stomach surgary

Since there is now way I'm going to lose as much weight as I should I've been talking to my doctor about getting stomach surgury to help. I'm putting together a list of questions for when I see the surgoen. Has anyone had this done, either the lap band or bypass? What should I be asking about?

JG had one or the other; pretty sure he had the lap band.

A friend had her stomach stapled.

She lost a lot of weight but she's always on a special diet and the food seems pretty terrible.

I'm not a doctor and I didn't stay at a holiday inn express so you should probably consult someone who went to med school.

Shawn

Look into HCG? Heard some interesting things about it, but I'm no doctor.

I've also gotten into dietary supplements and I've found that I've lost inches on my waist just by improving my diet and adding some supplements.

Biggest thing that I try to remind people is that it took how long to gain the weight? Why do you think it will go away tomorrow? It takes patience and sticking to working on eating smaller portions of food more often to speed up your metabolism and make sure the food you're eating is actually food and not overly processed and full of salt, etc.

I have some meal plans that really can help if you're interested.

I'm not a doctor either, but I'm very into health, nutrition and exercise (it's my other hobby besides cars).

I would very, very strongly recommend against it. There are so many downsides to it. You may lose a lot of weight at first, but you'll be very likely to gain it all back quickly. That's the common trend with those surgeries. Also, the weight you lose will be a whole lot of muscle instead of just fat. That leads to all kinds of issues itself. You'll also starve your body for nutrition, and have to either make it up with all kinds of supplements or just not get the nutrition you need. Then there's the risk involved with having the surgery. That's another ball of wax.

Ultimately, the decision is yours. But I'd strongly suggest working with your doctor and trying to find a way to make whatever lifestyle changes you need to in order to lose the weight. Surgery isn't usually the answer.

Band here. Works great if you use it properly. My mom did one, too, with similar results. For me it seems like the most sensible way to go. Stapling works great for a while, but you can soon eat your way back into a normal sized stomach.

The lap band has some oddly specific downsides, as it seems everyone has certain foods that they can no longer tolerate without getting a blockage. I'll never be able to eat my mother in law's lasagna again, and my mom can't do almonds. The human body is an odd thing.

But basically it's a restrictor plate. It lets you eat, but more like a normal person. Instead of the entire rack of ribs, you'll have a normal-sized portion, get thanksgiving-dinner full, and be on your way.

jg

I don't have any experience with surgery, but I am with you all the way on your goal to lose weight. I lost 65 pounds over about a year and I feel so much better now, it's definitely worth it.

JG Pasterjak wrote: Stapling works great for a while, but you can soon eat your way back into a normal sized stomach.

My sister in law is proof of this - stomach stapled, lost a good 150# within about a year, had plastic surgery to help with all the excess skin, maintained for about 2 years then gained it all back within a year.

Wally wrote: Since there is now way I'm going to lose as much weight as I should... What should I be asking about?

Honestly? You should be asking yourself why you can't do it without surgery. All those methods do is physically restrain you from over-eating. You could just hire a goon to punch you in the throat when you have reached your pre-agreed limit. If you don't fix the part where you restrain yourself you will end up with all the negatives of surgery, a rapid weight loss followed by exactly the same situation you are in now.

If you can learn to restrain yourself without the aid of staples or bands you can do it without getting cut or you can do it faster with. If you can't, well, you really can't either way so spare yourself the discomfort.

Well, I am a doctor and I suggest you do the GPS method of hiring someone to punch you when you put food in your mouth. It will have less side effects, hurt less and cost you less in the long run.

If you have to pick one or the other, the band thing seems to have less long term problems, but it is really all about you eating less. The stapling, bypass, etc., are all a major surgery. I mean, a "bypass" is just a monster surgery that you don't want, short of having a piece of cancerous or otherwise damaged gut taken out. Seriously.

Here's a hint: You could stop eating today, take a multi-vitamin and drink plenty of water and be fine for months. The first few days are the hard part, then your body kicks over to "OK, OK, I get it. We're not eating so I'll just burn up all this food I've been storing here on your butt."

The only thing that I have heard is that you can still ingest large volumes of liquid calories in the form of Mountain Dew and Milkshakes if you want to, so restraint is STILL part of any weight loss plan.

It lets you eat, but more like a normal person. Instead of the entire rack of ribs, you'll have a normal-sized portion, get thanksgiving-dinner full, and be on your way.

Not picking on JG at all by this response, just my thoughts....

This is where I'm with exactly what Giant Purple said. I'd suggest figuring out why you're considering invasive surgery to let you eat like a normal person. Have a normal size portion of food and then walk away. If you're still hungry, there are a million healthy choices out there. Doing that will accomplish your goals...and it'll be cheaper, healthier and better in the long run.

Yeah, i'd avoid the surgery myself. What i've discovered is that weight loss is more of a wholesale lifestyle change. I know part of it is actually a psych eval to determine you can handle the change to your life. Case in point. We have a very rotund woman that works in my dept. She's probably pushing 4 bills, if not more. Nice lady and all, major food issue. Wants to resort to lap band/bypass/whatevs. Actually got denied coverage for it (she brought this up in an all staff meeting) because our carrier doesn't believe the surgery to be a cohesive way to KEEP that weight off. Now i'd be more inclined to be on her side, except for the fact that every time I turn around, she's cramming her face with a chocolate eclair or cookies or suckin' down her 85th mt dew of the day. Additionally, she's not really willing to excercise either. She lives a half mile from our office, and more than once has paid me $5 for a ride home. ON NICE DAYS. Safe to say, she would not be a permanent success. It can work, if you're committed, but then I figure unless there's some real actual problem where you are physically unable to lose the weight (I had a friend that was like this..) you really don't want to resort to punching holes in oneself. No offense to anyone it's worked for, cause that's awesome. I've just seen a LOT of failures.

Klayfish wrote:

It lets you eat, but more like a normal person. Instead of the entire rack of ribs, you'll have a normal-sized portion, get thanksgiving-dinner full, and be on your way.

Not picking on JG at all by this response, just my thoughts.... This is where I'm with exactly what Giant Purple said. I'd suggest figuring out why you're considering invasive surgery to let you eat like a normal person. Have a normal size portion of food and then walk away. If you're still hungry, there are a million healthy choices out there. Doing that will accomplish your goals...and it'll be cheaper, healthier and better in the long run.

This was what I struggled with, and why I eventually chose the band. I knew the right choices, I just couldn't make them. The band is not a solution, but a tool to make the right choices easier.

I CAN break a 2 x 4 with my bare hands. It's easier if I use the proper tool.

jg

JG Pasterjak wrote: I CAN break a 2 x 4 with my bare hands. It's easier if I use the proper tool. jg

New video on the way? Excellent...

Eat a normal sized portion, then use mouthwash. Nothing tastes good after mouthwash.

The title of this thread is really close to "stomach sugary". Seems Freudian.

Otto Maddox wrote: The title of this thread is really close to "stomach sugary". Seems Freudian.

It's an old Amish recipe.

How much would the surgery cost? Spend that money on Seattle Suttons or some other diet delivery thing that makes smaller portions for you. Then don't eat more than the specific meal.

Cut out all non-natural sugar. Start sweetening your oatmeal with fruit.

Start walking every day. 1/4 mile to start if you can't do more than that. Try to get up to 4 or 5 miles a day. My girlfriends dad has lost almost 100 pounds just by cutting out sugar and walking every day.

Oh, and go to a sleep doctor too. Find out if you have sleep apnea. A CPAP machine might help as well.

I will punch you in the stomach for $15/hr. It's a special outpatient treatment.

I don't know why I don't eat like a normal person. I haven't for most of my life. I used to be busy enough that it didn't matter much. I was always heavy but when I went to the bus company and spent 10-11 hours in a seat every day it started pilling on. I'm not eating much junk, and besides my ginormous size I have no other problems, blood pressure, sugar ect are all fine. I'm beyond the point where walking helps. I walk a mile or more a day, parking away from the train, walk from the subway to work, and at work I stand much of the day, but it's taking a toll on my knees. I'd love to eat like a normal person. I quit drinking and smoking in under a week each, but food kicks my ass everytime. I don't drink sugary sodas, just seltzer, some diet Pepsi and an occasional OJ, and don't keep junk food in the house but I can sit down to lunch and eat a chicken and some sides without a problem. I really don't want to get surgery but I also don't want to end up puttering around Walmart in a scooter either.

Not sure how much this will help, but we're rooting for you.

My S-I-Law did the bypass surgery. She never followed the rules and would get sick a lot. She has put most of the weight back on. 5-6 cans of Mountain Dew a day is not in the rules.

Wally wrote: I really don't want to get surgery but I also don't want to end up puttering around Walmart in a scooter either.

^^^^Print this out and carry it with you. Staple it to your forehead if you have to. Use it as motiviation.

Wally, it's not going to be an easy road. I don't know how big you are, and it's not my business. But if you're as big as you seem to make yourself out to be, then you have to take it one step at a time.

Start with nutrition. There's no "easy" answer for this, and surgery won't be a magic bullet either. You have to learn portion control. What a lot of people do is eat smaller meals, several times per day. But the meals should be healthy foods. Find the fruits or veggies you really like. Eat controlled portions of things like boneless skinless chicken breast or oats or whole grain products.

For exercise, sounds like you're off to a decent start. Add some weight training in. Even if you're really busy, make the time somewhere. Even if you're starting with 5lb dumbells (the little pink ones), it's something.

Remember this. You didn't get big overnight. You can't expect to get small overnight. One day at a time.

Best of luck!!!! You can do it.

[crowd chanting] WALLY! WALLY! WALLY! [/crowd]

Best of luck, dude. You've made me laugh more than any non-famous total stranger.