Bariatric surgery?

[MrsJackSpratt]

Copied over from AIBU.. thanks for the heads up for this board..

I need to lose a lot of weight. A LOT of weight. (BMI of approx 50) A combination of over eating and chronic illness and now lockdown has led to my weight spiralling out of control.

I need surgery for the chronic illness, but need to lose around 8 stone in order to have it. I've also recently started to become really scared about survival rates of things like covid at this weight.

Last time I lost any significant weight was around 5 years ago. The only thing that worked was carb free, low fat and 800 calories a day. I lost 3 stone in 5 months like that. But I was miserable. I have tried meal replacement diets but they all taste like shit (I don't have a sweet tooth and detest milkshakes for a start). I tried 5:2 and lost small amounts of weight. I tried orlistat and didn't lose weight.

I want help. I need help. GP offered "lifestyle classes" that only meet during my working hours. I can have support at local council gym on "exercise by referral", but again, only during working hours. GP suggested considering bariatric surgery. But, with a chronic illness that was caused by surgery, more surgery for something else really scares me. The side effects of gastric sleeve really scare me - but is gastric banding worth while?

Someone has mentioned liraglutide injections. I do have PCOS (after all of my pregnancies I weighed less than pre pregnancy 2 days post birth).

I'd really be keen to hear any experiences

Do NOT get a band. Too many bad side effects and faffing about with fills. Also wouldn't be that effective at your weight - I would suggest a sleeve or full bypass. I doubt you would be eligible for a band. Can I ask why you need to lose eight stone to have the surgery? Many people have it at huge weights absolutely fine. How much to you weigh?

I had a sleeve nearly two years ago. I weighed over 21 stone, and have lost 10 stone. Any negative bits (burping more, a bit of indigestion) are far FAR outweighed by the positives. Going into it I was terrified, it now feels like no big deal at all. I am fit and healthy - I feel incredible. I can't believe I wasted two decades on yo yo diets that don't work. I would hazard you have ruined your metabolism and it's either this surgery or stay fat forever.

It's a simple low risk operation that will be performed by someone who does it day in day out.

I have three friends who have done the same and no significant side effects for them either. None of us have regretted it for a second.

We all paid privately, two of us in the UK, two abroad. There's no way I could have waited on the NHS.

Once I decided I wanted it I wanted it done ASAP. From considering it to having it done in six weeks.

Any questions please ask! But I'd urge you to get it done and reclaim your life.

ps ignore everyone that comes on here to tell you to eat less and move more as if you haven't already thought of that.

Do not consider the gastric band ! It is a very dated method and causes so much pain and scarring of the stomach.

I also have a chronic illness (BMI 33) and have decided to have the gastric sleeve (just waiting for the right time now). Gastric sleeve gives you the tool to change your life. After the first year or 2 years you are able to stretch your stomach and put weight back on. A lot of people consider this because it's not as permeant as the bypass.

Battling with a chronic illness is terrible and while losing weight is nearly impossible ! I would say getting bariatric surgery is a really good opportunity for you to change your lifestyle instead of going on diets you hate. I'm booking with a bariatric clinic in Lithuanian, it's half the price compared to going private in the UK if you wanted to have it done quicker than going through the NHS.

Sorry - the surgery I need to have is related to my chronic illness, not to my weight loss surgery.

I am 5ft 3, and weigh 20 stone.

I will be back with many more questions!

OP would you consider a gastric balloon? I had it inserted this day last week. I chose this because I didn't want a permanent change and it can be removed. I have the 12 month one and there is no surgery required and I had sedation only.

The first 4/5 days were not good. But I'm on day 7 and I am currently on liquids only for another 7 days before moving onto soft food. Its a tool only but I was in the right frame of mind and ready for it. I needed to lose 8 stone. A week of no food/dehydration means I now have 7 stone to go.

I was just googling because I was so shocked by the “working hours only” thing from your other thread and actually according to NICE guidelines BMI of 50 is the magic number that allows you to leapfrog straight to “Tier 4” which seems to be hospital bariatric clinic (and all those community interventions you mentioned are lower tiers). So I think you can demand to be referred on the NHS.

Sorry forgot to link the NICE guidelines (print them and take them with you to the surgery if you have to). Good luck.

www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/appndx-7-obesity-surgery-guid.pdf

Hello @MrsJackSpratt ! There are lots of us on this board who’ve had surgery (mainly sleeve or bypass). Our latest thread is www.mumsnet.com/Talk/weight_loss_chat/4152685-Bariatric-surgery-no-2-thread

My bmi was 43.5 and I had a flat out refusal from gp to refer me on the nhs. Fortunately I could afford to go private for a sleeve and while I’d have preferred for them to adhere to NICE guidelines and have the op for free, I’m very happy with my decision to go private.

My advice is not to bother with a band. It’s being phased out by the nhs as it doesn’t represent value for money. What are your concerns about the sleeve? Feel free to dm me with any questions - I’m nearly 6 months out and apart from the first 24 hours I haven’t regretted it for a single second. I’m 4.5 stone down.

It's worth getting a referral even if you're undecided, just to get the ball rolling. A colleague of mine was referred for this surgery a few years ago. The diet you have to do beforehand is pretty miserable and similar to what you did before. She ended up losing over 5st before the surgery and then decided to continue with the miserable diet instead of take the risks. The hospital offered to support her through the rest of the weight loss after she changed her mind which she said was brilliant. She's kept most of the weight off and every once in a while, watches what she eats when it starts creeping up again. A second colleague decided to follow in her footsteps but went through with the surgery in the end. The recovery was really tough but she's equally happy with her results.

Thanks everyone. The support is amazing..

I know this isn't something my closest friends will be supportive of.. so it's actually meant quite a lot

Now I need to work out how to get an appointment with the nice GP

I didn't tell anyone before hand. Actually that's not true. I told my parents I was thinking about it and they said absolutely not to. So I had it done then told them afterwards!

People will, again, just tell you to eat less and move more and not to do it, that it's a huge deal and risky. But it's not risky and only a huge deal in that it will hugely improve your life!

If there's anyway you can afford to go private I absolutely would just to get it done.

Unfortunately I'm not really in a position to go private at the moment :( But I haven't really looked into finance options yet.

Doing lots of reading between "mini bypass" and gastric sleeve. It sounds like sleeve has less side effects, but lower success rate. So lots of reading and thinking to do.

Talk to a consultant. The companies that do it will offer an initial consultation for free and actually the one I spoke to made a recommendation on procedure v quickly by assessing my weight, looking at any other health concerns etc

Iv been following getslimturkey on Instagram. The sleeve is far more successful with less horror stories than a band to be honest. I follow various girls accounts who have had it done, not because I need one, I just find it really interesting and love seeing the transformations and all the stories seem really positive.