largehipslover
Well-Known Member
My wife has been having some health problems with her lower back, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol. Many of her doctors (including chiropractor, ob/gyn, primary care) suggested to undergo bariatric surgery (gastric bypass or maybe lap band).
She is around 5'4", around 270-290 pounds, 34 years old, asian descent. Her weight is distributed harmoniously across her body. She is getting interested in that because she is tired of her health issues. She has a slightly addictive personality (she can't quit smoking) and has a hard time "sticking to the schedule" of exercising, watching her diet, and so on. She tries hard, but she is not a "sergeant" if you will.
I am not a doctor BUT I have huge reservations against such an extreme procedure, on many levels. To list some of them:
- "quickie" factor: it seems to me the health problems I listed are addressable in a holistic way: quality of diet, hard work, life style. Not with a pit stop at the surgeon.
- complications: it's still a fairly recent solution. How do I know she is not going to have major complications in, say, 30 years? There's no data proving otherwise.
- what if she gains weight back after e.g. 10 years? then what?
- common sense. Maybe I am too simplistic but... her gastric system was built to work in a certain way and now we're changing it. I can't help to think this is kinda crazy.
- trust issue: I don't trust medical institutions in the US. Health is a for profit business here.
- her day-to-day life will change. This also affects me.
Don't get me wrong, I will support her no matter what. I love her to death. I am just really, really concerned she is making a decision she will regret.
I would like to hear people opinions. Is it really the best thing for a young woman in her condition? What things can go wrong in her post-op day to day life? What short and long term complications is she facing? Factual data and direct experiences will be immensely appreciated.
She is around 5'4", around 270-290 pounds, 34 years old, asian descent. Her weight is distributed harmoniously across her body. She is getting interested in that because she is tired of her health issues. She has a slightly addictive personality (she can't quit smoking) and has a hard time "sticking to the schedule" of exercising, watching her diet, and so on. She tries hard, but she is not a "sergeant" if you will.
I am not a doctor BUT I have huge reservations against such an extreme procedure, on many levels. To list some of them:
- "quickie" factor: it seems to me the health problems I listed are addressable in a holistic way: quality of diet, hard work, life style. Not with a pit stop at the surgeon.
- complications: it's still a fairly recent solution. How do I know she is not going to have major complications in, say, 30 years? There's no data proving otherwise.
- what if she gains weight back after e.g. 10 years? then what?
- common sense. Maybe I am too simplistic but... her gastric system was built to work in a certain way and now we're changing it. I can't help to think this is kinda crazy.
- trust issue: I don't trust medical institutions in the US. Health is a for profit business here.
- her day-to-day life will change. This also affects me.
Don't get me wrong, I will support her no matter what. I love her to death. I am just really, really concerned she is making a decision she will regret.
I would like to hear people opinions. Is it really the best thing for a young woman in her condition? What things can go wrong in her post-op day to day life? What short and long term complications is she facing? Factual data and direct experiences will be immensely appreciated.
