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Weight Loss Surgery? - 8/7/2014 10:17:38 AM

shiftyw

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Has anyone had any type of weight loss surgery?

What was your experience like?

I'm looking into it as an option for myself since I seem to suck at everything else. I'm not sure I qualify at my current weight, and with my thyroid issues, but I'd still like to be prepared when I ask my doctor about my options...

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RE: Weight Loss Surgery? - 8/7/2014 11:51:33 AM

SeekingTrinity

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I've had two types of bariatric surgery. In 2000, I had RNY gastric bypass. I went from 483lbs on the day of surgery all the way down to 270lbs. Unfortunately weight regain happens with many who have this type of surgery...including myself. In 2012, my RNY was revised to a Duodenal Switch. The DS is a much better surgery for the type of help I needed as far as surgery went. My experience with both surgeries was positive and I definitely recommend it as a viable option if a person decides to go that route.

Your insurance will dictate whether it's covered for you or not. There have been bariatric surgeries performed on everyone from lightweights to SMO (super morbidly obese). I doubt thyroid issues would present a barrier to surgery. Depends on the surgeon though.

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RE: Weight Loss Surgery? - 8/7/2014 12:39:16 PM

Spiritedsub2

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I've known several people (men and women) who've had that surgery because the place I used to work covered that procedure in its health plan. Every person lost a great deal of weight and looked terrific. Every person regained all the weight starting around one year after the surgery. That regain must have been crushing. If I were in that situation, I would choose to lose as much as I could naturally and be content with that, rather than suffer the recurrence of the weight that seems to affect at least the majority of the patients.

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RE: Weight Loss Surgery? - 8/7/2014 12:39:37 PM

shiftyw

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Yah, I doubt my insurance would cover it, because its "elective" even to my doctors.

I'm 230 now. Its obese, but its completely realistic to expect me to be able to lose it.

I know its not a be all end all, and you really still have to focus on what you eat...I am a binge eater (read: occasionally if I'm really depressed, I'll eat a whole box of swiss rolls in an hour)- so that part I'm a bit concerned about too.

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RE: Weight Loss Surgery? - 8/7/2014 12:50:35 PM

shiftyw

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Spiritedsub2

I've known several people (men and women) who've had that surgery because the place I used to work covered that procedure in its health plan. Every person lost a great deal of weight and looked terrific. Every person regained all the weight starting around one year after the surgery. That regain must have been crushing. If I were in that situation, I would choose to lose as much as I could naturally and be content with that, rather than suffer the recurrence of the weight that seems to affect at least the majority of the patients.

I've regained a million times, after having lost weight naturally, this is a concern of mine also.

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RE: Weight Loss Surgery? - 8/7/2014 1:18:49 PM

ADomme4you

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Hi
I have lost 85 pounds over the last 2 years and I continue to loose I had gained 50 pounds a year for 3 years when my thyroid decided to die so i still have much to lose. How did I do it? I started eating less, then did atkins for awhile and now i am on a strict regime of 2 frozen dinners a day and oatmeal for breakfast. Am I hungry? Yes, every single minute of the day. I also walk 3 miles a day and do stretching and some weights. Did I consider surgery? Yes I did. It seemed like a quick fix to my problems. But they wanted me to lose 10 pounds before they would do the procedure and I figured if I could lose 10 on my own, why not 150? So I do it in 10 pound chunks. I tell my self i need to loose 10 more, just see the scale hit the next lower ten digit. It is hard work to lose 10 pounds.
I am fairly vain and was considered very attractive in my younger days so another thing that inspired me was I decided it was time to get sexually active again and there was no way i was gonna get naked with someone at that weight.

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RE: Weight Loss Surgery? - 8/7/2014 6:46:47 PM

shiftyw

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I've been "eating less" for 10 years- I'm 26.

Name a diet- I've done it. I haven't seen the 140's since I was 16.
I'm a waitress- and I make sure I hit 10k steps a day. I have back problems from a car accident, so unfortunately- a lot of exercise is "off the table". I swim, I walk, I hike (lightly). I eat smart. I eat well- I make almost everything and if I go out to eat, I make up for it by cutting calories the rest of the day.

Its not working.
I'm not jumping into this decision blind. It just is an option I'm considering bringing to the table because I am so incredibly frustrated.

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RE: Weight Loss Surgery? - 8/7/2014 8:24:52 PM

SeekingTrinity

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I'd avoid lap band. Way too many issues with stomach erosion and other complications. The RNY is good for about 2 years, but weight regain is pretty easy. It really depends though on what you need from weight loss surgery. Someone like me needs a two-pronged approach like the Duodenal Switch. It's chronic malabsorption coupled with restriction in food intake. Others have had success with a VSG (vertical sleeve gastrectomy). If your insurance won't cover it, you can self-pay. Some travel to Mexico, but Id only go with an experienced surgeon like Ungson. Aceves died in a plane crash a few months ago or Id say him too. Whatever you do, don't go with those medical tourism outfits. If you can stay in the US, you should. I know of a surgeon in New Jersey named Greenbaum who is experienced and offers discounts for cash pay patients. Picking an experienced surgeon is very important.

Best advice I can give is to pick a good surgeon and research the hell out of all surgery types. In the bariatric surgery world, we have a saying. Think twice, cut once. If you decide this is a good option for you (and many of us do), don't let the naysayers get you down if you run into them.

< Message edited by SeekingTrinity -- 8/7/2014 8:25:16 PM >

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RE: Weight Loss Surgery? - 8/8/2014 2:08:02 PM

Phoenixpower

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As you know shiftyw, I lost this year so far 31lbs and I tried a lot for myself in the past....though at many times I didnt bother, though, as I know from myself, when I am stressed out too much I gain weight, and when I am more content again with me and my life, then I am mentally able to get into it, to lose it again.

Anyhow, for me the biggest help so far, was, when I started exercising in my current gym. I tried out 4 different gyms and the one I expected to be the least likely one to be really good, was the one which was brilliant for me...

At that one I used to go 2-3 times a week (usually every 3rd day) and did a 30 minutes whole body workout with using their machines...they dont do any of the fancy stuff like playing music in the background or having any TVs running, nope, in their gym it is quiet, you are doing your 8-10 machines, fully focused on what you are doing, and on each machine you are busy until your muscle tells you that it cant take any further move....when you can do at least 12 properly done moves at the weight which is on there, you increase it to the next level at your next visit...

For me this gym was fun most of the time and I have seen results rappidly...at first I was wondering, if I will really go there for longer than the 6 weeks, which I paid via a cheap offer, but after 3 weeks I could feel, that my hip got a bit smaller and so needless to say, I was more than happy to sign up there...so they offer the basic principle to increase the muscle mass, cause with increasing it, it - of course - does burn more calories in your body during the day...even when you are not at the gym and just at home...I also got aware there, that the thigh muscle is the biggest muscle in our body (or at least, thats what they say and for me it makes sense) and in that gym, they regularly got a thorough workout

At middle of may I tried to take part on their 4 week fat-loss-study but sadly only managed to complete one week of it....however, during that one week where I fully stuck with it, I lost 4kg...so I could see, that increasing muscle mass and eating a diet high on eggs and low on carbs (i think similar or same as atkins, not entirely sure, though, as I never read up much about that one) does work wonders...

Now in recent weeks I was barely able to go to the gym as my partner lost his car (engine broke down) and due to our move I cant get there easily now (we are about 300km far away from that gym now)...anyhow, I still do a lot of the egg based diet and my muscles still do a good job with burning a lot of calories...

So I think if you would go to a good gym and do a regular muscle workout, it might also get you to where you want to get to (of course, depending on financial situation and on the area where you are living)...

All I can say is, that even when I still do a lot of that particular diet (to sort of feed the need of my muscles) I also do snack a fair amount...but nevertheless still continue to lose weight....as for me I found the right balance between snacking and eating wisely.

On 22nd of august I am starting now here at another gym (which got recommended from my previous one) and I am looking forward to continue to lose more weight

Whatever you do, I wish you good luck with it shiftyw

I know that this is now not what you asked for, and I apologise for that, but for me it just works great as this sort of exercise isn't awful at all and it just works marvellous...I am now about to drop my 3rd size in my jeans

Best wíshes shiftyw

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RE: Weight Loss Surgery? - 8/9/2014 8:15:12 PM

LafayetteLady

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If I remember correctly shifty, your thyroid is under active, right? Most don't realize how difficult that can make weight loss. Harder still if thyroid has been removed.

I've looked into the sugery recently and to be honest, your current weight is borderline. A surgeon who will do the surgery for anyone shouldn't be trusted in my opinion. After all it is major surgery and life changing, any doctor you choose should have your health as a concern.

After much discussion with my endo, I'm going to have my thyroid removed. The long term side effects of tapazole for over active are a concern. Once that's done, then I intend to move on to weight loss surgery. While the "being skinny" part is definitely appealing, for me the benefits for my diabetes, cholesterol and arthritis are the real deciding factors.

Trinity, I'm in NJ. Where is this Greenbaum located? I met with Garrison in Jersey City and wasn't thrilled. Would love to find someone else.

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RE: Weight Loss Surgery? - 8/10/2014 9:33:49 AM

SeekingTrinity

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Dr. David Greenbaum of Willingboro, NJ. I'm guessing this is South Jersey. NYC has Dr. Roslin, who is another experienced surgeon that I know has done many bariatric surgeries. These surgeons specialize in the Duodenal Switch, but I know their practices do all types of surgery. My best piece of advice is to look at all the surgery options...Lap Band, RNY gastric bypass, VSG (vertical sleeve gastrectomy), and DS (Duodenal Switch)...and decide what surgery (if any) would work the best for you given what you need it to do. Or notice patterns...like a lot of Lap Band and RNY folks tend to end up revising these surgeries to something else. Some surgeries show great resolution of Type 2 diabetes, while others don't do much.

< Message edited by SeekingTrinity -- 8/10/2014 9:50:22 AM >

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RE: Weight Loss Surgery? - 8/10/2014 11:01:36 AM

windchymes

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Yep, Willingboro is South Jersey, near Cherry Hill-ish.

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