This Week's Poll: What do you think about the trend towards gastric bypass surgery?
Monday May 22, 2006
Gastric bypass surgery is a hot topic these days, mostly because there's been an amazing increase in the number of people choosing bariatric surgery in the last several years. One statistic shows a 600% increase in these types of surgeries between 1993 and 2003.
This issue isn't always cut-and-dried, but I've noticed many people have their own opinions about bariatric surgery. Some people think it's an 'easy' way out while others think it's a good option for very obese people. What about you? What do you think about this trend? Vote in this week's poll and tell us all about it.
POLL: What do you think about the trend towards gastric bypass surgery?
1. A way to avoid changing eating/exercise habits for weight loss
2. A reasonable solution if the person has tried everything
3. A good idea for those who are very obese
4. A bad idea for anyone
5. Other (please explain in comments)
Comments
I have known two women who have had this done, both of which have life time medical problems as a result of gastric bypass surgery. I can see a person who is obese to the point that their life depends on losing the weight getting this done, but if its not a life or death situation why risk it?
My husband had this surg 6 yrs ago, and died as a result of it 4wks after having it done. Makes you want to just run right out and do it! Quick fix? I think not…
It would be more beneficial to learn self-control and develope the good habits of dieting and exercise. Personally I lost 140 lbs the old fashioned way and have kept it off by the same. I know too many who gain the weight back after a bypass – too risky for the quick fix.
As an RN i believe gastric bypass is a viable means of treatment but only if it is coupled with a serious evaluation of the patients motives for the surgery and pre/post-surgery dietary,lifestyle counseling. As with any surgical procedure there are risks to be considered and in the case of gastric bypass mortality is a genuine risk both during and after the procedure. Thanks
My aunt had this surgery about eleven years ago. And that had to be the worst decision she ever made. due to complcations and negligece of those conducting the surgery. She never lost weight just her eye sight her ability to have a child. She was in a comma for about 3 months. And when she awoke she had more problems than she had to begin with. So I dont believe any one should take the risk of this surgery. Thanks
My wife had this done 1.5 years ago and to date she has losy 150 pounds. The only problem she has is certain foods do not digest well. But she had a wonderful support staff at Greenville bariatric and Dr Bore. she ha to go 6 months of pre surgery phyciatric evaluation befire she was even approved and then also 6 months of support group meetings before surgey.After surgery she had the same meetingsd after surgery.
People need to understand that self-discipline and determination will lose weight. The pharmacy system is designed to sway some from the truth and knowledge of self, along with effective propaganda to ensure the coaxing, every want becomes a need.
It is a life-saving measure for many although it does carry risks as does any surgery, life-saving or otherwise. I had it because I had tried everything and had changed my habits to no great success and was worried I would die within 10 years without a great amount of weight loss. My habits are still changed for the better and even improved now that I am of a normal weight and can step up my exercise options, etc. Only people who do not know the real struggle of morbid obesity would consider it easy or a terrible idea–it is a risk you take to get your life back when all else fails and has to be an individual choice. I investigated surgeons thoroughly–no one needs a quack who is in it for the $$$ and not for the patients. I found a great surgeon with a great success rate who is committed to long-term follow-up and lifestyle changes. I felt the surgery risks were no worse than the risk of continuing to struggle with morbid obesity. It was the best answer for me and should be respected, but I won’t lose sleep over those who don’t–I have a great life going on now that I am once again healthy, so I have what I need and don’t care what others think! (I paid cash for mine, by the way, and don’t regret a cent, but insurance should support this option fully.) If you can lose and keep it off with only changes, we would all be thin (believe me, fat people don’t want to be fat and do try to make changes, but yes, they sometimes get defeated), but it doesn’t happen for a vast majority of people. So it’s snobby and ridiculous to think that what works for one will work for everyone. We who have worked diligently with small success (and need a great deal of success) know the truth. I have followed the rules of weight loss surgery diligently and reached my ideal weight in 13 months. Gastric bypass with the right doctor and right frame of mind can be the miracle that many desparate people pray for! It has been for me and I am thankful to God for doctors having the medical know-how to help so many people who need it.
By 1982 I or none of my friends or Family had ever heard of this surgery.
By 1982 I had a heart attack,I was 22 yrs old.
I weighed in at over 460lbs I had a 72“
waist line and was 5`8“ tall.
My Dr. said repeatedly that if I did not
lose weight I was gonna Die!
And then It happened I had the Heart
Attack and not knowing what else to do
My Dr sent me to see a surgeon that was
just starting to perform this procedure
in Tupelo Ms.
I went and had this surgery and Have since had a productive and long life,
And I give the credit all to the Dr who
performed this surgery on me.
Now It`s True That I beleive that this
procedure is possibly becoming abused
But you see in my case From my earliest
childhood memories I cant ever remeber
being skinny, I was always not just Fat
but extremely Obeise I wore in 6th grade
a 42 28 husky Jean and in my case I had
2 choices I was either gonna Die from the Fat Or the Surgery Thank God I chose
this Surgery and have lived to tell this
story to someone else.some 20 yrs later
This is not a procedure or cosmetics
It is a Life saving procedure and should
only be Used as such. But Do Use it for
SavingYour Life.
Professor
IOnly wish I could say everything I think of the people and the surgeon
from Tupelo that gave me these and any
Xtra Years that I would not have Had
if not for them May A Higher Power
Bless each and everyone of them…
I believe that Drs. are too quick to suggest such radical surgery. I also believe that the mojority of Drs. do not provided adequate pre-op counseling on changing habits, not only for the patient, but for the family as well.
To my knowledge, we still have no data and analysis on the long term health effects of this surgery.
The way this surgery is marketed reminds me of the credit industry. Why wait to have what you want, when you can have it today.
Gastric bypass, like all medical procedures, is appropriate for certain situations but not to the tune of 140,000 procedures a year. It is a misnomer that one must lose weight to be healthy. In truth, health is very associated with lifestyle and not what people weigh. A clinical study at USC suggested that health is actually better restored through lifestyle changes ALONE without dieting and/or a focus on weight loss.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=25384
The public should be aware that the gastric bypass is an invasive surgery with repercussions and not a “magic bullet”. Because of vitamin deficiencies, some of which cannot be resolved, the lifespan of those having the gastric bypass might be shortened. Too often, the side effects are not even mentioned and patients find out after the fact what they are up against. This can cause severe psychological damage at the least.
No one guarantees the long term results of this surgery – not even the AMA:
>>>>” …long-term consequences remain uncertain. Issues such as whether weight loss is maintained and the long-term effects of altering nutrient absorption remain unresolved.”
WLS is a valid option for somebody who has tried absolutely everything else to lose weight and who has severe to life-threatening health problems that will be helped by weight loss (like a heart condition, or being confined to a wheelchair)… it is NOT a magic bullet or an easy way out. It has a lot of dangers and it doesn’t even guarantee success… I would NEVER consider it for myself although I’m a hundred pounds over what I should be, because I do not have the physical health problems to justify it. However, we seriously considered it for my husband, because he has permanent joint and back problems from other causes and losing weight would help to make him more mobile and comfortable… but he decided not to do it because he doesn’t have very good willpower and we don’t think it would work for long. I want to grow old and die with my husband, not be a widow because of surgical complications.
If you don’t have the willpower to follow a strict diet before WLS, it’s never going to work for you, because it’s a lifelong starvation diet.
My sister died at the hospital in horrific pain. She just had her 50th birthday.
I had the surgery last June, and I couldn’t be happier. Although I was considered a “light weight” with a BMI under 40, I had high blood pressure, and insulin resistance…headed straight for diabetes. I was on three prescription medications. Since my surgery, I’ve lost 89 pounds and all my medications. I now just take my vitamins daily. I eat healthy, natural foods, never eat sugar, never drink carbonated drinks and am so happy with my new life! I’m wearing a size 6 and looking great! I feel like a million bucks. This surgery is a very personal decision and I hate to see people passing judgement on the procedure when they aren’t in a position to benefit from it. It isn’t the “easy” way out. It takes very definate life style changes to be successful long term. This surgery is a wonderful tool to help us in our fight of obesity. I’m so happy with my choice to do it. Yes, I’ll have to take vitamins the rest of my life…it’s better than prescription drugs! Yes I have to get enough protein and water in every day…shouldn’t we all?? Yes, I have to exercise daily…again a choice all should make! My life is so much better post-op than before as obese person!
This is a personal decision, yet that doesn’t stop uninformed and arrogant people from chiming in and blaming the obese who take the brave step to commit to this surgery, which can be dangerous if not life-threatening. Chronic exercisers should do some tolerance “reps.” Or has surrounding yourselves with dumb bells rubbed off on you?
My friend had this surgery done over a year and a half ago. She has lost all of the weight her doctor said to lose, (110 pounds)and is still losing. But is unable to eat alot of foods, like hamburger etc. But now she is left with excess skin. She said even when she looks in the mirror she still see’s the old body looking back at her, not the new one. And all the med’s she was on, she doesn’t have to use because of the weight loss.
She says she is more depressed now
than when she was heavier.
I think that they should have on going classes for depression and dealing with your new body.
What is really sad is that, once again, we are treating the symptom instead of the problem. Gastric Bypass and lapband procedures are just that. They are ways to get rid of the consequences of eating large quantities of the typical American fare. Yes, I understand that for most people gastric bypass and lapband are life-saving procedures. But I can’t help but ask why and how did these people get themselves into such a state? The answer that comes to me is “fast food”, “ignorance”, “high fructose corn syrup”, “depression”, “sedentary lifestyle”, “processed food”, “stress”, “addiction”, “lack of education”, “big food industry”, “junk food marketing (especially to children)”, and the list goes on.
I am a personal trainer who constantly talks to her clients about their diet. I’m sure they get tired of me asking “when did you eat last?”, “did you eat breakfast?”, “you can’t starve yourself all day and expect to have healthy metabolism”, “you have to walk!”, “what do you mean you had a hotdog and a coke for breakfast!!”.
The way to end the obesity epidemic in this county is to educate people about who is getting rich off their suffering(junk food marketers, big Pharma), and hit the junk food marketers and the big food industry where it hurts most -in THEIR pocketbooks!! When the people in this country get fed up and honest with themselves and make an effort to learn how to shop and prepare good, simple food, and stop allowing junk food marketers to seduce them, then the food industry will get the message. We need to teach our children how to choose healthy food and protect them from the deceitful tactics of our culture (get the pop machines out of school hallways!) and we need to teach them by our example. And we can’t wait for someone else to do the teaching. Moms and dads and grandparents need to teach their children and grandchildren basic nutrition and learn it for themselves as well. We also need to make our lawmakers take responsibility to control big food and big pharma lobbyists and make laws that will protect the health of all Americans. If we don’t and if we as a people cannot take responsibility, control our appetites, and make healthy choices, government will step in and enforce those healthier choices on us because the cost of obesity in this nation is so high it is affecting all of our pocketbooks through exhorbitant medical costs and insurance rates.
Interesting… you don’t see this in Europe – not even in the western European nations. What you do see is people walking, riding bikes, taking the train and no MacDonalds on every street corner. Plus, they have socialized health care. Do we want that in America? By the looks of it, I guess so – And maybe that will be the best for us because we are unable to control ourselves or the sitution on any level.
yeah?
well i love this surgery…
it saved me and all me and my family from official fattness 4 life DUH!
love
I had gastric bypass surgery 20 years ago, like every other fat person I hated myself and was tired of all the comments and disrespect. I did well at first, lost down to 120#. Even though I had all the loose skin, I was sort of happy cause I looked good in clothes. The depression we feel is because food is an ADDICTION, just like alcohol or drugs. We go into withdrawals – crying and wanting the object of our addiction which we can’t have after the surgery. Don’t worry, this, too, will pass. When I was approximately 15 years postop I became ill and lost down to 85#. Of course, my surgeon, who said he would always be there for me, retired. Recently, the Dept. of Neurology at the University of Arkansas did a study on people like me(and possibly you). They found that due to our Vitamin deficiencies, it can effect your nervous system. (www.neurology.org).. I now have Fibromyalgia and Multiple Sclerosis, am totally disabled. I also still weigh 85# even though they tried to stretch my staple line and could not do it. I don’t know if the bypass caused all my problems, but please consider BEFORE having the surgery. Cheri from IN
I wish that people would stop lumping by-pass & lap band surgery in the same boat. Gastric by-pass is a highly invasivemedical proceedure with a tremendous amount of risk attached.
The lap band while still invasive does NOT include drastic changes to the internal organs like the severing of stomach & re-routing of the intestine. If anything does go wrong it can be removed unlike the gastric by-pass which is permenant.
That said, I am having lapband surgery this July & can hardly wait! I have gained & lost & gained & lost & gained some more for years. Sure I have issues but I can work on those while I continue to lose weight without fear of it coming back on! To me, the benefits of a chance at health & happiness really do out-weigh the risks – & thats the bottom line
i had gastric by pass in april. I am heading into my 4th month and i am doing great. I have had no setbacks and i feel really great. my doctors in chapel hill really helped me understand the whole precedure. If i had to do it all over again i would!