Question:
Hello Everyone! I was just wondering if anyone could tell me which operation
would benefit me the most? I just started my research on having WLS and I've seen the diagrams and read the descriptions, but I haven't come across in depth material to narrow down my choice of surgery. I'm almost 25, 5'8" and I have a very active 3 yr old son. Could anyone please write back with they're opinion. Thanks! — wildcat (posted on April 4, 2006)
April 4, 2006
As always, my response to this is that the answer to that question lies
within YOU. How well do you know yourself, as it relates to WLS? What are
your eating habits? How committed are you to changing? Nobody can choose
a surgery for you. You must know yourself intimately, and use that
knowledge to make your decision.
— Jeanie
April 4, 2006
Yara,
Do your homework, hon! This is about the rest of your life - and YOU are
the one ultimately who will have to decide if you can live with the post-op
requirements that go along with a particular surgery.
Be sure to look into support groups in your local area - get to know
post-ops from all of the different surgeries - and you want to see folks
who are living their real lives 2, 3, 5 plus years post-op. You want to
see what it's like after the honeymoon is over!
Here are some good resources to check out:
http://www.asbs.org/html/patients/story.html
www.duodenalswitch.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Graduate-OSSG
Also, look into the various Yahoo groups - do a search based on the name of
the surgery at www.groups.yahoo.com - and maybe lurk a little to see what
you think about what real life is like for folks.
Best of luck to you. Let me also just say - wow - how cool it would be to
be your age pursuing WLS. By the time I had my surgery I was 38 years old,
my children had already watched my heatlh slip away because of the ravages
of my SMO body, and I was dying. How much cooler to be younger, more fit,
healthier when pursuing surgery. Good for you!
Blessings,
dina
— Dina McBride
April 4, 2006
Hello Yara,
The best thing to do is to first have a one on one with your surgeon. Then
decide together based on your demographics which surgery is best for you.
You gave us your height but not your weight. Someone that is 5'8 550 may
benefit from a completely different surgery than someone that is 5'8 265.
Here is a link to a very helpful site that actually outlines time off of
work, BMI, and the pro and cons of each surgery on a simple diagram.
http://www.lapsf.com/weight-loss-surgeries.html ... I hope this helps
— Tiff's On a Mission
April 4, 2006
You've gotta know yourself, and possible outcomes. For instance . . .
Grazer, volume and/or huge sugar problem . . . go distal. Easier to get
weight off, and keep it off.
If you can behave and keep it off fairly well . . . prox may work for you.
Anything done lap is usually prox. Do not go less than 150 cm bypassed.
More problems keeping weight off.
If you lose fairly easily, afraid of vites deficiencies, not inclined to
eat around, band may work for you. Also good choice if planning more
kiddos.
All can be well managed with proper supplementation, and require
supplementation . . . go check out VitaLady.com, and read the stories under
"Why we supplement". Join the [email protected] list.
— rayehawk
April 4, 2006
Thank you ladies for responding so quickly. Congratulations all for you WL,
I hope to be in your shoes some day soon. As for my weight I am currently
weighing 276 lbs with a BMI of 42.0 but my highest has been 283. I will
take every suggestion you have given me when I search for the right kind of
surgery for myself.
— wildcat
April 4, 2006
I called the Dr. offices and they sent me information regaurding the
surgery they did.
— Jennifer Nice
April 5, 2006
My Insurance only pays for the RNY, so I am happy with that. I have
searched out all the types, and I know the RNY is the one for me, just
waiting now for the records to catch up to the medical dept, then be sent
to the Insurance company. Then the final yessssssss. LOL PG
— Peggy1
April 5, 2006
I, for one, don't believe in letting the doctor decide which WLS is best
for you! The first doctor I saw only did RNY and the lapband -- guess what
he thought was best for me -- either the lapband or the RNY -- surprised?
Not me. Your doctor is going to try to sell you what they do. Come to
find out later, after I had done my research and discovered the Duodenal
Switch, that my first doctor was very impressed with the DS and thought it
was a great surgery... he just doesn't have time to get the necessary
training to perform it as his RNY business is booming. Personally, with
the higher % of weight lost and benefits of keeping the weight off longer
(permanently), and having a higher quality eating lifestyle, I'm thrilled
to be getting the DS tomorrow. As I type this to you, I am sitting in a
hotel room in Curitiba, Brazil, ready to have my DS surgery tomorrow. I
don't think the DS is for everyone... you need to be committed to your
long-term health -- taking vitamins, eating protein first, having your
blood tests done regularly (of course ALL these things are true with the
RNY too). You are doing exactly the right thing in getting information.
As someone here already advised, join several long-term post op boards --
not just on OH but on Yahoo! too and read for yourself what post-ops are
dealing with and you will be able to make a decision that you can live with
and be happy with. *Good luck!*
— [Deactivated Member]
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