Bariatric surgery

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I am just wondering if any fellow nurses have had any form of bariatric surgery. I've gained a lot of weight in the last 5yrs that I can't seem to get rid of and its affecting my performance. I tire easily during CPR, my feet and legs are frequently painful and swollen by the end of my shift, and my back always aches.

I've been considering the sleeve gastrectomy and was wondering if others have had surgery and what your outcomes were like, how much time did you have to take off work, and did it affect your job performance negatively at all? Thank you!

I have not done any research on the subject, but I can tell you what my perspective is from the Emergency Room. I have seen several patients with complications from gastric bypass surgery that are severe, complex, and not easily solved. The people are always skinny, but most of them regret their decision.

That being said, I see only "the bad side" at my job. Evidently, the benefit of reduction in cardiovascular deaths overall outweighs the risk. Unless, of course, you end up being one of those with complications.

So do your research and if you still think it is right for you, I wish you the best!

I, also, see a fair number of people in my hospital who are admitted for complications, sometimes life-threatening, related to bariatric surgery. Many of them aren't skinny -- they've not lost any (or, at least, not much) weight. They deeply regret having had the surgery.

I also remind myself frequently that I'm seeing a skewed population; I'm sure there are lots of people out there just living their lives and doing just fine.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

I had RNY back in 2005 and no regrets. I lost over 100lbs and still have restriction. There are times when I know I have eaten too much as the restriction kicks in. These days it isn't too often but at the beginning it was often due to my eyes still being bigger than my stomach. I too was told I was border line Type 2 diabetes but that quickly went away post op.

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I had the sleeve on 9/22. I had to take off 3 weeks. Technically the dr said 2 weeks, but no lifting for 3 weeks. My work wouldn't let me come back with restrictions. As of today I've lost 40 lbs. It is hard. In the beginning there was a lot of nausea. And when I went back to work my incisions were very sore during my shift due to being on my feet a long time. Lifting patients actually didn't hurt. I would say make sure you do your research and choose a great surgeon. The addiction to food is the hardest thing to change and without that change it will be a waste. Right after surgery all I wanted was the food I used to eat but couldn't due to the required diet. It's life changing. I used to be addicted to sweets. Tried some after surgery and felt sick, not dumping syndrome though, and have not wanted some since. I know that foods will make me sick now so it completely makes me not want to even try them. Good luck if you go for it. Feel free to ask questions if you want.

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Specializes in Emergency/Trauma/Critical Care Nursing.

Did any of you that had the surgery have issues later with a lot of loose skin? I'm worried i'll need additional surgeries for pounds of loose skin.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

There may be some element of loose skin, whilst loosing weight suggest exercise to try and tighten up and look to loosing it slowly

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Specializes in hospice.

There is no exercise that can "tighten" stretched skin.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

It may be more a case of tightening the muscles but it does help with the skin to a certain degree. I have seen people loose over 60lbs by running and doing some martial arts and it helped with them, they didn't have as much loose skin as expected. Mind you they are in the middle 20's so that may be a factor

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