Gastric Bypass Surgery: Was it truly worth it?

• By maggiemae2
• Posted September 3, 2007 at 10:47 am
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Well, you are right about one thing...someone is writing in who is going to have a good experience with weight lose surgery (WLS). I actually am not having the gastric bypass though i am having the Lap Band on Oct. 2 and am very excited about this.

Let me first tell you a little of my recent history, four years ago I was involved in a car accident where i hit the windshield after a semi-truck hit me. Due to the head injury I now have a chemical inbalance in my brain which has caused both major depression and bipolar. Over the past 4 years it has been a terrible stuggle to just stay alive though now I am on the right medication and doing so much better...praising God for that one!

As a result of the mental illness and also a result of all the mental illness drugs I have went from a size 8 to a size 26 in just four years. I now weight 260 have high cholestoral, arthritis, and no energy at all. I have a family history of diabetes with both parents having it. During the wreck I also got 3 herniated discs so also take prednisons (which also helps you gain weight).

So, myself and my doctors feel it best that I have the Lap Band performed. I cannot get off of these medications that cause weight gain as well as one can cause diabetes. They medication keep me alive. With the surgery I will be able to eat less and feel full, it is minimally invasive being orthoscopic, seldom any deaths from the surgery, and 67% of the people who have it lose all symptoms of diabetes or never get diabetes.

So, I say this to say...we should never judge anyone by circumstances we know nothing about. We should all be supportive of each other when a person is struggling through many trial...I tell you having what i have I need all the love and support I can to build up my self esteem right now...so am thankful for a supportive, loving family.

I am sorry for the lengthy response...I just thought I would share my opinion on this topic.

God Bless You Always my friend!

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• By marnewlin
• Posted September 3, 2007 at 12:04 pm
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After having Gastric Bypass surgery on 7/20/07, your article caught my interest. I was only 50 lbs overweight (30 from insulin and 20 from a slower metabolism), but I have what are called co-morbidities. These are illnesses that can affect your life seriously. I have Diabetes, sleep apnea, asthma, hypertention, Gerd, high cholesterol and lipids, depression and arthritis. I needed to use Prednesone at least 6 times last year for my asthma which would flare up each time I caught a cold, flu or anything. I am on an insulin pump and was using at least 100 units of insulin per day. I also took 12 additiobnal medications to control my various illnesses. It seemed like I was going to face a lifetime of struggling to get through each and every day.

I then researched Bypass Surgery and Lap-Band. The claims were huge so I spent much time checking out various doctors, hospitals etc. My family doctor and endocrinologist encouraged me to pursue this as a possible solution to my problems. I also read about a conference in Rome, Italy in March 2007 attended by some of the most respected doctors in Bariatric Surgery and Diabetes (you can Google Rome, Italy, March Conference for more information). According to research being done world-wide, Gastric Bypass was eliminating or greatly affecting Diabetes as well as other related co-morbidities.

The end result is that my doctors and I learned that it is the rearrangement in the gastric bypass rather than the weight loss which caused the improvement in Diabetes and the other related illnesses. I switched from Lap-Band to GBP because I wanted to control these illnesses for once and for all.

Five days after surgery, my use of insulin went from 100 units a day to 33 units a day. Two weeks after surgery I caught a viral infection which led to an acute sinus infection. Although it kicked up my asthma, I only needed less than half the Prednesone I used previously to control the asthma. I also only needed to be on the drug one week instead of the usual two-three weeks. But more amazing is that 6 weeks post surgery I am free of depression medication which I took for 15 years. I no longer take any of the hypertension, lipid meds, etc. I take 5 vitamin tablets per day and am on the Prevacid each surgical patient must take for at least 3 months post surgery. As soon as I can swallow pills again, my endocrinologist is going to try to put me on pills to control my Diabetes instead of insulin.

This surgery was no means a walk in the park. But each day I grow stronger and when I see the fantastic results, I feel like I have my life back again. I have already lost 27 lbs but can now walk daily without breathing problems.

I am telling you this for a few reasons. One, be sure you are going to doctors who provide a great deal of pre and post care. Check out their reputation and surgical results. Give careful consideration to whether you just need to lose weight (Lap-Band) or whether long term you need GBP to avoid Diabetes. Make sure your family supports you and gets involved with all the education classes so they know how to help you in the right way. Pay attention to the things they tell you to do post surgery to ensure long term success. These surgeries are in no way fool proof. Developing the wrong habits can lead to weight regain and possible complications.

Mostly, I just wish you well. I have had serious problems and can understand what you are going through. If I can help you in any way, do not hesitate to email me. They are considering renaming this surgery to Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery because it helps not only weight, but other metabolic illnesses as well. Good luck to you.

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• By bethmac228
• Posted February 11, 2008 at 8:43 pm
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NO, NO, NO to Gastric bypass surgery. you can have the best surgeon but this is not worth it. Your life is pretty much over after this surgery. I have gone from a happy business owner to someone who is on disability, 29 medications, 18 doctors and oxygen 24 hours every day/ If you follow up with some years later I am sure you will hear the same thing. I had mine in 2002 and will be lucky to be alive in 5 years.

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• By bethmac228
• Posted February 12, 2008 at 9:35 pm
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I really hope you will be happy with the results and stay healthy,. For all of those thinking about weight loss surgery, please research it well. See how many of the surgeries your doctor has done or if it will be an intern or resident doing the surgery with the doctor's supervision. Take no chances. This is fatal more than you think. All of those death rates you see following WLS are only until the patient is discharged.

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• By bethmac228
• Posted March 4, 2008 at 11:22 am
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Your statistics are sadly wrong. They only include deaths and major complications up to three days after surgery. I had laproscopic gastric bypass in 2002. Yes it changed my life. I have no life outside of hospitals and doctor's offices. I now have 18 doctors trying to fix all my complications and am on 29 medications. Just when I think things are getting better another crops up all from the WLS. I would beg anybody who is thinking of having this surgery to really dig deep into their soul and think about life will be after surgery. If anyone would like further information about how bad life has gotten for me medically please send me a comment.

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• By Jaleyn
• Posted March 8, 2008 at 2:27 pm
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Hi bethmac228 I read your comments and I am sad to think that life has gotten so hard for you. I weigh the most I have ever weighed in my life... I actually weigh more than I did when I was pregnant. I am really getting concerned and wondered if the surgery was my only answer. We have a lady at our church who had it, and she is not doing well either. She has actually gotten to thin and is not healthy now. What would your best advice be to me??? I am fortunate I have a loving and supportive family. take care and I do wish you well J

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• By WhataBreeze1
• Posted March 9, 2008 at 1:11 am
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Hi all, thought I'd do a quick "Breeze By." Beth, I can't help not reading your postings. I find it somewhat interesting that I to had my GBS in 2002 also. However, I was expressing my thoughts that are totally parallel to yours starting in 2003 just after my 16 month late diagnosis of my current chronic illness Central Pontine Myelinolysis that SSDI traced back to day one post-op of the GBS. All over the Online Health Communities almost everyone wanted to take my head off. It even got to a point that moderators would tell me even though I was very professional about how I'd handle these issues it truly would be better to try to avoid these issues do to the number that would truly be very hurtful as they team up on you.

Oh well, now they have the Gastric Band and if and when that goes bad there will be a new WLS directive. Beth, thare are so many that do to the WLS people have had to pay a double jeapordy from all the different add on complications that were never explained could very well happen. I remember reading the horrifying issues that were already known within the World of Medicine's Organizational Bodies all over the world. Here in the U.S. have you ever asked yourself even through today the FDA has still NEVER approved GBS.

Yes you can read all the cr_p the wonderful ASBS has to say and just keep reading. I'll never forget when "The heat in the kitchen was really on the upswing." The American Society of Bariatric Surgeons suddenly told everyone how with little experience most of their members MAY have had it was time to go back to SCHOOL at the CENTERS of EXCELLENCE which mainly fattened up the organization's bottom line.

Now whether people notice or not, weight loss is going back to the "Common Sense," way of doing things. OK, Ok, yes I admit Carney Wilson and the rest of the celebrities out there who had WLS and the kind of 24/7 care that they better of had. Can you imagine any of them coming forward? OMG.... Would that of turned things around a bit. Don't worry, there still will be a few out there who came through this miraculously. To them I say, God Bless You as I'm very pleased for you.

Just remember when the tide turns who is then that begins to yell and hollar? Bottom Line: I sure hate to see the economy drive this healthcare issue. Once upon a time I wanted to be a ______ as I knew I'd be great at it and do no wrong. Trust me you won't fill in that blank with a, "Bariatric Surgeon." G-d Bless...

Franky and Breeze

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• By norrinradd
• Posted March 15, 2008 at 6:02 pm
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i am a divorced person thanks to my exwifes gbp surg.. we had a good marriage . in sept 2005 she had gbp and then in march 0f 2006 we bought a very nice house. then in nov. 2006 she told me she didnt want her marriage anymore. she had gone from 360 to about 160. i was there with her the entire time of post op- holding her hands while she was on the toilet with the dumping syndrome, holding her head up when she was vomiting, going to the store at midnite getting cottage cheese and yogurt or whatever she could hold down. she started changing mentally the last few months. i realize this is a life changing surg, but i didnt expect this. she kicked me out of my house two weeks later., promising to pay the mortgage until the house sold. we are now in process of going to court gor the 10th time in 15 months. she moved into apartment and got pregnant approx. 8 weeks after our divorce date. she never paid our kids tuition to a christian school. she now owes them 8000.i believe she used that money for new breasts since she no longer had them because all she had left was sagging skin. this is also something they dont tell people. most people will have cosmetic surg to make them feel better mentally.. during this time i lost 55 pounds by working out and exercising..it can be done this way instead of the lazy way. she is now ready to give birth next week,by the way, he is an alcoholic(been kicked out 3 times in last 4 months), cant work because he has used up his body from years of drug/alcohol abuse.. i wouldnt mind all this but my 2 precious kids are with him and her half the time.. this is the same woman who never missed church, sang in choir,ensemle,quartet, taught sunday school and was in charge of christmas plays with the kids at church. she makes over 50,000 a year but cant pay her bills.. she has torn up her own family as well as mine. she has changed so much. i loved her more than anything in this world and she just wanted to go out and have fun..i guess she used her fun up pretty quickly..her older sister even agrees that her life is a total mess. this all started after the weight loss..i believe in this surgery because my the youth pastor at my church had to have it and it probly saved his life(diabetes).

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• By WhataBreeze1
• Posted March 16, 2008 at 1:05 pm
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norrinrradd: Sorry to hear about your wake up call. It just goes to show again that most of these CBS centers for lack of a worse name cold care less for your you, your wife and the results. I should not even use the word RESULTS! This economy stimulating surgery can truly be a mess. I see it's very evident that your wife's health care venue probably consisted of the doc a couple nurses who themselves are huge and going to have the surgery themselves. Might be someone who just got their two year associates degree as their dietician and something similar as the psychologist.

OK, enough stone throwing on my side. For quite a while your 360 pound wife living in 160 pound clothes and attitude will soon start to think back like the 360 pounder again. Without all the other proven necessities in regard to WLS totally available to you, this program continues to be a loser. I hate to say this might be a blessing in disguise for you. Whatever that works best for you, I'll be praying that way. Hang in there my friend. Tell your wife to call me so I can tell her I'd take all my weight back plus some to measure my loss in life. G-d Bless...

Franky and Breeze

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• By nschum1
• Posted March 20, 2008 at 8:55 am
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Hi! Your comments have really interested me. I am getting ready to go to surgery in 4 weeks. I have signed up for gastric bypass but deep down I am still uneasy about this decision. I originally signed up for the lap band and my surgeon thinks it will not work for me. I am 260 with a bmi of 45. He tells me that lap band works best for people with bmi less than 38. my question is would you do it over again if you had the chance and why didn't you do the lap band versus the gastric bypass.

Thanks!
Nikki

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• By janetbd
• Posted November 14, 2008 at 7:17 am
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From personal experience with my daughter and the Rou-N-Y procedure, it's been almost 4 yrs of pure hell. A few months after her surgery, Katrina sent her doctor away and she was left to find another doctor and most bariatric surgeons will NOT take another Dr's pt because of the risk of potential problems and not knowing exactly what transpired during this particular pts. operation. We were fortunate to find the best around but he was 100 miles from home and had not had a patient with her pxs and the orginal surgeon didn't document all the problems he told me he had had during her surgery. This put the new Dr at a big disadvantage as he was soon to discover. A year ago, following surgery for herniated bowel as a result of so many punch holes and tears in the omentem (her sm bowel had turned black and she was hrs away from the morgue) her already big problems became overwhelming and life-threatening ones. Since then she has been in and out of the hosp. (a week at home, 1-2 weeks in the hosp.) with chronic pancreatis, strictures, false dxs of multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Addison disease, lupus, and ,at times ,being accused of just being psychotic. One surgeon told me that the clue to her future following the bariatric surgery was when the Dr. came out and told me he had never done one so difficult in his life. What he DIDN'T tell me was that she could expect to have multiple problems from then on and quite possible be that 1 in 20 that becomes a mortality case. She has a groshong through which she has had TPN (feedings) for the past 6-7 months due to strictures that reoccur as soon as one is removed. Her chronic flare-ups with pancreatitis has been so painful, along with continuous nausea and vomiting; therefore, during her hospitilizations she has been on continuous infusions of Dilaudid and goes home with Lortab, consequencely, IF she EVER becomes strong enough (able to get more than a tsp of food down without vomiting), she will have to go into detox due to drug dependency. Mind you, these drugs were necessary to enable her to endure the relentless pain, but now that she is dependent, the doctors act as tho she should just be able to "cold turkey" the drugs. We have told them:: "YOU created this dependency because you couldn't deal with her pain any other way" Since they've waved their "magic wand" and she still hasn't gotten any better, still can't take in more than 300-400 calories a day, they want to wash their hands of the whole thing and tell her it's "in her HEAD". Yet, they've done numerous endos (with little or no anesthesia), put in stints BELOW the stomach pouch ,that disappeared and the DRs. disagree on WHERE it went:?? did it pass,?? is it still stuck somewhere in her 20+ ft of small intestine?? (these stints are made for insertion above the stomach - not below but they THOUGHT it might work to keep the stricture open--it didn't). Their attitude has by now become: OK I've done MY thing, NOW you ARE better--go home, live a normal life, take care of your kids and be a regular soccer mom. Can't. No way. She doesn't have the strength to walk upstairs in her home, much less walk through the grocery store. They don't want to go back to TPN. They seem to have forgotten that at this point they are not dealing with a person who is obese and has just had bariatric surgery to LOSE wt, they're dealing with an under-nourished, anemic, drug-dependent patient who has had a revised type of bariatric surgery that still doesn't allow her to take in more than a few teaspoon, followed by extreme pain, nausea, and vomiting. This week MDs went down with an endoscope and "stretched" her esophagus. She coughed up blood for several days which her Dr said was to be expected since he was "pretty aggressive" with pushing the scope through. FINALLY, patients need to understand that some types are irreversible, or at best only slightly modifiable, and that things can and many times do, go wrong and it can be life threatening. Life MAY change for the better if you're lucky but, as in my child's life, it can end life as you've hoped and dreamed it would be. She is 39 y/o with a 14 y/o and a set of 6 y/o twins. Giving up is just not an option; but try to convience someone who's been through what she has and is facing life as she knows it will likely continue to be. DO THE BAND NOT THE ROU-N-Y procedure.

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• By shannanb
• Posted December 17, 2008 at 11:27 am
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I am so sorry about your wife. Life is about so much more than being thin or pretty or any of that and I'm sorry she lost sight of that and has hurt you and your precious children in the process.

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• By shannanb
• Posted December 17, 2008 at 11:35 am
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Let me share my husband's experience. He did the weight loss surgery in 2004 and lost almost 100 pounds. He has gained back 65 of it and now has all the complications, but not the weight loss. He is freezing almost all the time- this from a husband who had the same temp needs I did and now we are fighting over the thermostat! It can be an oven in the house and he is still freezing! He knows this- a heating blanket doesn't even get him warm or a room heater that he sits directly in front of! He finds little that he can eat that settles with him and this has made it really hard to make dinner. Almost anything I make "hurts" his stomach. Yet the things he can eat, he gets really excited about and eats a load of it, because he can! One reason he has gained so much of it back. His blood pressure and cholesterol is up again and he hasn't checked his blood sugars, but I suspect they're elevated, too. His sleep apnea is still better, but he's so cold at night that he still doesn't sleep well. i've thought of having the surgery and I've thought "my mind set would be different and I won't gain the weight back", but seeing the other complications, I'm not sure I would do it. And by the way- my sister and brother-in-law and niece have had the surgery and all have gained it all back.

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• By slicksinner
• Posted December 20, 2008 at 1:27 pm
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I just want to say, that I am a little on the same page as those referring to gastric bypass as an economic stimulus surgery. I remember going to classes at Albany Medical Center in NY when I was inquiring about it about 3 years ago. It shocked me to realize that, while they were required to tell us about all of the risks and possibilities, they pitched it almost in a way that made me feel as if I was watching a late night infomercial. They even used phrases (such as "your new body") that I recognized as sales pitches I once learned at seminars for Cutco knives! That alone scared me into believing that this possibly has more to do with fat wallets than addressing a public health issue. Well, I decided not to go through with it, as I would rather be 300 pounds and struggling all my life with it than on the toilet and in the hospital for the rest of my life. I am not yet that desperate to be thin, and when I am, I will use that desperation in a more healthy and humane manner to lose weight.
That said, I want to say that I do not believe that your ex-wife's shift in personality and behavior is due to the WLS rather than the weight loss itself, coupled with esteem issues. Being a fatty since I was a teenager until now at 32, I realize these esteem issues. I do know that most overweight people do not live their lives in the manner that they normally would, and they learn to deal with it by developing an alternate personality. For example, you may identify this person as the person that doesn't dance, the person who is not outspoken, the person that dresses a certain way. This, however, may not really be that person's true nature at all, and they are letting you label them as that rather than the person who CANT dance cause she is embarrassed, CAN'T speak out cause he has self esteem problems, or MUST dress that way cause nothing else is made in her size. My point for noting all this is that I have seen many personality or behavioral shifts due to weight loss, particularly in women. Many of the woman who think they are happy in their lives now, still have that underlying ache for the youth they have missed while they were overweight. It seems that after they lose the weight, many of them want to compensate for that lost time. Many of them turn to partying, wild behavior, and even promiscuity. Unfortunately, a husband (or a wife) would be in the way of the latter. I have seen many lives and families rearranged by major weight loss, and it is sad, but the weight loss method is not the culprit as much as the emotional/esteem issues suffered before the weight loss. A good allusion is to think of it as a perpetually poor person who wins $100,000. Statistic say that most of these people will squander the money away within 3 months. Most people that are released from there chronic problems with some sort of "cure" will overcompensate to try to make up for their life long desperation. This said, I do not find that a viable excuse for throwing away the people that were always there for you.
I apologize for the long post. I am really sorry for your pain and the pain of your family. I'm sure there is someone out there who deserves your love, and who would remember those long hours of loving care while they were down. Congratulations on your weight loss, and good luck with your new life.

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• By slicksinner
• Posted December 20, 2008 at 1:33 pm
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Please, please, please, get a lawyer.

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• By zeina
• Posted January 16, 2009 at 7:53 pm
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Hi! I am reading all these posts and am quite worried. My mother if 5'5 and 221 pounds. Her doctor recommended gastric bypass because her weight is making her arthritis extremely worse. She has high cholestrol, on the verge of becoming a diabetic, and is very depressed because of her weight. She has a disabled 30 year old son who needs lots of physical help and this has added to her stress. I was so glad to hear about the procedure and encouraged her to go ahead with it because of the success stories i've heard. We are currently in the process of getting her insurance to pay for it and have done all the necessary tests and paper work. any advice or recommendations?

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• By WhataBreeze
• Posted January 27, 2009 at 6:44 am
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Zeina,

Hi, your a very caring daughter which is a major plus. Please remember, I'm not the doctor as I'm just the one who truly is blessed to be alive and "Yes my initial surgery was done in Feb., 2002. Please don't get me wrong as I would guess many have had the GBS and it went like clockwork but it sounds to me that Zeina has NO more room on her plate for ANY more issues sooooooo........ GBS, is not like a kid in a candy store, the way it was marketed to many of us.

It appears to me that there are a few common sense questions that need answers my friend. You surely have my prayers as when the surgery is over the process just starts. Good Luck & G-d Bless...

Franky (my 5 yr old boston terrier neuro service companion I acquired when he was 10 weeks) and Breeze. (that's me)

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• By WhataBreeze
• Posted June 9, 2009 at 9:27 pm
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For those of you that have either lost someone very dear to you, which from what I've seen and heard over the last seven years the implication of the word lost does not necessarily mean death. If you continue to read these postings like I admit I'm guilty of it get's to start sounding similar to an obituary column.

I have not mentioned my next thought to anyone until right now.

"Together we're Better."

I think we need to slow our heels down a bit. Can someone tell me WHY we as a Team with our leaders already in place take these Threads and Postings that we continue to listen to which is not really helping anyone of us in a manner that at the moment is so wide open along with the need to take advantage of the situation. Without mentioning names, take a hard look here at Inspire along with many breakout organizations that have the powers to be to ATLEAST do what I began doing for Central Pontine Myelinolysis on my own. I'm the first to admit I'm not as far as I'd like to be when my famous one sentence was popping up in many places.

It was all based on two words being here to, "Plant Seeds." It wasn't long before a call came to me from the Majority Leader, Senator William Frist, MD office to meet with his Senior Health Staff in regard to CPM. Oh my, did I hit a nerve or is it not a fact that the "Locked-In Syndrome" which is a connection to CPM happen to be one of the symptoms that Teri Schiavo also had.

Many of us can go on and on like this everyday but it sure makes more sense to me to take a disease that is "ACQUIRED," do to an error and just try doing better training. These issues are so hard to believe that they will allow all the master wizards from ____ ____ _____ _____ _____ etc, to go whoops, push us to the side and then come up with the next scheme.

G-d Bless....

Franky and Breeze

Note: Sure hope some of you caught my drift with us mice and our thoughts.

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• By Pamtanise
• Posted October 15, 2009 at 9:21 pm
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Norrinradd, Oh my gosh, with the exception of a few differences, I could have written this post myself!! I have a quick question, did your wife have any kind of problems, physical or mental, before her surgery? My husband and I have been married TWENTY years, bought our house 7 years ago, have a 15 year old son, we have always been happy (even in tough times) and there for each other. We are both have depression (treated with meds.) mainly because we are both in alot of pain with chronic health problems.....he had Lap Band surgery in October of 2008. The depression medicine that he was on at the time (Effexor) made him hungry all the time, so the doctor switched him to Prestiq and everything went down hill from there! He had an affair, lies to me constantly, I never know what to believe anymore, said some really ugly things to me (I am overweight also), I never in my life thought that he was even capable of being so hurtful to me. When I confronted him with proof of the affair, he had a nervous breakdown, I stood by him and took care of him, when he got better, he told me he didn't love me anymore and was not happy with me anymore and asked me and our son to leave! I wonder if the WLS changes the body's chemistry or the way you metabolize your medicines.....I have searched and searched online for answers and can't really find examples (except for your wife). He is not happy with anything in his life, but thinks he is just not happy with me. Everyone said they noticed the change in him since the surgery. He simply is not himself, he truly is not the same person. I just had to let you know that I do understand how hurt you are, it is amazing that our stories are so much alike! Hang in there, if you need to talk off the record, my email is pamtanise@yahoo.com . Take care, and stay close to your kids, this is hard on them too.

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