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RSS FeedGastric bypass surgery: Is it safe?
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| No | 57% | 181 votes | Total: 317 votes | |
| Yes | 43% | 136 votes |
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Add to FavoritesGastric Bypass is a serious surgery and has risks as every surgery does. There is always anesthesia risk, bleeding, shock, and complications. If a person is morbidly overweight, he has more of a surgical risk for blood clots, cardiac and other problems.
An extremely overweight person may have health problems that might not be picked up on a short pre-operative evaluation.
Gastric Bypass should not be an easy solution to a problem. Before you consider this, have you had medical consultation about your weight? Have you really tried to diet and exercise? Are you aware of all of the complications that may occur after the surgery?
Have you talked to others who have had the surgery? Are you aware you may have food digestion problems after this and may not be able to each much in quantity and may not be able to eat all foods. Your body will not absorb B12 and you will have to have injections for this. Have you talked with several doctors and medical professionals about this surgery?
Is the surgery safe? It is safer with a physician who has done many of these surgeries and has had good surgical results. It is more safe in a hospital that provides up to date facilities and care. Some doctors will not even talk to patients, on a serious level, if they are extremely obese, unless they lose some weight.
If you have Diabetes Mellitus, you may have poorer wound healing and if your Diabetes is very unstable, the doctor may want to get this under control before surgery. If you have Labile Hypertension, the surgeon may also refer you to a specialist for better control of this. If you have multiple medical problems, this may be more of a risk for surgery.
Psychologically you should be very stable. Do you have unrealistic expectations? What do you expect from surgery? If you have troubled relationships, do you expect them to improve? If you are severely Depressed, then you may tend to be more depressed after surgery. If you feel your goals are not met or you have problems that may cause increased anxiety and/or Depression. If you work, can you afford to be off or if your insurance will not pay for this, is it affordable?
This surgery should be a last resort and not a first line "treatment" of Obesity.
Do you meet the criteria for someone who is severely Obese? Do you just want to lose 25 pounds or look "better?"
What if you want the surgery, regardless? I would suggest going to a Bariatric Specialist for weight problems, first, or an Internist or Family Physician who is qualified and interested in these issues.
If you have surgery, get several opinions, and find out what is involved. Once surgery is performed, it has been done. There will always be doctors who will do surgery but it is right for you?
Learn more about this author, Sally Hall.
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Yes
IS THIS SURGERY SAFE?
Well, for myself that wasn't what was running through my mind 4 years ago.
I underwent this procedure in April 2003, I had, at that time, been jumping through hoops to accomplish that day for over 2 years. I had undergone many tests both physical and psychological, 2 doctors, 4 different insurance companies, neigh saying family and friends (who always meant well), and any one else who felt I needed their opinion on the subject.
For myself this was something I had known would work for me since childhood. I grew up in a rural town with fewer people than livestock, no real economic outlook or educational advantages available to the masses, where hard, honest work was more prevalent than a high school diploma, and eating a good meal meant clearing your plate at every meal. By the time I entered kindergarten I weighed in at 60 lbs, but I was not only chubby but muscular (all that means is I didn't look my size ,I "carried it well'), By 6th grade I was 175lbs and by my senior year I tipped out over 240. Then as a new mother, I ballooned to 308 lbs within the next 10 years. What a time that was I decided to go to college after all that time and finally took the chance to get this procedure done, Boy was I a glutton for punishment 21 credit hours that semester and surgery scheduled 3 weeks from finals. I ended up with a 3.2 GPA for that semester, It was pure determination!
Right now I weigh in between 140 to 170 lbs, I'm no longer pre-diabetic, I no longer have high blood pressure and the only remnants I have is some loose skin (I've had no further procedures) and my arthritis, a not so subtle reminder of all that weight on my joints, but over all I'm very healthy and now getting more and more active with my child and step-children(8), and I enjoy playing with all(16) of my grandchildren much more than would have ever been possible without this help.
NOW FOR MY TWO CENTS AS IT WERE
Would I do it again? Yes
Would I recommend it? Yes
Is it for everyone? No
Is it a "quick fix"? No
IS IT SAFE?
Yes, as long as you educate yourself before hand
ask your doctor /research your doctor
read books / as many as you can find
surf the web / follow the links to more information
visit a support group for over eaters or one of the many newly formed pre-op and post op gastric bypass support groups
and any other means you can think of to find out the facts and the myths of this procedure.
While all surgery has an inherent risk, in an instance such as this it's not as black and white as some people believe. The decision to have this done isn't as easy as it would seem but for those who will utilize and benefit from it I can't think of a more sound decision than to give yourself and those you love a few more good years of life (in better health).
This procedure does not fix family, marital or other social problems. Nor will it make you someone you were not meant to be. But it will help to make you healthier than you have been in a long time and give you the energy you need to help yourself to become the person you always felt you could be and much more, after all if I can do it anyone else can too.
Learn more about this author, Mildred Payne.
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