Thinking about Gastric Bypass - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

buffsrule76 · 12-13-2006, 06:44 PM

My girlfriend has had bypass surgery in 2003 then got pregnant and she wants to do it again. when ever i heard about someone getting bypass i've only ever seen the complications and death that come with it. she wants me to got to an informational meeting with her. i just don't know if its for me. i weigh 415 right now and go to a obesity, metabolism, and endcrinology clinic and am currently taking phentermine. i work 12 hours a day and just recently got a gym membership for both my girlfriend and i but we have no time. making meals is a problem also any help you could give. thanks

Rachel · 12-13-2006, 06:55 PM

Well this is an excellent resource for information. There are topics here on everything for the entire step of the way. Surgery isn't something that you can just have and then life is easy after that. It is difficult and takes A LOT of work for the rest of your life.

Get all the information that you can, so you can make an informed choice. I wish you luck.

As for your friend, I have never heard of anyone being able to have the surgery twice, I am not even sure if it is possible. Good luck to you both

NewMel06 · 12-13-2006, 07:57 PM

I personally am so thrilled to have had the opportunity to have had this surgery. I would not go back and change anything, except I would have done it so much sooner in my life!!! Part of me was so frightend. I was afraid of complications and all the horrors I had heard. Then when I encountered people who have had the surgery, and they were all fine and they were saying they would have done it a million times over, I decided Iwould go for it. Then when I thought about it further, I was so afraid of dying, and look what I had done to myself in this morbidly obese body. I was afraid every night that I would die in my sleep of a heart attack. I wasn't emersing myself in life, sat along the side lines way too long. So here I am down 113 pounds, and emersing myself in life.
To be totally honest with you, I would be more afraid to take phentermine than have GBS. Goodluck to you in your decision making process. It is a decision that only you can make. You do need to know, it is not a "tamper proof" way of losing the weight. You have to make time for exercise ( the more the better) and you need to commit to a healthy style of eating as well. If you aren't ready to commit to these things, then it will only be a short lived joy in your life, as it sounds your friend experienced that already. I don't think she can have it a second time. Even if it is possible, I would imagine that a surgeon may not take her as seriously as she would want. Good luck to you both and welcome to the forum!

LQQkn · 12-13-2006, 09:22 PM

I would never have had GBS surgery. I would have waited until my insurance would have done the lap band. I was in la la land with thinking I would never be sick or have complications. I had not built a good enough support system so when I did get sick I literally had to change my entire life. Anyone considering this surgery needs to not only go through all the stuff usual stuff, but also be in reality, there are more complications the more surgeries they are doing. Lap is much safer... I wish I would have waited and gone that route. And remember get the hell into therapy long before the surgery ... Janie

rivercanyon · 12-13-2006, 09:30 PM

You have come to a great place to some searching. You can definitely get an education from so many hear. Everyone is very willing to answer questions that you might have.

I didn't think that you could have gastric bypass twice. I thought that once things are rerouted there would be nothing left to reroute again. Could your girlfriend possibly have had the banding done in her first surgery. It will be interesting to hear more on this.

LisaBoston · 12-14-2006, 08:29 AM

Welcome...this is a great place for info. One thing to keep in mind when you listen to stories of WLS...The news feeds on "horror stories" and covers very little of the success stories. Its not to say that there are not people with health issues relating to WLS, but there are equally or more with health issues who are obese. Its really a personal decision and a lifetime of balance. Key thing for you is to learn as much as you can about the "type" of surgery options ie: lapband, RNY, DS ect and make an educated decision with your doctor about which would be best for you. For me, it was the right choice..I have friends who are obese and I would not recommend it for any of them at this point. (they would not follow the guidelines and rules)

Ask away...thats why we are here.

kittens4 · 12-14-2006, 12:16 PM

For me, it was the only choice I could see that had a shot of working for me! I'd tried everything, but my problem was that I ate huge portions and all the wrong food. Oh, and no exercise. So, I had to think long and hard about this surgery..because there's no going back, it's a total life changing event! Not to mention risky. I also weighed the risks of being 5'4" and 260..I knew at my age I had to do something soon or I'd be seeing some health problems developing. I wanted to have the surgery before I developed diabetes/high b/p/etc. So, I did it! It went great for 1 week, then I developed a blockage (one of the risks), so had to have a 2nd surgery, then I developed double pneumonia, so, I had 3 hospital admissions in a month!! Good times! I was released from the hospital 11/19, but had to be on oxygen at home for almost a month! Now I am doing much better, and can go back to work in January. I planned on taking 1 week off back in Oct! lol! It's been rough, but I am happy I did it. I can eat very small portions now, and be satisfied. What a feeling that is! I haven't vomited once since the 2nd surgery, so that was a success. Thank God! I am walking 30 mins a day on my treadmill now, trying to build up stamina, and I do weights for my flabby arms...lol. Even with the complications, I feel I will be healthier in the long run...but it's a personal decision. That's my story, good luck with your decision!

seen&heardall · 12-14-2006, 02:30 PM

I am so glad that you are seeking information . . . you are off to an excellent start. Secondly, I too think this board in particular has an overbundance of factual information for you to fiddle through. The members of this board not only gives you real life examples of what you MIGHT endure after the surgery, but, IMO, they provide better support than any therapy session I've been to.

Again, welcome and ask, ask, ask!!!