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I'm happy a gastric band worked for you, but I'm always uncomfortable when people suggest surgery without also mentioning that it has major risks. [My aunt pas

by Shooter 16y ago

I'm happy a gastric band worked for you, but I'm always uncomfortable when people suggest surgery without also mentioning that it has major risks. [My aunt passed away last year after gastric band surgery at one of the top hospitals in the country. She contracted MRSA and had some other complications.] While I can appreciate the feelings of frustration and helplessness when you can't control your weight, I think one should seriously consider the risks before signing up for surgery. Especially if you have kids.

viggity 16y ago
I'm really sorry to hear about your aunt. You're right, there are certainly risks, which have to be weighed carefully and it isn't something that should be taken lightly.
SoftwareMaven 16y ago
Anybody who tries surgery for anything (including increasing the size of their lips) without understanding all of the consequences... I had weight loss surgery and lost 160lbs. I also almost died almost a year to the date after the initial surgery because of an intestinal stricture that resulted when a permanent stitch become semi-permanent and came very close to my intestine tearing (sepsis from that is BAD). I basically had to have most of the surgery twice as a result, the second time in an emergency setting (fortunately from the same doctor as the original, who was chosen because his practice of doctors are so good). Still, I am a proponent of the surgery for a certain class of individuals, like me, who had tried for years and years to lose and saw nothing but yo-yo'ing into BMIs of 40s, 50s and more. Quality of life is so low and health dangers so high, that the risks can be worth it. Few people who haven't been morbidly obese can understand how bad the quality of life can be (note: QoL does not have to be bad for the morbidly obese; some people are very happy and I say more power to them! I was not one of them. I was miserable.). Even knowing how close I came to dying, I would do it again, just for the opportunity to live. It is not a decision to be made lightly (I can give a list as long as my arm as to potential complications), and my heart goes out to every person who hoped for that better life and succumbed to complications. It is also not a silver bullet. You still have to think about how you eat, retrain yourself, etc., or you will be back at your weight again (I'm dieting now because I've gained back a bit more than I wanted because I didn't pay enough attention, but the tool still works and I am losing weight. I'm down about 20lbs and able to diet like a "normal" person.). However, even with all that, I will still encourage everybody I talk to who is considering it to do it if they think it is right. Only they can decide that. Edit: Rereading, I noticed you mentioned "especially if they have kids" and I think it is also important to address that. The decision is certain more grave at that point. I had four kids, the youngest was 3 when I had my surgery. It factored significantly into the decision, but in the end, it actually encouraged me to have the surgery. Let me explain: 1. Children of obese parents tend to be obese and unhealthy. I wanted to try to help break that cycle. 2. I could not really play with my kids, do the things I wanted to with them, because of my weight, so it was negatively impacting my relationship with them. 3. My health was deteriorating to the point that it was questionable whether I would have 10 more years with them at the current trajectory (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, beginnings of type 2 diabetes), and those 10 years would be miserable, watching me decay. So, in the end, I did the surgery for myself and for my family.

by Shooter 16y ago

viggity 16y ago

I'm really sorry to hear about your aunt. You're right, there are certainly risks, which have to be weighed carefully and it isn't something that should be taken lightly.

SoftwareMaven 16y ago

Anybody who tries surgery for anything (including increasing the size of their lips) without understanding all of the consequences... I had weight loss surgery and lost 160lbs. I also almost died almost a year to the date after the initial surgery because of an intestinal stricture that resulted when a permanent stitch become semi-permanent and came very close to my intestine tearing (sepsis from that is BAD). I basically had to have most of the surgery twice as a result, the second time in an emergency setting (fortunately from the same doctor as the original, who was chosen because his practice of doctors are so good). Still, I am a proponent of the surgery for a certain class of individuals, like me, who had tried for years and years to lose and saw nothing but yo-yo'ing into BMIs of 40s, 50s and more. Quality of life is so low and health dangers so high, that the risks can be worth it. Few people who haven't been morbidly obese can understand how bad the quality of life can be (note: QoL does not have to be bad for the morbidly obese; some people are very happy and I say more power to them! I was not one of them. I was miserable.). Even knowing how close I came to dying, I would do it again, just for the opportunity to live. It is not a decision to be made lightly (I can give a list as long as my arm as to potential complications), and my heart goes out to every person who hoped for that better life and succumbed to complications. It is also not a silver bullet. You still have to think about how you eat, retrain yourself, etc., or you will be back at your weight again (I'm dieting now because I've gained back a bit more than I wanted because I didn't pay enough attention, but the tool still works and I am losing weight. I'm down about 20lbs and able to diet like a "normal" person.). However, even with all that, I will still encourage everybody I talk to who is considering it to do it if they think it is right. Only they can decide that. Edit: Rereading, I noticed you mentioned "especially if they have kids" and I think it is also important to address that. The decision is certain more grave at that point. I had four kids, the youngest was 3 when I had my surgery. It factored significantly into the decision, but in the end, it actually encouraged me to have the surgery. Let me explain: 1. Children of obese parents tend to be obese and unhealthy. I wanted to try to help break that cycle. 2. I could not really play with my kids, do the things I wanted to with them, because of my weight, so it was negatively impacting my relationship with them. 3. My health was deteriorating to the point that it was questionable whether I would have 10 more years with them at the current trajectory (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, beginnings of type 2 diabetes), and those 10 years would be miserable, watching me decay. So, in the end, I did the surgery for myself and for my family.