Well, I've finally reached the point of desperation.......Almost one year ago I decided I was going to lose 100 pounds by Christmas of this year; certainly I began well, losing some 40# in five months by cutting out sugar and cutting way down on refined carbohydrates. On top of that, I developed an exercise program and have done very well with that, sticking with it for almost eight months (I couldn't do much for the past few weeks because my @#*$! asthma has been kicking up) and building a much smaller body despite remaining well over 250#.
But I not only haven't lost a single ounce in nearly five months, I've actually REGAINED 12 lbs. and there doesn't seem to be anything I can do about it. I've never gone back to eating sugar, although lately I've been taking some liberties with potatoes and bread, and my appetite is quite large now thanks to my activity level I've become so discouraged that I'm on the verge of just giving up......but over this past year I've learned that I love the way I feel when I eat right, and especially when I work out, and that's not something I can ignore anymore.
I don't have the will, however, to keep dieting and exercising and not see ANY reward in the form of weight loss. I don't know why I can't lose any more.......maybe it's because I'm on antidepressants, which I'm NOT going to give up, or because I'm menopausal, which isn't going to be done with anytime soon. At any rate, I've given it my best shot, and I'm fresh out of options........I said I would never consider bariatric surgery, because I have enough digestive problems as it is and didn't want to risk ending up with even more, but I'm beginning to think it may very well be my last chance.
My doctor has been after me for years to have it done, and now that there is a program within our very own health system, there are few, if any, barriers as far as insurance or follow-up care is concerned. I am definitely motivated to do what is needed to lose weight and keep it off.......I'm also a realist, in that I don't expect surgery to transform me or even take off all my excess pounds. What I am is afraid.......I'm afraid of the surgery's risks, but I'm also afraid of the risks if I DON'T have it done.
I've suffered from hypertension for many years; I'm on four different medications, and it's still not well controlled. I have mild CHF (my doctor hasn't said so directly, but I know when I have 3+ pitting edema in my legs and shortness of breath on occasion that it isn't from sitting with my legs hanging down all day), GERD, arthritis, chronic lower back pain, and bad knees. Yes, I'm very functional for all that.......but I'm not getting any younger, and I'm afraid that if I let this go on much longer something will happen (CVA, MI, diabetes?) that I can't fix.
So, what do y'all think? Should I even be thinking about it? Or should I just stop trying to diet and go for it? Inquiring minds (and bodies) want to know!
Good luck in whatever you do Marla. From what you've said you've tried a lifetime of diets and perhaps you are at the end of your ropes.
This surgery though is primarily for those who overeat and need appetite control. As you already diet and exercise and have lost quite a bit of weight I'm not sure you're the best candidate (especially since you say you're functioning well and your caloric needs are higher).
But only you can say for sure that your overeating and can't control your appetite.
Also given your health problems, as you say drastic measures may be in order. But also consider the above. If you can truly say you're eating healthy and exercising, then stay off the scale. :)
The body is a funny thing, sometimes it conserves fat during a diet and the weight loss is hard to continue. Sometimes the old hormones kick in and change your metablism as well.
Good luck in whatever you decide. Don't get discouraged, while you are making up your mind keep up the good work. :)
Oh my god- I feel the same way as you do. I go back and forth every few months- YES, I definetly want to do it. Then NO, I definetly don't want to do it.
One of my girlfriend's had it done in January. She has gone from weighing 270 lbs to 148 lbs. She looks AMAZING! She is one of thosee lucky patients who has had no complications.
The only con is that she needs to watch herself with the food. She can STILL gain weight if she eats enough carbs or fattening foods . Remember, it's a tool, not a magic cure.
But she is loving it. I am so happy for her. She is off of her high blood pressure pills. She no longer has aches and pains in her back and knees and legs. She can breathe easier, run, walk long distances. In her case- it has been an awesome, life saving experience for her.
Another girlfriend had it done a few months ago. She had the opposite experience. She almost DIED! She was in ICU for an entire month. She still has terrible stomach pains and vomiting (sigh). Obviously she doesn't think it was worth it. Her biggest regret is the horror that she could have left her 3 young kids (an 8 year old and 5 year old twin boys) motherless.
I don't know- it's such a personal decision. I guess it depends on how desperate we really feel. It really is a last resort. Even with the surgery, we still have "fat" heads. Do you know what I mean?
my dtr had surgery in april and has lost about 60 pounds..less than a fellow nurse who lost a lot of weight right away..she would have it done again but there are problems which she knew about going in but she has not had any of the horror stories that you hear about
a friend had it done about two years ago and she is off meds for hypertension and her diabetes is now diet controlled after taking insulin for about 12 years
ii really need some help in losing weight but i am 'chicken' and have been putting it off...i had breast ca in dec, md has told me i am pre-deabetic, dyspnea and am (according to new guidelines) appoaching hypertension...all definite reasons to lose weight...i really wanted something less drastic such as the banding .. what exactly did the people who had the banding dislike about it????
My brother had GBS about five years ago before it was really popular. He says it was the best thing he has ever done for himself. He did have kidney and gallstones a few months after the surgery, but that has not been a problem recently.
My best friend had the surgery done last year. She had to have three additional abdominal surgeries (hernia) within four months follow the operation. But, she is completely thrilled she had the procedure and said she would do it again in a minute.
I was going to suggest endocrine studies as well. My MIL was recently dx'd with syndrome x ( http://www.syndrome-x.com/ ). She has tried everything under the sun, too, including such drastic measures as optifast (the first weight loss thing Oprah did) shakes. Yuk.
I would say that at least get a thorough check up by an endocrine doc before doing anything like surgery.
Because I have really come to respect you and like you because of your postings on here, I'm going to give it to you straight......from the perspective of an ICU nurse who has cared for several of these patients (overflow into our unit).
First and foremost....Do you realize that this surgery has a mortality rate of almost 50%??? And this is not just at one facility, it's at all facilities. I have seen more people die after this surgery than is even funny. Heck, just had one die in our unit a couple days ago. Even saw one that was in another ICU, when I floated over there, that was only 38 and died.
Now....assuming you do live, many have a HELL of a time getting off the vent. They end up trached.
Ok...so, let's say you live and are off the vent...have you considered the multiple health problems that can be associated with having this done? Such as malnutrition, malabsorption, dumping syndrome...the list goes on and on. It can be more of a problem to have it done compared to not.
So my advice to you, and anyone else thinking of having it done...DON'T!!!!! I cannot say this enough! Or, if you still think you might want to, track down one of these pt's in the ICU and spend a few hours with them....trust me, you'll change your mind!
I WOULD NEVER HAVE IT DONE AND WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND IT!!!!!
marla,
i stopped reading the posts right here because i have to agree w/neuro.
i wasn't aware of the mortality rate but have heard of the post-op complications.
furthermore, my next door neighbor had it done and she did have many complications post-op, as well as major depression. yes, she lost the weight but now has regained most of it....so yes, it is possible to regain the weight.
if at all possible, consider a personal trainer (i know, the $$$) or other suggestions considering that you cannot exercise as freely as many others, given your medical limitations.
but i am dead set against the bariatric sx and many look at it as an easy fix.
Specializes in Medical/Surgical/Maternal and Child.
MJ, been there and done that, luckily I don't have to many health problems but I am at risk. Have you tried Weight Watchers? I've been going since February and while I fluctuate up and down the best thing is that I have learned to eat right. You don't have to drink any special milk shakes or eat any special food. You're given a certain amount of points according to your weight and eat within those points and jot down everything that goes into your mouth. I lost 7 lbs the first week but like I said I fluctuate and the exercise helps enormously. Good luck and God Bless!!!
My dear friend weighed 250 pounds and was 5' 1" tall. Her BP was sky high. After a long time at trying to lose weight on her own, she had the surgery. She said recovery and adjustment to a new way of eating was just awfull and I can certainly attest to it. While she didn't become model slim, she did manage to lose 90 pounds and keep it off. Her BP is WNL and she feels great. She did A LOT of research. There are many pros and cons, but for her it worked. Now myself I weigh 160 at 5' tall. My weight used to be 175. It has taken three years to lose that little bit. For about 8 months or so I lost NOTHING...even with exercise, but finally and slowly it has been coming off. Good luck to you in your endevor. Weight loss stinks!
I think surgery is good when it's absolutly nessisary. One of my classmates had gastric bypass done a little over a year ago. In her words it was "either get it done or die by 30." She and I are the same height (5'3") yet at 22 years of age she was pushing 300 lbs.
She looks so much better now and much more confident and healthy. Last week she showed me how she can wrap the excess skin on her upper arm completly around her upper arm, my mouth dropped open. She only wears pants and long sleeved shirts due to the extra skin, when she has it removed she will finally be under 200 lbs. That's not exactly super model weight and she'll still be seen as "thick" but considering where she's been she doesn't care "It's not a matter of being thin it's a matter of having a life and possibly a family one day."
Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.
Ew, that's not a very attractive picture! That's the other thing I'm afraid of where WLS is concerned: losing weight so fast that my poor overstretched skin can't possibly catch up. I'm a lot older than your friend.....I'd look absolutely horrible!!
I like the suggestion one member offered regarding seeing an endocrinologist......I'd never thought about that before. I'm seeing my primary care physician on the 21st; think I'll ask him for a referral. Thank you! Maybe some of this is metabolic; I know PCOS is not an issue, because my ovaries are normal, but Syndrome X is a very real possibility, more like a probability . It would be worth it just to find out if there's something that can be corrected WITHOUT surgery.......
I so appreciate all your responses, friends.......right now, I'm about 60/40 against surgery. NOTHING is going to happen for at least six months or more; plenty of time to change my mind back and forth any number of times!
I like the suggestion one member offered regarding seeing an endocrinologist......I'd never thought about that before. I'm seeing my primary care physician on the 21st; think I'll ask him for a referral. Thank you! Maybe some of this is metabolic; I know PCOS is not an issue, because my ovaries are normal, but Syndrome X is a very real possibility, more like a probability . It would be worth it just to find out if there's something that can be corrected WITHOUT surgery.......
I'm glad you're considering this, at least to rule out a metabolic syndrome. Definitely possible to be Syndrome X, you're absolutely right. There might just be a specific diet out there that might work better for you, or a medication. You probably don't have PCOS, but remember that there is a percentage of women out there with PCOS whose ovaries don't have cysts, and who actually ovulate normally. An endocrinologist will do a lot of bloodwork to check your thyroid, hormone leves, liver and pancreatic function, etc. I don't have actual "polycystic" ovaries on ultrasound, but my lab work was textbook PCOS and showed that I was pre-diabetic because of it. There are medications that can help!!!
If you're in or near Chicago I know an excellent endocrinologist.
I regret reading that you are struggling with one of your New Years resolutions. Exercise is truly key IMHO. I read that you love the feeling the exercise gives you, so what I might suggest if you aren't already doing this is to go to your nearest 24 Hr Fitness, or wherever and get a trainer. Those people know what they are doing, and they will formulate a workout which specifically fits your needs. They can also set up a meal plan based on what you like to eat. If you are doing this, and want to take the next step, maybe you could try the banding? I'm not sure of the specifics, but I do believe it has fewer risks, results in a shorter hospital stay than stapling, and just might give you the same results as a surgical procedure.
I've become so discouraged that I'm on the verge of just giving up......but over this past year I've learned that I love the way I feel when I eat right, and especially when I work out, and that's not something I can ignore anymore.
That's the other thing I'm afraid of where WLS is concerned: losing weight so fast that my poor overstretched skin can't possibly catch up. I'm a lot older than your friend.....I'd look absolutely horrible!!
Tweety, BSN, RN
36,337 Posts
Good luck in whatever you do Marla. From what you've said you've tried a lifetime of diets and perhaps you are at the end of your ropes.
This surgery though is primarily for those who overeat and need appetite control. As you already diet and exercise and have lost quite a bit of weight I'm not sure you're the best candidate (especially since you say you're functioning well and your caloric needs are higher).
But only you can say for sure that your overeating and can't control your appetite.
Also given your health problems, as you say drastic measures may be in order. But also consider the above. If you can truly say you're eating healthy and exercising, then stay off the scale. :)
The body is a funny thing, sometimes it conserves fat during a diet and the weight loss is hard to continue. Sometimes the old hormones kick in and change your metablism as well.
Good luck in whatever you decide. Don't get discouraged, while you are making up your mind keep up the good work. :)