Weight Loss Surgery

This weekend my husband took care of a patient in the ICU who is on the verge of death after complications from her gastric bypass. Just keep in mind that the chances of serious complications are quite real, even though it seems to be such a common surgery nowadays. Good luck to you!

I had a lot of people tell me not to do it, and others who were very supportive. Mostly supportive, and that helped me BIG time.

I had gastric bypass Octboer 25, 2012. I started a protein shake diet for two weeks prior. So since October 12th, 2012, I am down 69 pounds. This is by far the best decision I've made for my health ever.

I found an amazing doctor, worked with him for a couple of months before surgery. I also worked with my local team of doctors for 10 months before the surgery. Learning how to live after is the biggest challenge. Things you love won't work anymore and things you didn't like might be the only thing you can keep down. For my weight, bypass was the best option. I've heard the sleeve is good, but the weight loss is not as substantial. I've also heard more negative things about the lapband than positive. It scares me.

You just have to do your homework. Talk with the surgeon you select and get their advice. Ask how many patients they have lost and why. Mine only lost one in over 10,000 surgeries. That one was because of sleep apnea and the patient not wearing their CPAP after surgery. So it wasn't really on him. Be comfortable with the team he/she has and make sure you have a supportive group around you. It took me a good two weeks to move like normal again, and about 6 to be 100% back to me.

I wish you all luck!

Before you consider surgery, has he ever gone to an OA meeting? There MANY people there who have lost over 100s of lbs. I know you say you have looked into the surgery, but definitely have the person look into OA. I just think that if a person doesn't change their thinking around food and what causes them to over-eat, then surgery isn't the end all.. I go OA and it's been very inspirational for me to hear all the success stories. Check em out online at oa.org... it's a PROVEN program.. of all the programs out there , the 12 steps have the most success stories..

good luck in whatever you decide

Hubs got a lap band put in in August 2011. He's lost nearly 90 lbs since. It worked for him. He was never one who had a taste for junk food. He did have bad eating patterns though, and the band certainly helped. Hubs used to not eat all day, then eat 4-5x what I ate for dinner. That would sit in his stomach overnight, and low and behold he would be sluggish and not hungry till dinner when he wold be famished and overeat again.

The lap band, in restricting his stomach size, forced his hand into smaller portions and slower eating. He felt sated and weight has slowly and surely been shifting off.

The fringe benefits are improved self esteem, increased energy, and increased vitality.

I do not have a doctor to suggest. But I do suggest you get several opinions and also consider counseling so you are totally ready for the procedure and the life-long changes. My friend's mom and my cousin both had gastric bypass. My cousin is fine and has kept the weight off, even after having a baby. She considers the counseling to have been beneficial in prepping and then dealing with the recovery and her own self image post-weight loss.

Unfortunately, my friend's mom died 6 weeks later, due to complications and infection.

I wish you luck in finding the right doctor for your journey.

Weight loss surgery is risky but it does work for some people.
Some people have initial success but then stretch out their stomach again and end up right where they were before the surgery.
If it's a last resort (diet hasn't worked, counting calories, walking more, keeping food diet), then give it a try but it's not a magic cure all.
There are some new diet drugs that have been FDA approved last year.
Qsymia and Belviq.
You might want to have him try one of those before resorting to surgery.

I got my lap-band surgery in September of 2010. I lost 90 pounds before I got pregnant last year (just had my baby six weeks ago), so I'd say it's been successful so far. I wouldn't suggest the lap-band to people, though, I would recommend the gastric sleeve. I DEFINITELY wouldn't suggest gastric bypass. The reality of that surgery (among severe complications) is that the stomach just stretches back out and then you're back to square one. If I had it to do over, I'd get the sleeve. It's the best decision I ever made, though, it literally saved my life.

My surgeon is in Arlington but he's nothing special. (Dr. Richard Carter). I don't have anyone to suggest in Dallas.

I got sleeved September 27, 2012 and am convinced it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I have lost 55 pounds so far. My recovery wasn't bad at all (easier recovery than my 2 C-Sections!). I had surgery on a Thur, discharged on Sat and started to care for my 2 kids around the following Tue or Wed. I did take off 6 work days and 2 weekends from work. I could've used one more week off but I managed to fight through it.

As a part of his homework, I strongly suggest that he (and you) attend a local WLS support group. It will give him an idea of life after WLS. The surgery is a tool that has to be utilized properly to get the desired results. The real work begins after surgery, it requires pretty major lifestyle and eating changes. It's the post surgery stuff that keeps people from being successful and/or causes people to have issues. For example, there are increased risks for malnutrition in gastric bypass patients. This is primarily due to lack of education as well as WLS patients not following the recommended food plan and supplements even when they are educated. Many bariatric surgeons don't properly educate patients on the proper eating habits post surgery. They are great at cutting (surgery) but often not educated themselves on what it takes to be successful with WLS post surgery

Yes there are risks for complications as there are with any surgery. As someone else mentioned, you'll want to talk with the doctor about the number of surgeries they've done, what kind, have they had any deaths, what is their complication rate, etc. Also, like many other medical specialties, there are bariatric surgeons that have been designated as center of excellence by American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery. This basically means that they have maintained specific standards, such as mortality, complication rate, etc. Hospitals can also have this designation so it is likely that if the doctor has this designation, they will perform their surgeries at a hospital with this designation.

Finally, I know you are looking for a doctor in North Dallas and there are several up that way. But I do highly recommend my surgeon, Dr. Manual Castro at New Beginnings Surgery Group. Not only does he have great bedside manner, but his staff is great and he does a great job in providing the proper education pre and post surgery. You can also go to Forest Park Medical Center's website and do a search for a bariatric surgeon on their website.

Good luck to your husband and you!