Question:
If excessive eating is not the cause of my weight problem, will surgery help?

Hard as it may be to believe (it took my doctors a while to realize it!), that at 5'3" 260lbs. I only eat (on a good day) about 800-1000 calories a day, and somedays eat nothing. I don't like sweets, gravies, or greasy foods. I'm even allergic to chocolate! I wouldn't eat an egg if you paid me, and if I don't like the way something looks I refuse to eat it. Only diet soda and sweet and low for me. So why am I so fat? Well, since it has been lifetime, I can't totally blame the orthopaedic issues which now have me officially disabled. I am not yet wheelchair bound, but have big nasty leg braces, 24/7 pain, need 2 surgeries, and have a disorder that enables my joints to randomly dislocate if I move the wrong way. Surgery is in the future due to my age (too young at 47!) and my weight. I have had high blood pressure since I was 10 years old. And, thanks to a great new general doctor, what I had been screaming for years to other doctors has come to be in official diagnosis'. I have hypothyroidism, insulin resistance, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and am now menopausal. I have had at least 2 ulcers (on meds to prevent more), and was hospitalized for esophagus spasms (symptoms identical to heart attack), IBS, and diverticulum. So, if it is any or a combination of these medical issues causing my weight issue, would bariatric surgery help me at all? About the only good news is that I had 1 1/2 ovaries removed when I was 31 so I already have had an incision on my lower belly. Betty    — Betty H. (posted on May 1, 2003)

April 30, 2003
Well, you certainly have a rough road to travel but beleive me this surgery will get that weight off and the road won't be so bad with less weight to carry. Go for it, it will be the best thing for you. 1yr and 94lbs gone forever and still losing. God Blees You Janet
   — Janet S.

April 30, 2003
Some docs have issues with doing this surgery on people with hypothyroidism as well as the ins. companies also. What does your surgeon say?
   — Delores S.

May 1, 2003
I also have PCOS and was unable to lose weight even though I didnot overeat. I started at 274 and am now down to 175-180. I dont ever expect to be skinny due to my PCOS, but I feel 100% better than before and hope to get preganant soon now that my weight has stabilized. I dont know if your other conditions will afect the surgery, but I would talk to an endocrinologist. Best Wishes!
   — Heidi B.

May 1, 2003
Your health issues woudl not prevent you from having surgery. Are you being treated for the insulin resistance and the hypothyroidism? I had both (still have a thyroid problem and will have it the rest of my life) but my PCP checks labs about every six weeks and has decreased my thyroid medication 3 times since surgery last October. I was off the Glucophage XR a few days before surgery (for the insulin resistance) and have not been back on it since! WLS will help you lose weight and the other conditions will be less severe when you lose weight.
   — koogy

May 2, 2003
As you interview your surgeon(s), ask about whether a more malabsorptive procedure (distal bypass, either RNY or Duodenal Switch) would be right for you. If you are consistently unable to lose weight now at 800 calories a day, you may need something significantly more than a primarily restrictive surgery to accomplish your goal.
   — kateseidel