Bariatric Surgery Horrors

WHEN BARIATRIC SURGERY GOES WRONG
With a 200% increase in obesity rates over the past two decades, and more than 300,000 deaths caused annually due to weight-related factors, there is no question as to why gastric bypass surgery and related weight loss procedures have become so popular as of late. An estimated 100,000 people had the surgery within the last year, and 75% of patients report achieving positive results. Yet, for every three people who are pleased with the results of their bariatric surgeries, there is one who has a collection of gastric bypass horror stories, and anyone considering undergoing such a procedure should be aware of the risks.

Consider the bariatric surgery horror story of Loren Root. According to various media reports, Root was 49-yeard-old and 330 pounds when she decided to undergo a gastric bypass. Afterwards, however, she found herself unable to eat properly, and started losing too much weight. "I lost 200 pounds in the first year," she told CBN News. "I was very sick. "I had all kinds of internal problems. I've been in the hospital over 30 times in the last 2 1/2 years." At last report, three years after the surgery, Root's weight had plummeted to a dangerous 87-pounds and she was literally fighting for her life.

An isolated case? Not exactly. Stories of such gastric bypass horrors are located throughout news stories and forum posts online. One 17-year-old man had the surgery, and by 26 he had been stricken with osteoporosis despite taking additional calcium supplements. A teenage woman who had the surgery experienced stomach pain that forced her to be bedridden for weeks on end while enduring a month of fairly consistent regurgitation. A third individual reported gaining most of the weight back in the months following the surgery before finally finding success through exercise and a reduced-calorie diet plan, while a fourth reported losing her 55-year-old mother following a botched gastric bypass operation.

Despite the popularity of bariatric surgery and the success that many people do find through the procedure, there are obvious health risks involved. There is a mortality rate of nearly 1% associated with such operations, and nearly 20% of those who who undergo a gastric bypass or lap band procedure will require additional surgery to fix the resulting complications that may occur. Medical problems such as pulmonary embolisms, abdominal abscesses, ulcers and gastrointestinal leaks may occur. Three out of every 10 patients will ultimately develop nutritional deficiencies, and the surgery may fail due to the subject's inability to maintain a specific diet or because the gastric band or staple fails for one reason or another. If you are considering whether or not bariatric surgery is right for you, consult your doctor first to talk about the risks, the benefits and the alternatives.