WWTBAM Bored

Apparently, if I become morbidly obese, I can have stomach surgery that will almost certainly eliminate my diabetes.

My endocrinologist told me that she literally has some patients who gain weight in order to have the operation.

Believe me, after just 10 days of this, I wouldn't hesitate to have the surgery if I qualified...the report just out indicates those who tried to beat it with the traditinal combination of diet and meds have a tiny chance of success compared to the surgery folks.

Whatcha wanna bet this has something to do with insurance companies not wanting to pay for surgeries on everyone with diabetes...

Btw, had lunch at my favorite Indian buffet today--eliminated the nan, rice and fried veggies and blood sugar didn't spike! It can be done, and I will do it, but, man, the thought of having just one procedure that can make this all go away is incredibly enticing.

Curing diabetes by surgery??

i dont buy the one-time procedure thingie. I just dont. The body just doesnt work that way.

Buff, please do what you can to avoid gastric bypass (I assume that's the procedure they are telling you about). It works for some people, but it is not a fix-all solution for everyone else. A close friend had the procedure many years ago, and his story is a good one, but he is the exception.

Now, too many doctors are pushing the surgery so they and their patients can avoid doing the hard work of losing weight. I had a student two years ago, a woman 5'11" who weighed 175 lbs, which is perfect, whose doctor wanted her to lose 50 lbs. via gastric bypass. I wanted to get her disbarred or kicked out or however you do that.

Gastric bypass is a nasty operation. My aunt had it. She lost a bunch of weight but the by-product was nasty smelling stools.

PlacentiaSoccerMom wrote:Gastric bypass is a nasty operation. My aunt had it. She lost a bunch of weight but the by-product was nasty smelling stools.

I don't know this first-hand. My dad told me.

The surgery "cures" your diabetes because it structurally changes your stomach and digestive system so you physically are unable to consume as many calories, and also may bring about some hormonal changes regarding some hormones produced by the stomach and intestines. A huge change is made on how you eat food, it's just that you don't have to rely on your willpower.

The latest news about the study involving the "lap band" procedure is not permanent like the gastric bypass surgery, but it does have additional concerns:
- Hardware is wrapped and stays around your stomach. Long-term effects are not known. One surgeon likens it to sticking your finger in a vise and keeping it squeezed for a long time. Sure, you might remove the vise several months later, but does that mean the finger is going to be okay afteward?
- The research in Australia has not been reproduced elsewhere.
- With the lap band, you could still drink lots of high calorie liquids and not have improvement in glucose levels.

Be very cautious about entering into this type of procedure.

nonononononononon

you CAN do this the regular way. Too many people have had really bad experiences with the gastric.

!!!!!

Random responses, nothing to do with you Buff:

- This is an example of what BiT was talking about in the 'clinical depression' conversation. People who don't want to do the hard work and doctors who don't want to sit around and watch people try and do the hard work. Doctors are jaded and cynical.

- I am mad as hell that a doctor put the idea in Buff's head - not Buff's head - that doctor is putting that idea in many people's head - people who might have less sense than Buff.

- How about doctor's talking to patients about how the patient is training their children to eat and not exercise?

Buff, eight years ago I was diagnosed with type II. My doctor refused to put me on the pills because he said if I went on them the chances were good that I would never come off them. He stressed diet and excercise and stop drinking soft drinks - I laughed at that since I don't think I have drank a soft drink in 30 or 40 years, just coffee, tea and oj. He instructed WATER, lot's of it.

I did as he said, walked two miles every night after dinner and started drinking water, lot's of it, which by the way caused a few problems when I was in NYC, what with their lack of public restrooms, lol.

I was never what you would call morbidly obese, just overweight, but none the less was diagnosed with type II, I quickly dropped 20 lbs before going to NYC where I met a group of BBs. Since I have lost another 20 lbs. Doctor says I am a walking advertisement on how to beat this and so can you.

It took me as long as it did to lose the 40 lbs because of my age (it comes off slower for post menopausal women) and the fact that I was never way up there in the weight category. It does show that it can be done with hard work and persistence.

If you want first hand knowledge of bypass surgery, I think Miss Amazon would be the person to talk with, she looks fabulous, wonder were she's been?

I like jayhawker's doctor.

Buffacuse wrote:Believe me, after just 10 days of this, I wouldn't hesitate to have the surgery if I qualified...

Did I miss the news that you've got diabetes now, Buff? I'm sorry to hear that, but I'd also advise against the surgery quick fix. Hang in there!

Ritterskoop wrote: Now, too many doctors are pushing the surgery so they and their patients can avoid doing the hard work of losing weight.

Careful. You may be told to 'piss off' by some around here.