I'm an 18 year old male who has been overweight and then obese since around 8 years old. I've tried countless diets and diet supplements, all ending with me losing some weight, but eventually bouncing back.
The past few years I have considered gastric bypass surgery or lap band (a less serious form) but I am not sure. Everyone knows me as the "big guy" including myself and I just feel like I will be nobody without my "big" persona I carry.
On the other page there is the risks of heart problems, diabetes, and my asthma complications. I am on the fence with whether to decide the surgery or just be me and take the risks of the complications in the future.
Being the big man I am has its advantages as far as strength and other things, while losing weight would mean less health problems and being able to become more attractive.
What should I do in your opinions? Weight loss surgery-like gastric bypass have become very common and very safe now. There is one company that is very famous in India that arranges Obesity surgery for foreigners in India. They are called the Fly2india4health Consultants. I read a lot about them in the Newspapers and about their patient stories. I have also read that they arrange financing for international patients, as all surgery is not covered by insurance or by the stinking NHS.
They also have photos pasted of their International patients. You can checkout their website. The cost savings are incredible. As a doctor I personally believe that your surgery can be easily handled in India, as the quality of Healthcare available here is simply best in the world. The surgeons are USA/UK trained and facilities are 5 star.
My cousin got her Obesity surgery done there and she is more than very happy with the results. She is all praise for Fly2india4health Consultants. She paid just 20% of the cost what she was quoted in USA and it was like a wonderful vacation for her. Hope this helps
Source(s):
http://www.fly2india4health.com if you have the operation you still have to learn self-control and moderation in your eating habits. Any form of bariatric surgery is a serious decision and a lifelong commitment. I had gastric bypass 11 months ago and I've lost 121 pounds. While the weight has come off quite easily the mental battles have been difficult. When you spend much of your life overweight there is quite a bit of your self image wrapped up with that. If you are interested in having bariatric surgery I would highly recommend getting yourself a good councilor (many insurances require a clearance by a psychologist anyway) and stick with that person as you undergo your physical and mental changes.
It's a big decision but one I'd gladly make again ever day for the rest of my life. I'll never regret it. Personally, I don't have that much faith in non essential surgery. Too many risks. You just have to rearrange your thought processes a little, that's all. Here are some tips from me to you:
Here鈥檚 all you need to lose weight. First, you have to realize there is no quick, long lasting weight loss plan or pill that is going to do the trick. It鈥檚 purely mental. You have to learn to 鈥淓at to live, don鈥檛 live to eat鈥? Sounds simple, doesn鈥檛 it? It is, if you understand that you are going to be reprogramming how you think about eating for the next few weeks. Old habits die hard, right? Not really. You get rid of bad habits by replacing them with good habits. If you learn to count your calories, keep calorie intake lower than output, exercise moderately, and eat only healthy food, you will lose weight. That鈥檚 a fact. All it takes is repetition. All success stories have this in common: The successful folks among us know how to be patient, persistent, and consistent. Set a goal and stick with it. The benefits of feeling good will outweigh any sense of sacrifice you might feel about having to push away that cake and ice cream. Here are some helpful and healthy links to help you get started on your way:
http://www.geocities.com/seabulls69/weig...
http://www.chetday.com
http://www.drmcdougall.com
http://www.phifoundation.org
http://www.bodybuilding.com Here's the problem. You've lost weight and then you go right back to eating too much. What's going to happen when you have gastric bypass and you eat like you always have?? You'll stretch out your stomach, rip out the staples and you'll die.
Get your eating under control. If you've been obese since you were a child, I would think you'd be sick of it. If you have been able to lose weight in the past you know you can do it!!! While you list your current health concerns, you have to know that bariatric surgery carries it's own set of risks. I think you should continue to try on your own to lose the weight. You will have a much greater sense of accomplishment since you will have worked so hard to get there. Good luck!!! Well, you ask alot of questions here. As for the surgery, it should always be the last resort. I helped a man who had been overweight since he was 8 years old, had tried every diet known to man and couldn't stick with it. I got him started on the plan that I lost 95 lbs in 8 months on and in 7 months he lost 84 lbs and is doing incredibly well. He now runs in the morning, and has went back to school and became a emergency room nurse, and he now helps other people in the same situation he was in. He has seen many people that have had the surgery, and their health is worse than it was before the surgery...no to the surgery, it should be your last resort. But you do not have to be the "big guy" for the rest of your life. I'm not, and neither is my friend! If it was me. I'd do it at your age, because you'll have tons of loose skin if you wait til you are older.
Read this:
I had gastric bypass surgery in April 2005. I started out at 268, now I鈥檓 180 and holding. These links will help you in many ways to make a decision if this is for you or not. I vote yes, because it made such a difference in my life. I was taking 8 pills a day, and after my surgery, I lost my diabetes. The way they do the surgery, takes your diabetes away. I no longer have to take glucophage, and I no longer have high Cholesterol or high blood pressure. I鈥檓 down to 2 pills a day. I went from a size 26-28 to a 16-18.
http://obesityhelp.com/member/rjpoole/
Most people struggle with paying for the surgery. Go to this site, it is a great support system for you, because it鈥檚 only people who have had gastric bypass or lap band. Every insurance program has been rated, and you鈥檒l get tips on how to deal with your insurance company, as well as, surgery tips, food tips, and just support. This site is free! I鈥檇 have to rate it a #1 site if you want to learn about the surgery and how to deal with the insurance companies and get support from other people in the same boat as you.
This is the #1 site for gastric bypass and it鈥檚 free! Extremely helpful! http://www.obesityhelp.com/
This explains about the surgery:
http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/ga...
I really researched my surgeon, and I made a wise choice. Always get a surgeon that has done at least 200 of these surgeries. Get someone with a lot of experience, and you will do well.
Here鈥檚 all about my surgeon鈥?br>
http://obesityhelp.com/morbidobesity/bar...
http://www.cmch.org/profile-pilkington.h...
You just can鈥檛 find a better surgeon than him! He鈥檚 probably done at least 500 of the surgeries, so far. I did so well after my surgery, I thank him every time I see him.
I made it to 175! It's been almost 2 years since my surgery. I haven't had any complications at all with my surgery! My health has been very good, and I've lost the weight nice and slow, so my body doesn't look that much out of shape. I've been faithfully taking my vitamins, and my blood work came back excellent! I still think very highly of Dr. Pilkington, and would recommend to anyone thinking of this surgery, to have Dr. Pilkington as his or her surgeon. I'm walking proof, that he is an excellent doctor. I just spoke to another patient of his who told me she had a very good experience with him, and she is in excellent health, as well. He is a very caring doctor. I live in Florida in the winter. I see alot of folks down there because of my job, and I see people from all over the USA and overseas. Since my surgery, I've talked to lots of others that have had the surgery in Florida, and some of them didn't do as well, and I tend to think it's because their doctors weren鈥檛 as competent as mine. I feel that part of how you do, is because of your general health and attitude. The other major part is how good your doctor is.
Here鈥檚 a website that tells what to look for in a surgeon;
http://www.texasbariatricspecialists.com...
http://www.docshop.com/education/bariatr...
Gastric Bypass diet: (after surgery)
http://www.gicare.com/pated/edtgs22.htm
There is a very good web site by a guy named Basil White. He鈥檚 a govt. worker and a comedian. He walks you through everything. Very interesting. He had the surgery and did well. If you want an idea how people handle the surgery, read here!
http://www.basilwhite.com/gastric/
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gastric...
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gastric...
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gastric...
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/46/...
http://www.lapband.com/lapband/aboutlapb...
A must read if you have questions:
http://www.liteandhope.com/livechat_arch...
http://www.bariatricedge.com/dtcf/pages/...
Check out this link, this lady put her heart and soul into it, with lots of great info:
http://www.gastricbypassfamily.com/index...
Vitamins I take鈥? you have to be very faithful about taking them after surgery, because you can become very sick if you don鈥檛. There were recommended by my surgeon and nutritionist.
http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.j...
http://www.webmd.com/hw/weight_control/h...
Some other helpful links鈥?br>
http://dir.yahoo.com/Health/Diseases_and...
http://www.stapleclub.com/general_info.h...
http://www.locateadoc.com/articles.cfm/1...
http://www.dhmc.org/webpage.cfm?site_id=...
http://www.connectionwls.com/
http://www.mygastricbypass.com/
http://www.gwdocs.com/health/eHA-eHA_Con...
Risks of Gastric Bypass Surgery
Gastric bypass surgery is considered the safest and most effective type of bariatric surgery. But as with any major surgery, the procedure does carry some risks.
http://www.dhmc.org/webpage.cfm?site_id=...
http://www.dhmc.org/webpage.cfm?site_id=...
Good luck with your surgery and new life! Hello,
Though I have never had the gastric bypass or WLS surgery, I have worked with a WLS medical practice and have a couple of friends who had WLS. In my experience, I can tell you that surgery should always be your last option, though if necessary, can save your life and greatly improve your quality of life. Please note, however, that the information that you will find on the very commercial sites can be incredibly misleading. Only about 1/3 of the individuals that get gastric bypass keep their excess weight off. Another 1/3 gains about half of it back, and the remaining 1/3 goes back to their original weight.
I've worked on a couple of web sites that I hope can help:
http://www.thinnertimes.com (informational)
- here you can find information about complications, consequences, general outcomes, etc.
http://www.thinnertimesforum.com (online forum)
There are others like Obesityhelp, but in my experience the forum above is quite easy to use.
Best wishes :) |
