"End Stage" Untreatable Obesity

flightnurse2b, LPN · Jan 18, 2009

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.

good to hear you found an awesome surgeon....well please keep us posted on how you are doing! i will keep you in my prayers as you start this process. :wink2:

RN1982 · Jan 18, 2009

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.

Thanks. I have a couple of friends that had the surgery and they are fine and did not have any complications. Although one lost too much weight but gained about 15-20 pounds back and she looks great.

CathyLew · Jan 18, 2009

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,

good luck with the surgery. I have several friends who have gone thrugh it. Sounds like you have a very capable surgeon.

I also love watching the Discovery health programs on the obesity clinc in brookhaven. Some of the stories are very hart-wrenching. I had not heard of the term End Stage untreatable obesity before.

We are about to start lap band procedures in our hospital. I am nervouse because I have a feeling that we won't have the best equipment, or enough of it. And I hope they do some staff training! Everyone from dietary to PT should be ready long before we start.

susannyc · Jan 18, 2009

TraumaNurse07-

I had the duodenal switch procedure in 2001, so I'm 7 1/2 years post op. Smartest thing I've ever done. I was 304 lbs the day of surgery, now, 153 lbs.

Best of luck to you.

ktwlpn, LPN · 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!

We are seeing it in LTC with great frequency. Think of the co-morbidities-HTN,hyperlipidemia,diabetes,CHF-we have several residents that are over 300 lbs and had strokes in their 40's to 50's which led to them being institutionalized.They continue to be non-compliant with their diet and are certainly no longer candidates for any bariatric program due to that and the severities of their co-morbidities.It is interesting to see how food plays a role in their relationships with friends and family.They are truly passively commiting suicide.

SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN · Jan 18, 2009

TraumaNurse07, I always thought of you as skinny. Huh.

Good luck with it.

leslie :-D · Jan 18, 2009

trauma, you'll be one of the great success stories.... i know that. :up:

leslie

Ginger's Mom, MSN, RN · Jan 18, 2009

Tramanurse07 good luck with surgery. To be an approved Bariatric Center and get paid you need to be a Center of Excellence. To qualify for a Bariatirc Center of Excellence you have to be approve by

http://www.surgicalreview.org/ or the American College of Surgeons. Where I work we are approved by the ACS. You need to meet strict qualifications.

In my position, I review surgical chart, I have been in my job going on 4 years and the Bariatic reviews are easy since they have no complications.

My point having a good surgeon is a ticket to good outcomes. Best of Luck.

RN1982 · Jan 18, 2009

The hospital where I work is certified as a Center of Excellance in bariatric surgery and thats where I'm having my surgery. I work in SICU and I've seen two patients on my unit with complications from their surgery. It does happen just not very often.

rph3664 · Jan 19, 2009

We are about to start lap band procedures in our hospital. I am nervouse because I have a feeling that we won't have the best equipment, or enough of it. And I hope they do some staff training! Everyone from dietary to PT should be ready long before we start.

You really shouldn't be. They aren't much different from any other obese post-surgical patient.

Our patients went to the ICU after surgery, and were almost always transferred to the med/surg floor the next day and home within a week or so. This surgeon mostly did Roux-en-Y; this was about 10 years ago and I understand that procedure has fallen somewhat out of favor.

PICNICRN, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 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.

Try not to be nervous! Please keep us all posted on your recovery- I wish you all the best!:redpinkhe:heartbeat:D

RN1982 · Jan 19, 2009

You really shouldn't be. They aren't much different from any other obese post-surgical patient.
Our patients went to the ICU after surgery, and were almost always transferred to the med/surg floor the next day and home within a week or so. This surgeon mostly did Roux-en-Y; this was about 10 years ago and I understand that procedure has fallen somewhat out of favor.

Regarding the RNY, it's still a popular procedure. The difference between that and the Lapband is that with the Lapband there is no rerouting of the intestine, just a band placed around the stomach and a port placed in the abdominal wall so patients can have saline injections to make the band tighter. With the RNY, patients are on vitamins for life, they experience the dumping syndrome more often than those with the band. With the band, complications include slipping of the band, infection, erosion of the stomach. I would rather have the RNY as I've read many complaints regarding the Lapband on the Lapband site. Lapband is a fairly easy procedure, its done laporscopically, the RNY can be done the same way.