Weight loss surgery - one woman's testimony

 

Note, I receive many letters like this - from folks who have not had a good result with Weight Loss Surgery. I always ask for their permission to re-print, offering to keep them anonymous - anonymity is important because the WLS community reacts viciously at the mere mention of any of the negative aspects of WLS. Most post ops are so fearful of repercussions from "the WLS Community" that they do not give their permission to re-print... which I respect, of course.

When I received the material below, I asked for permission…this kind lady did give her permission. This is one person's reaction (and that of some of her friends and acquaintances - a scenario which CAN happen).

There are no stats given about the lifespan after surgery for the RNY or other WLS surgeries - Some surgeons are keeping databases but none have released their findings which in itself, suggests that their findings are either the same as the Billroth II surgery upon which the modern gastric bypasses were based or … worse. The Life expectancy after a Billroth II is 15-30 years with most living about 20 years if no life threatening complications happen. The complications with the Billroth II including hernias, bowel obstructions and more, are so severe and common that most physicians cringe at the mention of this surgery - this is because many of them have treated post Billroth II patients. For the same reason, many physicians cringe at WLS also.

Here is what one woman (who had the RNY) says about WLS:

Sue,

Why are so many people SO MAD at you for telling the truth...I wrote recently of my having a WLS and it wasn't the answer to everything...As a matter of fact, it has caused me many more problems than I had before surgery...Many more....

People that want the magic life do believe and add to everything a physician (WLS guy)says...and forgets all the negative and side effects and life changes, and medical changes and all the complications NOW and LATER

I think what people who get WLS forget that in the beginning, if all goes Right - there is a honeymoon period..

Everything is going ok (not including throwing up, body not accepting beef, learning to chew everything 40 times before you swallow (the roux en y) eating sugar and going into a sugar reaction which makes you sweat profusely, you think you are going to die, you MUST lie down,(you become so weak you can't move) your heart beats through your chest)......

Or when you throw up and tear the staple lines so you are going to have more surgery again and again. Or you throw up so much, even with the reversal of the WLS, it does not stop the violent throwing up... Or the blood transfusions, total break down of intestines, etc.etc.etc...I'm sure there are many more side effects of these types of surgeries...

There was a gal that appeared on the Roseanne show a year or two ago AGAINST WLS...She is a reporter for the big paper in Denver or the other big city in Colorado..I had her name and e mail but when my hard drive had to be redone I lost her name...She has kept a file(at last measuring it was 3-4 foot high of people's casualties and side effects of WLS. This was right at the time Roseanne was paying for the Fobi pouch surgery, a few other guests that were overweight on her show. This gal was there to talk against the WLS...but didn't get to talk much..

Since having her WLS, Roseanne has stopped her show because of low ratings. She looks terrible...Hair dull, thin. Her skin dull, full of sags and lines. A far cry from the robust, full [figured] Roseanne. I saw her on another show and she says she has NO energy and no libido at all. Now this is a woman who made her fame and fortune by being fat. I feel she has lost her edge...My opinion..

But anyway..WLS is not the way to go...There is ALWAYS side effects sooner or later. As I said before my big friend S____ has started gaining as early as one year after surgery...He lost not even near his HIGH goal weight...(he was a two time Optifast person) I think he lost maybe 150 or so from his high weight of 600-650+..

My gal friend in Washington state (an RN) had the gastric banding lost ONLY 60 [lbs] , has since regained it ALL and now has severe GERD reflux and it ulcerates her esophagus.

My mother's friend a year and a half ago, after having the J.I. bypass in place for 16-17 years died...Her liver had broken down so much over the years, it was useless. Her physical state did NOT allow her to have a transplant. She had worshipped the J.I. bypass because she was always afraid some woman would get her husband. She said she would rather die than have it taken down. In the end, she said she wished she had never done the J.I. bypass and would give up all her years at a lower weight, so as not to die....Well, she died and another WOMAN does have her husband....anyway...

The answer is (and most people don't like this answer) is FULL body acceptance. We are who we are. Weight loss, hair color, eye color, all pretty much set by genetics and we all know how hard it is to change brown eyes to blue...It just can't be done. I guess that explains the dismal failure of dieting...98 percent gain it all back plus...and I suspect the people that keep it off do it by laxatives, starving, diuretics, or exercising neurotically..

WE are all in a lot of doo doo. I just don't want my daughter to do to herself what I have done with the dieting since 10 years old, starving, bingeing, fasting, counting calories, grams, measuring myself by what I weigh...and one doesn't have anything to do with the other... I don't know....hard for me to even think about weight

Weight Loss Surgery does NOT bring a knight on a shining stead, a million dollars in your account, a beautiful mansion with servants at every door, wonderful kids that are all honor students and will never touch alcohol or drugs, in laws that worship you, crowds of adoring fans that hang on to your very word, a career than includes a private jet and helicopter on your own landing pad.......or anything near the above description.. Everything is the same ol' same ol'...Except now or awhile later, there are many side effects to deal with..Maybe, just maybe you might have to buy smaller clothes I remember a few shows that had Dr. Fobi ... And I think he even said that his surgery could be overridden by not following what he said to be successful...All the docs I have ever talked to about WLS said the same thing..(with the J.I. bypass it was sugar that put weight right on)...(and of course, what does one crave??? Sugar..) People that have the gastric banding (where eating is restrictive) make themselves PUKE a lot, after every meal...I know one older gal that sticks her finger down her throat(her gag reflex does not work at all now)...She has thrown up for 15 years....(and has had 3 repair surgeries(needs another one) from torn staple lines)..This gal can't get 3 words together for a sentence. Can't remember what she's talking about and is just dizzy most of the time. But weighs 140 ...and looks TERRIBLE..like the walking dead. She came to my house once in the fall, wind was blowing her long grey hair around and I didn't recognize her...

I don't know the answer...but unless someone is SEVERELY obese and on their way out....WLS doesn't make our world brighter or fuller.

With this kind of horror stories, and after effects and severe medical problems,,,how is it that WLS is still almost an over the counter surgery??????????????????????

 

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