Anyone Had Bariatric Surgery?

[2quilt]

I am really considering bariatric surgery. Anyone had it or know anyone who had it? Anyone you know have it in western USA? I would like a recommendation or a warning to avoid a specific clinic or hospital or doctor if you know of any.

 

[Farine]

Heya 2Quilt,

My mother in law had it done.. and I can't speak for her. If you want to send me some specific questions to ask her, she has the advantage of being a Registered Nurse as well as a Case Manager for an insurance company. SHe honestly knows more than some doctors. Are you just wanting facility information? If so, that I can ask her about based on what you've already posted.

 

[catjudo]

My mother had lap-band surgery about six months ago and is continuing to adjust to the different lifestyle changes but doing well. As far as specific doctors or hospitals, I would recommend finding the closest bariatric surgery "Center of Excellence". This is the way that the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery recognize surgeons and facilities that provide superior patient care and optimal levels of performance. You can find this information through googling or doing a web search. I didn't immediately come up with anything in New Mexico, but quite a few in Texas, Arizona and Colorado (not sure what part of NM you live in). Does seem odd, though, that there wouldn't be one in the entire state.

Anyway, that is where I would start my search for a specific surgeon or facility. I've gone through a lot of the informational sessions, insurance approval process, learning her new eating rules/guidelines through each stage of recovery post-op and now on a daily basis, etc with her. If there are specific questions you have, I can try to answer them but stuff like that is pretty easy to find online.

 

[Nicolette]

I know two people who have had this surgery. One was very successful as he wanted to change his life and has changed his eating habits and 'cured' the sleep apnea he was suffering from which was caused from his weight. The other person, did not follow the medical instructions and just did it as an easy way of loosing weight (so she thought) but was then eating a pizza a week after surgery when she should have been having soup. She lost a little weight but then ballooned back to where she was.

The surgery is not a cure it is only an aide and only as good as the attitude and the determination of the person wanting to lose weight.

 

[Deleted member 541]

I will have to agree with Nicolette here 2quilt......This is serious surgery with a lot of health issues attached to it later on.... If a person hasn't changed their mind set about food, and their eating habits, then it isn't going to work, and you will put the weight back on.

I know 1 person that has had it done and she has done great. Another I know had lap band, and still eats candy bars, and all sorts of crap. When confronted she says, she is still losing weight, so who cares... Wrong attitude, and the weight she has lost isn't that great for the length of time she has had this done. She could have lost more with proper diet....

 

[Cin]

I am a bit of a fitness nut and have seen in my 3 years of working at a gym no reason why anyone needs to get this surgery to deal with weight issues. Not only is exercise good for your body, but it is one of the best things for your mental health. Hard work and determination is far better for your state of mind than opting for major surgery. The surgery may get the results faster than eating well and working hard, but, it won't correct the damage done to your body by being overweight. Exercise allows your body to expel nasties via sweating, healthy eating detoxes your organs. If you can afford the surgery, you can afford a personal trainer who will teach you how to live a healthy life.

 

[catjudo]

2 quilt was simply making an inquiry. You are assuming that she doesn't or won't exercise. Bariatric surgery is not an easy out...it still requires proper diet, exercise and hard work to get the intended results. Cin, you're making assumptions and coming across, IMO, as very preachy and judgmental. That's not going to help.

Others are right, though, the surgery won't work if you don't have the resolve to follow the required diet and other guidelines. Only 2quilt and her doctors can know if this is an appropriate option for her. I have never heard of a bariatric surgeon who didn't first make sure their patient had reasonable expectations and the commitment to follow through with what is required of them (including, but not limited to, a psych eval prior to the surgery). While there are plenty of people who get this surgery thinking it is an easy out and it is not effective for them, surgeons won't just do this procedure on every obese person who walks into their office asking for it. Especially if you're taking the time to seek out a good, reputable surgeon/facility.

 

[Cin]

I wasn't assuming anything about her. I was putting forth my opinion on the procedure.

 

[Cin]

My apologies 2Quilt if I came across as preachy and judgemental, that wasn't my intention. I was just trying to emphasise the massive all over health benefits of a whole lifestyle change rather than surgery. I wasn't meaning to come across as though you don't/didn't already exercise or eat well.

 

[Deleted member 541]

Cin,

As you are a newer member, you wouldn't have known that 2quilt has physical injuries, conditions, and limitations as to what she can do for exercise. I too felt that you came off as a bit preachy, but that can happen when we are passionate about what we feel is right.

All of us here have limitations of some sort, and we try to work with them, or around them, but mostly we do try......

 

[Nicolette]

Actually I just thought of a third person I know who had it done. He was very obese and his health was at risk. He had the surgery and dropped weight. He was looking really good and then met a woman who herself was relatively large as was his own son from the influence of bad eating habits. It actually took the joint effort of the three of them to work at this as otherwise one was affecting the other in a negative way when they ate badly or like when the woman cooked meals she was used to. It took a good year or so but I ran into them a couple of years later and while not slim, they looked great, had more energy and were healthier. IMHO if there are others around you they also need to support you and not make it hard for you by placing temptation around you.

 

[2quilt]

I am physically disabled, use a wheelchair when I can't walk, but the disabilities were due to my being in the first Persian Gulf war. I have worked with many a physical therapist and personal trainer, diets, more diets, etc. and even a medically supervised plan. If "just eat less and exercise more" would work, I would do it. I have a disease where my joints will dislocate if I move them too much. Repetitive motion dislocates my toes, ankles, knees, shoulders, fingers, hips. I can't do weight lifting, can't run, can't walk but to the mail box. I can walk in swimming pools and I do that.

I also binge when I am depressed. I eat emotionally. I eat to comfort myself. PTSD and depression are big parts of my life, but I am medicated, supported and loved. I recently got high blood pressure, they are testing me for diabetes, and I have been having so much chest pain that I now have nitroglycerine on hand. My health is going fast down the toilet. I have to make big changes and YES I am highly motivated to change. I don't want to die or live with obesity-caused diseases. I already have a laundry list of diseases. I take 23 pills twice a day now.

Oh yes, it does not surprise me that there are no bariatric surgeons in New Mexico--we have a low population, it's a poor state, and the paychecks in NM are low, so no doctors come here when there are better jobs elsewhere.

Cin, I am glad you are able to exercise when you want to, and in many different ways. I simply can't do that. My perspective is different from yours. I know that you meant no offense toward me, you don't know me, and you didn't have all the facts. I appreciate everyone's advice.