Why should I do it, and what do I have to give up?

whiporee · April 17, 2017

Hi everyone --

I'm considering bypass surgery -- I've got an appointment with a surgeon for May 10. I'm paying out of pocket, so I don't have any insurance requirements to fulfill. But I'm trying to get my head around it, and really have a good feel for what is in store for me. Thanks for indulging, and please tell me what you can.

I'm about ... I don't know, somewhere between 120 and 150 pounds overweight. My BMI is about 47. I'm 50 and have been overweight my whole life -- I've lost 100 pounds three separate times, I've lost 50 six more and I don't even count 30 as significant anymore. 10 years ago I lost 125 and managed to keep 40 of that off, so I've never gotten back to my highest weight. But for the last few years, nothing I've tried has made much difference, and I've tried everything. Three fasting programs, Nutri system. WW, Slimgenics. Trim Healthy Mama. Atkins.

've got three kids under 13,a nd while I get winded, I'm active. I'm the morning person at teh house, so I need to get up and get moving pretty early. I work out four times a week -- lately I've been doing about 150 flights of stairs in each workout, though last week I changed to the treadmill on an incline while carrying weights. I don't eat crazy but I do like sugar (i gave up candy for lent, so it's been a while since I had much of it).

So I'm looking at this, but it scares me. So I'm hoping to get some honest feedback as to what, well, you have to give up. Aside from getting thinner, what else changes in your life? How long am I away from solid foods? How much can you actually eat once the procedure has settled in? Are there food that are just gone for good? And does it work almost all of the time? I know what doctors say, but I really wanted some feedback from folks who have been through it.

Thanks for any opinions or insight anyone can offer. i appreciate it.

summerset · April 17, 2017

1 hour ago, whiporee said:

I know what doctors say, but I really wanted some feedback from folks who have been through it.

These are a lot questions and you will get lots of different answers I guess. I'll try my best though:

[What do] you have to give up?

Eating a lot while being invited for fancy dinners. That is something I miss but it comes around only occasionally, so I don't regard it a problem.

Aside from getting thinner, what else changes in your life?

Exercise is more fun again. However, not everyone feels this way. Some people will never have fun exercising and view it as an additional chore that has to be done. I did Martial Arts competitively in my teenage years so I have a history of doing a lot of sports and it felt fine being able to go back there.

How long am I away from solid foods?

Depends on your program. I had to eat mushy stuff for four weeks.

How much can you actually eat once the procedure has settled in?

There is a lot of variety. I feel like I could eat quite a lot without feeling uncomfortable quite early after my revision.

Are there food that are just gone for good?

Maybe. Maybe not. It depends on what you can stomach or not.

And does it work almost all of the time?

Statistics vary. There is no guarantee. Many people regain everything or at least parts. If it works or not also depends on your definition of success. If you only view reaching a BMI of 21 as a success your chances of being a successful patient are much slimmer than when you view success as reaching a BMI of below 30 or getting rid of co-morbidities.

whiporee · April 17, 2017

Thank you for the information. If I might ask a couple of more questions:

Are carbonated beverages allowed?

I read about dumping -- does that mean that I'd have to stay away from sweets, period?

What about lethargia? I've read about people being very tired, and that's something I really can't afford in my life these days.

Thanks again for the insight.

summerset · April 17, 2017

6 hours ago, whiporee said:

Thank you for the information. If I might ask a couple of more questions:

Are carbonated beverages allowed?

Depends on your surgeon.

I read about dumping -- does that mean that I'd have to stay away from sweets, period?

By far not all patients dump. You'll have to experiment what you can and cannot eat (in general, not only in regards to carbohydrates).

What about lethargia? I've read about people being very tired, and that's something I really can't afford in my life these days.

I needed quite a bit to get back to pre-op energy levels. However, it was the second general anesthesia within a few months so that might have contributed to it. A lot of people say they have lots of energy after surgery. I wasn't one of them and needed several weeks to really get back into gear.