OT-Gastric Bypass???

I have done tons of research on this surgery and I have done all the pre-tests for a lap Rou-N-Y. My insurance is requiring me to do a 6 month Dr. supervised diet before they will approve me,but when they do, I am reading to have the surgery. I can't wait for these next 6 months to go by. I am ready for this sugery. I have suffered with my weight for too long. There are 2 Yahoo groups that I have joined concerning Gastric Bypass surgery. Just go to the groups part of Yahoo and type in Gastric Bypass surgery and sign up for the groups. You will be able to ask others who have had it lots of questions. Like this forum, they are great. HTH,Natalie

I sat through the seminar with my Mom on the Lap Band. It is far less invasive than the gastric bypass and as effective in the long run. I do work with a gentleman that had the lap band and he has lost around 80 pounds in 8 months. He looks great. You could check around at your local hospitals. They should have a free seminar if you are looking for information. Good luck. My Mom has not made up her mind yet and it has to be her decision.

Hi All, I had gastric bypass in May of 2004. It was by far the BEST decision that I have made for myself and my life ever. At the time that I had it done I had a 4 month old, and 3.5 year old, and an 6.5 year old. I went from 290 lb size 26 to a 165 pound size 6. You can pm me for any additional info. My number one gift of advice that I would give you is to RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH your surgeon! My surgeon hasd a flawless surgical record having done over 5000 bypasses with no deaths. All the best to you all, Sara

I've not had the surgery myself but two ladies I work with have. One is 26 had gastric by-pass about 14 months ago and has been following the diet and exercise regimen and looks fabulous - has lost over 100 lbs. The other is 40 had gastric by-pass 23 months ago and has NOT been following the dietery restrictions (save for the first six months post-surgery) or exercise and after losing 62 pounds has put it all back on plus another 20 lbs. So, I'd guess I would recommend research, research, research ... I seem to remember reading about new restrictions pre-surgery/insurance approval - some require 6 or 12 months of supervised diet and exercise program with a physician before the procedure is covered. And also, if you are going to do it to follow the recommendations re: diet and exercise as it does seem to work. Good luck.

I had the Open RNY 2 years ago, and lost 250 lbs, but I am still a big girl. You stop dropping quickly after a year, and you still work on losing after that... It is a tool that you use, it isn't an answer. Just research everything you can. I personally would do it again, but not the open, I would go for the LAP... You bounce back WAY Faster... But because of my size to begin with, LAP wasn't an option.

Thanks so much for the info! I knew I could count on your girls! Is lap band new? Was gastric bypass the older way? Is there a weight restriction to get lap band?Anna

My father had the lap band. The hard part for him was the prep, he was put on a liquid very minimal diet for 10 days prior. He did attend some pre counseling and said that really helped. He has gone in once after to have his band re adjusted? Maybe someone can explain that more but it wasn't too complicated. He has lost weight but more slowly and healthier. He is very glad he did it there are only a few foods that now he says he can't eat. My sister had gastric bypass done about 4 years ago. Personally I don't think it was necessary being she never exercised before hand and purposely gained 50 lbs. for her insurance to cover it. She lost a lot of weight very quickly. During the months after she had it and was losing weight she was sick all the time. Not sure if it was connected but I mean every little thing made her weak and sick. Today she looks very very skinny to the point people think she has some type of disorder and she is really self concious about it. Also even though she lost the weight, because it was so much so fast, she has a lot of extra skin where as my dad lost his gradually and he has noticed some minor skin hagging. I think if she could do it over again she would have done the band although even she admits she isn't disciplined enough to handle the band procedure.

I know that gastric bypass saves many people's lives and works beautifully but I have personally known people who became bedbound and permanently disabled after the surgery secondary to complications and severe malnutrition with terrible post op infections. Choose your surgeon carefully and if you can do it with a healthy diet that is the best way by far. Weight watchers worked for me.Hospitals are now dangerous places filled with antibiotic resistant bacteria.

My very best childhood friend had Gastric Bypass surgery yesterday morning and when I talked to her this morning she sounded very sore and said the surgery was much worse than she expected~ it was laser. I too am overweight and understand people having this surgery for health and in some cases it is a last resort but I personally think that people see it as an easy way out. Like someone else stated, my friend has never exercised or tried a diet over 3-4 days before giving up. She only had to go to one counseling visit and do a liquid diet for 5 days before the surgery so I don't think she really understand what she is in for. She told me on the phone this morning that she was still glad she went through with it because her weight loss would now be effortless and that I was going to envy her in no time at all and I would end up doing it too! I assured her that it is not for me and that I don't ever see me doing it. I'm going to stick with WW!

I had the Lap Band done ONE YEAR AGO TODAY!! It has been one of the best things I could have done! I'm not at my goal weight, yet. But, I will be. I slide every now and then but, for the most part, I am pretty good with eating what I am supposed to eat. My portion size is much smaller. In doing the research on both LB and GB, I thought that LB would be the better fit because WHEN I slip (and have some chips or a cookie) I won't get sick. I can eat a little of the junk and not feel guilty. I think with GB if you eat the wrong stuff, it'll come out one way or another! Either way, I know that I cannot eat Fast Food. Period. It never works. I've lost over 60lbs and still counting!!Shannon

Ditto. I lost a bit more, but again, I am still a big girl - well over six feet tall... :)

I am in month 7 of my 12 month pre-op weight management. My insurance covers the gastric bypass. I don't think it is an "easy out" for me, but I think it will help me live a healthier life. I have done lots of research and am working with the obesiety clinic in Portland Oregon.

My SIL had the gastric by-pass surgery 3 years ago. She had tried dieting for years and at one point had managed to lose a significant amount of weight, but had gained it all back plus a little extra. Her weight had reached the point where it was a significant health risk. At first it was a great success. She lost a lot of weight and looked great, although she had some excess skin. She also went to some pre-op counselling. Long term it has not been a success. She has gained back quite a bit of weight. Partly because she has trouble eating foods that are too fiberous or stringy (both vegetables and meat) because they make her sick. As a result, high carbohydrate foods are easier to eat. I believe the other reason is that the pre-op counselling did not deal with the reasons for her over-eating and there was no post-op counselling to explore the issues. She has had some big stressors in her life and she eats for comfort. For many people the surgery is successful, but permanent. I believe the Lap band can be reversed if you have issues, so it is worth exploring.

I've know of 5 people through work and friendships that have GP done. 4 of 5 have serious, dibilitating health issues that have arisen as a result. It's not on my list of recommended surgeries. :)

Here are my comments on RNY Gastric Bypass, as someone who had Open RNY a few years ago.Having obesity surgery is more than having surgical intervention to deal with being overweight. I honestly feel that the emotional issues involved with having the surgery are often times not considered enough or explored enough before making the leap.Some of the things I wish I had known prior to having the surgery:That I’d never enjoy going out to dinner again, because I hate to pay $10 or more for a plat of food that would easily feed me for a week.That I’d never enjoy going out to dinner because every time I do, those with me always feel rushed because have 3-4 bites, I’m done and just kinda sitting there.That I’d never be able to enjoy the foods/drinks that I enjoyed before, even in forced moderation (and I’m talking good for you stuff too!)That I’d never be able to drink water again – even though my Dr. at one point was trying to force me to. The restrictiveness of my digestive opening makes drinking almost ANYTHING to difficult – I gag/regurgitate if I take more than a tiny sip at a time – and even then, I can’t drink water, due to the chemicals (is all they can determine at this point).The fact that I have to apologize to my husband any time I have a bowel movement, because it’s often times very bad smelling (and the consistency is an issue often times as well.)That I would be considered a ‘high risk’ patent for any Dr. and in the times of heavy litigation and malpractice, most Dr.’s wont see/treat me without the tandem treatment of a Gastro Dr. (Double Co-Pays, Double Visits, Double Time of work) and even then, finding a primary care physician has proven to be difficult, at best. That there isn’t an OB in the PLANET (or at least the Phoenix area) who will take me on as a patient in the even that I get/got pregnant (which I did, but lost the pregnancy, this past winter). And on and on.Having said every bit of that – I have 20 or so closish friends who are members of a closed/private POGB group for patients of my Dr, none of them have ever had a problem that isn’t something that would be considered normal for any post-surgical patient (incision infection, pneumonia etc) and all of them, regardless of the complications and emotions involved with having the surgery, would do it over again in a heartbeat (myself included).I firmly believe it needs to be a well thought out and informed decision, based on all possible ‘what ifs’ – and while you may look at my list and think “so what, I can do that!” – until you’ve been bent over your toilet, dumping the 2 bites of refried beans and cheese you just ate (a common recommended food for POGB’s) you really don’t know how you’ll feel, emotionally.I was very depressed for the fist six weeks – it was a really hard process, but as I said, one I’d do over again in a heartbeat. If you think having the surgery is a cop out or the easy way out – you will be SADLY mistaken. Being a POGBP has been one of the hardest journeys I’ve taken, both physically and emotionally.I am coming up on year three – I am still losing (slowly) – I still dump, like a MAD WOMAN…but I haven’t actually thrown up in a long time…The worst part for me has been dumping. I dump on almost everything…my dumping consists of FAST FAST FAST heartbeats, sweats, shaking, shortness of breath, watering mouth and sleepiness. I dump every day…some days, ever meal. It’s 30 minutes of pure hell…and it makes me crabby. I take my vitamins like my life depends on it (because it does and will for the rest of my life) – I am still anemic, so I see a Dr. once a month for supplemental vitamin injections. I was anemic prior to the surgery as well.I exercise – as often as I can…with my work, it’s harder than it was when I was a SAHM. I hate the excess skin - I wish I had the money for a Panniculectomy, but that’s a ways down the road.The procedure itself is risky – as is any surgical procedure – and the decision to move forward shouldn’t be made lightly. Make sure you research, research, research your Dr., clinic and hospital. Don’t be pushed/rushed into anything (I saw a Dr. the first time I was considering it and actually put the surgery off for 2 years, because HE was pushy and GBS was his business – it was one of the larger “Weight Loss Surgery” chains, which sprouted out at the height of the craze (after Carney Wilson). The Dr. who did my surgery was at a regular Dr.’s office, with regular patients – he wasn’t doing it to get rich, he was doing it to help.Good luck with whatever you decide! I am happy to answer any questions you might have – although, PM works best for me – as I don’t spend much time on the forums anymore.