Considering Banding? Don’t Bypass This…More and more of the morbidly obese are turning to weight loss surgery, such as gastric bypass, as a quick-fix solution to weight loss. But is the grass always greener after bariatric surgery?
As with any invasive surgery, bariatric surgery carries many risks, some of which can be life threatening. Complications may arise during the operation, or even years later. Roughly, 5% of bariatric surgery patients experience complications post operation. In addition, what you assumed would be a one-time stint on the operating table might culminate into a series of necessary follow-up procedures, such as gall bladder removal or treatment for twisted bowels.
Anorexic British Teen Regrets Gastric Bypass Surgery
Below is a list of complications that sometimes occur after weight loss surgery:
- Respiratory disorders, such as sleep apnea or other breathing difficulties may arise.
- Leaky gut, leaking of fluids from the intestines or stomach, may require additional surgery.
- Infections are a risk with any surgery.
- Blood clots are a common complication during surgery that could result in stroke. Patients often wear tight diabetic socks during surgery to avoid developing blood clots.
- Bowel obstructions caused by thick scar tissue is rare, but still possible with abdominal surgeries.
- Ulcers are another side effect that results from usage of NSAID medication such as ibuprofen.
- Gallstones occur after 1/3 of all gastric bypass surgeries. They are extremely painful, and the only way to treat them is to have the gall bladder removed.
- Kidney stones are highly correlated with gastric bypass surgery.
- Twisted bowels or internal hernias occur when intestines become dislodged during or after surgery. It is rare, but deadly: the chances of survival are 60%.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency often results when bariatric surgery patients neglect to supplement with vitamin B12. Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency include chronic fatigue, depression, numbness, or tingling in hands and feet, altered taste perception, and brain fog, among many others.
Read more about avoiding vitamin B12 deficiency:
B12 Deficiency: Don’t Ignore the Symptoms
50 Bariatric Blogs
- Adventures of Gastric Girl “A little look into my life.. Finding myself after having gastric bypass surgery, and the ups and downs along the way.”
- Alison’s banded adventures “I’m a British 38 year old mother of 2. I had lapband surgery on the 25th of March 2010.”
- Autumn’s Yummy Treats & Good Eats!!! “Hi, I’m Autumn. All of my life I have struggled w/ my weight...”
- Baby Belly Bulge Battles and Breastfeeding “TwoThirtyTwo.. my journey down the scale.”
- Band-Aid Baby! “Excited about accomplishing the one goal that has alluded me my entire life- being fit and feeling great about my body!!”
- Band Sweet Band “I’m married to Marc, who is also banded and a huge source of support.”
- Bari Bits: Reflections of a WLS Patient “Reflections of a Weight Loss Surgery Patient.”
- Bariatric After Life “Motivation, Inspiration & Education for Life After Weight Loss Surgery.”
- Bariatric Foodie “Cooking Big on a Small Scale.” Includes delicious recipes for WLS patients.
- Bariatric Girl “Telling the Positive Side of Weight Loss Surgery.”
- Big Bottom Blogger “This is a blog about reducing my eco buttprint on the world. Enjoy, and welcome.”
- Big Girl in a Big World…my journey as a bandster! “Hope you enjoy following me on my journey through life and my lap band, named Lexi.”
- The Bypassed Life “An honest account of life after bariatric surgery.”
- Candyland to Bandyland “Women are Angels…And when someone breaks their wings, They simply continue to fly….on a broomstick…They are flexible like that…”
- Carrie’s Gastric Bypass Journey “Follow me on a life changing journey. The gastric bypass surgery on March 20, 2006 will change my life forever…hopefully for the better. Follow me from fat and unhealthy to thin and fit.”
- Chronicles from Band Land “One girl’s story of life with the lap band.”
- Diminishing Dawn “This page begins with some general information and then turns into my story detailing every part of my surgery from start to finish.It covers the decision to go the WLS route, to how to apply for surgery to be paid through OHIP, to pre op, surgery and post op.”
- Does this donut make my butt look big? “Progress is Sweet!”
- Evolution of a Black Butterfly “I was banded November 16, 2010…here is my story.”
- Former Fat Dudes “Life after WLS from a dude’s perspective.”
- Gastric Bypass Truth “Some say gastric bypass is the “easy way out.” I beg to differ. There are many things I wish I had known before taking the plunge.”
- Heather’s Lapband Journey “Hello, I’m Heather, I’m 25 years old and I live in Hollyweird, California. I got my lapband on December 13, 2010 and this is my weightloss journey.”
- I’m with the Band “Hi, I’m Carmen a 35 year old chick. Fat all my life, got a little belt (aka lapband) around my stomach…”
- Is this for real?!? “Welcome to the ramblings of my weight loss surgery and everyday life. Nothing is ever boring around here!”
- Island Bandit “Pre-surgery I lost @45lbs and I count that in my total because I truly believe the band is just one tool in the new arsenal I’ve been given.”
- Jen’s Lap Band Journey “Celebrating 2 years & 90 pounds lost! {so far}”
- Journey to a Healthier Me “I am changing my life for the better! Take a peek into my journey to better overall health.”
- Journey to a New Me “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”
- Just Me and My Band “THIS IS MY JOURNEY FROM BEING OBESE TO HEALTHY AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN! I WAS BANDED ON MAY 10TH AND THIS IS MY STORY!”
- Lap Band Gal “If hunger isn’t the problem, then eating isn’t the solution.”
- Life of a (hopeful) loser… “32 years old and on an amazing journey to better my health with a little help from a lapband.”
- LISA LOST AND FOUND! “PLEASE JOIN ME ON MY WEIGHT LOSS JOURNEY. I HOPE TO INSPIRE OTHERS AS I TAKE THIS MINI GASTRIC BYPASS JOURNEY. HOPEFULLY I WILL LOSE THE WEIGHT AND FIND THE REAL ME.”
- Living After WLS Blog “Your place to blossom after weight loss surgery.”
- Living Well / Eating Well after VSG “Tips and tricks, recipes, and my journey following Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy surgery.”
- Losing Weight and Changing Habits “How did I wake up one day to find myself at 286 pounds and completely miserable in my own body? It happened, I can’t blame anyone but me…”
- Miles To Go “This blog is named “Miles To Go” in honor of my surgeon, Dr. David Miles. I hope this conveys my gratitude to Dr. Miles and his staff at Miles Surgical for giving me the opportunity to have many more ‘miles to go’.”
- On the Bandwagon “Strategies for Success with the Adjustable Gastric Band”
- Ronnie’s Bandumentary “Feel free to follow me down the rabbit hole, just be sure to leave your sanity (and shoes) at the door.”
- Shrinking Susy… “I had the MGB in Feb. 2007. I lost 147 pounds. Now I’m a fat girl living in a skinny body and a whole lots more than weight has been lifted from my life. This is my story, read away…”
- Shrinking Violet “Keep a diary, and someday, it’ll keep you.” Mae West
- something something something Fat Chick “come on along…follow me on my journey from fatty to…just kinda chubby maybe…”
- Stressed spelled backwards is desserts… ?! “I’m a 23 year old college student. I was happily banded on April 7, 2010. It’s the BEST thing I’ve ever done for myself. This journey is rocky, but I love every bit of it!”
- Teresa Journeys Home “Taking the Road Less Traveled”
- Trying to stay Skinny in Texas “A blog about my journey after lap band surgery and my quest to keep the weight off . As well as everything life throws at me in between!”
- That Fat Chick “This blog has chronicled my journey from when I first made the decision to have weight loss surgery — back in 2008 — to when I had it — 2009 — and how my weight and life have changed since then.”
- The Weight is Over “The skinny girl inside of me is dying to get out and have fun…..”
- The Weight Loss Rollercoaster “The Ride is Over”
- Weight Lost, Hope Gained…by Emily “Sharing the Hope found after WLS!”
- Who Hid the Donuts? “MY JOURNEY FROM FAT TO FAB AFTER LAP-BAND SURGERY”
- The World according to Eggface ” RECIPES & RAMBLING OF A FORMER FAT CHICK”
Also read:
10 Mistakes Gastric Bypass Patients Often Make
Study: Gastric Bypass as a Cure for Diabetes?
Teens and Weight Loss Surgery: Worth the Risk?