The Surgical option

[Labarum]

Look at this from the BBC

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/4414316.stm

[Desertthorn]

Re: The Surgical option

Thats scary, but our society is a "want it now" society and going under the knife seems to be the way folks want to go, regardless that there is a possiblity of dying during and after the sugery and regardess that there is a bigger possiblity of gaining the weight right back. IF we don't address the underlying cause of our obesity, surgery is just a stop gap.
I have a friend who is a large woman but not huge and she is having it done. She is on the typical case of day diet coke, and chips diet and OMG, how is putting her life in jeaprody going to help?
GReat post.

[matawguro]

Re: The Surgical option

I posted the following a while back on how the death risks of obesity surgery may have been understated...

Study: Obesity Surgery May be Riskier

[BabyDreamer]

My experience with people having the surgery...

1. My cousin had it at 4oo pounds…she lost down to 150. She also lost her hair, had to go in for seven more operations, and had adhesions to where she threw up every meal. In the process, she also suffered from depression and left her husband of 10 years for a cuter man. She has since gained back 40 pounds and the doctor has put her on a liquid diet because he said if she eats anymore the pouch could rupture and she would die.

2. My cousin's best friend, Pammy had the surgery at 300ish and she died on the table. Her body did not tolerate the surgery.

3. My boss at a previous job had the surgery, she was only 260ish. She divorced her husband within 2 months after 30 years together and her personality is totally different.

4. My current boss had the surgery at 350ish. She is in a size 16/18 now. Her boyfriend and she split after three years, she has lost all her hair and has so much hanging skin it is gross.

5. In short, the surgery does more than reduce the tummy. It seems, at least in my own personal opinion, to make people experience hormonal and emotional changes that have served to wreck relationships and there are so many other problems as well.

[allierw26]

Re: The Surgical option

Wow, Debbie! Just wow. My aunt had the surgery back before they did it laparoscopically...she had a huge wound in her stomach that took months and months to heal. She was probably 400 lbs or close to it. She has since lost a lot of weight and is now a 16/18...but she has gained some too. She throws up her food a lot because she overeats. She also suffers some depression. She has a TON of loose skin. And has endured more pain having it surgically removed.

I am too afraid to have the surgery. What if I die? What if I am permanently disabled because of an elective surgery? Many people have it done and live successfully. A woman where I used to work had it done and she is skinny and happy now. Me....I have to try the old fashioned way. Because if I had gone thru my aunt's pain and was still a 16/18, I would NOT be happy. No way.

[not2late]

Re: The Surgical option

Want to hear something really sad....Across the street is a 16 year old boy who's about 5'9" but weigh almost 300 pounds. His mom tells me that he absolutely refuses to "diet" and refuses to exercise because he thinks having surgery is easier. And the mom isn't weird about "dieting" either. All she wants him to do is stop drinking sodas and start to control his food portions, but he absolutely refuses to do either. I've seen the kid storm out of the house because she's refused to let him have third or fourth helpings. And once he leaves the house, he's puffing his way up the street to the 7-Eleven to buy junk food.

[BabyDreamer]

Re: The Surgical option

Allier,

I totally agree and the idea of the surgery is to limit the food. It really doesn't solve the issues so many of us have with the food in the first place. As my cousin, who had the surgery said to me when I asked her if I should do it, "**** no, anyone can eat a whole chocolate cake one bite at a time". That has stuck with me.

Deb

Wow, Debbie! Just wow. My aunt had the surgery back before they did it laparoscopically...she had a huge wound in her stomach that took months and months to heal. She was probably 400 lbs or close to it. She has since lost a lot of weight and is now a 16/18...but she has gained some too. She throws up her food a lot because she overeats. She also suffers some depression. She has a TON of loose skin. And has endured more pain having it surgically removed.

I am too afraid to have the surgery. What if I die? What if I am permanently disabled because of an elective surgery? Many people have it done and live successfully. A woman where I used to work had it done and she is skinny and happy now. Me....I have to try the old fashioned way. Because if I had gone thru my aunt's pain and was still a 16/18, I would NOT be happy. No way.

[womanpraised]

Re: The Surgical option

On the opposite side of things, just for some balance, my "dad" had the surgery a few years ago, is down in a healthy weight range, and no longer suffers from a more dangerous case than usual of apnea, bone and joint problems, scary bloodwork, back spasms, and being generally tired and sick all the time.

Of course, he follows all the rules for after patients, now eats mostly an Atkins Maitenance style, and he and his wife are always out camping, hiking into the backwoods and taking photos of nature for magazines, etc. His doctor said it probably saved his life, he will get to see his grandkids grow.

He did do Atkins, and did lose a moderate amount of weight, but they needed to do something right away. I dont think that the surgery is a panacea, a magic cure all for everyone or a quick way to lose thirty pounds, but just as some folks do see good results with WW, or low fat, South Beach, or good old portion control and exercise, (and are happy with the lifestyle each provides), each person is a unique individual, and what does/doesn't work for one person, may have an opposite result in another.

Just as I would ask my friends who dont understand why I would go with Atkins to understand that I am unique, and it works for me, I just wanted to add some balance for those who have gone with surgical options, and that we are all trying to get to be healthier, just perhaps choosing different paths to do so.

My two cents.

[Mary-chan]

Re: The Surgical option

On the opposite side of things, just for some balance, my "dad" had the surgery a few years ago, is down in a healthy weight range, and no longer suffers from a more dangerous case than usual of apnea, bone and joint problems, scary bloodwork, back spasms, and being generally tired and sick all the time.

Of course, he follows all the rules for after patients, now eats mostly an Atkins Maitenance style, and he and his wife are always out camping, hiking into the backwoods and taking photos of nature for magazines, etc. His doctor said it probably saved his life, he will get to see his grandkids grow.

He did do Atkins, and did lose a moderate amount of weight, but they needed to do something right away. I dont think that the surgery is a panacea, a magic cure all for everyone or a quick way to lose thirty pounds, but just as some folks do see good results with WW, or low fat, South Beach, or good old portion control and exercise, (and are happy with the lifestyle each provides), each person is a unique individual, and what does/doesn't work for one person, may have an opposite result in another.

Just as I would ask my friends who dont understand why I would go with Atkins to understand that I am unique, and it works for me, I just wanted to add some balance for those who have gone with surgical options, and that we are all trying to get to be healthier, just perhaps choosing different paths to do so.

My two cents.

Well said!

[BabyDreamer]

Re: The Surgical option

Womanpraised,

I certainly am glad your father has done so well. It sounds like he has a firm handle on his eating and exercise. You are correct that what works for one will not work for another. Thank you for providing a balance to my earlier post. I think the key is that anyone considering it should really consider the risks and benefits and go from there as it has certainly saved lived (your father as a perfect example).

Deb

On the opposite side of things, just for some balance, my "dad" had the surgery a few years ago, is down in a healthy weight range, and no longer suffers from a more dangerous case than usual of apnea, bone and joint problems, scary bloodwork, back spasms, and being generally tired and sick all the time.

Of course, he follows all the rules for after patients, now eats mostly an Atkins Maitenance style, and he and his wife are always out camping, hiking into the backwoods and taking photos of nature for magazines, etc. His doctor said it probably saved his life, he will get to see his grandkids grow.

He did do Atkins, and did lose a moderate amount of weight, but they needed to do something right away. I dont think that the surgery is a panacea, a magic cure all for everyone or a quick way to lose thirty pounds, but just as some folks do see good results with WW, or low fat, South Beach, or good old portion control and exercise, (and are happy with the lifestyle each provides), each person is a unique individual, and what does/doesn't work for one person, may have an opposite result in another.

Just as I would ask my friends who dont understand why I would go with Atkins to understand that I am unique, and it works for me, I just wanted to add some balance for those who have gone with surgical options, and that we are all trying to get to be healthier, just perhaps choosing different paths to do so.

My two cents.

[divaindubai]

Re: The Surgical option

I don't really know if this doctor was just trying to do a sales job on me or not, because here in this country all of the health care is private, so I'm sure a few extra bucks in this doctor's commission pocket wouldn't hurt him! But anyways, he was recommending me to have this surgery, and gave me NO other option. I guess he felt that because i've tried to lose weight in different programs since I gained this weight from pregnancy mostly (12 years ago), that I cannot do anything on my own and just need this "magic" fix. I even told him that I'm doing Atkins but maybe not as faithfully in the past as I should, but that the weight HAS come off slowly, especialyl the past year since I have been on and off atkins.I know that I've lost at least 15 kg (30 something pounds) this past year, and although I've gone on and off Atkins I still think this is an achievement! So he just bluntly criticized Atkins and just told me that I should be losing weight within 6 months, or else get this surgery. This was the only time I've ever met him, so its not like he's basing my need to lose weight on anything but the fact that am "obese" and have noticeable fat deposits on my body.

I told my husband that I am going to get this weight off by myself because I can do it. This happened about 3 - 4 weeks ago that this was said to me by this "doctor". I believe it was just all a sales gimmick. It costs considerably cheaper than in North America. The price to get it down was around 10,000 Canadian dollars. But still, I'm not going to do it surgically, the weight is already coming off and I'm going to do this on my own!! The risks are way too high for me anyways, I was curious about it so I read some information and I just feel the risks are way too high, and my body will NEVEr be the same after the surgery, so I'm not having any surgery for this purpose!

This weight IS and WILL come off!! Pound by Pound, kilo by kilo!

[2big4mysize]

Re: The Surgical option

I lost a good friend who left a fatherless 4 yr old behind and ADBB has had at least 2 memebers who have had the surgery and used it as a tool to help them do their Atkins plan as one of them put it so well so i have seen this from both sides. folk us use it don't just run out and get it like a tummy tuck or lipo. they have rules about previous attempts at weight loss a psych evaluation and all kinds of safety things in place. We nned to remember that the folk who get this done are in a life or death situation and facing death if they don't hasve it. their survial rate and life expectantcy goes up every yr that passes after the procedure and some one who was a 20 yr heart attack walking before can become a ninety yr old perfect heart health person. We have a an epidemic of obesity and we should be supporting folk who are stuggling to lose the weight no matter what methods they have to use.

[Elizellen]

Re: The Surgical option

Well said, 2big

On another Atkins board someone posted that her 'friends' think Atkins is a cop-out as "anyone can lose weight eating Meat, Eggs and no veggies" and condemn her for following it. Likewise we must not take the attitude that people opt for surgery as an 'easy way out' just because they are not striving for health on the same path as we have chosen.

The decision to have surgery is not often taken lightly and can be a good tool to use towards healthy living - just as the Atkins WOE is our good tool to the same destination.

[LC_Dave]

Re: The Surgical option

I just wanted to contribute to this thread, instead of starting a new one.

Personally I am against WLS (Weight Loss Surgery), but I am Pro-Choice.

I can totally relate to people being lost and depressed and believing nothing will work for them.

But what I see with people who get it, is a belief that it is the 'only' way to control their weight. I don't believe it is, because I've what I've learnt doing Atkins for the last 5 months.

Personally I believe Atkins, or controlled carbohydrate lifestyle, is the 'only' way to successfully loose weight and keep it off. I also believe that peopel without weight issues, still need to be kicking the bread and potatos, and keeping the carbs down - for optimal health.

But I've learnt along the way to keep my mouth shut and respect the choices people make.

I believe the best way to show people is to become a positive example.

At Christmas we spent it at a family place. My girlfriend's Aunty was there are she had got a lap-band put in in January 2005. When I told her how much weight I had lost in only 5 months, and it happenned to be more than what she lost after surgery in a whole year - I could see a little envy/dissapointment in her eye.
When I started explaining what I eat - it was clear she had never heard of this way of eating and it was never given as an option to her. (Not many people in Australia know Atkins).
So much for the doctors checking that she had tried everything!

And I know this, my time spent eating scrumptious low carb foods and never being hungry has been a lot easier than her 1 year after the surgery It makes you sad and angry sometimes!

[Elizellen]

Re: The Surgical option

Good points Dave