Weight loss surgery-do they work? Did it help change your mindset about food?

I had the gastric bypass surgery in April 2004 and I have to say it worked for me. You still have to workout and exercise, there is nothing that you can sit like a bump on the log and watch tv all day and keep you thin. But if you are willing to work with the surgery this makes it possible for you to not over eat and when I say it I mean it.

If you want to talk more about it through pm feel free to message me.

Statistics show that 97% of people who are chronically obese gain back the weight that they lose, if they lose it naturally. Think of the obese people you know who have lost weight on their own. They usually gain it back. Statistics show that is not usually the case with weight loss surgery. If you have weight loss surgery, there are usually nutritionists available to you, and what you’re supposed to do if you gain weight is to go back and see the nutritionist, and discuss what you’re eating and how you can get back on track.

I work in various government offices where there are a lot of people. Many have had weight loss surgery over the years. I have seen the ones that had the lap band were not as successful. My present supervisor had the bypass about 4 years ago. When she was about two years out, I asked her, just out of curiosity, if she would do it again and her experiences. She said “For the first few days I was uncomfortable and thinking ‘what did I do to myself that is not reversible?’” I asked her if she would do it again and she said yes. At that time I was not considering it, I was just curious. Then I knew a guy who had the sleeve gastrectomy. He was a real foodie. Not only did he lose a lot of weight, but he was transformed from being a foodie. I figured if he could do it, anybody could do it. He still goes out to eat, and enjoys various cuisines, but he is limited in his quantity.

Based upon his success, I pursued surgery myself. I had the sleeve gastrectomy in May 2011 (7 months ago). I lost 100 lbs since. I have about 30 left to lose. I know that no matter what I want to eat, I can only eat about 8 bites at a time. It’s all good. Even when I eat dessert, it’s not excessive. I’m happy, 100 lbs down!

Most people I know it worked.

One person I know died from gastric bypass. She was young, in her 20’s.

There is a really high rate of alcoholism or other addictions developing after surgery, I saw one statistic that was 30% of people, not sure how accurate it is. But, that sort of stat goes to what your psych teacher told you.

I think the band is probably safer, but I am not sure, I have never researched it. One woman I know who is a nurse opted for the band instead of bypass and she has lost 100 pounds and kept it off. She still misses over eating though. It is a struggle no matter what, but the surgery made it much much easier for her to control her eating.

It didn’t work for my aunt. She lost some weight, but I would guess that she is still well over 300lbs, and she had the surgery…. jeez, 5–6 years ago. At least. I can’t remember.
My mother in law, however, lost quite a bit of weight, but she is still a bit on the heavy side. She did lose a good amount of weight, and kept it off, but, I think she still struggles with food.

So, from what I’ve seen.. it doesn’t help with the mindset. But, I can’t speak from personal experience, and I only know two people who have done it.

One of the doctors that I saw told me that there are no long term studies that have been completed yet on the band (since it’s not been around that long) and the effect of the band rubbing on the outside of the stomach wall over decades.

I know someone who had the band, overate and ended up in the ER and then the ICU for one week, because the band slipped off into her body. They had to surgically put it back on again, and they told her if it happened again, they would have to remove it permanently and the insurance company would not pay to put it back in, again.

I chose the sleeve because you can eat more, therefore getting more nutrition from food. Weight loss is slightly less, but as I stated, I lost 100 lbs in 7 months so that’s fast enough for me! Also, with the sleeve, you can eat a greater variety of foods. With the bypass and the lap band, they have what’s called “dumping syndrome” where you get really sick if you eat certain things, like sugar. I didn’t want to live a life where I couldn’t have some birthday cake at a party or whatever.

@jca What sounded attractive to me was the band was reverseable. Once you do bypass it’s done if I am not mistaken? I don’t know a lot about these types of surgeries. All I know is everything medical I have ever done, about 75% of the time I regret it or have a bad side effect, so I am gunshy about everything.

@JLeslie The band is significantly safer, not (as) permanent, and is usually considered before the bypass.

@Aethelflaed: I don’t know about the “band is considered before the bypass.” When I consulted with my surgeon, all three options were laid out as equally considerable. At no time during the extensive pre-surgery process did I ever hear from any of the doctors and specialists and the research I did, that the band is “usually considered before the bypass.” I can tell you that now the sleeve is very popular, and gaining in popularity.

@jca That’s what I’ve heard from the many of the doctors in my area. Maybe it’s a regional thing.

I had the sleeve gastrectomy in May 2011 (7 months ago). I lost 100 lbs since. I have about 30 left to lose.

Did insurance cover it?
If so, what where their criteria? (A certain BMI? A certain number of mobidities?, etc)
What insurance? PPO?

@Charles: Insurance covered it. The criteria is either 100 lbs to lose, or a bunch of co-morbidities, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. I don’t want to say my insurance but most cover it, as it is beneficial to them to have a thinner, healthier insured, as opposed to a heavier person with many chronic illnesses, joint replacements, and multiple medications.

As a last resort, shrinking the stomach, yes. It’s a matter of comparing the risks.