Redsfan19

Exactly, it seems really stupid. And a waste of money, since my insurance doesn't pay for medical weight loss or other types of weight loss programs. I saw an article by a bariatric surgeon as I've been researching these procedures arguing this very thing - why are we asking people who have accepted we have continually failed at this to prove once again they can't do it before we can get surgery?

@@Miss Mac, I saw in another thread that we have the same insurance, so I'm hoping I can use your experience!

As someone considering whether to get surgery, I really appreciate this totally happy yet healthy look at your real and very human journey. Thank you for sharing with us!

But does this mean you have to try things you've done in the past all over again, or is it often enough to tell your dr all the things you've tried (I've done Weight Watchers countless times, Jenny Craig, meds, met with dietitians, etc.) and have them sign something for you acknowledging that? I'm mostly just asking so I can try and get some idea of how long all of these things might take me to complete if I decide to go through with it.

Right now, what's holding me back MOSTLY is the fear of complications. I'm 31, and while I'm also afraid of the complications of my weight and co-morbidities, I'm really afraid of doing this and suffering from some type of permanent damage to my digestive system or from Vitamin malabsorbtion (even though I fully intend to take Vitamins and supplements RELIGIOUSLY) that I just have to live with for the rest of my life. I am meeting with my potential surgeon this week, and have a HUGE list of questions to ask re: complications, both generally and specifically related to his stats and my particular health issues. However, I still keep coming back to the fear of what this excess weight, T2 Diabetes, etc, will do to me in 20 years if I DON'T do this.

Hi Everyone- I've been reading a lot about potential complications, both anecdotally on these boards and in studies, as part of my pre-surgeon appointment research. I'm fairly young (31) compared to a lot of other people I see having WLS, and the surgery's long term impact is of particular interest to me. First, I fully recognize that if I have surgery, I will be taking my doctor's regimen of Vitamins and supplements daily and RELIGIOUSLY, as well as carefully watching my Protein intake in my diet. So my question is...when I see things about people developing increasing anemia (particularly as i'm some ways from menopause), B12 deficiencies, etc, about 5 or so years out, does this appear to be somewhat inevitable? Some of the stats I see appear to make this look relatively inevitable, and it makes me wonder what this could mean for me 30 or so years down the line. What are your thoughts on this, particularly those of you who may be a few years out from surgery and may or may not be experiencing this? If you are experiencing problems, do you feel your surgeon adequately explained those risks to you? I'm making a huge list of questions for the surgeon i'm seeing, but really appreciate the thoughts I've already gotten from this board on other questions I've asked. Thanks so much!

@@James Marusek, that's part of what I wasn't clear on, whether the people who were experiencing these more extreme absorption problems tended to have a history of not following the program or not, and what I also want to ask the surgeon. One thing I've found difficult to tell from my own pre-appointment research is how many complications tend to relate to a lack of close adhesion to plan rules vs. how many can just crop up as a result of the surgery. It's good to hear that some of you guys have yet to have any problems as you've worked closely with your doctors and taken your supplements as prescribed!

I've been strongly leaning towards RNY myself, and i'm perfectly comfortable with the daily Vitamin regimen. Like @@judyr says, i'd rather be taking Vitamins than pharmaceutical meds!! What I'm really asking is not about the general malabsorptive affects of surgeries like RNY, since I know that's part of the procedure, but complications I've heard about where post-surgical patients several years down the road appear to reach a point where supplements no longer do the trick, and they have to undertake things like monthly intravenous Iron infusions. One of the medical articles I was reading suggested that can happen in up to 50% of RNY patients long-term. The possibility of this kind of dependency, say, ten years out scares me a little, although I realize i'd be balancing it with the risk of still being at this weight 10 years from now, which sets up its own kinds of risks!

Considering WLS here (probably Roux en Y), and I'm a little confused about the use of Protein shakes post-surgery (as in, further out from surgery). I heard one of our local bariatric surgeons talking about WLS and he was talking about how one of the general rules for post-surgery eating is to eat more "solid food" to stretch the pouch appropriately vs. more liquid-type foods. However, it seems from what I read on these boards and other bariatric communities that Protein Shakes are a common part of post surgery life, even beyond your initial surgery recovery diet. Now, I know that getting enough protein is important after surgery. But can those of you who are post-surgery kind of explain this discrepancy to me? I might be misinterpreting things as well. I do plan to talk to a surgeon with more specific questions, but would like to learn as much as I can before that. Thanks in advance!

That makes sense, Kindle....these boards are so helpful for understanding this stuff. Thanks!

Thank you so much to everyone who commented. This is such a major decision that your comments help so much as I weigh all the pros and cons. My research and attending informational sessions with surgeons has also suggested that if I do go for WLS, the band is probably going to be the least practical idea for someone with my eating situation.

I've grown increasingly interested in WLS after being obese for many years and trying many methods of weight loss, but I remain concerned by my problems with binge eating. I know that with many of the WLS options, it's possible to stretch the stomach back out if you don't follow the rules, and I have concerns about this. I'm seeking to address the issue with therapy, so at this point, I'm curious to hear from anyone on this board who may have had some type of WLS with a history of binge eating, and if so, what kind of surgery did you have and how did it affect your treatment and recovery? Thanks!