Question:
can this tipe of eating keep her healthy
I have a friend that I met when we both were trying to get this operation.She had her surgury one week before I did a year ago, we both had the same doctor and I am doing fine, no problems at all. She almost died from a massive infection, part of her intestines died that was attached to her pouch and gangrene spread into her other organs. She was in the hospital for 3 weeks and she & her family went through hell.They were very upset that the risks werent explained more clearly and are not very supportive of her now.Her start weight was 267 now a year later its 195. She told me today she mostly eats chips and sweets, thats about it.I am not that close to her but have called her as often as I can to share some knowledge and give her encouragement and she is always eager to hear what I have learned here. She listens, but obviously doesnt understand how importent some things are for her health, like eating protien and getting her fluids in. She wont go back to the doctor who did her surgury, she feels even though he has a good track record,that he botched her operation. I am really worried about what this kind of eating will do to her health long term.How can she stay healthy eating like that? There are so many people who try so hard to eat right and take their vitamins and still have problems getting the protien and what they need in to keep them fit, how can these eating habits not ruin her health after awhile? Has anyone known someone that totaly ignored the right way to eat, what happened to them long term when they continued doing so? — Shelley M. (posted on August 2, 2004)
August 2, 2004
Well there was a study done a few years back and pretty much said that
people who refused to follow regimen acquired bone disease and other health
complications long term. She could end up paralyzed or so many other things
if her B-12 levels go down which could the way You describe I understand it
takes almost two years for Your body to deplete but then it is too late she
could have to learn to walk again if she even could. I would STRESS to hear
this and other facts of NOT taking Vits. You can search the library for
information to take to her. She can also get a malpractice lawyer and see
if they think her surgery was botched. Obviously she needs support.
— Shell G
August 2, 2004
Well, probably as bad as it gets. Malnutrition and complete regain. I'm
not anti-chips now & then, just not as an entree. Without some good
foods and the right vites & protein supps, yes, your guess is right.
Anemia, nerve damage, rickets & osteopporosis are about a sure thing.
Potentially night blindness and the inability to heal from even small
booboos. It doesn't all happen at once. This can happen to people who
adhere strictly to a bad regimen, so what happens to someone who doesn't
even HAVE a regimen? I'm scared for your buddy.
— vitalady
August 2, 2004
Im sure its hard to be in your position. Why not send your friend a gift
of a monthly subscrption for WLS from beyond change
http://www.beyondchange-obesity.com/ its $20. and it covers ALOT of
subjects each month - from vitamins to meals. It may not help her but
having it come to her house she might read it...
— star .
August 2, 2004
Yes, her health will suffer long term. She'll most likely end up with
anemia and osteoporosis at the least as these are the most common. Without
the fuel and vitamins our bodies need to function, her health will
gradually decline. Sometimes the damage is irreversable.
— mom2jtx3
August 2, 2004
I too had a friend who had surgery with my surgeon 3 months before me. She
had complications, I had none. She never followed any of the rules from the
start and now she's 2 years out and struggles with 30 pounds of
'fluctuation'. She hasn't taken her vitamins in a year, doesn't even drink
water, never exercises, eats whatever, whenever. Sadly, I pretty much
stopped nagging her about 6 months ago. I just gave up. She thinks it's a
joke that she doesn't do anything right. It scares me to think what she
faces long term.
— Yolanda J.
August 2, 2004
I STRONGLY disagree about getting a lawyer. Her surgeon did not fail her,
she failed the surgery.
You can not be someones food police. Give her the facts all you can do..
hugs
— Kathy S.
August 4, 2004
I know someone who never eats right and drinks like a fish. She never
attained her goal weight and looks awful. She had her surgery 2 years
before me, but I look great (even with many post-op complications),achieved
my goals, eat right and exercise. Everyone has to find their own way, and
some never do. You can't change people.
— lconrad
August 5, 2004
She is going to have problems in the future. I work with two women, both
younger than me, who had WLS long before I . One woman told me she is lucky
to get in 8 ounces of water a day - yet I see her with coffee and pop all
the time, and she eats fast food everyday for lunch. She wears a size 2
(her goal) after weighing about 350lbs, She doesn't look good, at all. The
other woman told me she told her surgeon she was eating chips and whatever,
and when he tried to tell her that wasn't the best thing to be eating, she
said she told him she would "eat what [she] damned well wanted to
eat". I don't know if either woman takes any extra vitamins or
supplements, and it/s a good bet that neither uses any protein supplements.
As far as your friend's surgery being 'botched', well, sometimes
you-know-what happens! Ideally, no one would have any complications, but it
sounds like she had a rough time. She is lucky to have a friend like you
who shares knowledge, but, like they say, 'You can lead a horse to water,
but you can't make him drink.' I don't know what will happen to the two
women I work with, but my goals were different from theirs. My goal was to
lose weight in order to be healthy, not a certian size. I still need to
lose aobut 40lbs., but my PCP is very happy with my health status and
lifestyle changes. Sounds like you friend was not really propared for
surgery in many ways.
— koogy
August 8, 2004
I think that I would suggest she find a different doctor. I can understand
her not trusting the surgeon who did her surgery (since she feels he
botched it). At the very least she should go see a PCP and have blood work
done. Is there a WLS support group nearby that isn't associated with your
surgeon? I also agree with a gift of a WLS magazine. Good luck!
— SJP
Click Here to Return