Upcoming Bariatric Weight-loss Surgery at 14Stone

[smurffette]

At 5”4, I the heaviest I’ve ever been (13St 11Lbs) So, after a lot of research and diet attempts, I’m about to have weight loss surgery next month. I’m Currently undecided between a Gastric Bypass and Gastric sleeve.
I was wondering if anyone else of the same weight has gone through one of the surgeries? I’m curious to hear about others experiences! Or is anyone else considering or waiting for a Surgery?

Unless you have GERD or co-morbidities you probably won’t be eligible for a bypass at that BMI.

That's insane to put yourself through an operation like that at that weight.

Did the op say it was going to be through the nhs?

I wouldn't have thought you would qualify for bariatric surgery, at your weight. Can you try other techniques such as low carb, or Cambridge?

I know nothing about this, but 14 stone does not seem overweight enough for this drastic surgery?

You’re, what, 4 stone off a healthy weight?

Seems crazy. How hard have you tried to lose it?

Honestly try ozempic before surgery.
Game changer. You'll lose what you need with little effort ( yes some side effects initially - tiredness, nausea). A far better option than life changing surgery.

She didn’t, but even a lot of private providers will not perform a bypass at that BMI without co-morbidities. Certainly mine wouldn’t have. But that’s also why I said “probably” because I don’t know where she’s going or what their cut offs are. However, from the research I did before my own Bariatric surgery, the vast majority of private providers here and abroad wouldn’t touch a BMI of <35 for a bypass without there being other issues.

Sounding a bit aggressive there, you ok hon?

Not aggressive at all just wondered where it had been said

I am also very surprised that any ethical provider, anywhere, would approve weight loss surgery at that relatively low BMI. All surgery has risks and this one particularly; it really seems unlikely that the benefits outweigh them.

Don't do it without giving Ozempic a go first.

You aren't that different a BMI to what I was a year ago. Now a healthy weight with Ozempic.

Another poster here who doesn’t think you’ll be eligible at that weight.

have a read of the “I started Ozempic last night” thread and see if you’d like to try that before you have such major surgery.

Can you only get Ozempic on prescription?

Yes bit there are many many private clinics

I was wondering if anyone else of the same weight has gone through one of the surgeries?

Highly unlikely.

@Mollyplop999 no you can buy it privately in the UK.

My mum had bariatric surgery in Turkey (she lives there), she was a size 16 to begin with. She didn't tell us she had done it until a month afterwards as she knew what we would say.

Last week her friend went to the same hospital and had the procedure, same doctor. She died a few days later due to complications from the surgery. She was also a size 16. It makes me feel sick to think that could have been my mum.

I understand the appeal, I really do. Being on the diet trap is awful, I briefly considered whether I would do it just so I could stop having to think about food. But unless you are at serious risk of dying due to your weight, is it a risk you are willing to take?!

You still have to have a prescription.

My niece had it done in Turkey and she was only 14 stone 5ft 5. She's now less than 9 stone. She could have dieted but she is just a lazy mare who couldn't be bothered. She's drinking like a fish since she had the surgery and she's beginning to eat more and more. So I'd say she'll end up putting the weight on again. She has to have a hernia removed soon because she flew home four days after the operation and couldn't get airport assistance and the clinic are accepting no responsibility for it. Hospitals here didn't want to know either but its at risk of rupturing now so she's booked in shortly. She does look well in fairness, but she was only a size 16 to begin with and looked fine also. She would never have been a naturally thin person as all the family are prone to carrying a bit of weight, but its utterly ridiculous that the clinic agreed to do it. She's been lucky that she hasn't had many issues other than the hernia but it really is life altering in that eating for enjoyment is gone and eventhough you can increase what you can eat over time I'd be very afraid of not getting enough nutrients and how that would affect you going into menopause and beyond. The other crazy thing is that she didn't want anyone knowing she had it, so its all cloak and dagger, when people say oh your niece has lost so much weight, I have to say 'oh yeah, she's really disciplined with her food'. Which is annoying as I'm a size 16 myself and I'm happy with that but I feel judged in that I'm thinking people are thinking why can't you be disciplined too 🙄

I have lost over 4 stone this year on saxenda

I'd consider that before surgery op!

I am that weight (bit more) and height and while I know it’s not ideal I feel that my weight is far less dangerous than major surgery like that.
A Mum from school dies having this operation

Another vote for Ozempic

I've had a sleeve and it's really life changing I've yoyoed my entire life. So I had it done to stop the yoyoing . I eat much more healthier because it's given me reflux, so I eat fish and vegetarian foods. It's a massive commitment I will never be able to have a massive meal ever again. I have to make sure I consume enough to keep my weight up ! I have to think about protein all the time.. I wouldn't do it unless you know you absolutely can't keep weight off. It's not lazy it's actually much harder than dieting.

I have a friend who had this and lost 45kilos on it. She then had a tummy tuck and a boob job. She was banded and sadly let it be relaxed and is now back to square one. I have another who had a sleeve and while she has lost masses of weight she is always ill - passing out, getting small bits of food stuck, vomiting etc and of course a load of saggy skin.

A close friend of mine had it at around that weight at only 35. Very sadly she afterwards developed significant problems with eating but also significant scar tissue around the incision which meant it couldn’t easily be reversed. She became an alcoholic and died within two years - very very painfully - of liver failure. She was not eligible for a liver transplant, partly because of the internal damage the bariatric surgery had caused. The private clinic that had done the surgery - in the U.K. - closed, and her family couldn’t sue, but it was obvious that they should not have done it at her weight and she would never have been accepted for it on the NHS.

For some reason, a significant amount of women who have bariatric surgery afterwards become serious alcoholics. It’s not yet known why - it could be psychological or physical and there are various theories as to why, but no hard answers as yet (the surgery changes the way you metabolise alcohol). But that’s one of the reasons the NHS is so cautious about it and provides a lot of pre and post surgery long term follow-up that you don’t get with private clinics, and that you certainly won’t get if you have it abroad.

My friend should never have had the surgery and it effectively ended her life. I’m your weight and height right now. There’s nothing in the world that would induce me to have bariatric surgery after seeing what happened to my friend.

I’m 5’3 and over lockdown went up to 13 st.

bariatric surgery, as pp have said is usually last resort, when your weight is at more risk of killing you than the surgery. It’s life changing surgery and you will need to be careful for the rest of your life, never able to have a proper takeaway, always eating small amounts at a time.

I joined a diet plan where all your food is sent to you and calorie controlled. I lost 2.5 st In 3 months. Far cheaper and healthier than surgery. Had I known about ozempic I’d probably have tried that. Now by bmi is in the normal range so I don’t qualify.

presumably you’re going abroad as it won’t be done here at that weight. Please think about the risks and the impact for the rest of your life. I know how tempting it seems as an easy way to weight loss, but it really isn’t long term.