Gastric bypass surgery?

[softnred]

I gave it an initial thought, but what quickly scared me away is the fact that some folks either die or have huge medical problems from it. I'm a single parent, and couldn't bear the thought of choosing to do something that could leave my child an orphan. In any case, the others are right...I've lost a large amount of weight on Atkins, so there's no big incentive for the surgery anymore...

[love2beeamom]

I actually considered it before. I had a couple of co-workers who had it done, and didn't really have any problems.. Guess for me, I was just a chicken, and the thought of being put to sleep scares me! I do feel proud when someone sees me and asks about my weight loss. I have had people ask me if I had surgery, and I just proudly say " I eat right and exercise!"

[chubbychick]

sorry i didn't read the whole thread, so if i'm repeating someone, i just wanted to say that i saw a programme on television about people who had gastric bypass, lost the weight and then gained most of it or all of it back a couple years later!! apparently although your stomach is tiny, you can just snack all day long on junk when you are feeling better and just work your way up again. so you need to fix the problem of why you are eating so much and work on some discipline -- Atkins helps tremendously with this and counselling may also help those with more severe problems. the surgery is extreme, weigh the risks carefully.

[californiacasey]

Thank you to everyone for your input and sharing your experiences. I have been feeling so frustrated and having a hard time with Atkins that I’ve been researching other options.
The majority of you do not think weight loss surgery is the best option. I’ve been inspired to stick with my Atkins WOE, however, it has not been easy. And not saying that surgery would be easy, but it seems like it would force my hand…by not being able to eat whatever I want. To be honest, if it didn’t cost so much, I would probably have already had it. My sister had basically given me an ultimatum, saying that I either needed to be at the gym everyday or get gastric bypass surgery. I was really pissed at her….mostly because she was being rude and blunt, but mostly because it was true.
I’ve been trying my hardest to stick with Atkins. I have lost about 8 pounds in 2 months. I’ve been walking an average of 4 miles every other day. When I was in high school my doctor told me that if I wanted to lose weight I would basically have to starve myself (yes he said that.) I am so overwhelmed with this…the weight, the struggle to stop getting fatter, the struggle to lose, the struggle to exercise, the struggle to …..

I feel like I am never going to get past this place. This weight. This struggle. I didn’t mean for this post to turn into a display of my emotional baggage, but that’s where I’m at and I know some of you (if not all) have been here too.

I have a quote taped to my computer monitor, by Ralph Waldo Emerson which reads “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

I want to live well……

[AmyTheobald]

I think that the majority of us are against Gastric Bypass surgery because we have been at the point of considering it. The bottom line is that atkins has given a majority of us a new lease on life, and no it's not easy...but compared to the alternative (death or poor health) in my opinion it is a clear choice! Obesity is a disease, it has emotional as well as physiological components to it! I looked into Gastric Bypass, and decided it was not worth the risks! I also was lucky enough to work on a research project at work studying the outcomes over the last 5 years for people who recieved the surgery and in our particular group of patients 5 out of 100 ended up dying within the year after the surgery. So please for your own sake commit to atkins and excercise!

[sillyann]

My MIL had it, it worked, she's lost 100 lbs, she thinks it saved her life. She eats scary foods all the time and hasn't really changed her eating habits at all, except for portions. My good friend had it, it worked, she's miserable, she wishes she could have done something else, she'd rather be 100lbs up, she told me she couldn't do Atkins because she loves bread.

California Casey, you have come to the right place. Post your menus, reveal your struggles, we will support you! I know the feeling, I would have considered by pass if I hadn't tried Atkins.

[Firemedic mom]

I considered it, but I was scared of dying....plus the recovery time seemed like too long a time away from work.

I'll be frank though, if someone came up with a relatively safe weight loss surgery that had a short recovery time, I might think about it for a minute.....but then I'll remember what it's like to eat real food in real portions and change my mind.

Anne

[chubbychick]

I have a quote taped to my computer monitor, by Ralph Waldo Emerson which reads “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

The Dalai Lama says the purpose of life is to be happy, that we make ourselves happy through being compassionate.

Anyway, I know how you feel to some degree, although it must be even harder when you are starting at a higher weight so I can't even pretend to know what that is like. But there are people on this board who have weighed even more than you and have been sucessful. If you do gastric bypass, you are still going to have to work -- there is a regimented meal plan that goes with it and you have to be extra careful to eat the right things because you can only eat so little and may not get enough nutrients, so it's even more complicated, I think. Plus there is a lot of pain and suffering involved in major surgery, and the chance to die without even waking. I wish you the best success with your weight loss, whatever you choose, and for a healthy life.

[californiacasey]

Thank you to everyone who replied to my post. I am still researching BPS because I want to know all my options (including Atkins, exercise, etc etc). At the same time, however, I am continuing on with Atkins and exercise. I am very glad to say that I am down to 267 today. I am in ketosis and feel more positive about my eating and exercise this week.
Thanks to all for your encouragement and advice. I am going to continue on with Atkins and exercise and see reevaluate this WOE/WOL for me in a few months.
Truly,
Casey

[CatelynL]

My mom had GB about 3 yrs ago and went from 400 to 170 in 16 months. She had tried EVERY diet in the book and none worked for her. She has had juvenile/type 1 diabetes since she was born and atkins made her usually stable blood sugar CRAZY. she made the decision to have GB and does not regret it in the slightest. i can say it was the best thing she ever did. she did have to have some plastic surgery but she was aware of that before the surgery and was prepared for it. in her case the surgery made her not hungry at all. she gladly lived off sugar free popsicles and green beans. (2 things that didnt make her sick) I recommend it to anyone who seriously considers it, knows the ramifications, and has not succeeded any other way. but, not every case is negative. my aunt had it and went from 280 to 140 in a year and didnt have to have any plastic surgery and she has no loose skin. also, one of my moms friends had it and went from 300 to 200 in 2 yrs. she can actually eat anything she wants but only a little. mom says shes lucky... so, i wouldnt immediatly shoot down GB unless atkins works for you!!!!

By the way...where do you get those thingys that blink etc... and show how much weight youve lost???

[sweetpea1980]

My mother did it. After struggling with her weight for a very long time. She had the surgery about 9 years ago. She lost about 80 lbs, and probably gained back 20. But...she is sick all the time. Migraines, she throws up almost every time she eats. She probably spends 4 out of 7 days on average laying in a quiet room with a bathroom near to throw up and a migraine. Because of the surgery her body has stopped absorbing iron so she is severely anemic and she has to go in for iron infusions every couple of months. It is so sad to watch, my dad was saying his one regret would be to have stopped her from having the surgery. She has never been healthy and well since. It hurts to watch her be sick all the time. She has good days, but she cannot eat more than a few ounces of food...and even then she usually gets sick. If it is a last resort, then I guess that is that, but I will never get it. I would never want to suffer like that. My mom is only 52...what an exciting life huh?

[kkat55]

Re: Gastric bypass surgery?

This was a GREAT thread and very informative.

Thanks for sharing!!

[Analog6]

Re: Gastric bypass surgery?

I considered it when I found that a hospital close to us has a special unit for it. But some careful resarch scared the dickens out of me. It is just too chancy by far. Then I found the Atkins book, and here I am, 6 months later and 55 lbs down, and no loose skin, I'm healthier than I've been for years. SO glad i DIDN'T.