From an online friend who had gastric bypass surgery 5 years ago

[eridani]

Good motivation for just doing dietary changes and exercise.

My health also SUCKS. I have been in such pain I can barely take a deep breath and for weeks have had to soldier through and just suck it up, but it's been ridiculously hard. I never imagined I would be in this shape, but due to the gastric bypass surgery I had now 5 years ago, my bones are literally dissolving. I have lost 2.5 inches in one year. I can hardly walk, can't lie down, can barely move, walk with a huge limp, have edematous limbs and am short of breath. My muscles have such low levels of calcium they are tetanous -- they contract but will not relax, so when I pick up a grocery bag I can't open my arms afterwards for several minutes.

It's FREAKY weird and was fairly sudden -- about 3.5 months ago it suddenly happened. I am taking iron supplements IV, TONS of calcium and vitamin D -- including vitamin D from the cystic fibrosis foundation which is a special water-soluble version of that fat soluble vitamin so I can absorb it -- and vitamin B-12 as my levels were in the dementia range. Ugh. Scary. I feel a Little better with the massive supplementation but not at all like myself and I'm scared. One thing is that I have had NO pain control, except ibuprofen as I cannot function (or be legal) at work on strong pain meds. I SO WANT some pain relief. I am more miserable than I could ever imagine physically and just don't know how much longer this can go on.

[flordehinojos]

1. as with any surgery, so many things to think about...

i am on a regular medical management weight loss program through a bariatric surgery group (which also offersthe regular medical management weight loss program). in six months i have lost 34 1/2 lbs. (a bit slow since my metabolism is really low and i walk just enough to get by with what they tell i should, and i do just enough arm exercises to also just get by with what they tell me i should do). At the end of six months i have developed a slight anemia which they are taking care of with added vitams, iron, calcium and D complex.

i think the point i am trying to make is, health is indeed a fragile thing, and we never know when we are going to strike gold and when we are not. every person who walks into that office who has had the surgery claims it is a plus, plus, plus in their lives.

i, for my part will never have that surgery as i am afraid of surgeries, though, even without the surgery, i seem to have developed, to a mild degree, some of the complications that your friend is citing.

as i sad, where is the gold? we never really know.

[auntAgonist]

7. very well said ...

how are you doing these days?

:hug:
aA

[Longhorn]

2. I'm sorry for your friend's pain and complications.

What this tells me is that such surgery shouldn't be taken lightly -- as no surgery should. Hopefully one who undertakes it is well informed of the possible complications while balancing the consequences of not having it. I believe anyone who has it should do so as a "last resort" after counseling because he or she is making a permanent change. Whether all of the centers that do the surgery follow such a plan, I don't know. :shrug:

We have a couple of members of our group who have had weight loss surgery who have not always found support for their decisions. I tend to respect the right of adults to make their own health decisions and hope they receive quality care and guidance.

[auntAgonist]

3. I have had surgery for weight loss.

Your post doesn't say what kind of surgery your friend had. There are many offered. Gastric Bypass seems like an umbrella term these days. I would be most interested to know which operation she had and if she's compliant in her eating and supplementation.

Now about me;
I tried every diet know, every drug legal and illegal. I took the pounds off, changed my lifestyle and then regained the weight. I'd diet again, perhaps a crash diet, lose a lot of pounds and then, you guessed it, I'd regain. I was harming my body more than I realized. It finally got to the point where I continued to gain no matter how little I ate. I never really did have a huge appetite and I usually (not always) ate what I thought was reasonably healthy.

After 3 years of research, talking to people who had surgery, visiting Dr's who performed the surgery, I made the decision to have the "Biliopancreatic Diversion with a Duodenal Switch". This is the most malabsorptive surgery available. I MUST be diligent about taking my supplements. I MUST eat enough protein and I MUST have regular check-ups with my Dr. Check-ups include but are not limited to blood work. I have had a bone density test done at one year after surgery and all is well.
I did have some issues with my vitamin levels, potassium and iron levels. It was my own fault, I wasn't following the guidelines as stringently as I should. Now that I am back on track I feel better than I have in years.

The decision to have surgery is not one made lightly. "Just diet" I was told, "just get control" "Geez, you're going to take the EASY way out?"

I would never recommend surgery to anyone, but I would be supportive and helpful when and if I was asked what surgery I thought to be best.
Don't tell me I took the easy way out. There was and is nothing easy about what I've done. I had to see a psychiatrist for an evaluation, to see if I had what it takes to be compliant. I faced myriad tests to make sure my body was healthy enough to support the change I was making. I don't expect this to be a road paved with gold. With hard work, diligence and wonderful family and medical support I will have a healthy life. I'm not taking ANY of the meds I was taking before surgery. I'm not a drain on the health system. I can and do enjoy my life with my husband. I have so much to look forward to.

For information on the surgery I opted for see:

http://www.jenwls.com/My%20Surgery.html

This is NOT my website, but it is very informative




aA
kesha
:hi:

[auntAgonist]

4. too late to edit my post but ..

"Good motivation for just doing dietary changes and exercise."


Not knowing how much longer your health will hold out, or how high your weight will balloon too is good motivation for seeking out ALL possibilities. "just doing dietary changes and exercise" "just" doesn't cut it for a lot of people.


really there isn't a lot of support given to people who have opted for surgery. Thank goodness for a lot of non judgemental folks here in this group.


aA

[eridani]

5. Obviously this turned out not to be an easy way out for my friend

She's an online friend whom I met briefly earlier this year when she passing through town. I was pretty surprised to hear online that she had had surgery--apparently its effects were nothing but good for her until just last month and she had never mentioned it online or when we went out to eat.

I'm inclined to argue against it, but it's like abortion in that the actual decision must always belong to the individual.

[auntAgonist]

6. I can agree to a point

You say

"I'm inclined to argue against it, but it's like abortion in that the actual decision must always belong to the individual".

But that decision cannot be made without proper education and research. It's when I see and hear things like this:

Good motivation for just doing dietary changes and exercise.

that I realize that people are just so uninformed. Painting all bariatric surgeries with the same paint brush, assuming the worst without knowing how compliant or non compliant your friend is, is just wrong.

As I said in my previous post, I did my research, I have an excellent Dr and wonderful family support. There are surgeries available that aren't as good and do cause health issues. It is my honest opinion that if someone isn't going to be compliant they WILL have problems.

aA

[pagerbear]

8. Weighing in on this issue

:hi:

I had BPD/DS in February of 2002. I have never, ever regretted it, although there have been one or two expected side effects. My life is so much better now than it was at 450 lbs! (I hover around 200 lbs. now, and if I can ever pay for a tummy tuck & lower body lift, that will take care of another 10 or 15 lbs.)

No, surgery is not to be taken lightly. No, it's not an easy way out. Yes, one must do the research, know what to expect, and seek out the fellowship and support of others who have had similar experience. Yes, one must follow doctors' orders post-op. Yes, one must take his/her supplements and do regular follow-up testing to whether adjustments in supplements and/or diet are needed.

I can't comment specifically on the person who is having so many health problems, but I think one can safely generalize that greater compliance with doctors' and nutritionists' orders leads to fewer complications and better health post-op.

Just my two cents. As one who's been there.

[auntAgonist]

9. hi pagerbear!

thanks for 'weighing in'.
I started a thread on supplements and listed there my daily regimen. What are you taking on a daily basis? Have you had any serious problems since surgery? How about regain?

:hug:

I'm not at all sorry that I had the BPD/DS either. As of this morning I'm still at 135 lbs. Not bad, a total loss of about 160 in a year and four months.

:hi:
aA

[pagerbear]

10. No regain--stable between 195 and 205 for a coupla years now

...unless I eat unwisely.

[w8liftinglady]

11. hearing from folks like you and AuntAgonist helps a lot!

My surgery is scheduled for 08/14.I'm excited,and a little nervous.Thanks.

[eridani]

12. Very, very bad news

Just got word online that she has committed suicide. If only she had been able to take time off of work, she might have gotten adequate pain relief. I only met her in real life once, but this really hurts.

[WhollyHeretic]

13. That's terrible to hear. I'm sorry for your loss.

:hug:

[DemExpat]

14. Tragic news....I am sorry for your loss of your online friend.

I have some online contacts who I also really care about.

:hug:

DemEx

[auntAgonist]

15. It is very hard to lose a friend be it online or one you

have known day to day. My condolences for your loss.

aA