Tag Archives: Bariatric Surgery

Some Teens are Having Bariatric Surgery

Posted on by

Teenagers who are obese might have the option of having bariatric surgery. Previously, this type of weight loss surgery was only offered to adults. Although it isn’t the best choice for every teenager, there are some teens who can greatly benefit from it. The New York Times reported in February of 2017 that the number of adolescents who are overweight or obese has leveled off in recent years. But the number who are severely obese – heavy enough to qualify for bariatric surgery – has nearly doubled from 1999 to 2014. Previously, 5.2 percent of adolescents were severely obese. That … Continue reading →

Gastric Banding Sucks

Posted on by

Let me qualify that statement before I go any further. In 2001, I had a gastric bypass. That procedure involves stapling off most of the stomach pouch so that you end up with a stomach the size of a shot glass. You eat less food, suffer serious side effects when you eat greasy or sugary foods and thereby lose a lot of weight. With the help of a good diet and regular exercise, I lost 90 pounds. A couple friends of mine have since had the same procedure and lost a great deal of weight. None of us suffered from … Continue reading →

Suddenly Skinny

Posted on by

I’m not a big Oprah watcher but one recent show she did, entitled “Suddenly Skinny”, was very important for me to see. While the folks on Oprah’s message boards are up in arms about it, I thought it was well done and high time that somebody finally brought this issue out into the open. The show focused on women who had gastric bypass surgery and then suffered from addiction transfer. The show did not imply that all people who undergo gastric bypass surgery suffer from this but it did bring the issue out into the open and get a healthy, … Continue reading →

Suicidal After Weight Loss Surgery?

Posted on by

I know, I know. You’re probably thinking: “Hey, you aren’t obese anymore, you’ve lost 100 pounds and all your health problems have cleared up. What have you got to be suicidal about?!” The University of Pittsburgh recently completed a study that showed that among people aged from 25 to 34 who had weight loss surgery, the suicide rate was considerably higher than that of the general population. Having had a gastric bypass in 2001, I’d like to address this from my own personal point of view. When you’ve been overweight all of your life, it becomes part of your identity. … Continue reading →

Learning How to Eat After a Gastric Bypass

Posted on by

Everything about eating changes after you’ve had a gastric bypass. Your new stomach is about the size of a shot glass (yes, it’ll stretch like your old stomach over time) and part of your small intestine that used to be responsible for most nutrient absorption has been bypassed. Because of these major changes, and your recovering from surgery, you’ll have to go on a special diet for your first few months after surgery. Doctors’ orders can vary. I wasn’t allowed to eat for a couple days after my surgery in 2001 but my friend who had surgery in 2004 was … Continue reading →

Before You Have Bariatric (Weight Loss) Surgery

Posted on by

Personal Issues I spent about a year soul searching and researching bariatric surgery before I ever spoke to a doctor about having a gastric bypass. I recommend that anyone else do the same. This isn’t a decision to jump into lightly. If you aren’t ready to make a serious commitment to your continued health and fitness then going under the knife for a gastric bypass is just foolish. Once you see a doctor, there is an extensive screening process. If your doctor believes this is a viable option for you, he’ll refer you to a bariatric surgeon. The surgeon will … Continue reading →

Is Gastric Bypass Surgery for You?

Posted on by

If you can still lose weight by following a healthy diet and exercise then bariatric surgery is not for you. If you think you’d rather just have surgery to make the weight go away so that you can get on with your life then bariatric surgery is definitely not for you! Having a gastric bypass is not the easy way to weight loss. It simply provides motivated individuals with a second chance to do it right. Even after the surgery you’ll have to eat right and exercise to meet your goal weight. The surgery itself just resets your system so … Continue reading →

Is Lap Band Surgery Safe?

In the past two years, we have been hearing about a new type of weight loss surgery called the “lap band”. For years, gastric bypass was the only surgery option that seemed to work. However, gastric bypass also comes with some high risks to infection, heavy scarring, and even death. Considered a highly invasive surgery, people who struggle with obesity have turned to gastric bypass trying to create a healthier life. Now, it appears the lap band system may be a better alternative, also successful but without as high as risks. The difference between the two surgeries is dramatic. For … Continue reading →

Morbid Meanderings Mean Much – Gastric Bypass Surgery

Posted on by

Yep, that’s a title that’s guaranteed to get your attention. Unfortunately, we live in a world where weight can get out of hand. It can become unresponsive to your lifestyle and dietary changes. You can even find that dieting is a misery that either a) doesn’t work, b) harms your health, c) leaves you feeling worse or d) al of the above. Luckily, modern medicine has achieved some interesting and downright amazing results over the last fifty years. Fir performed in the 1950s, the gastric bypass has spent the last two decades becoming a successful surgery that helps patients to … Continue reading →