was right for me and I went in the operating room with no doubts and a positive attitude. I know I have been very blessed by not having complications as other have had. I hope your niece will do well in life and time does heal wounds.

[nickjsmom]

I'm scheduled for my lap band surgery on December 23rd (my choice).  I'm excited and terrified at the same time!  I'll look forward to reading more posts on this topic, that's for sure... I'd love to hear all the pros and cons.

[thetotalfool]

My aunt did, and lost over 100 pounds.  The downside is she can't drink soda or eat certain foods.

[ElleRich]

I am so pleased to see all the replies.  I tried about every diet in the world and Carnie Wilson of "Wilson  Phillips" and daughter of Brian Wilson of "The Beach Boys" had the surgery and wrote the book "Gut Feelings" back in 2000 or so.  I read it and knew it was the correct choice for me.  I have not eaten red meat since my surgery in 2001.  Red meat takes two days to digest in your system. I just never went there and quite frankly, I do not miss it. There are many turkey products that my husband and I eat.  We also eat lots of seafood.  Every once in a while, he cooks a steak on his George Foreman grill and it smells so greasy and heavy to me.  I do not drink soda.  Instead, if I want something carbonated, I combine natural fruit juice and seltzer water.  We call them spritzers. I use about 1/4 to 1/3 parts fruit juice and fill the rest with seltzer water and ice. I eat my protein first, then veggies and later on I have fruit.  If someone has a birthday and there is a sugary cake for dessert, I take about 1/2 inch square and it satisfies me and it tastes sooo sweet.  Now about people dying from the surgery....it is terrible and so sad.  My surgeon took high risk patients..maybe 400 lbs and above.  He had a high success rate, but occasionally he lost one in death. But to me, they were dying a slow death and I am sure they had several health problems because of being super obese.  I know how I felt before my surgery...and I certainly was not living.  As far as people looking pale and sickly as time goes on after the surgery, most likely they are not taking the proper supplements their body needs to function.  I take my supplements every day.  B12 in a tablet form would not work with my metabolism.  I personally give myself a B12 injection twice a week.  Most do not require this, but with having fibromyalgia, it also helps with the fatigue.  I have rambled on long enough on this posting...please keep up with the replies and I hope that I can answer any questions anyone has.  Take care, Elle

[mgarmstrong]

My sister and Br-n-law both had the surgery.  She has put a lot of weight back on (and drinks too much) and he can't gain any weight now even though he is desperately trying.  I think that the surgery is great and helps most (there are always risks) but people need to be prepaired to handle the psychological problems also.  The surgery is not a cure all.

[ElleRich]

Hi Everyone!  I agree this surgery is not a cure all and definitely NOT an easy way out.  It is truly a life long comittment.  I worked a t a local store as a night stocker and that's where I made my first huge mistake.  I turned to sugar for energy to keep my pace up.  I got real sick and had chest pains and thought I was having a heart attack. I got off my supplement regimen and continued to ingest sugar to keep me going.  What I did not understand is that my blood glucose level would immediately spike high and then crash low, so I would ingest more sugar.  This became a continuous cycle for three years and I gained alot of weight back.  On top of it a primary care doctor gave me a glucose intolerance test and I almost passed out.  This is not an option for anyone having a gastric bypass.  She told me I was diabetic and prescribed an oral medication for diabetes and of course the glucometer to test my blood sugar levels.  One day I was at home alone and felt so sleepy and miserable. I tested and was so low I was going into a comatose stage.  I called my pharmacist and he told me to get off the medication immediately. After that I felt better, but still not up to par. It wasn't until this past year, that another doctor ran a wire under my skin for 72 hours and I found out I was not diabetic. I was having a reactive hypoglycemia reaction. That was my body's way of saying" Lynne , you are off the path and you need to return to it immediately.  I did and have lost the weight and no longer have any hypoglycemic attacks and my weight went from 198 down to 164 since last March 2010. I do have fibromyalgia and that has limited me to what I can do and cannot do. But as far as my eating regimen, my supplements and exercise, I am back on track again.  Thanks for reading everyone.  Take care, Elle

[texaswhiterose]

I have not had the surgery but have considered it. After reading the comments here I am as unsure now as I was before. I guess it really depends on your health before the surgery and how well you follow the regimen afterwords. Congratulations to those that have done so well and to those that have not I hope things get better for you.

[kqa]

I don't need to have it done at all, but I was recently reading about teenagers having it, which I believe is totally inappropriate at that age unless they have a severe medical condition causing the weight problem in the first place, which is not so in most cases. 

[ElleRich]

Having gastric bypass surgery is to be taken seriously.  It is a true life time commitment if you want to keep healthy and keep off the weight.  In my humble opinion and through my weight loss journey, I also agree that teenagers should not have this surgery, unless it is a life threatening issue.  As far as lap band surgery goes, I am really not very knowledgeable about it. I would assume that one would follow the gastric bypass eating plan. I do know that it needs to be adjusted from time to time.  Please feel free to contribute any information about either procedures. Take care for now, Elle

[veronica773]

Hi EllaRich,  I am so glad that you got back together with your husband.  It sounds like it was the best decision for you.  It helps if you have a supported husband.  It is important to be sure want you want.  I know there are a lot of people having this surgery, but I wonder if you are getting all the nutrition that you need to get for being healthy.  It sounds like you are monitoring your health really good.  I am proud for you, and I know your husband loves your new size.

Have a good day, Veronica 

[Valerie1979]

weight loss surgery is much more complicated than people think.
weight loss impacts all facets of your life and relationships.
this is something that someone should take very seriously --
there is a very high divorce rate in those that have had the surgery and there are serious complications that can take place.


"normal" weight loss -- without surgery -- is a LIFESTYLE change.  I have heard people say I can't make those changes; but from personal and professional experience weight loss surgery is also a LIFESTYLE change.  You must modify how you eat, you still must exercise and you have to mentally be prepared for all the changes that will be associated.  You also have to take supplements and vitamins which you need to committ to doing.

I am a Dietitian, I had the surgery in 2003 -- and I have gained some of my weight back......  after divorce, the death of my brother and other stressers -- food is my coping mechanism and I never overcame that.

[bostonphil]

I am glad that this surgery worked out well for you.  I do not need it but I know of someone who had it and died from complications.  She probably should not have had it to begin with but the doctor said it was ok.   Well, it wasn't.  As with everything in the universe, somethings work for some and not for others.