Gastric Bypass Surgery Information

Can anyone who has Tricare AND had gastric bypass surgery tell me how long it took to get the authorization to get the surgery. I have already gotten the referral to see the surgeon, I have done all my lab work now I’m just waiting for Tricare to review and approve the surgery.
I know how the authorization process works I am a Pharmacy Technician, but I am looking for someone who has had experience with this. Thanks!

I have Tricare Prime (Active Duty Dependant). I have my RNY Gastric Bypass done on October 22nd, 2007. It took me 2 weeks between the time I saw saw my PCM for a referral and the time I saw a surgeon it then took 2 more weeks after seeing the surgeon for my surgery. So a total of 4 weeks start to finish. Of course, this was at an actual MTF not through civilians.I had no co-morbidities. I was 120 pounds over weight. It’s been 7 months and I’ve lost 100 pounds!

Lap band surgery, approved by the FDA in 2001, is the safest, least invasive type of bariatric bypass surgery for weight-loss patients. Unlike the gastric bypass, the lap band surgery does not involve any stomach stapling or cutting. It can help you achieve steady, healthy and safer weight loss with quick recovery.

Any surgery has a degree of risk and should not be taken lightly. However, Lap band surgery is the safest of all weight loss surgery with lowest complications. When you weigh the risk involved with surgery against the risks associated with obesity, you will find the surgery to be far less risky.

Lap band surgeons have certain criteria to determine whether one can be considered for the surgery or not. For example-emotional unstable people can’t be considered for lap band surgery. In order to be considered one must completely understand the risks and benefits of lap band procedure and have a willingness to follow the dietary restrictions required for long-term success.

Following surgery, patients may experience mild discomfort, which is generally relieved by painkiller medicines. The patient can be back to work in about 3 weeks. Most patients feel fatigue and weakness for 1-2 week, but it disappears gradually. The patient will also notice huge changes in their eating habits. They will feel full or satisfied after eating a small amount of food. It is also recommended that once the patient feels full, it is better to stop eating, as overeating can cause nausea.

The Lap band system limits food intake. If you feel sick in regular basis, it may mean you are not chewing your food properly. It could also mean that you are not following the diet rules well. Eating after lap band surgery means taking small bites and eating very slowly.  Another reason may be lies in the placement of the band. For this , you have to contact your doctor. Vomiting should be avoided as much as possible. It can cause the small stomach pouch to stretch and it can lead to slippage of part of stomach through the band.

There will be a certain amount of restrictions on the patient’s diet and physical activity. Dried foods, nuts and seeds should be avoided after surgery. Walking is a great exercise to start with after surgery, and slowly after few weeks, a patient can do other kinds of exercises- aerobics, running cycling etc. as well.

It is vital to have Lap band surgery performed by a very highly experienced team. The more experience, the better the outcomes. Surgeons also should be well-trained because if the surgeon is not well-trained, he can commit mistake while conducting Lap band surgery, which might be fatal for the patient.

Alma Orozco
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/is-lapband-surgery-safe-716277.html

My BMI is 43. Ive spoken in length to the Surgeon who strongly believes that once your bmi gets above 40 trying to lose weight, and maintain it, is futile. Tell me what u think.

My BMI was over 40, too. I agree with your surgeon. I could not see myself able to lose weight at that point. Surgery became my only option. Your mileage may vary.

I still weigh 270lbs, I had the rny done, transected, the whole nine yards, of course I have eaten some things I should have not have, I am wondering can I have this surgery revised? The original surgeon has retired, I have heard that I couldnt since I have already had it and failed. Please no crude responses. Thanks

Congradulations. Eventhough you did not reach your goal, you did a great job. I had the surgery too and it is not easy.

Yes, there is an additional surgery you can have that is much easier on you than the GBS. The doctor goes in through your esophagus and makes your pouch smaller. Since your intestines have already been rerouted, he needs to do nothing else.

Even if you get this surgery, you will have to work at getting yourself healthier. You will need to go back to basics….drink plenty of fluids, eat your protein, take your vitamins especially B12, which gives you energy, and exercise by walking.

I have been telling others that there is a Yahoo group called Weight Loss Surgery Friendship & Support that I belong to. It is a great place to ask questions and get a lot of information. not only that, we are there to give each other support. Good Luck. I hope you find the answer you need.

As we have moved into the 21st century so too have obesity rates risen; this is almost certainly largely caused by poor diet and the convenience foods we consume due to our increasingly fast paced lives, but is of course in some part due to the lack of exercise many of us suffer from and possibly poor education with regards to diet and lifestyle.

There can be a wide variety of problems arsing from this such as the increased cost of health and life insurance and the increased risk of obesity related illness such as diabetes, heart conditions and even joint problems should the problem become bad enough.

There are of course many ways to lose the weight you feel is a health risk and in the majority of cases this will come down to determination, plenty of exercise and a strict diet of some sort.

In a day and age where cosmetic surgery is able to provide the answer for many problems this can also come to your rescue if you are classed as morbidly obese and need help to lose weight in a faster and less strenuous way.

There are a couple of options usually available to you such as Lap Band surgery (whereby a band is surgically placed around the stomach to make a smaller stomach pouch meaning you can only eat small portions therefore drastically limiting your calorie intake) and Gastric Bypass surgery (whereby a small stomach pouch is again created and a new channel made through to the lower intestine bypassing much of the small intestine meaning less nutrients are absorbed from your food).

Whatever option you choose you will need to adopt a new healthier lifestyle and ensure that diet and exercise remain top of your agenda. Surgery can help you lose the weight but to maintain your new figure it is essential you look after yourself in the long-term.

If you are considering cosmetic surgery procedures in the UK such as weight loss surgery you should seek an accredited surgeon who is registered with BAPRAS or BAAPS to ensure this plastic surgery runs smoothly.

james wilkinson
http://www.articlesbase.com/plastic-surgeries-articles/weight-loss-surgery-obesity-on-the-rise-751874.html

The surgeon in my area does this procedure with a laproscope for faster healing and a less invasive procedure. Is there anyone out there who can comment on having this done? Do you know anyone who has had this done? I am looking for any information you can give!

A good place to start would be http://www.obesityhelp.com/.

I had it done almost a year ago, laproscopically, and it was one of the best decisions of my life. I am down 180 pounds, all of my co-morbidities are gone, and I feel 20 years younger.

As for healing times, I had the surgery on a Wednesday, I was home on Saturday, and on Monday, I walked a mile.

Best of luck.

My surgeon is Dr. Kruger in Wareham. I’m having laprospic surgery. I have already had my gall bladder out many years ago. My overall health is very good. My BMI is 47.

PROS & CONS
of Gastric Bypass Surgery

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I am a disabled vet and over the past ten years I have gaine over a hundred pounds. During my time in the military they put me on this medicationt that has damaged my thyroid gland and there my weight has started to put weight on my damage liver. If anyone has any advice please contact me. The surgeon is having me come in next week so they could do a health check up. So I am nervous

The surgeon will probably recommend it for you, after all, that’s how he makes his living, by cutting people open. But I am against it because my friend had it done and now regrets it, she is at death’s door, but I’m sure there must be people out there who have had it done and are happy about it. If I were you, I would try the buddy system diet, just like people in AA, when you or your overweight friend gets an uncontrollable urge to eat some greasy french fries, it’s phone call time. Buddy system diets are so much easier and more fun than dieting alone. Good luck.

Weight loss surgery is a treatment for those who are extremely obese and is a very severe treatment. It should be used as a last resort for obesity and should only be used if all other weight loss methods have totally failed.

There are two types of gastrointestinal surgery, which are known as restrictive weight loss surgery and malabsorbtive surgery. These two surgeries have different purposes but have the same risks and the same hoped outcomes.

Restrictive weight loss surgery is used to help restrict the amount of food that can be consumed at a given time. Often this is performed by stapling the stomach. This surgery creates a very small pouch to hold a small amount of food at the top of the stomach.

This causes the person to feel very full after eating very little food. Usually patients can only eat less than a cup of food at a time or they will become sick to their stomach. This surgery makes sure that patients can eat only small amounts of food at a time.

Another type of is malabsorbtive surgery, commonly known as a gastric bypass surgery. This type of surgery is usually more common than the restrictive weight loss surgery. This type of surgery is supposed to prevent nutrients from being absorbed into the body. This surgery accomplishes that by actually bypassing most of the intestine. Not only does this result in a reduced appetite, but it also leads to losing a quite amount of weight.

There are side effects that come with these special surgeries. Side effects can include ulcers of the stomach, gas, diarrhea, nutrition deficiencies, and fainting. Before you have this type of surgery, you must be evaluated by a doctor so it can be decided if you are a candidate for this type of serious surgery.

To qualify, you must bee at least 100 pounds overweight and not have had success with other methods of weight loss. If you have serious health problems due to obesity you may also be a candidate for this type of surgery. If you decide to consider having this, be sure that you take the time to contemplate the risks associated with it.

You will have to also make sure you can finance since many insurance companies will not cover the surgery. Be sure that you find a surgeon who is experienced and who will help you through the entire process.

Yuki Shoji
http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/facts-about-weight-loss-surgery-102543.html

Hi, I am a surgeon and I will be operating on a patient tomorrow who has liver disease. Can anyone tell me whether or not gastric bypass surgery would actually help the disease? If not, which disease should I perform? Thanks.

Yes, according to the Wikipedia entry on "Gastric bypass surgery", the surgery does help liver disease. Good luck on your operation!