Question:
Will WLS work for me since nothing else has?
Baear with me, I am new at this...I have tried everything and am turning to WLS as a last resort. I am still considering the surgery and awaiting a visit to the surgeon on 7/9. I wonder if it is possible to fail at this and still not lose weight if I put forth the effort and do what I am supposed to. (ie I have been on diets where I have followed the plan and not lost weight) I guess I wonder if I go ahead and have the surgery, am I guaranteed some level of success if I do what I am supposed to? — Mary M. (posted on June 30, 2002)
June 29, 2002
REMEMBER WLS IS AS TOOL! NOT A MIRACLE DRUG! YOU WILL LOSE WEIGHT IF YOU
FOLLOW THE PLAN! DO AS YOUR DR. ORDERS! YOU WILL ONLY FAIL IF YOU DECIDE TO
EAT TO MUCH, STRETCH YOUR POUCH! OR JUST PLAN DONT FOLLOW YOUR DOCTORS
ORDERS! AND WHEN THERE IS A PROBLEM GO BACK TO YOUR DR. LET HIM HELP YOU!
JUST PUTTING MY 2 CENTS WORTH IN! THE WAY I SEE IT IS I AM STRONG ENOUGH
AND SMART ENOUGH TO KNOW IF I AM GOING TO GET SICK FROM EATING TO MUCH, I
BETTER STOP! AND SINCE I WILL BE SELF PAY $20,000. IS ALOT OF MONEY TO
WASTE AND NOT FOLLOW THE RULES!
— CYNDI B.
June 30, 2002
Although nothing has 100% guarantee, this is the most successful I have
ever been! Really. It is wonderful to know that the wt I have lost will
never return. You must follow all your doctors orders and be willing to
change your lifestyle permanently. Also I would have to add that if your
surgery doesn't include transection of the pouch, you are at a greater risk
of failing in the future because of staple line disruption. It happened to
me and I had to go back and get transected....two open surgeries in one
year. I am very happy now that I am transected and feel so much more
assured that this IS permanent! Good luck in your decision that only YOU
can make. We can help with questions and support but you have to make the
final decision.
— Marilyn C.
June 30, 2002
It's been 8 yrs. NOTHING worked for me, regardless of my diligence. 7 yrs
of diet & it still reversed itself WHILE I WAS STILL ON IT! With this,
I've learned a few tricks to keep going. Amazingly, what I do WORKS now.
I got a tool with the surgery and I keep adding more tools to my toolbox!
— vitalady
June 30, 2002
Mary - I hate to be the lone naysayer, but there are NO guarentees with
this surgery. I am one of the rare failures...my stoma has been enlarged
from the beginning, through no fault of my own, and as of now, there is no
way to fix this. I had no idea - pre-surgery - that this was a possibility.
Truth is, I still would have gone through with the surgery even if I had
know, because the odds of this happening are very slim. But I beat myself
up for months post-op, thinking I was doing something wrong. Once I came to
terms with not having a tool (to force me to limit my food portions), I
decided that even though the surgery failed, I wasn't going to, and
mustered up the self control I needed to limit my food portions on my own.
Since May 15, I've lost 29 pounds. Maybe not great by WLS standards, but
better than any other "diet" I've tried. Having 3 feet of
intestines bypassed does have an added benefit :-) You must approach this
surgery willing to make lifetime changes. Just about anyone - even those
with a working tool - can outeat this surgery by constantly grazing and
choosing high calorie foods. Keep in mind, it's not a miracle cure - just
a tool to help you achieve your goals.
— Cyndie K.
June 30, 2002
I believe WLS can work for anyone who tries and researches it enough and
follows their doctors rules. Drink your fluids, eat your protein, stop
eating when full, exercise regularly. WLS is a tool. 99% of WLS people have
been on tons of diets that haven't worked unfortunately, you're not alone!
I don't know you personally, but I think it can work for you! :) I am only
4 weeks post-op LAP RNY, but I know it has worked for me and will continue
to do so, because I will make it so. I WILL NOT be part of that 10% who
gain any weight back- i won't let it happen to myself. YOU will definately
get some success with the surgery from doing nothing, it is if you do
something that will help you keep the weight off and maintain a healthy
lifestyle for your whole life! Goodluck to you!
— Lezlie Y.
June 30, 2002
Hi. I have to say that you need to make sure you do your homework. WLS is a
TOOL as they all say and you need to make sure you are familiar with the
"instruction manual". The more you know, the better and easier it
will be. My surgeon says that the more knowledgable you are, the lesser the
risk you have to fail. If you read other people's stories and read up on
everything you can, you should do just fine. You probably won't be able to
become a swimsuit model after surgery, but you will get to the point where
you are comfortable, healthy and living life in a normal manner. This site
is where I found most of my information. Other information I have found ahs
come from different pamphlets and informational booklets from other
surgeons, media articles and I also went and put "bariatric
surgery" and "gastric bypass" in the search engine and it
popped up so many different things to look at. I have printed out the
things I like most and started a binder. That way, I can be ready to answer
people's questions at support group meetings and such. I wish you well and
hope that you deided to become a "loser"! Take care and God
bless!
— sammygirlwpc
June 30, 2002
Mary,
I beleive that WLS canhelp anyone that is willing to go through alot and
work hard at getting the weight off, alot ofus here have tried so many
other diets that have failed. I researched into the WLS for over a year and
I felt this was the only thing for me so I am 5 months post-op and 90 lbs
lighter so I know I made the best choice for myself to save my life.
Research alot of the info and talk to others and then make sure this is
what you think will be the right theng for you, only you can do what is
right for you :0)
— chrissy41
June 30, 2002
I know what you mean about doing all the right things diet wise and you
don't lose anyway. But chances are VERY good, although not guaranteed, you
will lose. But don't ever fall for this "X amount of pounds lost
forever" hype! Don't EVER fall for that. We CAN and DO put pounds back
on again, even after WLS! Just do what your doc tells you, exercise, and
eat right (does'nt mean you can have a sweet or something fattening once in
awhile). Make sure you don't graze, or drink high calorie liquids and you
will almost certainly lose and keep off with WLS. But never get the
attitude that those pounds are "gone forever". I have seen many
people who had WLS (maybe the older WLS?) and have put all or most of their
weight back on. I'll never take WLS for granted as I really want this to
work. I doubt I'll ever get to goal, but God Willing I hope to keep off
what I have lost as I know it is NOT "X pounds gone forever". Oh
if that were only true! It depends on me now.
— Danmark
June 30, 2002
I'm going to have agree with Daniel and Cyndee on this. Nothing is
guaranteed. You can put on weight. You can outsmart the surgery. The
surgery is but one "tool." Waterloading is another tool to keep
the amount you eat down. I'm not trying to discourage you. The surgery
doesn't do anything to our brain, but it is now easier for me to make
better food choices. I think seeing the weight loss happen so fast is
keeping me motivated. Still, it is not magic and is not forever unless you
work to make it forever.
— Lisa N M.
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