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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To consider bariatric surgery?

79 replies

Ezlo · 23/11/2024 12:01

I have PCOS and find losing weight really difficult. I'm now at 25 stone and desperately unhappy with my size.

Has anyone had bariatric surgery and would like to share experiences?

OP posts:
Sellingmoonlight · 23/11/2024 12:04

Have you thought about trying Mounjaro? My daughter has PCOS and was gaining weight really rapidly. She’s now lost 2 stone and is doing very well on it. She still has another 3-4 stone to go but it’s a start.
Mounjaro seems to affect hormones in some way too so it may be worth trying that before surgery

SilenceInside · 23/11/2024 12:05

You could try a private prescription for weight loss injections first, if that's within your budget?

Thatdarncat44 · 23/11/2024 12:06

Definitely try Weight-loss injections.

Have you been on Tier 3 Specialist WL pathway?

Surgery is a three year waiting list on the NHS in my area.

Spoink · 23/11/2024 12:11

I would absolutely try the injections before opting for surgery. At that weight, you may even be able to access some help on the NHS in this regard. But if you can afford £150-odd a month, I would look into Mounjaro. Comes with extra health benefits too and isn't as invasive or final as bariatric surgery (which often stops being as effective over time anyway unfortunately).

Elisabeth3468 · 23/11/2024 12:14

There can be sooo many complications from this type of surgery. I've seen it first hand as a nurse. I would avoid if possible.
I also have PCOS so appreciate how difficult it is to lose weight but it can be done.
You need to be in a calorie deficit and the weight will come off. You could try those injections to kick start the weight loss .

Ezlo · 23/11/2024 12:16

Sellingmoonlight · 23/11/2024 12:04

Have you thought about trying Mounjaro? My daughter has PCOS and was gaining weight really rapidly. She’s now lost 2 stone and is doing very well on it. She still has another 3-4 stone to go but it’s a start.
Mounjaro seems to affect hormones in some way too so it may be worth trying that before surgery

I haven't. Is it available on the NHS? How does she take it? Two stone is a great achievement. Well done to your daughter!

OP posts:
DesertKumquat · 23/11/2024 12:23

Absolutely try Mounjaro before surgery!

PinkiOcelot · 23/11/2024 12:23

Well I wouldn’t. My neighbour had this operation in the summer and what she can’t eat or do seems far more restrictive than any diet. Plus, the problems people get just doesn’t seem worth it.

Quackajack · 23/11/2024 12:26

Mounjaro is available to buy from pharmacies online for around £130 a month price going up with higher doses. I am currently using it and have found it amazing.

Spoink · 23/11/2024 12:30

PinkiOcelot · 23/11/2024 12:23

Well I wouldn’t. My neighbour had this operation in the summer and what she can’t eat or do seems far more restrictive than any diet. Plus, the problems people get just doesn’t seem worth it.

Yes, a close friend got bariatric surgery and fair enough she's lost lot of weight but she is unable to eat so much stuff, if she overeats (which isn't overeating, just a normal size portion) she vomits, it really looks miserable. She needs to eat teeny tiny portions through the day, so can't really go to restaurants or out for food as she can only eat a few mouthfuls at a time. I'm sure that's not a universal experience, but it doesn't seem like a nice way to live. Unfortunately she was a couple of years too early for all this weight jab stuff.

Gettingbysomehow · 23/11/2024 12:30

Complete waste of time Im a bariatric surgery fail. Didn,t lose a pound. Im losing a stone a month on mounjaro injections with no food cravings. No surgery needed. Its amazing.

LolaLouise · 23/11/2024 12:36

Another vote for Mounjaro. You may have to pay prvately, the costs being £25 a week initially with code, up to approx £50 per week if you go to the highest dose.

I have been a nurse for a number of years, and a nursing assitant prior to that. My roles have been across gen surgery, emergency surg, and A&E. I can tell you that in my career i have seen many people come in with post weight loss surgery problems. some as many as 12 years after the surgery. Life altering conditions that are irrepairable now. Whilst the injection are relatively new to market, i have seen very few people now in A&E come in, i can count on 1 hand over the past 9 months or so, and it was mostly because they hadnt managed side effects and they were given some medication to help and discharged, never admitted.

Mounjaro, taken correctly, not messed with, being truthful on assessments, is relatively low risk and works well for a huge majority of people. It has been in clinical trials for 20 years. Early testing showed some adverse side effects when tested on animals, but not in later testing after adaptions to the drug, and when trails began on humans, however these warning still have to go on the boxes.

Research it independently, have a look at the oprah documentry, which whilst biased and american, shows the science behind it, and why it works. It may not be for you, but it is game changing for a lot of people, and worth considering. Yes the cost is high, but with the changes made to lifestyles, its easy to justify this cost, and alot of it is offset by reduced outgoings.

TheSilkWorm · 23/11/2024 12:38

Ezlo · 23/11/2024 12:16

I haven't. Is it available on the NHS? How does she take it? Two stone is a great achievement. Well done to your daughter!

Private prescription only in most cases but you can discuss with your GP. However it's far safer and better than surgery.

bugaboo218 · 23/11/2024 12:59

I have had baratric surgery and have lost a significant amount of weight .

I had a gastric bypass- it has been transformative in many ways and my health has improved drastically.

It stops you physically eating too much, but it does not stop the emotional/ hunger.

The gastric bypass is irreversible and you have to be accept that for the rest of your life, you will only be able to eat v small portions- I can now eat ( a young) child's size portion of food.

You have to change your eating habits completely. I do have the very occasional treat, but I can never have fizzy drinks, like Diet coke , for example. I cannot eat bread or long grain rice or pizza for the rest of my life and that can be hard emotionally hard to get your head around.

Too much sugar and you risk sugar dumping, which is absolutely awful.

I was significantly morbidly obese when I had my operation.

Research all the options and talk to healthcare professionals. If you do go ahead with it then go in with your eyes wide open.

CoastalCalm · 23/11/2024 13:18

I have PCOS in my late 20’s I lost 11 stone over 2+ years at weight watchers - these days I would use Mounjaro , lost almost 40lbs in under 3 months

wonderingwhatlifemeans · 23/11/2024 13:42

I had a gastric sleeve twelve years ago I went from 27 stone to 15 now 17. I have PCOS. You develop a new attitude towards food. Yes you can put on weight but it is so much easier to check your eating and exercise more when you weigh 10 stone less.

I had a very positive experience and would do it again.

As I also have Crohn's I couldn't have the fat expelling pills before or the injections now.

MsCactus · 23/11/2024 17:37

Absolutely try weight loss injections first. Minimal side effects - and people lose TONS of weight on them. You can pay and get a private prescription - I think costs around £150 a month.

Bariatric surgery can be quite bad for you - I've heard from people dying from complications. Definitely try the injections first, you might not need something as extreme as surgery.

Good luck OP!

ExtraOnions · 23/11/2024 17:56

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

Sonolanona · 23/11/2024 18:33

My lovely friend had bariatric surgery about 2 ago... she was moderately obese (despite walking many miles a day!) and had yoyo dieted for years.
She's thin now... too thin tbh. But she's had lot of problems with dumping and vomiting and is so restricted on what she can manage. She said if she could go back, she'd not have had it if she'd known other options were coming!

healthybychristmas · 23/11/2024 19:02

My friend had surgery and I am on the injections. I think I'm in a much much better position than she is to be honest. She lost several stone in a year but had to have a lot of operations to make herself look okay afterwards. She still wants to eat a lot but can't do it otherwise she'll be sick

LadyGabriella · 23/11/2024 19:03

Are you on metformin and Inositol?

deedeemegadoodoo · 23/11/2024 19:55

I had a sleeve three years ago. I don’t regret it at all, but this was just before the injections came out. I would probably try the injections first. I lost 8 stone and I’m a size 10. My tummy is a bit squishy but fine in a swimming costume, and I look good in clothes. I can eat whatever I want but smaller portions. I prefer to eat fish and healthy stuff mainly, but can still have bread, small cakes etc. Your tastes change. I have occasionally had ‘dumping’ but that’s because I’ve drunk to soon after food. You can’t eat and drink at the same time but you get used to it. I think some people’s restriction is more than mine. I am happy with the choice I made, but I’d probably try injections first now.

Ezlo · 24/11/2024 20:09

With the mounjaro, I know it suppresses your appetite but I eat when I'm not even hungry and when I do eat I eat big portions. How is it going to stop me eating emotionally when I'm not even hungry? I love eating!

OP posts:
TheSilkWorm · 24/11/2024 20:15

Ezlo · 24/11/2024 20:09

With the mounjaro, I know it suppresses your appetite but I eat when I'm not even hungry and when I do eat I eat big portions. How is it going to stop me eating emotionally when I'm not even hungry? I love eating!

Because you can't. You can't eat when you feel full, you literally couldn't do it even if you tried. It's uncomfortable and makes you feel sick.

Mebebecat · 24/11/2024 20:19

Ezlo · 24/11/2024 20:09

With the mounjaro, I know it suppresses your appetite but I eat when I'm not even hungry and when I do eat I eat big portions. How is it going to stop me eating emotionally when I'm not even hungry? I love eating!

You won't fancy stuff anymore. You will forget about eating and will possibly have to schedule meal times to make sure you eat enough.

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