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The Pain of Obesity...Bariatric Considerations
Recently I attended a seminar with my daughter regarding obesity, weight loss, and surgical alternatives. My daughter has struggled all her life with weight issues and has tried many things to lose weight. At the age of 25 she has several co-morbidities that are most often seen in the older adult population, i.e.: high blood pressure, asthma, GI problems, arthritis, low back pain, and fertility issues. Three of her doctors have recommended surgery and will be providing statements of medical necessity for her.
The biggest challenge has been insurance coverage which has kept her from even considering this option in the past. Then she found an organization at one of the local hospitals that gives hope to the obese and support to the many that pass through their doors to get surgical assistance that might not only improve the quality of their lives, but may even save them.
I was glad to see this program requires all of the necessary pre-assessments prior to acceptance into the program. We don't foresee my daughter having a problem and pray that the insurance coverage will be sufficient. She emphasizes this is not a cosmetic move. She has a loving husband now at her current weight and she feels blessed. This is for her health and quality of life. She feels that once she gets the weight off, she will be able to pursue a different line of work and become more financially stable. She sees this as a new lease on life - the beginning of a new one in terms of eating and nutrition and other behavioral considerations that are so often linked to unhealthy eating patterns.
I am thrilled to see my daughter pursuing this alternative since she has tried diet after diet, prescription meds, and exercise (which usually leads her to a back spasm and PT). She needs to get some of the weight off so she can start to exercise regularly and continue a more active lifestyle. Right now she is exercising at home using a TV stretching and aerobic video because she is embarrassed to walk outside. She has lost over 50 pounds. However she has issues with an inability to keep the weight off once she loses it. And when it comes back, it comes with a few extra pounds besides.
My daughter is diligently researching the surgical procedure. She is talking to people who have had it done to hear their experiences and outcomes. She is linking up to networks to build her support group. She has looked into the dietary supplements she would need to take and also the protein supplements. Being lactose intolerant, we were concerned about her finding products to work with but she has at a local supplement store. The store manager has been supportive and willing to help her learn about the different products that are used for nutritional supplementation after bariatric surgery. She wants to have a comprehensive understanding about what it will take to make this a positive experience and a new lease on life. She is not looking for miracles. But like many of the close to 100 other people attending the seminar, one would be welcomed I think.
These past few days I have seen some positive changes in my daughter. She is brighter and more energetic. She is becoming quite educated on the subject of bariatric surgery and weight loss. She feels she may have found her only hope after exhausting all of the other less invasive approaches. I am proud of her for pursuing this. I am going to be her biggest fan as she finally begins to feel better about herself and her pain begins to decrease and resolve.
I told my daughter she is a beautiful young lady and she is...regardless of her weight. Being healthier and beautiful at the same time...It can't get much better than that.
I'll keep you posted.
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: weight loss surgery, bariatric, gastric bypass, lap band
The biggest challenge has been insurance coverage which has kept her from even considering this option in the past. Then she found an organization at one of the local hospitals that gives hope to the obese and support to the many that pass through their doors to get surgical assistance that might not only improve the quality of their lives, but may even save them.
I was glad to see this program requires all of the necessary pre-assessments prior to acceptance into the program. We don't foresee my daughter having a problem and pray that the insurance coverage will be sufficient. She emphasizes this is not a cosmetic move. She has a loving husband now at her current weight and she feels blessed. This is for her health and quality of life. She feels that once she gets the weight off, she will be able to pursue a different line of work and become more financially stable. She sees this as a new lease on life - the beginning of a new one in terms of eating and nutrition and other behavioral considerations that are so often linked to unhealthy eating patterns.
I am thrilled to see my daughter pursuing this alternative since she has tried diet after diet, prescription meds, and exercise (which usually leads her to a back spasm and PT). She needs to get some of the weight off so she can start to exercise regularly and continue a more active lifestyle. Right now she is exercising at home using a TV stretching and aerobic video because she is embarrassed to walk outside. She has lost over 50 pounds. However she has issues with an inability to keep the weight off once she loses it. And when it comes back, it comes with a few extra pounds besides.
My daughter is diligently researching the surgical procedure. She is talking to people who have had it done to hear their experiences and outcomes. She is linking up to networks to build her support group. She has looked into the dietary supplements she would need to take and also the protein supplements. Being lactose intolerant, we were concerned about her finding products to work with but she has at a local supplement store. The store manager has been supportive and willing to help her learn about the different products that are used for nutritional supplementation after bariatric surgery. She wants to have a comprehensive understanding about what it will take to make this a positive experience and a new lease on life. She is not looking for miracles. But like many of the close to 100 other people attending the seminar, one would be welcomed I think.
These past few days I have seen some positive changes in my daughter. She is brighter and more energetic. She is becoming quite educated on the subject of bariatric surgery and weight loss. She feels she may have found her only hope after exhausting all of the other less invasive approaches. I am proud of her for pursuing this. I am going to be her biggest fan as she finally begins to feel better about herself and her pain begins to decrease and resolve.
I told my daughter she is a beautiful young lady and she is...regardless of her weight. Being healthier and beautiful at the same time...It can't get much better than that.
I'll keep you posted.
Related Topics: Technorati Tags: weight loss surgery, bariatric, gastric bypass, lap band
6 Comments:
That's great Indie! I'll be rooting for your daughter too! My wife is 5'3" and 323 pounds and I am watching her slowly die. She has many issues the morbidly obese have like diabetes, pain,high blood pressure, etc. She doesn't seem to even try to lose any weight and has been told, and says herself, that she is not a candidate for bariatric surgery because of her stomach problems and IBS already. I don't know if I buy that or not. But i find candy bars hidden in her night stand and she eats like a teenager with a fast metabolism. I don't know what to do because when I mention her weight(which is now, NEVER because it starts a fight)I am "picking on her" and "It's not her fault." I know it's not her fault but if she would just try eating right she may lose enough weight to allow her to get some exercise, which is impossible at this time. I'm sorry for going off on my problems with my wife when I merely meant to give congrats to your daughter for her quest for a new start on life.
I wish her all the best!
Rick
Hello!
I don't usually respond to comments here but encourage folks to send feedback to either my Pain Management or Migraine boards here on WebMD. I can say my daughter has been plagued by stomach problmes and IBS for years and it seems many of these issues improve or resolve once the weight is under better control.
I do have to share however that my daughter's surgery is on hold at least for the next 9+ months because low and behold after close to 6 years, she learned she is now expecting her first baby. She is due on Christmas!! Because of her weight and blood pressure problems, as well as her bad back, she is seeing a high risk neonatologist who will watch her closely throughout her pregnancy. So for the time being at least, the surgery is postponed. But I will let folks know when I become a proud grandma!! And we will go from there!!
Indie
Rick- I just thought I would pass on to you a tid bit of advice. You have no idea what your wife is going through until you've been in her position. Instead of assuming she's not "trying" to lose weight, maybe you should try to support her in her disease of overeating and obviously binging. It's alot more motivating for a woman to want to try to lose weight when she has some honest support behind her. Just a thought....
Has anyone got any success with treatments with scenar therapy?
I highly recomend that your daughter research all of her surgery options before jumping into the gastric bypass. Many people don't realize that there really is another option. She needs to research the DS or biliopancreatic diversion with dueodenal switch. This is a fabulous surgery option with a much greater long term success rate. There is also no risk of dumping syndrome and many of the other major side effects of the gastric bypass. I know people that have done both surgeries and have decided that my upcoming surgery will be the DS hands down.
Indie and Rick,
Here is one of the most encouraging and inspirational messages on bariatric surgery I have ever run across. She goes by the name of "massagegoddess", and her YouTube video blog has helped me make my decision to have bariactric surgery. Please take a look, and best of luck to the people in your lives.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k92CouJQq94
Thanks,
Cathy
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