I read this article yesterday, and had mixed feelings on it. It sparked a VERY interesting discussion on the highly sensitive topic of WLS (Weight Loss Surgery) in my low carb group.
The photographer did an amazing job, by the way. Very impressive project.
I’m curious to hear your thoughts on the topic of Weight Loss Surgery?
Like I said, I have very mixed feelings on it – and find myself highly curious about the whole topic. Here’s the public WLS discussion on Facebook, by the way:
I read this article yesterday, and had mixed feelings on it. It sparked a VERY interesting discussion on the highly…
Posted by Low Carb Traveler (Lynn) on Friday, May 8, 2015
We’re also discussing it in the Private Low Carb Challenge Group.
Apologies in advance, I know this is a sensitive topic…
Let me start by saying I mean NO offense with this topic, or with my questions. As I said, I’m just highly curious about the topic of weight loss surgery – and have really enjoyed the various discussions on it so far.
Though I admit, those discussions did raise even more questions in my mind.
Personally, I’m AFRAID of surgery – after a horrific experience 2 1/2 years ago with anesthesia that dramatically affected my cognitive functions. For more than five straight months I had extreme migraines and was unable to keep count even up to THREE, so simple things like showering or making coffee became a HUGE ordeal.
It turns out anesthesia can dramatically affect cognitive function in a surprisingly high percentage of people – especially women over a certain age. I was shocked to discover that…
“one study found 42 percent of heart-bypass patients suffer significant drops in mental sharpness that can last not just months but years. Other research suggests 10 percent of hip-replacement patients suffer similar mental decline.”
I was only 39 years old, going through a “routine hysterectomy”, with no other health issues. It was a horrible and scary experience, and I’ll definitely think twice before ever having a surgery again! I also had physical complications with that surgery (a hysterectomy) that landed me on bed rest and in horrible pain for NINE weeks. My whole life was on hold for what should have been a 48 hour recovery. 🙁
Surgery would definitely be a last resort for me at this point – for any reason.
I’m also not a fan of blindly taking a doctor’s advice. One new doctor I went to a few years ago (for a sinus infection, mind you) grabbed me around the middle and said I should lose 50 pounds. He wanted to enroll me in his (expensive) Diet Clinic. Um, if I lost 50 pounds I’d look like a crack addict. 😐 lol. Seriously! 😛
Let’s backtrack to my real health problem, though…
For years I told my doctor about my symptoms, and felt “blown off” with simple explanations – it’s just hormones, it’s normal for your age, etc. At one point, several actually, she offered to do a procedure called Uterine Ablation.
“Basically we’ll just boil your uterus out.” Uh, no thanks. 😛
The symptoms got worse, and ultimately I found myself in horrible pain – then I started feeling strange movements in my lower abdomen. I insisted (and I had to get VERY insistent) on having an ultrasound. That’s when they discovered a large noncancerous tumor that had attached itself to my uterine lining and cut off the blood supply. Hormone treatment (medication) was tried first. Then they doubled the dosage. And tripled it. I ended up having an emergency hysterectomy 7 months later when the tumors started multiplying like YouTube trolls.
All that to say… a second (and even third) opinion, your own research, exploring EVERY option – those are all my first thoughts.
Surgery should be a DRASTIC last resort in my opinion – for ANY reason.
Getting back to the topic of Weight Loss Surgery specifically, though…
Is Weight Loss Surgery “The Easy Way Out”?
Most of the people that had a WLS in our discussion said the exact same thing, in the exact same words: “it’s not the easy way out”. I’m curious what that means exactly.
I’ve asked several times and haven’t gotten an answer on that yet – but I heard it about a dozen times during our discussion. It turns out (from what I can tell, anyway) that the phrase came from other people who said that to them. A condescending statement like “well, you took the easy way out” – meaning they disapproved of their not dieting and exercising to lose the weight instead.
* Is there something else behind this statement?
Post WLS Health & Weight Loss Challenges
Those who’ve had weight loss surgery say it’s still a constant daily challenge – to eat healthy and exercise, and to maintain the weight loss. While many reported they did experience dramatic weight loss in the first two years (not instantly, but over a 1-2 year period of time), many also reported regaining some of the weight and working hard to lose that and also maintain their weight loss.
“It takes work, just like anything else. If you do not make a serious lifestyle change, the surgery will only yield temporary results.”
In addition to that, many also have to take supplements and avoid certain foods (ie adhere to a restrictive diet). For some, the supplements are something that will be required FOR LIFE, not just during recovery. Some also experienced saggy skin which had to be removed through yet another surgery, due to weight loss happening too quickly.
My question is: If you had made a serious lifestyle change without the surgery, would you not have lost weight also? Given you have to make (and maintain) a long-term lifestyle change post-surgery… couldn’t you just do that without having to have surgery? One lady for example said she lost 206 pounds in about 18 months after WLS. That’s a loss of 11-12 pounds per month on average. Isn’t that possible, and easy enough really, without surgery?? Or am I missing something?
* Please forgive my blunt question. I know this is a sensitive topic. I’m just highly curious!!
The Underlying Causes & Issues Remain
After listening to the discussion over the last 24 hours, it doesn’t sound worth it to me. Many said they still crave food, some reported severe depression post-surgery, many commented the food issues and the cravings were still a constant struggle.
That plus the post-surgery lifestyle (supplements, restrictions, health issues, etc) concerned me more than a little. Still, most of those people say they don’t regret having WLS, and they would do it again in a heartbeat. (??)
I’ve never had weight loss surgery, and I struggle with those same things: food issues, emotional eating, food cravings, maintaining my weight loss, changing my thought processes about food, body image issues, etc.
I guess that’s what makes me so curious about it. You still have the same challenges you would have had otherwise – right? Right.
Do they make counseling required to help with the health/emotional issues, and do they offer counseling on “what to expect” health-wise long-term following the surgery?
Exactly how much counseling IS required or offered, and how hard do they work to help you fight your health issues – with surgery as a last resort? Or are the doctors and surgeons making more money encouraging you to have the surgery without much regard for other (healthier / safer) options?
Wouldn’t you still have the same issues and challenges after the surgery, or without the surgery? It seems so, from my perspective, but again – I haven’t had WLS, so I would love to hear from those of you that have!
Would You Do It? Or Would You Do Recommend It To Others?
Some people that opted for WLS had serious health issues (high blood sugar, diabetes, high cholesterol) that were life threatening, and the surgery was a means to quickly get to a healthier place in that regard. Some others were in pain and facing other surgeries if they didn’t lose weight fast, such as back and knee injuries.
I can certainly understand that. But listening in to the stories, if you are only going to lose 10-12 pounds a month over the course of a year or two, and that’s with strict diet and exercise recommended post-surgery, couldn’t you just easily lose that amount of weight in that amount of time… doing the strict diet & exercise?
Or again, am I missing something??
One lady had WLS to get off medication for diabetes, which was causing her serious health scares. Unfortunately that didn’t work and she still has diabetes (not the type they originally thought she had) and still has to take medication. She also still has to “diet” (for life), has certain dietary restrictions now, and still struggles with emotional eating. (I struggle with that too, btw – that’s a tough one!) Yet she STILL said she would do it all over again if she went back in time – and would recommend it to others.
(I feel sure I am most definitely missing something here. – ?)
“people researching weight loss surgery need to realize it [the post-surgery maintenance] is a lifetime commitment.”
I don’t mean to sound judgmental. I hope I don’t, because I’m truly just deeply curious. Especially given how “popular” it is these days to have weight loss surgery.
My own health and weight and physical fitness is a lifetime commitment for me TOO.
Especially since my “horrific hysterectomy” as I like to call it. From the discussion, I feel like I am going through all the same challenges as someone who had WLS (minus the need for so many supplements, and certain dietary restrictions) – without ever even having HAD the surgery…
I’m curious: for those of you that have had a weight loss surgery, and you’re happy you did, looking back… would you have tried low carb & exercise first if you knew then what you know now? Why or why not?
I’m also curious if there were any social drawbacks, such as negative comments from friends & family?
Your thoughts?
Best,
Lynn Terry, aka @LowCarbTraveler
I had the surgery in the 80s and a revision in 2002. If I had it to do over on the 2nd procedure the answer would be no. On the first it was good. The second one had to do with extreme gastric reflux. I continue to have that and will not do any further surgery. Also have had major issues with my bowels. I believe staying with this WOE is the best plan for me. My sister has diabetes and I know that if I stay on this plan I can avoid this disease.
So my answer is no I would not recommend it. Although, years ago I did.
π π
Hi Sharon,
The issues with your bowels doesn’t sound pleasant. π I’ve heard that from others too. Is it a common lifelong side effect??
I know how miserable the reflux can be. My fellow suffers with that terribly, and he’s skinny as a rail (never had surgery, or any weight loss problems – in fact he has trouble keeping weight on). That’s a tough one! He avoids certain foods, and eats slowly – which seems to help. Have you found anything to help with that??
I will give you my experience with alz. I had lap and surgery 7 years ago. In my opinion, in hindsight, it was not worth it. But I have told people that it was! I think now that I was savingsceand just was t readytoadmitto myself that I had take. Such a big risk and had it succeeded( once again) to keep the weight off. I lost about 50 pounds but had 80 to lose. I am 15 pounds from my top weight currently and am pretty consistent with this weight. I am about 75 pounds overweight and 60 years old. For me sugar reacts in my body like alcohol to an alcoholic. The low carb food plan works the best for me for weight loss but I get off it easily if I take that first bite of sugar. Weight loss begins in your brain it your stomach. So I surrender to the facts that I now know about my body and keep going. Love your low carb site it helps me a lot! Denise
Thank you, Denise! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the site. π Have you also joined the Low Carb Challenge Group?
You said you lost 50 pounds after the surgery, but you are 15 pounds from your top weight now – so you gained back 35 of the 50 pounds, is that right?
Sugar and Carbs can definitely send you into a craving binge, for sure. I think we’ve all experienced that one! π
I had wls in 2010. No regrets. Did I lose all of the weight that I wanted to lose? No still trying that’s why I am on a low carb diet. I don’t desire the foods that I use to when I was 440 pounds and couldn’t fit a size 32 in the store. I also cannot eat large portions of food. You can on low carb. Weight loss is a tool for the user. I did low carb before lost 80 lbs gained it all back when I started eating bread and potatoes again. After WLS I couldn’t digest carb laden foods without dumping. So it worked for me.
Interesting Jewels! So you mean that it worked because it caused your cravings to stop (no desire for certain foods) and because you can no longer eat / digest high carb foods?
I’ve heard others say they did still have cravings, and did still eat sugar and high carb foods, and gained the weight back that they lost after WLS. I wonder if it’s different for everyone??
80 pounds is a great loss with eating low carb, by the way! Nice. π How much did you lose after weight loss surgery? And you continue to eat low carb as a lifestyle, right?
As for me, I am SO afraid of surgeries at this point, after my last experience… that I would definitely go with hypnosis instead. I’ve tried that in the past and found it works surprisingly well.
Hypnosis would be at least something less invasive to try if someone knew eating low carb worked, but just couldn’t seem to stay on it. My session even made diet soda intolerable to drink! π
I have a lot to say on the subject of WLS. It has ruined my life. I had it 13 years ago in April. I had complications from day one. Usually no one wants to hear about the complications we have had with WLS. They think we’re just being negative. I say we didn’t plan to have complications. We were looking to have better health and body. All the staples they put in me didn’t hold and were floating in gastric juices that infected my whole body. I was put in a coma and then on life support in ICU. I was in the hospital almost the whole year after my surgery. After I came out of the coma I had to go to rehab and learn how to do everything I used to do all over again. No one except my husband had faith that I would make it. Over the years I’ve had 23 complication surgeries, 9 nose surgeries, numerous hospital stay, home health care, continuous hospital wound care and permanent MERSA virus. I’ve lost the bone and gums in my mouth so I’ve lost my teeth and implants. Nothing stays in my system long enough that I can get the nutrients to keep my body going. I’m still in constant pain. I’ve gained some weigh back that I need to lose. My doctor has taken almost everything he can out. He says we only have so many things we can do and we’ve reached that limit. I lost my job, we lost our house and our medical bills are over a $1 million dollars. Closer to two million. Because of the nose surgeries I’ve lost the ability to breathe normally and stay mostly in the house under a humidifier and vaporizer. Due to the surgeries and pain I don’t go out to much. I have a hard time finding food to eat. Nothing stays in my system long enough to get any value. I have no energy or get up and go. It has put a strain on my relationship with my children and seeing my granddaughter. I could go on and tell you how I’ve suffered but you get the idea. I think people that are thinking about having the surgery needs to hear both sides. Hopefully no one will have complications but there is always a chance. I used to be active in volunteering but right now I can’t even do that.
Wow, Sharon – what a HORRIBLE experience! π
Were the 9 nose surgeries related in some way??
It sounds like something went terribly wrong with the initial surgery. Did they take no responsibility for any of that??
I had the gastric sleeve surgery . I was unable to exercise due to severe arthritis and unable to lose weight though I dieted honestltly keeping my calories at 800 to 1000/ day.
It was a godsend. I was told I would lose 40 to 60 pounds and I did. I kept the weight off by eating about 600-800 cal/ day. After having both knees replaced I was able to exercise, but began eating more too. It seems your stomach grows back. Unfortunately I have gained back 17 pounds and am unable to lose it. I am now exercising more and trying to maintain a low cal diet . I tried the Low carb diet for a month and have lost nothing.
Hi Adele,
You said you tried the low carb diet for a month and lost NO weight. That’s really rare! How long ago was this? I’d love to hear more about that experience…
Do you find it hard to maintain such a low calorie diet, or do you find it hard to have enough energy to exercise on that low a number of calories?
After a lifetime of weight issues, yo-yo dieting, at 48 I found myself staring 50 in the face and weighing 280. I finally felt I was desperate enough to try it, but had read so many horrible reviews on gastric bypass that I could not bring myself to even consider it. That’s when I found gastric lapbanding and a doctor close enough that could do it. At time of surgery I was 250. I lost 100 pounds within a year. That was epic! That was awesome! I felt so free! However, I changed absolutely NO bad habits. I couldn’t eat as much, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t eat a few bites of this or that and soon it was sugar all the time. I am sure because I was needing energy and that was a fast fix. Also because I am a sugar addict. I probably had the worst post surgery nausea and fairly sure that through all the dry heaving I dislodged my port. So my fills were hell. They would have to work my port back around where they could access it. Every fill I left with bruising at my port site. For the first year I kept a cup of some sort on my desk or in my car. If I ate too much, too fast, or the wrong thing, I was throwing up. Not food, but spit. I cannot tell you how MISERABLE that was. Even ten years later and no fills for 4 years, if I eat too fast I have to either stand to relieve the pressure or go to the bathroom and dry heave. I am back at 200 right now. Miserable again. And remembering all those reviews of how you will only be able to keep off half of what you loose. So if you decide that is the route for you, just remember that it is great for the first 3 years, then it slowly creeps back unless you have changed what has caused you to be overweight to begin with. I believe they should never ever allow a person to get any sort of weight loss surgery without first going though some emotional, mental training or therapy to show them that the “food” may not be the real problem.
I wish I could stick with a low carb diet as I know that would be the best choice for me. However being a true sugar/carb addict, I am as bad as a meth addict. If it is around, I am going to eat it and then spiral out of control, feel like dog crap, beat myself up, and eventually make a vow to try again.
Hi Sarah,
” I believe they should never ever allow a person to get any sort of weight loss surgery without first going though some emotional, mental training or therapy to show them that the βfoodβ may not be the real problem.”
^ I agree with this. With a surgery of this magnitude, there should be extensive pre-op and post-op care. Not just physical, but ongoing counseling. I’m shocked they are not more invested in this!
“I wish I could stick with a low carb diet as I know that would be the best choice for me. However being a true sugar/carb addict, I am as bad as a meth addict. If it is around, I am going to eat it and then spiral out of control, feel like dog crap, beat myself up, and eventually make a vow to try again.”
^ This is a vicious, miserable cycle. π Many people who’ve never even had the surgery go through this same thing, over and over, with their weight struggles.
The great thing about a low carb diet is that it’s a natural appetite suppressant. And if you eat super low carb (20 net carbs a day) on a LCHF (low carb high fat) diet… your taste buds and cravings TOTALLY change. I find I don’t even LIKE foods I used to really enjoy when I’m in ketosis. That’s a huge plus! π
I’m sorry you’re still struggling, and still caught in the cycle. Especially after going through something so invasive, with so many long term side effects. π
I think the difference is………you keep losing the weight. How many of us have Los the 10-12 lbs a month for 1, 2, maybe 3 or 4 months and then stopped, gained it plus more back? I think everyone has their number….mine is 40 pounds, then for whatever reason it all falls apart. If you lose 10-12 pounds a month for one year, that’s over 100 pounds. That amount gives many people the ability to exercise and motivation to keep it up. Also it is a linger time to learn behavior modification while you *cannot* cheat. Yes, many of us have lost *some* weight on our own, but how many can say they have lost all the weight they wanted to before starting the whole cycle again?
You make a good point, J. However, after reading the stories above, and the discussions across the web, the majority of the people who had weight loss surgery did not keep losing weight – and did gain some or most of it back.
From everything I’ve read (from real people)… the real issue is mindset and will power. Which would require brain surgery instead of stomach surgery. π lol.
Not ever having had WLS myself, I can only go by what everyone else has shared. But it certainly doesn’t sound like the “magic solution” – in any way.
Especially considering you still deal with the same challenges you had pre-surgery, and the same challenges those of us who haven’t had it continue to deal with every day…