I've never given much thought to surgery.
The recent "60 Minutes" piece on gastric bypass was pretty amazing. It's got me considering it. I'm wondering what other people's reaction is.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/ ... 3451.shtml
I'm 30 years old, 6'2" and a little over 300 pounds, which is technically "obese" and enough to get surgery. I feel like I eat a balanced diet however I am always hungry. This surgery offers less appetite, less risk of diabetes, less risk of cancer, and perhaps no more sleep apnea.
However I have a lot of family members who are very againist elective surgery (some of whom are themselves in the medical field). Also, I doubt insurance would cover this and $25,000 is a lot of money.
Gastric Bypass?
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Sideswiper
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Gastric Bypass?
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sleepycarol
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I was recently in the emergency room and know that part of my health issues are weight related. I have toyed around with the idea of the banding method as I thought it would be less traumatic. I spoke to the er doctor about it and he said that there are still lots of risk factors to be considered in having that or any other type of weight loss surgery. He stated that, yes I am a candidate, but he would advise against it if asked. He said the complication factors are too great to be ignored.
I know my family doctor is against it as well due to the complication factors.
I know there are some on here that have had it done successfully and are happy with the results. What about 10 years from now? What about 20 years from now? What happens during a major illness when your body cannot consume enough calories?
Please look at the good and bad before leaping on the bandwagon.
I know my family doctor is against it as well due to the complication factors.
I know there are some on here that have had it done successfully and are happy with the results. What about 10 years from now? What about 20 years from now? What happens during a major illness when your body cannot consume enough calories?
Please look at the good and bad before leaping on the bandwagon.
Start Date: 8/30/2007 Pressure 9 - 15
I am not a doctor or other health care professional. Comments reflect my own personal experiences and opinions.
I am not a doctor or other health care professional. Comments reflect my own personal experiences and opinions.
You might be suprised how many insurance companys cover weight loss surgery. But each one is different and several have different requirements.
I have decided to go the lapband instead of bypass. And am in the process of getting the testing etc to get my insurance to give the go ahead.
advice i was given: research. There are several website/forums etc out there about the weightloss surgerys (WLS) to find the one that is right for you. Bypass might not be the right one for you.
Since I'm not a big sweet eater (you get dumping from sugar with the bypass where sugar makes you VERY sick) My problems are portion sized and to many carbs so the lapband is better for me then bypass.
And you know anything can have complications, medicines surgerys etc you have to weigh the pros and cons. And your needs. And I have found from joining a forum and chatting with banded (Lapbandtalk.com) people who have 2-5 years experience with their lapbands that the complications the medical field spout are actually way less common then they make it sound.
Heavy duty research is the only way to make a informed decision in my opinion. But thats just me cause every time you talk to a person you will get ONE VIEW of their opioion. And you need many to be truely informed.
I've spent the last 6 months visiting several sites chatting with people who have many various WLS procedures. Before I was comfortable picking one for myself.
Ultimatly though no matter what your gonna have people tell you you shouldn't do it (its to dangerous, its cheating <insert reason> . Just remember its YOUR body, and YOUR decision
and that unless they are in your shoes they can't possibly understand why you have decided upon your course of action and MAY not have a clue about what is right for you.
A friend on one of the forums I frequent recent started a topic that got everyone thinking it was about how It is sooo popular now to get cosmetic surgerys, face lifts, bob jobs, lift that tuck this, peel that, etc.. because people are unhappy with their bodies but yet anyone who decides on weight loss surgery seems to get picked on told they are cheating, stupid, wrong etc. So really what's the difference?? surgery to actually help you possibly get rid of tons of medical complications from excess weight and increase your health, or surgery cause your nose is crooked?
And since a popular side effect of losing weight is the reduction of xPAP pressures and sometimes no longer needing xPAP at all. I'm looking forward to my WLS.
Good luck with it
I have decided to go the lapband instead of bypass. And am in the process of getting the testing etc to get my insurance to give the go ahead.
advice i was given: research. There are several website/forums etc out there about the weightloss surgerys (WLS) to find the one that is right for you. Bypass might not be the right one for you.
Since I'm not a big sweet eater (you get dumping from sugar with the bypass where sugar makes you VERY sick) My problems are portion sized and to many carbs so the lapband is better for me then bypass.
And you know anything can have complications, medicines surgerys etc you have to weigh the pros and cons. And your needs. And I have found from joining a forum and chatting with banded (Lapbandtalk.com) people who have 2-5 years experience with their lapbands that the complications the medical field spout are actually way less common then they make it sound.
Heavy duty research is the only way to make a informed decision in my opinion. But thats just me cause every time you talk to a person you will get ONE VIEW of their opioion. And you need many to be truely informed.
I've spent the last 6 months visiting several sites chatting with people who have many various WLS procedures. Before I was comfortable picking one for myself.
Ultimatly though no matter what your gonna have people tell you you shouldn't do it (its to dangerous, its cheating <insert reason> . Just remember its YOUR body, and YOUR decision
and that unless they are in your shoes they can't possibly understand why you have decided upon your course of action and MAY not have a clue about what is right for you.
A friend on one of the forums I frequent recent started a topic that got everyone thinking it was about how It is sooo popular now to get cosmetic surgerys, face lifts, bob jobs, lift that tuck this, peel that, etc.. because people are unhappy with their bodies but yet anyone who decides on weight loss surgery seems to get picked on told they are cheating, stupid, wrong etc. So really what's the difference?? surgery to actually help you possibly get rid of tons of medical complications from excess weight and increase your health, or surgery cause your nose is crooked?
And since a popular side effect of losing weight is the reduction of xPAP pressures and sometimes no longer needing xPAP at all. I'm looking forward to my WLS.
Good luck with it
Consider twice before you get the lap band. Three women in my office got it, and they are still overweight several years later.
You really can't get around gastric bypass without consequences, so it forces you in to compliance. Althought, you can gain weight with gastric later on if you still don't learn to eat less.
It would be an extreme bummer to have a procedure and not get the benefits. It seems there is a lesser rate of success with the lap band.
You really can't get around gastric bypass without consequences, so it forces you in to compliance. Althought, you can gain weight with gastric later on if you still don't learn to eat less.
It would be an extreme bummer to have a procedure and not get the benefits. It seems there is a lesser rate of success with the lap band.
Work like you don't need the money;
Love like you've never been hurt;
Dance like nobody's watching.
Love like you've never been hurt;
Dance like nobody's watching.
Most insurances cover weight loss surgery...contact your company. Most will cover if your BMI is over 40 and you have comorbidities(OSA is one). I had my gastric bypass in Dec.'07. My BMI started out at 54.8;I have high blood pressure and OSA. My update(little less than 5 months since surgery): still taking my BP medication;my CPAP is now at 9 from 15;I have lost 76 lbs since surgery(99 including preop weight loss) my BMI is 38.8. My insurance covered 100% of the hospital bill;80% surgeon and anesthesia. I paid about $1500 out of pocket. I was the best life changing decision I've ever made. I have another 81 lbs to lose until my personal goal. I'm hoping to be there by April '09 for my 50th BDay.
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Last edited by lvwildcat on Thu May 01, 2008 2:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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DreamStalker
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Re: Gastric Bypass?
Even if you eat a "balanced" diet (however you define that), if you take in more calories than you burn, you will gain weight. More importantly, it is the "quality" of your diet that matters more ... avoid transfats, sugars, refined carbs; minimize saturated fats; eat only lean meats, poultry, and fish (from animals not given homones or antibiotics) and eat lots of fresh organically grown vegetables and a few fruits.Sideswiper wrote:I've never given much thought to surgery.
The recent "60 Minutes" piece on gastric bypass was pretty amazing. It's got me considering it. I'm wondering what other people's reaction is.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/ ... 3451.shtml
I'm 30 years old, 6'2" and a little over 300 pounds, which is technically "obese" and enough to get surgery. I feel like I eat a balanced diet however I am always hungry. This surgery offers less appetite, less risk of diabetes, less risk of cancer, and perhaps no more sleep apnea.
However I have a lot of family members who are very againist elective surgery (some of whom are themselves in the medical field). Also, I doubt insurance would cover this and $25,000 is a lot of money.
Then there is exercise, the human orginsim is designed to move ... unlike sessile benthic organisms. For muscle mass, you must move it or loose it. It is muscle mass that burns the most calories. Building and maintaining muscle mass requires proper nutrition, exercise, and "balanced" hormone levels. Balanced hormone levels require proper rest and nutrition (eat smaller meals more frequently). Treating your OSA reduces body stress and inflamation and provides you with needed rest to maintain proper hormone levels (along with the right nutrition and adequate exercise).
Your body is a system, a complex one, and you must treat it right in order for it to treat you right. Most people are willing to spend thousands of dollars for quick/temporary fixes but will not spend a few extra dollars to buy "quality" nutrition. Many people are willing to take high surgical risks but not willing to take the time to exercise. Spend your money on good food and not make the pharmacuiticals and health industry rich.
I was over 320 lbs (5'11") at my heaviest just prior to starting PAP treatment. I have lost over 60 lbs and continue to loose slowly but steadily. Change your way of life ... not your bank balance. I too intend to be in tip top shape by my 50th B-Day ... without surgery.
President-pretender, J. Biden, said "the DNC has built the largest voter fraud organization in US history". Too bad they didn’t build the smartest voter fraud organization and got caught.
Hmm..
I just got home from my surgery a few days ago. Let me give you the details of what happened and you can make up your mind with more actual facts other than something the TV told you.
I was slated for a 3 day hospital trip for lap RNY surgery. I didn't cheat on my diet before the surgery [full liquids for 10 days then clear liquids for 2]. I got to the hospital, and was in surgery within a few hours. Woke up with a tube in my throat that they removed as soon as i was breathing on my own and had some pain.
Here's where i was caught off guard. Even if you have it done lap which means they use small incisions and scopes to do it, you are still going to have 3-5 slices in your abdomen that cut right through your stomach muscles. I didn't even think of the effects of this, and was soon greeted with absolutely no stomach muscle function of my own due to immense pain when flexing. So you are reliant upon hospital staff for getting you out of bed, taking you to the bathroom, cleaning you up after u go to the bathroom, etc.
Also, you get a catheter for 1-3 days depending on the doc. once this is removed you have to regain the ability to go on your own and that wasn't as easy as i thought.
I had 5 IV lines since they kept "going bad" so if you are a man, shave your arms before going, TRUST ME.
They come in every morning and take blood, and you generally don't sleep well anyways. Then once you are awake they ask that you go walk around at least 6 times a day, which doesn't seem like much but its still a pain and tough to do since you now have zero energy.
If your hospital is good you end up with responsive staff who care. If you go where i went, you end up with a 50/50 mix of that.
So anyways, 3 days into theprocess i was hoping to go home and they started bringing me what they call a phase 1 diet which is jello, lemonade crystal light, beef broth, hot or cold decaf unsweetened tea, etc. clear liquids you can see through. So i ate and felt great, then about an hour later the preverbial crap hit the fan. I got violently ill and started throwing up uncontrollably. This continued through the night and the doctor feared one of the new intestine lines had twisted, preventing the food from going down, only up. He decided at 4AM to go back in with a scope and check me out, with the possibility of opening me up totally if that didnt work.
So after having been throwing up all day and night i end up getting an NG tube shoved up my nose and down my throat. You can see videos of this on youtube and they make it seem so simple and easy but one key element i will mention is that bariatric patients cannot use straws ever again so i was unable to swallow water while this was happening, which is key in keeping you from gagging. So hurling ensues... Most uncomfortable thing i have ever felt. I spent the next hour sitting up straight staring at a wall trying not to swallow or move.
So i got back into surgery soon after, and woke up later with a nice 8" incision that split my stomach muscles in half right up the middle. It seems i was too swolen for a scope, so they had to open me up. Come to find out too, nothing is wrong, i'm just too swolen to process the food right. Some people swell more than others, i'm un-lucky i guess.
So after that everything was taken slower and i eventually got discharged after a total of 8 days spent at the hospital. I am still having problems like constant diarhea and not being able to sleep for more than 2 hours at a time due to that problem.
So that was/is my [terrible] experience so far. It seems nothing went right. I am not trying to scare you off, but please understand there are not always just pretty pictures. You need to know and understand the side effects entirely before making that choice. All in all i think i am through the worst and am on my way to being thinner for life, but there are definitely things that are life changing and hard. I am on full liquids now and am tolerating less and less, and soon i go to pureed foods which sounds gross to me. You also need to take into account the protein problem. Every day you need between 40-60 grams of protein i think it is, which isnt easy to get. Protein supplements are one way but are not tasty at all, and you will be making a sacrifice to drink any of them ,regardless of what some bypass patients tell you. True, your tastes will change and you won't see them as gross, but if you are like i was and enjoy your pops, etc.. you are not going to like them.
In the end, like i said, it will be worth it. But I have questioned this decision more times than i can count these past two weeks.
I feel that eventhough i knew it all up front and i went into it after debating alot, i still feel that i did not prepare myself enough for if it went wrong.
Now, insurance wise, i have blue cross blue shield michigan, and they pay 90% of the procedure through my plan, so i owed roughly 450 right away with that and the deductible i still had. I will surely owe more soon. Getting approved wasn't as tough as i have heard it can be. BCBS used to make you diet for 3 years with a doctor, then it went down to 1 year when i started, and i had 7 months in when they changed it this year to 6 months.. so its easier to get approved now than ever.
-------------------------------
To end my book i'd like to offer this advice. If you have energy during the day and dont feel like a zombie, go to the gym and eat healthier. I lost nearly 20 lbs the weeks before surgery on the liquid diet. If i wasn't so drained for energy [cpap doesnt help me], and didn't have a bum knee i'd have stopped the process, dieted and exercised to lose the weight. You are going to diet anyways for life, no choice, and you are going to make life changes this way that you can never fully undo if you want. It could go really wrong and you could end up taking tons of crushed up pills daily for the rest of your life. Its a serious risk and a serious surgery and while i think its great 60 minutes noticed it, its also bad because i felt their spot made it seem like the thing to do. This is a last resort. If you aren't facing certain death in the next 5 years from your weight, try something else.
Hope i've helped at least a little.
I just got home from my surgery a few days ago. Let me give you the details of what happened and you can make up your mind with more actual facts other than something the TV told you.
I was slated for a 3 day hospital trip for lap RNY surgery. I didn't cheat on my diet before the surgery [full liquids for 10 days then clear liquids for 2]. I got to the hospital, and was in surgery within a few hours. Woke up with a tube in my throat that they removed as soon as i was breathing on my own and had some pain.
Here's where i was caught off guard. Even if you have it done lap which means they use small incisions and scopes to do it, you are still going to have 3-5 slices in your abdomen that cut right through your stomach muscles. I didn't even think of the effects of this, and was soon greeted with absolutely no stomach muscle function of my own due to immense pain when flexing. So you are reliant upon hospital staff for getting you out of bed, taking you to the bathroom, cleaning you up after u go to the bathroom, etc.
Also, you get a catheter for 1-3 days depending on the doc. once this is removed you have to regain the ability to go on your own and that wasn't as easy as i thought.
I had 5 IV lines since they kept "going bad" so if you are a man, shave your arms before going, TRUST ME.
They come in every morning and take blood, and you generally don't sleep well anyways. Then once you are awake they ask that you go walk around at least 6 times a day, which doesn't seem like much but its still a pain and tough to do since you now have zero energy.
If your hospital is good you end up with responsive staff who care. If you go where i went, you end up with a 50/50 mix of that.
So anyways, 3 days into theprocess i was hoping to go home and they started bringing me what they call a phase 1 diet which is jello, lemonade crystal light, beef broth, hot or cold decaf unsweetened tea, etc. clear liquids you can see through. So i ate and felt great, then about an hour later the preverbial crap hit the fan. I got violently ill and started throwing up uncontrollably. This continued through the night and the doctor feared one of the new intestine lines had twisted, preventing the food from going down, only up. He decided at 4AM to go back in with a scope and check me out, with the possibility of opening me up totally if that didnt work.
So after having been throwing up all day and night i end up getting an NG tube shoved up my nose and down my throat. You can see videos of this on youtube and they make it seem so simple and easy but one key element i will mention is that bariatric patients cannot use straws ever again so i was unable to swallow water while this was happening, which is key in keeping you from gagging. So hurling ensues... Most uncomfortable thing i have ever felt. I spent the next hour sitting up straight staring at a wall trying not to swallow or move.
So i got back into surgery soon after, and woke up later with a nice 8" incision that split my stomach muscles in half right up the middle. It seems i was too swolen for a scope, so they had to open me up. Come to find out too, nothing is wrong, i'm just too swolen to process the food right. Some people swell more than others, i'm un-lucky i guess.
So after that everything was taken slower and i eventually got discharged after a total of 8 days spent at the hospital. I am still having problems like constant diarhea and not being able to sleep for more than 2 hours at a time due to that problem.
So that was/is my [terrible] experience so far. It seems nothing went right. I am not trying to scare you off, but please understand there are not always just pretty pictures. You need to know and understand the side effects entirely before making that choice. All in all i think i am through the worst and am on my way to being thinner for life, but there are definitely things that are life changing and hard. I am on full liquids now and am tolerating less and less, and soon i go to pureed foods which sounds gross to me. You also need to take into account the protein problem. Every day you need between 40-60 grams of protein i think it is, which isnt easy to get. Protein supplements are one way but are not tasty at all, and you will be making a sacrifice to drink any of them ,regardless of what some bypass patients tell you. True, your tastes will change and you won't see them as gross, but if you are like i was and enjoy your pops, etc.. you are not going to like them.
In the end, like i said, it will be worth it. But I have questioned this decision more times than i can count these past two weeks.
I feel that eventhough i knew it all up front and i went into it after debating alot, i still feel that i did not prepare myself enough for if it went wrong.
Now, insurance wise, i have blue cross blue shield michigan, and they pay 90% of the procedure through my plan, so i owed roughly 450 right away with that and the deductible i still had. I will surely owe more soon. Getting approved wasn't as tough as i have heard it can be. BCBS used to make you diet for 3 years with a doctor, then it went down to 1 year when i started, and i had 7 months in when they changed it this year to 6 months.. so its easier to get approved now than ever.
-------------------------------
To end my book i'd like to offer this advice. If you have energy during the day and dont feel like a zombie, go to the gym and eat healthier. I lost nearly 20 lbs the weeks before surgery on the liquid diet. If i wasn't so drained for energy [cpap doesnt help me], and didn't have a bum knee i'd have stopped the process, dieted and exercised to lose the weight. You are going to diet anyways for life, no choice, and you are going to make life changes this way that you can never fully undo if you want. It could go really wrong and you could end up taking tons of crushed up pills daily for the rest of your life. Its a serious risk and a serious surgery and while i think its great 60 minutes noticed it, its also bad because i felt their spot made it seem like the thing to do. This is a last resort. If you aren't facing certain death in the next 5 years from your weight, try something else.
Hope i've helped at least a little.
Re: Gastric Bypass?
Even if you eat a "balanced" diet (however you define that), if you take in more calories than you burn, you will gain weight. More importantly, it is the "quality" of your diet that matters more ... avoid transfats, sugars, refined carbs; minimize saturated fats; eat only lean meats, poultry, and fish (from animals not given homones or antibiotics) and eat lots of fresh organically grown vegetables and a few fruits.
Then there is exercise, the human orginsim is designed to move ... unlike sessile benthic organisms. For muscle mass, you must move it or loose it. It is muscle mass that burns the most calories. Building and maintaining muscle mass requires proper nutrition, exercise, and "balanced" hormone levels. Balanced hormone levels require proper rest and nutrition (eat smaller meals more frequently). Treating your OSA reduces body stress and inflamation and provides you with needed rest to maintain proper hormone levels (along with the right nutrition and adequate exercise).
Your body is a system, a complex one, and you must treat it right in order for it to treat you right. Most people are willing to spend thousands of dollars for quick/temporary fixes but will not spend a few extra dollars to buy "quality" nutrition. Many people are willing to take high surgical risks but not willing to take the time to exercise. Spend your money on good food and not make the pharmacuiticals and health industry rich.
I was over 320 lbs (5'11") at my heaviest just prior to starting PAP treatment. I have lost over 60 lbs and continue to loose slowly but steadily. Change your way of life ... not your bank balance. I too intend to be in tip top shape by my 50th B-Day ... without surgery.[/quote]
So well said - I could not agree more. I know several people who have died or committed suicide after WLS. Others have severe complications that made their quality of life much worse than it was before (severely disabled -unable to walk; chronic diarrhea/malnutrition/ricketts.
I am taking the exercise sensible eating route and while it is slow -I've only lost about 15# (and at 5'6" I currently weigh 325#) so far I feel like I will end up being more healthy in the long run by making lifestyle changes without surgery. I'm riding my exercise bike 30 minutes every day (unless something drastic comes up) and when I get my new orthotics will add in some walking.
We all have to decide what is best for ourselves - so I encourage you to do as much research as possible for longterm effects of any WLS - including success (and what that means - weight loss at what cost), side effects, longterm effectiveness, risk, etc.
Good luck to you whatever you decide.
Then there is exercise, the human orginsim is designed to move ... unlike sessile benthic organisms. For muscle mass, you must move it or loose it. It is muscle mass that burns the most calories. Building and maintaining muscle mass requires proper nutrition, exercise, and "balanced" hormone levels. Balanced hormone levels require proper rest and nutrition (eat smaller meals more frequently). Treating your OSA reduces body stress and inflamation and provides you with needed rest to maintain proper hormone levels (along with the right nutrition and adequate exercise).
Your body is a system, a complex one, and you must treat it right in order for it to treat you right. Most people are willing to spend thousands of dollars for quick/temporary fixes but will not spend a few extra dollars to buy "quality" nutrition. Many people are willing to take high surgical risks but not willing to take the time to exercise. Spend your money on good food and not make the pharmacuiticals and health industry rich.
I was over 320 lbs (5'11") at my heaviest just prior to starting PAP treatment. I have lost over 60 lbs and continue to loose slowly but steadily. Change your way of life ... not your bank balance. I too intend to be in tip top shape by my 50th B-Day ... without surgery.[/quote]
So well said - I could not agree more. I know several people who have died or committed suicide after WLS. Others have severe complications that made their quality of life much worse than it was before (severely disabled -unable to walk; chronic diarrhea/malnutrition/ricketts.
I am taking the exercise sensible eating route and while it is slow -I've only lost about 15# (and at 5'6" I currently weigh 325#) so far I feel like I will end up being more healthy in the long run by making lifestyle changes without surgery. I'm riding my exercise bike 30 minutes every day (unless something drastic comes up) and when I get my new orthotics will add in some walking.
We all have to decide what is best for ourselves - so I encourage you to do as much research as possible for longterm effects of any WLS - including success (and what that means - weight loss at what cost), side effects, longterm effectiveness, risk, etc.
Good luck to you whatever you decide.
I have watched the television shows that show the before and afters of gastric bypass and lap band patients. They do seldom show you the problems but they are mentioned. For myself the main reason I don't have the bypass or lap band is because I am close to 55 and I figure I would be just as unhappy with empty skin all over the place and hanging as with being fat. Since I don't have the money for cosmetic surgery and that is usually not covered by insurance then I will just have to be happy with helping myself.
I would hate to get naked after all that weight loss and be just as disgusted with my body but in a different way.
I would hate to get naked after all that weight loss and be just as disgusted with my body but in a different way.
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The most recent Diabetes Forecast (magazine from the American Diabetes Association) and Diabetes Dialogue (magazine from the Canadian Diabetes Assoication) BOTH had fairly positive articles on weight loss surgery so I've just been through looking into it.
I borrowed recent 3 books on weight loss surgery from my local library. They are:
Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies
http://www.amazon.com/Weight-Surgery-Du ... 786&sr=8-1
The Doctor's Guide to Weight Loss Surgery: How to Make the Decision That Could Save Your Life
http://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Guide-Wei ... 42&sr=11-1
Weight Loss Surgery: Is It For You?
http://www.amazon.com/Weight-Loss-Surge ... 05&sr=11-1
I also checked out http://obseityhelp.com/.
And I spoke with 4 different people I know who have had gastric bypass surgery (the only weight loss surgery that's covered in Canada).
I found that for me, this was not the answer. Perhaps other people will find it is the answer for them. The people I spoke to were people who had well over 300 and 400 lbs so it was quite critical for them. I'm 5'4" and 255 lbs; definitely not svelt and definitely with comorbidities, but I don't consider my condition as critical as those I know who had the surgery. I've learned that weight loss surgery isn't the easy answer most people think it is. It takes a lot of work & determination.
Good luck in making the right decision for you.
France
I borrowed recent 3 books on weight loss surgery from my local library. They are:
Weight Loss Surgery for Dummies
http://www.amazon.com/Weight-Surgery-Du ... 786&sr=8-1
The Doctor's Guide to Weight Loss Surgery: How to Make the Decision That Could Save Your Life
http://www.amazon.com/Doctors-Guide-Wei ... 42&sr=11-1
Weight Loss Surgery: Is It For You?
http://www.amazon.com/Weight-Loss-Surge ... 05&sr=11-1
I also checked out http://obseityhelp.com/.
And I spoke with 4 different people I know who have had gastric bypass surgery (the only weight loss surgery that's covered in Canada).
I found that for me, this was not the answer. Perhaps other people will find it is the answer for them. The people I spoke to were people who had well over 300 and 400 lbs so it was quite critical for them. I'm 5'4" and 255 lbs; definitely not svelt and definitely with comorbidities, but I don't consider my condition as critical as those I know who had the surgery. I've learned that weight loss surgery isn't the easy answer most people think it is. It takes a lot of work & determination.
Good luck in making the right decision for you.
France
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Whatever you decide to do...it is a decision that requires a LOT of soul searching and research. I'm a critical care RN(28 years). Yes I read and read some more before deciding on gastric bypass. I'm 5'3" and was 318 lbs at my highest. My 19 yo son was the only one who questioned my decision. The way I explained it to him was..."I feel lucky that my only medical issues so far are high BP and sleep apnea." "I honestly believe that if I didn't have surgery and drop the weight...I foresee diabetes and maybe even heart problems within the next 5 years or so." No one can make the decision for you. It's something that you have to decide for yourself. And this is NOT a DIET...it is a LIFESTYLE CHANGE. That is why a lot of WLS patients fail and gain back weight. After a while they stray from the program and return to old ways.
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