Question:
Has anyone read this article? http://www.size-acceptance.org/carnie_after_wls.html
There is one bit that claims the average life after gastric bypass is 15 years. How much truth is to this? — HellyD (posted on June 9, 2002)
June 9, 2002
The author of that article is a major anti WLS person. You need to take
what she says with a grain of salt. The fact is that at this point the
newer surgeries have not been around long enough to have gathered long-term
stats on life expectancy. (I do believe that there are some long term
stats coming out of Europe where the surgery has been performed longer.) I
know that other people have said that the life expectancy after WLS is
extended by 15 years, not a flat 15 years. For me the bottom line was that
my life was, for all intents and purposes, over. I was too heavy to do
much of anything. I couldn't walk more than half a block because my hips
and back hurt when I did and I was out of breath. I was working from home
most of the time because it was such a chore to get showered and dressed
and in to work. I almost never went anywhere or did anything fun cause it
was just too much work. I am almost 4 weeks post-op and still having
problems because of an ulcer, but I do know that this was the answer for
me. Research, not just on this site, but elsewhere, and decide for
yourself what your quality/quantity of life will be with and without the
surgery. Only you can decide if it is right for you.
— garw
June 9, 2002
Gar, thank you for your post. I am one year post op this month and at goal.
My weight is 155 pounds. One year ago it was 321 lbs. and I was in poor
health. I got my health back. While it is true that the stats are not in
yet on the long term, I believe in my heart that I did not have another two
years left at my 321 pounds, in the state of poor health that I was in.
Most of my co-morbidities are gone today. Like any surgery, I healed. As a
matter of fact, my liver, cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugars are
all wonderful now. They weren't! I'm just thankful I didn't stroke out, the
way my blood pressure was (even on medication at the time, not now) or have
a heart attack. Thank GOD for this surgery and for those who have the
strength and positive mental attitude to put themselves through this. Yes,
it is life changing. Yes, some of us mourn foods that we used to eat. No,
none of us should feel deprived or that we are "going hungry."
Yes, most of us are in better health now than we were pre-op. Yes, some of
us experience "head hunger." The surgery does not fix that. The
surgery is a tool, we have to fix the head hunger. For myself, that means
professional help, once a week.I am learning what my triggers are; when my
triggers; how to "fill that empty hole" with other than food
items. And by choice, to change my old way of eating, replacing it with a
lifetime of healthier choices, on a daily basis. For some who by choice put
the surgery down & remain obese, it too is a choice. The article was
written from one viewpoint and one viewpoint only. Ask ten people to read
it and get ten different viewpoints.
— Barbara B.
June 9, 2002
You pose a very good question that all pre-ops must ask. I have carefully
considered this aspect of WLS as well. I hope you will allow me to share
my thoughts on the subject. But, of course, they are just my thoughts. We
all have to find our own answers to these questions.
I have discovered that after much "soul-searching," I have come
to a lot of the same conclusions as a previous poster, Gar. The way I live
today, well it's really not living. I am saddled with a lot of mental
baggage that comes with my morbid obesity. I am 275 pounds, and today,
yes, I can walk. But not very far & not without some pain. I cannot
breath, and I sweat profusely, which is hard when you're a woman. Even
with my excess 130 or so pounds, I admit it, I am still vain.
How vain? I worry about the hair loss aspect of the surgery! And of
course I am concerned about the long term effects of the surgery. But I am
also extremely concerned about the long term health effects of my morbid
obesity.
I am fairly young (39) so I am not taking a bunch of medications to control
blood pressure. Right now, my two main comorbs are diabetes II and stress
incontinence. I only need to attend a family reunion to see what the
future holds for me. I come from a long line of high blood pressure,
stroke, heart attacks, & diabetes, and OBESITY!!! I am fooling myself
if I think that I am special enough to escape the fate of serious health
complications which will ultimately stem from my morbid obesity.
This next part may sound a little sappy, but it is so true. It is from a
movie, "Steel Magnolias" and Julia Roberts' line, when she
chooses to have a child even though it may kill her. She says something
like "I would rather have a short time of something wonderful than a
lifetime of nothing special." I deserve to be happy.
"Thinness" will not bring me happiness. But I will feel good
about my body. One huge huge burden that I can release after the almost 30
years that I have carried it. And I will tell you, I have allowed my weight
to be such a burden. It makes me sad. I sit here & think of all the
years I have lost because I let my weight get in the way.
I may die on the operating table. I may die in a car wreck going to the
hospital. I may die 10 years after the surgery from some problem related
to it. Who knows. But one thing is for certain. I will go to my grave
knowing that I did everything I could do to have a good life. I will seek
the medical help that is available to me and get this monkey of morbid
obesity off my back. WLS is the tool I need to get rid of this weight and
get on with my life.
God Bless You & whatever decision you make...
— Valerie B.
June 9, 2002
Hi. I went to Bariatric Wellness Center Before I decided to have this
surgery(4/17/02). I received much of my information from a woman who runs
the center and has also had the surgery done. She had her surgery done over
15years ago and she is still kicking. She looks absolutly wonderful and
happens to be a doctor herself. She said when she had it done the
techniques that were used were quite different then the ones they use now.
She has maintained the weight now for almost 14 years.(except for 15 lbs.)I
can tell you that who ever wrote that article is not as well informed as
they think they are.
— Jennifer F.
June 9, 2002
I read the article on the Size Acceptance Site. You must realize that this
site promotes that obesity should be accepted by society. We do live in a
world that values thin over fat. But having this surgery is a choice, I
resent the fact that this site condemns people who wish to change
themselves. I probably will never be thin but I will be more fit. Also
when the author stated that the life expectancy of a bypass patient was
only 15 years, where did she pull out those figures. I for one would
expect that the Fda and all of the medical field would cry foul if this
were to be true. Some people are very happy being a full xxxxxx plus, I
for one am not. I am miserable and unhealthy. This article was hogwash.
— marta B.
June 9, 2002
I had never read that before. And there doesn't seem to be much evidence to
that, but boy did that scare me to death. I am only 22 years old, and just
has LAP RNY last week. But, I guess to think to live 15 years of a
thinner, healthier life is better than living it miserable and unhealhty,
if it is true, but i highly doubt it is, otherwise, the FDA wouldn't
approve it and thousands of people wouldn't be doing this, right??? maybe
that is just my wishful thinking :)
— Lezlie Y.
June 9, 2002
I just read the article and I remember reading it or one similar before by
the same person. A lot of what she said is true. We do damage a system in
our body by having the surgery and there are risks that go along with that.
You can put excess stress on your kidneys by using too much caffine, (I
think artificial sweetners) and an excess of protein. The liver also needs
to work harder. But as far as the life expectancy estimate, it is just
that her own uneducated estimate. There are no scientific facts that give
us an average life expectancy rate. My advice... if you want the surgery
and your life is in danger as it is and obesity makes you susceptable to
many other diseases... it is only a matter of time, then go ahead and do
it. Watch your diet and watch your labs. Keep up with your follow up and
make sure that you have a healthy life.
— Virginia N.
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