Bariatric Surgery for T2's - Gastric Bypass

ickihun

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I dont mean its a quick fix for the people who have it done. I mean its a way of doctors washing their hands and saying they have done all they can.

I would like to see the option of having the cost of bariatric surgery spent on counselling, and education, and support, and safe exercise places etc etc. Mind you, their idea of education might be the eatwell plate.
It is!
 
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lucylocket61

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No op can guarantee to allow overeating in micro form.
Do you know why gallbladder gets damaged or interfered with? Irrespective of a surgery, in none diabetes even?
None diabetics and people who haven't had surgery get gall bladder problems.

I may be wrong but bad diet causes gall gladder problems, I thought?
rapid weight loss can also cause gall bladder problems, its listed as one of the complications of bariatric surgery.
 

ricke17

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I lost weight rapidly and didn’t have gall bladder problems. Some people have problems post-op and some people don’t. It’s like Any Surgery really.
 

lucylocket61

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Presumably from complicated medical problems. I don’t think @ickihun needs to justify her decision. It’s hard enough to decide to have surgery at the best of times.
I am asking becasue I keep hearing that people will die if they dont have this op.

But i cant find a link to what, specifically, they are in danger of dying from, that cant be treated by other means eg. high blood pressure, diabetes type 2 (which may or may not be influenced by obesity) high cholesterol (which may or may not be influenced by diet)

It seems a huge thing to go through with no science to back up the scaremongering about Do It or Die.
 

lucylocket61

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To have Bariatric Surgery funded on the Nhs you have to jump thru hoops which includes everything you’ve mentioned. Unless you’re in a similar position to those who need this surgery it’s difficult to resonate.
How do you know what position I am in? There is no information on the reasons for making this decision except being morbidly overweight.
 

lucylocket61

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I think it depends how urgent you need to lose weight.
Life or death?
I want to stress, at this point, that i support you making your own decision. I am not trying to pick a fight. I am genuinely trying to discuss this with you, as the only person I know who is going through the process right now. I apologise if I am being terse, I am not good with expressing myself. I hope you too feel this is a discussion, not an argument.
 

ricke17

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There is plenty of clinical research out there in the public forum for and against Bariatric Surgery. Of course Bariatric Surgery is for people who are obese who also have other issues too. Each CCG has different criteria for patients who want this and have to meet this criteria. For me I had to have a BMI over 35 AND have other obesity related issues such as T2D, high BP etc. When you reach the realms of a BMI of over 35 it makes losing weight without Surgery nigh on impossible mainly due to the other issues one may have. If it was that easy to lose weight by eating less and moving more then there wouldn’t be the demand for Bariatric Surgery than there is now.
 

ricke17

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Also, the other thing to consider in this debate is the cost of Surgery vs the cost the patient currently is to the NHS. Back when I had surgery it was about £12k and I was costing the NHS about £900 a month in prescribed medication, appointments with specialists and alike. Therefore it was more cost effective in the long term to have Surgery. In my case Surgery didn’t work. But the time between my surgery and today I’ve saved the NHS £108,000.
 

ickihun

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Yes the NHS believes eat well is a balanced diet. It is but type2s need a low carb diet, for life not a balanced diet for none diabetics.

It must be nice being diagnosed in 2018 and having low carb options.
However low carb is for life.
Many a fool think it will be negotiable.

Eating healthily isn't a choice its a necessity!
 

lucylocket61

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When you reach the realms of a BMI of over 35 it makes losing weight without Surgery nigh on impossible mainly due to the other issues one may have. If it was that easy to lose weight by eating less and moving more then there wouldn’t be the demand for Bariatric Surgery than there is now.
That could be a circular argument though. There is nothing on offer except surgery. if ther was councelling, support, etc would so many people have the surgery?

I know my T2 has been resolved by diet, if the NHS also offered the correct diet support, maybe more people would resolve their T2 without surgery?

I am not saying no-one should be offered the surgery, but that I think some people are scared into having it, by misinformation, and lack of anything else on offer. I am speaking generally.
 

ickihun

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Also, the other thing to consider in this debate is the cost of Surgery vs the cost the patient currently is to the NHS. Back when I had surgery it was about £12k and I was costing the NHS about £900 a month in prescribed medication, appointments with specialists and alike. Therefore it was more cost effective in the long term to have Surgery. In my case Surgery didn’t work. But the time between my surgery and today I’ve saved the NHS £108,000.
I think the NHS of the future won't fund expensive care for diabetics but only offer these successful ops (unsuccessful, for some.)
 
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ricke17

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In my case, I chose to be referred. I had to go through some form of “counselling” and weight loss through conventional methods. That was back in 2006. I had to wait 2 years for Surgery. It also depends on the local CCG and funding too.
 

ricke17

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I think the NHS of the future won't fund expensive care for diabetics but only offer these successful ops (unsuccessful, for some.)

I think so too. In my case I was on very expensive and complicated medication. Factoring that in with the price of a hospital appointment (numerous different specialists in my case) I was probably close to bankrupting my local CCG back then!
 

lucylocket61

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In my case, I chose to be referred. I had to go through some form of “counselling” and weight loss through conventional methods. That was back in 2006. I had to wait 2 years for Surgery. It also depends on the local CCG and funding too.
What sort of counselling did you have? I mean counselling for food addiction, and all the reasons why people are addicted emotionally to food. Like those with eating disorders. I wonder what happens to them after surgery?
 

lucylocket61

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I think so too. In my case I was on very expensive and complicated medication. Factoring that in with the price of a hospital appointment (numerous different specialists in my case) I was probably close to bankrupting my local CCG back then!
were you able to come off all the expensive medication afterwards and did it resolve your health issues, except the diabetes?
 

ricke17

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I don’t really want to go into the content of the counselling. But back then they had to make sure (tick boxes) that you knew the implications of Surgery. Also back then funding didn’t include post-Surgery counselling. Things may have changed now.
Yes I came off all (except the diabetic meds) after day 1 of Surgery.
 

ickihun

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That could be a circular argument though. There is nothing on offer except surgery. if ther was councelling, support, etc would so many people have the surgery?

I know my T2 has been resolved by diet, if the NHS also offered the correct diet support, maybe more people would resolve their T2 without surgery?

I am not saying no-one should be offered the surgery, but that I think some people are scared into having it, by misinformation, and lack of anything else on offer. I am speaking generally.
I wonder if you will be saying same thing in 10yrs time?
No excuse for misinformation in this day and age. If you read the right articles.and understand them. Take them to your gp if struggling to get the facts they will help you. Not one GP I've ever had would ignore genuine health query.
Some forums and plenty of trusted web sights have the info if your prepared to read it.
We are given bariatric forums full of past and current patients. Passwords for more involved sights too.
The info is readily available; they don't hide anything.
 
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ickihun

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I think so too. In my case I was on very expensive and complicated medication. Factoring that in with the price of a hospital appointment (numerous different specialists in my case) I was probably close to bankrupting my local CCG back then!
You have done brilliantly.
I hope you get helped to turn yours around. I know post op patients are getting additional help.
 
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ricke17

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I’m just restarting my WLS journey and my GP is supportive. Just need a re-referral to my local WLS dept.
 

ickihun

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I don’t really want to go into the content of the counselling. But back then they had to make sure (tick boxes) that you knew the implications of Surgery. Also back then funding didn’t include post-Surgery counselling. Things may have changed now.
Yes I came off all (except the diabetic meds) after day 1 of Surgery.
That is amazing!
My team are hoping for me just on basal insulin and metformin. Please god. If they can stop blood pressure tablets I'll be delighted but mine is part hereditary. I'm only too happy to stop them all if I can. :)