Anonymous
Post 01/20/2024 17:07     Subject: Any regrets from weight loss surgery?
Np, I got the sleeve almost 6 years ago, and my life has improved in all aspects dramatically. I was 40, 5'6, 214 lbs. and ineligible for surgery in the States due to my low BMI.

I decided to have it done in Mexico; it was the best care I have ever received. It cost $5,500, and I returned to work after one week. Thankfully, I had no significant issues. However, for the first year or two, I had pretty bad heartburn and acid reflux, and I would vomit if I ate too much/quickly.

I lost 83 lbs and have managed to keep it off mainly through diet. One of the benefits is that my stomach can't hold much food; plus, I don't have hunger pains, so diet is relatively easy and second nature at this point. With the exception of eggs (my body won't digest them anymore for reasons unclear), I eat everything that I used to but in moderation.

The surgery was one of the best decisions I have made in my life, and I would do it again in a heartbeat.
Anonymous
Post 01/20/2024 11:28     Subject: Any regrets from weight loss surgery?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t get it. Now that there are meds that do the exact same thing (make you eat less), why would you even consider surgery?

Because you stay on the dangerous drugs in perpetuity


I would accept the potential of drug side effects and the far less adverse consequences over the complications that can result from chopping up or banding your stomach
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2024 19:59     Subject: Any regrets from weight loss surgery?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t get it. Now that there are meds that do the exact same thing (make you eat less), why would you even consider surgery?


Does medication typically result in the same amount of weight loss?


It can if you alter diet and exercise. I started at 302 last April. 232 this morning and still losing. But, 1200 Calories a day, 100g protein, 100 oz water, 120 min strength training a week, and 135 min cardio. I don’t see any reason why I won’t lose 100+ pounds if I stick with it.
Anonymous
Post 01/19/2024 13:08     Subject: Any regrets from weight loss surgery?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t get it. Now that there are meds that do the exact same thing (make you eat less), why would you even consider surgery?

Because you stay on the dangerous drugs in perpetuity


Except they're not dangerous, semaglutide has been in use for nearly 2 decades.

Anonymous
Post 01/18/2024 14:15     Subject: Any regrets from weight loss surgery?
Anonymous wrote:I know 3 people who have gotten it.

One recently and is dropping weight and says it's the best thing she ever did.

One only "see" regularly on social media these days but she posts every workout and "meal" and plastic surgery. She she looks good but doesn't seem healthy. About 2 years out.

The other I know better. She vomits several times a week. Has bad reflux and other stomach problems. Obsesses over the workouts and food. Has had several cosmetic surgeries. Her actual blood work is good and she looks good. But the stomach problems are painful and concerning. About 8 years out. She says that most people in her group have gained it back.
if she’s vomiting several times a week she is over eating and not listening to her body’s signals to stop eating.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2024 13:57     Subject: Any regrets from weight loss surgery?
I know 3 people who have gotten it.

One recently and is dropping weight and says it's the best thing she ever did.

One only "see" regularly on social media these days but she posts every workout and "meal" and plastic surgery. She she looks good but doesn't seem healthy. About 2 years out.

The other I know better. She vomits several times a week. Has bad reflux and other stomach problems. Obsesses over the workouts and food. Has had several cosmetic surgeries. Her actual blood work is good and she looks good. But the stomach problems are painful and concerning. About 8 years out. She says that most people in her group have gained it back.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2024 10:07     Subject: Any regrets from weight loss surgery?
My aunt got it years ago and has had many many poor consequences. Partially because it seems like it didn't really solve the emotional aspect of her overeating. She has been in and out of hospitals for years.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2024 10:03     Subject: Any regrets from weight loss surgery?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I don’t get it. Now that there are meds that do the exact same thing (make you eat less), why would you even consider surgery?


Does medication typically result in the same amount of weight loss?


It does not, but same with gastric sleeve. A great bariatric surgeon explains this in the consult. The sleeve doesn't help with the cravings. You have to remove the hormones and the surface area of the stomach that sends those hormones.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2024 10:00     Subject: Any regrets from weight loss surgery?
I would try Ozempic or Mounjaro (now Zepbound) first.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2024 09:59     Subject: Any regrets from weight loss surgery?
Anonymous wrote:I don’t get it. Now that there are meds that do the exact same thing (make you eat less), why would you even consider surgery?

Because you stay on the dangerous drugs in perpetuity
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2024 09:49     Subject: Any regrets from weight loss surgery?
I’m the PP who had it in 2017. You definitely need a doc that works with you before and after and has a support group. You need to know how to eat better foods, smaller portions etc. it’s a tool in your WS journey, not a cure.
I still recommend it if you are morbid obese and have struggled with other methods.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2024 09:40     Subject: Any regrets from weight loss surgery?
Anonymous wrote:I don’t get it. Now that there are meds that do the exact same thing (make you eat less), why would you even consider surgery?


Does medication typically result in the same amount of weight loss?
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2024 08:34     Subject: Any regrets from weight loss surgery?
I don’t get it. Now that there are meds that do the exact same thing (make you eat less), why would you even consider surgery?
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2024 07:00     Subject: Any regrets from weight loss surgery?
Certainly it shouldn't be the first option, but the younger someone does it the mote likely they will live longer. A good friend has always been over 300 and probably pushing 350-400. I wish she would get help. She's dieted and excercised her whole life and never gets below 300.
Anonymous
Post 01/18/2024 04:55     Subject: Any regrets from weight loss surgery?
Anonymous wrote:Please encourage him to spend some time - weeks/months, not hours - reading in the bariatric forums and support pages on Facebook, Reddit, etc.

I was considering bariatric but was depressed at the time so my therapist wouldn’t initially clear me psychiatrically.

I used the time while my depression was resolving to do a deep dive into the research on rates of weight regain and rates of transfer addictions in bariatric patients. I was shocked, and remain disturbed by how little attention is paid to this in the surgeon’s presentation to patients - I met with the surgeon twice, the dietitian several times and did all the extensive pre-op screening testing to be approved for the surgery and the entire time risks and complications were downplayed and zero attention was given to regain and addiction until I raised it with the dietician who acknowledged it’s a reality.

The weight control program I went to is excellent, the surgeon is excellent and has a super low rate of complications etc. I don’t doubt that they are among the best bariatric centers going as I live in an area with some of the best healthcare in the world.

That said, there is little offered in terms of resources on food addiction as a behavior disorder. Patients are encouraged to get counseling if they feel they need it. From what I read about on the support pages and forums, this is a huge problem and the pun is intended.

Patients are posting about hacking their diets before they even get surgery and wanting to get back to their food favorites within days - those who experience the worst physical side effects (vomiting, nausea, chills, etc.) when they try to eat the old way are typically the ones who start up an alcohol or other addiction - and it’s easy to do because the altered gut metabolizes alcohol differently so bariatric patients have a totally different relationship with alcohol.

I would strenuously encourage the weight loss drugs first - they are largely reversible. Once you alter your gut through bariatric surgery yes it can stretch and you can gain all the weight back, but you will still have the same long term risk of obstruction and malnutrition if you aren’t religious about supplementing because you can never absorb nutrients from food again the same way.

As for me - not at all virtuous, still struggling with food urges and working all the time on the behavioral aspects of my disordered relationship to food which in my case is related to childhood trauma. But I have lost 35 of the 160 pounds I gained over the decades and am steadily losing weight- slowly, healthfully - by eating a much healthier diet with lots of plants, much less saturated fat, little to no processed foods and very, very minimal sugar. No alcohol, fizzy/sweetened drinks or fruit juices.

Honestly to lose 100 lbs I would recommend trying just about anything else before major gut resection. Therapy for what’s at the root of the eating, and significant dietary changes plus exercise for the mental health benefits and to boost metabolism and maintain muscle as he loses.


Flatulent lady, is that you??