I just came back from a great conference on bariatric surgery. We have recently started our program and the seminars were wonderful. I think the most compelling and touching part of the program were the testimonials by some of the presenters ..... this was totally unexpected as these women looked wonderful ....wonderful!
I came away from this seminar with a renewed desire to be a big part of this program. It is truly life changing for those patients that have the surgery. It can be high risk for the severely obese, but in the long run, sometimes I think the benefits really can outweight the risks.
Each of the women that presented had their own story. Some shared how they grew up and were always very heavy .... others shared about their pain and profound sadness at the rude and hateful things people would say to them. Most, if not all had terrible memories from their days in high school. Each had their own person reasons for having the surgery. One lady said that if her insurance did not pay for it, she would mortgage her house and do whatever else she needed to do to secure financing so she could get the sugery done .... it was worth everything to her ... she had lost over 300 pounds and looked amazing! The other presenters talked about how insurance companies are starting to change their perspective on bariatric surgery. Mostly because co-morbities are more expensive .... getting bariatric surgery actually can save the insurance company money!
Interesting to point out is that many of the people that get bariatric surgery are disabled because of their weight. Once the weight comes off, their physical condition improves and they can get back to work and come off of disability, but many are afraid .... they require increased psych counseling as well as transitional adjustment therapy so they can re-enter life as a normal weight person. I find these issues amazing, but the reality is, most severely obese people become hermits and hide away. Once the weight comes off, some do struggle with getting back into the swing of life. The presenters encouraged programs to develop an enhanced therapy and psych screening prior to approving a patient for surgery.
Just thought I would share this with you and welcome your comments and feedback. I feel great about being a part of a program that changes peoples lives like this does.
Why thank you, kind sire! (Which might sound sarcastic, but isn't :)) May I return the compliment? As you say so well, the hype and excitement over WLS is unrealistic. I can't help but think that many people embrace it for social acceptance than for health outcomes, regardless of how much they may protest that being thinner just is healthier than being fat (and that weight loss, regardless of method or physiological cost, is therefore desirable).
If only the amount of money, research and publicity spent on weight loss methods was directed at healthier living, we'd all be better off. Of course, there's no money to be made in it - can't patent walking, fresh fruit and vegetables, and non-fad eating!
Ok - so I attended a Bariatric support group meeting this past week. Wow, it is like a religious experience. People hugging each other - the room filled with testimony as well as love and kind words. Everyone complimenting each other on how good they look. If you were a new person justing walking into the group, you might actually leave the room, check to sign at the door and make sure you did not enter the wrong room. I am telling you, I felt like I had entered into a tent revival.
But, with all the energy and positive thought, there were some truly amazing stories to be heard. One guy who was 4 months post-op and had lost a total of 150 pounds .... he said that he no longer measures the success of his surgery with weight loss, rather, he measures his success by mile markers of things that he can now do for himself. He had the surgery with his highest weight reaching 550 pounds.
These stories are amazing and life changing. The surgery, while risky, is truly life changing for so many over weight people. One lady reported that she has almost reached her weight loss goal of 135 pounds .... she started out at 300 pounds. She no longer takes hypertensive medication, her type II diabetes has resolved (no longer taking OHA) and she feels better at 50 than she felt at 20. Amazing.
Perhaps there are critics of bariatric surgery and perhaps there are stories that patients have that are sad, but for the majority of heavy people who have the surgery, it is life changing and worth every discomfort for them. Just thought I would continue to share on this topic.
Hi Patrick - thanks for the update, glad it's working so well for a lot of people :)
I think my greatest concern with bariatrics is that the positive side is really visible - as you say, it's life-changing for those for whom it's successful - but we still don't know what percentage of bariatric patients this represents.
Specializes in Happily semi-retired; excited for the whole whammy.
I work with a woman who had this surgery over the summer. She had diabetes with complications of proliferative retinopathy, UTIs, peripheral neuropathy and arteriosclerosis, not to mention blood pressure through the roof. She was really a walking time bomb. She is doing very well now, said her meds have been cut by three quarters. Has lost over 70 pounds. She looks wonderful but it hasn't been easy for her at all. I think you're right that the benefits can outweigh the risks, and that was clearly the case here. I do worry that, as with all medical procedures, there are those surgeons willing to perform them when it may not be appropriate, though. I wasn't aware that insurance was becoming more receptive to paying for these, but I do know that we have an HMO/PPO that paid for her's, so clearly there are situations in which they will approve the procedure.
talaxandra
3,037 Posts
Why thank you, kind sire! (Which might sound sarcastic, but isn't :)) May I return the compliment? As you say so well, the hype and excitement over WLS is unrealistic. I can't help but think that many people embrace it for social acceptance than for health outcomes, regardless of how much they may protest that being thinner just is healthier than being fat (and that weight loss, regardless of method or physiological cost, is therefore desirable).
If only the amount of money, research and publicity spent on weight loss methods was directed at healthier living, we'd all be better off. Of course, there's no money to be made in it - can't patent walking, fresh fruit and vegetables, and non-fad eating!