Surgery Opinions

Hi all -

I'm a 26 year old obese male - I am about 345lbs w/ a BMI of roughly 48. I have been "heavy" my entire life and I have not really seen it as a "problem" until about 5 or 6 years ago. I go on a diet - work on it - lose 10-15lbs and then "something" always happens to change my routine and things get messed up again. I am a consultant so I travel quite a bit which does not help. My schedule changes a lot - sometimes hour by hour....more excuses I know.

Regardless, I sadly think after trying for so many yearrs I can not do this on my own and I need additional help - perhaps surgrey. My knee's are bad - heck I can't even walk up and down the stairs w/o clicking and pain. 

I am considering the surgrey option - my only fear is I had a friend go through this a few yearrs ago and she had nothing but problems. My friend and family also discourage the surgrey option stating medical options. I always get the same thing - "diet and exercise"  - and you can it....

I've been reading through the message boards for a while and there seem to be more sucess stories than failures or complications. The sucess stories are fantastic but I was wondering if someone could tell me about complications they had and if they would do it again.

Also perhaps recommend hospitals/surgeons to see and how to get the process started. I have talked to St. Francis but insurance pre-existing conditions does not expire until feb.

Thanks in advanced! 

 I am the first one to say there can be complications!  I have had my fair share, but I wake up every morning and thank God I am alive because had I not had the surgery, I don't know that I would be!  I had my RNY at the age of 29.  My only regret is that I did not do it sooner.  Like I said, I have had my fair share of complications, but I would do it over in a heart beat.  Only 2% of people at that time had post-op leaks, I had one two different times by two different, highly qualified surgeons.   I have had numerous operations as a result of complications.  Here is my list:

12/27/02 Laprascopic RNY
12/28/02 Open RNY to repair bowel leak
6/03 Laparoscope to look for cause of chronic abdominal pain
12/18/03 Hernia repair/lysis of adhesions
12/19/03 Repair of bowel leak/appendectomy/more lysis of adhesions
5/19/04 Bowel obstruction
7/30/04 Bowel obstruction
1/05 Placement of permanent IV
3/08 Removal of permanent IV
8/10 Resection of one foot of small bowel
5/11 Placement of permanent IV

This doesn't include the twenty plus endoscopies that I have had, nor the enteroclysis or colonoscopies.  I'm not writing to scare you, just to inform you that they can happen. But like I said earlier, I would do it all again!

If you have any questions, feel free to ask.  Wishing you the best of luck!

Stephanie E

There can be complications with any surgery, most weight loss surgeries have no more complications than any other major surgery if preformed by a vetted surgeon. With a BMI that high I would look at the DS surgery. We have a wonderful Surgeon in Indiana who does them. What ever surgery that you choose get yourself as informed as you can!

Good Luck, Butch

 Welcome to the boards! I'm 26 also, I had my surgery this Jan 25, 2011 with Dr. Evanson at IU/Clarion Bariatrics. I went from 355 lbs to 200 lbs & I'm not even to 10 months post op. I will say that I have had only 1 complication from surgery & hopefully no more, but it was gout. Its vary rare, but due to by body breaking down fat & the toxic junk that was in my body it caused the gout, I am on medicine to control it, but once my weight is stablized I will be able to get off of it. Also, I've always had horrible back pain, once the weight started to come off I was rarely in pain, but now since i've lost 155 lbs the lower back pain has started again due to the extra apron style hanging skin thats pulling on my lower back, which that will be resolved once I have reconstructive surgery to remove the excess skin. So that has been my experience & I wouldn't change my decision at all, I have a life now that I can actually live & I can finally say that I am truly happy. 

On another note, I have a good friend who is about 5 years post op who went from over 500 lbs to under 200 lbs, had the reconstructive surgery to remove extra skin, but has had at least 4 surgeries due to bowel obstructions, BUT I will say this that I do believe the reason for his issues are due to not following the "rules" of gastric bypass & excess alcohol consumption. Now I do have another dear friend who is 3 years post op went from 360 to 145 who has had no issues until this past Thursday she unfortunatly had a bowel obstruction & they had to open her up completely to repair & she had followed the "rules". So it can happen, there are risks as with ALL surgeries, just make sure you are fully informed & know the risks involved. It's a surgery where some risks will stay with you for the rest of your life, not to try to scare you, because I know I would do it again & EARLIER than i did & I also know that both people whom have had follow up surgeries would do it again too. I know that had I NOT had my surgery I would have been dead right now, RNY gave me another chance at life & if I have to (god forbid) have follow up surgeries due to unforseen complications they will be worth it. 

 Hi - Thanks all for sharing. This is a rough topic to deal with - I have a few more questions about how to get started.

I filled out an informational request thing on St. Francis website - they called back and said that I had to wait until February because of a pre-existing condition clause. A friend of mine had the RNY procedure long ago and she had some advice that I get recomended for surgrey by my PCP - but I don't really have a PCP - insurance doesn't really require one  -  though I do have a doctor that I see for minnor things like colds or allergies - I guess he'd be my PCP - but i'm wanting a new doctor I think.

Also she mentioned having documented history of attempts - I never kept a journal I guess what do they need as "documented history?"

Thanks

I am with the rest of them, there is always a chance for complications with any type of surgery. I am one of the lucky ones, I have not had any serious complications. My biggest complication is that I lost all the fatty tissues are my left hip bone and it just bounces around there, I had to have corazone shots which did no good, but I can live with that kind of pain, because I have gotten my life back. 

I have had the Gastric Bypass done twice, and I have lost about 120 lbs. I wish I could lose alot more. I am working on getting back on track, and by coming back to this website is a postitive step for me. I have not been on here for a long time and I all I see are new people.  This is a wonderful place to post your concerns.

YOU have to be the one to make the choose that is best for you, no matter what anyone else says. People say this is an easy way out, its not, any weight loss sugery or program is a tool that we are given, and we have to work hard at it. With the support of my family and friends, I am getting back on track. If I don't every take off another pound, that is fine because I can walk and not be out of breath, I can stand at my kitchen sink and do my dishes, I go to the YMCA 4-6 times a week, and do things I would not have done a few years ago. I am doing aqua zumba, water aerobics, I can get on the treadmill, the bike, etc. But the MOST important thing that God and Dr. John Huse gave me was me being around to watch our grandchildren grow up. I can play with them, and I can help take care of them.  They are the my life. 

Keep us posted on what you decide. It is a journey that I would do over and over again, and remember that because one person journey may have been a rough road, some more them other, but each one of our journey's is different.

God bless,

Peggy