http://www.msnbc.com/news/838228.asp?0si=-&cp1=1

Al Roker, the weather man on the NBC Today Show has been in the news a lot lately for his weight loss by having Gastric Bypass Surgery.

Is this a safe weight loss method? What are the advantages and disadvantages? What is the liklyhood of gaining the weight back?

There are many variations on the bypass. From newspaper articles I've read, the patient may possibly be allowed only 2 teaspoons of food per meal.
The stomach can be stretched out and/or high-calorie food may be eaten - then the weight can return.
Here are a few sites that may give you some info:

There is the gastric bypass surgery:

http://www.lgbsurgery.com/

http://www.angelfire.com/ok3/vbowen/

And there is the gastric lap-band surgery:

http://www.belighter.com/

And the mini-gastric bypass:

http://clos.net/op/descrptn.htm

Good luck!

I expect you learned a lot from those sites, but here's a personal story. My daughter-in-law weighed about 300 when she had her stomach stapled. She had some complications and "almost died" but I know her and I don't believe that. Anyway, she was on liquids for about a week, then light diet and after a while on regular food -it wasn't onerous, as she wasn't hungry. Even back on regular food, she ate out of my son's plate most of the time when I was with her.

That was about a year ago. She started out at size 26 at least, now she's down to an 8. She lost something like 160 lbs. And she got her insurance to pay for it!

I'd say it works.

Catty (still in the teens, sigh)

My daughter had Gastric Bypass in September,and she has lost 56 lbs, so far. She weighed 273 the day of surgery. Now, she is doing fine, but it's a critical surgery. The first two weeks were very depressing, but there is a support group to attend. It takes about 5 weeks to stop having discomforts, such as slight pain and burning sensations. Overall, it's well worth it. She is so happy with herself now because she is constantly losing. You have to be fit mentally to withstand the change in lifestyle. She is only 23 so she'll really appreciate her new look. The weight loss is permanent.

I worked with a woman who had it done - she did nearly die - more than once. A very high majority of the people who have this operation have serious problems before they are able to enjoy their new figure....she was back in the hospital for additional surgeries 4 times (the main surgery and 3 subsequent ones). She is still not well, but has lost alot of weight so far.

Did find some information that indicates that 10 -15% of people experience complications and 1 to 2 patients per 100 (that's 10 - 20%!! - YIKES!!) The site that discusses the risks is:
http://www.jhbmc.jhu.edu/Surgery/gensurg/centers/obesity.html

Also came across this website that gives you ALOT of information about the various options available:
http://www.nwmb.org/trgmedpol/surgery/sur58.html

Since I posted in November, about my daughter having Gastric Bypass, there had been a death in the family from this surgery. My husband's 34 year old cousin died yesterday from Gastric Bypass. She went home from the hospital Monday, and died yesterday at home. She leaves a husband and 2 kids. So sad.

I am so sorry to hear that, what a terrible thing to happen. People get the surgery to be healthier and happier and it ends this way. God bless you and your family and I will keep you in my prayers.

quote:

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Originally posted by Lydia:
Did find some information that indicates that 10 -15% of people experience complications and 1 to 2 patients per 100 (that's 10 - 20%!! - YIKES!!)

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Lydia.. I think you have your math wrong... 1-2 out of every hundred is 1%-2%... 10-20 out of one hundred is 10%-20%........

But the odds are entirely too high for risk anyway.. I am considering the Lap-Band Procedure... I WILL NOT DO THE GASTRIC BYPASS unless I am on Deaths door.

Thanks Kittypal, I appreciate your prayers.

you are 100% correct on my math - wasn't thinking...obviously. But thanks for pointing at me (oops - meant pointing it out)...

I have taken care of many gastric bypass patients when they come out of surgery. I hate to say it but most tend to have a lot of complications. I was considering it but when I saw what happen I changed my mine. You can only eat 1 tablespoon of food and drink one tablespoon of liquid when you eat. If you over eat you can rip open your sutures, sure your stomach may stretch a bit but it is dangerous. You will more than likely vomit the food up. My friends I worked with talked me out of it and said if you have the surgery you have to go on a very very strick diet. Why not just go on a strict diet without the pain of surgery.
The patients that seem to do the best are the ones with no other complications from their obesity. But I have seen the so called healthy obeses patient code (where you have to resusciate them)
I would really check into it and check the number of patients the doctor has done that has gone well. Ask a lot of questions.