Stomach Stapling. Yes, No, Maybe?

[sunstruck]

So today my cousin (we’ll call her Ann) went to her first counseling session regarding her tummy stapling surgery. There is a more medical term for it, gastro something or other, but whatever. Basically they block off a section of your stomach about the size of a prescription pill bottle and that is the portion you are now using. They don’t remove any part of your stomach, just block off most of it. So you can become full after eating a quarter of a chicken breast. There are also a slew of dietary rules, but the point is you get full quickly and therefore eat less.

Now it’s not fool proof. Your stomach can stretch, that’s how people become overweight. There have been people who have put back a good portion of what they lost. But I don’t think anyone has gained back hundreds of lbs. I could be wrong, but I don’t think so.

The other day they did a show on MTv about plastic surgery and there was a girl who had this done that lost 150 lbs in one year. My brother (a physical trainer) has a client who has lost over 200lbs with the help of this surgery (he still has 150 to go).

So I’m excited for my cousin, who has struggled with her weight her whole life, and only a little concerned. I mean it is a major abdominal surgery. I think this is a great idea and much safer than diet pills. She doesn’t realize it yet, but her whole world is a bout to change.

So is this something you would do? Why or why not?

 

[brokenbrainwave]

Honestly, it sounds like the lazy way out. If she is serious about loosing the weight, why cant your brother work with her or put her in contact with another personal trainer?

 

[JerseyBoy]

If it worked for Al Roker then it can work for anyone...anyone SERIOUSLY overweight that is.

And the small size they make the stomach would make it a tough chore to stretch it to any significant size.

 

[Purple Haze]

You have to wonder how much nutrition you'll get from one chicken wing,

Is a vitamin plan required to go along with this?

 

[honeylick]

i would never do it. it is too evasive, and wrought with failure.

too often people do not hear about the down-sides to this type of procedure... hair falling out, constant throwing up, ulcers, severe dry skin, teeth loosening from poor overall nutrition, just to name a few.

a human body was not made to function correctly with a 2oz. stomach.

 

[huskie]

Honestly, it sounds like the lazy way out. If she is serious about loosing the weight, why cant your brother work with her or put her in contact with another personal trainer?

and I'v never head of such a thing as this tummy tuck by way of the stomack??

I used to wrestle in high school. I had to lose and then keep the weight off. I used to do setups instead of eating, thus getting the same effect as shrinking my stomack.. i guess?? just my $.02 worth.....

 

[brokenbrainwave]

a human body was not made to function correctly with a 2oz. stomach.

but yet we see walking, breathing examples of a 2oz brain all the time, go figure

hijack over

 

[huskie]

but yet we see walking, breathing examples of a 2oz brain all the time, go figure

hijack over

This would be real funny if it were not the god honest TRUTH!!!! and many of them have goverment jobs!!!

 

[estevie]

I wouldn't do it. Entirely too dramatic for me.

 

[peachykeen]

Well, my sister, whom I love dearly, is extremely overweight. I really think for her it could be a lifesaver. But, she is on Medicare (and disability) so it is not covered. I do see a certain irony in the fact that Medicare will pay for all of the care she does and will continue to need due to the health problems associated with her obesity, and that if she were not so heavy she would not need to collect disability...

It's a complicated issue. I really believe my sister will be dead before she's 40 if something isn't done, but I also accept that she has to accept a certain amount of responsibility for herself. Her self esteem is about absolute zero, though; I know no surgery can fix that, but at least it might get her started and help her feel like maybe everything isn't hopeless.

 

[Guest]

Try doing ''Boxing Helena''. Much quicker way to lose weight.

 

[Purple Haze]

This would be real funny if it were not the god honest TRUTH!!!! and many of them have goverment jobs!!!

You mean, like wrestling coaches?

 

[Lancecastor]

I agree with Honeylick that it's highly invasive and tricky surgery.

But I'm in favour of the procedure in this case because her husband says they can do Sunstruck's mouth at the same time for no extra charge.

Lance

 

[huskie]

You mean, like wrestling coaches?

Ya some

 

[brokenbrainwave]

I agree with Honeylick that it's highly invasive and tricky surgery.

But I'm in favour of the procedure in this case because her husband says they can do Sunstruck's mouth at the same time for no extra charge.

Lance

brillant Lance, feeling neglected? We saw Hanns fade to black the same way when you came along and his caniption fits. Passing the torch is a tough thing I suppose

 

[sunstruck]

Honestly, it sounds like the lazy way out. If she is serious about loosing the weight, why cant your brother work with her or put her in contact with another personal trainer?

She has very little will power. She needs a boost. She also has an extremely low metabolic rate.

Believe me, as someone who lost weight the old fashioned way (diet and excercise -- err...mostly excersize lol) that was my first reaction too.

But then I thought, you know, whatever works. I don't care if it's the easy way out. I'd rather she take the easy way out and live a long healthy life than develope diabeties or heart disease and die in her thirties.

She's 22 years old and probably around 300lbs. That is not healthy. She's sweet and smart and has a heart of gold. I want that heart to beat for a long, long time.

You have to wonder how much nutrition you'll get from one chicken wing,

Is a vitamin plan required to go along with this?

I have no idea but I would think so. Plus I think you digest fatster and are supposed to eat several small meals throughout the day. That's mostly an assumption on my part though.

too often people do not hear about the down-sides to this type of procedure... hair falling out, constant throwing up, ulcers, severe dry skin, teeth loosening from poor overall nutrition, just to name a few.

I haven't heard of any of that. Is there a website you know of that lists the downfalls. I think when she gets home tonight I'm going to go over and look at the literature the doc gave her.

 

[brokenbrainwave]

She has very little will power. She needs a boost. She also has an extremely low metabolic rate.

Believe me, as someone who lost weight the old fashioned way (diet and excercise -- err...mostly excersize lol) that was my first reaction too.

But then I thought, you know, whatever works. I don't care if it's the easy way out. I'd rather she take the easy way out and live a long healthy life than develope diabeties or heart disease and die in her thirties.

She's 22 years old and probably around 300lbs. That is not healthy. She's sweet and smart and has a heart of gold. I want that heart to beat for a long, long time.

either way if this is the case, she needs to do something. Like HL said, this is rather invasive surgery. Does the long term risk versus shorter term benifits equate? That would be my question.

 

[patient1]

i would never do it. it is too evasive, and wrought with failure.

too often people do not hear about the down-sides to this type of procedure... hair falling out, constant throwing up, ulcers, severe dry skin, teeth loosening from poor overall nutrition, just to name a few.

a human body was not made to function correctly with a 2oz. stomach.

I knew somebody that did it, because of heart risks in the family, etc.

It works. It's rough. I wouldn't call it the easy way out. It can be dangerous. Think of it as inducing intestinal blockage for the sake of weight loss. Not the same, but it helps you see it seriously.

 

[Rubyfruit]

Three in 100 die on the operating table.

I bet her loved ones would rather have her fat than dead, but I'm just guessing.

 

[peachykeen]

Three in 100 die on the operating table.

I bet her loved ones would rather have her fat than dead, but I'm just guessing.

Well, like I said, I'm thinking my sis is going to be both fat AND dead, so...

 

[sunstruck]

Three in 100 die on the operating table.

I bet her loved ones would rather have her fat than dead, but I'm just guessing.

That argument works both ways. She won't live long like this. There's too much heart desease in my family. She's already on the verge of becoming diabetic. Another year tops.

Our family doctor seems to think it's worth the risk. He's been our doc for 20 some odd years. I trust him.

I'd still like to see the site where you got that number though. If you could link me that would be great. I want to make sure she has all the info.

 

[Rubyfruit]

Yes, very valid points, Peachy and Sunny.

I'm sorry I threw that stat out there. It could have been 3 in 1000. I did some research on it a while back. It's a serious, invasive surgery, as has been said, but it can be lifesaving as well.

Over the summer, Rosie Magazine (only issue I've ever bought and I actually kinda liked it) had a good pro-con article, with interviews with people who were happy with it, and those who weren't.

My step-sister had it recently, but I haven't heard how she's doing.

 

[Raina]

I have a friend who had this done just a few months ago. I haven't seen her yet, but she tells me it's incredible. She's totally thrilled with it.

I have reservations about it myself though. She was always having a hard time dieting and exercising...always had excuses not too. Now she HAS to stick to this very rigid diet. *shrugs* I guess it will be easier with such a tiny stomach, but a lot of things she rather enjoyed are now forbidden to her.

 

[crysede]

That argument works both ways. She won't live long like this. There's too much heart desease in my family. She's already on the verge of becoming diabetic. Another year tops.

Our family doctor seems to think it's worth the risk. He's been our doc for 20 some odd years. I trust him.

I'd still like to see the site where you got that number though. If you could link me that would be great. I want to make sure she has all the info.

Unless she's so fat she's physically incapable of movement (like 600-700+ lbs, so her joints are incapable of baring her weight), she should just get in shape – that would get rid of all her risks for heart disease and diabetes without her having to lose a pound.

The surgery she's considering is extremely dangerous, almost always results in serious kidney and liver damage, and has a very low success rate (generally the person is dead from kidney or liver failure, or has to have the surgery repeated, within 10 years). If she's literally at death's door, and literally cannot move, then she might as well go ahead – if not, she'd be crazy to opt for surgery [edited to add: unless she thinks the medical risks are worth it for purely aesthetic reasons (since, provided she is capable of movement, there are no good medical reasons)]

(Dammit, I'm gonna be late for class again – why do I always notice interesting threads at the last minute )

 

[bad kitty]

If it works. My husband's ex mother in law had this done. I haven't seen her since so I don't know how well it worked. When you are very overweight and you want to lose, you will try anything to do it and this is a sure fire way of losing.