Gastric Bypass Or Lap Band??

[mikesduster]

what do you guys think of this surgery??...they have a NEW way of doing it with a rubber band type of procedure.

my cousin lisa was 300lbs,has the bypass and now weighs 160lbs!!!
another girl i know had the rubber band type done and she has lost 50lbs so far.

im REALLY thinking of doing the rubber band type surgery...ive been over weight ALL my life and have tried all types of diets and even starved myself for a week just to loose weight...im NOT getting any younger and i want to be around for my wife and 4 girls.
anyone here have done this and what do you think about it??

 

[jivemother33]

my mother had the bypass saved her life but there are side effects just mke sure u do all ur home work be for u decide if i can help u out lit me know

 

[Mrmopartech]

Surgery is a big step to take to lose weight.If it helps,great.But before I would do that I would see a deitatition and a trainer to help you and even a theropist to talk to you.This is not my intent to be mean on this,but only one person is allowed to put the food in your mouth and only one person is in charge of work the weight off with some type of activity 3-4 times a week.This can be taking a walk with the wife and kids for a good 30-45 minutes,slow at first and working up to a good pace with out running.Talk to your family doctor and get his/her opinion as you do here on the duster.I would do the walking and eating properly with out junk food or fast food at all,before going under the knife.This is only the last option,it takes balls and determination to work at some thing that is hard to do,now we find out if you are a tuff person to prove to your self and family that you can beat the battle of the bulge by working at it or giving in to the doctor and the knife,Mrmopartech
.

 

[SGBARRACUDA]

I have two friends that had the bypass surgery done. and from what I understand their long term results are a common occurance. They lost alot of weight for the first two years and then slowly put about half what they lost back on. My sister is fixing to have the band procedure done because it is the last option for her to lose weight so she can have a hernia surgery performed. ANY surgery is serious. People die from having routine sugery performed. A friend of mine just died 10/12/06 from have surgery to "properly" reset a broken arm bone. The doctor told him if he didn't have the surgery he might not have full mobility of the arm. He had the surgery on friday went home sat, thru a blood clot and was found dead sun morning by his wife. He was 60 years old and just like I'm telling you i told him. Any surgery is serious!

 

[1969340dart]

Loosing weight is 99% of changing your habits of the things and the way you eat.Such as portion size.Very few people actually have a medical problem preventing them from loosing weight.It depends on what you eat,how much you eat, and when you eat! It is extremely hard to loose weight after years and years of not eating properly.But it can be done if you seek help and really want to loose weight.People that have the bypass surgery or the banding done,well it actually makes your stomach smaller so you feel full after just a little food! So if you eat until you are full and no more you ware OK! but if you eat more and more then your stomach starts to expand more and more requiring more food to make you feel full! You can actually shrink your stomach by watching the portion sizes of food you eat. That is why a lot of diets want you to eat 6 or 7 small meals per day! This gives your body a chance to digest the foods and help in shrinking your stomach size! There are some severe side effects from some surgerys one being you could die from it! although a lot of people seem to have benefits from the banding,but that is because they are changing there lifestyles also.Meaning they are eating less and eating healthier foods. You need to check into it very well before you make a decision. I am actually on weight watchers! It seems to work for me.

Bobby

 

[flyboy01]

what do you guys think of this surgery??...they have a NEW way of doing it with a rubber band type of procedure.

my cousin lisa was 300lbs,has the bypass and now weighs 160lbs!!!
another girl i know had the rubber band type done and she has lost 50lbs so far.

im REALLY thinking of doing the rubber band type surgery...ive been over weight ALL my life and have tried all types of diets and even starved myself for a week just to loose weight...im NOT getting any younger and i want to be around for my wife and 4 girls.
anyone here have done this and what do you think about it??

I had Ruen x-Y Gastric bypass done by one of the best in the country Over two years ago.

I have always been heavy, when I was in my early 20's I weighed about 470 lbs. I started dieting and exercise when I was 25 and got down to 270 lbs, while only eating about 1300 calories of rabbit food a day. I also got heavily involved in mountain biking, I was more fit at 270 lbs than any one I knew, I could sustain 80% maximum heart rate for hours. But that was it, I could not break the 270 barrier and I was killing myself with exercise. Until I had a simple slip and fall accident one winter on ice that paralyzed me until I had surgery a few months later that got about 80% of my legs and strength back. Pysical activity was over for me for a few years. My weight slowly crept up until in 2003 I weighed 459 lbs again, diet did nothing but caused my weight to go up and down 30 lbs at a time. I was not able to do any serious exercise anymore because of my injury because of the instability in my spine. In a few short years most of my family died (mother, sister, father) and I got pretty depressed. I stopped dieting, I stopped giving a damn. With the help of some friends I moved to a new city, started a new life, new career, and came around.


I started a new job where a girl worked that had the surgery a year before, my friends convinced me to investigate the surgery. I was very reluctant to have any surgery done because I simply did not want to be that statistical 1% that died in surgery. I did a lot of reserch and found out that the best doctors in the country was about 10 miles away, he had done over 10000 surgeries and had only lost 2 patients due to heart problems they already had.

I lost 100 lbs in a matter of 6 months, the loss was amazing, but I messed around and ate like crap and didn't exercise. I did not loose any more weight but I did not gain any either, about 3 months ago I decided that it was stupid to not take advantage of what I had been given, so I started eating right, but I did not go crazy witht he diet. I stuck myself loosley to a 2000 calorie a day diet while eating normal foods. In the past 3 months, I have now lost an additional 20 lbs. I am now eating NORMALLY and loosing weight at the rate of about 2 lbs a week. THis morning my weight was 339lbs. The lowest it has been in 10 years.

I could not have done it without the surgery, hopefully I will stay smart and keep at it and I will be down to 250 by the middle of next year, and maybe 220 (my goal) by next Christmas. I am starting on doing some low impact aerobic exercise that will hopefully get me there.

I am an example of what not to do after the surgery, it took me a year realize that I was being stupid. You have a family for support, that helps a lot. If you do it, do the surgery it is permanent, the lap band is a foreign object in your body. What they don't tell you is that many more people statistically have problems with it and require followup surgeries. THe bypass will re-train our body, cut your craving for greasy, junk, and sweet foods. You will not eat as much, because even years after the surgery I still cant eat a whole Wendy's single and maybe a few fries.

You are contemplating something major, you need to talk to people that have done it, not recently, but people that have lived with it for over 18 months. If ou PM me, I will give you my phone number, I will help you with any questions you may have. Don't do what I did and drag your feet for several years. If you are thinking about it, do something about it! I have never regretted doing what I did, becuase I would probably have been dead by now.

 

[flyboy01]

I should add that when I was down to 270 I was tearing my body up expending about 10000 calories a week more than a normal person with heavy strenuous exercise. I was also eating as few as 1200 to as much as 2000 calories of VERY healthy (rabbit) food. The result was that I bottomed out at 270, I injured my back 3 times, tore my thigh muscle, tore up both shoulders, my right knee, my wrist and ended up with a lot of scars. TO have maintained that weight for the next 10 years would not have been possible, when I hurt my back and was barely able to walk, let alone any exercise. No diet, no matter how low in calories would let me loose weight.

Not everyone needs a surgery to loose weight, but many of us do. If you try for 10 years, and are not succesful, then you need to consider drastic options. Its is better than dying. There are some bad side effects to the surgery, but I learned to live with them, if fact I have forgotten about them, I have changed my habbits because of them, once you change your habbits, the rest comes naturally. As a matter fo fact, I think that the surgery MAKES you change your habbits, you don't have an option not to.

 

[stupidasso]

the ol lady ballooned after we had our daughter, and had the bypass, back down to what she was. No real side effects, just lifestyle change.

 

[FASTBACK340]

what do you guys think of this surgery??...they have a NEW way of doing it with a rubber band type of procedure.....

Mike, don't do it. As a former "Fat Guy" whom clocked in at 338 lbs. before I was hospitalized 12 yrs. ago with Congestive Heart Failure I have a few bits of advice:

SEEK HELP! A dietician is a good start, such as Weight Watchers. The key is to FOLLOW THE DIET and LEARN NUTRITION! Stapling or rubber bands is FORCING you not to ingest food. But your not learning WHAT to ingest. Therefor people ballon back up in time. You must understand how sugars and carbohydrates affect your system. How you SHOULD eat SOME fat, and how fiber is an important part of your diet.

EXCERCISE! Even if it's just marching up & down a flight of stairs for 10...15...20 minutes a day. As you increase your endurance, up your activity. Go to the mall on Sunday mornings and do laps. Your indoors and there's always great entertainment people-watching. And it's free....

It took you a lifetime to gain, don't expect to loose it all in a month. Set realitic goals. Try to loose 10 lbs. After acheiving that goal, set one for another 10lbs. Mentally it's easier to focus on 10lbs. than 100lbs.

It took me 12 yrs, but I've gone from 338lbs. to 205lbs. If I can figure out how to use my scanner I'll post some pictures you guys will not believe. Loosing 130+ lbs. definitely makes a difference. While I'm NOT a total "fitness Nazi" I do know how to make wise choices. I can walk into a McDonalds and find healthy alternatives instead of a burger & fries. It's just a learning curve....

And if your uncomforrtable discussing this in an open forum, PM me and we'll swap phone numbers and we can talk directly.

 

[memike]

FASTBACK340 congrad's on the wait loss!! I liked your input on mikesduster and I hope him all the best,I went in for surgery 7 year's ago and and found out I had a reacktion to the sleepping gas {anasteshea} I woke up with three Dr's and about 4 nurses over me. And blood all over my face. Later I found out almost didnot mke it. it was supost to be a simpel surg on my shoulder!! So there will be no more surgery's for me and my boone's.
just a local anastesha now and then, mikesduster hold your head up and take care. O
and if you need a frend you know youve got some here :headbang:

 

[Rob]

I don't know much about the procedures other than the occasional horror story which is the way the media world works, report the bad, ignore the good. It's easy to offer advise, harder to follow it yourself. The theory of the surgery is that by reducing the size of your stomach you will eat less, if you have sufficient disipline you can accomplish that without the surgery, that's the easy advice part. I know a few people that have gone on those Jenny Craig type programs and they work for the simple reason that they prepackage your meals in the size that you should eat, then they go off it and start eating more and gain weight, so the simple answer is to measure out your meals. I spent over 20 years in martial arts so I am familiar with the exercise part, you need to find an exercise that you enjoy or you will have a hell of a time getting yourself to do it. Muscle mass increases your metabolism so typically exercise will help in two ways, burn calories and build some muscle. Don't go overboard with it though or, as Flyboy alluded to, you will just tear your body apart, I'm not overweight but I'm pretty beat up from all the training over the years. You need consistancy more than anything, eat right and get some daily exercise. I feel bad for those that struggle with their weight, some folks are heavy due to lifestlye while others just have bad metabolism and gain weight by looking at food. That makes it a lifelong struggle, and it seems completely unfair that there are skinny folks out there that can eat endlessly and not gain a pound. If you set your mind to it you can accomplish a lot, but it takes time so be patient, don't give up and good luck to you.

 

[flyboy01]

Yeah, what he said..seriously, you need to do the research and be honest with yourself as to why you are overweight. If you were a skinny kid in high school and put on the weight in your 20's eating burgers and fries in biggie size meals, then you don't need surgery, but if your family has a history going back 3 generations of everyone being overwieght even in the depression era times of the early 20th century when everyone was poor and hungry, then you may be a good candidate for surgery.

And don't think its easy for you get it either. I had to go to many doctors, psyciatrists, and specialists, not to mention the good doctors wont even take you if they don't think you will work out. They do their best to weed out the people who can do it by diet. I had to write out a complet 10 year history of dieting, plans, and weights so that another dietician could evaluate me. Then once the accept you, you have to start going to classes that teach you what to do and what to expect. Just getting the surgery took determination.

A lot fo people look at the show "Biggest Looser" and think they can do it too, and most can, but read the fine print of every diet or exercise plan "results not typical." Don't fool yourself with that show, it is TV entertainment, everyone of those contestents were poked, prodded, and evaluate for their ability to loose weight, they chose them for their ability to succeed as well as their mental ability to stick with it later. What they are doing is good, it inspires people, especially when you see the final results, I am truly amazed!

Reality is that you need to educate yourself on healthy eating and not diets, get up off your *** (i am very guilty of this), and do something, don't just let time pass. Every person is unique and everything does not work on everyone.

 

[Coyote Jack]

Hey Mike,
I am nowhere near your size and never have been. I can only relate to you my story this past 8 months or so. Eight months ago I weighed 250 lbs. today I weigh 220 lbs. Not that impressive sounding is it.
Here are the facts.
I have a genetic blood disorder that rquires that I take very high dose's of some nasty medications. I can't eat any green veggies as they interfer with the medication I take. I can't eat anything with seeds in it with out some very uncomfortable side effects. So my diet is limited. I eat alot of red meat, fish and poultry. I don't have any cholesteral or high blood pressure problems.
Here is how I lost the weight.
I told my wife to gradually reduce the size of my meals. Instead of a 20 oz steak she gave me a 16 oz steak. Instead of 5 slices of bacon and 2 slices of toast in the morning it was 4 and 1. Still eat 2 eggs though. Instead of a 12 oz glass of milk it is now a 10 oz.
During the day, I only have 2 small cans of Pepsi instead of the regular size.
I have always been active in the outdoors so more exercise was not needed. So 8 months and 30 pounds later this idea has worked and was not that painful at all.
I have to agree with the others that it makes a big difference when you get control of how much you eat.
One thing I will add is I have never been a fast food or sweets type of person. And I still drink as much beer as I want.

Jack

 

[daves66valiant]

Hey Mike,
No idea what your exact situation is but I agree that you need serious counseling. Besides, it is required at most facilities nowadays. Or, at least where I work. Coming from the guy that would give your anesthesia, I would wait on the surgery for now until you have exhausted professional consultation, advice, education, etc.

It is not an easy operation depending on your size. Morbid obesity makes my job especially hard when you start talking about putting in a breathing tube and intravenous lines. The induction and maintenance of anesthesia is risky but can be done safely. We typically place a breathing tube in while you are awake and lightly sedated with a fiberoptic scope with a TV monitor to pass the tube into your windpipe. Not pleasant but drugs and local anesthesia helps with the discomfort and fear. Once the tube is secure we put you to sleep and keep you asleep with anesthsia gas. This surgery is not a cure all and many people do end up gaining the weight back from what I've seen. I have also seen many of the complications which are not pretty at all.

You'll work it out. Goodluck and talk to a few good doctors first even if they are not the best in the country (which is a loose term anyways).
Dave

 

[flyboy01]

Goodluck and talk to a few good doctors first even if they are not the best in the country (which is a loose term anyways).
Dave

My official definition: "have not killed anyone lately" :violent1:

 

[daves66valiant]

The doctors who specialize in this growing and unfortunate field are highly trained and usually have a minimum of 10 years general surgery experience, if not more. The surgical technique and procedure is not that technically difficult once you've passed the learning curve of about 100-200 cases. Most have seen it all. Many doctors these days don't get the respect they deserve. It's idiots like Dr 90210 that give us a bad name. You won't see your gastric bypass surgeon doing Carl's Jr burger commercials while checking out chickens' breasts. :wack: Therefore it is prudent to shop around for

"someone who hasn't killed anyone lately."

The likelyhood of someone dying in the Operating Room is less than half a percent. Mainly because the surgical techniques (meaning less blood loss about a pint or 2 max) are better and the anesthesia is safer than it has ever been. This particular operation is most risky post-operatively. This is were you run into the most common complications.

I don't kill people just knock them out and make them feel good and NOT remember a thing.