"End Stage" Untreatable Obesity

coolpeach · Jan 18, 2009

I have never heard of this and would be interested in any replies also.

flightnurse2b, LPN · Jan 18, 2009

here's something i found: http://www.uihealthcare.com/depts/med/surgery/weightloss/understanding.html

"Morbid obesity brings with it an increased risk for a shorter life expectancy. For individuals whose weight exceeds twice their ideal body weight (that's about two to six percent of the U.S. population), the risk of an early death is doubled compared to non-obese individuals.

The risk of death from diabetes or heart attack is five to seven times greater. Even beyond the issue of obesity-related health conditions, weight gain alone can lead to a condition known as "end-stage" obesity where, for the most part, no treatment options are available. Yet an early death is not the only potential consequence. Social, psychological and economic effects of morbid obesity, however unfair, are real and can be especially devastating. "

dollphyn · Jan 18, 2009

Hi everyone!
I have a curious question. I was reading some information about morbid obesity and came across this term, "End Stage" untreatable obesity. It's a result of being morbily obese. I can guess on the definition of this term but am curious what exactly it is. How does obesity become untreatable? How does it become "end stage"?
I thought of asking here and see if anyone could explain this term.
Thanks!

My floor has just taken over the bariatric service. I really enjoy watching Discovery Health especially about the journey of people who are morbidly obese and are seeking help. There was this one episode that discussed this very issue. I think the person weighed over 1000 pounds and had to lose a lot of weight at least 500 pounds or more before doctors would attempt to do the gastric bypass. It has to with how large this person was and how safe it would be put them under with anesthesia. Unfortunately this person did not make it, although did lose like 300 pounds. So this person was considered "End stage untreatable obesity" because they were unable to do anything to save them because they were already at the point of no return. Their body just could not handle the dramatic change it had to go through to be able to get the surgery.

Also many of these patients, do not realize that it is a life style change. They are so used to eating large quantities of food, that they can't get over the hand to mouth movement. It is an addiction that they have to learn to control. Unfortunately many of the people that they talked about were considered "cheaters" even after having the gastric bypass and subsequently are larger than they were before the surgery.

Jo Dirt · Jan 18, 2009

I think that's where I am.

rph3664 · Jan 18, 2009

Those DHC shows have depicted people who had lymphedema from their obesity, so in addition to having excess fat, they had incurable third spacing. One of them had a leg that alone was estimated to weigh over 200 pounds, and the doctors were considering amputation. I don't remember what happened to that person, except that it was their biggest obstacle to getting exercise.

Has anyone seen the "Half Ton Man" program? As the show progressed, he started displaying increasingly abusive behavior towards his wife. That was harder to watch than the original scenes showing the removal from his house.

edit: I briefly worked at a hospital that did bariatric surgery. It was a small facility, and most of the patients were in the 250-300 pound range. I encountered none over 350 pounds, and the surgeon turned people away all the time even if their insurance approved the procedure. Most of them who are denied are turned away because of the psychiatric evaluation.

flightnurse2b, LPN · Jan 18, 2009

Those DHC shows have depicted people who had lymphedema from their obesity, so in addition to having excess fat, they had incurable third spacing. One of them had a leg that alone was estimated to weigh over 200 pounds, and the doctors were considering amputation. I don't remember what happened to that person, except that it was their biggest obstacle to getting exercise.
Has anyone seen the "Half Ton Man" program? As the show progressed, he started displaying increasingly abusive behavior towards his wife. That was harder to watch than the original scenes showing the removal from his house.

i watched the whole half ton series... the half ton mom episode was quite heart breaking. she died after her bariatric sugery of a massive MI and left behind a teenage daughter. she was, i believe, one of the heaviest ppl to undergo the surgery @ around 900 lbs.

rph3664 · Jan 18, 2009

i watched the whole half ton series... the half ton mom episode was quite heart breaking. she died after her bariatric sugery of a massive MI and left behind a teenage daughter. she was, i believe, one of the heaviest ppl to undergo the surgery @ around 900 lbs.

A teenage daughter, and another daughter who was about 8 years old. It's not mentioned in the show, but those kids were from an early marriage. The elderly black man who was briefly interviewed early in the program and was referred to as "cook/caretaker" was actually her fiance, who she planned to marry after leaving the hospital. I do not know if her first marriage ended in divorce or widowhood, or how she met the second man.

She weighed in the 300-400 pound range when she had those kids. We occasionally have women that big deliver where I work, and they have all kinds of problems regardless of how the baby is born.

RN1982 · Jan 18, 2009

The surgeon that will be performing my gastric bypass was on DHC's Minds of Medicine to discuss obesity and bariatric surgery. I've been approved already by the psych doc and the insurance company and my orientation is next week to the bariatric program. I'm quite nervious.

flightnurse2b, LPN · Jan 18, 2009

The surgeon that will be performing my gastric bypass was on DHC's Minds of Medicine to discuss obesity and bariatric surgery. I've been approved already by the psych doc and the insurance company and my orientation is next week to the bariatric program. I'm quite nervious.

i wish you the best with everything!!

have you scheduled your surgery yet?

RN1982 · Jan 18, 2009

i wish you the best with everything!!
have you scheduled your surgery yet?

Having spoken to other patients who went through the process with the same surgeon, I know that at orientation, they will discuss the various surgeries, the after-care program, I believe I will have to meet with a dietition and exercise physiologist. I don't know when I get to schedule my surgery. From what I've been told, I meet with the surgeon to discuss the surgery that is "best", from what other patients told me the surgeons always make their patients lose a specific amount of weight prior to surgery and then upon losing said about of weight, surgery can be scheduled. I have heard only good things about the surgeon.

rph3664 · Jan 18, 2009

The surgeon that will be performing my gastric bypass was on DHC's Minds of Medicine to discuss obesity and bariatric surgery. I've been approved already by the psych doc and the insurance company and my orientation is next week to the bariatric program. I'm quite nervious.

Then you are certainly in good hands! Lots of people think this is the easy way out, but it isn't.

Keep us posted on how you are doing.