Has anyone had gastric bypass surgery here around Fort Riley? If so can anyone recommend a doctor or how long their process took {to get the surgery}? I am looking for any advice I can get. I went to my doctor today and he is filling out the a referral for me. Thanks! 

one of my friends had it last summer. food makes her sick a lot, and she says she hasn't lost any weight. if you doc can prescribe weight loss medication to you and exercise I recommend that instead. its way easier and better for you in general :-) 

I am trying too (lap band) but was a couple points shy on the BMI chart. Now that they have lowered the requirements, Innovations told me I qualify but now I have to wait for TriCare to change things on their end. I think a lot of people here have went to Innovations in JC. 

I know 2 people who have had it and since then have died due to complications from the surgery! I would NEVER have it done! 

prescribe weight loss medication
I have done that twice and it hasn't worked. I have tried WW 3 times and haven't have good results.

couple points shy on the BMI chart.
I hit the mark with that and my doctor said I was good to go with it. I don't know what to expect at all.

2 people who have had it and since then have died
I know about 6 people military and nonmilitary who have had it and they all had GREAT success with it. 

If you choose to do it I hope you do have success, just be sure that you understand you will NEVER be able to eat normally and it may cause you problems. 1 of the gals i know that had it passed away 2 years after her surgery (she was non military) and the other passed away just last month (about 5 years after her surgery) due to malnutrition, after her surgery her body would not absorb nutrients anymore (she was a military wife). I am by no means trying to talk you out of it but I think before you do it you need to know all of the risks that go along with it. I am overweight and after watching a mother of 2 young children pass away it is not a risk I would be willing to take. 

I also know a lady who died from having it done, she went in to have the lap band done and never came back out of the hospital, she left behind 3 little kids. My other friend had it done last year and has been in so much pain and sick since then, shes losing weight but only because of how sick she is. She has to take a ton of pills for vitamins and such and she is now anemic and considerd malnourished.
I think this surgery should only be used as a very last resort.
Also a lot of people dont understand that this isnt a quick fix, you still have to monitor your intake and exercise. My friend had to go to counsleing for 6 months before her surgery, had to see a psychologist and had to loose weight just to prove to them that she was capable of doing it. This was down at Ft Sill. 

Thank you so much for your advice. Nothing is set in stone yet. Thanks again!!! 

I just called my friend and she said she has to take 14 different types of vitamins a day for the rest of her life and that is the bare min. she said her dr is about to increase them also and she has to get b12 shots. 

Gastric isn't the way to go the lapband is, and if you do it the only Dr. you want coming near you is Dr. Hachem in Junction City...my hubby works with him daily trust me hes the only safe one...good luck! 

If you go up or call GCH to the weightloss office they can give you info on when they do an informational class to answer questions. 

I had the gastric done in June of 2010 and have lost 127 lbs. I am so glad I had it done and feel so much better heath wise. It depends on how seriously u want it. U HAVE to change ur eating habits for any weight loss program to work. The process before surgery sucks! U go on a liquid diet for about 3-4 weeks. I went to Dr. Hachem (spell) at Geary Co Hospital. He is really a great doc. Knock on wood... I haven't had any complications since my surgery. I have a consult tomorrow to see if I qualify for a tummy tuck with Tricare. PM me if you have any other questions! 

Both my friends had lap bands done. I honestly feel that unless it is a medical nescessity like you are going to die then the surgery souldnt be done. I mean people dont become overweight in one day, so it will take time to lose the weight with exercise and will power. It is a very expensive surgery and dangerous no matter which one you pick. 

i had it done and im very glad i did. ive lost 120lbs and gained my life back,i was diabetic, high blood pressure, high cholesteral,and on the verge of a stroke. there comes a time when you have to do what you have to do.Dr Hacham at Geary County is awsome, hes a no BS kinda doc but very concerned about each patient.Im vrey greatfull this was an option for me, it saved my life.they have support goup meetings up there,try one they will answer all your questions.good luck! 

3lovingmysoilder3 please let us know how your tummy tuck consult goes im vrey interested. 

I suggest a strict diet and excersise. A bypass can have many side effects. You can push yourself harder than you think. I would try to find a personal trainer that can help you set goals that are possible. You would be much happier. Plus, you can lose weight but still be flabby. Excersise helps tone in the process! :) Best of luck! 

Let me first start off my saying im overweight, not by 10-20 pounds. But I know Im fat because I ate too much and had kids. Am I happy with my body? no would I ever get a life threatening surgery (and it is life threatening wether anyone that has had it would like to admit it or not) No I wouldnt. I put the weight on and I can take it off with watching what I eat and exercising. Bypass / lap band is an easy way out. And it kills me that tri care will pay for it AND cosmetic surgery to fix the flab. 

it is not an easy way out. when you get more than over weight and your health is in jepardy, and your issues are working against your ability to loose weight,you gotta do something more.there are more issuse to consider besides will power. 

Yes it is an easy way out, you could have stopped over eating, you could exrecise more and watch your calories and food intake. Like I said Im over weight and have started working out. I have lost 10 pounds in the past month, sure it isnt the same amount as if i had a bypass but at least I know my health isnt comprpmised and Im not draining the pockets of insurance companies for the rest of my life. Im sorry its my opinion and I think this is the worse surgery anyone ever thought of. 

well, everyone hast to do what works for them and what there doctor recomends,however personal judgement from random strangers isnt christian or productive,good luck with doing it your way snd ill do it mine. 

I can NOT believe that people consider this surgery the "easy" way out. I had this surgery done 3 years ago and it saved my life. I did not have it done here in the states, mine was done in Germany. I have lost 120 pounds and never in my life felt better with my overall health. Not exercising and not following diet plans was never my problem. I was in the military. People really need to understand that there are medical needs to have this done. All I can say that is if you are interested in getting this done, it can be a very long process. I know, I have been through it. Stick with it and be persistant. Again, to the people who oppose this type of surgery, I will say that it saved my life and any surgery you have can kill you. Duh. 

not draining the pockets of insurance companies for the rest of my life

That's a first for me! Insurance companies are the biggest rip off companies there are! I think that if you pay for it then you should be able to use it - regardless of what it's for. I have a friend that had a mole removed because it bugged her! Her insurance company paid for it - but that's why you have insurance in the first place:) 

Like I said Its my opinion and if you dont like oh well, block my comments. 

Holly my sister had gastric bypass. She has been skinny her whole life and is almost 6 foot tall. She was in the Navy and had a torpedo part fall on her and break her back. Took 2 years to recover. She gained about 30 lbs from being unable to do anything. She then got pregnant and miscarried at 7 months due to a complication involving her back. From that another 30 lbs. Then about a year later slipped and fell on the ice on her stairs and rebroke her back. All in all my sister went from 160lbs (underweight) to 326lbs.

She could hardly walk, she pisses on herself because she had no feeling to let her know she had to go, she also has no feeling in her left leg so she barely could walk.

She had gastric bypass and lost 100lbs in less than a year. She went on to lose enough to take her back down to her normal weight of 160 lbs. Nowhere did my sister ask to be overweight. She would even try to walk her driveway (1/4 mile) twice a day to lose it. That was all she could do.

There are some that dont just indulge that gain weight.
I myself have had a hysterectomy and even running 5-6 miles a day and 2 hours at the gym everynight gained 35 lbs. I dont eat unhealthy, tho I do indulge in a soda every now and then. Over the years I have packed on 25 more lbs. I have seen a nutrionist that has said I eat good enough, though I do not drink enough water. Cant explain the weight gain to me. So where did I go wrong?

If I chose to do the gastric bypass(which Im not), how is this taking the easy way out if I am busting my butt to try and lose it on my own first? How about for my sister?

Oh and on a side note, my sister only has to take 2 vitamins a day and 1 other pill...why do your friends have to take so many? 

Oh and the guy who "thought of " this surgery is one of the co-founders that did my sister's surgery. 

Thats good for your sister, and I never mentioned anything about anyone taking pills 

Torri its my friend that takes 14 different types of meds. She has to take one to help her keep food and water down, the rest are vitamins, and she is malnourished. Not everyone reacts to the surgery in a positive manner 

People do use it as the easy way out because they don't want to lose the weight by working out, eating right, etc...and yes I have room to talk I'm a fat cow & weigh 305lbs!!! People need to get off their butts & try to lose the weight, granted there are a few health reasons peoploe can't lose weight, but they claim oh I'm doing it beause of diabetes, etc...blh blah lose weight & you wouldn't have those issues...the drs approve the surgery because they get loads of cash from doing it! Again, everyone will get mad but whatever I have plenty of room to talk I'm a whale!! 

I think the word being left out here is SOME not ALL have no excuse but yet again SOME not ALL do ..so a blanket statement is not true in this circumstance. 

And just so people know I'm not dogging those of you that have had/wanting to have it done whatever, its more the people that DO use it as an easy way out or the lazy ones that get to like 500-600lbs come on...they shouldn't even be able to get it, they should have to make an effort to lose weight, they sure didn't have a problem putting it on...its people like that that take advantage, it is still the persons choice though, easy way or not if you want to lose the weight & have the cash go for it, though lots are getting it now because Tricare now covers it lol which makes Dr. Hachem happy hehe