Attention fat people !! Lap band or not ?
Has anybody considered gastro bypass surgery or lap band ? What are the pros and cons ?
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I'd recommend the Rhuen-Wye (sp).
If you have any ulcer or digestion issues (upset stomach), this surgery can help. It was originally done as a ulcer treatment. If you live near one, I recommend a Barix Clinic. THe specialize in stomach surgeries.
In Northern Illinois they bought an older small rural town hospital. It was very clean. THe nurses knew the after surgery procedures very well. They also knew the signs of symptoms and were aggressive to notify the doctor if there was a leak. Unfortunately, Illinois ran them out of the state...private for profit hospitals is very anti-Illinois.
If you talk to different doctors, you hear different stories and recovery treatments. Some recommend completely opposite treatments.
They say the band doesn't allow as much weight loss.
Looking back, if the insurance company gives a hard time (Blue Cross is one), it might be easier is you document digestion issues along with several attempt to lose weight. It can take up to a year of appealing the insurance company. You have to be diligent.
It wasn't me that had it.0 -
quote:Originally posted by Captplaid
I'd recommend the Rhuen-Wye (sp).
If you have any ulcer or digestion issues (upset stomach), this surgery can help. It was originally done as a ulcer treatment. If you live near one, I recommend a Barix Clinic. THe specialize in stomach surgeries.
In Northern Illinois they bought an older small rural town hospital. It was very clean. THe nurses knew the after surgery procedures very well. They also knew the signs of symptoms and were aggressive to notify the doctor if there was a leak. Unfortunately, Illinois ran them out of the state...private for profit hospitals is very anti-Illinois.
If you talk to different doctors, you hear different stories and recovery treatments. Some recommend completely opposite treatments.
They say the band doesn't allow as much weight loss.
Looking back, if the insurance company gives a hard time (Blue Cross is one), it might be easier is you document digestion issues along with several attempt to lose weight. It can take up to a year of appealing the insurance company. You have to be diligent.
It wasn't me that had it.
I have never herd of this procedure, Maybe they call it somthing different around here NJ. I would think that the insurance co. would benifit from sombody having such a procedure because in the long run It would probably be cheaper than paying for all the other health problems associated with obesity!0 -
roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RGB)
Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, the most commonly performed bariatric procedure, is both malabsorptive and restrictive. This surgery can result in two-thirds of extra weight loss within two years. The procedure involves stapling the stomach to create a small pouch that holds less food and then shaping a portion of the small intestine into a "Y". The "Y" portion of intestine is then connected to the stomach pouch so that when food is being digested it travels directly into the lower part of the small intestine, bypassing the first part of the small intestine (called the duodenum) and the first part of the second section of the small intestine (called the jejunum). The effect of bypassing these sections of the intestine is to restrict the amount of calories and nutrients that are absorbed into the body.
The Roux-en-Y gastric bypass may be performed with a laparoscope rather than through an open incision in some patients. This procedure uses several small incisions and three or more laparoscopes - small thin tubes with video cameras attached - to visualize the inside of the abdomen during the operation. The surgeon performs the surgery while looking at a TV monitor. Persons with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 60 or more or those who have already had some type of abdominal surgery are usually not considered for this technique. A laparoscopic method allows the physician to make a series of much smaller incisions. Laparoscopic gastric bypass usually reduces the length of hospital stay, the amount of scarring, and results in quicker recovery than an open procedure.
I have seriously considered it for the past three years. My insurance, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, won't pay. I just had a massive heart attack in November and I think that makes me ineligible now.
I firmly believe that if I had the surgery 2 or 3 years ago I wouldn't have had the heart attack. I personally know 4 people that have had it done. One is gaining weight back and still looks good (he was 575# when he had it done). One is really keeping the weight off (he was 480 when he had it done). One died (he had alot of other issues). One is my sister. The one thing that I have noticed and it may just be me, but, I have noticed that every one of them turned to alcohol right after the surgery. More so than I ever thought any of them would ever drink. One has really gone over the top with it.
My problem is that I think I am addicted to food. I don't eat to sustain. I eat because I love the way food tastes. I was brought up in a household of good ol' southern cooking and alot of it. If we had company, they didn't leave until they ate.
There is very little that I don't like. I love food. I desperately want the surgery, but now I believe it is a lost cause.
All of the above people, with the exception of the one that died, had theirs done laporoscopically.
If you are going to have it done, make sure that your head is screwed on right. It really affects you mentally and you will need plenty of support from your spouse/family. One of the above friends has a son that would hide in the pantry and eat vienna sausages so his Daddy wouldn't see them. One of them got into a knock down drag out fight with his wife over a can of beanie weenies. This is not normal behavior for either.
Good luck.0 -
Go here and read.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gastric-bypass/HQ014650 -
I have a friend that had gastric bypass. She lost a lot of weight, but for the first year she could not eat or keep anything down. Now she can eat foods but gets no nutrients from them as it doesn't process right.
I also had a very overweight Kaiser doctor tell me I needed a gastric byoass when I went i for eczema on my hands. [xx(]0 -
Here are some things that can go wrong.
When they staple and cauterize the stomach, you can get a leak. Very painful. They had to go back in and do the open surgery after the laproscopic and they charged the insurance company for 2 surgeries plus trips to the real hospital for cat scans.
Staying on liquids to long can make the small hole even smaller and cause the person to have difficulty in digesting "big" chunks later.
Going to solids too early can cause the person to be able to eat more later on. It's not a mission to "rehabilitate" the stomach to eat all foods again. Again, it is important you find a doct
Hernias are common after the surgery. People loss weight but have weak stomach muscles. Some doctors give out giant back belts after the surgery. It helps a lot.
A friend also had it plus the hernia surgery later. With the hernia, doctor missed some gauze and sewed it up inside her. Infection. They were draining liters of puss out of her. With the mesh and scar tissue, doctors won't touch it now. There's risk with surgeries.
Yes, It changed my wife's life. SHe is much more active now. She digests food better. She does not get over heated and nauseated by taking a walk at the county fair. she has 1/10 the digestion issues she once had. I think Blue Cross would have gone easier if she gad documented her digestion problems. Even still, she had a lawyer thought Barix fight the insurance company and threaten to sue.0 -
Nurses have a term for bad outcomes - "GBGB" Gastric Bypass Gone Bad - I know only one person who has had the surgery for Gastric Bypass, and don't know which one, but it was NOT Lap-Band. She has lost a lot of weight and seems to have no issues.
I am a candidate, but wonder about late life - do you lose the ability to absorb needed nutrients? I have aslo heard about things like permanent "hershey squirts"? I am considering Lap-Band, but it offends me that it amounts to an admission that I have no will power. I just love food. I can't imagine being full after first bite. I'm 56, how much better will my life be, and will it free me from problems long enough to be worthwhile?? I will have to pay full freight on the operation, but my medical plan will pick up 80% of the subsequent costs, so it will cost me over $20,000 for sure, maybe over $30,000.
Still thinking.0 -
I am not "fat" by any means, unless we want to talk about being in perfect shape.
I could stand to lose 10 pounds at the most to be at peak.
Personally, IF I was obese, I would never consider one of these operations unless I had done everything humanly possible to change my lifestyle, and show some willpower.
Come on guys,.....some of you have admitted that you love to eat enough for 3 people![:D]
Just stop it,......to me that surgery is a "last resort" scenario.0 -
My neighbor across the street had the gastric by-pass about 2 years ago. Weighed probably 380 or so before hand. WOuldn't recognize her now! She is a nurse, and thought long and hard before having it done. She carries a card identifying her as a gastric by-pass patient and most restaurants let her order off a the child's menu since there is no way she can eat a big portion. She does take a Flintstones multi-vitamin every day because of the vitamin and nutrition absorption is not as good after the surgery. She also eats 5 or 6 times a day, really small portions. As I said, she is doing great. Weighs around 150 or so now. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by drjew
Go here and read.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gastric-bypass/HQ01465
drjew, Thanks for the link. I found it real helpfull and after reading some of the horror stories associated with the surgery and what could happen to you afterwards, It hardly seems worth the risk.
Im sorry to hear about your heart attack! and I know what you mean about loving to eat, I diden't get to be 435 lbs being a picky eater.
It says after the surgery you can only eat about an ounce of food and nothing solid for a long time and and after all that you could end up needing more surgeries and can suffer from all sorts of complications and can ultimatly put the weight back on anyway.
I think what it boils down to is disiplin and will power. Unfortunitly we all seem to wait untill it to late to do anything about it.
I dont know how old you are but you know the older we get the harder it will be to get back into shape. Im only 42 years young and I say that because thats way to young to die.
I lost my BIG brother back in 1999, He loved to eat too. He was three years older than me and left behind a wife and three little children.
So hang in there and good luck !!0 -
quote:Originally posted by Frank Goad
quote:Originally posted by drjew
Go here and read.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gastric-bypass/HQ01465
drjew, Thanks for the link. I found it real helpfull and after reading some of the horror stories associated with the surgery and what could happen to you afterwards, It hardly seems worth the risk.
Im sorry to hear about your heart attack! and I know what you mean about loving to eat, I diden't get to be 435 lbs being a picky eater.
It says after the surgery you can only eat about an ounce of food and nothing solid for a long time and and after all that you could end up needing more surgeries and can suffer from all sorts of complications and can ultimatly put the weight back on anyway.
I think what it boils down to is disiplin and will power. Unfortunitly we all seem to wait untill it to late to do anything about it.
I dont know how old you are but you know the older we get the harder it will be to get back into shape. Im only 42 years young and I say that because thats way to young to die.
I lost my BIG brother back in 1999, He loved to eat too. He was three years older than me and left behind a wife and three little children.
So hang in there and good luck !!
HI frank wow we got somthing in common that is the same weight im at right now i was up to 500 i found the atkins diet works real well for me im still on the diet lost around 70 pounds in 7 months i have always been big but now at 40 years old i am trying to drop some weight if you want to talk about the atkins diet or anything just e-mail me ..0 -
Hillary, not unlike Italian prosciutto but darker and chewier, is produced around Spain from a breed called the Iberian pig, a dark, reddish, fat-legged marsupial creature with a pointy snout and burning red eyes.
[V]0 -
From what I have heard all those surgeries have potentially dangerous side effects. I'm no expert, but I do know for sure that proper nutrition and exercise has no negative side effects at all. Even after the surgery you will have to change eating habits and exercise or will gain the weight right back. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by sav99
From what I have heard all those surgeries have potentially dangerous side effects. I'm no expert, but I do know for sure that proper nutrition and exercise has no negative side effects at all. Even after the surgery you will have to change eating habits and exercise or will gain the weight right back.
+1
Don't think that I don't have empathy for you guys,.....but for God's sake, and yours,......quit eating enough to support several grown adults.
Not being a hardass, but some of you have said that you love "eating".
Treat it like a drug addict, or an alcoholic,......you will lose weight, and not endanger your health.
It will take time, and commitment, but you CAN do it!
Edit: Both of you guys are younger than me at 46,......there is no excuse for a human being to weigh that much.
If you are almost 7 feet tall, and muscular, you should not be over 300 pounds!
Wish both of you the best, but you WILL die, unless you confront this!0 -
my sister had it, it worked exactly like it was supposed to, first time i have hugged her since we was kids, and it didn't feel like a group hug, but...... she had so much ugly left over skin, and could not afford the surgery to remove it she said she felt so gross she started gaining weight again just because of the skin flapping all over her body, i could tell by her arms it had to be bad it was pretty grotesque i would hate to close a car door on a 14" piece of skin hanging off me
and no i don't need it, she is 5'2" was over 3000 -
There's a medical classification called "morbidly obese". Don't know the scale of body fat by percentage. My point is, surgeons will usually refuse doing the procedure unless patient classifies as M/O.
And it's not just physical. Usually all psychological avenues of approach have to be exhausted before the procedure gets the green light. Joe0 -
yep your right there givette i'm a canidate for this surgery but have refused i been going it on my own and i have dropped a little over 70 pounds in the last 7 months it's a battle but so isn't life.
Marc1301 ya i here ya there but you know like me when you have been a over eater all your life it is hard to just stop.i would rank it up there with a alcholic not drinking anymore.but it can be done..0 -
nmg: givette here..that's ten lbs. per month. Excellent! You've found (or are finding) a solution to this god-awful mess. Best to you! Joe 0 -
quote:Originally posted by needmyguns
yep your right there givette i'm a canidate for this surgery but have refused i been going it on my own and i have dropped a little over 70 pounds in the last 7 months it's a battle but so isn't life.
Marc1301 ya i here ya there but you know like me when you have been a over eater all your life it is hard to just stop.i would rank it up there with a alcholic not drinking anymore.but it can be done..
You just admitted it can be done!
You need to ask yourself if you enjoy other things in life, such as family,.........even being able to go outside and breathe the air, more than eating food.
Other option is you can live this way, being able to do less and less, until you die at a very young age.
What is the point in that?
You seem like an intelligent guy,.......I have read many of your posts.
You know what you NEED to do, and you need to start now, just like an alcoholic.
If after trying with everything in you,......then look at the surgery![;)]
Edit: You can always come here for support!
Minus the trolls,......this place is like a big extended family.0 -
thats right it can be done and it will i love life to much to live like this forever.now it is time to fight the long fight...THANKS GUYS 0 -
Frank, I'm sorry to hear that you are in this position. But please don't give up hope. There is a way out, you just need to find a helping hand. There are many healthy programs that can be very affective in helping you accomplish your goal. Including the guru himself. Though a pretty strange guy he is very sincere and does actually care. don't give up Frank, you can beat it. [:)] 0 -
quote:Originally posted by needmyguns
yep your right there givette i'm a canidate for this surgery but have refused i been going it on my own and i have dropped a little over 70 pounds in the last 7 months it's a battle but so isn't life.
Marc1301 ya i here ya there but you know like me when you have been a over eater all your life it is hard to just stop.i would rank it up there with a alcholic not drinking anymore.but it can be done..
Ron, great job loosing the 70 lbs. in 7 months. Keep up the good work, you're winning! [:)]0 -
thanks unless there is some legit reason for not losing wieght i know it can be done..it just takes alot of time the main thing is will power.and a little support helps.i had started over eating at a young age and now i gotta pay but it will come off it came on frank hang in there it takes time.just go for it and alot of these guys on here are great they will talk if you need a little extra help just e-mail us 0 -
quote:There's a medical classification called "morbidly obese". Don't know the scale of body fat by percentage. My point is, surgeons will usually refuse doing the procedure unless patient classifies as M/O.
Most doctors use Body Mass Index, or BMI. If your BMI is over 40, you are a candidate for either surgery. If your BMI is over 35, and you have a life threatening disease (diabetes, etc), you may be a candidate. As several had said, it is not a be-all cure-all surgery. It addresses one of the symptoms. You STILL have to exercise, you HAVE to learn to eat the right foods. You HAVE to continue working at it. But the surgery has been a God-send for lots of people, and given them an avenue towards weight loss that wasn't there before. Just think really hard, and find a good doctor and gets LOTS of feed back on that doctor before you have the surgery. A lawyer here in town lost his wife several years ago after a gastric bypass. She never got out of the hospital. Infenction started and she died. Last year, he had it, and is doing fine, lost over 150 pounds. So it does work MOST of the time.
Here is a BMI calculator from one of our local hospitals.
http://www.lourdesweightloss.com/index.html#bmi-top0 -
quote:Originally posted by Sturmgewehr
Hillary, not unlike Italian prosciutto but darker and chewier, is produced around Spain from a breed called the Iberian pig, a dark, reddish, fat-legged marsupial creature with a pointy snout and burning red eyes.
[V]
So your saying a presidential candidate is a fat-legged marsupial creature with a pointy snout? [}:)][}:)][}:)][}:)]0 -
quote:Originally posted by iluvguns
quote:There's a medical classification called "morbidly obese". Don't know the scale of body fat by percentage. My point is, surgeons will usually refuse doing the procedure unless patient classifies as M/O.
Most doctors use Body Mass Index, or BMI. If your BMI is over 40, you are a candidate for either surgery. If your BMI is over 35, and you have a life threatening disease (diabetes, etc), you may be a candidate. As several had said, it is not a be-all cure-all surgery. It addresses one of the symptoms. You STILL have to exercise, you HAVE to learn to eat the right foods. You HAVE to continue working at it. But the surgery has been a God-send for lots of people, and given them an avenue towards weight loss that wasn't there before. Just think really hard, and find a good doctor and gets LOTS of feed back on that doctor before you have the surgery. A lawyer here in town lost his wife several years ago after a gastric bypass. She never got out of the hospital. Infenction started and she died. Last year, he had it, and is doing fine, lost over 150 pounds. So it does work MOST of the time.
Here is a BMI calculator from one of our local hospitals.
http://www.lourdesweightloss.com/index.html#bmi-top
I have a real issue with the BMI. According to it I am labeled as "Obese". I am 6'1" tall and weigh 275. While I will admit I could stand to lose about 40 lbs, even if I did I would still be considered "obese". According to BMI I would have to weigh about 187 lbs to be at the top of the "Normal" weight range. I haven't weighed 187 lbs since I was a sophomore in high school and I was an extremely active child.
If you do some searching, you can find current pictures of me in other threads. I do not consider myself obese. People are always amazed when they find out how much I weigh.
For Frank and NMG, keep plugging. You have all the support I can give from here.0 -
the BMI is a joke,,99% of all body builders would be considered obese by their weight to hight standards,,someone forgot the fact muscle's weigh more than fat,,yes I am over weight but so is the majority of America and I am sick and tired of all these people selling some weight loss gizmo telling me to lose weight,I am happy with my weight/size and tired of people wanting to judge,,plus I would much rather have a woman with a little meat than a skinny one where I am rattling bones [:D] 0 -
I'd sooner get lyposuction or better yet by hiring a personal trainer. Having willpower to stop eating is a tall order, but a trainer helps. Sort of like AA for fat people- you don't just fail yourself, you fail your trainer too. I have a buddy who went that route. 0 -
September 24, 2007 I went to the hospital and was just over 435 lbs. In less than 2 weeks they pulled about 4 Gal. of fluid off me at aprox. 8.3 lbs per Gal.
I thought that was unbelievable! To see a 35 lb. drop in 12 days.
The hospital was actually pushing for me to have the surgery but I chickened out and promised myself I would do it on my own without being cut open. If not for me I would do it for my two children. Besides that I just remarried to a little Italian Girl 10 years younger than me.
In the last 3 months I managed to loose another 30 lbs on my own but it seems like if I deviate from my diet just a little I put back 5 or so lbs like overnight and then I get real strict again and take off 7 . I just dont remember it being this hard before!0 -
I like the "RuptoPack 5000." 0
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