Gastric bypass question

acgemt · Nov 27, 2004

I remember a patient in our unit that had developed complications from gastric bypass surgery. There are always going to be risks involved, but there are also benefits for those who are successful. It is a choice that needs a lot of research on your friend's part.

I will say this. My mother is 5'1'' and use to weigh a good 250+lbs. One day she decided she was going to lose the weight. She bought a scale, a calorie book, and a little notebook. Everything she ate, she would weigh and write down. She is now I would say 120lbs.

That being said, diet the "old fashioned" way does really work if you put your mind to it. Good luck to your friend. I hope she chooses wisely.

oostarglowos · Nov 27, 2004

I remember a patient in our unit that had developed complications from gastric bypass surgery. There are always going to be risks involved, but there are also benefits for those who are successful. It is a choice that needs a lot of research on your friend's part.
I will say this. My mother is 5'1'' and use to weigh a good 250+lbs. One day she decided she was going to lose the weight. She bought a scale, a calorie book, and a little notebook. Everything she ate, she would weigh and write down. She is now I would say 120lbs.
That being said, diet the "old fashioned" way does really work if you put your mind to it. Good luck to your friend. I hope she chooses wisely.

wow thats great for your mom. my friend has tried to diet but she gives into temtation to easily, which would not be good either if she did the bypass. well thanks for answering your mom took the intiative my friend wont weigh herself even though i told her she has to because then how does she know her goals? thanks again

Roseyposey · Nov 27, 2004

Just my experience - I have an aunt who weighed just over 400 pounds, diabetic, high blood pressure, arthritis, the whole list of maladies. She is now, just over two years later, down to about 175. She is 5'10" and needs to have a major body lift to get rid of excess skin, so she's at a great weight when all that's taken into consideration. It has changed not only her body, but her mind and spirit as well. Along with the weight loss, however, she has gone through major counseling to determine why she spent the first 55 years of her life so obese. This was really a last resort for her; she probably wouldn't have lived five more years the way she was. Though I think some people view this as a "quick fix" surgery, I'm grateful it was an option for her.

fotografe · Nov 27, 2004

My brother just had the surgery in July and is down 100 lbs as of today. He has a good 250 more to go. While the surgery has been great for him, it was a 7 year process for him to get approved by first the doctor, and then the insurance. He went through several other options and therapy, learned how to modify his eating because after surgery, you have to or you will be very sick.

Your friend need to talk to a surgeon experienced in the procedure and exhaust all her other options before doing something this drastic. It can be a life-saving procedure if it is her only option.

Good luck to her!

Nemhain · Nov 27, 2004

IMO I think it should be done as a last resort. I know about 6 people who've had gastric bypass...4 of them lost a lot of hair and were malnourished. They were all happy that they had the surgery and lost weight rapidly...lots of loose skin. I also know someone who had the LapBand surgery. Instead of cutting out 90% of the stomach, a "band" or a doughnut like ring is placed around the top of the stomach and the procedure can be reversed. She lost about 100lbs. in one year whereas the gastric bypass people on average (I'm guessing) lost about 150 lbs. in 9 months. The friend with the LapBand never got malnourished or lost her hair. Because she lost the weight slower, by comparison, she doesn't have too much of the hanging skin (the loose skin also is determined by how big someone was to begin with, how long they've been overweight and the overall skin integrity of the person). Anyway, I've read that there are fewer complications with the LapBand than Gastric Bypass. I know you didn't ask about the LapBand, but I thought I'd share that with you anyway.

Banani · Nov 27, 2004

I have had a lot of experience with Gastric Bypass patients and many of my friends have had the procedure as well. The only advice I have is that the person considering this procedure must understand that this is a life altering option. Just because their stomach is smaller does not mean they can still eat what they want. They must alter their diet and they must exercise and drink plenty of water. I have known many people who have gained all of their weight back because they didn't understand that it isn't a quick fix.

One other thing, unless they figure out why they overeat to begin with, the loss of the weight will not make them feel better about themselves. Many people have significant psychological reasons for their eating. And while most of the surgeons doing this procedure require a psych eval prior to the operation, it isn't as thorough as it should be. If they are unhappy now, they will continue to be unhappy even when the weight is gone, unless they fix the reason for the unhappiness. Too many times, people think it is only because of the extra weight, that they are unhappy, and then they loose it and they still don't feel good.

I wish your friend good luck and I think that you are a good friend for inquiring about this.

oostarglowos · Nov 27, 2004

I will make sure she reads this from all of you. Yes I I have told her that the bypass is a life altering thing and that you have to change the way you eat ir you will get sick. The more I read the posts the more I know she is not a good canidate, just because she would have to change her eating habbits. If she did that she can loose the weight instead of doing the bypass. Abouth the band I had totally forgotton about that. But if you get the band you can actually strech it by overeating also but I will let her know anyways. My friend is going to have loose skin because she has been overweight since middle school but not as heavy as the past few years. I want to help her loose the weight but it's frustrating when she says that she craving an icecream. Today we are going to the gym to sign up. I know that she has a lot of heart to exercise because I have excerxied with her before, her promblem is food and yes it might be pyschological. Thanks again to everyone and I will make sure she reads this thread.:)

Katnip, RN · Nov 27, 2004

I used to take care of a lot of patients on our unit after gastric bypass. I only saw two with any kind of complications, and those were minor.

We also took care of a lot of patients who had gone to different surgeons with severe complications and had to have repairs done. One had 7 surgeries to correct the mistakes until she came to us. She had one and she's doing great now.

It all depends on the surgeon. Research your choices carefully.

That said, we had several employees who had the surgery done, and the differences in their lives was amazing. They were all off their meds for diabetes and blood pressure. Sleep apnea disappeared in all of them. All within a few months of the surgery.

Most did comply with exercise programs and looked awesome as well. One was not quite as compliant, so she lost slowly, but lose she did.

Yes, it requires lifestyle changes. But from what I've heard from the folks I worked with, a lot of those cravings go away, because you just don't feel like eating much. They start out by eating or drinking things measured in ounces. They can't take in anything more.

But she has to be willing up front to make sacrifices and know that she's going to have to make some big changes in her life.

If you are obese, have health problems that relate to that obesity, and are at the end of your rope because you've tried everything, then gastric bypass may be for you.

nurse2btracy · Nov 27, 2004

Hi!

I had gastric bypass done almost 3 years ago and it was the best thing for me. I had tried to do it the "old fashioned way" for almost 20 years at that point and could not lose more than 30 lbs.

Believe me it was NOT an easy fix. I did have a few complications at the beginning but nothing major. It is a tool and I still have to deal with food issues everyday.

I am applying to nursing schools now and I am hoping to work on a med/surg floor with gastric bypass patients.

To those who are considering it please do not think that you are taking the easy way out - you are doing it because all other options have failed.

Just MHO

Tracy

Open Rny 1/10/2002 - minus 100 lbs

LadyNASDAQ · Nov 27, 2004

Hi everyone I have a question about the gastric bypass since most of you have probably seen a pt that has done this before. My question is what do you think about the surgery. do you think it should be done? Please share any stories or thoughts that you might have weather good or bad. I have a friend that is considering the surgery but is scared out of her mind. She is about 100 or mor pounds overweight.

Ask your friend to try the CORE Plan by Weight Watchers. It works. I have incorporated that Plan with an earlier Plan called the Freedom Plan. Just give it one more try.

not now, RN · Nov 27, 2004

I told this story before. A friend of mine in the nursing program was well over 300 lbs by the age of 21 (she's 24 now), she's 5'3". She could not lose the weight and kept growing. Her options were to to have the surgery or die by 35. She had the surgery, had a few minor complications. Her body weight now is in the low 200's, she vomits at least once a week if she happens to stray from her diet and eat something she's not supposed to, she also has tons of hanging skin. She once showed me how she can take the skin hanging from her upper arm and wrap it around her arm, my face did this: :eek:

After we graduate she's having the skin removed and for the first time in a long time she'll be under 200 lbs. Yes the extra skin makes her self concious but as she said "I want to have kids, I want to have a family. I want to have a life, all the complications are nothing compared to the big picture."