Question:
What are the effects of starving?
Basically, we will be starving our bodies after this surgery. Does this have an effect on our organs, liver, kidneys, etc? thanks for any info. I am scheduled for WLS in July at Newton Wellesley Hospital in MA — Joanne S. (posted on May 24, 1999)
May 24, 1999
I'm interested, sho told you that "basiclly, we will be starving our
bodies after surgery"? Nothing could be farther from the truth.
Bariatric surgery is a surgical behavior modifacation process. You reduce
the size of the stomach so that you feel full sooner. Thus you do not eat
as much, but to suggest that the surgery causes us to starve ourselves is
inacurate. It is true that the procedure does cause malabsorption of some
vitamins and minerals and that we have to accomodate that by taking
multi-vitamins, B12 with intrinsic factor and proetin, but starve ourselve,
never. I've lost 105 pounds since my surgery in April 1998 and I feel
better than ever. All my blood levels are normal or better because I make
a point of taking care of my body and following the regimine that the
doctor prescribes.
Rich Terry
— Richard T.
May 24, 1999
Who ever told you that you would be staving? If you were starving after the
surgery why would they ever do it, or why would anyone succeed? Eating very
low calorie is a challange and you must try to get as much protein as
required, but it always amazes me how little food our bodies
require.Getting fluids is important for right after surgery also........
— JAN C.
May 24, 1999
Depends on which procedure you have and how well nourished you are after
surgery. Over the years, many doctors who do these procedures really dont'
know which areas in which we'll be deficient, and nutrtionists dont' really
understand what made us heavy, so can be off on how we are, too. We can
indeed have severe organ damage if we mess around with our nutritional
requirements.
— vitalady
May 24, 1999
Don't let others remarks fool you. You INDEED are starving your body with
an RNY. The main focus on loosing weight with an RNY is malabsorption(of
more than just vitamins).
Doctors don't really know what the long term effect will be for this
surgery.
That is why I chose the VBG...because we simply eat less...and what we do
eat goes directly into our normal size tummy. No need for extra protein,
no need for extra meds, no need for extra vitamins, no need for blood
workups the rest of your life.
Plus a VBG can be scoped if necessary...with an RNY you can't...and a VBG
can be reversed if you have a need...an RNY can't.
Carole in OK
— Ben R.
May 24, 1999
Nutrition is made up of protein, carbohydrate or fat. You will not be
consuming much in the way of calories, but you will be sure to put the most
important nutrients first. You need protein to spare vital organs from
being digested. You need some carbohydrates to keep the glucose level in
the brain at a functional level. You need fats for energy. Your body has
all the fat it needs, so obviously fats are not essential to you. Therefore
your diet need only consist of much protein and a small amount of
carbohydrates. For informational purposes, it might interest you to know
that Yoga's in India live on between 600 to 800 calories a day, with no
animal product intake and maintain their weight!!! Of course, they are
slender.
— Deborah L.
May 24, 1999
For one thing we dont starve our bodies, I had the Gastric bypass 8 weeks
ago and pretty much eat anything I want, its just in smaller amounts, that
is what your body requires anyways, plus you want to eat healthier. When
the sugar goes out of your body for the first time, its amazing how you
feel, your not tired, you feel great. I am alot healthier now then I have
been in years.
— Sandra S.
May 25, 1999
I went through a liquid diet and lost over 100 pounds (and gained it back,
of course). I was told that fasting could cause gall stones, hair loss,
and could detatch the kidneys(they are attached with, among other things,
fat). Be careful eating fat after 'starving.' If I remember correctly, if
gall stones form, eating a lot of fat at once could cause them to be
expelled. My gall bladder was removed during surgery -- yours may be as
well. I don't think there is anything you can do about the kidneys. Just
be aware of it. As far as your hair goes, take a mineral called biotin --
it promotes hair growth (worked very well for me and others). Good luck!
— Elizabeth W.
May 25, 1999
I understand exactly what Joanne is asking, she is simply stating that our
bodies will need allot of extra nutrients after the surgery, so she is
worried about the long term effects on our organs....She is not speaking of
FOOD starvation! Nutrients, Vitamins and such....I can understand where
she is coming from with her question..There are allot of different debates
going on regarding all the different ways of taking different vitamins and
shampoos for hair loss and all that other stuff. But each individual is
going to have to use the trial and error phase, I think. Personally,
everyone has a different taste, and some can tolerate allot more than
others. So we all just have to stick together and encourage eachother and
give eachother the best advice we can!! We are all doing good work, and no
question is too silly.
— lee ann S.
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