Gastric Bypass Surgery

[MWB]

Why do the surgeons make the stomach so small during a gastric bypass surgery? I hear there are many problems and complications and you can eat only like a tablespoon of food at any one sitting.
I know this is an extreme method of weight loss; for the morbidly obese as a rule, but wouldn't putting the staples down the stomach be better? (For want of a more suitable word.)

[Octavius]

I think reducing the size of the stomach from a melon to an egg is the whole point of the operation, so that the stomach is able to tolerate a lesser intake, therefore reducing consumption and subsequently weight. The stomach still stretches with food, but because of its size, people will feel fuller quicker.

People who undergo the procedure are given counselling on diet and what foods and amounts are appropriate, but generally, of the volume of something is smaller, then it can only accommodate smaller amounts.

It is quite a serious operation with lots of psychological and physical changes. It is life changing and life saving, it is intended to be drastic. So when undergone, it would seem a little pointless to reduce it from a melon to say, an orange as the necessary impact would be lessened and weight loss take longer, leading to potential psychological failure through lack of achievement.

[EngTeach]

I work with a woman who had this done. She followed up with a nutritionist, but refuses adamantly to do the "head work". She will NOT go to group and has managed to lose 125 lbs, but has put some of back on. She eats worse now than before. I certainly should not be throwing stones, but I would think that after having a life threatening surgery (she cried for months before for fear of dying on the table) one would do all thje necessary follow up. She still is about 400 pounds.

They told her she could never tolerate soda again. I watched her reintroduce this into her diet so that she could have it again, same with fatty foods and fried ones. I know how hard it is to lose weight (on WW again), but it makes me sad to see her do this.

She has also developed what are called Transfer Addictions. She substitutes the food with shopping excessively and sustaining TWO emotionally and physically abusive relationships.

[~write~path~]

Does the stomach stay the size of an egg (really that small??) for the rest of one's life? Or is there a reversal op that can be done at a later stage if it's wanted?

An egg? I can't quite get over that.

[bubbles4920]

and is the band ever removed or do people have to live with it forever?

[EngTeach]

The band is a different procedure from Gastric bypass surgry. The band can be removed or tightened by the surgeon. It is much less invasive. Actually my friend who had the big surgery has been told by her surgeon to now get the band too.