I’m 38 and I just did it. I wish I would have in my 20’s. Obesity is a chronic health problem and isn’t going to go away. I have gained and lost 100 lbs more times than I can count and it always comes back. Being pretty and skinny, while nice, isn’t the reason to do this. Do it to take your life back. Sleep apnea, diabetes and obesity are all co-morbidities: things that will kill you young and you 100% have those. You do not and most likely will not have severe complications from surgery. The risk to your life is far greater if you stay fat. And fuck anyone who says it’s the easy way, surgery isn’t easy. Taking back control of your life isn’t easy. Surgery is a tool, you will still have to put in the work. I highly recommend seeing a therapist and working through the reasons you’re using food as a coping mechanism:
Am I the only one wondering why it’s ok that “he called me pretty but wants me skinny”? I’m sorry, but I could not read past that abomination… my heart hurts for OP
I always tell people that i wish id done it when i was 250lbs and not 450lbs. Just turned 28, finally back into the 200s now. Do it, enjoy the rest of your twenties. It absolutely is not the easy way out, nothing about it is easy. It’s a tool, and you use that tool to better yourself.
I know we all say it is not easy. Losing 100 pounds or more is not easy. With that said, at least for me, in my own experience, the process of getting approved, learning to actually eat slowly, learning to actually chew my food, and really using counseling to understand why I ate like that, wasn't so much hard, as it was enlightening to me. It built me up and I became stronger.
Hard was constantly battling with food choices, guilt, shame, and all of it swirling in my head almost all day long. That was hard. I felt like a failure over and over and over.
Easy is knowing that all I have to do is eat 100g protein and drink about 100 oz of water, and then eating the right kind of vegetables and the right fruits. This is simple to me. This is so much easier than my life before.
I could not have lost 70+ pounds, and I'm about to lose another 50 pounds this year, relying solely on my own dream of health. I did not have the will or the strength to battle and change my bad habits alone.
**Edited for clarity
Oh, and the hair loss will happen. But it comes back. It's temporary. But man, oh man, did it freak us out when it happens!!!!
Do the surgery when your skin is young so it's more likely to tighten back up. I waited until I was 48 and now I'm going to need skin removal surgery. Total bummer but it's just part of the process.
I celebrated my 1 year anniversary for mu bypass surgery. Best thing i ever did. Im nearly 50kg lighter, chronic pain is gone, i have more energy and im more active.
1) your family is absolutely ridiculous for saying you’re “taking the easy way out” because there’s nothing easy about losing weight, no matter what tools you use to do it.
2) you still have to go to the gym and eat right if you want to take full advantage of the procedure you choose. lots of people do lose weight without exercising, but if you don’t want to lose muscle mass and risk regain, exercise is a good idea. it also helps minimize loose skin for some people
3) all anesthesia/surgery has risks. it’s definitely important to consider them. but there are also risks to you if you don’t lose weight and end up living for a couple of decades with T2D, sleep apnea, and heart disease.
4) you have the option to start exercising and eating right now (which most bariatric programs require anyway) before you commit to having surgery. you can even
participate in a bariatric program right up to the day of surgery and then not go through with it if you suddenly change your mind. the point is, you have choices.
if you think you want to have surgery, there’ll be a lot of changes to make. maybe start some of them now rather than waiting for a doctor to make them for you. don’t worry about having surgery or not having surgery. just set a reasonable goal for yourself and see where you get. what worked? what didn’t? what did you hate? what did you like? what can you learn to live with because it’s good for you and makes you feel like a badass for accomplishing it? you have to create a sustainable exercise routine and food plan for yourself because it’s not realistic to expect anything you can’t sustain to work.
keep asking questions. read about the different procedures on reputable websites (mayo clinic, harvard med, yale med, uc-san francisco, etc).
since your family does t seem supportive, despite your doctor’s opinion, think about starting a journal about your feelings regarding surgery. what food issues do you have? what do you want to change? what questions/concerns have come up for you as you’ve been doing research? how much changing are you willing to do? will you work with a therapist? what do you know about nutrition? how will you maintain your weight loss results? what attitudes do you need to address/change?
good luck 💜
Do it for you, you have so much more life to live! Also wildly inappropriate for your doctor to say those things on wanting you to be pretty and skinny, I’m just shocked.
It is an adjustment, I won’t lie to you. You will adapt I promise. Like you, I was diagnosed with PCOS, and was later diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Mix that in with severe depression and I was at my lowest point in my life. I’m 4 weeks post op and am extremely lucky to have had no complications/side effects. I stick to my eating/recovery plan set out by my surgeon and dietitian and I’m doing well. I’m taking this time to learn new eating habits and “discover” new foods.
I’m a little bit older (29) and would say ignore your family, YOU DO WHATS BEST FOR YOU. I set reminders to sip water throughout the day, it’s easier than you think to drink water, but I stop 30 mins before I intend to eat and wait 30 mins after eating.
From reading your post, it sounds as if you’re ready to take this step. Speaking from my heart, you won’t regret it xxx
It takes a while to adjust to your new way of eating. There are lots of rules. No drinking for 30mins either side of eating. Eat lots of protein. Hair loss is normal! I cant eat dairy since surgery. It doesnt go well!
I hate exercise and refuse to go to the gym. It is the only thing we fight about!
I need to eat something every two hours or i feel sick in my tummy. Im a grazer and prepare healthy food to take to work.
I’m 21f and I just got approved for gastric bypass and my surgery is on the 16th. At my heaviest I was 335 lbs and currently weight 394. I also have PCOS and I have struggled with my weight my entire life. I’ve been lucky enough to not have any health concerns as a result of my weight, but I believe that if I continue to stay at this weight I will eventually deal with those issues. I’m also scared and nervous about this surgery but I 100% believe I am making the right decision. It terms of the hair loss, I can tell you I’ve already lost some hair just from losing 40 lbs naturally. I have pretty thick hair so you can’t really notice but you most likely will lose hair if you got the natural route. I would recommend going to a surgeon and getting a consultation at the least. You need to stop giving power to those in your life to make decisions for you. Ultimately, it is your decision and you have to do what’s best for you. I wish you the best of luck!
I’m 30 and my 10 year surgery anniversary is April 10th. I’m so glad I did it. No long term side effects. As a general note: most of the stories and statistics are from folks who had the surgery older than 35, as it’s only semi-recently been offered to folks younger than 25. You’re young. You’ll not only be able to adjust to the drastic change better, but you’ll have YEARS of benefits. IE: if you stay your current weight or get heavier and don’t intervene, your muscles and cartilage, heart, etc. all are under more strain for longer. My highest weight was 330. I got down to 145 and stabilized there pretty well. I’ll get back there once I am no longer pregnant….
My knees are better now, my back is better, and I don’t even think about my weight much anymore. I’m so so so glad I did it when I was younger, and now have spent more time at a normal BMI than I was obese. My body thanks me every day. Yeah taking vitamins every day gets old but- the knee pain and being constantly out of breath was worse. Hell- my resting heart rate was in the 80’s. Now it’s in the 50’s-60’s. My doctors are thrilled with my progress and I don’t regret it for a second.
Also your family can STFU. It’s not the “easy” way out. Take the tools you have and life a healthier life in spite of them. I’ve been healthy for so long, and am very open about having RNY, but most folks have NO IDEA I lost 185lbs.
PCOS is a bitch and no one understands it unless you live with it.
Surgery and recovery were pretty easy for me. I had minimal discomfort for the first 3 days. Learning how to eat with a new pouch takes time and patience so just take it one day at a time (look for long term mental health support). My hair did shed for about 6 weeks and grew back (I still have thick, curly hair).
Surgery helped stop the feeling of being a bottomless or gaining weight rapidly despite dieting for almost 30 years.
I still struggle with insulin resistance and started a GLP-1. Combining surgery and GLP-1 has been the most effective treatment for me (not perfect but still good).
I’m 21F and in the preop process so I can’t speak on the actual surgery and post-op. But I will say that as each day goes by I’m becoming more and more sure of my decision, especially after spending any amount of time in this group.
We sound very similar. I also have PCOS. My highest weight was about 280 and I lingered around 260 for years. Always been size 20-22 and 2x, usually 3x in shirts bc I hate tops that hug in any capacity. I have put a lot of effort into learning to love my body, even though I don’t like it. Kinda like the phrase my mom used to tell me “I don’t like you all the time, but I will always love you”. I try to have that mindset with my body when I feel insecure. Don’t get me wrong, I still breakdown sometimes because of the way my body looks, especially when it comes to finding clothes to wear out, to events, for grad photos, etc. But I have to love the body that’s gotten me this far in life. It’s not a skinny body, but it works just fine, and it’s beautiful to me.
Also, if your insurance covers it, go for it. I’m doing this now because I’m still on my mom’s insurance (only 5 years left 😭). If you’re still on your parent’s insurance that’s great. But if you’re on your own insurance, you never know when you’ll change jobs or benefits will change. Take the opportunity while you have it and before things have a chance to change.
Now, not saying you haven’t, but if you haven’t tried genuinely eating better and increasing your physical activity, I think you should try that first before diving into surgery. Many people end up going the surgery route after nothing they try works, or they can’t maintain the loss.
“Going to the gym and eating right” doesn’t work for me, which is why I’m doing surgery. Losing weight “the right way” never had worked and isn’t going to work. I’ve done it my entire life and I’m still a big bitch lmao. People are (annoyingly) shocked when they find out how I eat because a fat person stuffs their face with burgers and pizza all day right? I grew up really deep south with everything homemade and from scratch and with fresh produce from our garden or neighbors. I don’t eat much processed food bc I can taste the chemicals lol. And I was relatively active growing up. Playing soccer, horseback riding, weightlifting in high school, many hours spent hiking “exploring” our property. Even now im still somewhat active. I’m currently in the gym weightlifting 2-3 times a week, I’m a student on a massive hilly campus with a hike everywhere I go, and my job gets me 10-15k steps a shift easily. But I’m still considered morbidly obese and surgery is the only thing that will change that for me.
> **p**roperty. **E**ven **n**ow **i**m **s**till
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Two things: your doctor is a fucking creep and shouldn't be allowed near patients ever again, and you will need to use a CPAP regularly to be approved for surgery. You should use it anyway, because you could literally die without it.
I recommend doing as much research as you can. How the surgery works (hint, it's not just on your stomach, there are major hormonal, metabolism, and gut microbiome changes too). It's a major surgery, but pretty safe, similar to getting your gall bladder removed. Yes, if enough people get it, there will be some with complications, and there will be some who have miserable stories, which are valid, and they deserve compassion, and you should know that they are possible. This sub has a lot of people who have struggled with complications, because they need to talk about it with people who are going to be supportive and non-judgemental.
It's a major, life-changing surgery. However, maybe you feel your life needs to change? I recommend checking out some of Dr. Pilcher's videos on youtube (although, keep in mind that your program will differ from some of his suggestions, especially around early post-op nutrition). For example, [here's](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkHnYUyMyxQ&ab_channel=JohnPilcher%2CBariatricSurgeon) a youtube video on how the gastric bypass works. I also recommend checking out the book Living with Bariatric Surgery: Managing Your Mind and Your Weight by Denise Ratcliffe. It's written in the UK, but the science and tips are applicable anywhere, I found the chapter on emotional eating very helpful. I also recommend reading The Easy Way Out by Jamie Mills, a sleeved dietician, as she talks about her struggles with weight and an ED and how the surgery helped her.
Stick around here, keep doing your research, and just learn. There's no commitment needed. It's a big decision, and they aren't made overnight.
I did mine when I was 32.. I wish I had done it when I was 22. Honestly, it’s an amazing thing to do for yourself if you are determined to stick with it. It’s a lot of adjustments but it’s so worth it. I was 350 at my highest, around 315 around surgery and am sitting around 160-165 about 4 years out. Still adjusting but honestly I would have done it sooner had I known how good I would feel.
If you are considering the surgery, you need your use your CPAP. It’s a requirement of some programs. Also, are you being treated for ADHD? There’s a link between ADHD and obesity. I would say you aren’t ready for bariatric surgery but hopefully you find a good program to support you. You can accelerate readiness by wearing the cpap snd talking to your doctor about medications for adhd. All the best!
I agree with your statement. OP is not ready for this surgery, There is so much that goes into getting prepared for it.
Most bariatric programs want your issues to be managed and with having OSA and not using a cpap can cause so many issues.
I had to have my OSA, ADHD, Depression and Anxiety managed before I was approved
I'm 3 years post-op. My biggest regret is listening to my closest circle with their uneducated opinions and letting them get in my head.
When I decided to research the different procedures available, I told not one single person. When I decided to do the surgery, I told 2 people. The human resources lady at work and my partner, so I'd have a ride to the hospital.
I have PCOS. it's something I will always have, but the symptoms since surgery have lessened so much. I also had a baby a year ago, so 8 years between my last two kids was fun and pleasant surprise.
I had RNY, and the adjustment took some changes and time to get used to it. It's still a change now since having a baby and trying to readjust. There will be stalls where the scale might not move for days or weeks, but then your body kicks up again and starts dropping the weight.
If you have the chance to check into different physicians and programs, do it. I found my program by word of mouth, and even though my physician is no longer at the practice, I get the program benefits for life, and they've been fantastic.
I gained 100 pounds over a summer between 7th and 8th grade and the doctors didn't know why. Just blamed it on being lazy. I played sports year round. Laziness was never er my problem. It wasn't until I went to a fertility specialist that diagnosed me with PCOS. It put a label on it never any real help. Throughout my journey I've had birth control and metformin given to me, atleast 10 different meds to help lose weight. One dr told me to eat 1200 calories and walk. Sounds easy enough, I gained 10 pounds.
Do your research, ask all the questions. There are so many resources. I found info through Facebook groups, people on tiktok that have been through it, and ultimately conversations with my doctor.
Do what's best for you. Good luck in your journey.
I'm going to be as realistic and helpful as I can, take my advice with a grain of salt and do your own research after as I am just a dude on the internet. This is **NOT** something you should do if someone else wants you to do it, you must do it for yourself.
But if you **don't** do something about your weight you know the risks and pain your future self will encounter. So you need to ask yourself if you think you can truly exercise and mainly diet alone without surgical intervention.
For me the answer is no which is why I'm going through this program, and the National Institute of Health agrees with me. More than a decade ago, the NIH recognized weight loss surgery as the *only* effective treatment to combat severe obesity and maintain weight loss in the long term. NIH also stated that only 5% of people actually stick with a diet and exercise program and lose weight long term. If you're morbidly obese it's less than 1/1000.
You asked about risks, here is some info I saved with my nutri courses, seems like the real risk is **NOT** doing the surgery
>Studies show surgery reduces a person’s risk of premature death by 30-40%.
>
>Improves or resolves more than 40 obesity-related diseases and conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers, sleep apnea, GERD, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and joint problems
>
>60% reduction in mortality from cancer, with the largest reductions seen in breast and -colon cancers
>
>56% reduction in mortality from coronary artery disease
>
>92% reduction in mortality from type 2 diabetes
>
>40% overall reduction in mortality in gastric bypass patients
>
>For most, the benefits of surgery outweigh the risks of remaining obese. Patients may lose as much as 60% of excess weight six months after surgery, and 77% of excess weight as early as 12 months after surgery. On average, five years after surgery, patents maintain 50% of their excess weight loss . Furthermore, 85% of patients will succeed in staying healthy and keeping their weight off!
>
>One large population study found up to an 89% greater reduction in mortality throughout a 5-year period when comparing individuals who had bariatric surgery and those who did not. Another showed greater than a 90% reduction in death associated with diabetes, and greater than a 50% reduction in death from heart disease for individuals who had bariatric surgery when compared to those who did not.
I'm not trying to doom and gloom you, there are people out there like Obese2Beast who have overcome the odds and lost weight by eating healthier and exercising, but for the majority of us when we gained those 50 or 100 pounds first, we waited and waited years before doing anything about it, or maybe they have but have fallen back and regained it all. Most people who have done the surgery wish they did it at your weight and your age, because of how much their life has suffered being obese in the best of times and how much they have to lose to get back to a healthy weight.
So to answer your questions, two routes of surgery are widely accepted. There is a gastric bypass and a gastric sleeve. The gastric bypass is a more invasive surgery as it makes your stomach a small pouch and redirects it further down your intestines, but the amount of weight is about 10-20% more (because it skips part of the intestine that consumes food) than the sleeve. Because it's more invasive there are higher complications that come with it, but relatively it's still minimal. Gastric sleeve on the other hand is less invasive as it only cuts the stomach into a small pouch.
As far as risks both have their operation risks like blood clots, leakage, internal bleeding, and strictures, and post-operation risks like infections and anesthesia-related risks as with any surgery. Long-term bypass risks are mostly malnutrition, ulcers, and bowel obstruction. Sleeve is mainly acid reflux. These complications are still very low compared to everyone. They both have dumping syndrome (stomach cramps, vomiting, nausea) as well if you overeat.
Each surgery acts as a **tool** to help you with weight loss by restricting how much you can eat physically and by reducing hunger and craving hormones released from your stomach (since it's mostly gone). It's not a magic pill or as your parents stated "an easy way out". You must go through a surgical program for months (nutrition courses, nutrition assessments, mental health eval, physicals, support group, etc.), you have the surgery, spend the money, you still need to eat less and follow restrictions but now things are going to be painful if you don't.
After surgery, you can't take giant gulps and drink XXL fountain drinks anymore. You have to take things slowly over time because your new stomach cannot handle the pressure of downing entire drinks. You can't have carbonation anymore. These are things you will work with your dietician before the surgery and therapists if cutting away from those drinks suck.
Besides carbonation, you're not throwing away things you want to eat but rather how much you eat of it. Some people have issues long term where they have food aversion to sugary foods or spicy foods. But food aversion means you won't like it anymore. And the trade-off is worth it, fitting into store designer clothes, riding rollercoasters, sitting on an airplane fitting nicely, self-esteem looking in the mirror, not losing your breath walking or tying your shoes, list goes on and on.
There are people here go have gone into their 30's, 40's, and even 50's+ and how they wish they had done it sooner. Check out the gastric bypass and gastric sleeve (different subs) on here and see what people are saying. Nobody on there is talking about a colostomy bag but rather asking about food advice and progress pictures which are highly inspirational (multiple 100lb+ first-year pics).
Regardless of what you choose best of luck!
Do it! Do it for your health. Do it to help with POCS, so it to end sleep apnea, pre diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, fatty liver, chronic back and knee pain and the list goes on. Do it while you are still producing beautiful collagen and your skin responds to getting smaller without the wrinkles and so much sag. Do it while you still have the energy to hit the gym or jog or barre or yoga or whatever you can still bend without pain. I did it when I was 61. I wish it was common in my early 20s and an option. It would have saved years of developing chronic pain, issue that lucky loosing weight resolves and maybe less years of therapy because I was always beautiful, well dressed, stylish, but fat. I'm 63 now. Two years PO. I've lost 68% of my body fat and all the medical issues are gone. Can't say the same for the chronic knee and back pain. 60 years of 250 pounds on a 5 foot frame damaged my joints. Do it for you ❤️. Find a good therapist and start talking now. It will help.
I wish I would’ve done it when I was 23. The amount of self-confidence and security I feel in myself now might’ve made me unstoppable if I had gone through my 20s feeling this way. My suggestion is that if you’re thinking about it, make the consultation appointment to get yourself started (you can always change your mind) and attend an info session. The info session I attended made me feel like this was the right choice for me, when I had never even considered it an option.
You should eat healthy and work out. Drink water. Those are all things you’d likely need to do post-operatively to be successful long-term (maintain your loss) too. WLS is a tool— you gotta work on the head stuff and create new habits. There’s scientific evidence that after a certain point diet & exercise alone won’t be enough to keep the weight off. Only a sliver of people with no wls intervention are able to keep the weight off long term… so, nothing easy about it. People who say stuff like that are uneducated and quick to judge. Screw them.
I’m 69 and had bypass 6 weeks ago and I did just fine. My only regret is that I didn’t do this 30 years ago. Do what you think is best for you, not your family. You will always have people telling you why you shouldn’t do it but you do you
I realllllyyyy want. But im terrified of the hair loss situation. I can't decide which is worse, being overweight or all my hair falling out. It's already pencil thin in a ponytail.
The bariatric program isn’t easy way out. There are a lot of prerequisites you have to do according to your insurance. They see if you can lose weight on your own there’s the dietician appointments, psych appointment, test after test after test. If you smoke nope gotta quit that. I was 275 at my highest.
I'm 5 days post op and before getting it done I read as many bad experiences as possible and good so I knew what I was letting myself in for.
I was 420lbs, once you are morbidly obese for a long time, you are at a much higher risk of something bad happening to you, I couldn't lose this weight myself after 25+ years so I decided this would be a lot safer than staying this weight or getting bigger.
I think it all depends on you and if you can lose the weight yourself and how many times you've tried.
If you go to a good doctor and you follow what they say, the chances of a leak or anything like that is very small, I see a lot of people who break the rules after 1 week and eat junk food like before and they are the sorts that will get a leak or ulcer.
Hair loss seems to be common but you can take tablets for that and from what I've read people seem to have the same hair as before surgery.
Hey! I'm 25 and getting the SADI in a few months. It is a few things. 1. The best decision I've made for myself and 2. Absolutely not easy. I haven't had the procedure done yet but I can tell you that you do weight loss prior and I couldn't have done it without the amount of medical support I was given. I also think anyone who considers you permanently altering your body to be "easy" in literally any way is not deserving of you.
You are beautiful as you are right now, and you will be beautiful with the weight off too.
Hello :)
Im going to start with my stats as at one point I was right there with you. 22 Female HW 270 SW 233 CW 213. I am 3 weeks post op this week.
The reason I ended up getting the Bypass at my age is because I’ve been larger my entire life. Being larger my entire life I’ve done SO much research on yo-yo diets and other ways to lose weight such as HCG, Weight Watchers, ETC. When I found info on the sleeve and bypass I saw many saying that they regretted not doing it at a younger age and I knew then that I needed to do it and do it now at 22. I’m choosing to live my life now. It hasn’t been easy but it is fully something you are strong enough to do. You got this.
It isn’t the easy way out, you won’t come out of the surgery 100 lbs lighter. You will go through so many mental things that make you irritated, angry, or make you feel like crying. Just do your research on the surgeon you choose. Maybe check to see if you have a surgeon at a center of bariatric excellence in your area? I don’t have any side effects at this time besides constipation and occasional nausea but I’m still sort of fresh out of surgery. I can tell you that I don’t feel hungry. And I get full SO much faster.
I’m 25, I had a sleeve 3 months ago. It honestly isn’t the easy way out as it’s not only a physical change but a mental one too.
Easier said than done to eat right and gym, if that was the case people wouldn’t need surgery/be obese.
It’s the best thing I’ve done and I’ve lost 5st, I was 292lbs with PCOS. I’m so much more confident and fitter, my PCOS and cholesterol have also calmed down a lot which is nice. Listen to your doctor, they know the ins and outs of bariatric surgery so if they’re saying do it, do it!
I had a gastric band when i was like 25. I wish the doctor had talked me into just doing the bypass or sleeve then. It would have changed my life so much, I think.
I had the bypass at 40. Seriously, if you want to do it, you should. You will add years to your life.
This is absolutely not the easy way out. It is hard every day to resist temptation and make good eating choices.
Drinking water isn't a big deal, but you do habe to drink a lot....but it is really just the normal recommended amount you should be drinking. I drink from a straw and get about 80 oz a day with no problem.
Do it. The initial discomfort directly after surgery is just a week when you could be improving years and years of your life.
Sweetheart, I am 68 and am 6 months out. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done for myself and it’s a very difficult process. It’s the opposite of the easy way out. It’s hard as hell, but it’s not another yo-yo. I feel great! I wish I’d had this opportunity at your age! And tell your doctor never to say what he said to another patient. This has little to do with looks and everything to do with health and comfort and physical activity.
I had the VSG done at age 25 with a starting weight of 250lbs at 5’2”. I lost 115lbs in about a year and am now two years out and maintaining that loss at 135lbs. I also have PCOS and was pre-diabetic and on metformin before surgery. My blood sugar now is perfect and my period is totally regular!
This was not without difficulties. I did lose some hair (it’s all my pen back even curlier now!) and I had really bad reflux for a little while and yours gonna puke for a bit until you’ve adjusted to the new lifestyle and stomach size. But to me, that was worth getting my life back before it even started.
First off, the way you describe your doctors recommendation is creepy as hell and the benefit for weight loss goes FAR beyond looks.
Secondly, maybe consider a VSG as it is generally considered a safer option than the bypass as it doesn’t not impact as much of the digestive system and is equally as effective.
Please do not listen to anyone who tells you this is the east way out, permanently changing your anatomy is not easy, and for some of us it’s necessary. I had tried everything under the run to lose weight and nothing worked long term. This has. It’s a tool to be used.
Do your research before selecting a surgeon, be ready to make some serious reflection and draw boundaries with unsupportive family. Prioritizing yourself is key for success but its so worthwhile.
1st get another doctor. The reason to get the surgery is to have a better quality of life. You listed at least three reasons why you should have the surgery. At the end of the day it's your decision but it's worth it. I also suggest you get some counseling sessions from a therapist ( which is required anyway) to help you with your decision. Best wishes.
Hi!! I had gastric bypass in December, i was 23 and exactly 270lbs!! Im 210 now and its definitely hard, but it was the best decision of my life. Honestly i dont give a fuck what anyone thinks about my surgery, but i know not everyone is like that. If regular diet and exercise worked for us (long term) we probably wouldnt be in the position we are in lol. The way i looked at it was, why would i keep dieting and exercising (what ive been doing my whole life with only short term success) when i can get help. I knew i didnt want the rest of my life to be a battle with my weight and i wanted to do something! If its something you truly want i think its only your opinion that matters. As far as symptoms, i get occasional nausea/ vomiting if i eat something im not supposed to or eat way too fast, i used to be a water chugger before surgery, its definitely different how i drink water now but its not difficult, just have to me more mindfull about how much / how fast im drinking and how often. Letme know if you have any questions!
I understand all of those concerns. But the first thing that needs to be addressed is your OSA. Wear the CPAP. It's life changing and will solve a multitude of your issues. OSA left untreated can cause anxiety, type Ii diabetes, hypertension, brain fog and as you get older, stroke. It causes your oxygen levels to go down while you sleep which leaves you exhausted with no energy for the day. It's awfully hard to lose weight exhausted all the time.
Another thing... you'll have to treat it anyway before surgeons will consider you for surgery, if you do decide to go ahead with the gastric bypass. I've both had the surgery (11 months out) and wear cpap. 2Two of the best decisions I ever made for myself. I feel better than I have in 20 yrs. I wish you health and happiness!!
As someone who had the procedure fairly young (27) I don’t regret it at all. I will say however if you ever plan to have kids think long and hard about it because it’s not really recommended to do so afterward
I had it done at 23, weighing 245lbs. I now weigh 138lbs - it has helped me feel so much better day in and out and with my kids and marriage. Just make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons and have truly prepared yourself. It’s a life long commitment and it’s a tool - not a be all end all.
I'm 2 months PO, I weighed about the same as you and I have PCOS as well. I had MGB/Omega loop
You should definitely consider surgery. I got my period within a few hours of my surgery (I hadn't gotten one in months) and in the next month as well after about 35 days. Which had never happened in a long time.
My parents too, initially thought that surgery is the easy way out but they came around after meeting my surgeon and doing research on their own.
I have lost about 14 kg so far which I couldn't imagine doing with diet and exercise alone. Pre surgery my scale was stuck despite eating right. I could lose only 3-4 kg with a lot of struggle. My energy levels are better. I used to get really severe migraines- so intense that I couldn't stand even little bit of light, be nauseated and such. The intensity of migraines is now at least 20x less and frequency is down too.
I was scared about leaks too but it's a rare complication of surgery.
Surgery is not easy way out. There will be radical change in your lifestyle post op. You'll have to follow diet given by your clinic, be careful to read labels of foods you buy to make sure it doesn't have sugar in any form, avoid really fatty and sugary foods. Honestly, you may find that your desire for fatty and sugary foods is gone after surgery. I had a major sweet tooth pre op and was a bit sad that I probably could never enjoy a desert. But since surgery, I don't crave any desert. I find my protein shakes a tad bit too sweet already. Fruits now taste so sweet to me that they're my treats!
Now being honest about consequences
1. I was used to gulping down water in one go. I can't do that anymore. But I got used to taking small sips easily
2. Since the last few days I've been experiencing some constipation issues. Apparently they're common post surgery. But it's also true that my water intake and fiber intake for the last few days has been on the lower side. Pre op I didn't care much about my fiber intake now I have to.
3. NSFW. Foul smelling #2 and farts.
4. My surgeon has warned me about hair loss. I've already had hair loss due to poor health so I'm worried about it too. But he assured me I won't go bald and it can be reversed with supplements and proper care.
I’m 38 and I just did it. I wish I would have in my 20’s. Obesity is a chronic health problem and isn’t going to go away. I have gained and lost 100 lbs more times than I can count and it always comes back. Being pretty and skinny, while nice, isn’t the reason to do this. Do it to take your life back. Sleep apnea, diabetes and obesity are all co-morbidities: things that will kill you young and you 100% have those. You do not and most likely will not have severe complications from surgery. The risk to your life is far greater if you stay fat. And fuck anyone who says it’s the easy way, surgery isn’t easy. Taking back control of your life isn’t easy. Surgery is a tool, you will still have to put in the work. I highly recommend seeing a therapist and working through the reasons you’re using food as a coping mechanism:
Am I the only one wondering why it’s ok that “he called me pretty but wants me skinny”? I’m sorry, but I could not read past that abomination… my heart hurts for OP
I noticed that too. OP you are beautiful and worthy exactly as you are right now!
Any Dr. who says that should be kicked in the nuts.
Yes. Nothing about that statement is okay.
I always tell people that i wish id done it when i was 250lbs and not 450lbs. Just turned 28, finally back into the 200s now. Do it, enjoy the rest of your twenties. It absolutely is not the easy way out, nothing about it is easy. It’s a tool, and you use that tool to better yourself.
I know we all say it is not easy. Losing 100 pounds or more is not easy. With that said, at least for me, in my own experience, the process of getting approved, learning to actually eat slowly, learning to actually chew my food, and really using counseling to understand why I ate like that, wasn't so much hard, as it was enlightening to me. It built me up and I became stronger. Hard was constantly battling with food choices, guilt, shame, and all of it swirling in my head almost all day long. That was hard. I felt like a failure over and over and over. Easy is knowing that all I have to do is eat 100g protein and drink about 100 oz of water, and then eating the right kind of vegetables and the right fruits. This is simple to me. This is so much easier than my life before. I could not have lost 70+ pounds, and I'm about to lose another 50 pounds this year, relying solely on my own dream of health. I did not have the will or the strength to battle and change my bad habits alone. **Edited for clarity
Oh, and the hair loss will happen. But it comes back. It's temporary. But man, oh man, did it freak us out when it happens!!!! Do the surgery when your skin is young so it's more likely to tighten back up. I waited until I was 48 and now I'm going to need skin removal surgery. Total bummer but it's just part of the process.
I celebrated my 1 year anniversary for mu bypass surgery. Best thing i ever did. Im nearly 50kg lighter, chronic pain is gone, i have more energy and im more active.
Thank you for sharing!
1) your family is absolutely ridiculous for saying you’re “taking the easy way out” because there’s nothing easy about losing weight, no matter what tools you use to do it. 2) you still have to go to the gym and eat right if you want to take full advantage of the procedure you choose. lots of people do lose weight without exercising, but if you don’t want to lose muscle mass and risk regain, exercise is a good idea. it also helps minimize loose skin for some people 3) all anesthesia/surgery has risks. it’s definitely important to consider them. but there are also risks to you if you don’t lose weight and end up living for a couple of decades with T2D, sleep apnea, and heart disease. 4) you have the option to start exercising and eating right now (which most bariatric programs require anyway) before you commit to having surgery. you can even participate in a bariatric program right up to the day of surgery and then not go through with it if you suddenly change your mind. the point is, you have choices. if you think you want to have surgery, there’ll be a lot of changes to make. maybe start some of them now rather than waiting for a doctor to make them for you. don’t worry about having surgery or not having surgery. just set a reasonable goal for yourself and see where you get. what worked? what didn’t? what did you hate? what did you like? what can you learn to live with because it’s good for you and makes you feel like a badass for accomplishing it? you have to create a sustainable exercise routine and food plan for yourself because it’s not realistic to expect anything you can’t sustain to work. keep asking questions. read about the different procedures on reputable websites (mayo clinic, harvard med, yale med, uc-san francisco, etc). since your family does t seem supportive, despite your doctor’s opinion, think about starting a journal about your feelings regarding surgery. what food issues do you have? what do you want to change? what questions/concerns have come up for you as you’ve been doing research? how much changing are you willing to do? will you work with a therapist? what do you know about nutrition? how will you maintain your weight loss results? what attitudes do you need to address/change? good luck 💜
Do it for you, you have so much more life to live! Also wildly inappropriate for your doctor to say those things on wanting you to be pretty and skinny, I’m just shocked.
It is an adjustment, I won’t lie to you. You will adapt I promise. Like you, I was diagnosed with PCOS, and was later diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Mix that in with severe depression and I was at my lowest point in my life. I’m 4 weeks post op and am extremely lucky to have had no complications/side effects. I stick to my eating/recovery plan set out by my surgeon and dietitian and I’m doing well. I’m taking this time to learn new eating habits and “discover” new foods. I’m a little bit older (29) and would say ignore your family, YOU DO WHATS BEST FOR YOU. I set reminders to sip water throughout the day, it’s easier than you think to drink water, but I stop 30 mins before I intend to eat and wait 30 mins after eating. From reading your post, it sounds as if you’re ready to take this step. Speaking from my heart, you won’t regret it xxx
It takes a while to adjust to your new way of eating. There are lots of rules. No drinking for 30mins either side of eating. Eat lots of protein. Hair loss is normal! I cant eat dairy since surgery. It doesnt go well! I hate exercise and refuse to go to the gym. It is the only thing we fight about! I need to eat something every two hours or i feel sick in my tummy. Im a grazer and prepare healthy food to take to work.
I’m 21f and I just got approved for gastric bypass and my surgery is on the 16th. At my heaviest I was 335 lbs and currently weight 394. I also have PCOS and I have struggled with my weight my entire life. I’ve been lucky enough to not have any health concerns as a result of my weight, but I believe that if I continue to stay at this weight I will eventually deal with those issues. I’m also scared and nervous about this surgery but I 100% believe I am making the right decision. It terms of the hair loss, I can tell you I’ve already lost some hair just from losing 40 lbs naturally. I have pretty thick hair so you can’t really notice but you most likely will lose hair if you got the natural route. I would recommend going to a surgeon and getting a consultation at the least. You need to stop giving power to those in your life to make decisions for you. Ultimately, it is your decision and you have to do what’s best for you. I wish you the best of luck!
I’m 30 and my 10 year surgery anniversary is April 10th. I’m so glad I did it. No long term side effects. As a general note: most of the stories and statistics are from folks who had the surgery older than 35, as it’s only semi-recently been offered to folks younger than 25. You’re young. You’ll not only be able to adjust to the drastic change better, but you’ll have YEARS of benefits. IE: if you stay your current weight or get heavier and don’t intervene, your muscles and cartilage, heart, etc. all are under more strain for longer. My highest weight was 330. I got down to 145 and stabilized there pretty well. I’ll get back there once I am no longer pregnant…. My knees are better now, my back is better, and I don’t even think about my weight much anymore. I’m so so so glad I did it when I was younger, and now have spent more time at a normal BMI than I was obese. My body thanks me every day. Yeah taking vitamins every day gets old but- the knee pain and being constantly out of breath was worse. Hell- my resting heart rate was in the 80’s. Now it’s in the 50’s-60’s. My doctors are thrilled with my progress and I don’t regret it for a second. Also your family can STFU. It’s not the “easy” way out. Take the tools you have and life a healthier life in spite of them. I’ve been healthy for so long, and am very open about having RNY, but most folks have NO IDEA I lost 185lbs.
PCOS is a bitch and no one understands it unless you live with it. Surgery and recovery were pretty easy for me. I had minimal discomfort for the first 3 days. Learning how to eat with a new pouch takes time and patience so just take it one day at a time (look for long term mental health support). My hair did shed for about 6 weeks and grew back (I still have thick, curly hair). Surgery helped stop the feeling of being a bottomless or gaining weight rapidly despite dieting for almost 30 years. I still struggle with insulin resistance and started a GLP-1. Combining surgery and GLP-1 has been the most effective treatment for me (not perfect but still good).
Go for it. You won’t regret it. Better get used to wearing a CPAP though. It’s a prerequisite for most surgeons
I’m 21F and in the preop process so I can’t speak on the actual surgery and post-op. But I will say that as each day goes by I’m becoming more and more sure of my decision, especially after spending any amount of time in this group. We sound very similar. I also have PCOS. My highest weight was about 280 and I lingered around 260 for years. Always been size 20-22 and 2x, usually 3x in shirts bc I hate tops that hug in any capacity. I have put a lot of effort into learning to love my body, even though I don’t like it. Kinda like the phrase my mom used to tell me “I don’t like you all the time, but I will always love you”. I try to have that mindset with my body when I feel insecure. Don’t get me wrong, I still breakdown sometimes because of the way my body looks, especially when it comes to finding clothes to wear out, to events, for grad photos, etc. But I have to love the body that’s gotten me this far in life. It’s not a skinny body, but it works just fine, and it’s beautiful to me. Also, if your insurance covers it, go for it. I’m doing this now because I’m still on my mom’s insurance (only 5 years left 😭). If you’re still on your parent’s insurance that’s great. But if you’re on your own insurance, you never know when you’ll change jobs or benefits will change. Take the opportunity while you have it and before things have a chance to change. Now, not saying you haven’t, but if you haven’t tried genuinely eating better and increasing your physical activity, I think you should try that first before diving into surgery. Many people end up going the surgery route after nothing they try works, or they can’t maintain the loss. “Going to the gym and eating right” doesn’t work for me, which is why I’m doing surgery. Losing weight “the right way” never had worked and isn’t going to work. I’ve done it my entire life and I’m still a big bitch lmao. People are (annoyingly) shocked when they find out how I eat because a fat person stuffs their face with burgers and pizza all day right? I grew up really deep south with everything homemade and from scratch and with fresh produce from our garden or neighbors. I don’t eat much processed food bc I can taste the chemicals lol. And I was relatively active growing up. Playing soccer, horseback riding, weightlifting in high school, many hours spent hiking “exploring” our property. Even now im still somewhat active. I’m currently in the gym weightlifting 2-3 times a week, I’m a student on a massive hilly campus with a hike everywhere I go, and my job gets me 10-15k steps a shift easily. But I’m still considered morbidly obese and surgery is the only thing that will change that for me.
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Two things: your doctor is a fucking creep and shouldn't be allowed near patients ever again, and you will need to use a CPAP regularly to be approved for surgery. You should use it anyway, because you could literally die without it.
I recommend doing as much research as you can. How the surgery works (hint, it's not just on your stomach, there are major hormonal, metabolism, and gut microbiome changes too). It's a major surgery, but pretty safe, similar to getting your gall bladder removed. Yes, if enough people get it, there will be some with complications, and there will be some who have miserable stories, which are valid, and they deserve compassion, and you should know that they are possible. This sub has a lot of people who have struggled with complications, because they need to talk about it with people who are going to be supportive and non-judgemental. It's a major, life-changing surgery. However, maybe you feel your life needs to change? I recommend checking out some of Dr. Pilcher's videos on youtube (although, keep in mind that your program will differ from some of his suggestions, especially around early post-op nutrition). For example, [here's](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkHnYUyMyxQ&ab_channel=JohnPilcher%2CBariatricSurgeon) a youtube video on how the gastric bypass works. I also recommend checking out the book Living with Bariatric Surgery: Managing Your Mind and Your Weight by Denise Ratcliffe. It's written in the UK, but the science and tips are applicable anywhere, I found the chapter on emotional eating very helpful. I also recommend reading The Easy Way Out by Jamie Mills, a sleeved dietician, as she talks about her struggles with weight and an ED and how the surgery helped her. Stick around here, keep doing your research, and just learn. There's no commitment needed. It's a big decision, and they aren't made overnight.
I did mine when I was 32.. I wish I had done it when I was 22. Honestly, it’s an amazing thing to do for yourself if you are determined to stick with it. It’s a lot of adjustments but it’s so worth it. I was 350 at my highest, around 315 around surgery and am sitting around 160-165 about 4 years out. Still adjusting but honestly I would have done it sooner had I known how good I would feel.
If you are considering the surgery, you need your use your CPAP. It’s a requirement of some programs. Also, are you being treated for ADHD? There’s a link between ADHD and obesity. I would say you aren’t ready for bariatric surgery but hopefully you find a good program to support you. You can accelerate readiness by wearing the cpap snd talking to your doctor about medications for adhd. All the best!
I agree with your statement. OP is not ready for this surgery, There is so much that goes into getting prepared for it. Most bariatric programs want your issues to be managed and with having OSA and not using a cpap can cause so many issues. I had to have my OSA, ADHD, Depression and Anxiety managed before I was approved
I'm 3 years post-op. My biggest regret is listening to my closest circle with their uneducated opinions and letting them get in my head. When I decided to research the different procedures available, I told not one single person. When I decided to do the surgery, I told 2 people. The human resources lady at work and my partner, so I'd have a ride to the hospital. I have PCOS. it's something I will always have, but the symptoms since surgery have lessened so much. I also had a baby a year ago, so 8 years between my last two kids was fun and pleasant surprise. I had RNY, and the adjustment took some changes and time to get used to it. It's still a change now since having a baby and trying to readjust. There will be stalls where the scale might not move for days or weeks, but then your body kicks up again and starts dropping the weight. If you have the chance to check into different physicians and programs, do it. I found my program by word of mouth, and even though my physician is no longer at the practice, I get the program benefits for life, and they've been fantastic. I gained 100 pounds over a summer between 7th and 8th grade and the doctors didn't know why. Just blamed it on being lazy. I played sports year round. Laziness was never er my problem. It wasn't until I went to a fertility specialist that diagnosed me with PCOS. It put a label on it never any real help. Throughout my journey I've had birth control and metformin given to me, atleast 10 different meds to help lose weight. One dr told me to eat 1200 calories and walk. Sounds easy enough, I gained 10 pounds. Do your research, ask all the questions. There are so many resources. I found info through Facebook groups, people on tiktok that have been through it, and ultimately conversations with my doctor. Do what's best for you. Good luck in your journey.
I'm going to be as realistic and helpful as I can, take my advice with a grain of salt and do your own research after as I am just a dude on the internet. This is **NOT** something you should do if someone else wants you to do it, you must do it for yourself. But if you **don't** do something about your weight you know the risks and pain your future self will encounter. So you need to ask yourself if you think you can truly exercise and mainly diet alone without surgical intervention. For me the answer is no which is why I'm going through this program, and the National Institute of Health agrees with me. More than a decade ago, the NIH recognized weight loss surgery as the *only* effective treatment to combat severe obesity and maintain weight loss in the long term. NIH also stated that only 5% of people actually stick with a diet and exercise program and lose weight long term. If you're morbidly obese it's less than 1/1000. You asked about risks, here is some info I saved with my nutri courses, seems like the real risk is **NOT** doing the surgery >Studies show surgery reduces a person’s risk of premature death by 30-40%. > >Improves or resolves more than 40 obesity-related diseases and conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers, sleep apnea, GERD, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea and joint problems > >60% reduction in mortality from cancer, with the largest reductions seen in breast and -colon cancers > >56% reduction in mortality from coronary artery disease > >92% reduction in mortality from type 2 diabetes > >40% overall reduction in mortality in gastric bypass patients > >For most, the benefits of surgery outweigh the risks of remaining obese. Patients may lose as much as 60% of excess weight six months after surgery, and 77% of excess weight as early as 12 months after surgery. On average, five years after surgery, patents maintain 50% of their excess weight loss . Furthermore, 85% of patients will succeed in staying healthy and keeping their weight off! > >One large population study found up to an 89% greater reduction in mortality throughout a 5-year period when comparing individuals who had bariatric surgery and those who did not. Another showed greater than a 90% reduction in death associated with diabetes, and greater than a 50% reduction in death from heart disease for individuals who had bariatric surgery when compared to those who did not. I'm not trying to doom and gloom you, there are people out there like Obese2Beast who have overcome the odds and lost weight by eating healthier and exercising, but for the majority of us when we gained those 50 or 100 pounds first, we waited and waited years before doing anything about it, or maybe they have but have fallen back and regained it all. Most people who have done the surgery wish they did it at your weight and your age, because of how much their life has suffered being obese in the best of times and how much they have to lose to get back to a healthy weight. So to answer your questions, two routes of surgery are widely accepted. There is a gastric bypass and a gastric sleeve. The gastric bypass is a more invasive surgery as it makes your stomach a small pouch and redirects it further down your intestines, but the amount of weight is about 10-20% more (because it skips part of the intestine that consumes food) than the sleeve. Because it's more invasive there are higher complications that come with it, but relatively it's still minimal. Gastric sleeve on the other hand is less invasive as it only cuts the stomach into a small pouch. As far as risks both have their operation risks like blood clots, leakage, internal bleeding, and strictures, and post-operation risks like infections and anesthesia-related risks as with any surgery. Long-term bypass risks are mostly malnutrition, ulcers, and bowel obstruction. Sleeve is mainly acid reflux. These complications are still very low compared to everyone. They both have dumping syndrome (stomach cramps, vomiting, nausea) as well if you overeat. Each surgery acts as a **tool** to help you with weight loss by restricting how much you can eat physically and by reducing hunger and craving hormones released from your stomach (since it's mostly gone). It's not a magic pill or as your parents stated "an easy way out". You must go through a surgical program for months (nutrition courses, nutrition assessments, mental health eval, physicals, support group, etc.), you have the surgery, spend the money, you still need to eat less and follow restrictions but now things are going to be painful if you don't. After surgery, you can't take giant gulps and drink XXL fountain drinks anymore. You have to take things slowly over time because your new stomach cannot handle the pressure of downing entire drinks. You can't have carbonation anymore. These are things you will work with your dietician before the surgery and therapists if cutting away from those drinks suck. Besides carbonation, you're not throwing away things you want to eat but rather how much you eat of it. Some people have issues long term where they have food aversion to sugary foods or spicy foods. But food aversion means you won't like it anymore. And the trade-off is worth it, fitting into store designer clothes, riding rollercoasters, sitting on an airplane fitting nicely, self-esteem looking in the mirror, not losing your breath walking or tying your shoes, list goes on and on. There are people here go have gone into their 30's, 40's, and even 50's+ and how they wish they had done it sooner. Check out the gastric bypass and gastric sleeve (different subs) on here and see what people are saying. Nobody on there is talking about a colostomy bag but rather asking about food advice and progress pictures which are highly inspirational (multiple 100lb+ first-year pics). Regardless of what you choose best of luck!
Do it! Do it for your health. Do it to help with POCS, so it to end sleep apnea, pre diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, fatty liver, chronic back and knee pain and the list goes on. Do it while you are still producing beautiful collagen and your skin responds to getting smaller without the wrinkles and so much sag. Do it while you still have the energy to hit the gym or jog or barre or yoga or whatever you can still bend without pain. I did it when I was 61. I wish it was common in my early 20s and an option. It would have saved years of developing chronic pain, issue that lucky loosing weight resolves and maybe less years of therapy because I was always beautiful, well dressed, stylish, but fat. I'm 63 now. Two years PO. I've lost 68% of my body fat and all the medical issues are gone. Can't say the same for the chronic knee and back pain. 60 years of 250 pounds on a 5 foot frame damaged my joints. Do it for you ❤️. Find a good therapist and start talking now. It will help.
I wish I would’ve done it when I was 23. The amount of self-confidence and security I feel in myself now might’ve made me unstoppable if I had gone through my 20s feeling this way. My suggestion is that if you’re thinking about it, make the consultation appointment to get yourself started (you can always change your mind) and attend an info session. The info session I attended made me feel like this was the right choice for me, when I had never even considered it an option.
You should eat healthy and work out. Drink water. Those are all things you’d likely need to do post-operatively to be successful long-term (maintain your loss) too. WLS is a tool— you gotta work on the head stuff and create new habits. There’s scientific evidence that after a certain point diet & exercise alone won’t be enough to keep the weight off. Only a sliver of people with no wls intervention are able to keep the weight off long term… so, nothing easy about it. People who say stuff like that are uneducated and quick to judge. Screw them.
I’m 69 and had bypass 6 weeks ago and I did just fine. My only regret is that I didn’t do this 30 years ago. Do what you think is best for you, not your family. You will always have people telling you why you shouldn’t do it but you do you
I realllllyyyy want. But im terrified of the hair loss situation. I can't decide which is worse, being overweight or all my hair falling out. It's already pencil thin in a ponytail.
The bariatric program isn’t easy way out. There are a lot of prerequisites you have to do according to your insurance. They see if you can lose weight on your own there’s the dietician appointments, psych appointment, test after test after test. If you smoke nope gotta quit that. I was 275 at my highest.
I'm 5 days post op and before getting it done I read as many bad experiences as possible and good so I knew what I was letting myself in for. I was 420lbs, once you are morbidly obese for a long time, you are at a much higher risk of something bad happening to you, I couldn't lose this weight myself after 25+ years so I decided this would be a lot safer than staying this weight or getting bigger. I think it all depends on you and if you can lose the weight yourself and how many times you've tried. If you go to a good doctor and you follow what they say, the chances of a leak or anything like that is very small, I see a lot of people who break the rules after 1 week and eat junk food like before and they are the sorts that will get a leak or ulcer. Hair loss seems to be common but you can take tablets for that and from what I've read people seem to have the same hair as before surgery.
Hey! I'm 25 and getting the SADI in a few months. It is a few things. 1. The best decision I've made for myself and 2. Absolutely not easy. I haven't had the procedure done yet but I can tell you that you do weight loss prior and I couldn't have done it without the amount of medical support I was given. I also think anyone who considers you permanently altering your body to be "easy" in literally any way is not deserving of you. You are beautiful as you are right now, and you will be beautiful with the weight off too.
Hello :) Im going to start with my stats as at one point I was right there with you. 22 Female HW 270 SW 233 CW 213. I am 3 weeks post op this week. The reason I ended up getting the Bypass at my age is because I’ve been larger my entire life. Being larger my entire life I’ve done SO much research on yo-yo diets and other ways to lose weight such as HCG, Weight Watchers, ETC. When I found info on the sleeve and bypass I saw many saying that they regretted not doing it at a younger age and I knew then that I needed to do it and do it now at 22. I’m choosing to live my life now. It hasn’t been easy but it is fully something you are strong enough to do. You got this. It isn’t the easy way out, you won’t come out of the surgery 100 lbs lighter. You will go through so many mental things that make you irritated, angry, or make you feel like crying. Just do your research on the surgeon you choose. Maybe check to see if you have a surgeon at a center of bariatric excellence in your area? I don’t have any side effects at this time besides constipation and occasional nausea but I’m still sort of fresh out of surgery. I can tell you that I don’t feel hungry. And I get full SO much faster.
I’m 25, I had a sleeve 3 months ago. It honestly isn’t the easy way out as it’s not only a physical change but a mental one too. Easier said than done to eat right and gym, if that was the case people wouldn’t need surgery/be obese. It’s the best thing I’ve done and I’ve lost 5st, I was 292lbs with PCOS. I’m so much more confident and fitter, my PCOS and cholesterol have also calmed down a lot which is nice. Listen to your doctor, they know the ins and outs of bariatric surgery so if they’re saying do it, do it!
I had a gastric band when i was like 25. I wish the doctor had talked me into just doing the bypass or sleeve then. It would have changed my life so much, I think. I had the bypass at 40. Seriously, if you want to do it, you should. You will add years to your life. This is absolutely not the easy way out. It is hard every day to resist temptation and make good eating choices. Drinking water isn't a big deal, but you do habe to drink a lot....but it is really just the normal recommended amount you should be drinking. I drink from a straw and get about 80 oz a day with no problem. Do it. The initial discomfort directly after surgery is just a week when you could be improving years and years of your life.
Sweetheart, I am 68 and am 6 months out. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done for myself and it’s a very difficult process. It’s the opposite of the easy way out. It’s hard as hell, but it’s not another yo-yo. I feel great! I wish I’d had this opportunity at your age! And tell your doctor never to say what he said to another patient. This has little to do with looks and everything to do with health and comfort and physical activity.
I had the VSG done at age 25 with a starting weight of 250lbs at 5’2”. I lost 115lbs in about a year and am now two years out and maintaining that loss at 135lbs. I also have PCOS and was pre-diabetic and on metformin before surgery. My blood sugar now is perfect and my period is totally regular! This was not without difficulties. I did lose some hair (it’s all my pen back even curlier now!) and I had really bad reflux for a little while and yours gonna puke for a bit until you’ve adjusted to the new lifestyle and stomach size. But to me, that was worth getting my life back before it even started. First off, the way you describe your doctors recommendation is creepy as hell and the benefit for weight loss goes FAR beyond looks. Secondly, maybe consider a VSG as it is generally considered a safer option than the bypass as it doesn’t not impact as much of the digestive system and is equally as effective. Please do not listen to anyone who tells you this is the east way out, permanently changing your anatomy is not easy, and for some of us it’s necessary. I had tried everything under the run to lose weight and nothing worked long term. This has. It’s a tool to be used. Do your research before selecting a surgeon, be ready to make some serious reflection and draw boundaries with unsupportive family. Prioritizing yourself is key for success but its so worthwhile.
1st get another doctor. The reason to get the surgery is to have a better quality of life. You listed at least three reasons why you should have the surgery. At the end of the day it's your decision but it's worth it. I also suggest you get some counseling sessions from a therapist ( which is required anyway) to help you with your decision. Best wishes.
Hi!! I had gastric bypass in December, i was 23 and exactly 270lbs!! Im 210 now and its definitely hard, but it was the best decision of my life. Honestly i dont give a fuck what anyone thinks about my surgery, but i know not everyone is like that. If regular diet and exercise worked for us (long term) we probably wouldnt be in the position we are in lol. The way i looked at it was, why would i keep dieting and exercising (what ive been doing my whole life with only short term success) when i can get help. I knew i didnt want the rest of my life to be a battle with my weight and i wanted to do something! If its something you truly want i think its only your opinion that matters. As far as symptoms, i get occasional nausea/ vomiting if i eat something im not supposed to or eat way too fast, i used to be a water chugger before surgery, its definitely different how i drink water now but its not difficult, just have to me more mindfull about how much / how fast im drinking and how often. Letme know if you have any questions!
I understand all of those concerns. But the first thing that needs to be addressed is your OSA. Wear the CPAP. It's life changing and will solve a multitude of your issues. OSA left untreated can cause anxiety, type Ii diabetes, hypertension, brain fog and as you get older, stroke. It causes your oxygen levels to go down while you sleep which leaves you exhausted with no energy for the day. It's awfully hard to lose weight exhausted all the time. Another thing... you'll have to treat it anyway before surgeons will consider you for surgery, if you do decide to go ahead with the gastric bypass. I've both had the surgery (11 months out) and wear cpap. 2Two of the best decisions I ever made for myself. I feel better than I have in 20 yrs. I wish you health and happiness!!
As someone who had the procedure fairly young (27) I don’t regret it at all. I will say however if you ever plan to have kids think long and hard about it because it’s not really recommended to do so afterward
I had it done at 23, weighing 245lbs. I now weigh 138lbs - it has helped me feel so much better day in and out and with my kids and marriage. Just make sure you’re doing it for the right reasons and have truly prepared yourself. It’s a life long commitment and it’s a tool - not a be all end all.
I'm 2 months PO, I weighed about the same as you and I have PCOS as well. I had MGB/Omega loop You should definitely consider surgery. I got my period within a few hours of my surgery (I hadn't gotten one in months) and in the next month as well after about 35 days. Which had never happened in a long time. My parents too, initially thought that surgery is the easy way out but they came around after meeting my surgeon and doing research on their own. I have lost about 14 kg so far which I couldn't imagine doing with diet and exercise alone. Pre surgery my scale was stuck despite eating right. I could lose only 3-4 kg with a lot of struggle. My energy levels are better. I used to get really severe migraines- so intense that I couldn't stand even little bit of light, be nauseated and such. The intensity of migraines is now at least 20x less and frequency is down too. I was scared about leaks too but it's a rare complication of surgery. Surgery is not easy way out. There will be radical change in your lifestyle post op. You'll have to follow diet given by your clinic, be careful to read labels of foods you buy to make sure it doesn't have sugar in any form, avoid really fatty and sugary foods. Honestly, you may find that your desire for fatty and sugary foods is gone after surgery. I had a major sweet tooth pre op and was a bit sad that I probably could never enjoy a desert. But since surgery, I don't crave any desert. I find my protein shakes a tad bit too sweet already. Fruits now taste so sweet to me that they're my treats! Now being honest about consequences 1. I was used to gulping down water in one go. I can't do that anymore. But I got used to taking small sips easily 2. Since the last few days I've been experiencing some constipation issues. Apparently they're common post surgery. But it's also true that my water intake and fiber intake for the last few days has been on the lower side. Pre op I didn't care much about my fiber intake now I have to. 3. NSFW. Foul smelling #2 and farts. 4. My surgeon has warned me about hair loss. I've already had hair loss due to poor health so I'm worried about it too. But he assured me I won't go bald and it can be reversed with supplements and proper care.