When your doctor asks if you've considered bariatric surgery...
...I guess it's time to start researching.
One feels like if one just did a few more sit-ups every day one would magically be back to the body of one's 19 year old self... Sadly, it appears that is never the case. So here I am, researching.
I had a breast reduction 3 years ago which was the best thing I'd done for myself at that time.
I am 5' 3" and 265 pounds. I do not have diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea bad enough to warrant intervention, etc. I get occasional heartburn and I am definitely experiencing joint problems.
Before my mammaplasty I worked out fanatically at the gym to aid in my surgical recovery. After I could get back to the gym I went religiously until we bought a house and the budget got a little tighter.
We don't have television, and aside from working on the computer a lot (it's my job) I do try and do stuff around the house, play with the dogs, etc. in the evenings and I am almost never sitting around on the weekends.
We are moving offices and I'm hoping to find a gym that has a womens' shower so I can roll out of bed and go straight to the gym and to work. I like going to the gym and I'm sure I'd actually love going to the gym if I was 100 pounds lighter.
I think I have a pretty good chance of long-term success. I don't eat fast food, I don't eat much junk food aside from one allowed PMS item and the occasional ice cream cone. My weekday eating is fairly regimented just because it's easy to eat pretty much the same thing every day. Weekends are a little more of a challenge as we do things like a big brunch and nothing else or I don't eat much of anything at all and get a bad headache.
Anyway...
I'll be going to a seminar next week done by Dr. Kevin McGill, which is the doc my doc referred me to.
It's a big surgery. I have friends who have been through it and obviously it's a lifesaver. I guess without the accompanying health issues I feel like it might be a bit of a cheat for me.
One feels like if one just did a few more sit-ups every day one would magically be back to the body of one's 19 year old self... Sadly, it appears that is never the case. So here I am, researching.
I had a breast reduction 3 years ago which was the best thing I'd done for myself at that time.
I am 5' 3" and 265 pounds. I do not have diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea bad enough to warrant intervention, etc. I get occasional heartburn and I am definitely experiencing joint problems.
Before my mammaplasty I worked out fanatically at the gym to aid in my surgical recovery. After I could get back to the gym I went religiously until we bought a house and the budget got a little tighter.
We don't have television, and aside from working on the computer a lot (it's my job) I do try and do stuff around the house, play with the dogs, etc. in the evenings and I am almost never sitting around on the weekends.
We are moving offices and I'm hoping to find a gym that has a womens' shower so I can roll out of bed and go straight to the gym and to work. I like going to the gym and I'm sure I'd actually love going to the gym if I was 100 pounds lighter.
I think I have a pretty good chance of long-term success. I don't eat fast food, I don't eat much junk food aside from one allowed PMS item and the occasional ice cream cone. My weekday eating is fairly regimented just because it's easy to eat pretty much the same thing every day. Weekends are a little more of a challenge as we do things like a big brunch and nothing else or I don't eat much of anything at all and get a bad headache.
Anyway...
I'll be going to a seminar next week done by Dr. Kevin McGill, which is the doc my doc referred me to.
It's a big surgery. I have friends who have been through it and obviously it's a lifesaver. I guess without the accompanying health issues I feel like it might be a bit of a cheat for me.
WLS shouldn't be considered a cheat or as taking the easy way. If simple diet and exercise was all that is required for everyone well none of us would be here.
As for being the cheat or easy wayout, people who have not had to live a post op lifestyle may consider it that but the reality is much different. If you live a regimented lifestyle now it will be more so after surgery.
Fluid intake of 64oz a day. Sounds pretty easy until you have to do it but can only do it 1 oz a time and maybe 10oz an hour if you are lucky. 60+ grams of protein again sounds easy until you are eating only 1/2 cup of food and having to supplement through protein drinks which many people have problems with.
Then there are the vitamins depending on the surgery of your choice. RNY and DS both have malabsorbtion components so your body is unable to get the needed vitamins from pure food so you need to take supplements for LIFE! or risk your health VSG and Lap also require supplements but don't have the malabsorbtion factor.
Then there is the mental factors which can make life really difficult.
As for being the cheat or easy wayout, people who have not had to live a post op lifestyle may consider it that but the reality is much different. If you live a regimented lifestyle now it will be more so after surgery.
Fluid intake of 64oz a day. Sounds pretty easy until you have to do it but can only do it 1 oz a time and maybe 10oz an hour if you are lucky. 60+ grams of protein again sounds easy until you are eating only 1/2 cup of food and having to supplement through protein drinks which many people have problems with.
Then there are the vitamins depending on the surgery of your choice. RNY and DS both have malabsorbtion components so your body is unable to get the needed vitamins from pure food so you need to take supplements for LIFE! or risk your health VSG and Lap also require supplements but don't have the malabsorbtion factor.
Then there is the mental factors which can make life really difficult.
Paul C.
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
First 5K 9/27/20 46:32 - 11 weeks post op (PR 28:55 8/15/11)
First 10K 7/04/2011 1:03 First 15K 9/18/2011 1:37
First Half Marathon 10/02/2011 2:27:44 (PR 2:24:35)
First Half Ironman 9/30/12 7:32:04
Welcome!
When I first started looking, I had few health issues, and was only looking for the cosmetic reasons. It was years later I finally took the plunge - and by that time I had developed obesity related problems. So, even though you don't have them now, going ahead and taking charge of your body can save you problems down the road!
Also, this is no cheat - and I think every post-op person on here will tell you the same thing. No matter which surgery you pick, you have to work to keep yourself hydrated, to stay nourished, to take supplements, to workout. The difference is, after the surgery, you won't be miserable starving yourself and not seeing results. It's a tool, and it's effective... but it isn't magic.
I hope you learn a lot here (I did!) and enjoy success and health!!!
When I first started looking, I had few health issues, and was only looking for the cosmetic reasons. It was years later I finally took the plunge - and by that time I had developed obesity related problems. So, even though you don't have them now, going ahead and taking charge of your body can save you problems down the road!
Also, this is no cheat - and I think every post-op person on here will tell you the same thing. No matter which surgery you pick, you have to work to keep yourself hydrated, to stay nourished, to take supplements, to workout. The difference is, after the surgery, you won't be miserable starving yourself and not seeing results. It's a tool, and it's effective... but it isn't magic.
I hope you learn a lot here (I did!) and enjoy success and health!!!
Mom to Sy, partner to Pork, Psych grad student, Judoka, Living the DREAM!!!
Thanks! I definitely think doing this now while I'm still in otherwise pretty good health is a sound plan.
I can't talk to my family about this (my husband is totally supportive, if a bit nervous). They do not have the metabolism (or lack thereof.) that I do and have never had problems keeping at healthy weights for them. I used to joke that I could starve for a week and lose 5 pounds, and gain 15 back just smelling a piece of pizza. No amount of dieting or exercising has ever changed that. When I had my mammaplasty I heard a lot of "I know when I lose a few pounds my bra size goes down". I had 14 pounds of boob taken off that I'd been carrying around since puberty. Nothing but surgery was moving that mass - lol!
I'm on the same health insurance that approved my mammaplasty and my BMI is definitely in the zone for an easy approval. I just want to make sure I'm ready for what this entails - in the short and long term.
So I'll be reading your posts and blogs and talking to doctors and nutritionists and all that good stuff. :)
I can't talk to my family about this (my husband is totally supportive, if a bit nervous). They do not have the metabolism (or lack thereof.) that I do and have never had problems keeping at healthy weights for them. I used to joke that I could starve for a week and lose 5 pounds, and gain 15 back just smelling a piece of pizza. No amount of dieting or exercising has ever changed that. When I had my mammaplasty I heard a lot of "I know when I lose a few pounds my bra size goes down". I had 14 pounds of boob taken off that I'd been carrying around since puberty. Nothing but surgery was moving that mass - lol!
I'm on the same health insurance that approved my mammaplasty and my BMI is definitely in the zone for an easy approval. I just want to make sure I'm ready for what this entails - in the short and long term.
So I'll be reading your posts and blogs and talking to doctors and nutritionists and all that good stuff. :)
If my doctor suggested wls and I did not have any health issues, I would do EVERYTHING in my power to try to lose weight naturally without surgery. I would ask my doctor to test me to make sure there were no underlying medical issues such as hormone imbalance or thyroid issues making me hold on to weight...
Surgery is NOT the easy way out. While it can be a LAST RESORT life saver, it is not a cosmetic surgery. It is not like going to get a pedicure. It will change your life FOREVER.
If you have not developed health problems yet, I highly encourage you to take an honest look at your food intake and exercise level. Journal EVERYTHING you eat and drink and for a few weeks and be HONEST about the serving size ... a 16 oz coke is 2 servings, a big grab bag of chips is 3 servings... You will be surprised at how many calories you eat!
You may THINK you are a healthy eater and get plenty of exercise, but I bet you did not get to be your size on lettuce and celery sticks. It just does not happen that way :-) A good site to journal your food is www.dailyplate.com.
You may also want to try non surgical weight loss dieting like Weigh****chers, TOPS, or Over-eaters Anonymous.
I know this may not be the response you expected from a weight loss surgery support site, and from a veteran wls patient, but it is the same advice I would give my sister or best friend.
I can only with a good conscience recommend surgery as a VERY LAST RESORT!!!
Surgery is NOT the easy way out. While it can be a LAST RESORT life saver, it is not a cosmetic surgery. It is not like going to get a pedicure. It will change your life FOREVER.
If you have not developed health problems yet, I highly encourage you to take an honest look at your food intake and exercise level. Journal EVERYTHING you eat and drink and for a few weeks and be HONEST about the serving size ... a 16 oz coke is 2 servings, a big grab bag of chips is 3 servings... You will be surprised at how many calories you eat!
You may THINK you are a healthy eater and get plenty of exercise, but I bet you did not get to be your size on lettuce and celery sticks. It just does not happen that way :-) A good site to journal your food is www.dailyplate.com.
You may also want to try non surgical weight loss dieting like Weigh****chers, TOPS, or Over-eaters Anonymous.
I know this may not be the response you expected from a weight loss surgery support site, and from a veteran wls patient, but it is the same advice I would give my sister or best friend.
I can only with a good conscience recommend surgery as a VERY LAST RESORT!!!
**** I AM AN OH SUPPORT GROUP LEADER ****
WHY I CHOSE DS: No dumping. Highest percentage of weight loss, Best long term results, Won't regain weight! Eat normal sized meals, 96% diabeties, 90% high blood pressure, 80% sleep apnea cured. I 
MY DS!
My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four unless there were three other people. ~Orson Wells
A cheat? Is getting a pacemaker to keep someone alive being a cheat??? I think not! Same for WLS!
Now as far a the advice LaShelle just gave u............this is actually one time I disagree with her. LaShelle gives some great advice and I almost always am in agreement with her...........just not this time.
I am not sure of your age. U look fairly young. One thing I hear on the forums all the time is: I wish I had done it years sooner! I have no doubt that if u were able to lose the weight on your own and keep it off that u would have done that. So I would strongly urge u to follow your Drs. advice and get WLS!
U don't mention what type of WLS u are considering, so I feel compelled to add this in...............GET ANYTHING BUT THE BAND!!! The band is the least effective WLS and I would hate to see u waste your time and money like I have!!!
Check with the ladies on the forum about their WLS and the pro's n cons. LaShelle had the DS, Celeste is on here a lot. She had RNY. And one or two of the newer ladies have had VSG (I can't recall the names right off). They would be a great source of info on the various effective WLS's.
Best of luck to u...........and keep us updated!
Now as far a the advice LaShelle just gave u............this is actually one time I disagree with her. LaShelle gives some great advice and I almost always am in agreement with her...........just not this time.
I am not sure of your age. U look fairly young. One thing I hear on the forums all the time is: I wish I had done it years sooner! I have no doubt that if u were able to lose the weight on your own and keep it off that u would have done that. So I would strongly urge u to follow your Drs. advice and get WLS!
U don't mention what type of WLS u are considering, so I feel compelled to add this in...............GET ANYTHING BUT THE BAND!!! The band is the least effective WLS and I would hate to see u waste your time and money like I have!!!
Check with the ladies on the forum about their WLS and the pro's n cons. LaShelle had the DS, Celeste is on here a lot. She had RNY. And one or two of the newer ladies have had VSG (I can't recall the names right off). They would be a great source of info on the various effective WLS's.
Best of luck to u...........and keep us updated!
Maria, I'm not saying dopn't get wls. You know I am not anti-wls.
What I am saying is it should be an absolute last resort after you've tried everything else and ruled out any medical causes for your weight gain.
I absolutely would not have gone through all I have been through and still deal with every day without extensive research and failing countless attempts at diets, pills, exercise, etc. I also had a ton of health problems.
It seems to me from the original post, she hadn't tried much of anything else to lose. I am also gravely concerned by any obese person who claims they are huge but don't eat much of anything. I think a reality check is in order when you get over 250 pounds and think you don't overeat! It's just highly unlikely.
If you can't come to terms with that, even if you have wls, you likely will be a failure at it.
You don't HAVE to have surgery to lose weight. You CAN do it naturally. I'd say give your self a fighting chance at conventional weight loss before going to the extreme of having surgery. If that doesn't work, then consider wls.
What I am saying is it should be an absolute last resort after you've tried everything else and ruled out any medical causes for your weight gain.
I absolutely would not have gone through all I have been through and still deal with every day without extensive research and failing countless attempts at diets, pills, exercise, etc. I also had a ton of health problems.
It seems to me from the original post, she hadn't tried much of anything else to lose. I am also gravely concerned by any obese person who claims they are huge but don't eat much of anything. I think a reality check is in order when you get over 250 pounds and think you don't overeat! It's just highly unlikely.
If you can't come to terms with that, even if you have wls, you likely will be a failure at it.
You don't HAVE to have surgery to lose weight. You CAN do it naturally. I'd say give your self a fighting chance at conventional weight loss before going to the extreme of having surgery. If that doesn't work, then consider wls.
**** I AM AN OH SUPPORT GROUP LEADER ****
WHY I CHOSE DS: No dumping. Highest percentage of weight loss, Best long term results, Won't regain weight! Eat normal sized meals, 96% diabeties, 90% high blood pressure, 80% sleep apnea cured. I MY DS!
My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four unless there were three other people. ~Orson Wells
Oh I know u weren't saying that! I just kind of differed with u on the wait thing. Different perspective there. I guess having to wait as long as I did to have mine, I think everyone should get it as soon as they can! But u are right about them working out their issues. I know a lot will say they don't eat much, but in reality..............well u know. Then there are those that really do have metabolic issues and that does need to be ruled out first.
I just hate to see ppl that can have the surgery but waste time NOT getting it thinking they just need willpower n can do it on their own.
On a different note..............how did the visit go with the nephew???
We had a great week. Was tired of him and so ready for him to go back to my brother. Then, I woke up the next day missing him so much. I guess it's a love hate thing when you have a toddler. He is growing up so fast, so I cherish our little visits.
**** I AM AN OH SUPPORT GROUP LEADER ****
WHY I CHOSE DS: No dumping. Highest percentage of weight loss, Best long term results, Won't regain weight! Eat normal sized meals, 96% diabeties, 90% high blood pressure, 80% sleep apnea cured. I MY DS!
My doctor told me to stop having intimate dinners for four unless there were three other people. ~Orson Wells
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